Roger Partridge writes – When a constitutional law professor warns of “dangerous foes” threatening New Zealand’s legal system, you might expect concern about genuinely destabilising forces – political interference with judicial independence, or threats to the rule of law itself. You would be wrong. Professor Dean Knight of Victoria University recently addressed the Institute of Public […]
Supreme Court Matters: Constitutional Guardians or Constitutional Threat?
Supreme Court Matters: Constitutional Guardians or Constitutional Threat?
08 Sep 2025 Leave a comment
in constitutional political economy, law and economics, politics - New Zealand Tags: constitutional law
A schism between secular organizations
07 Sep 2025 1 Comment
in discrimination, economics of education, economics of religion, gender Tags: free speech, political correctness, regressive left, sex discrimination

You may recall that Richard Dawkins, Steve Pinker, and I resigned from the Honorary Board of the Freedom from Religion Foundation (FFRF) because they canceled a post I wrote for the FFRF—a statement they first vetted, approved, and published but then removed—without telling me or answering my email inquiries. (My canceled piece is archived here, […]
A schism between secular organizations
Red Terror in Soviet Russia I THE GREAT WAR Week 215
07 Sep 2025 Leave a comment
in defence economics, Marxist economics, war and peace Tags: Russian revolution, World War I
Cal State University Professor Indicted for Assault on Federal Officers
07 Sep 2025 Leave a comment
in economics of crime, economics of education, law and economics, politics - USA
A federal grand jury has indicted Cal State University Channel Islands professor Jonathan Anthony Caravello for throwing a tear gas canister at federal agents during a raid at a Glass House Farms marijuana facility in Camarillo, CA. In addition to a large number of arrestees, the authorities found at least 14 child workers. Caravello has […]
Cal State University Professor Indicted for Assault on Federal Officers
The CCP did not defeat Japan
07 Sep 2025 Leave a comment
in defence economics, economic history, war and peace Tags: China, World War II
The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has claimed credit in defeating Japan during World War II. However, this claim is a subject of historical debate. Their contribution was significant but also very different in scale and character from that of the Nationalist government under Chiang Kai-shek. Here’s a breakdown: 1. Context: China’s Resistance Against Japan 2. United Front […]
The CCP did not defeat Japan
Power supply
07 Sep 2025 Leave a comment
in development economics, economic history, energy economics, growth miracles Tags: China

Some Links
07 Sep 2025 Leave a comment
in applied price theory, economic history, entrepreneurship, financial economics, macroeconomics Tags: China, Japan

TweetThe folks at Unleash Prosperity share a chart that shows that Japanese industrial policy – which we Americans a few decades ago were warned by oh so very many pundits, professors, and politicians left, right, and center would propel Japan’s economy to great heights and leave America’s in the dust – was a curse to…
Some Links
Peeni loses in a landslide
06 Sep 2025 Leave a comment
With a third of polling places counted it seems clear Peeni Henare has been thrashed, barely getting half the votes Orini Kaipara is getting. A humiliating loss. Based on this Te Pati Maori could sweep all seven Maori electorates next year.
Peeni loses in a landslide
Claim: Climate “Pragmatism” is Cover for Climate Delay
06 Sep 2025 Leave a comment
in economics of climate change, energy economics, environmental economics, environmentalism, global warming
“Pragmatism” allegedly allows politicians to be in favour of climate action without actually having to do anything.
Claim: Climate “Pragmatism” is Cover for Climate Delay
American Humanist vigorously endorses “affirmative care” with no lower age limit
06 Sep 2025 Leave a comment
in discrimination, economics of education, gender, health economics, liberalism, Marxist economics, politics - USA Tags: free speech, political correctness, regressive left, sex discrimination

The American Humanist Association (AHA) is among the most prominent humanist/atheist/skeptical organizations in America, but it’s been getting increasingly “progressive” (read “woke”). You may remember that in 2021 the AHA revoked its “Humanist of the Year” award given to Richard Dawkins 15 years earlier, saying this: Regrettably, Richard Dawkins has over the past several years […]
American Humanist vigorously endorses “affirmative care” with no lower age limit
The Judicial Calvinball of Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson
06 Sep 2025 Leave a comment
in law and economics, politics - USA

Below is my column in The Hill on the chilling jurisprudence of Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson. Jackson’s description of opinions as an opportunity for commentary on contemporary issues is a radical departure from long-standing traditions on the Court. While justices have occasionally strayed into extraneous issues, Jackson appears to view her position as giving her a […]
The Judicial Calvinball of Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson
Prebble on Covid unaccountability
06 Sep 2025 Leave a comment
in economics of regulation, health economics, law and economics, politics - New Zealand Tags: economics of pandemics
Richard Prebble writes: A Royal Commission is our nation’s highest form of inquiry, reserved for the most important issues. To ensure confidence in its findings, commissioners have the power to summon witnesses and take their evidence in public under oath. In my research, apart from health reasons, the only person to have ever refused to […]
Prebble on Covid unaccountability
Law and order – why tougher deportation law might win votes but fail the unreasonableness test
05 Sep 2025 Leave a comment
in politics - New Zealand Tags: economics of immigration
Peter Dunne writes – The government has just announced plans to strengthen New Zealand’s immigration laws to make it easier to deport residents convicted of serious criminal offences. Under current law, permanent residents of up to ten years standing who have been convicted of criminal offences can be deported after release from prison. However, the […]
Law and order – why tougher deportation law might win votes but fail the unreasonableness test
Judging Little
05 Sep 2025 Leave a comment
Received a pamphlet from Andrew Little in the letterbox. He makes five key pledges in it, so I thought it would be useful to record them here, and analyse how one could judge if he has kept his word, if he is elected Mayor. They are: 1 Keep Rates down A rates increase no larger…
Judging Little
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