This is just a criminal abuse of taxpayers funds
This coupled with the BBC means we have had a de facto Ministry of Agitprop for the last 13 years.
Help make EU law – from 1 April 2012
2 hours ago
Tuesday, 30 March 2010
Colin Ward- Anarchist 1924-2010- A Seed Beneath The Snow
‘You may think in describing anarchism as a theory of organisation I am propounding a deliberate paradox: ‘anarchy’ you may consider to be, by definition, the opposite of organisation. In fact, however, ‘anarchy’ means the absence of government, the absence of authority'
I was sad to read that Colin Ward died last month, as I earned my living from organising Self Build Housing Groups in the eighties and early 1990's which only reinforced my growing Libertarianism, when confronted with MPs, Local Authorities and 'Town Planners' who thought Self Building was an anathema to State and Corporate provision of housing.
When a good proportion of the population were bombed out of housing in the immediate post war period, and the State's response was to pass the Planning Acts that are today strangling and distorting the Housing Market. Ward was supporting squatters and advocating the building of alternative housing systems such as Pre Fabs.
He was an admirer of Walter Segal whose designs made best use of difficult land.
We should preserve the memory of such men who fought such a rear guard action against the early Authoritarian Welfare State.
The Office of (un)Fair Trading, RBS and the taxpayers
RBS was fined £28.6m for having discussed the commercial pricing levels with Barclay's in what was declared a breach of competition. The Office of Fair Trading sought to remedy the unfair practice of fixing charges for the professional services companies inclusive of solicitors, estate agents and accountants.What was both a shock and an insult by the Office of (un)Fair Trading was that the occurrence was prior to the bailout by force of the government upon a people. Why do I state this is unfair? We have seen so many examples of privatised gains and nationalised debts. This is yet another case whereby the public, to whom was not owner at the time of the practices mentioned, will be the ones to bare the brunt of the £28.6m to be recovered! RBS effectively have been rewarded AGAIN for falling foul leaving taxpayers picking up the mess. This noted discussions were during the reign of Mr. Goodwin, which some will recall left with a hefty thank you package.
Government agencies that act to address wrongs by supposedly imposing actions which, in turn, create further wronging of the people must be stopped. This action directly violates the people by perpetuating the practice of privatised gain with nationalised debt. Readers should keep in mind that the original bailout of RBS was some £37 billion. This is like a 7% interest charge being imposed on te public on top of the original bailout!
First Appeared on LPUK Scotland
South East April Meet Up
This is just a quick message to remind everyone that the South East branch of the Libertarian Party will be meeting in Southwark this Thursday -- April 1st.
All are welcome to attend. And for more details please see here.
All are welcome to attend. And for more details please see here.
Monday, 29 March 2010
Juggling Economics
When questions of the audience called for decisive answers precious little was revealed. For the most part each saw there is a major sets of problems facing them but none would step back far enough to see root causes and resolutions. Talk of levels of taxes being raised in one area whilst counting on the unknown of cost savings to be found in the government departments in another area seemed to be the means to an end in removing not just the reported £167,000,000,000 deficit but also the unforeseen requirements of the coming year. It was scary to watch as crystal balls were called upon in expectation of an increased economy none can guarantee. The expectation they are counting on, I would like to point out, that wasn't discussed was the continued need for some sort of financial market riding in and saving the day whilst each put on the face of how evil the very same group had become. Two of the three would seek to protect one of the biggest financial drains, namely the NHS. I say one of the biggest as there are a few. The Liberal Democrats correctly identified that cuts would be required but soon found areas that would support expanding the very same department. In fact all looked, in one way or another, to increase spending despite the nature of the problems faced by individuals.
The Clash Of The Midgets- Accountancy At Dawn
The much trailed clash of the Midgets is about to happen
Osborne/Cable/Darling
I cannot be othered to watch this as they pontificate how much of our money they are going to waste in the next five years.
Not one of them is going to advocate Tax refunds, reducing the State to a glimmer of its bloated self.
It is in my eyes it is like a meeting of Mafia Dons planning another robbery, but cannot make their mind up what weapons to use.
Saturday, 27 March 2010
Brown- The Low Rent Stalin
Speaking just 11 days before he is expected to go to Buckingham Palace to call the election, Brown says he will offer the nation "more fairness, more responsibility from vested interests, a greater sense that people have more control over their lives. That is basically a New Labour agenda."
Insisting that Labour can still win the election without the need of Liberal Democrat support, he argues: "This is a progressive moment," claiming "there is no rebellion against collectivism in the country" akin to the late 70s.
H/T Guido
We need to start to up our donations to support Nic Coome in Devizes, you do not have to be a member, just a supporter to donate.
Show Brown we are not sheep to be coralled into the collective pen
Insisting that Labour can still win the election without the need of Liberal Democrat support, he argues: "This is a progressive moment," claiming "there is no rebellion against collectivism in the country" akin to the late 70s.
H/T Guido
We need to start to up our donations to support Nic Coome in Devizes, you do not have to be a member, just a supporter to donate.
Show Brown we are not sheep to be coralled into the collective pen
Friday, 26 March 2010
Punch above our weight
I would urge every Libertarian to sign up to
http://www.democracyclub.org.uk/
and start getting the Libertarian message out
http://www.democracyclub.org.uk/
and start getting the Libertarian message out
Tax inspectors are to get wide-ranging powers to open people’s post without their permission for the first time, it can disclosed.
Did you hear Alistair Darling announce this piece of repression in the Budget ?
The Stasi State is well and truly in the psyche of these incompetents running this country. It has been billed as prevention of tobacco smuggling. With the mission creep that the bureaucrats love, PCSO's will be stationed in every sorting office squeaking about national security.
The Stasi State is well and truly in the psyche of these incompetents running this country. It has been billed as prevention of tobacco smuggling. With the mission creep that the bureaucrats love, PCSO's will be stationed in every sorting office squeaking about national security.
Thursday, 25 March 2010
A Perpetual State Of Emergency
I opened our local paper last night and a leaflet dropped out inviting me on behalf of the Police to dob my neighbour in for acting suspciously as he might be a terrorist.
What the Hell is going on, that we are in a State of Perpetual National Emergency, how long is it before we get a 'Hindenburg Edict' suspending all civil liberties ?
The Government have already granted themselves the powers to rule by edict under the CCA 2004.
Some members of Parliament and the House of Lords are starting to question the never ending near ten year old State of Emergency.
The Government Is Good
No sooner had Alistair Darling sat down shortly after lunchtime than
the gilt market suddenly crumpled. Investors around the world started
selling British government bonds, pulling their money out of the
country as fast as possible. As markets closed last night, the stampede
was continuing.
This was not a full-blown sterling crisis: the kind that forced Denis Healey
to the International Monetary Fund in the 1970s. But it was a hint of
what could happen if Labour still wields control after the election.
This, after all, was Mr Darling laying out his plans for how he would
manage the economy.
Investors did not like what they saw. They saw a Budget which failed to increase the rate at which the Government is slimming itself down. They saw a Budget bereft of any concrete plans
on departmental spending beyond this year. They saw a Budget based on economic projections which are optimistic at best, delusional at worst. We know from observing Greece and Iceland that you can’t simply ignore these foreign investors. When the money men leave the country, you have no choice but to cut spending and raise taxes so fast that it leaves alasting scar on the economy and society. Even now, they are slowly increasing the rate they charge the Government to borrow, something which in turn lifts the cost of borrowing throughout the country, not to mention eating further into the Budget.
