Radio NZ reports: The coalition has directed Health New Zealand to say “women” instead of “pregnant people” in its communications about health issues. Associate Health Minister Casey Costello wrote to interim chief executive Dr Dale Bramley on 27 March, telling the agency to use “clear language”. “Recent documents that have reached my office from the […]
It shouldn’t take a Minister for common sense to prevail
It shouldn’t take a Minister for common sense to prevail
23 Apr 2025 Leave a comment
in discrimination, economics of bureaucracy, gender, health economics, law and economics, liberalism, Marxist economics, politics - New Zealand, Public Choice Tags: free speech, political correctness, regressive left, sex discrimination
The test of time
22 Apr 2025 Leave a comment
in economics of climate change, economics of natural disasters, energy economics, environmental economics, environmentalism, global warming, liberalism, Marxist economics, politics - USA Tags: climate alarmism
From Refineries to Fiefdoms: Is Newsom Orchestrating a State Takeover of California’s Oil Industry?
22 Apr 2025 Leave a comment
in economics of bureaucracy, economics of climate change, economics of regulation, energy economics, environmental economics, environmentalism, global warming, industrial organisation, law and economics, liberalism, Marxist economics, politics - USA, property rights, Public Choice, survivor principle Tags: California, climate activists, regressive left
California’s refining capacity is collapsing—not because demand has disappeared, but because it is being deliberately dismantled by regulatory fiat. The recent announcement that Valero Energy will idle or shutter its Benicia refinery by 2026 isn’t just a business decision. It’s the calculated result of a hostile policy environment designed to punish traditional energy producers until they either leave the state or fall into government hands.
From Refineries to Fiefdoms: Is Newsom Orchestrating a State Takeover of California’s Oil Industry?
“When Must We Kill Them?”: George Mason Student Captures the Growing Violent Ideation on the Left
21 Apr 2025 1 Comment
in economics of crime, law and economics, liberalism, Marxist economics, politics - USA Tags: free speech, political correctness, regressive left
There is controversy at George Mason University after Nicholas Decker, an economics PhD student published an essay asking “When Must We Kill Them?” in reference to Trump and his supporters. The essay captures the growing violent ideation on the left, fueled by rage rhetoric from politicians and commentators. The danger is that, for some on […]
“When Must We Kill Them?”: George Mason Student Captures the Growing Violent Ideation on the Left
University backs down in sex-gender debate
21 Apr 2025 Leave a comment
in discrimination, economics of education, gender, law and economics, liberalism, Marxist economics, politics - New Zealand Tags: free speech. academic bias, political correctness, regressive left, sex discrimination
Graham Adams writes – As Auckland University continues down the path of transforming itself into a seminary for Māori nationalists and others with “progressive left” views, it is perhaps inevitable that it would try to force fashionable views about sex onto academic staff members. Unfortunately, it made a tactical error by trying to bully Elizabeth […]
University backs down in sex-gender debate
For @AOC @SenSanders @Greens @NZGreens
16 Apr 2025 Leave a comment
in economic history, history of economic thought, liberalism, Marxist economics Tags: Berlin wall, East Germany, free speech, regressive left
Against cultural equivalence
15 Apr 2025 1 Comment
in economic history, history of economic thought, law and economics, liberalism, libertarianism, Marxist economics, property rights Tags: Age of Enlightenment, The Great Enrichment
The assertion that all cultures are equal has become a widely accepted axiom in contemporary discourse, shaped significantly by well-intentioned efforts to foster global tolerance and respect. However, it is not only possible but necessary to challenge this view. While cultural relativism emphasizes understanding and tolerance, it need not extend to cultural equivalence. Indeed, an […]
Against cultural equivalence
Greens now campaigning against prisons as well as police
15 Apr 2025 Leave a comment
in economics of crime, law and economics, Marxist economics, politics - New Zealand Tags: crime and punishment, criminal deterrence, law and order
Stuff reports: Green MP Tamatha Paul has launched a fundraising campaign for a group wanting to “defund the police” and close the court system. Paul has been attracting attention over recent weeks for her comments about policing and support of groups that call for the abolition of police, jails, and courts. While she and the Green Party […]
