Saturday, April 23, 2005
Friday, April 22, 2005
Wednesday, April 20, 2005
Tuesday, April 19, 2005
The Aggiornamento of Rerum Novarum Via Ressourcement Methodology:
Another way of saying it is that the weblog has been updated for the first time this year. The archives were extended out to June 18th and it is hoped that they can be put on a separate page upon this weblog being updated again. Right now though, there is neither the time nor the desire to figure out how that is done. Having noted those things, here are the additions by category -any comments from this writer will be in purple font henceforth in this post.
Weblog Special Reports, Commemorations, Retrospectives, Miscellaneous Stuff, Etc.
Musings on the Passing of Johnny Carson (An Audio Post) [>>>]
My Picks for the 2005 "St. Blog's Awards" [>>>]
On "Social Commentary" and St. Blog's "Awards" [>>>]
On Political/Social Subjects in General
Miscellaneous Musings on Double Standards in the Media [>>>]
Miscellaneous Notes on the Upcoming Inaugural, Recent Comments From President Bush About WMD's, and the Reform of Social Security (An Audio Post) [>>>]
On Victor Davis Hanson and the Significance of Donald Rumsfeld [>>>]
Political Potpourri [>>>]
On Condoleeza Rice and Her Speech to the French, "Liberty"/"Equality"/"Fraternity", Etc. (An Audio Post) [>>>]
On the Blogosphere and Mainstream Media Hypocritical Double Standards [>>>]
My Review of Senator Barry Goldwater's Book The Conscience of a Conservative [>>>]
On the Death of Pope John Paul II [>>>]
Notes on Filibusters (An Audio Post) [>>>]
On the US Constitution and the Fundamental Rights of Man
For the "Anniversary" of Roe vs. Wade [>>>]
More on Terri Schiavo and the Fundamental Rights of Man [>>>]
More on Terri Schiavo, an Activist Blogosphere Effort on Her Behalf, Etc. [>>>]
On the Terri Schiavo Situation and the Culture War in General [>>>]
On Terri Schiavo and The Face of Evil [>>>]
An Appeal to Federalist #78 Southern Style [>>>]
Miscellaneous Musings on Key Fundamental Flaws in the Outlook of the "Kill Terri Contingent" (An Audio Post) [>>>]
On Terri Schiavo's Situation, So-Called "Christian Fascism", and Communist Supporters of the Culture of Death [>>>]
On Political Election Topics
On the Washington GovernorsHeist Race and Other Tidbits [>>>]
On the Recent War and War in General
Briefly on Iraq, WMD's, and Another Pseudo-"Progressivist" War Dogma Bites the Dust [>>>]
A Rerum Novarum Recapitulation of Threads on the Recent War, the Politics Involved, and War in General [>>>]
On Particular Philosophical/Ethical Subjects
Miscellaneous Dyspeptic Morning Mutterings on Attorneys (An Audio Post) [>>>]
Miscellaneous Dyspeptic Morning Mutterings on Attorney's, Politicians, and Tort Reform (An Audio Post) [>>>]
Miscellanous Musings on Accountants, the Accountants Lobby, Reforming the Tax Code, and Washington State Performance Audits (An Audio Post) [>>>]
Miscellaneous Musings on the Death of Terri Schiavo, A Possible "Grace" From This Tragedy, Etc. --Part I (An Audio Post) [>>>]
Miscellaneous Musings on the Death of Terri Schiavo, A Possible "Grace" From This Tragedy, Etc. --Part II (An Audio Post) [>>>]
Prelude to a Potential Dialogue on the Subject of Foundational Presuppositions [>>>]
Of or Pertaining to 'Progressivist' Philosophies (Falsely So-Called)
On the Inaugural Speech, The President's Use of the Word "Freedom", and Self-Styled "Progressivist" Reactions Thereof (An Audio Post) [>>>]
Points to Ponder on Left-Wing Bloggers (Jonah Goldberg) [>>>]
On 'Traditionalism' (Falsely So-Called)
There was a title change with regards to this margin post:
Mr. Smith's Misunderstandings (Parts I-VI)
As this thread is essentially a Rerum Novarum commentary on Humani Generis, the title of the piece has been changed to reflect that. It will henceforth be referred to by some of the title it has long possessed in the threads itself:
Some Errors by a Self-Proclaimed 'Traditionalist' Viz. Understanding Humani Generis (Parts I-IV)
The remaining parts of the original thread were reconfigured into a two part thread titled "Some More Errors by a Self-Proclaimed 'Traditionalist'" and left in the archive.
