New Libz Video

The latest Libertarianz Policy Video is on NZ's dysfunctional welfare system, and can be found at YouTube.

Other videos can be found at Libz.tv.

Libertarianz Paper Ads

The Libertarianz have started putting ads in the Sunday Star Times and Sunday News newspapers to kick start our election campaign this year. The first ad was put in the two papers Sunday before last.

The Libertarianz have also started up Libz.tv, for all the videos produced for the election campaign, put on YouTube.

Transmission Gully

There was a big 4 page section in the A section of the Dominion Post today dedicated to answering questions about Transmission Gully, including the main headline on the front page.

And as much as I'd like to see Transmission Gully built, I honestly think it never will. And if it is, it will all be funded privately, built privately, and owned privately. There is just no way a huge bureaucratic NZ Government, City Councils that squabble amongst themselves, and a ton of lawyers battling for or against the RMA will get it built.

Where's Atlas when you need him?

July 4th

A happy, belated birthday to the USA -which, since July 4, 1776, has shown the world how the individualist, libertarian principles it adopted can transform a society into one of the richest and most productive countries in the world. Mitch over at SOLO has an excellent article on the subject; the same with PC at Not PC.

Bolger in FailRail

So Jim Bolger, a typical National politician for all due intents and purposes, is the CEO of the new national railway service Kiwi(Fail)Rail.

Does it really matter? Will it change anything? Will there be any less waste and uselessness?

A Victory for Liberty

The Supreme Court of the United States has overturned the DC Gun Ban as unconstitutional -which is a big victory for Liberty, and the Right to Bear Arms. The DC Gun Ban, which has been in place for 32 years, has denied the residents the right to own firearms to defend themselves.

As for the criminals, the statistics speak for themselves. DC had 169 homicides in 2006 -most of them gun-related. 2006 was also one of the best years DC has had since the ban was implemented. Clearly, the ban has simply put more power into the hands of criminals and gangs. Just for the record, in 1991 DC had an unbelievable 484 murders -which is a shocking indictment on just how spectacularly the Ban has failed.

The DC Gun Ban hasn't worked -maybe Liberty can do better!

The Real Issue Here

Recently, a big feeding frenzy has occurred around the New Zealand blogosphere and especially on SOLO and Not PC over Elijah Lineberry's take on the Ministry of Education's $54,000 "Maori Potential" badges, with bloggers of all political leanings either calling him a racist or telling the complainers to grow up. Elijah's badges have been put into pictures by Whaleoil.

But before we go on yelling about Elijah, what could be more demeaning to a Maori person than a phrase such as "Realising Maori Potential -Wassup!", which appeared on one of the actual badges. It's also interesting that none of the badges have one Maori word on them (except "Maori", believe it or not.) The badges are simply worn to make students feel better about themselves, and to make teachers feel that they're actually teaching their students properly.

Elijah, meanwhile, is simply telling it as it is. Crime rates, unemployment, child abuse, etc are appallingly high amongst Maori and in predominantly Maori communities. Yes, Elijah's way of putting it was blunt -and probably not something the Libertarianz Party should officially endorse. But the actions of those who scream "racist!" whenever the badges are mentioned are even more immature- because, in effect, they are denying the problems that Maori are facing today (thanks, primarily to their own actions, which are what Elijah's badges are all about), on the grounds of "racism". How dare you point out that more Maori are in jail, per capita, than Europeans!

Not that the Left would want the problems to go away -it's areas like South Auckland and Porirua that provide most of their support. And if you look at any of Labour's recent economic moves and policy, they hate productivity -because productivity is contrary to Labour's socialist philosophy, and unproductive slobs always looking for an extra buck out of the government are a major source of Labour votes.

Good on you Elijah -you're actually telling it as it is. And accepting the problem is the first part of solving the problem. No, not all Maori are child abusers and unemployed -far from it. But the statistics speak for themselves.

Skyscrapers: Bank of China Tower

The Bank of China Tower is one of Hong Kong's biggest buildings. At 367 metres (1205 feet) to the top of the antenna, the building soars over Hong Kong's skyline.



Topped out on August 8, 1988, completed in 1989 and opened in 1990, the building was designed by world-famous architect I.M. Pei, and is world-renowned for making a bold architectural statement, standing out from other building at the time of its conception (1982). The diagonal white lines (that are supposed to hint at bamboo sticks) making their way up the building symbolize prosperity and livelihood in traditional Chinese culture.

The building was the tallest structure in Hong Kong until the completion of Central Park in 1992, and was the first skyscraper outside of America to reach its height.

