Robert Sirico and The Morality of Free Enterprise
I owe a great deal to Father Robert Sirico and the outstanding people who comprise The Acton Institute. For those who aren't familiar with Acton, it is a free-market think-tank based in Grand Rapids, MI whose goal is the advancement of the ideas, ideals, and values that produce a "free and virtuous society." It is ecumenical in it's religious outlook, but decidedly Judeo-Christian in its mission.
I found Acton a few years back after interning for Dr. Marvin Olasky (editor, World Magazine) and I'm not exaggerating when I say that nearly every door that has been opened to me in recent years - from blogging/podcasting for American Enterprise Institute to a job as Director of Communications to Dennis Prager t0 meeting a whole slew of really hot conservative girls - has had someone from Acton behind it.
This week I had the privilege of interviewing my friend/mentor/hero Father Robert Sirico for the "Values and Capitalism" show that I host, and we spoke specifically about his new book: "Defending the Free Market: The Moral Case for a Free Economy"
Whether you are religious or not is totally beside the point. This book matters. This argument matters. Any of you reading this who, like me, are under 30, will understand when I say that we are in serious danger of losing the battle for the hearts and minds of my generation when it comes to free enterprise and limited government - and we're losing because the other side has convinced enough people that they have the moral high-ground. Facts and figures and Long-Run Aggregate Demand Curves do, in fact, matter. But they don't connect or resonate with the average young American quite like a "We simply want people to have a fair shot at a good life" quote from Barack Obama or (insert vapid entertainer's name here).
Great minds like Father Sirico and Arthur Brooks having been making the moral case for the things we believe for a while now and it is important to remember that even if YOU already know about them and YOU know the basic elements of their platform, almost no one else you encounter on a daily basis does. (That includes fellow conservatives/libertarians, sadly.)
So check out the book. If you'd like to hear my interview with Father Robert, you can do so right here. And let me know what you think!
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Jun '10
Re: Robert Sirico and The Morality of Free Enterprise
Tony (Paulie "Walnuts" Gualtieri) Sirico's Introduction of (his brother) Rev. Robert A. Sirico at the Acton 20th Anniversary Dinner
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BBnUJTB58pg
Jan '12
Re: Robert Sirico and The Morality of Free Enterprise
I will add his book to my to-read list. I saw Father Sirico speak a few months ago and thoroughy enjoyed it.
Mar '11
Re: Robert Sirico and The Morality of Free Enterprise
I'll probably be listening to it tomorrow R.J.
I've enjoyed the other ones, particularly when you had Andrew Klavan on the podcast.
Oct '11
Re: Robert Sirico and The Morality of Free Enterprise
Thumbs up! Time well spent. Thanks.
Dec '10
Re: Robert Sirico and The Morality of Free Enterprise
Percival: I'll probably be listening to it tomorrow R.J.
I've enjoyed the other ones, particularly when you had Andrew Klavan on the podcast. · 24 hours ago
Thanks! Let me know what you think. Father Sirico's a great man with an important message.
Dec '10
Re: Robert Sirico and The Morality of Free Enterprise
Wow, that made my day to hear you say that! Thanks so much. Please stay in touch!
Dec '10
Re: Robert Sirico and The Morality of Free Enterprise
Is it sinful to swoon over a priest? 'Cause when I met Fr. Sirico after his talk at a Food for Thought luncheon I attended, I went all flibbertigibbet like a teenager meeting her heartthrob. He's my hero too, R. J. I only regret I'm too old to enter the program offered by Acton.
I'll definitely be listening. Did he say anything about the Poverty Cure film Acton was to release? The last I checked the blog, it was still showing the trailer, but hadn't released the film yet. BTW, Fr. Sirico said he was out-voted on the title. He believes, as Jesus said, we'll always have the poor with us and there is no "cure" -- only improvements to be made.
Dec '10
Re: Robert Sirico and The Morality of Free Enterprise
Oh, yeah, speaking of great Uncommon Knowledge and/or Ricochet podcast guests...
Re: Robert Sirico and The Morality of Free Enterprise
Your interviewing with Fr. Sirico is downloading on iTunes as I type, RJ. Can't wait.
Dec '10
Re: Robert Sirico and The Morality of Free Enterprise
My day is made! Thanks, Peter.
Dec '10
Re: Robert Sirico and The Morality of Free Enterprise
Great idea!
Jun '12
Re: Robert Sirico and The Morality of Free Enterprise
I can't tell you how please I am to see these books on the moral defense of Free Markets come out now.