On 'Traditionalism' (Properly So-Called)
Some Clarifications on Fr. Henri de Lubac and His Views on the Relationship Between Nature and Grace [>>>]
Points to Ponder From Pope John Paul II (On Easter) [>>>]
Points to Ponder From Pope John Paul II (On Liturgical Silence) [>>>]
On Certain Controverted "Hotpoint" Theological Subjects
Points to Ponder From John O'Donahue on the Soul (An Audio Post) [>>>]
On Other Controverted Subjects
Briefly on the Upcoming Conclave [>>>]
On the Conclave and Papal Selections [>>>]
For those who are interested, We were the first to make the call on a Ratzinger papacy. (Though in the interest of fairness, there was a misguessing on Our part that he would select "Leo XIV" for a name.)
Recommended Weblogs:
Some minor name adjustments were made to the weblogs classified under this general heading. Nonetheless, included amongst them now are these weblogs.
The Southern Appeal BLOG [>>>]
We have enjoyed this weblog for a while and been somewhat tardy in adding it to Our scroll. One things is for sure: this writer's animosities towards attorneys would dissipate quickly if there were more of them like the SA crew (and of course Ian McLean).
Gregg the Obscure's Vita Brevis BLOG [>>>]
John Betts' Just Your Average Catholic Guy BLOG [>>>]
The Obscure One and John Betts are back in the blogosphere so their reconstituted weblogs are being readded to Rerum Novarum at the present time.
Jonathan Prejean's Crimson Catholic BLOG [>>>]
For those who remember, the above weblog was Our pick for "best new weblog" in the (now infamous) St. Blog's "Awards."
Recommended* Catholic Websites
Blessed Sacrament Parish and Dominican Priory [>>>]
St. John Cantius Parish [>>>]
The first link was transferred from another category. Frequent readers know that it is the parish that your humble servant attends most frequently.
Ecumenical Jihad Approved* Websites and Weblogs
Rev. Michael J. Pahls' Abbot Gregory Site (Reformed Church of America) [>>>]
Rev. Michael J. Pahls' Bishop's BLOG (Reformed Church of America) [>>>]
It has been noted before that Rev. Pahls has written (in the opinion of this writer) one of the best non-Catholic commentaries on Trent Session VI. The link to that essay was defunct but is not fixed and readily viewable under the Recommended Religious/Theological Articles on Various Subjects classification in this weblog's margin.
Ashli's The SICLE Cell BLOG (Christian) [>>>]
The above weblog has as one of its core themes a vivid testament against the lie of abortion being "liberating."
Approved* Weblogs and Websites of a Predominantly Political Nature
The SoundPolitics BLOG [>>>]
For those following the Washington State Governor'sHeist Election, the above link is excellent.
Recommended* Socio-Political Articles on Various Subjects
Our Worst Enemy - Rabbi Daniel Lapin [>>>]
Air America's Lousy Ratings - Michelle Malkin [>>>]
Blogging and Bloggers - Brian Micklethwait [>>>]
Terri Schiavo: Judicial Murder - Nat Hentoff [>>>]
It's a Brave New World After Terri Schiavo Dies - Timothy Birdnow [>>>]
The next two articles were slated for a Miscellaneous Links of Interest post but now they will merely be posted in this update without the originally planned commentary on them. (Though they may be revisited later on for the purpose of commentary.)
Take Back the Word - Joel Engel [>>>]
Our Not-So-Wise Experts - Victor Davis Hanson [>>>]
Recommended Religious/Theological Articles on Various Subjects
Petrine Office and Particular Churches -Fr. Henri de Lubac SJ [>>>]
The Holocaust: What Was Not Said -Fr. Martin Rhonheimer [>>>]
Shawn's Eastern Catholic Corner Approved* Links
The Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostrom [>>>]
[:::....Other Approved* Sites or Links of Interest....:::]
This heading was suppressed, the contents moved to other places, and the following subheading (General Magisterial Texts) was put in its place in whote background with darkblue font.
General Magisterial Texts
Humani Generis Encyclical Letter Concerning Some False Opinions Threatening to Undermine Catholic Doctrine (Pope Pius XII) [>>>]
In light of the new Pope Benedict XVI, and a sense of optimism, let us conclude this update with a greater than normal degree of pomp and circumstance...
