The effectiveness of environmentalists in mobilising public opinion
03 May 2015 Leave a comment
in environmental economics, environmentalism, global warming, politics - USA, Public Choice Tags: activists, expressive voting, green voters, rational ignorance, rational irrationality, voter demographics
The essence of the environmental movement summed up
03 May 2015 Leave a comment
in environmental economics, environmentalism Tags: Anti-Science left, expressive voting, Green Left, rational ignorance, rational irrationality, The Great Fact
This is how fast America changed its mind on the biggest social issues
30 Apr 2015 Leave a comment
in economic history, economics of media and culture, economics of regulation, economics of religion, political change, politics - USA Tags: expressive voting, preference falsification
This is how fast America changed its mind on the biggest social issues bloom.bg/1DIk6PQ http://t.co/RjAiw0y2dV—
Bloomberg Business (@business) April 27, 2015
Democrat voters are turning against the idea of lower prices for ordinary families
29 Apr 2015 Leave a comment
in applied price theory, applied welfare economics, international economics, politics - USA, Public Choice, rentseeking Tags: antiforeign bias, expressive voting, rational ignorance, rational irrationality, voter demographics
As America inches towards a big trade deal with Asia, Obama faces a showdown with his party econ.st/1JJMJAE http://t.co/6qmt9GegWF—
The Economist (@EconBizFin) April 27, 2015
UKIP are a bunch of fellow travellers
27 Apr 2015 Leave a comment
in applied welfare economics, constitutional political economy, income redistribution, Public Choice, rentseeking Tags: British election, expressive voting, rational ignorance, rational irrationality, UK politics, UKIP
Should we redistribute money from rich to poor? What voters of each party said. blogs.lse.ac.uk/generalelectio… http://t.co/aqc8yO3OYE—
Martin Hickman (@martin_hickman) April 26, 2015
Gender differences in celebrity charity causes
27 Apr 2015 Leave a comment
in economics of media and culture, gender Tags: Celebrities, charities, expressive politics, expressive voting
Gender differences in celebrity charity causes, visualized f-st.co/V1NMVE6 http://t.co/czkuRlWzKF—
Co.Design (@FastCoDesign) January 20, 2015
Further evidence of the Anti-Science Left
27 Apr 2015 Leave a comment
in economics of information, economics of media and culture, economics of regulation, environmentalism Tags: advocacy bias, Anti-Science left, anti-vaccination movement, expressive voting, motivated reasoning, rational ignorance, rational irrationality
The right of the political spectrum is less likely to accept scientific conclusions if they involve excessive regulation of the economy. The anti-vaccination infestation of left-wing thinking shows that they are not immune to magical thinking and therefore should not be so smug.
Worldviews and political views
26 Apr 2015 Leave a comment
in Public Choice Tags: expressive voting, political psychology, rational ignorance, rational irrationality
The UK Greens tax and spending plans
22 Apr 2015 Leave a comment
in income redistribution, Public Choice, public economics Tags: British general election, expressive voting, rational ignorance, rational irrationality, Uk Greens, UK politics
Be careful for what you wish for when you call for moderation and bipartisanship in politics
20 Apr 2015 Leave a comment
in economic history, income redistribution, politics - USA, Public Choice, rentseeking Tags: bipartisanship, expressive voting, growth in government, ideology, median voter theorem, political polarisation, rational irrationality
The reasons of supporters & opponents of marijuana legalisation
15 Apr 2015 1 Comment
in economics of crime, health economics, law and economics, liberalism Tags: expressive voting, marijuana decriminalisation, meddlesome preferences, medical marijuana decriminalisation, rational ignorance, rational irrationality, voter demographics
Here are top reasons supporters & opponents of marijuana legalization give for their views pewrsr.ch/1PIaYUC http://t.co/hoPaMMQBXr—
Pew Research Center (@pewresearch) April 15, 2015
These rationales of thoroughly utilitarian and can actually be resolved by appeals to evidence. But the real reasons are the meddlesome preferences of the opponents of legalisation and the desire of the supporters of legalisation to smoke dope.
#Anti-Prohibition #demonstration in #Newark, #NewJersey, #1932 buff.ly/1GAEIOX #wewantbeer #beer #prohibition http://t.co/7Yr2ZjzHeN—
(@Pixxcell) April 06, 2015
Hillary is running as some sort of class war warrior against the big end of town
14 Apr 2015 Leave a comment
in income redistribution, politics - USA, Public Choice, rentseeking Tags: 2016 presidential election, campaign finance report form, expressive voting, Hillary Clinton, median voter theorem, rational ignorance, rational irrationality, special interests
Top 20 Hillary Clinton campaign contributors, 1999-2014, in case you were wondering. http://t.co/c8KTOkJ30X—
Downtown Josh Brown (@ReformedBroker) April 14, 2015
The NZ Greens want to introduce food stamps, but only for part of the year?!
12 Apr 2015 Leave a comment
in income redistribution, politics - New Zealand, politics - USA, poverty and inequality, Public Choice Tags: expressive voting, food stamps, Left-wing hypocrisy, rational ignorance, rational irrationality, school breakfast programs, soup kitchens, welfare reform, welfare state
The welfare state has a long history of providing some of its support to the needy in kind rather than in cash. This can range from soup kitchens to public housing as well as food stamps.
In the USA, food stamps provide provide food-purchasing assistance for low- and no-income people living. Food stamps can only be exchanged for food.
Instead of requiring the poor and needy to attend a soup kitchen, they can be given vouchers to buy food at supermarkets and take it home and cook at themselves. These days some sort of debit card system can be used where purchases are restricted to food at supermarkets and other participating retailers.
A close parallel with food stamps, properly understood, is free school breakfast programs. The welfare state is providing in-kind support to hungry children. This is done at school, to ensure that the children eat the meals.
Rather than rely on their parents to spend their welfare benefits and income support on food for their children, the food is given directly to the children when they arrive at school in the morning. In New Zealand, these free school breakfast programs are restricted to schools in low income areas.
There is a Feed the Kids Bill in Parliament sponsored by the Green Party. I have frequently criticised this proposal as it doesn’t provide breakfast to needy children at the weekends and school holidays. They are left to go hungry. Abandoned by their so called social justice champions through lack of imagination and self-awareness.
If children are showing up at school without their breakfast on a regular basis, their parents should reported that the child protection authorities for intervention. This can start with budget advice and assistance with applying for any additional and emergency financial support they are eligible for from Work and Income New Zealand.
Soup kitchens not only provides people with food, it provides various other assistance to help people to get back on their feet.
If you were proposing a food stamps program in New Zealand because children are going hungry, you’ll be laughed at if you suggested it should only apply the part of the year such as during the school term.
That is precisely what the Greens are doing. The only difference is how they are organised the provision of in-kind support to children, this case, food. Instead of their parents collecting a debit card that can only be used to buy food, the food is eaten by their children at school.
Utopia, you are standing in it! 
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