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.
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
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.
The Slippery Slope of Age Verification
New Zealand should be wary of the coming violation of personal privacy and online liberty in Australia, as a private member’s bill from National MP Catherine Wedd awaits being drawn from the ballot.
Free Speech Has Consequences
Now that leftists are facing the consequences of free speech, they can’t identify the inconsistency. I suspect that is more likely the result of political inconvenience than genuine confusion.
Some Heritage Shouldn’t Be Preserved
It’s time we allowed common law to operate so the non-violation of your neighbour’s property rights determines appropriate development.
Jailed for Jokes
There are few things more offensive than arresting and punishing a person for making a joke you don’t like.
Trump’s Big Beautiful Dump
In this respect, Donald Trump is proving to be a huge disappointment. He talks big on cutting taxes and spending but shows no intent to seriously tackle the deficit.
It’s Slow but It’s Progress
However, I doubt progress would be made at all if ACT were not in the coalition Government, so credit should be given where it is due.