Elijah's New Blog

Elijah Lineberry, Auckland Libertarian, has a new blog. You can find it at nzcapitalist.blogspot.com.

Another Assault on Kiwi Education

Another Assault on Kiwi Education is on its way with Labour's recent legislative maneuver to raise the legal school leaving age to 18, unless the student attends Polytech or University. In response, 15 High School Principals on Auckland's North Shore have said that, should the act pass, they will deliberately violate it.

It is not hard to understand why. Why would a school principal want to keep students who have already expressed an intention to leave school -usually to go into the workforce- and who would simply cause violence if they were kept back? Why would a school want to waste money on the hiring of new teachers, adjusting wages to compensate for the extra stress put on already-existing teachers, extra school teaching material, and new classrooms for students who don't want to learn?

On top of that, keeping students in school prevents them from getting productive jobs out in the workforce, where they could truly be productive. Jobs and apprenticeships also provide the best education for more hands-on students looking for a career in the trades -which can provide an excellent source of income, but the current Labour Government believes that education can only be done in big, monotonous buildings, at little desks, subject to whatever the teachers says. It's this failure to differentiate between schooling and education where Labour fails miserably. What it all comes down to, is more resources required from a less productive economy.

As thus, the responsibility falls onto the parents and taxpayers to pay for the extra students, who don't to be there, and get no value out of the education system. Parents and taxpayers are getting more for less -and the strain on schools could jeopardise their own child(ren)'s education.

The same deluded principle has also been applied to Universities. For various reasons, the Left has taught New Zealand that everyone has a right to go to University. As a result, more people have come out of the University system with degrees which are worth nothing to an employer, thanks to everyone else having one. More money is being used to fund students who go and produce less, on the whole, and who would be more successful in the trades -where New Zealand has a major deficit.

However, University is hardly compulsory -whereas this current proposal will make school attendance compulsory.

In the end, all this stupid proposal boils down to is election-buying, and trying to pretend that education under Labour has not been pitiful. As proof, John Key is also supporting the proposal. Now try to argue that it ISN'T election buying!

Libertarianz on Eye to Eye

As you may know, Peter Linton, who is the firearms spokesman for the Libertarianz, appeared in the most recent episode of Eye to Eye, where he was debating the right to own firearms, and in what situations they are necessary. Peter can be viewed on the Eye to Eye website here.

Luckily for Hone Harawira and Marie Dyhrberg, the episode was screened one day before the fatal shooting of Navtej Singh in South Auckland. Navtej Singh, a good, hardworking, honest man, was cooperating with theives at his South-Auckland liquor store when he was shot by a retard by means of a rifle. Did Navtej have any means of self-defence at his disposal?

Carbon Emissions Trading Scheme

Earlier today, I listened to a debate on the Fox News Channel over a proposed Bill in the US Senate over a potential Carbon Emissions Trading Scheme in the US.

Here's why I'm not supporting it: According to this debate, the trading scheme is expected to cost the US taxpayer US$45,000,000,000,000 (45 trillion USD) over its lifetime.

Scary enough, huh?

Boycott the Government!

This is a chain email that I've started, to raise awareness in New Zealand about the true culprit of the high price of oil in New Zealand:
___________________________________________________________________

To the citizens of New Zealand:

Recently, you may have received an email or two telling you to boycott big oil companies, that they are the cause of today's pains at the pump. Think for a second: are they? Is it they who take 50% of you petrol costs without your consent, stuffs it into their pocket, and then walks away without you knowing, or having agreed to the "transaction"?

NO.

Who claims to use 50% of your petrol money for roading -on continually congested Auckland streets only?

Who claims to use the money to buy a train system costing over $690,000,000 -when NASA can land a probe on Mars for over $200,000,000 LESS?

Who claims to use the money for new infrastructure, when every other week we hear of an old lady or family FORCED out of their home for a motorway that NEVER gets built?

Think about it: Your GOVERNMENT is the real thief here. Your GOVERNMENT takes HALF of your petrol money -and ends up using it on BUGGER ALL to help New Zealand!

Government is supposed to be representative of New Zealand citizens -but is this TRUE representation? NO!

The quick answer to rising petrol costs is: BOYCOTT THE GOVERNMENT! Don't believe government propaganda and election promises -what it really wants is YOUR MONEY!

If you want true representation, for the government to truly listen to the voices of the New Zealand people, boycott governmental lies and control! Take back YOUR life and YOUR liberty!

PASS IT ON!