Which is why the market’s verdict on the final Darling Budget was so worrying. Such a
knee-jerk reaction would be understandable if the figures had been horrific, the sums unrealistic. But as it was, the Chancellor actually cut his borrowing forecasts. He resisted the Prime Minister’s efforts to try to use the extra proceeds from higher tax revenues this year for
one last pre-election splurge.
But markets were having none of it. Yesterday was a seminal point: the moment at which investors signalled that they had lost faith in Labour. That even an unusually honest, slightly more sensible Budget was simply not good enough. The rest of Britain will have to wait a couple of months before going to the polls, but investors have already cast their vote.
Edmund Conway- The Telegraph
Government is Good is the central thesis of the Labour Party, the more Government the better it gets !
Better for who? The utter madness of introducing another £19 Bn assault on the beleaguered taxpayer (the real pain is yet to come after the Election)is just going to suck demand further out of the economy.
The Political Elite of all three major parties believes that the individual cannot be trusted, only Government can stimulate demand, largely be debasing the currency through QE
(printing money). Wrong, start cutting taxes put money back into our pockets, we will spend it in the British Economy rather than indulge in apital flight. People will pay off debt, because individuals do that sort of thing rather than Government that is still racking up debt like
some form of junkie that cannot face cold turkey.
The sop to reducing the State is to move Civil Servants out of Whitehall. I have heard this chestnut so many times in the last thirty years. It never happens.
Alongside reducing taxes which will make us feel better and more confident about buying and selling things again, burn the Quangocracy, how many new ones was Darling creating yesterday I lost count. End our overseas foreign adventures. Bring the troops home, and start re equipping them properly, with British made equipment, replace the military slums with modern accommodation and start paying them properly. Ensure that military compensation schemes look after the bereaved. This is real stimulus to the economy, not some half baked Green Bank with £2Bn allocated to it.
The State is not Good, it is about the worst possible way of providing any service.
We are in a recession, and the State is determined that the State has to survive intact first at everybodies expense. That means you !
The markets have made their verdict, the jolly japes about Belize aside, we are in a world of crap and the party still goes on at Westminster unabated.
Westminster is gutless, and does not have the balls to tell the truth to the Electorate, hence yesterday's charade.
Andrew Withers
Deputy Leader Libertarian Party
the gilt market suddenly crumpled. Investors around the world started
selling British government bonds, pulling their money out of the
country as fast as possible. As markets closed last night, the stampede
was continuing.
This was not a full-blown sterling crisis: the kind that forced Denis Healey
to the International Monetary Fund in the 1970s. But it was a hint of
what could happen if Labour still wields control after the election.
This, after all, was Mr Darling laying out his plans for how he would
manage the economy.
Investors did not like what they saw. They saw a Budget which failed to increase the rate at which the Government is slimming itself down. They saw a Budget bereft of any concrete plans
on departmental spending beyond this year. They saw a Budget based on economic projections which are optimistic at best, delusional at worst. We know from observing Greece and Iceland that you can’t simply ignore these foreign investors. When the money men leave the country, you have no choice but to cut spending and raise taxes so fast that it leaves alasting scar on the economy and society. Even now, they are slowly increasing the rate they charge the Government to borrow, something which in turn lifts the cost of borrowing throughout the country, not to mention eating further into the Budget.
Which is why the market’s verdict on the final Darling Budget was so worrying. Such a
knee-jerk reaction would be understandable if the figures had been horrific, the sums unrealistic. But as it was, the Chancellor actually cut his borrowing forecasts. He resisted the Prime Minister’s efforts to try to use the extra proceeds from higher tax revenues this year for
one last pre-election splurge.
But markets were having none of it. Yesterday was a seminal point: the moment at which investors signalled that they had lost faith in Labour. That even an unusually honest, slightly more sensible Budget was simply not good enough. The rest of Britain will have to wait a couple of months before going to the polls, but investors have already cast their vote.
Edmund Conway- The Telegraph
Government is Good is the central thesis of the Labour Party, the more Government the better it gets !
Better for who? The utter madness of introducing another £19 Bn assault on the beleaguered taxpayer (the real pain is yet to come after the Election)is just going to suck demand further out of the economy.
The Political Elite of all three major parties believes that the individual cannot be trusted, only Government can stimulate demand, largely be debasing the currency through QE
(printing money). Wrong, start cutting taxes put money back into our pockets, we will spend it in the British Economy rather than indulge in apital flight. People will pay off debt, because individuals do that sort of thing rather than Government that is still racking up debt like
some form of junkie that cannot face cold turkey.
The sop to reducing the State is to move Civil Servants out of Whitehall. I have heard this chestnut so many times in the last thirty years. It never happens.
Alongside reducing taxes which will make us feel better and more confident about buying and selling things again, burn the Quangocracy, how many new ones was Darling creating yesterday I lost count. End our overseas foreign adventures. Bring the troops home, and start re equipping them properly, with British made equipment, replace the military slums with modern accommodation and start paying them properly. Ensure that military compensation schemes look after the bereaved. This is real stimulus to the economy, not some half baked Green Bank with £2Bn allocated to it.
The State is not Good, it is about the worst possible way of providing any service.
We are in a recession, and the State is determined that the State has to survive intact first at everybodies expense. That means you !
The markets have made their verdict, the jolly japes about Belize aside, we are in a world of crap and the party still goes on at Westminster unabated.
Westminster is gutless, and does not have the balls to tell the truth to the Electorate, hence yesterday's charade.
Andrew Withers
Deputy Leader Libertarian Party
Wednesday, 24 March 2010
The Phoney Budget
Whatever the Chancellor says today, everybody knows that this is a phoney Budget. Like the 'phoney war' of late 1939, the true horrors are yet to come. The real, blood and guts, Budget will come at the end of June, after the election is out of the way.
The Chancellor will certainly bask in one ray of sunshine – the economy looks a bit less dire than he predicted last November. Businesses have held on, and tax receipts have held up. Job losses have not spiked, so nor have benefit costs. Inflation is moderate. All that paper – or rather, electronic – money that the Bank of England created has definitely had its effect. So the Chancellor will not have to borrow as much as he feared. He may even have room to toss us a few eye-popping pre-election sweeteners.
But you cannot keep cloning funny money for ever. The pound has already plummeted. And we are also lumbered with a national debt that stands at wartime levels, and is scheduled to increase year upon year upon year, as far as anyone can predict. We have borrowed to pay off yesterday's bills with tomorrow's earnings. The interest payments on our debt mountain will soon be more than the defence budget. if we had not borrowed so much, we could slash income tax by a third – and grow our way out of the financial crisis.
Britain is a mature economy, its debts are long-term, and the bailiffs aren't going to demand that everything is repaid tomorrow. So talk of us having to go cap in hand to the IMF may be exaggerated. But the interest and repayment burden is going to be with us for years – indeed, for decades. We face the awful – 1970s revisited – prospect of our own debt-laden economy lying stagnant as China and others race ahead of us. Things won't get worse, they just won't get better. We probably won't even notice it happening, but we will slip down the league of economic powers.
Raising taxes would be counterproductive, prompting even more wealth- creators to leave the country. The only way out is deep cuts in public expenditure. But then public expenditure has increased by a third since 1997 – and has all that bought us anything worthwhile? We need nothing less than a complete re-think of what government exists for, and which parts of it we want to keep and even expand. But there is room for very large savings in departments, quangos and programmes that have simply grown, but which deliver little of value.
