Free Republic

Throughout our nation's history, the size and scope of government has grown by leaps and bounds during times of crisis, financial or otherwise. The political class' natural instinct is for government to rush to the rescue, particularly when an election is near. The current financial meltdown appears to be no exception, as our government responds with a $700 billion taxpayer-funded bailout proposal that was at best a Band-Aid and at worst a more deadly strain of the same disease. Rather than punishing taxpayers, an array of smarter options is at the government's disposal: abandon cheap-money policy; remove financial incentives that...

The Rev. Robert Sirico is not your ordinary parish priest. He is not only the pastor of St. Mary Catholic Church in Kalamazoo, Mich., he’s the co-founder and president of The Acton Institute, a market-friendly think tank devoted to promoting “a free and virtuous society characterized by individual liberty and sustained by religious principles.” Father Sirico, a frequent contributor to the country's top op-ed pages and regular commentator on TV, has made it his extra-spiritual calling to educate future religious leaders about the principles – and moral virtues -- of a free-market economy. I talked to him by phone Tuesday...

Some of the legislation voted on Tuesday by the California Legislature, and bills signed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger: CAMPAIGN MONEY: - Political parties that donate to candidates in the last 16 days before an election would have to disclose the contribution within 24 hours. AB890, by Assemblyman Lloyd Levine, D-Sherman Oaks, was approved by the Senate 30-1 and returned to the Assembly for concurrence in amendments. TIME SHARES: - Consumer protections would be strengthened for the sale and marketing of vacation time-shares. AB2252, by Assemblywoman Cindy Montanez, D-San Fernando, was approved by the Senate 30-1, sending it to the Assembly...

There is a large fire in the Santa Clarita Area of Los Angeles County....if you are in SoCal, that is the very large smoke clouds to the north.

LINK ONLY TO CALENDAR

The Lord ActonGeneral Robert E. Lee Correspondence Bologna November 4, 1866 Sir, The very kind letter which Mrs. Lee wrote to my wife last winter encouraged me to hope that you will forgive my presuming to address you, and that you will not resent as an intrusion a letter from an earnest and passionate lover of the cause whose glory and whose strength you were. I have been requested to furnish private counsel in American affairs for the guidance of the editors of a weekly Review which is to begin at the New Year, and which will be conducted by...