Category Archives: Free Market

City in a box

Posted on 29th Apr, 2012 by Puddleglum

It was meant to be the ‘City in a Park’. But, according to a Press editorial, a lot of people in Christchurch have taken a look at the future and they don’t like what they see: The artists’ impressions of … Continue reading →

Posted in Democracy, Earthquakes, Free Market, Human Wellbeing | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

California dreaming

Posted on 22nd Apr, 2012 by Puddleglum

If the future form of Christchurch’s central city now hangs in the balance, the outcome will depend upon the weightings given to two quite distinct sets of ‘instincts’ about how to create a vibrant, sustainable, thriving city centre. One set … Continue reading →

Posted in Earthquakes, Economics, Free Market, Freedom, Human Wellbeing, New Zealand Politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Devils, details, dark arts and Trojan horses – Update

Posted on 20th Apr, 2012 by Puddleglum

If confirmation were needed that “putting to one side” volume 2 of the Central City Plan is because the rules and regulations in them will be neutered, then here it is. Jo Kane on CTV’s ‘One on One‘ interview programme … Continue reading →

Posted in Earthquakes, Economics, Free Market, New Zealand Politics | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

A lesson about community

Posted on 4th Mar, 2012 by Puddleglum

Who would have thought that, in the saga that is the ‘recovery’ of Christchurch, it would be the Anglican Church that would give us the clearest example of the emptiness of modern expressions of ‘community’? When push came to shove … Continue reading →

Posted in Earthquakes, Economics, Free Market, Human Wellbeing, National Identity, New Zealand Politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 16 Comments

Out of control

Posted on 2nd Feb, 2012 by Puddleglum

Sometimes, you just can’t keep things under control in politics. You know how it goes –  somehow Treasury documents get accidentally posted on websites; somehow the government’s majority ‘control’ over partially privatised state assets just isn’t what you thought it … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, Free Market, New Zealand Politics | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Working hard for the ‘unearned increment’

Posted on 8th Jun, 2011 by Puddleglum

In the spirit of How Many Elephants in a Blue Whale?, I thought I’d do a quick calculation of how much hard work was in Bill Gates (variously estimated) fortune. At one point, Bill Gates was said to be worth … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, Free Market, Philosophy | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Working hard for the ‘unearned increment’

The Right’s Dependence on Welfare

Posted on 15th May, 2011 by Puddleglum

A recent comment by Don Brash [about 7mins45secs into the video] gave me the clue as to why the right are so dependent on the ‘welfare’ argument. They are, to put it bluntly, dependent on ‘welfare’ as the explanation for all … Continue reading →

Posted in Free Market, Human Nature, Human Wellbeing, Labour, New Zealand Politics | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

The limits of human nature – and books I have read Part II

Posted on 16th Feb, 2011 by Puddleglum

This is a post about the Amish, diversity and Thomas Sowell’s visions. I’ll try to keep it brief. Just to remind anyone who’s interested, this is part of my response to the post directed at me over at ‘A Life … Continue reading →

Posted in Free Market, Freedom, Human Nature, Philosophy | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on The limits of human nature – and books I have read Part II

The limits of human nature – and books I have read: Part I

Posted on 12th Feb, 2011 by Puddleglum

This is getting interesting. Lisek has posted again on my post – which is very welcome, as I genuinely do welcome debate and discussion. It’s not quite as welcome to find an accusation in the title of the post to … Continue reading →

Posted in Free Market, Freedom, Human Nature | Tagged , , | Comments Off on The limits of human nature – and books I have read: Part I

Ten Degrees of Difference: Is it all just a tragic misunderstanding?

Posted on 28th Jan, 2011 by Puddleglum

I’d like to thank Walenty Lisek at The Life of the Mind blog for the detailed response to my post on the Tragic Vision. I’ll try to reciprocate as best I can with ten points in response. I should start, however, … Continue reading →

Posted in Free Market, Freedom, Human Nature, Human Wellbeing, International Politics, Military | Tagged , , , , | 5 Comments