Dr Eamon Butler Adam Smith Institute
The Chancellor will certainly bask in one ray of sunshine – the economy looks a bit less dire than he predicted last November. Businesses have held on, and tax receipts have held up. Job losses have not spiked, so nor have benefit costs. Inflation is moderate. All that paper – or rather, electronic – money that the Bank of England created has definitely had its effect. So the Chancellor will not have to borrow as much as he feared. He may even have room to toss us a few eye-popping pre-election sweeteners.
But you cannot keep cloning funny money for ever. The pound has already plummeted. And we are also lumbered with a national debt that stands at wartime levels, and is scheduled to increase year upon year upon year, as far as anyone can predict. We have borrowed to pay off yesterday's bills with tomorrow's earnings. The interest payments on our debt mountain will soon be more than the defence budget. if we had not borrowed so much, we could slash income tax by a third – and grow our way out of the financial crisis.
Britain is a mature economy, its debts are long-term, and the bailiffs aren't going to demand that everything is repaid tomorrow. So talk of us having to go cap in hand to the IMF may be exaggerated. But the interest and repayment burden is going to be with us for years – indeed, for decades. We face the awful – 1970s revisited – prospect of our own debt-laden economy lying stagnant as China and others race ahead of us. Things won't get worse, they just won't get better. We probably won't even notice it happening, but we will slip down the league of economic powers.
Raising taxes would be counterproductive, prompting even more wealth- creators to leave the country. The only way out is deep cuts in public expenditure. But then public expenditure has increased by a third since 1997 – and has all that bought us anything worthwhile? We need nothing less than a complete re-think of what government exists for, and which parts of it we want to keep and even expand. But there is room for very large savings in departments, quangos and programmes that have simply grown, but which deliver little of value.
Dr Eamon Butler Adam Smith Institute
Tuesday, 23 March 2010
Purge,Budget, Election called
The BBC have been on for our list of candidates and photos, so we have had the party purge by Labour of the Blairites, Budget 'for Recovery' tomorrow, Election called within the next week for MAY 6th
Monday, 22 March 2010
You cannot bribe someone spending their own money.
Think about that for a moment.
Can someone bribe a person to spend their money differently? No. It is not possible, not in the true sense of the word.
When someone spends another's money, that is another situation entirely. Inducements for personal gain to alter that decision enters an entirely new, more shady world.
When a Government spends (Taxpayers') money, it is open to inducements to alter the decisions it makes. Sometimes it will happen subtly, other times blatantly. Sometimes opaquely, other times transparently.
When those inducements are to reduce the amount spent, as in price competition, generous repayment terms or extra products, then that might be considered reasonable and prudent. It might be considered as an inducement to the collective Taxpayer.
When those inducements are targetted at individuals making those decisions in Government, then we move into dubious territory.
The Channel 4 Dispatches programme appears to show MPs displaying themselves for hire to "speak" to Ministers, to gain access to Committee members, to get themselves unduly involved in decision making.
If those MPs were selling themselves to allow one person or group to gain access to another person or group spending their own money, then nothing has really gone wrong. But this is not the case. It is about the spending of Taxpayers' money, of regulations that can give unfair advantages to individual or groups of companies.
Big Government, one that has pushed itself into so many facets of our lives, created so many laws and continues to produce a torrent of legislative effulent that distorts the market, is highly exposed to this threat of corruption. We have such a big Government. In spades.
If the Government does not decide who can build schools, then there is no scope for lobbying by those wishing to be considered (note that, Michael Gove, MP).
If the Government does not run Hospitals, there is far less scope for lobbying Government in respect of the Healthcare industry.
Generically, if the Government does not implement a monopoly, provide a subsidy or regulate significantly in sector X, then providers to sector X will have little or no advantage in gaining the State's ear, or should I say the good graces of individuals within that State apparatus.
A small State is a very good way to cut down on corruption. If the State is not an arbiter over the overwealming majority of our lives and socio-economic interactions, then we should be similarly
defended against attempts of, or fall-out from, corruption because of the plain fact of the matter being that the State does not intrude to begin with and, where it does, it does so with little to be gained financially or commercially.
We need to return to smaller Government. We need to return spending decisions to those who earn the money.
You cannot bribe someone spending their own money.
Can someone bribe a person to spend their money differently? No. It is not possible, not in the true sense of the word.
When someone spends another's money, that is another situation entirely. Inducements for personal gain to alter that decision enters an entirely new, more shady world.
When a Government spends (Taxpayers') money, it is open to inducements to alter the decisions it makes. Sometimes it will happen subtly, other times blatantly. Sometimes opaquely, other times transparently.
When those inducements are to reduce the amount spent, as in price competition, generous repayment terms or extra products, then that might be considered reasonable and prudent. It might be considered as an inducement to the collective Taxpayer.
When those inducements are targetted at individuals making those decisions in Government, then we move into dubious territory.
The Channel 4 Dispatches programme appears to show MPs displaying themselves for hire to "speak" to Ministers, to gain access to Committee members, to get themselves unduly involved in decision making.
If those MPs were selling themselves to allow one person or group to gain access to another person or group spending their own money, then nothing has really gone wrong. But this is not the case. It is about the spending of Taxpayers' money, of regulations that can give unfair advantages to individual or groups of companies.
Big Government, one that has pushed itself into so many facets of our lives, created so many laws and continues to produce a torrent of legislative effulent that distorts the market, is highly exposed to this threat of corruption. We have such a big Government. In spades.
If the Government does not decide who can build schools, then there is no scope for lobbying by those wishing to be considered (note that, Michael Gove, MP).
If the Government does not run Hospitals, there is far less scope for lobbying Government in respect of the Healthcare industry.
Generically, if the Government does not implement a monopoly, provide a subsidy or regulate significantly in sector X, then providers to sector X will have little or no advantage in gaining the State's ear, or should I say the good graces of individuals within that State apparatus.
A small State is a very good way to cut down on corruption. If the State is not an arbiter over the overwealming majority of our lives and socio-economic interactions, then we should be similarly
defended against attempts of, or fall-out from, corruption because of the plain fact of the matter being that the State does not intrude to begin with and, where it does, it does so with little to be gained financially or commercially.
We need to return to smaller Government. We need to return spending decisions to those who earn the money.
You cannot bribe someone spending their own money.
Relentless March Of Government Spending
The Telegraph has shock horror headlines today of the level of the growth of the State Sector in proportion to that of the Private sector, and thats not even including the nationalised banks.
Libertarians have been howling into a wind of indifference about this since the foundation of the LPUK. The Tories far from being the party of responsible Government, actually promised to match Labour's spending as to curry favour with the electorate, as part of 'The Tories have changed' to some vague Blue Green Agenda.
Can we really afford to have a Tory Administration that is so blind and short termist in its Economic policies ?
This level of dependency has changed Britain for a generation at least.
Libertarians have been howling into a wind of indifference about this since the foundation of the LPUK. The Tories far from being the party of responsible Government, actually promised to match Labour's spending as to curry favour with the electorate, as part of 'The Tories have changed' to some vague Blue Green Agenda.
Can we really afford to have a Tory Administration that is so blind and short termist in its Economic policies ?
This level of dependency has changed Britain for a generation at least.
Saturday, 20 March 2010
Liberty Network Experiment
Hi All,
I just recently set up a small network group:
http://libertyuk.ning.com/
I invite you all to come and join.
The main point of this network is just to get Libertarians talking, discussing and interacting more. Hopefully we can get some students involved and look to get some more Libertarian Societies set up around the country...
Share details on upcoming events of interest, campaigns, news.. etc.