News Regarding Annie Fox

I'm sad to say that I've found out, via Not PC, that a fellow blogger and friend, Annie Fox, has had her cancer card reissued, and it doesn't look good. All the best for Annie. If you wish, I'll send any messages that you may have for her, to her.

Get well soon, Annie!

America: Take Note

I've come across some very interesting statistics from a new blog I've started reading, Kramjam Reiterates, by Mark in OC ("OC" being Orange County, a nice area of 3 million people south of LA and where Disneyland is located). He says:

"A little over one year ago:
1) Consumer confidence stood at a 2 1/2 year high;
2) Regular gasoline sold for $2.19 a gallon;
3) The unemployment rate was 4.5%.

Since voting in a Democratic Congress in 2006 we have seen:
1) Consumer confidence plummet;
2) The cost of regular gasoline soar to over $3.50 a gallon;
3) Unemployment is up to 5% (a 10% increase);
4) American households have seen $2.3 trillion in equity value evaporate (stock and mutual fund losses);
5) Americans have seen their home equity drop by $1.2 trillion dollars;
6) 1% of American homes are in foreclosure.

America voted for change in 2006, and we got it!
Remember, it's Congress that makes law not the President."

Which I find very interesting. Although two years is a rather short amount of time, few of the economic problems facing America -and the rest of the world- existed before the Democrats got into power in Congress.

A warning to America: don't be fooled by talk of "change" -often, it's change for the worst.

A Tale of Two Budgets

Two budgets were released on Wednesday this week. One was the typical tax-and-spend budget promulgated by Helen Clark and Michael Cullen, promising a "tax cut" of $16 a week that will be eaten up shortly by inflation and the rising cost of living; the other was the Libertarianz Alternative Budget, that was put out by Libertarianz Leader Bernard Darnton. (A full spreadsheet outlining the budget in detail can also be downloaded from that page.)

Libertarianz will cut government spending and give back public money in the form of a true tax cut, $220 dollars per week. Libertarianz will slash the regulations and taxes on our economy, allowing New Zealand to truly surpass Australia in living standards and a growing economy; and help the poor and disadvantaged in society -by giving them back the money that was took from them, and regurgitated out in the form of "benefits."

Libertarianz will also enable New Zealand to defend itself properly, by buying new military equipment, such as brand new fighter jets. Libertarianz believes that a free nation should be able to defend itself, and works towards that end.

Libertarianz will paying no-hopers on the welfare state to breed, allowing voluntary charity and a work ethic to take its place. By legalizing victimless crimes, Libertarianz will put more resources into fighting real crime, and getting New Zealand away from the #1 spot in sexual assault, property crime and child abuse, in the world.

As well as the things mentioned above, Libertarianz will create, within a few years, one of the most dynamic, diverse and flexible economies in the world being able to adapt to changing market conditions rather than stumbling behind the rest of the developed world in GDP.

It's enough to make you vote Libertarianz!

Blog Ratings

If you don't already, I suggest you start reading the NZ blog rankings over at Tumeke. During the election year, the people over at Tumeke will be displaying the ups and downs in traffic, posts, etc, updating every month.

I'm at #97 this month, and slowly going up. If you're lucky, you'll be the proud owner of a blog somewhat higher than that!

Something to Celebrate

If you're at a loss trying to find anything recent to celebrate, I'll give you something: Israel's just turned sixty. Sixty years, and innumerable terrorist bombings, wars, death threats, and general violence at the hands of Islamofascists and the like. Even so, the small country continues to survive and flourish, despite its challenges from outside. It's one of the few countries that hasn't succumbed to political correctness, post-modernism, appeasement and the ideology of "moderate Islam".

Happy Birthday, Israel!

The Right to Protest?

Recently in Social Studies, my class has been assigned a book called "How Many Lightbulbs does It Take to Change a Planet: 95 Ways to Save Planet Earth". The Idea is that we would chose one of the 95 different topics on all manners of leftist ideas about climate change, take notes and do a PowerPoint presentation about it.

One of the ideas in the book is "Protect the Right to Protest". Alright, but this is what the left, through its self-anointed moral supremacy over climate change, has been stifling. If you speak up against the IPCC, the climate change "consensus" or Al Gore, you are thrown out of the climate change debate in days, if not hours. Suddenly, you have all these environmental "scientists" pouncing on you, saying that you're wrong and giving no particular reason, only data that has been spewed up a million times. For proof, look at what happened to the Great Global Warming Swindle -and that's one of the nicer examples.

