In a mass society, we are defined not by what we are but what we have. A mass society is what Thomas Hobbes long before described as a mere sand-heap of individuals where each seeks his own interest and welfare. When the social ties are loosened, material wealth becomes the main standard of well being. … Read more
Written by Gary Isbell. In the January 31 issue of the Dutch Catholic paper, Katholiek Nieuwsblad, staff writer Henk Rijkers interviews author John Horvat II about his book, Return to Order: From a Frenzied Economy to an Organic Christian Society. The Dutch-language interview was given during a successful book signing tour in Belgium and Holland … Read more
What society lacks today are norms. Norms are not to be confused with simple normality. Rather, norms are the basis for living together in civil society, and without which a social order crumbles. A society without norms is a bland society that leads to standardization with no standards. Russell Kirk said it best when he … Read more
Is America worth fighting for? That is the question addressed by a special video that outlines the challenges now facing America. The video points out those things that make America great—its vast panoramas, massive economic power and indomitable spirit of enterprise. However, the nation must now deal with threats like the towering weight of debt … Read more
There are those who say that American law is based only on what legislators determine it to be and what judges interpret it to mean. They claim that enacted or positive law is the only real basis for law in the United States. However, this is not the American tradition. The foundation of the American … Read more
The ability of huge companies to secure massive government contracts through lobbying and cronyism is not a development of the free market but a distortion of it. It is a kind of corporate welfare that ends up redistributing wealth not creating it. Scholar Samuel Gregg explains that crony deals redistribute “risk in a given society … Read more
Many have suggested the use of local or even competing currencies as a solution to the present economic crisis. Such currencies would provide flexibility and aid local economies. While historically local currencies have benefited some localities, they do not always work. The problem is not always economic but rather in the manner in which they … Read more
Amid all the talk about economic inequality, I unabashedly take the side of the one percent. I know it may not be a popular position but I nevertheless feel an obligation to make it known. Mind you, my defense of the one percent is balanced. I do not necessarily think they should be paid more … Read more
To the individualist, the world is a mere vehicle used for the pursuit of personal happiness. Life has no greater or transcendent meaning. It is all about personal gratification. In the words of Alasdair Macintryre, this world is nothing but “a meeting place for individual wills, each with its own set of attitudes and preferences … Read more
There are many who judge the health of the economy on the basis of the stock market. With markets reaching record highs, some see this as a sign of an ever-illusive “economic recovery.” However, such criteria can be deceptive. There are a host of other indicators that reveal that things are getting worse – and … Read more