Greens now campaigning against prisons as well as police
WHOOP WHOOP — DEFUND DA POLICE
13 Apr 2025 Leave a comment
in economics of crime, law and economics, Marxist economics, politics - New Zealand Tags: crime and punishment, regressive left
The Sensible Sentencing Trust announced: ‘Whoop Whoop — Defund Da Police’: Sensible Sentencing Trust Drops Satirical Hip Hop Song Targeting Green Party’s Anti-Police AgendaThe Sensible Sentencing Trust has today released a satirical hip hop song and music video parodying the Green Party’s radical stance on law and order, including calls by its electorate MPs to defund the…
WHOOP WHOOP — DEFUND DA POLICE
DON BRASH: NZME can get stuffed – the ad they rejected
12 Apr 2025 Leave a comment
in discrimination, entrepreneurship, law and economics, liberalism, Marxist economics, politics - New Zealand, property rights Tags: affirmative action, free speech, political correctness, racial discrimination, regressive left
Written by Don Brash in his capacity as Hobson’s Pledge trustee This morning, you were meant to open the New Zealand Herald and see a…
DON BRASH: NZME can get stuffed – the ad they rejected
Putting children first
12 Apr 2025 Leave a comment
in law and economics, liberalism, Marxist economics, politics - New Zealand Tags: child welfare
Karen Chhour announced: Children’s Minister Karen Chhour has welcomed the passing of legislation to repeal section 7AA of the Oranga Tamariki Act by Parliament. The Bill’s passing will enable Oranga Tamariki—Ministry for Children and its frontline staff to focus first and foremost on the safety and wellbeing of children when creating care arrangements, says Minister […]
Putting children first
German Editor Sentenced and Fined for Satirical Picture of Interior Minister
11 Apr 2025 Leave a comment
in law and economics, liberalism, Marxist economics Tags: free speech, Germany, political correctness, regressive left
We previously discussed the case of Deutschland-Kurier editor David Bendels who published a satirical meme of Interior Minister Nancy Faeser holding an altered sign that read “I hate freedom of speech.” Ironically, the sign was believable given the anti-free speech positions of Faeser and the German government. Faeser, however, went ballistic. In a country that routinely arrests […]
German Editor Sentenced and Fined for Satirical Picture of Interior Minister
“Coercive Control”: Parents Could Lose Custody Under Proposed Colorado Law for “Misgendering”
11 Apr 2025 Leave a comment
in discrimination, economics of love and marriage, gender, health economics, law and economics, liberalism, Marxist economics, politics - USA, property rights Tags: free speech, political correctness, regressive left, sex discrimination
Parental rights are emerging as one of the major civil liberties movements of this generation — and one of the greatest conflicts between the right and the left in this country. For example, the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit ruled schools can hide a change of gender in young children from […]
“Coercive Control”: Parents Could Lose Custody Under Proposed Colorado Law for “Misgendering”
Paper Tigers? Princeton Faces Test Over Free Speech Following Disruption of Bennett Speech
10 Apr 2025 Leave a comment
in defence economics, economics of education, International law, law and economics, laws of war, liberalism, Marxist economics, politics - USA, property rights, war and peace Tags: Age of Enlightenment, free speech, political correctness, regressive left
In sports, many are saying that it is a “great year to be a Princeton tiger.” The question this week is whether the same is true for free speech at Princeton. For years, we followed free speech controversies at the school over the investigation of dissenting faculty, the targeting of critics, and general intolerance for […]
Paper Tigers? Princeton Faces Test Over Free Speech Following Disruption of Bennett Speech
NPR Repeats False Claim That the Court Rejected Claims of Government Involvement in Censorship Efforts
10 Apr 2025 Leave a comment
in liberalism, libertarianism, Marxist economics, politics - USA Tags: 2024 presidential election, Age of Enlightenment, free speech, political correctness, regressive left
Leila Fadel and National Public Radio recently interviewed me on free speech. While the program ominously warned that “what you’re about to hear is hate speech” in playing extreme voices on the right, it did interview me and former Columbia University president Lee Bollinger from the free speech community. I wanted to address a statement […]
NPR Repeats False Claim That the Court Rejected Claims of Government Involvement in Censorship Efforts
Utopia, you are standing in it! 
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