In Sidney, Ohio I interviewed Kevin Schmiesing of the Acton Institute. The Intstitute works to bring together religious, business, academic and political leaders. The hope is to help promote more social justice and human dignity in the world. For instance, Schmiesing explained Acton will bring together theologians and economists to discuss things like: just wage; just price; just working conditions… “Employers have a responsibility above the logic of the market,” said Schmiesing, referring to the promotion, for instance, of the issues just outlined… Someone who is taking all these to heart, and more, is Michael La Frome, who also lives in Sidney. He is currently an independent contractor, but had previously worked for a construction firm. He’s a Catholic and has taken the papal encyclical: “On Human Work” to heart. La Frome told me he takes seriously the encyclical’s teachings about bringing spirituality into the work place. And as an example, when La Frome, who is adamently Pro-Life, found out his company’s insurance plan covered abortions, he went to the front office to protest. He also said he took issue with some of the “dishonesty” he saw, in regard to the company, say, promising something — then not following through. La Frome finally went out on his own. Note: I met with La Frome in “The Spot” Restaurant in downtown Sidney. (It’s the: spot to be.) President Bush, it turns out, had stopped here for lunch just before Election 2004. Collages of pictures of Mr. Bush with the owner, the employees, the townspeople — even Mr. Bush with a batch of “The Spot” pies for his staff — were all over the walls. Meanwhile, not even one person took my picture in the restaurant this morning. Not even my daughter Sarah, and I had asked her to! Ah, the trials of an independent presidential candidate…