Plus, a live real time chat box!(Oh yes, no expenses spared)
Please come and join, it was only set up about 2 days ago... so numbers are small..
but hopefully we can change that :)
Kind Regards,
Max
Friday, 19 March 2010
Nic Coome- Devizes Libertarian PPC
Nic Coome's campaign Website should be up and running during the course of the day
www.niccoomelibertarian.com
Devizes Constituency
www.niccoomelibertarian.com
Devizes Constituency
Thursday, 18 March 2010
Nothing To Hide ? Nothing To Fear ?
Erasing David trailer from Green Lions on Vimeo.
David Bond has nothing to hide… but does he really have nothing to fear?
David Bond lives in one of the most intrusive surveillance states in the world. He decides to find out how much private companies and the government know about him by putting himself under surveillance and attempting to disappear – a decision that changes his life forever. Leaving his pregnant wife and young child behind, he is tracked across the database state on a chilling journey that forces him to contemplate the meaning of privacy – and the loss of it.
Once the bastion of freedom and civil liberties, the UK is now one of the most advanced surveillance societies in the world - ranked third after Russia and China. The average UK adult is now registered on over 700 databases and is caught daily on one of the 4 million CCTV cameras located on nearly every street corner in the country. Increasingly monitored, citizens are being turned into suspects. But if you’ve got nothing to hide, surely there’s nothing to fear?
When David Bond receives a letter informing him that his daughter Ivy is among 25 million residents whose details have been lost by the government’s Child Benefit Office, he begins a journey that will see him hounded across Europe.
David soon discovers some alarming truths about what the government and private companies already know about ordinary citizens. He meets people who have been caught in the crossfire of the database state and have had their lives shattered.
As his concern grows, he makes a life-changing decision. He will leave his pregnant wife and child behind and put himself under surveillance for thirty days. The UK’s top Private Investigators are hired to discover everything they can about him and his family – and track David down as he attempts to vanish. Is it still possible to live a private, anonymous life in the UK? Or do the state and private companies already know too much about ordinary people?
Forced to contemplate the meaning of privacy – and the loss of it, David’s disturbing journey leaves him with no doubt that although he has nothing to hide, he certainly has something to fear…
We have become East Germany
H/T Old Holborn
Send Us Your ******* Money !
To Quote Saint Bob Send Us Your ******* Money!
We are looking to open a permanent office and employ a part time paid member of staff
We doubled our income in 2009, and I would like to see if we can do this again in 2010.
Two donors that have agreed to underwrite the costs, which will take the admin load off
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Invitation To All LPUK Members
The Committee of the Libertarian Alliance is delighted to invite you to the third Annual Chris R. Tame Memorial Lecture and Drinks Reception to be held on Monday 10th May 2010 between 6.30pm and 9.00pm
at the National Liberal Club, One Whitehall Place,
London SW1 (nearest tube Embankment).
Public Goods and Private Action:
How Voluntary Action Can Provide Law, Welfare and Infrastructure – and Build a Good Society
Dr. Stephen Davies
Dr. Stephen Davies is Program Officer for the Institute of Humane Studies. He joined HIS from the UK where he was Senior Lecturer in the Department of History and Economic History at Manchester Metropolitan University. He has worked at IHS before, in 1991 and in 1992-93, as well as teaching at many Summer Seminars and events over the years. He has also been a Visiting Scholar at the Social Philosophy and Policy Center at Bowling Green. A historian, he graduated from St. Andrews University in Scotland in 1976 and grained his PhD from the same institution in 1984. He was co-editor with Dr. Nigel Ashford of The Dictionary of Conservative and Libertarian Thought (Routledge, 1991) and wrote several entries for The Encyclopedia of Libertarianism edited by Ronald Hamowy (Sage, 2008), including the general introduction. He is also the author of Empiricism and History (Palgrave Macmillan, 2003) and of several articles and essays on topics including the private provision of public goods and the history of crime and criminal justice. He has recently completed a book on the history of the world since 1250 and the origins of modernity. Among his other interests are science fication and the fortunes of Manchester City. Dr. Davies works on many of the Institute’s educational programs, teaches at summer seminars, liaises with the HIS faculty network, and provides academic career advice and support to graduate students.
The dress code for this event is lounge suit or smart casual.
To confirm your attendance please RSVP Dr. Helen Evans at hsevans@btinternet.com
at the National Liberal Club, One Whitehall Place,
London SW1 (nearest tube Embankment).
Public Goods and Private Action:
How Voluntary Action Can Provide Law, Welfare and Infrastructure – and Build a Good Society
Dr. Stephen Davies
Dr. Stephen Davies is Program Officer for the Institute of Humane Studies. He joined HIS from the UK where he was Senior Lecturer in the Department of History and Economic History at Manchester Metropolitan University. He has worked at IHS before, in 1991 and in 1992-93, as well as teaching at many Summer Seminars and events over the years. He has also been a Visiting Scholar at the Social Philosophy and Policy Center at Bowling Green. A historian, he graduated from St. Andrews University in Scotland in 1976 and grained his PhD from the same institution in 1984. He was co-editor with Dr. Nigel Ashford of The Dictionary of Conservative and Libertarian Thought (Routledge, 1991) and wrote several entries for The Encyclopedia of Libertarianism edited by Ronald Hamowy (Sage, 2008), including the general introduction. He is also the author of Empiricism and History (Palgrave Macmillan, 2003) and of several articles and essays on topics including the private provision of public goods and the history of crime and criminal justice. He has recently completed a book on the history of the world since 1250 and the origins of modernity. Among his other interests are science fication and the fortunes of Manchester City. Dr. Davies works on many of the Institute’s educational programs, teaches at summer seminars, liaises with the HIS faculty network, and provides academic career advice and support to graduate students.
The dress code for this event is lounge suit or smart casual.
To confirm your attendance please RSVP Dr. Helen Evans at hsevans@btinternet.com
Wednesday, 17 March 2010
MCAT: An opportunity to be lost?
There is now a big focus on MCAT in the Tabloids following a couple of recent deaths, with calls to ban it before any or the scale of any causal link has been established. It has all the hallmarks of opportunistic bootstrapping.
The case referenced above, a tragedy, involves two lads who took contaminated MCAT along with alcohol and other substances. Let me just say that again. Two lads took contaminated MCAT. Not MCAT. Contaminated MCAT. Does one ban all milk because people in China died drinking contaminated milk? No.
Do you reduce or increase the chances of contaminated products by making it illegal to make, sell or consume? Answer: Increase.
Do you reduce the availability of a drug by making it illegal? Answer: No.
Do you raise the price of a drug by making it illegal? Answer: Yes
Do drug dealers stand to gain ever greater profits from making a drug illegal? Answer: Yes
Is there a greater incentive to push a drug when the profit margins grow significanty? Answer: Yes.
Does it criminalise people both due to their actions and by dint of forcing them to consort with other criminals? Answer: Yes
MCAT could have been a good opportunity to properly legalise a drug*.
We could use existing laws e.g. fraud to ensure that MCAT is sold in consistent known strengths, that it is correctly described in terms of effects and that it is illegal to sell to the underaged.
Just like tobacco and alcohol.
All that will happen now is that it will get "banned". Please do not confuse this with actually making one jot of difference to "availability". If anything it could increase its usage.
Banning will just end up criminalising people, removing any chance of quality control and dosage consistency, raising prices and ultimately enriching drug dealers.
Well done. Well done indeed, Mandelson, Grayling &Co. You imbeciles.
* of course, if it is actually poisonous, then label it so.
