Religion & Liberty Online Archives

Technology and Regulation

Vatican’s Call for Central World Bank: What the Left Misses

Samuel Gregg is quoted in today’s New York Times story about the Vatican note calling for a central world bank — he gives the final word on the document. The “politically liberal Catholics” quoted before him reveal that they have missed a crucial distinction in the document produced by the Pontifical Council for Peace and Justice. Continue Reading...

Samuel Gregg: Imitate Sweden’s Economic Liberation, Not Her Failed Socialism

Acton’s director of research Samuel Gregg has a piece over at The American Spectator that may surprise big government liberals. (We know you read this blog.) In “Free Market Sweden, Social Democratic America,” he lays out the history of Sweden’s social democracy — its nature and its effects on the country’s economy — and then draws lessons for the United States. Continue Reading...

Shareholder Activism on the Rise – from Nuns and Unitarians

The Manhattan Institute’s Proxy Monitor project is aimed at “shedding light on the influence of shareholder proposals on corporations.” It provides a thorough analysis of proposals made from 2008 – 2011 by activist investors — and believe it or not, only 35 percent of those proposals were related to corporate governance. Continue Reading...

Perpetual Demonization of the Oil Industry

As citizens await state decisions on new state EPA “fracking” regulations, many are worried radical environmentalist may compromise a promising opportunity in the development of gas reserves. Natural gas advocates say radical environmentalists have long demonized the oil industry in their fight against free enterprise. Continue Reading...

Why to Get Worked Up about Those Fake Apple Stores

News broke yesterday of an audacious violation of Apple Computer’s intellectual property rights (IPR) in China. This expat blogger posted photos of three sham Apple Stores she discovered in the city of Kunming—the stores have been set up by some entrepreneurial chap hoping to capitalize on the company’s Chinese popularity. Continue Reading...

A Fresh Look (and New Features) for the Acton PowerBlog

We’ve launched a redesigned Acton PowerBlog but there’s more to it than just a visual update.  You’ll find the following enhancements: A simpler look that seeks to better emphasize important features of the blog Convenient tab navigation on the right for frequently used items Increased real estate for blog posts like the one you’re reading Increased emphasis on social media including: New links near the top right and bottom of the page to Acton’s key social pages A live Facebook page stream on the right so you can see what’s happening without leaving the blog More “Like” and send buttons on front page blog posts (not just the first one) A new comment system that preserves all old comments while adding increased functionality A better subscribe page with more feed links and information The new comment system is probably the largest change after the redesign itself.  Continue Reading...