Monthly Archives: June 2007

PoliticalCompass.org amusing quizz to score your political leanings

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Here is an amusing online quizz at PolitcalCompass.org that tries to map out and score your political coordinates using botha “left/right” and “authoritarian/libertarian” scale.

This is what I scored …

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Interesting how being forced to choose between what seem like 4 simplistic alternatives- “stongly agree, agree, disagree, strongly disagree” – makes you think through your own position.

For instance, the first question asks …

If economic globalisation is inevitable, it should primarily serve humanity rather than the interests of trans-national corporations.

Which of the 4 options do I choose?

My thinking goes something like this … inevitable? hardly … anyway playing along … false dichotomy … treat it as a trick question … I support free market … do not see globalization as a threat … like it and believe in it actually … but some corporations get privileges which is wrong … I could say strongly disagree because the statement seems anti free market … but since I do not automatically consider trans-nationals as good I will choose agree … that will keep open the notion that interests of humanity and those of corporations generally … usually coincide but that is not inevitable. Next question ….

That was fun!

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Scoop: Leaked NSW Liberal Party letter by Michael Darby

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Michael Darby Liberal Party Australia New South Wales

No sooner had I published my previous post regarding the perplexing suspension of Michael Darby from the Liberal Party of Australia than a Party colleague inVictoria forwarded me an explosive 16 page document he said was leaked to him by a member of the New South Wales (NSW) State Executive.

He claimed that this document isa 16 pageletter by Michael Darby dated 25 June 2007sentto and received by”members of the State Executive” Liberal Party NSW.

If this letter is the real McCoy it raises many troubling issues regarding the treatment not only of Michael Darby, but ofthe whole Darby family by some members of the Party.

Here are somelarge portionsfrom this leaked document with some informationallinks and extra pics added by me …

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Australian free market defender Michael Darby suspended from Liberal Party

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Michael Darby, Liberal Party of Australia

I’m in the USA at present and just received an email from a Liberal Party colleague that my good friend, fellow Liberal Party of Australia member, and SOLID VOX presenter, Michael Darby has just been suspended from the Party for two years!

Presumably for appearing on ABC TV show Four Corners.

It’s been alleged by the Party that this was somehow in breach of the Party’s Constitution. How?

I don’t have more details yet but, other than the fact that Four Corners put a lot of work into trying to portray Michael as some sort of shady behind-the-scenes power-broker, I found nothing in that interview which could be considered a breach of the Party’s Constitution.

I’ve known and worked with Michael on several projects over theyears.

He’s been a guest speaker at the Melbourne-based DISCOVER CAPITALISM meetings which I organise.

He has supported the worldwide Celebrate Capitalism campaign since it began in 2001.

He recently joined my SOLID VOX internet radio network.

He has stood by me through difficult times. He has never hesitated to join or support any cause that might advance liberty in Australia.

Sure there are areas on which we disagree.

But I consider Michael Darbya True Friend and a True Blue Aussie.

And one of this country’s most serious defenders of Liberty.

I stand by Michael Darby.

Click here to email me.

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Manzi Manzi, Global Warming Pansy!

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Seeing the light?

A few months ago in March, Jim Manzi wrote in Conservative publication, National Review:

The available evidence indicates that it is probable (though not strictly scientifically proven) that human activities have increased global temperatures to date and will likely continue to do so.

But in spite of all the table-pounding, nobody can reliably quantify the size of these future impacts, or even bound them sufficiently to guide action.

The total impact of global temperatures over the next century could plausibly range from negligible to severe.

Long-term climate prediction is in its infancy, and improved forecast reliability is crucial to enable useful guidance for policymakers. Better science could give us what is most need in this debate:

more light and less heat.

But now it looks like Jim Manzi has now seen the light!

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Michael Yon: Trap and kill Al Qaeda in Iraq

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General David Petraeus

Michael Yon in Iraq reports on the commencement of “the most widespread combat operations since the end of the ground war” to take out Al Qaeda in Iraq, and the good work of General David Petraeus.

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By the time you read this, we will be inside Baquba, and we will be killing them.

… Our jets will drop bombs and we will use rockets.

… By the time you read this, our artillery will be firing, and our tanks moving in. And Humvees. And Strykers. And other vehicles.

Our people will capture key terrain and cutoff escape routes.

The idea this time is not to chase al Qaeda out, but to trap and kill them head-on, or in ambushes, or while they sleep.

When they are wounded, they will be unable to go to hospitals without being captured, and so their wounds will fester and they will die painfully sometimes.

It will be horrible for al Qaeda.

Horror and terrorism is what they sow, and tonight they will reap their harvest. They will get no rest. They can only fight and die, or run and try to get away.

Nobody is asking for surrender, but if they surrender, they will be taken.

To Coalition forces: Good hunting lads!

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My comprehensive assessment of Mikko Ellila article, Society Consists of People

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I’ve now completed myanalysis of the issues raised my Mikko Ellilä in his article, Society Consists of People.

My post is titled:

Are Blacks genetically LOWER in intelligence and HIGHER in psychopathy than Whites?

I’ve spent about 100 hours researching and writing for this study and believe it tackles the major issues fairly, objectively, and comprehensively.

My article does not directly refer to Mikko’s post, however it does tackle its main arguments.