The case referenced above, a tragedy, involves two lads who took contaminated MCAT along with alcohol and other substances. Let me just say that again. Two lads took contaminated MCAT. Not MCAT. Contaminated MCAT. Does one ban all milk because people in China died drinking contaminated milk? No.
Do you reduce or increase the chances of contaminated products by making it illegal to make, sell or consume? Answer: Increase.
Do you reduce the availability of a drug by making it illegal? Answer: No.
Do you raise the price of a drug by making it illegal? Answer: Yes
Do drug dealers stand to gain ever greater profits from making a drug illegal? Answer: Yes
Is there a greater incentive to push a drug when the profit margins grow significanty? Answer: Yes.
Does it criminalise people both due to their actions and by dint of forcing them to consort with other criminals? Answer: Yes
MCAT could have been a good opportunity to properly legalise a drug*.
We could use existing laws e.g. fraud to ensure that MCAT is sold in consistent known strengths, that it is correctly described in terms of effects and that it is illegal to sell to the underaged.
Just like tobacco and alcohol.
All that will happen now is that it will get "banned". Please do not confuse this with actually making one jot of difference to "availability". If anything it could increase its usage.
Banning will just end up criminalising people, removing any chance of quality control and dosage consistency, raising prices and ultimately enriching drug dealers.
Well done. Well done indeed, Mandelson, Grayling &Co. You imbeciles.
* of course, if it is actually poisonous, then label it so.
Autonomy !
At £70 (£66.50 from Amazon) Autonomy and Liberalism is not a cheap read, but it does articulate the gut feeling 'that something has gone very wrong and that the political classes have effectively enslaved us all.
Autonomy and Liberalism (Routledge Studies in Contemporary Philosophy) Dr Ben Colburn
This book concerns the foundations and implications of a particular form of liberal political theory. Colburn argues that one should see liberalism as a political theory committed to the value of autonomy, understood as consisting in an agent deciding
for oneself what is valuable and living life in accordance with that decision. Understanding liberalism this way offers solutions to various problems that beset liberal political theory, on various levels. On the theoretical level,Colburn claims that this position is the only defensible theory of liberalism in current circulation, arguing that other more dominant theories are either self-contradictory or unattractive on closer inspection. And on the practical level,Colburn draws out the substantive commitments of this position in educational,economic, and social policy. Hence, the study provides a blueprint for a radical liberal political agenda which will be of interest to philosophers and to politicians alike.
Ben Colburn is a Research Fellow at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge and
Affiliated Lecturer, Faculty of Philosophy, University of Cambridge. From
September 2010 he will be a lecturer in philosophy at the University of
Glasgow.
Dr Colburn stresses that in a properly liberal society equal access to autonomy is vastly preferable to equal outcomes because of 'the proper recognition of the importance of personal responsibility as part of the ideal of an autonomous life'. Inadvertently the philosopher has put his finger on
theral problem with This Government's attitude, and therefore the real
problem with so much it tries to do: it doesn't believe in personalresponsibility and it doesn't like autonomy.
Simon Heffer The Telegraph March 17th
A Libertarian viewpoint
Libertarianism is constantly being attacked as extremist or 'radical'. The charge of
extremism should be laid at the door of this Government in creating 4300 new offences in thirteen short years, and of the opposition's supine acceptance.
The Social Democrats once promised a 'bonfire of legislation' , I don't hear much of this from Cleggy in the two months to go until May 6th.
The Labour Party has clearly broken into two, the manipulative corrupt gerry mandering rump of Nu-Labour under 'Lord' Mandelson, and Unite-Labour guided by Mandelson's enemy Charlie Whelan with its hard left agenda and deep pockets. I would say that the soul of the Labour Party is in play, (if it actually has one). No wonder the deranged Brown sees himself as the only person who can hold these two factions together, and Balls sees himself as the heir apparent.
The true argument is Authoritarianism v Liberty, that is the Authoritarianism of whatever shade of Government against the Autonomy to live your life as an individual.
'Parliamentary' Democracy has been dealt a crushing blow under this 'Rotten Parliament' and should now be replaced by a Referenda based local democracy, where all shades of political opinion can be heard.
When Libertarians, Hannan supporting Tories, Classical Liberals can merge in this country with the intellectual rigour of the likes of the Libertarian Alliance and Ben
Colburn and produce something like this. We are on our way to taking back our country.
Autonomy and Liberalism (Routledge Studies in Contemporary Philosophy) Dr Ben Colburn
This book concerns the foundations and implications of a particular form of liberal political theory. Colburn argues that one should see liberalism as a political theory committed to the value of autonomy, understood as consisting in an agent deciding
for oneself what is valuable and living life in accordance with that decision. Understanding liberalism this way offers solutions to various problems that beset liberal political theory, on various levels. On the theoretical level,Colburn claims that this position is the only defensible theory of liberalism in current circulation, arguing that other more dominant theories are either self-contradictory or unattractive on closer inspection. And on the practical level,Colburn draws out the substantive commitments of this position in educational,economic, and social policy. Hence, the study provides a blueprint for a radical liberal political agenda which will be of interest to philosophers and to politicians alike.
Ben Colburn is a Research Fellow at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge and
Affiliated Lecturer, Faculty of Philosophy, University of Cambridge. From
September 2010 he will be a lecturer in philosophy at the University of
Glasgow.
Dr Colburn stresses that in a properly liberal society equal access to autonomy is vastly preferable to equal outcomes because of 'the proper recognition of the importance of personal responsibility as part of the ideal of an autonomous life'. Inadvertently the philosopher has put his finger on
theral problem with This Government's attitude, and therefore the real
problem with so much it tries to do: it doesn't believe in personalresponsibility and it doesn't like autonomy.
Simon Heffer The Telegraph March 17th
A Libertarian viewpoint
Libertarianism is constantly being attacked as extremist or 'radical'. The charge of
extremism should be laid at the door of this Government in creating 4300 new offences in thirteen short years, and of the opposition's supine acceptance.
The Social Democrats once promised a 'bonfire of legislation' , I don't hear much of this from Cleggy in the two months to go until May 6th.
The Labour Party has clearly broken into two, the manipulative corrupt gerry mandering rump of Nu-Labour under 'Lord' Mandelson, and Unite-Labour guided by Mandelson's enemy Charlie Whelan with its hard left agenda and deep pockets. I would say that the soul of the Labour Party is in play, (if it actually has one). No wonder the deranged Brown sees himself as the only person who can hold these two factions together, and Balls sees himself as the heir apparent.
The true argument is Authoritarianism v Liberty, that is the Authoritarianism of whatever shade of Government against the Autonomy to live your life as an individual.
'Parliamentary' Democracy has been dealt a crushing blow under this 'Rotten Parliament' and should now be replaced by a Referenda based local democracy, where all shades of political opinion can be heard.
When Libertarians, Hannan supporting Tories, Classical Liberals can merge in this country with the intellectual rigour of the likes of the Libertarian Alliance and Ben
Colburn and produce something like this. We are on our way to taking back our country.
Monday, 15 March 2010
Libertariansim Gets A Mention In the Economist
SIR – Why cast Mitt Romney as a potential front-runner for the Republican presidential nomination in 2012 (“Fired up, ready to go”, February 27th)? I don’t see how his millions of dollars, a failed bid for the presidency in 2008, a series of dismal performances in that year’s debates and second place in this year’s poll of conservative activists make him worthy for consideration.
Moreover, your use of the term “radical libertarianism” was disturbing. While I would not join the mobs at a tea party, I do know there is nothing inherently “radical” about libertarianism. Why cast the philosophy in such a bad light? Free trade, limited government, personal responsibility, the rule of law and free markets are fantastic aspects of Western civilisation. Pity the American libertarian.
