We are suffocating from a fausse élégance that scorns the honest, clear, four-letter word. And quite aside from the obscene ones, hundreds of splendid four-letter words are waiting to work for us.
— Stringfellow Barr-
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Category Archives: Economics and public policy
The Essence of Hayek (Part 1)
In April I wrote a long, winding review of Drift into Failure. I was very proud of it: in the space of several thousand words I visited complex systems, fuzzy logic and the usefulness of positivistic thinking. It met with … Continue reading
Posted in Books, Economics and public policy, Systems
1 Comment
A thought bubble about reciprocation
Here’s a classic scene: a weary traveller walks through an airport. A flower is pushed into his hands by a religious adherent, who then hints that a contribution to the religious order would be welcome — but no obligation, of … Continue reading
Posted in Economics and public policy, Thought Bubbles
2 Comments
New Zealand has better IT policy than Australia
Firstly, they don’t have Stephen Conroy. Secondly, they’re not going to introduce software patents. NZ: 2. Australia: Sux.
Posted in Economics and public policy, IT and Internet
Comments Off on New Zealand has better IT policy than Australia
Finishing unfinished business in the NT
Aboriginal affairs in the NT has always been a mess. It certainly became worse after the 1976 introduction of the Aboriginal Land Rights Act (Northern Territory) and the replacement of jobs with “sit down money”.
Then came a quarter-decade rule by the CLP, who were hamstrung both by the Act (supported largely by insipid latte-sippers) and […] Continue reading
The Electoral Reform Dream Paper
The Electoral Reform Greenpaper has mostly received coverage for the two particularly stupid proposals that are raised: lowering the age of franchise and replacing the paper ballot with electronic or — much worse — internet voting.
Robert Merkel points out at LP that there is an almost universal condemnation of the latter idea by IT security […] Continue reading
Posted in Cross Posted from Club Troppo, Economics and public policy, IT and Internet
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