Religion & Liberty Online Archives

Acton Occasional Series

June 08, 2017

5 Facts about infrastructure

President Trump has designated this week as “Infrastructure Week,” a time dedicated to “addressing America’s crumbling infrastructure.” Here are five facts you should know about America’s infrastructure. 1. The Federal government has defined infrastructure as the framework of interdependent networks and systems comprising identifiable industries, institutions (including people and procedures), and distribution capabilities that provide a reliable flow of products and services essential to the defense and economic security of the United States, the smooth functioning of governments at all levels, and society as a whole. Continue Reading...
June 07, 2017

Understanding the President’s Cabinet: Director of National Intelligence

Note: This is post #20 in a weekly series of explanatory posts on the officials and agencies included in the President’s Cabinet. See the series introduction here.   Cabinet position: Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Department:  Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) Current Director: Dan Coats Department Mission: “The core mission of the ODNI is to lead the IC in intelligence integration, forging a community that delivers the most insightful intelligence possible. Continue Reading...
June 06, 2017

An introduction to externalities

Note: This is post #36 in a weekly video series on basic microeconomics. What are externalities and what are the different kinds of costs? And what does this have to do with the rise of “superbugs”? Continue Reading...
June 01, 2017

6 Quotes: Peter Augustine Lawler on virtue

Peter Augustine Lawler died last week at the age of 65. Lawler, who referred to himself as a “postmodern conservative”, was a distinguished political philosopher and public intellectual who frequently wrote about the role of virtue in the modern (or postmodern) world. Continue Reading...
May 25, 2017

25 Facts about Africa

May 25 is Africa Day, a holiday originally created to celebrate the foundation of the Organization of African Unity (now known as the African Union) on May 25, 1963. In honor of the commemoration, here are 25 facts you should know about the continent: 1. Continue Reading...
May 24, 2017

Understanding the President’s Cabinet: White House Chief of Staff

Note: This is the post #18 in a weekly series of explanatory posts on the officials and agencies included in the President’s Cabinet. See the series introduction here. Cabinet position: White House Chief of Staff Department:  Executive Office of the President Current staffer: Reince Priebus Department Budget: Primary Duties of the Secretary: While the roles of the chief of staff varies by presidential administration, they usually include the following: • Select key White House staff and supervise them; • Structure the White House staff system; • Control the flow of people into the Oval Office; • Manage the flow of information; • Protect the interests of the president; • Negotiate with Congress, other members of the executive branch, and extra-governmental political groups to implement the president’s agenda; and • Advise the president on various issues, including telling the president what he does not want to hear. Continue Reading...
May 23, 2017

The problem with tariffs and protectionism

Note: This is post #34 in a weekly video series on basic microeconomics. How do tariffs affect consumers? What about producers? Who wins and who loses? In this video by Marginal Revolution University, economist Alex Tabarrok looks at the costs and consequences of tariffs, quotas, and protectionism. Continue Reading...