Dennis Colasurdo
San Diego
The Truth About The Truth About The Failing NHS
I see three problems, but there is a solution to each. The first is politicians. They are not good at telling the truth. They know it’s a vote loser to suggest anything that could threaten the concept of universal free health care. But we have a problem. Purely tax-based systems are doomed, simply because the old, who consume the majority of care, pay far less tax than those working. Sure, they paid it in the past but not at rates for tomorrow’s technology. This means that the young need to be taxed until the system collapses.
So we need to define a core package from tax and look at insurance and savings plans linked to pensions for the rest. Many spend large amounts of money on holidays and cars but regard health care as a free good handed down by the state. Politicians start squirming here so the solution is simply to take them out of the equation. Supermarkets seem to manage without them, so why not hospitals and GPs? Sure, we need regulators, arbitrators and patient rights but not a political football match every time a bedpan falls to the ground.
Rest of the article
Professor Karol Sikora
'Getting Politicians off our backs' is as right for Health Service providers as it is for all other spheres of our civic life.
The NHS is safe with us is a religious mantra from the Conservatives, the Unite-Labour Party and the Social Democrats. The problem is that the NHS is not a safe institution to use. I challenge anybody not to come up with a horror story of neglect and infection about the NHS. It is not the skill and dedication of the nurses and doctors that is in doubt, after all they are the only ones making the whole edifice work. It is the way we are running a nineteenth century system, with nineteen fifties tractor stats culture in the twentieth first century.
This is a real issue that the two and a half party state will not address, they want you to engage in the Sarah/Samantha/Miriam debate instead.
They are treating the voter with utter contempt and pretending that the 'Rotten Parliament' has not happened.
Sunday, 14 March 2010
Get Off Our Backs- LPUK Campaign Slogan
Whilst the Conservatives have 'Time for a change' (yawn- I can see no radical change a coming, just more of the same, Labour want a fairer Britain ( what as opposed to a vast interfering state run and financed by UNITE) and the Social Democrats want a change to a fairer Britain (puh-lease !)
The Libertarian Party has one simple message, GET OFF OUR BACKS this applies to all members of the two and a half party State.
Stop taxing us to death, stop passing laws every ten minutes creating more criminal offences, replace 'Parliamentary Democracy' with a Referenda based local democracy. Let us decide the best way to spend our money,live our lives Not you
Inspired by Raedwald
Friday, 12 March 2010
Libertarianism and Public Morality
After that last post on how the State shouldn't enforce public morality, something a little different -- US Libertarian Vidcast reason.tv on how Libertarians can encourage polite public behaviour.
We're rude [..] because we live around strangers all the time, and we treat strangers differently than friends. So I encourage people to treat strangers like neighbours; then maybe life won't feel like one big wrestling smackdown.
Wednesday, 10 March 2010
BBC and Libertarianism...
So it seems that you can get Libertarian ideas on the BBC. But only if you're a Muslim.
Who knew?
Allah Ackar!
Who knew?
Allah Ackar!
Nick Hogan Released -Official
It took the blogosphere just four days to raise
the near £10 000 to secure the release of Nick Hogan, imprisoned for
six months for flouting the smoking ban in his own premises and failing
to act as the States unofficial Policeman.
It took a further five days to convince Paypal
that the money collected was not part of some International Money
Laundering, Drugs and Sex trafficking Ring, and for the cash to be
released by a High Street Bank under the Money Laundering
'Regulations', during which time Nick continued to languish in Jail.
This in an age when Billions can be rocketed from London to Tokyo in
seconds by our trusted and well beloved Banking industry.
This was always a Libertarian issue, a civil rights issue rather than a
Public Health issue. The hypocrisy of taxing tobacco and punishing its
users beggars belief. If I choose to inhale noxious substances on my
own property, that is my own decision. If members of the public do not
like it do not come onto my private property, go somewhere else to
drink your own brand of poison (until it is banned next of course)
In an age of political parties queuing up to 'do something' which usually means banning something the Libertarian Party was pleased to support Old Holborn and Anna Raccoon with cash and what publicity and support it could muster. However we were more pleased that this attracted support and money from across the political spectrum and across the world.
We do not have to put up with this, we are the people not this Stasi inclined State
Manchester Evening News
Bolton News
Chorley Guardian
Lancashire Telegraph
Daily Mail
Even the BBC used the word Libertarian
Telegraph
The Register
Monday, 8 March 2010
How yEU fund the Green Lobby
I received this rather interesting email today from the International Policy Network.
It would seem that you, I and your grandma are helping to fund the Green Lobby...
All I can say is, Wonderful...
It would seem that you, I and your grandma are helping to fund the Green Lobby...
The European Union is funding some of the most powerful environmental NGOs in Brussels – while in turn, they lobby the EU for more money and influence.
A new report published today by International Policy Network finds that between 1998 and 2009, the European Commission’s environment unit has handed out over €66 million in core funding to green NGOs.
The report - “Friends of the EU” – analyses one coalition of green NGOs called the “Green 10” and finds that its members receive hundreds of thousands of Euros each year from the EU.
• Nine out of the Green 10 receive funds from the Commission.
• Eight members receive one-third or more of their income from the Commission.
• Five of those – which include the European Environmental Bureau, Friends of the Earth Europe and the Health and Environment Alliance – rely on the Commission for more than half of their funding.
The Green 10 has consistently lobbied the EU for yet more money and power.
• The Green 10 lobbied to “green” the EU’s Cohesion Fund, which distributes about €50 billion to projects in the EU every year.
• The Green 10 demanded a seat for an environmental NGO on every single project committee, the reimbursement of expenses, as well as training and capacity building.
• Having failed to obtain these self-serving demands, the Green 10 is already lobbying in anticipation of the 2014-2020 budget.
Caroline Boin, co-author of “Friends of the EU,” said: “The EU is buying itself the illusion of democracy by funding large green lobby groups – all at the expense of European citizens. This self-serving scheme will do little to calm public anger at the EU’s democratic deficit.”
Read "Friends of the EU": http://www.policynetwork.net/accountability/publication/friends-eu
All I can say is, Wonderful...
Friday, 5 March 2010
All This And Cameron Still Is Not Going To Win
From the Taxpayers Alliance
Total local government pension deficits exceed £53 billion
15 councils have a deficit of more than £500m
A new report from the TaxPayers' Alliance (TPA) exposes the full extent of the black hole in council pensions. Against a background of dire problems in the public finances, the overly generous Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) is placing an unsustainable burden on taxpayers and on council budgets. The full report features specific data for each local authority in England, Wales and Scotland, and warns of the severe costs which will be incurred if the Scheme continues unreformed.
In February 2009, the TPA revealed that LGPS employer pension contributions alone were costing the equivalent of £1 in every £5 of council tax. One year on, this new report demonstrates that on top of that huge cost now, the Scheme is storing up large costs for the future, too.
On the Money Markets,Long term Gilts prices are plunging and the cost of sovereign default insurance is increasing.
For the first time since records were kept the consistant surplus in January turned into a deficit
Sterling has taken a hammering six days in a row
The U.K. government is planning to sell $349 billion in debt this year, and there are few takers.
We are in the same state as Greece in terms of debt, the Germans did not come riding to Lamont's aid on Black Friday, and therefore are not likely to do so again for Osborne/Darling
The prospect of a hung parliament thanks to the Conservatives pallid prospectus is going to cause even more turbulence.
