Rodney Hide writes – New Zealand is no longer a religious country. That’s not my opinion. It’s the census. In 2023, for the first time since the question was asked, more than half of us, 51.6 per cent, said we had no religion. Christians fell to 32.3 per cent, down from 36.5 per cent five […]
We stopped believing. The rulebook got religion
We stopped believing. The rulebook got religion
01 Oct 2026 Leave a comment
in economic history, economics of bureaucracy, economics of regulation, economics of religion, law and economics, politics - New Zealand, property rights, Public Choice Tags: constitutional law
Woman of the day
28 Sep 2026 Leave a comment
in discrimination, economics of crime, economics of religion, gender, law and economics Tags: Iran
The judiciary system in Iran has confirmed 74 lashes for Parastoo Ahmadi for the “crime” of singing. She sang without compulsory hijab. She hurt no one. She simply used her voice. Now she faces 74 lashes, a two-year travel ban, and a two-year ban from audiovisual activities.… pic.twitter.com/3re8kboPIR — Masih Alinejad (@AlinejadMasih) September 26, 2026
Woman of the day
New Rule: Clash of Civilizations | Real Time with Bill Maher (HBO)
20 Sep 2026 Leave a comment
in defence economics, economics of crime, economics of religion, International law, law and economics, laws of war, politics - USA, war and peace Tags: war against terror
Andy Burnham, the Premiership, and the Roman Catholic Relief Act 1829
12 Sep 2026 Leave a comment
in constitutional political economy, economics of bureaucracy, economics of religion, Public Choice Tags: British constitutional law, British politics, Freedom of religion, religious discrimination
Andy Burnham announced today that his constitutional responsibility for advising the Sovereign on ecclesiastical appointments has been transferred to the Lord Chancellor. This was necessary because, as a Roman Catholic, Burnham is barred from tendering this advice by s. 18 of the Roman Catholic Relief Act 1829. S. 4 of the Jews Relief Act 1858 […]
Andy Burnham, the Premiership, and the Roman Catholic Relief Act 1829
The Taliban, Women and the Far Left
15 Aug 2026 1 Comment
in defence economics, discrimination, economics of education, economics of religion, gender, human capital, labour economics, labour supply, war and peace Tags: Afghanistan
It is five years today since the Taliban took control of Afghanistan. On 15 August 2021, its forces entered Kabul as the Afghan government collapsed and the long Western intervention came to an ignominious end. Five years later, the consequences for Afghan women are appalling. The Taliban has issued more than 100 decrees restricting the […]
The Taliban, Women and the Far Left
Hiroshima and “Little Boy”: A Historical Perspective
07 Aug 2026 Leave a comment
in defence economics, economics of religion, laws of war, war and peace Tags: atomic bombings, Japan, World War II
On August 6, 1945, the world witnessed the devastating power of nuclear warfare for the first time when the United States dropped an atomic bomb, code-named “Little Boy,” on the Japanese city of Hiroshima. This event marked a significant turning point in World War II and had profound implications for international relations, warfare, and ethics. […]
Hiroshima and “Little Boy”: A Historical Perspective
RODNEY HIDE: The Strange New Face of Women’s Empowerment
30 Jul 2026 1 Comment
in discrimination, economics of religion, gender, law and economics, liberalism, Marxist economics Tags: political correctness, regressive left, sex discrimination
Here is a single image that captures the extent to which we are lost. Khadija Patel stands at the Palace of Westminster, recipient of the British Citizen Award 2026 for her “work empowering young women.” She is covered from head to toe. Only her eyes are visible. The official caption celebrates her as a champion…
RODNEY HIDE: The Strange New Face of Women’s Empowerment
Radio NZ at it again
30 Jul 2026 Leave a comment
in defence economics, economics of crime, economics of religion, law and economics, Marxist economics, politics - New Zealand, war and peace Tags: Germany, media bias, war against terror
Simon O’Connor points out: So Radio NZ ran a story from Reuters about the terrible hate crime attack in Berlin which saw 1 killed and 29 wounded at a pride festival. However they removed a key detail from the story. That the attacker was an Islamist. Reuters had this in their story, yet Radio NZ…
Radio NZ at it again
Jesus ‘n’ Mo ‘n’ the Islamophobia tsar
02 Jul 2026 Leave a comment
in economics of religion, liberalism Tags: free speech, Freedom of religion, political correctness, regressive left
Today’s Jesus and Mo strip, called “aspects,” came with a note: “Thankfully, that Anti-Muslim Hostility Tsar seems to be taking his time arriving.” Yes, the British Government was going to appoint a “tsar” to oversee and police anti-Muslim hostility, but the position remains unfilled. The Muslim Council of Britain is complaining (their bolding): The Muslim…
Jesus ‘n’ Mo ‘n’ the Islamophobia tsar
What do Muslim immigrants think?
