There is a new NBER working paper on this topic by Hui Ren Tan and Tianyi Wang, here is the abstract: We study a far-reaching episode of demagoguery in American history. From the late 1940s to 1950s, anti-communist hysteria led by Senator Joseph McCarthy and others gripped the nation. Hundreds of professionals in Hollywood were […]
Hollywood evidence on McCarthyism
Hollywood evidence on McCarthyism
21 Jul 2024 Leave a comment
in economic history, economics of media and culture, law and economics, liberalism, Marxist economics, movies, politics - USA Tags: free speech, political correctness, regressive left
Lessons from the UK
21 Jul 2024 Leave a comment
in income redistribution, law and economics, liberalism, Marxist economics, politics - New Zealand, Public Choice, rentseeking Tags: British politics
There are many lessons for New Zealand in last week’s British election result, which saw the 14-year reign of the Conservative Party ending in a crushing defeat. While the number of seats won by Labour appeared to indicate a huge swing to the left in support of Sir Keir Starmer’s Party, that isn’t the case […]
Lessons from the UK
Guest Post: Will John Minto condemn Hamas for refusing to free the hostages?
19 Jul 2024 Leave a comment
in defence economics, economics of crime, International law, law and economics, laws of war, liberalism, Marxist economics, politics - New Zealand, war and peace Tags: Gaza Strip, Israel, Middle-East politics, regressive left
A guest post by Lucy Rogers: I woke up this morning to initial elation at the news that Israel and Hamas are apparently close to a ceasefire deal. The proposal involves the return of 33 hostages and Hamas’ removal from power, in exchange for the release of several hundred Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails, Israel’s […]
Guest Post: Will John Minto condemn Hamas for refusing to free the hostages?
France Bans Muslim Hijabs from the Olympics
18 Jul 2024 Leave a comment
in law and economics, liberalism, Marxist economics, politics - USA Tags: Age of Enlightenment, France, free speech, Freedom of religion, political correctness, regressive left
France’s Sports Minister, Amélie Oudéa-Castéra, has announced that French Muslim athletes will be barred from wearing hijabs at the Olympics. The decision is a gross violation of the religious freedom of Muslim athletes and should be condemned throughout the world.
France Bans Muslim Hijabs from the Olympics
The (ignored) war crimes of Hamas
15 Jul 2024 Leave a 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
We hear a lot about the “war crimes of Israel and the IDF”; in fact, that’s about all we hear on campus regarding the war. And it is these “war crimes” that have brought the world’s opprobrium down on Israel, even though they are not war crimes. Yes, an odd IDF soldier might commit a […]
The (ignored) war crimes of Hamas
Universities and the Treaty
15 Jul 2024 Leave a comment
in economics of bureaucracy, economics of education, law and economics, liberalism, Marxist economics, politics - New Zealand, Public Choice Tags: Age of Enlightenment, conjecture and refutation, free speech, philosophy of science, political correctness, regressive left
Grant Duncan writes: University management should take note of that, as there have been unrealistic efforts to force poorly defined “Treaty obligations” into teaching and research. For example, one university is now telling its academic staff that all curricula should, as a high priority, be “designed, developed and delivered in authentic partnerships with Māori [and] […]
Universities and the Treaty
Pamala Paul: Ideology impedes gender treatement in U.S.
14 Jul 2024 Leave a comment
in health economics, liberalism, Marxist economics Tags: British politics, free speech, political correctness, regressive left
If you’ve followed this website regularly, you’ll know that the UK’s Cass Review, which evaluated and criticized the NHS’s treatment of gender dysphoria, has been widely accepted in the UK, causing the country to slow down on “affirmative care”, following the lead of other European countries. No longer will the NHS run a conveyer belt […]
Pamala Paul: Ideology impedes gender treatement in U.S.
