The Children’s Minister, Karen Chhour, intends to repeal Section 7AA from the Oranga Tamariki Act 1989 because it creates conflict between claimed Crown Treaty obligations and the child’s best interests. In her words, “Oranga Tamariki’s governing principles and its act should be colour blind, utterly child centric and open to whatever solution will ensure a child’s…
Meanwhile “… the disturbing trend of increasing violence towards children continues to worsen.”
Meanwhile “… the disturbing trend of increasing violence towards children continues to worsen.”
05 May 2024 Leave a comment
in economics of crime, law and economics, politics - New Zealand Tags: child abuse, crime and punishment, law and order
Two more Genter altercations
05 May 2024 Leave a comment
in economics of crime, law and economics, politics - New Zealand
Stuff reports: Another allegation has come to light against Green MP Julie Anne Genter, with a business owner claiming the MP, who is working from home after an incident this week in Parliament, grabbed her arm “and gave it quite a strong shake” as they spoke. Wellington business owner Nicola Cranfield said she saw Genter […]
Two more Genter altercations
Alvin Bragg and The Art of Not Taking Law Too Seriously
29 Apr 2024 Leave a comment
in economics of crime, law and economics, politics - USA Tags: 2020 presidential election, 2024 presidential election

Below is my column in The Hill on the first week of testimony in the Trump trial. It is making Rube Goldberg’s 13 step self-operating napkin look like a model of efficiency and clarity. It is so convoluted and illogical it is mesmerizing. Here is the column:
Alvin Bragg and The Art of Not Taking Law Too Seriously
Two Videos from a “Liberal” licking a Red Pill
28 Apr 2024 Leave a comment
in economics of crime, economics of education, law and economics, liberalism, politics - USA, television, TV shows Tags: free speech, political correctness, regressive left

If you thought the political cartoons from earlier today were funny you’re going to love the next two videos. Just don’t kid yourself that libertine comedian Bill Maher is going to vote GOP in this year’s election, let alone for Donald Trump. He’s not red-pilled yet, merely rolling it around on his tongue to see […]
Two Videos from a “Liberal” licking a Red Pill
LINDSAY MITCHELL: Is Oranga Tamariki guilty of neglect?
26 Apr 2024 Leave a comment
in discrimination, economics of bureaucracy, economics of crime, law and economics, politics - New Zealand, Public Choice Tags: crime and punishment, law and order

One of reasons Oranga Tamariki exists is to prevent child neglect. But could the organisation itself be guilty of the same? Oranga Tamariki’s statistics show a decrease in the number and age of children in care. “There are less children in care now than as at 30 June 2019 when there were 6450 children and…
LINDSAY MITCHELL: Is Oranga Tamariki guilty of neglect?
Meet a (Won’t be a striker at all) – former Third Striker # 1
25 Apr 2024 Leave a comment
in economics of crime, law and economics, politics - New Zealand Tags: crime and punishment, criminal deterrence, law and order
Ranapera Taumata is a Third Striker. He murdered his girlfriend in 2019 by beating her to death with his bare hands. The Judge summarised: Over the next 17 minutes or so, inside the sleepout you inflicted a prolongedand violent assault on Ms Hira, rendering her unconscious and injured. At about1.15 am you dragged her outside; she […]
Meet a (Won’t be a striker at all) – former Third Striker # 1
Maori Party (with “disgust”) draws attention to Chhour’s race after the High Court rules on Waitangi Tribunal’s summons
25 Apr 2024 Leave a comment
in economics of crime, law and economics, politics - New Zealand, property rights Tags: crime and punishment, criminal deterrence, law and order
Buzz from the Beehive A statement from Children’s Minister Karen Chhour – yet to be posted on the Government’s official website – arrived in Point of Order’s email in-tray last night. It welcomes the High Court ruling on whether the Waitangi Tribunal can demand she appear before it. It does not spell out what the […]
Maori Party (with “disgust”) draws attention to Chhour’s race after the High Court rules on Waitangi Tribunal’s summons
A weak Three Strikes law
24 Apr 2024 Leave a comment
in economics of crime, law and economics, politics - New Zealand Tags: crime and punishment, criminal deterrence, law and order
Nicole McKee announced: The Government is delivering on its commitment to bring back the Three Strikes legislation, Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee announced today. The return is welcome in principle, but what is being proposed is actually pretty weak and even ineffective. Cover the same 40 serious violent and sexual offences as the former legislation, […]
A weak Three Strikes law
Hamas rejects cease-fires
21 Apr 2024 1 Comment
in defence economics, economics of crime, International law, law and economics, laws of war, liberalism, Marxist economics, war and peace Tags: Gaza Strip, Israel, Middle-East politics, regressive left, war against terror

Ninth Circuit Rules Against Seattle in Using “Heckler’s Veto” in Arrest of Pro-Life Protester
21 Apr 2024 Leave a comment
in economics of crime, law and economics, liberalism, Marxist economics, politics - USA, property rights Tags: abortion law reform, free speech, political correctness, regressive left

We have often discussed how cities and universities will use the threat of protests to block or shutdown free speech, particularly of conservative speakers or groups. We now have a major decision out of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit that could prove an important precedent in resisting the growing anti-free […]
Ninth Circuit Rules Against Seattle in Using “Heckler’s Veto” in Arrest of Pro-Life Protester
Berkeley Prosecutors Cut Probation Deal for Scientist Who Tried to Kill Colleague
19 Apr 2024 Leave a comment
in economics of crime, law and economics Tags: crime and punishment, law and order
I have been a criminal defense attorney for my entire career, but there is a case out of Berkeley, California that is a real head scratcher. David Xu was the chief metallurgist for a company called Berkeley Engineering and Research (BEAR) and was caught on tape trying to poison a colleague. His actions are blamed […]
Berkeley Prosecutors Cut Probation Deal for Scientist Who Tried to Kill Colleague
Agent-principal conflicts
18 Apr 2024 Leave a comment
in economics of crime, economics of information, economics of media and culture, labour economics, labour supply, law and economics, managerial economics, organisational economics, personnel economics Tags: agency costs, asymmetric information, moral hazard, screening
Expensive grub and fags
13 Apr 2024 Leave a comment
in economics of crime, law and economics Tags: crime and punishment, economics of corruption, law and order

Buchenwald Liberated.
12 Apr 2024 Leave a comment
in defence economics, economics of crime, International law, law and economics, liberalism, war and peace Tags: Nazi Germany, The Holocaust, World War II

Buchenwald was one of the largest concentration camps established by the Nazis, located near Weimar, Germany. It was operational from 1937 until its liberation on April 11, 1945, by American forces. When the American soldiers arrived at Buchenwald, they were shocked by the appalling conditions they encountered. The camp was overcrowded, with thousands of emaciated […]
Buchenwald Liberated.
Democrats Cry Foul as Anti-Free Speech Allies Turn Against Them
11 Apr 2024 Leave a comment
in economics of crime, law and economics, liberalism, Marxist economics, politics - USA Tags: Age of Enlightenment, free speech, political correctness, regressive left

Below is my column in The Hill on the recent disruptions of events featuring leading Democrats from President Joe Biden to Rep. Jamie Raskin. After years of supporting the censoring and blacklisting of others, these politicians are now being targeted by the very anti-free speech movement that they once fostered. Hillary Clinton last week became […]
Democrats Cry Foul as Anti-Free Speech Allies Turn Against Them

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