Wherefore, having noted these additions, amendations, and other adjustments, it is prescribed by the webmaster of Rerum Novarum that the insertions listed above be introduced for a perpetual remembrance all things to the contrary notwithstanding.
Another way of saying it is that the weblog has been updated for the first time this year. The archives were extended out to June 18th and it is hoped that they can be put on a separate page upon this weblog being updated again. Right now though, there is neither the time nor the desire to figure out how that is done. Having noted those things, here are the additions by category -any comments from this writer will be in purple font henceforth in this post.
Weblog Special Reports, Commemorations, Retrospectives, Miscellaneous Stuff, Etc.
Musings on the Passing of Johnny Carson (An Audio Post) [>>>]
My Picks for the 2005 "St. Blog's Awards" [>>>]
On "Social Commentary" and St. Blog's "Awards" [>>>]
On Political/Social Subjects in General
Miscellaneous Musings on Double Standards in the Media [>>>]
Miscellaneous Notes on the Upcoming Inaugural, Recent Comments From President Bush About WMD's, and the Reform of Social Security (An Audio Post) [>>>]
On Victor Davis Hanson and the Significance of Donald Rumsfeld [>>>]
Political Potpourri [>>>]
On Condoleeza Rice and Her Speech to the French, "Liberty"/"Equality"/"Fraternity", Etc. (An Audio Post) [>>>]
On the Blogosphere and Mainstream Media Hypocritical Double Standards [>>>]
My Review of Senator Barry Goldwater's Book The Conscience of a Conservative [>>>]
On the Death of Pope John Paul II [>>>]
Notes on Filibusters (An Audio Post) [>>>]
On the US Constitution and the Fundamental Rights of Man
For the "Anniversary" of Roe vs. Wade [>>>]
More on Terri Schiavo and the Fundamental Rights of Man [>>>]
More on Terri Schiavo, an Activist Blogosphere Effort on Her Behalf, Etc. [>>>]
On the Terri Schiavo Situation and the Culture War in General [>>>]
On Terri Schiavo and The Face of Evil [>>>]
An Appeal to Federalist #78 Southern Style [>>>]
Miscellaneous Musings on Key Fundamental Flaws in the Outlook of the "Kill Terri Contingent" (An Audio Post) [>>>]
On Terri Schiavo's Situation, So-Called "Christian Fascism", and Communist Supporters of the Culture of Death [>>>]
On Political Election Topics
On the Washington Governors
On the Recent War and War in General
Briefly on Iraq, WMD's, and Another Pseudo-"Progressivist" War Dogma Bites the Dust [>>>]
A Rerum Novarum Recapitulation of Threads on the Recent War, the Politics Involved, and War in General [>>>]
On Particular Philosophical/Ethical Subjects
Miscellaneous Dyspeptic Morning Mutterings on Attorneys (An Audio Post) [>>>]
Miscellaneous Dyspeptic Morning Mutterings on Attorney's, Politicians, and Tort Reform (An Audio Post) [>>>]
Miscellanous Musings on Accountants, the Accountants Lobby, Reforming the Tax Code, and Washington State Performance Audits (An Audio Post) [>>>]
Miscellaneous Musings on the Death of Terri Schiavo, A Possible "Grace" From This Tragedy, Etc. --Part I (An Audio Post) [>>>]
Miscellaneous Musings on the Death of Terri Schiavo, A Possible "Grace" From This Tragedy, Etc. --Part II (An Audio Post) [>>>]
Prelude to a Potential Dialogue on the Subject of Foundational Presuppositions [>>>]
Of or Pertaining to 'Progressivist' Philosophies (Falsely So-Called)
On the Inaugural Speech, The President's Use of the Word "Freedom", and Self-Styled "Progressivist" Reactions Thereof (An Audio Post) [>>>]
Points to Ponder on Left-Wing Bloggers (Jonah Goldberg) [>>>]
On 'Traditionalism' (Falsely So-Called)
There was a title change with regards to this margin post:
Mr. Smith's Misunderstandings (Parts I-VI)
As this thread is essentially a Rerum Novarum commentary on Humani Generis, the title of the piece has been changed to reflect that. It will henceforth be referred to by some of the title it has long possessed in the threads itself:
Some Errors by a Self-Proclaimed 'Traditionalist' Viz. Understanding Humani Generis (Parts I-IV)
The remaining parts of the original thread were reconfigured into a two part thread titled "Some More Errors by a Self-Proclaimed 'Traditionalist'" and left in the archive.
