Graeme's

Fixing capitalism: reactions and replies

Posted by Graeme in Economics,Politics at 11:33 am on Sunday, 22 November 2009

The reactions to my post on fixing capitalism have surprised me: almost everyone who has blogged or tweeted on it agrees with the broad thrust of what I advocate. For proposals so far from the political mainstream, what does that mean? Perhaps is shows how for the politicians are from a popular demand for change. There also a few points that need replies. (more…)

Comments (18)

How to fix capitalism

Posted by Graeme in Economics,Politics at 11:40 am on Friday, 20 November 2009

The recession and the crisis and banking are the least of the reasons for thinking that we need reforms. the crisis of capitalism goes much deeper: the influence big business has on governments (and the warped policies this leads to), increasing central control of the economy and the general move away from free markets.. I have some modest proposals on how to fix capitalism. (more…)

Comments (28)

What do the army do? Fat soldiers and the meaninglessness of BMI

Posted by Graeme in Health,Politics at 12:16 pm on Sunday, 2 August 2009

According to The Observer, the army has a problem with soldiers who do not get a minimum of two hours of physical exercise a week. I know accountants who get more than that. What exactly do the army do with their time? (more…)

Comments disabled

Less free speech in Ireland

Posted by Graeme in Politics,Religion at 4:52 am on Tuesday, 21 July 2009

The Irish apparently do not like freedom of speech. Everyone will be subject to the same restriction to prevent speech that might actually criticise beliefs or encourage people to think for themselves, that British broadcasters are already subject to. At leas in Ireland it is the courts that have the final say, in Britain it is Ofcom and the completely unaccountable bureaucrats at the IWF (more…)

Comments (2)

The internet is easy to censor

Posted by Graeme in Internet,Politics at 4:56 pm on Wednesday, 10 December 2008

It has often been said that the internet is hard to censor because “it treats censorship as a defect and routes around it”. This could not be more wrong, the internet is the easiest medium to censor. (more…)

Comments disabled

The JFS and legal racial discrimination

Posted by Graeme in Politics,Religion at 8:14 am on Saturday, 5 July 2008

The case of the boy refused admission to the Jewish Free School (JFS) has revealed that some types of racial discrimination are legal in Britain. The key point is that he would have been admitted if his ethnicity was right. (more…)

Comments (1)

Against women

Posted by Graeme in Life,Politics at 6:46 am on Wednesday, 2 July 2008

Stumbling and Mumbling lists seven things that are wrong with women. While some will no doubt be offended, can someone explain how it is any worse than the common suggestions that men are worse at communicating, multi-tasking etc., as Flip Chart Fairy Tales points out. In addition, there is the logical link between what women are supposed to be better than men at, and what women are supposed to be worse than men at. (more…)

Comments disabled

If Mandela is a terrorist, who else is?

Posted by Graeme in Politics at 5:53 pm on Saturday, 28 June 2008

So, the US has finally removed Nelson Mandela from its list of terrorists. It says a lot about the law, that Mandela was on the list in the first place. Anyone, other than a government, who uses violence for a political end is classified as a terrorist. (more…)

Comments (1)

Why tax havens are fraudulent

Posted by Graeme in Economics,Politics at 8:50 am on Friday, 29 February 2008

I usually enjoy reading Economic Logic, but this post defending tax havens seems badly wrong headed to me. It misses the essentially fraudulent character of tax havens. (more…)

Comments disabled

America vs the world

Posted by Graeme in Books,Politics at 11:13 am on Monday, 21 January 2008

Listening to a funny and relentless condemnation of the American Imperium and its current government from [book]Gore Vidal[/book], I felt rather sorry for the American ambassador who was in the audience. It was clear the feelings of the audience were very much with Gore Vidal, and very much against everything it is the ambassador’s job to push. (more…)

Comments disabled