Thoughts on Freedom

Australian Libertarian Society Blog

Fred Nile did not have relations with that website.

The big news of the day was that Ports and waterways minister Paul McLeay has resigned after admitting to using his parliamentary computer to visit gambling and adult websites. He says although the websites were not illegal, it was a mistake to visit them and he accepts he acted inappropriately.

Actually it’s not all that big, NSW Labor politicians seem to be resigning in disgrace so regularly they are starting to resemble lemmings charging toward the abyss. There are indications that other MPs are likely to be called to account on this one.

Here’s where it gets interesting though. New South Wales Christian Democrat MP Fred Nile has made a statement that neither, he or his staff have been “perving” at internet pornography videos on their work computers, but they have been researching the issue. This sounds like those Japanese whalers down in the Southern Ocean researching whale populations.

He admitted using his work computer to access gambling and adult websites.

There are reports the audit also found Fred Nile’s computer had been used to access internet porn.

Mr Nile says, for research purposes, a senior researcher viewed the websites of organisations like the Australian Sex Party and the Eros Foundation, and then followed links from the sites. Read more »

September 2, 2010 Posted by Jim Fryar | Politics, Religion | 8 Comments

Top Gear, on Cash for Clunkers.

This came from my mate Angry Exile.

I posted on this scheme a while ago when Gillard proposed it. It is apparently also in vogue in England. It is said that a lie makes its way around the world, while the truth is putting its shoes on and it looks like a dumb idea does the same thing. Here is the Top Gear boys take on it:

They make a great point about the waste of energy in an attempt to save fuel.

In many ways the theory of ‘Cash for clunkers,’ is similar to the ‘broken window’ theory in which it is argued that vandalism is good. This assumes that the destruction of property is synonymous with economic revival, (thus wars are good for the economy) by causing the victims to spend money they might have been otherwise too selfish to. The fact that the victims may have had their own aspirations as to what to do with the money they have been forced to spend to get back where they started from is beside the point.

While those who accept this offer are not coerced into doing so the fact remains that the government is encouraging the destruction of productive units at a direct cost to the taxpayers and indebtedness to those who put their feet on Julia’s sticky paper.

August 5, 2010 Posted by Jim Fryar | Economics, Environment, International, Politics | 5 Comments

Election mode in the LDP

The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) is in election mode. The executive will meet shortly and is expected to announce its candidates soon after. We still have some seats available so those who have not committed, and want to have a go should grab the chance to be on the team.

Around three weeks ago Gillard was put in power by the unions and claimed that she would be the fixer and sort out the problems the government had caused which she blamed on Rudd, even though she had clearly been involved in every decision the government had made. Now she has panicked and decided that rather than try to fix the mess she and Rudd have left the nation in her best option is to go to the polls now before her reputation starts to really stink with voters.

She has had a fairly minimal media honeymoon largely owing to her inability to do anything right since getting the top job.  Read more »

July 18, 2010 Posted by Jim Fryar | Politics | 30 Comments

Rudd gets the big heave-ho.

In what the press seem to feel is tumultuous and all the other guff that is involved in dumping him Rudd, yesterday’s turkey has become today’s feather duster. Goodbye and good riddance.

Much of the press this morning seem to put the emphasis on the ‘historic’ nature of Julia Gillard becoming the nations first female PM. For some reason ‘historic’ seems in the eyes of the media as equating with good. This is about the silliest idea, well one of the silliest things we can be asked to believe. In 08 the US got all caught up in the possibility that history could be made by electing the first black President.

That hasn’t worked out very well for them.

Historic is irrelevant, quality is the important thing. Watch for, “the opportunity to make history by electing our first female PM,” when the election comes around.

Gillard has given a fairly manicured performance in interviews today, which is to be expected. The press is still too bemused to ask serious questions so probably for the time being we will find out little. We can expect some improvement, as there is an indication that the whole of the ministry will now be doing the thinking instead of Rudd’s gang of four. Read more »

June 25, 2010 Posted by Jim Fryar | Events, Politics | 30 Comments

David Leyonhjelm does well in Penrith.

With the results in it now appears that the ORP candidate, David Leyonhjelm has secured nearly 2% of the vote in the Penrith by-election.

David states:

“That largely reflects the appeal of the party name. I ran three ads in a couple of local papers and the local media ran profiles of candidates, but I haven’t been to the electorate and didn’t do anything today.  Apart from a handful of shooters there, nobody knows anything about me personally.

If the result was replicated state wide, it would be almost enough to ensure election to the Legislative Council. A vote of 2.5% would be enough. ….

Gents, I think we are on the verge of breaking through.”

If we can get a slight improvement on this result in the Federal campaign it should, with preferences give our Senate candidate a great chance of getting there. This in turn would bring us the main thing we lack at the moment; press coverage. 30 years ago we were able to achieve this through the local papers however since then most of them seem to be relying less on local input as far as politics go. Local Editors no longer seem to have the independence of earlier years.

It is important to note the fact that the result seen here is from a relatively low profile campaign against well funded and well organised opponents who have large numbers to call on. With all hands on deck in the Federal election, and looking forward to the state one due in March we can be, as David said, “on the verge of breaking through.”

Congratulations, David.

June 20, 2010 Posted by Jim Fryar | Events, Politics | 16 Comments

Highway Robbery, ORP Ad.

The Outdoor Recreation Party (ORP) has just released a new ad featuring one of the serious issues of out times, the use of road rules for revenue raising. I have touched on this in a previous post, but this comes from NSW.

The ORP have a great deal in common with the LDP as with the growing influence of the Greens and other zealots such as the gun control freaks, the Liberals and Labor Parties stage a competition each electoral cycle to restrict our access to much of what we traditionally regard as recreational areas. As result many healthy activities such as hunting, fishing, horse riding, four wheel driving, and so on are either being restricted or denied access to many areas.

You are not even allowed to take your dog for a run in many places. These guys are worth supporting if you value what freedoms you have left.

June 18, 2010 Posted by Jim Fryar | Politics, nanny state | 3 Comments

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