Category: imported_weekly
In his book Liberalism, written in 1927, distinguished economist Ludwig von Mises observed, “The task of the state consists solely and exclusively in guaranteeing the protection of life, health, liberty, and private property against violent attacks”.
The first results from the 2006 Census have just been released. The $70 million census, conducted on March 7, provides a ‘snapshot’ of who we are as New Zealanders. And for the 429,429 people who were fed up with being categorised according to their ethnic ancestry and called themselves “New Zealanders” in the census, you will be pleased to know that that you are now New Zealand ’s third largest ethnic group!
Trying out new things is a normal part of everyday life. Whether it’s a new recipe, a quicker way to get home, or a different system of tracking emails in the office, if the initiatives work and produce positive benefits, they are continued, but if they don’t, they are rejected.
The resignation of Don Brash this week has signaled the loss to New Zealand of a political leader who displayed a courage not usually seen in politics. Dr Brash spoke about race relations in an open and frank manner that has now become quite uncommon. These days, under the present politically correct regime, saying what you believe about controversial issues can lead to job losses, a failure to secure contracts or funding, a missing out of promotion, and so on. That doesn’t mean that concerns go away - they simply go ‘underground’.
It is an indisputable fact that the earth’s climate is constantly changing. Scientific data shows that the earth’s temperature has been several degrees warmer - and colder - than it is today. What the future holds is difficult to predict in detail, but there will be cooler periods and warmer period, as well as the inevitable floods, droughts and storms. While humans have survived ice ages, there is no doubt that warmer periods are easier.
As predicted the latest benefit statistics show that welfare continues to increase with almost 2,000 more people claiming they are either too sick to work or can’t find jobs, than three months ago. That takes the total number of working age beneficiaries to 282,000. This includes 41,000 people who are on the dole, 100,000 able-bodied sole parents who are paid to stay out of the workforce until their youngest child is 18 years old, and 123,000 beneficiaries who claim they are too sick or disabled to work.
On Thursday the Minister of Social Welfare announced “the biggest changes to the benefit system in 50 years”. This latest announcement follows a proclamation last February by the previous Minister that the introduction of a single benefit was “the most significant reform of New Zealand 's welfare system in seventy years”.
It was Thomas Jefferson who warned, The natural progress of things is for liberty to yield and government to gain ground.
There was a time when New Zealand was one of the most progressive countries on earth. Most famously, we were first to give women the vote, but we also led the way in our early approach to social welfare, and in the economic reforms of the eighties. What we failed to do during that period, however – due largely to Prime Minister David Lange’s thirst for a cup of tea - was to implement a much-needed social reform programme.
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