On 'Traditionalism' (Properly So-Called)
Some Clarifications on Fr. Henri de Lubac and His Views on the Relationship Between Nature and Grace [>>>]
Points to Ponder From Pope John Paul II (On Easter) [>>>]
Points to Ponder From Pope John Paul II (On Liturgical Silence) [>>>]
On Certain Controverted "Hotpoint" Theological Subjects
Points to Ponder From John O'Donahue on the Soul (An Audio Post) [>>>]
On Other Controverted Subjects
Briefly on the Upcoming Conclave [>>>]
On the Conclave and Papal Selections [>>>]
For those who are interested, We were the first to make the call on a Ratzinger papacy. (Though in the interest of fairness, there was a misguessing on Our part that he would select "Leo XIV" for a name.)
Recommended Weblogs:
Some minor name adjustments were made to the weblogs classified under this general heading. Nonetheless, included amongst them now are these weblogs.
The Southern Appeal BLOG [>>>]
We have enjoyed this weblog for a while and been somewhat tardy in adding it to Our scroll. One things is for sure: this writer's animosities towards attorneys would dissipate quickly if there were more of them like the SA crew (and of course Ian McLean).
Gregg the Obscure's Vita Brevis BLOG [>>>]
John Betts' Just Your Average Catholic Guy BLOG [>>>]
The Obscure One and John Betts are back in the blogosphere so their reconstituted weblogs are being readded to Rerum Novarum at the present time.
Jonathan Prejean's Crimson Catholic BLOG [>>>]
For those who remember, the above weblog was Our pick for "best new weblog" in the (now infamous) St. Blog's "Awards."
Recommended* Catholic Websites
Blessed Sacrament Parish and Dominican Priory [>>>]
St. John Cantius Parish [>>>]
The first link was transferred from another category. Frequent readers know that it is the parish that your humble servant attends most frequently.
Ecumenical Jihad Approved* Websites and Weblogs
Rev. Michael J. Pahls' Abbot Gregory Site (Reformed Church of America) [>>>]
Rev. Michael J. Pahls' Bishop's BLOG (Reformed Church of America) [>>>]
It has been noted before that Rev. Pahls has written (in the opinion of this writer) one of the best non-Catholic commentaries on Trent Session VI. The link to that essay was defunct but is not fixed and readily viewable under the Recommended Religious/Theological Articles on Various Subjects classification in this weblog's margin.
Ashli's The SICLE Cell BLOG (Christian) [>>>]
The above weblog has as one of its core themes a vivid testament against the lie of abortion being "liberating."
Approved* Weblogs and Websites of a Predominantly Political Nature
The SoundPolitics BLOG [>>>]
For those following the Washington State Governor's
Recommended* Socio-Political Articles on Various Subjects
Our Worst Enemy - Rabbi Daniel Lapin [>>>]
Air America's Lousy Ratings - Michelle Malkin [>>>]
Blogging and Bloggers - Brian Micklethwait [>>>]
Terri Schiavo: Judicial Murder - Nat Hentoff [>>>]
It's a Brave New World After Terri Schiavo Dies - Timothy Birdnow [>>>]
The next two articles were slated for a Miscellaneous Links of Interest post but now they will merely be posted in this update without the originally planned commentary on them. (Though they may be revisited later on for the purpose of commentary.)
Take Back the Word - Joel Engel [>>>]
Our Not-So-Wise Experts - Victor Davis Hanson [>>>]
Recommended Religious/Theological Articles on Various Subjects
Petrine Office and Particular Churches -Fr. Henri de Lubac SJ [>>>]
The Holocaust: What Was Not Said -Fr. Martin Rhonheimer [>>>]
Shawn's Eastern Catholic Corner Approved* Links
The Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostrom [>>>]
[:::....Other Approved* Sites or Links of Interest....:::]
This heading was suppressed, the contents moved to other places, and the following subheading (General Magisterial Texts) was put in its place in whote background with darkblue font.
General Magisterial Texts
Humani Generis Encyclical Letter Concerning Some False Opinions Threatening to Undermine Catholic Doctrine (Pope Pius XII) [>>>]
In light of the new Pope Benedict XVI, and a sense of optimism, let us conclude this update with a greater than normal degree of pomp and circumstance...
