Reading Time: 8 minutes “Project Fear, you Remoaner!” I’ve heard it for a number of years, since before the vote. And when Project Fear didn’t happen, Leavers got even more vocal. Of course, it didn’t happen because it took us this long to leave the EU – and it’s still ongoing. In fact, this was yet another lie from […]
regulation
Posted inEnvironment, Health, Politics
Brexit: Can’t Say I Didn’t Warn You
Reading Time: 9 minutes Brexit seems something of the distant past, in a bygone era. It has been eclipsed by a global pandemic that has ostensibly let Bresiteers and Leavers completely off the hook. There were a number of things I clearly predicted that would come about. All of my predictions are coming true. Here are the main things […]
Posted inHealth, Politics
“Socialism Is Evil”; Yeah, Not a Good Time to Be a Libertarian…
Reading Time: 4 minutes Socialism is evil! Venezuela! Communism! CORONAVIRUS… Government, please bail us out! Please help us! Let’s work together to make sure of this and of that… Let’s nationalise private healthcare provision in the short term… Let’s…Let’s… I’ve heard assaults democratic socialism, social democracies, mixed economies – the lot – over the years from members of the […]
Posted inPolitics
On Campaign Finance Reform
Reading Time: 9 minutes This comment was from Cajun Exile, on this thread here in response to this video. I’ll post it and then reply interlinearly. It received a torrent of upvotes from people, back at whatever forum this guy came from, who piled in with their groupthink upvoting – a very common behaviour with the gun rights and small […]
Posted inPolitics
Regulation, Negative Externalities & Vacuum Cleaners. Again.
Reading Time: 3 minutes I’ve written on this exact subject before, but there’s nothing like repeating myself! Regulation is often seen as contrary to libertarian or conservative principles and against economic flourishing in providing barriers to trade, erected by interfering governments. But, as I have mentioned before, the free market cannot account for negative externalities. This means that, if […]
Posted inEnvironment, Politics
My Current View on the Brexit Debate
Reading Time: 4 minutes I just gave a summary elsewhere on the internet to my views on Brexit. See what you think, if you care: Here is how I see the debate. There are five main reasons for voting Leave or Remain: (1) the economy. I cannot see the Leavers can winning this argument. There simply are no decent […]
Posted inGeneral
On Free Market Economics: History, Morality and Background
Reading Time: 20 minutes Buckle up; we’re in for a long ride over this series, for those who have not yet read it. Free market economics seems to be the cornerstone of both right-wing and libertarian political ideology, broadly espousing that the companies and corporations and consumers of the world arbitrate supply, price and, in some way it is […]
Posted inEthics and Morality, Politics
Regulation: Morality, London Fire, Trump and Brexit
Reading Time: 8 minutes In light of the fire at the Grenfell London tower block, regulation is the hot button topic. A couple of months ago, I wrote a piece on regulation and how, when governments seek to strip it back, as they are doing in both the US and the UK, they are really seeking to strip back […]
Posted inGeneral
Morality: Regulation, Trump and Brexit
Reading Time: 7 minutes I give myself a wide remit here at ATP, and today I want to talk a bit about regulation. For free marketeers, libertarians and small government and tax right-wingers, “regulation” is a very dirty word. But what is regulation? I think when the word is used, people really don’t think about what it is. Regulation […]
Posted inEthics and Morality
Should We License Parenting?
Reading Time: 4 minutes In reading the brilliant book The Anatomy of Violence by Adrian Raine, the subject of licensing parenting is brought up near the end. It’s a good old debating topic that often provokes strong opinions. Some claim that giving birth is a fundamental human right and everyone is entitled to it. Of course, this is not so […]