I have long followed Fr. Robert Sirico the Founder of the Actin Institute. Actin was founded in 1990 with the purpose of combining religious and economic education and providing the religious and laity academic communities with an historical liberal perspective, based on Biblical and Natural Law Principles. I was first attracted to Fr. Sirico after […]
Author: Dr. John Livingston
Is Trump being “GOLDWATERED”?
I had a front row seat to the Presidential Election of 1964 between Senator Barry Goldwater of Arizona and Lyndon Johnson who became President after John Kennedy was assassinated. My father gave up his business for a year and ran Mr. Goldwater’s campaign in Ohio. Ohio was at the epicenter of that campaign, until the […]
The Shunning of Deplorables
Early in my life I became aware of the cowardly act of “shunning”. I lived with my Quaker Grandparents in Swarthmore Pa. for 5 years as my father was deployed to Korea and Japan during the Korean War. My mother worked at the Naval Hospital in Philadelphia, so my grandmother became my surrogate mother. Most […]
Mr. Burke and Mr. Lincoln
The Progressive wing of the Democratic Party continues its’ unrelenting march of divisiveness. Placing individuals into categories and competing factions has been the modus operandi of Saul Alinsky sycophants since the early 1960’s. They purposefully and thoughtfully create conflicts instead of trying to create harmony. Marxist theory requires class warfare. The oppressed vs the oppressor. […]
There are no Heroes
In every culture there are heroes. In almost every instance the purpose of a “god” or a “Saint”, a great warrior or a devil is to set some sort of a standard—good or bad. At a very young age we learn about the virtues, the evils, the accomplishments and shortcomings of heroes. At a later […]
Like many Republicans, I have been bathing in the afterglow of the Republican convention. “Kumbaya”. We should celebrate for a day or two and then get back to work. Where are the voices from two years ago from the corporate mercantilist wing of our party that preached from the pulpit of Tolerance—not acceptance? Mitt, Romney, […]
Competence and Courage
Since the assassination attempt on Mr. Trump last Saturday, I have had several conversations about the absolute lack of competency that we have witnessed over the past three and a half years in the Biden administration. When Kamala—aka, Ms. Willi Brown was given the title “Border Czar,” was it because she had ever been competent […]
God of our Fathers
God of our fathers, known of old,Lord of our far-flung battle line,Beneath whose awful hand we holdDominion over palm and pine —Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet,Lest we forget—lest we forget! — “Recessional” by Rudyard Kipling For several years now I have prayed for a leader for our country who loves God and […]
On July 13 it was announced by the United States Naval Academy that 26 of this year’s football squad members had been elected on the American Athletic Conference All-Academic Team. The real story is in the details. Look below to see what their major field of academic study is in and what they will be […]
Christian Conservatism
I understand why so many people are concerned about Donald Trump’s character. I am equally concerned about the character of Joe Biden. I am unable to look into the hearts of others, but a life lived—either well or not is like posting a golf score—it is up there for everybody to read. By the way […]
Horatius
Horatius: a hero in Roman legend noted for his defense of a bridge over the Tiber against the Etruscans This past week I saw a Facebook Video that showed a flock of baby lambs running out of a corral chute being confronted with an Australian Shepherd at the open gate. They all stopped and turned […]
The Problem of “Social Cost”
In Idaho at all levels of government we are watching before our eyes a centralization of the political process. The State of Idaho budget is 55% funded by the Feds—with strings attached. At the local level through government grants and incentives to participate in Federalized programs—think activation fees and matching funds for Medicaid and public […]