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Category Archives: Freedom
Who’s afraid of ‘radical’ politics?
As the 2017 election approaches the question has been asked of ‘the left’ in New Zealand – Is it time to ‘go radical‘? It’s a question especially relevant to the Labour Party given recent polling. But it’s almost exactly the … Continue reading
Posted in Democracy, Free Market, Human Wellbeing, Labour, New Zealand Politics, Political Psychology
Tagged capitalism, Elections, Freedom, National, New Zealand Identity, Voting
7 Comments
Into the dark: Clinton vs Trump – A Black and White decision?
We live in ‘interesting times’ – as the mythical ‘Chinese curse’ understatedly put it. It’s almost unbearably ‘interesting. From environmental catastrophe gathering its inevitable head of steam to global ructions in the political world and outright wars in the geopolitical world there’s more … Continue reading
Posted in Democracy, Economics, Free Market, Human Wellbeing, Poverty
Comments Off on Into the dark: Clinton vs Trump – A Black and White decision?
A brief reflection on conspiracies
John Key has responded to Hager’s claims saying: “So Nicky Hager says we’re a tax haven, well with the greatest respect, Nicky Hager is a left-wing conspiracy theorist.” Newstalk ZB, 9 May, 2016 “Last time he came out with all this … Continue reading
Posted in Democracy, Economics, Freedom, International Politics, New Zealand Politics
Tagged capitalism, Freedom, journalism, self-interest
1 Comment
In memoriam: The ties that ‘bind’
A Brief Reflection When it comes to ANZAC Day I’m always in a bind. The deaths, the maimings and the huge disruptions to ordinary people’s lives should never be forgotten; but to ‘honour’ that suffering in ways that, ultimately, may help … Continue reading
Posted in Democracy, Freedom, Military, National Identity, New Zealand Politics
Tagged army, community, New Zealand Identity
6 Comments
When is bias no longer bias? When it’s everything.
Is Mike Hosking politically biased? I think the answer is ‘yes’. Is our media politically biased? I think the answer is also ‘yes’. Is our society politically biased? That’s not quite so easy to answer. But for a more worrying reason … Continue reading
Posted in Democracy, Economics, Free Market, Human Nature, Media, New Zealand Politics, Political Psychology
Tagged markets, Media, Mike Hosking, political psychology
3 Comments
Seven Sharp, Campbell Live and TV Ratings – The ‘Nudge’ Factor
University of Chicago economist Richard Thaler and Harvard Law Professor Cass Sunstein wrote a generally well-received book in 2008 called ‘Nudge: Improving Decisions about Health, Wealth, and Happiness‘. It was an accessible assemblage of very well known work in psychology … Continue reading
Posted in Economics, Free Market, Human Nature, Political Psychology
Tagged journalism, markets, Media, political psychology
5 Comments
The politics of the empty tomb – Part I
An advantage of a few days holiday is that it allows time to let the mind reflect and run free from the routine daily tasks it has to perform in work-a-day life. Given the last few days holiday (‘Holy-day’) were about … Continue reading
Posted in Freedom, Human Nature, Human Wellbeing, New Zealand Politics, Philosophy
3 Comments
A Tale of Two Tracks. Part II – Something new under the sun.
[This is the second part of a two-part post. In the first post I argued that our modern world is susceptible to ‘two tracks’ arising in all areas. In this post I argue that it is wrong to claim that … Continue reading
Posted in Blogging, Democracy, Freedom, New Zealand Politics, Political Psychology
Tagged Elections, John Key, markets, National, political psychology, Voting
Comments Off on A Tale of Two Tracks. Part II – Something new under the sun.
Adam Smith on the appeal of the iPhone
“How many people ruin themselves by laying out money on trinkets of frivolous utility? What pleases these lovers of toys is not so much the utility, as the aptness of the machines which are fitted to promote it.” (Part IV, … Continue reading
Adam Smith and the Left and Right of Moral Sentiment – A Christmas Tale
[I’m on holiday in a place with very limited and irregular cellphone coverage and access to the internet. That means I haven’t included links in this post but, when I’ve quoted from Adam Smith’s work, I’ve referenced the ‘Part’ and … Continue reading
Posted in Economics, Free Market, Human Nature, Human Wellbeing, National Identity, New Zealand Politics, Philosophy
Tagged Adam Smith, capitalism, human nature, ideology
3 Comments