In Science, fifteen New Zealand researchers criticize the initiative to teach indigenous “ways of knowing” as science
13 Jul 2024 Leave a comment
in economics of education, liberalism, Marxist economics, politics - New Zealand Tags: Age of Enlightenment, conjecture and refutation, free speech, philosophy of science, political correctness, regressive left
Two letters have just been published in Science signed by a total of 15 scientists, all criticizing the first article below (published in Science last February), a piece arguing for teaching indigenous knowledge (including N.Z.’s version, Mātauranga Māori) alongside science in the science classroom. (Click to read.) Now the authors, after being criticized, denied that […]
In Science, fifteen New Zealand researchers criticize the initiative to teach indigenous “ways of knowing” as science
“The First Amendment is Out of Control”: Academic and Media Figures Rally Against Free Speech
13 Jul 2024 Leave a comment
in economic history, economics of crime, law and economics, liberalism, libertarianism, Marxist economics, politics - USA, Public Choice Tags: free speech, political correctness, regressive left
Below is my column in Fox.com on renewed attacks on free speech and the apologists for this anti-free speech movement, including most recently comedian Jon Stewart. From moves to amend the First Amendment to mocking those being targeted, the left is pushing back at polls and efforts to restore free speech values. Here is the […]
“The First Amendment is Out of Control”: Academic and Media Figures Rally Against Free Speech
French far left beat French far right
13 Jul 2024 Leave a comment
in Marxist economics Tags: France
The electoral pact between the centrist and left candidates succeeded massively. The National Front were beaten into third place due to 200 candidates withdrawing to stop vote splitting. This is not a bad thing. I am no fan of the National Front, but will admit their current leadership is more palatable than the old one. […]
French far left beat French far right
Meet the next Green MP
10 Jul 2024 Leave a comment
in economics of education, Marxist economics, politics - New Zealand Tags: cranks, free speech, political correctness, regressive left
The next Green MP in on the List is Benjamin Doyle. This is his MA thesis: Here is a Master’s thesis crafted with, by, and for Rangatahi Takatāpui. It represents a labour of love for the community to which I belong, and seeks to generate understanding about the factors that enable LGBTQI+ Māori youth to […]
Meet the next Green MP
Reporters Blame “Right-Wing Media” for Their Failure to Disclose Biden’s Infirmity
05 Jul 2024 Leave a comment
in economics of media and culture, industrial organisation, liberalism, Marxist economics, politics - USA, survivor principle Tags: 2024 presidential election, free speech, media bias, political correctness, regressive left
The media is sorry . . . sort of. After the shocking appearance of President Joe Biden in the presidential debate, the public has turned its attention to the press which has, again, buried a major scandal for years. According to CNN, the reporters at the White House are really, really sorry but explained that […]
Reporters Blame “Right-Wing Media” for Their Failure to Disclose Biden’s Infirmity
The Age of Rage: America’s Anti-Free Speech Movement Will Force Us (Again) To Choose Between Our Rights and Our Rage
27 Jun 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 on Fox.com on my book and how our current “age of rage” may be the most dangerous for free speech, but it is not our first such period in history. Indeed, the current debate is returning this nation to the very debate that erupted at the start of our Republic. Here…
The Age of Rage: America’s Anti-Free Speech Movement Will Force Us (Again) To Choose Between Our Rights and Our Rage
Snitches Give Stitches: Oregon Moves to Make Reporting Microaggressions Mandatory for Doctors
20 Jun 2024 Leave a comment
in economics of crime, law and economics, liberalism, Marxist economics, politics - USA Tags: free speech, implicit bias, political correctness, regressive left
There is a controversy in Oregon over a proposed change in the ethics rule from the Oregon Medical Board. At issue is the use of “microaggressions” to discipline doctors and to make reporting such transgressions mandatory for all doctors. It seems before you can give stitches, you have to join snitches under one of the […]
Snitches Give Stitches: Oregon Moves to Make Reporting Microaggressions Mandatory for Doctors
Utopia, you are standing in it! 
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