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Weekend viewing: Watch ‘America Lost’ for free

For a few moments, filmmaker Christopher Rufo’s documentary America Lost seemed in danger of ing an anachronism. But in the age of coronavirus shutdown orders, his portrait of life in the forgotten, jobless corners of America could not be more timely. Rufo spent years interviewing and documenting the lives of struggling people in the depressed cities of Youngstown, Ohio; Memphis, Tennessee; and Stockton, California. (You can read our review here.) Rufo—who serves as director of theDiscovery Institute’s Center on Wealth,...

Build yourself, build society

One of Christ’s best-known parables is the Parable of the Talents, but its familiarity disguises just how strange and unsettling its message is. It is a parable of a master who departs on a journey and entrusts three servants, each according to his ability, with his property. Each receives five, two, or one talent(s), respectively. The ablest servant departed, immediately put the money to work, and doubled his master’s talents. The servant entrusted with two talents did the same. But...

COVID-19, socialized medicine and ‘deaths of despair’

The American healthcare industry is undergoing a massive stress test known as the coronavirus. For months and years e, analysts will be issuing their opinions about just how well that industry performed under the incredible, sudden surge of the pandemic. Given the massive influx of stimulus funding for healthcare and programs like Medicare, no one should be surprised about a “barrage” of new lobbying activity and a surge of activism for single payer or universal health care. Getting just ahead...

What to do about China?

Crises are not only opportunities which should, to paraphrase Rahm Emmanuel, never be allowed go to waste. They also serve as clarifying moments. Unexpected events can shatter even the strongest consensus on a given topic. The coronavirus pandemic is such a moment when es to America’s relationship with China. Until relatively recently, most Western policymakers calculated that a steady integration of China into the global economy would be of mutual economic benefit for China and Western nations. Trade with other...

Acton Line podcast: Responding to a Harvard prof’s call to ban homeschooling

Homeschooling is growing in popularity. In fact, the U.S. Department of Education has shown that it’s grown at a rate of over 60% in the last decade, as many families are deciding that educating their children at home is better than sending them to public or private schools. But Harvard University has a different opinion. In Harvard Magazine’s May/June 2020 issue, one Harvard Law School professor calls for a ban on homeschooling, saying it may keep children from “contributing positively...

COVID-19 reminds us of the humanizing aspect of work

With “shelter-in-place” orders across the country during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, most employees are not allowed to enter their work places unless their work is considered “essential” by their state and local governments. Opportunities for normal employment have been disrupted for millions of people around the world. Sadly, many workers have been furloughed, others laid off entirely, and the fortunate ones, thanks to advances in technology, are able to work from home. Beyond the obvious financial implications for individuals, and...

Cooperation vs. coercion amid COVID-19

As the COVID-19 crisis rolls on, many of America’s governors have continued to impose, extend or add new restrictions to stay-at-home orders, leading to increasingly arbitrary rule-making and growing criticism over the prudence and practicality of such measures. Thankfully, individuals and institutions rely on more than government diktats to guide their behavior. In turn, amid the government overreach and tense ideological debates, civil society appears to be self-governing rather well — marked by plenty of individual restraint, collective wisdom and...

RELIGION & LIBERTY

Economic Imperialism

R&L: You are sometimes called an “economic imperialist.” What is meant by this? Becker: That refers to my belief that economic analysis can be applied to many problems in social life, not just those conventionally called “economic.” The theme of my Nobel lecture, based on my life’s work, is that the horizons of economics need to be expanded. Economists can talk not only about the demand for cars, but also about matters such as the family, discrimination, and religion,...

Oct 22, 2026

Productivity and Potential

R&L: You have led an incredibly productive and active life, from the early civil rights movement to now working to strengthen the black family. What motivates you? Perkins: I don’t like to see human potential wasted, and that’s what happens when people are left behind, either because the system excludes them or because they have failed to adopt solid values. I spent 22 years, from 1962 to 1980, in rural Mississippi, and prior to that I lived in California....

Oct 22, 2026

Faith and the Limitations of the State

R&L: You played a role in the international political scene at what may be known as history’s most critical hour. Are you aware of a spiritual dimension to what you participated in? Thatcher: Yes, very much so. Freedom is a moral quality. es from the Old Testament and the New. It’s definitely a part of Judaism and Christianity. The talents that we have are God-given talents, therefore we have a right to use them. But, of course, you can...

Oct 22, 2026

Markets and Virtue

R&L: Please explore with us the way in which certain human virtues promised by the years of Communist rule in your country. Klaus: Basic human virtues such as thrift, honesty, and fidelity can grow and flourish only in an environment of individual freedom and self-responsibility. Communist totalitarianism deprived people of both of them, made them more passive, more cowardly, and more resigned than in countries with political pluralism, property rights, and market structures. R&L: In the long term, do...

Oct 22, 2026

Sound Economics and Evangelicals

R&L: You are a pastor and also speak weekly to hundreds of thousands of people on national television. In your opinion, why is it important for Christians to be grounded in sound economic thinking? Kennedy: Unsound economic thinking can lead to disastrous results and suffering for hundreds of millions of people. Consider the catastrophic impact on the vast number of people who had to live under the false economic thinking that munism. Our own society contains many examples of...

Oct 22, 2026

Morality and American Society

R&L: What role did religion or faith play in the founding of National Review in the 1950s? Buckley: Well, it was very plain to all of my associates that I was a pro-Christian. Senior editor James Burnham was a lapsed Catholic; Willmoore Kendall, a Catholic convert; Willi Schlamm, Jewish but “pro-God;” and, of course, Whittaker Chambers was a Christian. The only event that was historically conspicuous within the annals of National Review was the resignation from the Board of...

Oct 22, 2026

Religion's Role in Public Life

R&L: Alexis de Tocqueville observed that religion is the first political institution in America, an observation you have said is even more true today than it was in the nineteenth century. Would you explain? Neuhaus: One can make the case that America is in many ways more religious today than it was in the 1830s when Tocqueville wrote. Tocqueville’s understanding of religion as the first political institution had nothing to do with what is viewed today as the influence...

Oct 22, 2026

Lessons from Liechtenstein

R&L: In the United States, monarchs are usually seen as either mere figureheads or as malevolent dictators. What is the role of a monarch in a free society? Liechtenstein: In our time, monarchies are an important factor in the stability of a country. The monarchy stands for continuity and moral responsibility for the next generation. The monarchs don’t hold their positions for a few years, and then, after an election, find themselves out of office. Rather, they automatically have...

Oct 22, 2026

Science and the Environment

R&L: With the world-wide decline of socialism, many individuals think that the environmental movement may be the next great threat to freedom. Do you agree? Ray: Yes, I do, and I'll tell you why. It became evident to me when I attended the worldwide Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro last June. The International Socialist Party, which is intent upon continuing to press countries into socialism, is now headed up by people within the United Nations. They are the...

Oct 22, 2026

Challenges Facing the Culture

R&L: What did you mean when you subtitled your 1989 book Against the Night, “Living in the New Dark Ages.” Have the last four years changed your views? Colson: When I wrote Against the Night, I was fearful that we were entering the new dark ages, that the barbarians were not only at the gates of our culture ing over the walls. Looking over these past four years, I see no signs that we are awakening to the threat;...

Oct 22, 2026