New Orleans is one of the most left-wing cities in America. It is traditionally more European in outlook, with the famous French Quarter, and has a collectivist political history. Today on 24-hour news, we saw the devastation wreaked in New Orleans by Hurricane Katrina, and the efforts of emergency crews ...
Read MoreConservatives and movies
I had a conversation yesterday with a small group of acquaintances on Hollywood movies. The following comment was made regarding the current Dukes of Hazzard flick: “I’m not interested in seeing it…. if it isn’t something I can take my teenage kid to see, then I certainly don’t want to ...
Read MoreSpurlock: an update
By way of update on a previous post (now in April 2005 archives), I’d like to draw some attention to the recent work of one Soso Whaley, who has responded to Morgan Spurlock’s ridiculous anti-McDonald’s documentary “Super-Size Meâ€. But first let me backtrack a couple of steps. Spurlock is a ...
Read MoreResponse to Blair’s anti-terror announcements
A libertarian struggles occasionally with the dichotomy between the principles informing his politics and the fact that, sometimes, he quite likes some of the more statist proposals being made by various political voices. A possible example of this is Tony Blair’s anti-terrorism announcement this past week with implications for those ...
Read MoreDeborah Doherty of Make Poverty History: Sunday Sequence
This is the text of my original email to BBC Sunday Sequence on June 6th: “Congratulations on including in your Make Poverty History panel Kendra Okonski, who represents clearly the most sensible viewpoint on the subject of poverty. It may be easier to believe that we can ‘make poverty history’ ...
Read MoreSchiavo: the autopsy report
Those who demonised Michael Schiavo should be damned ashamed of themselves. In the light of this morning’s autopsy report, I want to remind you of some of the things said by the people who wanted to circumvent Michael Schiavo’s authority to speak on behalf of his wife Terri at the ...
Read MoreWhy libertarians everywhere should welcome the Jackson verdict
Because Jackson is weird. And yet, even despite his being so weird, despite his living a lifestyle that could cause some to raise eyebrows, he was acquitted of all ten charges against him today. That says something about the United States justice system which should stand in its favor with ...
Read MorePersecution of the adult entertainment industry
Question: Why is the adult entertainment industry the victim of constant attacks by nosey, interfering, condescending legislators? What possible motive could there be to make life difficult for those who sell sex? I am sick of hearing about the fundamental human rights of individuals being stomped over by people who ...
Read More‘Live Eight’ & ‘Make Poverty History’
Bob Geldof’s approach to political issues contrasted with his stated ambitions regarding world poverty is the equivalent of putting chicken in a baking dish and expecting steak pie: misconceived. He expects to deal with a problem (poverty) using a certain key solution (socialism) and looks to that solution to straighten ...
Read MoreNoah’s Ark
I don’t normally do forwards…. or this kind of post. But, in a departure for me and for a cheap libertarian laugh: —————– In the year 2005, the Lord came unto Noah, who was now living in the United States, and said, “Once again, the earth has become wicked and ...
Read MoreBBC Strike Action
Today, if you are a TV License Fee payer, you should be feeling extremely pissed off. What did you get for your OBLIGATORY license fee today? The license fee that you pay under threat of jail for doing nothing other than watching television? The BBC: funded at gunpoint? (I love ...
Read MoreSnapshots of Reason 1
1) Seems that the United States federal government are “stiffing” us again with spending of over $2,000,000,000.00 on viagra for the elderly and disabled. VIAGRA. Now that’s a ‘hard’ pill to swallow. 2) On energy policy – Monbiot had a piece (“Junk Science”) in the Guardian last week testifying to ...
Read MoreResponse to Geoff Mulgan: "Anti-politics"
Mr Mulgan, Your piece in today’s Guardian entitled “Anti-politics†was intriguing. Not because of the premise that prompted it, which was that “Modern electorates simply do not like governments†– I agree. What I found intriguing was that you call this “the bad news!†You go on to suggest that ...
Read MoreWhat do we do with the gays?
On an Arizona highway this afternoon, I found myself driving close enough behind the beat-up Cadillac in front that I was able to see its brand new yellow bumper sticker. Are you familiar with those little symbols for ‘Man’ and ‘Woman’ that are used on the doors of public restrooms? ...
Read MoreTwo examples of crazy lawmaking
I have long contended that in the absence of the following principle – for brevity let’s call it Principle A – almost ANY act of government coercion and interference will be justified. And I have two examples which are demonstrable of that. Principle A is this: that the actions of ...
Read MoreMcDonald’s 50th birthday
This post is simply an acknowledgement. I am a capitalist. I’m a student of capitalism – I enjoy capitalism and appreciate its results. And today is the 50th birthday of the single most important, most recognisable and most authentic example of the success of capitalism – a restaurant called McDonald’s. ...
Read MoreThe BBC: Charter Review Green Paper
Just over a year ago, I contributed as a consultation respondent to Stage One of the BBC Charter Review, demanding that the BBC be funded by private means instead of a forceful measure of law as it is today (see that contribution in the March 29, 2004 archives). In addition ...
Read MoreThe Terri Schiavo Case
On February 25th, 1990, Terri Schiavo collapsed at her Florida home from what doctors said was a potassium imbalance, possibly caused by her bulimia. Her brain did not receive oxygen for around five minutes and the effect of that deprivation caused severe brain damage. Doctors seem to have disagreed over ...
Read MoreResponse to Richard Layard: happiness
Richard Layard, author of “Happiness: Lessons from a New Science”, has written an article for The Times entitled “Be happy, pay more to the taxman”, an article of immediate interest to me. In it, Layard states that surveys in the United Kingdom and the United States reveal that, despite unparalleled ...
Read MoreAlabama law continues to ban sale of sex toys
The US Supreme Court has rejected on Tuesday a constitutional challenge to an Alabama law that makes it a crime to sell sex toys. As reported by Reuters this morning, “The high court refused to hear an appeal by a group of individuals who regularly use sexual devices and by ...
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