As well as reaching a conclusionon the views that Mikko has presented, I’ve alsoprovided my conclusion regarding whether or not Mikko’s post is compatible with the positions and policies of THINKER TO THINKER:

I further conclude that any direct or indirect advocacy of the above racialist positions (please note I do not refer to them as “racist”) is incompatible with Capitalist Ideals such as free markets, individual rights, liberty, equality before the law, creative thinking, volition/free will.

Please note: Myanalysis distinguishes between racism and racialism.I do not treat these two termsas either having the same meaning or having the same moral stature.

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Update Monday June 18

Clarification:

  1. By “advocacy” I mean promoting as public policy.
  2. The racialist positions I’m referring to are only those covered in my article “Are Blacks genetically LOWER in intelligence and HIGHER in psychopathy than Whites?”

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Some of the blogs and forums which have been following the Mikko Ellila issue …

  • The Zigory blog
  • Sydney Kendall Says
  • Conservative Beach Girl
  • Byzantium Calling
  • Gates of Vienna
  • Confessions of a Closet Republican
  • Vigilant Freedom/910 Group Blog
  • Words by Woods
  • Tundra Tabloids
  • Thoughts on Freeedom
  • Egoist
  • Reason Rules
  • NewsBusters
  • The Forum For Ayn Rand Fans
  • Finland For Thought
  • The Capitalism Forum
  • Objectively Speaking
  • Pub Philosopher
  • Conservative Beach Girl
  • Dhimmi Watch
  • Little Green Footballs
  • Laiva on täynnä

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    Are Blacks genetically LOWER in intelligence and HIGHER in psychopathy than Whites?

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    British Professor Emeritus of Psychology, University of Ulster, Richard Lynn, answers “YES!” to both questions, and he’s conducted and collated a large body of research and data to back up his views.

    Does this make Richard Lynn a racist?

    Not necessarily.

    Does the fact that various White Supremacy and White Separatist groups embrace Richard Lynn’s research and his conclusions make him a racist or a supporter of racism?

    Not necessarily.

    Is it wrong to investigate these issues?

    Not at all.

    First I want to discuss the issue of Black versus White intelligence.

    All aboard!

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    Continue reading →

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    Mikko Ellila provides authorised English translation of Society Consists of People

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    Mikko Ellilä has now provided an authorized translation of his article, Society Consists of Peoplefrom its original Finnish into English.

    Mikko has stated that the previous “unauthorized” translation by Aapo Puhakka – and proof-read and modified by Kenneth Sikorski – was “awful” and “very misleading”.

    So here they are, below. The two translations side-by-side.

    What do I think of the authorised translation?

    I’ll defer my comments for a later post while I study the matter further.

    I welcome your views either on this blog or by email.

    Continue reading →

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    John Stossel challenges rage against Big Oil profits

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    Responding to recent outrage about”record high”petrol prices in the USA, and the “excessive profits” of Big Oil, John Stossel has written a well-argued, brief article called “Why is Profit a Dirty Word?”

    Hat tip to Tim Warner

    John Stossel’s article begins by quoting Democrat Senator John Kerry saying “Oil companies in America are reporting record profits. Record profits.”

    I couldn’t find this particularquote on the web or on John Kerry’s website, but there’s no shortage of John Kerry railing againstBig Oil’s …”windfall profits” … “price gouging“, and so on.

    The Democratic Party has been pushing to end“billions of dollars in oil industry subsidies”. I need to find out more about this, but it appears that many of these so-called”subsidies” are actually just mis-namedtax breaks.

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    Part 2: Robert Spencer blogging the Koran, The Fatiha

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    [photopress:koran_child_theory.jpg,full,pp_image] [photopress:koran_child_practice.jpg,full,pp_image]
    Theory? Practice?

    Robert Spencer’s weekly”Blogging the Qu’ran” project at HotAir.com this week examines the brief first chapter of the Qu’ran know as The Fatiha (three English translations here).

    Robert Spencer writes:

    The final two verses of the Fatiha asks Allah: “Show us the straight path, the path of those whom Thou hast favoured; not the (path) of those who earn Thine anger nor of those who go astray.”… The path of those who have earned Allah’s anger are the Jews, and those who have gone astray are the Christians.

    And he brings up the recent invocation/prayer presented at the Democratic (Party) NationalCommitteWinter meeting by the Shi’ite Imam Husham Al-Hussainy of the Karbalaa Islamic Institute.

    This invocation is based on The Fatiha.

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    Smart ID card smarting – Thanks Tim Warner!

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    Why does this guy look so darned happy?!

    It’s MP! CPL (Creative Project Leader) for Celebrate Capitalism Melbourne 2007.

    On Sunday June 03, Mariopresented Tim Warner with the Capitalism Award Melbourne 2007 for his work on exposing and opposing the Australian Access Card.

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    Tim Warner of “Access Card NO WAY”

    Two days later he learnedthat the Access Card had suffered a big setback. It’s the stuff of which joy is made of.

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    Happy Capitalism Day 2007!

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    Official website: http://celebratecapitalism.org/

    Join the worldwide festivities!

    This year I’m in Cincinnati, Ohio, USA for Capitalism Day™. We’ve got a fun day of festivities and promotions planned under the leadership of Sydney Kendall. The Capitalism Award™ Cincinnati 2007 will be presented to local activist, Everett DeJager, for his lifelong dedication to fighting against governmentexcess and putting forward the case for the proper role of government.I’ll be giving a brief talk on the

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