Wherefore, having noted these additions, amendations, and other adjustments, it is prescribed by the webmaster of Rerum Novarum that the insertions listed above be introduced for a perpetual remembrance all things to the contrary notwithstanding.
Monday, April 18, 2005
Prelude to a Potential Dialogue on the Subject of Foundational Presuppositions:
Apparently, a certain dialogual associate of this writer has been producing volumes of recent writing on the subjects of foundational premises that impact a person's presupposational weltanschauung. It therefore seems appropriate to point out for those who are interested in discussing these issues in a profitable manner{1} the necessity of keeping individual discussion threads from wandering away from the core subjects involved. And when you have two or more people who view the world through different "lenses", it helps to try and establish agreed upon points of reference at the outset of any proposed dialogue. In the opinion of the present writer, a discussion on foundational presuppositions that undergird particular paradigms of thought is of particular importance if any of those involved in the dialogue are involved to a larger extent in academic circles.
For those in academia can often have pretentions towards being "learned" while being (at the same time) isolated to a certain extent from reality.{2} Indeed, all too often the Gospel message of being "salt and light" seems to be rendered in academia these days in a manner akin to the following:
You are the light of tiny ivory tower elitists. A city that is set in a valley is easily hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it on a lampstand to give light to all who are in the house but instead under a basket away from all but those who have the special gnosis. Do not let your light shine before men, lest they see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. No, shine your light under the basket and expend its energy on tedious exegesis of 'present participles', 'present active infinitives', and lengthy expositions on epistemological trifles that you may thus be viewed as wise among the ivory tower elitists and that they may give you glory and not your Father in heaven. [Matthew v,14-16 (Revised Ivory Tower Academia Version)]
What good ponderous multivolume cogitations on these subjects have viz a viz being even read (let alone actually assimilated into the thought patterns of others) is a mystery to the present writer. Therefore, in the interest of facilitating genuine "salt and light" dialogues on these matters, your humble servant at Rerum Novarum will launch this proposed dialogue after the conclave is over.{3} Hopefully the particular parties addressed previously at this weblog under the auspices of conducting such a dialogue{4} will respond accordingly and we can have a productive discussion free from overlong bloviations on either side. We shall see...
Notes:
{1} By "profitable", is meant in a manner whereby people can actually understand what is being said. To aid in this, your host will be posting two threads after the conclave to try and establish some reasonable boundaries for not only facilitating such a dialogue but also to increase its likelihood of making viable contributions to the arena of ideas. (For better, more fruitful discussions if you will.)
{2} To note the kind of sheltering from reality that academia allows its presumptive "elites" and "scholars", the following are from a couple of Rerum Novarum posts from 2004:
[So-called "free trade"] is an unfortunate canard of the so-called "neo-conservatives" but even people generally liberal such as Kerry support it. In the case of the liberals, it it is probably because they like the idea of international organizations outside of US sovereignty telling us whom we can trade with and why. The so-called "neo-conservatives" fall for this kind of "voodoo economics" but cannot point to one single example in history where a nation became strong and prosperous due to so-called "free trade" without any recourse to protecting their borders.
The latter constituted the foundation of a challenge I made about twelve years ago to a couple of my business instructors in college who were pro free trade. And despite not being able to answer the challenge, they still uncritically mimicked the "free trade" mantra. My exposing of this canard before the classes I was in -and invariably making my instructors look very bad in the process- probably prevented me from getting the grades I should have gotten in those classes. [Excerpt from Rerum Novarum (circa March 12, 2004)
And again:
[B]oth [political parties] promote (to name one example of several) that boondoggle called "free trade" which is a wonderful academic theory that does not work in reality. I challenged three teachers in my international political economy class in college to name for me these countries that built themselves into powerful and industrious nations using the free trade that two of the three were so avidly promoting. And every example they raised I was able to easily shoot down.[...] Despite their failure to cite supporting evidences for this theory, they still shilled for the idea though. Talk about a classic example of economic solipsism in a nutshell!!!