No sign of decisive leadership from Cameron and Osborne is widely regarded as a joke in financial circles.
Cameron has relied on buggins turn and wafer thin policies that change like the wind. The Country and the Markets have very little faith in Cameron and it shows.
The UK Political class is looking like a bunch of rabbits staring at the headlights of an oncoming juggernaught.
No wonder the LPUK has been contacted by a number of utterly disillusioned Tories in the last three weeks.
No leadership,No Policies, No Hope.
Total local government pension deficits exceed £53 billion
15 councils have a deficit of more than £500m
A new report from the TaxPayers' Alliance (TPA) exposes the full extent of the black hole in council pensions. Against a background of dire problems in the public finances, the overly generous Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) is placing an unsustainable burden on taxpayers and on council budgets. The full report features specific data for each local authority in England, Wales and Scotland, and warns of the severe costs which will be incurred if the Scheme continues unreformed.
In February 2009, the TPA revealed that LGPS employer pension contributions alone were costing the equivalent of £1 in every £5 of council tax. One year on, this new report demonstrates that on top of that huge cost now, the Scheme is storing up large costs for the future, too.
On the Money Markets,Long term Gilts prices are plunging and the cost of sovereign default insurance is increasing.
For the first time since records were kept the consistant surplus in January turned into a deficit
Sterling has taken a hammering six days in a row
The U.K. government is planning to sell $349 billion in debt this year, and there are few takers.
We are in the same state as Greece in terms of debt, the Germans did not come riding to Lamont's aid on Black Friday, and therefore are not likely to do so again for Osborne/Darling
The prospect of a hung parliament thanks to the Conservatives pallid prospectus is going to cause even more turbulence.
No sign of decisive leadership from Cameron and Osborne is widely regarded as a joke in financial circles.
Cameron has relied on buggins turn and wafer thin policies that change like the wind. The Country and the Markets have very little faith in Cameron and it shows.
The UK Political class is looking like a bunch of rabbits staring at the headlights of an oncoming juggernaught.
No wonder the LPUK has been contacted by a number of utterly disillusioned Tories in the last three weeks.
No leadership,No Policies, No Hope.
Thursday, 4 March 2010
Michael Foot- A Utopian Architect Of The Failed British State
I never met Michael Foot, I do not know his family and I am sure that he was loved by all and was kind to dogs.
I was not proposing to comment on his passing but after reading the obituries this morning and the political classes warm embrace of his memory, including Thatcher calling him a great Parliamentarian, I feel compelled to make some comment on his political legacy.
Foot fancied himself as a man of letters, the nearest thing to what the British will accept as an intellectual. This morning I was confronted over my cornflakes the nausea inducing photo of the younger Gordon sitting at the masters feet (table)
Foot was not an Edwardian man of letters (BBC) he along with others provided a legitimacy to the abandonment of Liberalism to the despotism of Socialism in the interwar period. He came from the same class that betrayed the Spanish Republicans to the Stalinists, and allowed Franco's Authoritarians to maintain their grip on the Iberian peninsula for nearly forty years.
Let me quote from a contemporary of Foot's, writing in 1944.
How sharp a break not only with the recent past but with the whole evolution of Western civilisation the modern trend towards socialism means, becomes clear if we consider it not merely against the background of nineteenth century, but in a longer historical perspective. We are rapidly abandoning not merely the views of Cobden and Bright, of Adam Smith and Hume, or even of Locke and Milton, but one of the salient characteristics of Western Civilisation as it has grown from the foundations laid by Christianity and the Greeks and Romans.
Not merely nineteenth- and eighteenth century liberalism, but the basic individualism inherited by us from Erasmus and Montaigne, from Cicero and Tacitus, Pericles and Thucydides is progressively relinquished.
As to Foot's dreaming Utopianism
The extraorodinary thing is that the same socialism that was not only early recognised as the gravest threat to freedom, but quite openly began as a reaction against the liberalism of the French Revolution, gained acceptance under the flag of liberty, It is rarely remembered now that socialism in its beginnings was frankly authoritarian.
Mourn the man if you will, but do not mourn his brand of socialism that has created CCTV cameras on every street corner, endemic continuing poverty amongst the underclass, a client state utterly dependent on Nu-Labour's client State. Foot was one of the architects of this failed British State.
Wednesday, 3 March 2010
Tuesday, 2 March 2010
South East meet up reminder
This is just to remind everyone that the South East branch of the LPUK will be meeting on Thursday.
All are welcome, and as usual it will be at the Rose and Crown in Southwark.
For more details go here.
All are welcome, and as usual it will be at the Rose and Crown in Southwark.
For more details go here.
Monday, 1 March 2010
Just Do Something To Fight Back- This Is A Libertarian Issue
This is a Libertarian issue if there ever was one, for the sake of £1, you can get a man released from prison. Old Holborn is running a campaign to raise £10 000 to get his fine paid.
As of 18.00 Hrs Tuesday 2nd March the amount raised was £5693
Over Five Thousand Pounds Raised in Thirty Six Hours
There has been a fair amount of comment in the blogosphere regarding the six month jail sentence given to Nick Hogan for flouting the 'no-smoking ban'.
Outrage has been duly expressed, here, there, and everywhere. Perhaps we can do better than just express outrage?
Nick was actually jailed for non-payment of the fine originally imposed for a 'mass smoke-in' on the day the ban came into force in 2007 in his pub, the 'Swan and Barristers' in Bolton. He no longer has that pub. He was fined again when council inspectors walked into his present pub and discovered a group of customers smoking - Nick wasn't even on the premises.
His wife, Denise, is now managing their present pub in Chorley herself. Their trade is so low that they don't even bother to open the downstairs bar. Nick is bankrupt, and had gone to court intending to argue that he could not afford the £500 a month payments demanded by the council towards their £11,600 bill for prosecuting him. He has already paid off £1,600. The court gave him a six month sentence instead, and he is currently in Forest Bank prison in Pendlebury, unable to help to earn the money which would ensure his release.
Denise has not even been able to speak to him since he was sentenced. She has merely been told to phone the prison on Monday to enquire when she might see him. She is confused, frightened, and feeling very lonely.
If all the people who disagree with the no-smoking ban contributed a few coppers, then Nick would be released. If you can't afford £1, then at least drop Nick a line and let him know he is not forgotten - not surprisingly, he is feeling very depressed.
Denise has just said to me 'all the people who disagree with the ban - where are they now? - and my Nick is in prison'. Quite.
Denise has no idea how to use the Internet, she has no idea how many of us are against the no-smoking ban. Let's show her.
£1 each - just 10,000 of you - let's see if the blogosphere can do more than merely rant in unison. Once the amount received totals the outstanding fine, they have to release Nick.
Nick's address is:
HMP & YOI Forest Bank
Agecroft Road
Pendlebury
Manchester
M27 8FB
OH UPDATE: Under the health act of 2006, it is the responsibility of the owner or the controller of "smoke free" space to uphold the law. It is not illegal to smoke in a shop or on a train. It is illegal for the owner or controller of the space to allow you to smoke.
Reprinted from the OH site
THE DONATE BUTTON IS ON THE OH SITE TOP RIGHT
The Libertarian Party is utterly opposed to people going to jail for offences such as this.
As of 18.00 Hrs Tuesday 2nd March the amount raised was £5693
Over Five Thousand Pounds Raised in Thirty Six Hours
There has been a fair amount of comment in the blogosphere regarding the six month jail sentence given to Nick Hogan for flouting the 'no-smoking ban'.
