Saul Alinsky was an American commie who thought nothing of using and manipulating others for his own ends. To paraphrase his own words, “the ends always justified the means.” Anyway, he wrote a little book called “Rules for Radicals.” Two of the rules are of particular relevance today. The first
When Jacinda Ardern and Kris Faafoi fronted media to explain their new hate speech laws they demonstrated a very sketchy understanding of their own recommendations. They were so bad that the bought and paid for (normally adoring) media were uncharacteristically critical. “Not only is the Prime Minister wrong about the
I’m not much of a fan of Rebel Wilson, nor of celebrities using social media as a bully pulpit. But I’m even less of a fan of elite hypocrisy. And I’m absolutely a fan of free speech. The great philosopher of free speech, John Stuart Mill, wrote
It’s not a silly question to ask how information becomes misinformation when we know a whole lot more about Covid-19 today than we did 18 months ago. Beliefs held back then cannot be relied on today. Some information has become misinformation – without being acknowledged as such. The line that
Dr David Cumin Spokesperson Free Speech Union What I have to say is rather urgent. In short, we have only a few weeks to ensure New Zealanders say ‘No’ to the Government’s proposals to pass UK-style anti-speech laws, and I’m writing this to ask for your help to
Hon Judith Collins judithcollins.national.org.nz This week I am focused on our democratic right to free speech and our need for this government to take action on a number of other fronts and not just promise a budget for something that won’t happen like rolling out better
Yun Jiang Australian National University Yun Jiang is a managing editor of the China Story blog at the Australian National University and produces China Neican. She has published widely on China-related topics and has been quoted in several major national and international press, including New York Times, Financial Times, ABC,
Dr David Cumin Free Speech Union Given recent confusion about what the proposed ‘hate speech’ laws mean, which appeared to even stump the Prime Minister and Minister of Justice, the Free Speech Union has launched a vital tool for Kiwis to ‘check their speech’ at www.HateSpeechDetector.com The Union’
Corrections Minister Kelvin Davis has not been shy about his aim to rapidly reduce the prison population by 30 per cent and it is perhaps the only target this Government is actually going to meet. However, Labour’s ‘Hate-Speech’ law changes might put a spanner in the works, National’s
Bryce Edwards democracyproject.nz Dr Bryce Edwards is Political Analyst in Residence at Victoria University of Wellington. He is the director of the Democracy Project. There are several news reports that attempt to explain the proposals on hate speech, but these have tended to add to the confusion, rather than
Free Speech Union Dr David Cumin The Free Speech Union is pleased to welcome aboard its newest member, National Party Leader, the Hon Judith Collins, and believe it is the first time a serving leader of the National Party has joined a registered trade union. Free Speech Union spokesman, Dr
Dark Jester The new hate speech legislation is up for debate with public consultation over the proposal. My concern is how this particular legislation could potentially be weaponised by the Chinese Communist Party to suppress criticism and dissent, because the ambiguity of the ‘incitement to hatred’ clauses means the definition
Bryce Edwards democracyproject.nz Dr Bryce Edwards is Political Analyst in Residence at Victoria University of Wellington. He is the director of the Democracy Project. Whenever governments attempt to regulate political speech and activity, the results often end up being problematic and potentially harmful to democracy and debate. Regardless of
Karen Chhour I’m calling on Jacinda Ardern to explain whether she is “stirring up, maintaining or normalising hatred by insulting, threatening or abusive communication” which would be captured under the Government’s hate speech laws. My question is whether the nation’s Karens will be deemed a protected group?
The vicious, malicious and vindictive social media vigilante mob selected a new target this week and pulled the trigger. Their target was Rachel Stewart a woman so cool that she hunts with a hawk! Unfortunately on this occasion, the person being hunted was Rachel herself and the vigilante mob targeting