I extend to you the same challenge with this caveat: my teachers who were well schooled in international political economic theory could not do this so do not think that this will be an easy task for you to do. NAFTA and other so-called "free trade" agreements benefit one class of people only: multinational corporations who like to utilize cheap labour for their products. I think it is absurd that these ivory tower nimrods cannot recognize the concoction that is brewed by (i) the strangling tax code in this country coupled with (ii) high regulatory and environmental restrictions in the US, (iii) no such restrictions to speak of in Mexico, (iv) the ease with which materials can be moved from country to country under this policy, and (v) the dirt cheap non-unionized labour force in places like Mexico which can be exploited. There should be super high tariffs on countries that go to Mexico or other countries to build products to ship them back to the US. That would mitigate against this pattern but do not expect to see that logical policy implemented anytime soon. [...]
If you want to claim that what we are seeing needs to be refined in its approach, then you would be doing with so-called "free trade" what I am doing with the third party political concept. My opposition was not as much to NAFTA in theory (which sounds good I admit) as what I knew it would result in where the rubber meets the road: indeed I predicted what has come to pass before NAFTA was even implemented. History was my teacher here and those who shilled for NAFTA (including some of my college business and law professors) chose to ignore Santayana's dictum and not listen to what the instructor of history reveals. [Excerpt from Rerum Novarum (circa November 11, 2004)]
Another classic example which could be noted is that of communism. Though it has failed in every incarnation it has manifested itself in over the years, the most notorious propagators of communist theory are college professors and others in academia who never have to be held accountable for what their abstract theories actually produce in reality when the rubber meets the road.
{3} See footnote one.
{4} The most recent of these threads is the one located HERE. Hopefully the party being addressed will not presume that general criticisms of academics on the part of the present writer must therefore apply to them personally.
Apparently, a certain dialogual associate of this writer has been producing volumes of recent writing on the subjects of foundational premises that impact a person's presupposational weltanschauung. It therefore seems appropriate to point out for those who are interested in discussing these issues in a profitable manner{1} the necessity of keeping individual discussion threads from wandering away from the core subjects involved. And when you have two or more people who view the world through different "lenses", it helps to try and establish agreed upon points of reference at the outset of any proposed dialogue. In the opinion of the present writer, a discussion on foundational presuppositions that undergird particular paradigms of thought is of particular importance if any of those involved in the dialogue are involved to a larger extent in academic circles.
For those in academia can often have pretentions towards being "learned" while being (at the same time) isolated to a certain extent from reality.{2} Indeed, all too often the Gospel message of being "salt and light" seems to be rendered in academia these days in a manner akin to the following:
You are the light of tiny ivory tower elitists. A city that is set in a valley is easily hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it on a lampstand to give light to all who are in the house but instead under a basket away from all but those who have the special gnosis. Do not let your light shine before men, lest they see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. No, shine your light under the basket and expend its energy on tedious exegesis of 'present participles', 'present active infinitives', and lengthy expositions on epistemological trifles that you may thus be viewed as wise among the ivory tower elitists and that they may give you glory and not your Father in heaven. [Matthew v,14-16 (Revised Ivory Tower Academia Version)]
What good ponderous multivolume cogitations on these subjects have viz a viz being even read (let alone actually assimilated into the thought patterns of others) is a mystery to the present writer. Therefore, in the interest of facilitating genuine "salt and light" dialogues on these matters, your humble servant at Rerum Novarum will launch this proposed dialogue after the conclave is over.{3} Hopefully the particular parties addressed previously at this weblog under the auspices of conducting such a dialogue{4} will respond accordingly and we can have a productive discussion free from overlong bloviations on either side. We shall see...
Notes:
{1} By "profitable", is meant in a manner whereby people can actually understand what is being said. To aid in this, your host will be posting two threads after the conclave to try and establish some reasonable boundaries for not only facilitating such a dialogue but also to increase its likelihood of making viable contributions to the arena of ideas. (For better, more fruitful discussions if you will.)
{2} To note the kind of sheltering from reality that academia allows its presumptive "elites" and "scholars", the following are from a couple of Rerum Novarum posts from 2004:
[So-called "free trade"] is an unfortunate canard of the so-called "neo-conservatives" but even people generally liberal such as Kerry support it. In the case of the liberals, it it is probably because they like the idea of international organizations outside of US sovereignty telling us whom we can trade with and why. The so-called "neo-conservatives" fall for this kind of "voodoo economics" but cannot point to one single example in history where a nation became strong and prosperous due to so-called "free trade" without any recourse to protecting their borders.
