Imagine you are given three choices —A, B, or C. In the ranking, A is much preferred to B and B is exceedingly preferable to C. Which do you choose? Obviously, all else being equal, you’d choose A. Now let’s add the following restrictions to your choice: • You, your family, and your friends will all get A. But you must make the choice of A, B, or C, for other people who you will likely never meet. • If...

“When I first read the description of Fr. Alexander Torik’s novel Flavian, I was skeptical,” says Rev. Gregory Jensen in this week’s Acton Commentary. “Recently translated from Russian, it is the story of “an unexpected turning point in the life of Aleksei, a quite ordinary city dweller.” A chance meeting with a former classmate turned much in the life of this physics-major-turned-successful-manager upside down, setting Aleksei on a new path with many amazing discoveries along the way.” I couldn’t help...

Today is Flag Day. You probably didn’t know. You probably didn’t care. Unless you’re Boy Scout or a member of the VFW, you probably don’t give the American flag much thought. And you likely don’t have any flags in your home. I don’t either. Not really. What I do have hanging on the walls of my home office are several variations of Jasper Johns’s paintings of the American flag. I have no idea what Johns thought about the works or...

What just happened? On MondaytheD.C. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in favor of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), sayingthe agency had the legal authority to enact their Open Internet Order (i.e.,net neutrality rules.) What was this case about? Last Spring theCTIA, the trade group that represents the munication sectors, filed a lawsuit with the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals challenging the FCC’s decision to “impose sweeping new net neutrality rules and reclassifying mobile broadband as mon carrier utility.” The CTIA...

Note: Later today at the Faith & Freedom conference I’ll be speaking on a panel titled, “A Cronyism Crisis: How Corporate Welfare Undermines Markets and Human Flourishing.” If you’re at the conference please stop by this session. The Term:Crony capitalism (sometimes referred to as cronyism or corporatism) What it means:Crony capitalism is a general term for the range of activities in which particular individuals or businesses in a market economy receive government-granted privileges over their customers petitors. Why it Matters:...

The fight for religious liberty is only beginning to intensify in America, whether for retail giants, restaurant chains, bakers and florists, sacrificial nuns, or the imminent obstructionson the path paved byObergefell vs. Hodges. Yet even when facing these pressures for themselves, many American Christians still seek to withhold such freedoms from those of differing religiousbeliefs. Forgettingour position of exile,such a stancetrades the first of our God-given freedomsfor narrow self-interest and self-preservation. Suchprofound disconnect was recently on vivid display at the...

On Sunday, an American-born terrorist named Omar Mir Seddique Mateen killed 49 and wounded 53 in Orlando. In a 911 call during the attack Mateen pledged his allegiance to the terrorist group ISIS. Although the group also claimed responsibility for the attack, U.S. officials said they haven’t seen a direct link between the gunman and the terrorist group. Here are five facts you should know about ISIS: 1. ISIS (aka ISIL, Islamic State, IS, Daesh) is the name of an...

This is the week for the annual Acton University, a unique educational experience focused on the intersection of liberty and morality. Here are five facts you should know about Acton U. 1. Acton University is a four day annual conference on liberty, faith and free-market economics held in Grand Rapids, Michigan. 2. Each even includes nine sessions in which attendees can create a customized learning path from 100+ courses taught by 55+ international, world class experts. 3. The conference is...

The Barna Group recently released a fascinating new study on morality in America. The press release is titled, “The End of Absolutes: America’s New Moral Code.” It summarizes the study: New research from Barna revealsgrowing concern about the moral condition of the nation, even as many American adults admit they are uncertain about how to determine right from wrong. Sounds like a problem. And, indeed, the data does give reason to be concerned. But the framing of at least one...

On this edition of Radio Free Acton, we take a look at the ing referendum in Great Britain which will decide the fate of the UK’s membership in the European Union. Todd Huizinga, Acton’s Director of International Relations and author ofThe New Totalitarian Temptation: Global Governance and the Crisis of Democracy in Europe, joins the podcast fresh from his latest European trip and shares his analysis of the pros and cons for Britain, as well as the reaction in Brussels...