Quote of the Week

Last updated on: June 26, 2007 at 3:05 am By Policraticus

The moral superiority of the liberal [capitalist] system in politics and the economy that thus emerged arouses no enthusiasm, even so. The number of those who have no share in the fruits of this freedom is too great–those, indeed, who lose every kind of freedom: being out of work has once more become a mass phenomenon; the feeling of not being needed, of being superfluous, torments people no less than material poverty. Unscrupulous exploitation is becoming widespread; organized crime is... Read more

Energy Bill

Last updated on: June 25, 2007 at 2:58 pm By Morning's Minion

By a 67-25 majority, the Senate passed an energy bill last week that would increase fuel efficiency requirement from 25 to 35 miles per gallon; the first improvement in such standards in almost two decades. The new standards come into effect from 2020, and (here is the best bit), the industry attempt to maintain higher standards for “light trucks” (read: SUVs) was beaten back. Hooray! Of course, Bush could always veto, but the sizable majority increases the pressure on him... Read more

“Giuliani’s Views on Abortion Upset Catholic Leaders”

Last updated on: June 25, 2007 at 2:03 pm By voxnovablog

The NYT has an article on growing Catholic opposition to Mayor Giuliani’s quest for the GOP presidential nomination in 2008. Here’s a taste: [C]hurch leaders say they are frustrated by prominent Catholic politicianslike Mr. Giuliani who argue that while they are personally opposed to abortion,they do not want to impose their beliefs on others. One American bishop, Thomas J. Tobin of Providence, R.I., recently wrote acaustic column for his Catholic newspaper calling Mr. Giuliani’s position“pathetic,” “confusing” and “hypocritical.” Other bishops... Read more

Vox Nova At the Movies: Grave of the Fireflies

Last updated on: June 25, 2007 at 1:32 pm By Henry Karlson

Movies have played an important role in society ever since “The Sneeze” became an overnight success. While some people might choose to ignore them, and not watch any movies in their own free time, for the most part, we live in a society which is in love with motion pictures, and we find ourselves increasingly influenced by them. Some movies are worthy of praise. They often bring out the best in us, or they challenge the adequacy of long-held opinions... Read more

Globalization In Relation to Immigration

Last updated on: June 25, 2007 at 2:16 am By voxnovablog

There is always something scary about a person who claims they are a citizen of the world rather than tied to some locality. There is a certain piousness to the notion admittedly. Such a person supposedly isn’t ‘selfishly’ concerning himself with just he and his kin. He has a wide mind. While I wouldn’t call such a system evil, I would say that it has euphemistic implications. Often, the person does indeed care about the world as much as he... Read more

Markets and Middlemen

Last updated on: June 23, 2007 at 8:39 pm By Morning's Minion

You hear it all the time, even from many Catholic thinkers: Big Government is bad, markets are good. Now, I’m certainly not going to argue that governments should be running steel mills, but there are clearly areas where the profit motive can lead to highly inefficient (and even unethical) outcomes. I’m talking about social policy, where profit-making entities merely (in the manner of Tony Soprano) take their skim from an enticing pile of cash without providing any real benefits whatsoever.... Read more

Will Sicko be sickening?

Last updated on: June 23, 2007 at 9:46 am By voxnovablog

Katerina and I have acquired tickets for the Houston “Sneak Preview” of Michael Moore’s latest project, Sicko. I plan on writing a short review on the film in the coming days. Having already seen Moore’s Bowling for Columbine and Fahrenheit 9/11, I believe I am prepared to be critical enough both to cut through any propaganda and to not allow Moore’s ideology to keep me from being receptive to whatever facts may be contained in Sicko. Rumor is that Moore... Read more

What Should Children Be Allowed To Wear In School?

Last updated on: June 23, 2007 at 9:41 am By Henry Karlson

Reading this story about a girl forbidden to wear her chastity ring in the UK, I couldn’t help but laugh at how silly this sounds. Obviously the school has a “no jewelry” rule; while I question the necessity of such a rule, there are other questions which arise out of this situation. Other people are allowed to wear embellishments if it is a matter of their own religious faith. Obviously, schools want to keep things orderly, and this often means... Read more

Are you a Wage-Slave?

Last updated on: June 23, 2007 at 12:26 am By voxnovablog

Learn about Distributism, – the purported third way between socialism and capitalism, the Catholic way. Take the “Wage-Slave test” below: be the sole or principal owner in the business in which you work? own your own home, without burden of usurious debt? have daily leisure to spend time with your family? be the sole ‘breadwinner’ of the family, so that your wife is able to devote all of her love, talents and energy into your & her home and hearth?... Read more