The latter constituted the foundation of a challenge I made about twelve years ago to a couple of my business instructors in college who were pro free trade. And despite not being able to answer the challenge, they still uncritically mimicked the "free trade" mantra. My exposing of this canard before the classes I was in -and invariably making my instructors look very bad in the process- probably prevented me from getting the grades I should have gotten in those classes. [Excerpt from Rerum Novarum (circa March 12, 2004)
And again:
[B]oth [political parties] promote (to name one example of several) that boondoggle called "free trade" which is a wonderful academic theory that does not work in reality. I challenged three teachers in my international political economy class in college to name for me these countries that built themselves into powerful and industrious nations using the free trade that two of the three were so avidly promoting. And every example they raised I was able to easily shoot down.[...] Despite their failure to cite supporting evidences for this theory, they still shilled for the idea though. Talk about a classic example of economic solipsism in a nutshell!!!
I extend to you the same challenge with this caveat: my teachers who were well schooled in international political economic theory could not do this so do not think that this will be an easy task for you to do. NAFTA and other so-called "free trade" agreements benefit one class of people only: multinational corporations who like to utilize cheap labour for their products. I think it is absurd that these ivory tower nimrods cannot recognize the concoction that is brewed by (i) the strangling tax code in this country coupled with (ii) high regulatory and environmental restrictions in the US, (iii) no such restrictions to speak of in Mexico, (iv) the ease with which materials can be moved from country to country under this policy, and (v) the dirt cheap non-unionized labour force in places like Mexico which can be exploited. There should be super high tariffs on countries that go to Mexico or other countries to build products to ship them back to the US. That would mitigate against this pattern but do not expect to see that logical policy implemented anytime soon. [...]
If you want to claim that what we are seeing needs to be refined in its approach, then you would be doing with so-called "free trade" what I am doing with the third party political concept. My opposition was not as much to NAFTA in theory (which sounds good I admit) as what I knew it would result in where the rubber meets the road: indeed I predicted what has come to pass before NAFTA was even implemented. History was my teacher here and those who shilled for NAFTA (including some of my college business and law professors) chose to ignore Santayana's dictum and not listen to what the instructor of history reveals. [Excerpt from Rerum Novarum (circa November 11, 2004)]
Another classic example which could be noted is that of communism. Though it has failed in every incarnation it has manifested itself in over the years, the most notorious propagators of communist theory are college professors and others in academia who never have to be held accountable for what their abstract theories actually produce in reality when the rubber meets the road.
{3} See footnote one.
{4} The most recent of these threads is the one located HERE. Hopefully the party being addressed will not presume that general criticisms of academics on the part of the present writer must therefore apply to them personally.
Sunday, April 17, 2005
Points to Ponder:
One aspect that we must foster in our communities with greater commitment is the experience of silence. We need silence "if we are to accept in our hearts the full resonance of the voice of the Holy Spirit and to unite our personal prayer more closely to the Word of God and the public voice of the Church"[...]. In a society that lives at an increasingly frenetic pace, often deafened by noise and confused by the ephemeral, it is vital to rediscover the value of silence. The spread, also outside Christian worship, of practices of meditation that give priority to recollection is not accidental. Why not start with pedagogical daring a specific education in silence within the coordinates of personal Christian experience? Let us keep before our eyes the example of Jesus, who "rose and went out to a lonely place, and there he prayed" (Mk 1: 35). The Liturgy, with its different moments and symbols, cannot ignore silence. [Pope John Paul II: Apostolic Letter Spiritus et Sponsa §13 (c. 2003)]
One aspect that we must foster in our communities with greater commitment is the experience of silence. We need silence "if we are to accept in our hearts the full resonance of the voice of the Holy Spirit and to unite our personal prayer more closely to the Word of God and the public voice of the Church"[...]. In a society that lives at an increasingly frenetic pace, often deafened by noise and confused by the ephemeral, it is vital to rediscover the value of silence. The spread, also outside Christian worship, of practices of meditation that give priority to recollection is not accidental. Why not start with pedagogical daring a specific education in silence within the coordinates of personal Christian experience? Let us keep before our eyes the example of Jesus, who "rose and went out to a lonely place, and there he prayed" (Mk 1: 35). The Liturgy, with its different moments and symbols, cannot ignore silence. [Pope John Paul II: Apostolic Letter Spiritus et Sponsa §13 (c. 2003)]
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