The right to protest hasn't been stifled directly in the political arena -indeed, it's the politcal arena that the left wants to avoid over opposition to climate change. The left, in all its talk of "tolerance" and "cultural/political/economic diversity", has to maintain a clean, public image of what it is, and what it stands for. To its credit, it has been pretty successful. You're unlikely to see quotes like this on the front cover of a newspaper:

"We have wished... for a disaster or for a social change to come and bomb us back into the stone age..."

or that:

"You think Hiroshima was bad, let me tell you mister, Hiroshima wasn't bad enough!"*

Admittedly, those two quotes were said a while ago. But if you were to tell any random earth-hugger on the street about those quotes, they'd just shake their head and call you a nutter. There are many more quotes like the two above, but you'd be lucky to find anyone who knows about them.

Consider this fact: the environmental movement has successfully manufactured their ideology around a natural, scientific phenomenon: human-induced climate change. To most people within and supportive of the environmental movement, it's not about the control or the end of industry, it isn't about human quality of life -it's about global warming, or climate change. These people see scientific climate change as a primary -they don't consider anything else in the ideology as a possible primary. For them, it's alright to sacrifice human industry, technology, wealth, comfort, etc to Gaia -because climate change is a primary. Even if that did nothing to the climate, it's still the primary.

It's that idea that has left possible unbiased environmentalists completely open to bombardment by the environmental movement and its theories on climate change.

Also, as it is supposedly based on scientific fact, the supposed primary of climate change is seen as an absolute -for instance, man's mind is an absolute (although his using it is not), reality is an absolute. This is how the environmental movement has made the scientists who are skeptical of climate change seem absolutely crazy. Climate change is neither a primary nor an absolute, but the marketability of it as such has been used to devastating effect.

So, the right to protest against envirofascists? Surely, it exists in the political realm. But the rather simple idea of climate change has been manipulated so much in the philosophical realm that it's crazy to challenge the idea of anthropogenic global warming. To outsiders, you're protesting against an absolute (no matter how many studies say otherwise). The environmental movement keeps its credibility by making climate change its primary -not the end of industry and commerce, and relegating productive man back into the slums.

And as I've said many times before, isn't the idea of us all pitching in to make a collective effort for the good of the planet and future generations just lovely? Perhaps not for us selfish Objectivists, or anyone else who can look behind all the environmental rhetoric, but for the common Joe New Zealander, who has already been brought up with such principles during NZ's socialist era, they sound great. After all, we will all die if we don't -climate change, according to what Joe's heard so many times before, is an absolute.

The only thing getting in the way -productive, selfish man. The man who produces instead of sacrifices himself for the "common good". Sounds like a certain book!

But this is even worse. If you think sacrifice on the altar of the "need" of other people was bad, this is sacrifice on the altar of the environment -the truly unthinking.

Luckily, as Libertarians, we have the chance to hit at (or to protest at) where it hurts. The left for decades, long before the environmental movement arrived, has been going on about the need "tolerance" and "diversity" -which developed into the ideal of "protecting the right to protest". These principles developed as a way to get leftist rhetoric into the classrooms and onto the TV screens, but they have tripped up over themselves. After all, at school, you're not going to get a flogging anymore for expressing an opinion -the teachers have to grin and bear it, at worst. After all, it is in the name of "tolerance" and "diversity" -and when opinions can be put to people so bluntly, no leftist will try to stop you.

So it's on this different set of ideals -originally enlightened ideals from the enlightenment, before having a post-modern spin put on them- that we need to protest to combat leftist ideals. Ironically, what were, and still are some of the most attractive ideals of the left can be used against them. Not just in environmentalism, but everywhere.

*Both quotes from The Free Radical no. 73, page 27.

Libz Conference '08

I had the pleasure of attending the Libertarianz Annual Conference for 2008 on Saturday in Auckland. And although it wasn't in as nice a venue as last time's Wellington conference, it went very well, and I got to meet the lovely Sus, Annie Fox, Tim Wikiriwhi, *the* Elijah Lineberry, plus a whole lot of members old and new from the Libertarianz. We unrolled part of our election campaign, such as Libz TV (to keep all our YouTube campaign videos) and our newspaper campaign, which will be in the Sunday Star Times and the Sunday News later on in the year. We received speeches from several new members.

It was also good catching up with the other members of the Libz from around the country, such as Peter Cresswell, Richard McGrath and Robert Palmer.

Just afterwards, Elijah sent me an email on his thoughts of the conference, which was his first. An excerpt reads as follows:

"I thought it went splendidly with a great deal of talent on display, and feel we are well placed for an excellent result in October."

I couldn't agree more, Elijah.

Pictures to come!