Outrage has been duly expressed, here, there, and everywhere. Perhaps we can do better than just express outrage?
Nick was actually jailed for non-payment of the fine originally imposed for a 'mass smoke-in' on the day the ban came into force in 2007 in his pub, the 'Swan and Barristers' in Bolton. He no longer has that pub. He was fined again when council inspectors walked into his present pub and discovered a group of customers smoking - Nick wasn't even on the premises.
His wife, Denise, is now managing their present pub in Chorley herself. Their trade is so low that they don't even bother to open the downstairs bar. Nick is bankrupt, and had gone to court intending to argue that he could not afford the £500 a month payments demanded by the council towards their £11,600 bill for prosecuting him. He has already paid off £1,600. The court gave him a six month sentence instead, and he is currently in Forest Bank prison in Pendlebury, unable to help to earn the money which would ensure his release.
Denise has not even been able to speak to him since he was sentenced. She has merely been told to phone the prison on Monday to enquire when she might see him. She is confused, frightened, and feeling very lonely.
If all the people who disagree with the no-smoking ban contributed a few coppers, then Nick would be released. If you can't afford £1, then at least drop Nick a line and let him know he is not forgotten - not surprisingly, he is feeling very depressed.
Denise has just said to me 'all the people who disagree with the ban - where are they now? - and my Nick is in prison'. Quite.
Denise has no idea how to use the Internet, she has no idea how many of us are against the no-smoking ban. Let's show her.
£1 each - just 10,000 of you - let's see if the blogosphere can do more than merely rant in unison. Once the amount received totals the outstanding fine, they have to release Nick.
Nick's address is:
HMP & YOI Forest Bank
Agecroft Road
Pendlebury
Manchester
M27 8FB
OH UPDATE: Under the health act of 2006, it is the responsibility of the owner or the controller of "smoke free" space to uphold the law. It is not illegal to smoke in a shop or on a train. It is illegal for the owner or controller of the space to allow you to smoke.
Reprinted from the OH site
THE DONATE BUTTON IS ON THE OH SITE TOP RIGHT
The Libertarian Party is utterly opposed to people going to jail for offences such as this.
A big Thank You
To Milo, Andrew and Gareth who turned out to help me put together the new member packs on Saturday. Furthermore, thanks to Gareth for doing some bulk printing.
We met in the Lamb and Flag in St Giles, Oxford, and took over a back room. There was packs everywhere as we all practised our origami and stuck the Griffin on the inside to make a pocket to hold the various papers. Then it was a case of stuffing in the constitution, standing order form, business cards and car sticker. The final part will be for me printing off personalised letter from me, Chris and Andrew to each members.
So now we need everyone to get out and recruit new members so they aren't cluttering up my garage and office.
Finally, a big thank you to the Manager and staff of the Lamb and Flag for putting up with us, the pub was busy so if you are in the area pop on for a drink, it is a nice pub and they do a good pint. Those ate said the food was good as well.
PS We are planning a couple of social meets in the Oxford area in the near future, watch this space.
We met in the Lamb and Flag in St Giles, Oxford, and took over a back room. There was packs everywhere as we all practised our origami and stuck the Griffin on the inside to make a pocket to hold the various papers. Then it was a case of stuffing in the constitution, standing order form, business cards and car sticker. The final part will be for me printing off personalised letter from me, Chris and Andrew to each members.
So now we need everyone to get out and recruit new members so they aren't cluttering up my garage and office.
Finally, a big thank you to the Manager and staff of the Lamb and Flag for putting up with us, the pub was busy so if you are in the area pop on for a drink, it is a nice pub and they do a good pint. Those ate said the food was good as well.
PS We are planning a couple of social meets in the Oxford area in the near future, watch this space.
What have Labour got against the poor?
Caveat Lector: These views are my own, and do not reflect current or planned LPUK policy. Originally posted here.
Alcohol duty?
ALCOHOL DUTY?
Right, we all know that consumption taxes are regressive if not done correctly. Specifically, consumption taxes are regressive on goods with low demand-elasticity -- things where people's demand does not vary much with price; essentials like bread and (in the west) meat, and cigarettes and alcohol.
As a poor student, going out much is out of the question, but a bottle of plonk in front of a movie with the significant other makes a pretty damned good substitution. For those poorer than I, vodka and supermarket cola is a cheaper alternative to wine.
Now Labour want to double the price of alcohol, in the name of "tackling binge drinking." FFS: can't you see that thanks to your regressive taxation and burdensome regulation, getting rat-arsed on cheap supermarket booze and passing out under a bench with your hand down some skank's skirt is the only entertainment some people can afford?
Labour, far from being the "party of the poor": you have done more damage to the worst off in our society than even the most reprehensible of the cold-hearted capitalists of Dickensian London. Only the puritans of prohibition New York could be more evil; those who saw society's poorest dying, poisoned in the streets through drinking alcohol cut with strychinine while the richest quaffed Scotland's finest:
I could go on -- complex regulation preventing the poor from setting up their own business, tax on petrol penalising those who cannot afford a new car and must commute long distances -- but I won't.
Vote the same, get the same.
The true party of the proliteriat, the only party which will stand up for the common man against the monopolists and moochers, is the UK Libertarian Party.
Alcohol duty?
ALCOHOL DUTY?
Right, we all know that consumption taxes are regressive if not done correctly. Specifically, consumption taxes are regressive on goods with low demand-elasticity -- things where people's demand does not vary much with price; essentials like bread and (in the west) meat, and cigarettes and alcohol.
As a poor student, going out much is out of the question, but a bottle of plonk in front of a movie with the significant other makes a pretty damned good substitution. For those poorer than I, vodka and supermarket cola is a cheaper alternative to wine.
Now Labour want to double the price of alcohol, in the name of "tackling binge drinking." FFS: can't you see that thanks to your regressive taxation and burdensome regulation, getting rat-arsed on cheap supermarket booze and passing out under a bench with your hand down some skank's skirt is the only entertainment some people can afford?
Labour, far from being the "party of the poor": you have done more damage to the worst off in our society than even the most reprehensible of the cold-hearted capitalists of Dickensian London. Only the puritans of prohibition New York could be more evil; those who saw society's poorest dying, poisoned in the streets through drinking alcohol cut with strychinine while the richest quaffed Scotland's finest:
- Consumption Taxes on spirits and tobacco rapes the pockets of those enjoying Englands last two legal vices.
- Fiscal drag -- inflating the economy with cheap credit whilst not raising tax thresholds, effectively dragging more and more of the real income of society's most vulnerable into the pockets of the political elites.
- Drug Prohibition fuels gang violence, prevents those with serious problems from getting the help they need and criminalises whole generations of young people in our inner cities.
- Minimum wage forces society's most vulnerable -- those who's contributions to the labour market are minimal, like students and the disabled -- out of the labour market altogether, forcing them to rely on the charity of others, or state benefits.
- Working week mandates prevent the diligent and hard-working from recieving their fair share of the compensation for their efforts.
- Entrenchment of Unions leading to seniority-based promotion, and a more inflexible workforce, which in turn leads to lower wages for the able, and more dismissal of the less able, as well as other negative effects.
- The NHS is a doyenne of the altruistic left, yet society's poorest, those least able to pay for private healthcare would -- in some cases -- be treated better in the Third World.
I could go on -- complex regulation preventing the poor from setting up their own business, tax on petrol penalising those who cannot afford a new car and must commute long distances -- but I won't.
Vote the same, get the same.
The true party of the proliteriat, the only party which will stand up for the common man against the monopolists and moochers, is the UK Libertarian Party.
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