Now I am going to be forced to go buy another book! DARN!! I hate when that happens! :-)
Aug '10
Re: Robert Sirico and The Morality of Free Enterprise
If you want a free-enterprise story that's touchingly human, read "The Beautiful Tree" by James Tooley.
It's an incredibly moving book about how the poorest of the poor around the world educate themselves through private (and sometimes illegal) schooling.
Even though free markets are the logic behind Tooley's story, the book is not "about markets". It's about education, about poverty... about the stories of how real people, real poor people, solve dire problems among themselves, and solve them best freed from state coercion. This is a book to share with nonconservative friends (though maybe not diehard leftists).
Tooley's book gets five stars for making a moral case for free markets. Compared to that, Brooks's latest work gets only one star -- and I like Brooks's stuff overall!
De Soto's "The Mystery of Capital" also has "a heart for the poor", as the saying goes.
Edited on June 1, 2012 at 7:28pmAug '10
Re: Robert Sirico and The Morality of Free Enterprise
R.J. Moeller:
"Defending the Free Market: The Moral Case for a Free Economy"
Oooh! I look forward to reading it!
I hope it's better than "The Road To Freedom", which was, to my surprise, unsound.
Rather than making a passionate case that yes, life is filled with windfall gains and windfall losses, and that even individuals in tragic circumstances beyond their control still benefit more from free markets than they would otherwise, Brooks kept talking about meritocratic fairness, while avoiding the looming issue that life isn't a meritocracy and never will be one.
As Sowell says, you can reward productivity, but not merit. Only God can reward merit -- and if Christianity is what we think it is, God doesn't even enforce strict meritocracy, preferring an economy of mercy instead.
One of the many virtues of free markets is that they enforce meritocratic fairness better than other systems. But that doesn't make life fair, not even meritocratically.
Brooks walked right into the stereotype of conservatives being people deluded enough to think that people always earn what they deserve. I couldn't recommend Brooks' latest to any nonconservative, which surprised me. His other stuff's so good.
Aug '10
Re: Robert Sirico and The Morality of Free Enterprise
Sorry for the rant, but as you can tell, I'm rather passionate about how to put the moral case for free markets myself.
I would also recommend "Money, Greed, and God" as a decent (not perfect) way of introducing Christians to the virtues of the market.
Dec '10
Re: Robert Sirico and The Morality of Free Enterprise
Midget Faded Rattlesnake: Sorry for the rant, but as you can tell, I'm rather passionate about how to put the moral case for free markets myself.
I would also recommend "Money, Greed, and God" as a decent (not perfect) way of introducing Christians to the virtues of the market. · 1 hour ago
No need to apologize! And Jay Richards is one of my good friends and I think the most under-the-radar genius of the conservative movement.
Sep '11
Re: Robert Sirico and The Morality of Free Enterprise
R.J., I have just listened to your interview. As others have said, well worth the time and I look forward to reading the book.
Jun '12
Re: Robert Sirico and The Morality of Free Enterprise
Midget Faded Rattlesnake
R.J. Moeller:
"Defending the Free Market: The Moral Case for a Free Economy"
Oooh! I look forward to reading it!
I hope it's better than "The Road To Freedom", which was, to my surprise, unsound.
23 hours ago
Thanks for the review. I have not bought it yet, but based on what I had seen on the Web and his last book I was planning on buying it. I may give it a rethink.
Aug '10
Re: Robert Sirico and The Morality of Free Enterprise
Valin
Thanks for the review. I have not bought it yet, but based on what I had seen on the Web and his last book I was planning on buying it. I may give it a rethink.
Some of the parts, like the difference between learned helplessness and earned success, are good.
It's just not the book that Brooks set out to write, which was a manual for bridging the gap between free-marketers and non-free-marketers by using moral arguments. I was surprised, because I've found Brooks adept at bridging the gap between conservatives and nonconservatives in other works of his I've read.
Now Sowell... he can make a passionate case for free markets while at the same time eloquently acknowledging the inescapable role that tragedy and luck play in life. Or so I think.
Jun '12
Re: Robert Sirico and The Morality of Free Enterprise
R.J. Moeller
Midget Faded Rattlesnake: Sorry for the rant, but as you can tell, I'm rather passionate about how to put the moral case for free markets myself.
I would also recommend "Money, Greed, and God" as a decent (not perfect) way of introducing Christians to the virtues of the market. · 1 hour ago
No need to apologize! And Jay Richards is one of my good friends and I think the most under-the-radar genius of the conservative movement. · 22 hours ago
This Jay Richards?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OD3aWi8Ejgs
:-)