31 May 2026 Leave a comment
in defence economics, economics of crime, economics of media and culture, economics of religion, law and economics, liberalism, politics, politics - Australia, politics - New Zealand, politics - USA Tags: economics of immigration
Tomas Pueyo has collated a huge amount of public opinion data from Muslims in Western countries. He finds: Depending on the country of origin and destination:~10-40% of Muslims are moderate & well integrated~20-50% are conservative, religious, pious~25% are fundamentalists~Of which 15% (pp) are radical Islamists Some findings in the US: He concludes: In summary, the…
What do Muslim immigrants think?
Why Religious Beliefs Are Irrational, and Why Economists Should Care
27 Apr 2026 Leave a comment
in applied price theory, economic history, economics of religion
My opening statement for my 2005 debate versus Larry Iannaccone
Why Religious Beliefs Are Irrational, and Why Economists Should Care
What Freedom of Speech Is For: The case against silencing
11 Apr 2026 Leave a comment
in economic history, economics of crime, economics of education, economics of religion, Karl Popper, law and economics, liberalism, Marxist economics, politics - Australia, politics - New Zealand, politics - USA Tags: Age of Enlightenment, conjecture and refutation, free speech, Freedom of religion, philosophy of science, political correctness, regressive left
In 1633, the Roman Inquisition condemned Galileo for heresy. His offence was to argue that the Earth moves around the Sun. The Church was not acting out of malice. It was protecting a politically approved consensus against what was considered to be dangerous nonsense. The theologians and philosophers who condemned Galileo were not fools. They […]
What Freedom of Speech Is For: The case against silencing
Now The Atlantic touts religion—or rather, beliefs that don’t need evidence
30 Mar 2026 Leave a comment
in economics of education, economics of religion Tags: Freedom of religion
I’ve been posting from time to time about how the mainstream media is suddenly touting religion and its benefits—a phenomenon I don’t fully understand. Now The Atlantic has joined the queue with an article by Elizabeth Bruenig, who’s written for the magazine for 6 years, and before that for the NYT, the WaPo, and the…
Now The Atlantic touts religion—or rather, beliefs that don’t need evidence
The Rushdie fatwa
30 Mar 2026 Leave a comment
in defence economics, economics of crime, economics of education, economics of religion, law and economics, liberalism Tags: free speech
Jonathan Rosen writes: Thirty-seven years ago, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, Supreme Leader and founder of the Islamic Republic of Iran, sentenced Salman Rushdieto death on Valentine’s Day for writing a novel. It is hard to write that sentence without feeling it is a parody of the opening line of Franz Kafka’s The Trial: “Someone must have slandered Josef K.,…
The Rushdie fatwa
What power would allow Ministers to close down a community?
22 Mar 2026 Leave a comment
in economics of crime, economics of religion, law and economics, libertarianism, politics - New Zealand
The Herald reports: Senior Government minister Louise Upston visited Gloriavale in late January, months after refusing to rule out closing the religious community following allegations of child abuse in the community. Newstalk ZB has confirmed Upston visited the sect on January 30, alongside officials from the Ministry of Social Development. This story is puzzling. As…
What power would allow Ministers to close down a community?
Recent Comments