It Would Be Better to Ban Politicians
While fireworks face being banned to keep them out of the hands of the stupid, at each election ballot papers are thrust into those same hands with potentially worse consequences.
Stephen Berry
Stephen Berry is compiling this guide on the Auckland Local Body elections as an independent commentator. His recommendations are based on his own research and are not on behalf of any organisation. P
The Libertarian Victory in Argentina
The success of La Libertad Avanza has delivered Javier Milei a firm mandate to accelerate the pace of his libertarian reforms.
New Japanese PM Is No Iron Lady
The comparison of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi to Margaret Thatcher is largely inaccurate, confusing Takaichi’s uniquely Japanese nationalism with Thatcher’s British patriotism.
What a Nightmare in Victoria
Given the choice between the mad cow throwing around my money and the opposition leader promising you’ll be searched for walking down the street, I’ll probably vote Libertarian.
We Should Not Risk Our Protest Rights
I think the best response to activists that publish private addresses for this purpose is to publicise that person and their actions and publicly shame them. We don’t need another bloody law!
Can Milei Win Argentina Midterms?
The prospects for La Libertad Avanza growing its representation in both houses is promising and this will ensure he can accelerate his libertarian reform programme over the next two years.
Are the Wheels Wobbling?
The National Party looks fragile as we near an election in about one year’s time and there appears to be nobody willing to make some tough calls to jolt the economy into shape in time to win.
Growing the Com Com Instead
Competition regulation doesn’t ensure better market outcomes, because it requires that businesses act against their own interests in the hope they won’t be the next arbitrary victim of socialist technocratic thugs.
Zero Chance of Net Zero
Whatever political games and back-office hi-jinks are being employed by politicians now, it is a relief that at least some of them recognise the potential for political gain by breaking with the ‘settled’ science that has dominated environmental politics this century.
An Absolutely Biased Guide to This Mayoral Election
I will rank each Auckland mayoral candidate from $ for radical leftists to $$$$$ for small-government dynamos. For some candidates, the 🤡 to 🤡 🤡 🤡 🤡 🤡 scale may be more appropriate.
Booze Pendulum Swings Back to Sanity
A small swing toward freedom now means that the next small swing toward freedom will achieve more – likely following the next general election.
So, Cancel Culture or Juniper Salon
It is far better that people are free to discriminate, with the market free to react, than to pass more ineffective laws which merely hide the practice rather than eliminate it.
When Did Tyranny Become Cool?
If the Palestinian state ever extends from the river to the sea, the left will be able to trade in their keffiyeh scarves for a symbol that honestly represents their real goal: the swastika.
This Reform of Road Funding Is Transformational
It makes sense for the form of road funding to move from a dual system. Looking back, it strikes me as somewhat odd that New Zealand has generated revenue from the roads in different ways up until now.
Vic Labor’s Secret Pipe Dreams
There is a risk that at least some of these loony policies will survive the journey from conference debate to eventual legislation.
This Is Silly
If it does start to destroy your property, you’ll quickly find out that it has more rights than you do. Excessive tree regulation and tribalist parasites simply worsen the problem, making the pōhutukawa one of the worst trees in New Zealand.