ALS: thoughts on freedom

Web News Roundup

Happy Birthday Jessica! Quite an achievement, so naturally, some whiners get the daggers out. Harry Clarke has a better take.

Famous Australian chef, Neil Perry, found himself in hot water for sacking a pregnant employee for allegedly being rude to a customer (amongst “other issues”.) The labour tribunal declared it “bizarre and unacceptable,” with Fair Work Australia Deputy Justice Peter Sams deciding it was, “nothing short of appalling and manifestly unfair.” What’s manifestly unfair, is that bureaucrats are entitled to tell people how to run their business – even forcing them to give 12 weeks pay ($9230.76) to a sacked employee deemed unacceptable by the owner.

Facebook has been in the news lately, for all the wrong reasons. They often don’t behave in a friendly manner, but surely people know the company wasn’t just providing a community service? Maybe not – over at Larvatus Prodeo, Mark B thinks it’s a “social utility” and concludes that “it should either be heavily regulated, or a public entity should occupy its position.”

Meanwhile, our police our trying to protect us from this insidious threat (Facebook, that is, not Larvatus Prodeo) by first advising young people to remove photos and profile information from Facebook, and more recently by teaching “young league players about the importance of online security.” They did the latter by pretending to be hot chics and befriending the young men… nothing creepy about that – your tax dollars at work!

In world affairs, outgoing UK treasury chief leaves a note for the new guy: ‘Dear Chief Secretary, I’m afraid to tell you there’s no money left.’ He says it was intended as a private joke – but it might have been funnier if it wasn’t true.

John Stossel smacks down Paul Krugman for his weak dismissal of rising US debt. Speaking of Stossel, his new blog is often worth reading (and adding to your feed.) His new weekly show on Fox Business is also worth a look (many available on youtube)

“I do not think that word means what you think it means”: Pelosi thinks Obamacare is an entrepreneurial bill, because it lets people quit their jobs and retain health care.

In other news, the US apologises to China over its human rights record. Wait… what?! *facepalm*

And finally, Tim Blair alerts us to the most American ad ever made:

May 18, 2010 Posted by Fleeced | General | 14 Comments

Under 30? No Dole For You

I hate the handout mentality, and even more so the entitlement mentality of some of those who receive handouts, but I’m not sure this is a good idea – and doubt it will sell politically:

TONY Abbott has proposed banning the dole for people under 30 in a bid to entice the unemployed to head west and fill massive skill shortages in the booming resources sector.

I certainly think there needs to be strict control over who receives these benefits (though I’m informed it’s a lot harder to receive them than it once was – particularly for those young people still living at home), but I don’t think this is the answer. There are many other issues which could improve both the budget bottom-line, and encourage increased employment and productivity amongst our youth. Here are a few thoughts which spring to mind:

• Crack down on the ever-increasing rates of people on Disability Support Pension;
• Stop thinking everyone should go to university – or year 12, for that matter. Governments on both sides boast about how they’ve increased percentage of students completing year 12, or a uni degree, but how is this a measure of success?;
• Maybe we should make unemployment benefits a HECS-style loan (or would this deter people from ever finding work?);
• Mandatory unemployment insurance? (OK, I hate this idea – it’s un-libertarian, and wouldn’t be much help to young people anyway… just putting it out there).

Any other thoughts?

April 21, 2010 Posted by Fleeced | General | 24 Comments