A ship sinks, and a few dozen survivors manage to make it to shore on a deserted island. One of them, by the name of Jones, is a mechanic, and by pure happenstance is carrying his tools when he gets on the life raft. The Island is relatively resource rich, although conditions are difficult, and … Continue reading JONES’ ISLAND AND PROPERTY RIGHTS
The Folly of Condemning Bernie for Going on Joe Rogan’s Podcast
Bernie Sanders has gone on Joe Rogan, and doubtless we will see a torrent of false outrage along the lines of: “Bernie Sanders has appeared on a channel that also interviews far right figures!” But I can’t help but wonder, where is the outrage when presidential candidates go on networks such as CNN, MSNBC and … Continue reading The Folly of Condemning Bernie for Going on Joe Rogan’s Podcast
A few theses about “identity politics” and its false oppositions
I see a lot of critiques and defences of “identity politics”. No doubt we will be seeing even more as the US Democratic Primary winds up. It's the sort of debate which is all about definitions. If identity politics is understood as “politics concerned with the struggles of oppressed minorities”, then the debate is … Continue reading A few theses about “identity politics” and its false oppositions
Explaining the non-effect of the minimum wage on employment: Could bosses screwing even themselves over by setting wages “irrationally” low be part of the explanation?
A substantial literature suggests that minimum wage increases have no negative effect on employment. The most popular explanation for this in economics is the theory that employers have monopsony power over their workers for a variety of reasons ranging from firm concentration to the difficulty and uncertainty navigating the job market and getting another job. I have … Continue reading Explaining the non-effect of the minimum wage on employment: Could bosses screwing even themselves over by setting wages “irrationally” low be part of the explanation?
Yvne: The forgotten opposite of envy
Yvne (pronounced "Iv-Knee") is the opposite of envy. Where envy is unhappiness that someone has done better than you, Yvne is the joy and satisfaction that comes from a sense of having done better than someone else. Yvne isn't joy in having nice things, or having done great things, Yvne is joy in having nicer things and … Continue reading Yvne: The forgotten opposite of envy
My D&D house-rules
[Draft} I thought I'd share the houserules I use for D&D. No single person is going to like all these rules as a DM (except me), but perhaps you will like some of them. Over time I've tried to be responsive to criticism, winding back and changing a few things. Thanks for all the feedback … Continue reading My D&D house-rules
What we’ve learnt from the Bernie Sanders’ supporters survey so far
Introduction Results are starting to trickle in from the Bernie Sanders' supporters survey. The purpose of our survey is to gain knowledge and information about what Bernie Sanders supporters find works in campaigning and advocating for Sanders, so that information can be shared and supporters can learn from the experience of other supporters. The philosophy … Continue reading What we’ve learnt from the Bernie Sanders’ supporters survey so far
The three organising myths of centrist establishment Democrats and what’s wrong with them
Centrist Democrats often claim not to be tied to any specific theory of how politics works. However three central ideas reoccur over and over again in the rhetoric of centrist democrats. The cumulative effect of these ideas is to marginalise, in theory and practice, the left flank of their own party. However these ideas are … Continue reading The three organising myths of centrist establishment Democrats and what’s wrong with them
A very brief note on “pragmatism” and establishment democrats
For the establishment democrats, pragmatism always mean going further right. That there might be a pragmatic case to use left-wing demands strategically- e.g. as an ambit claim, as a point of differentiation, or to rally a base, never seems to occur to them. The whole point of being pragmatic is situational flexibility, but what they … Continue reading A very brief note on “pragmatism” and establishment democrats
In defence of “buying” the votes of poor and working people
Now that Bernie is promising big money initiatives, a chorus of people are crying out, claiming that this is cheating. To entice someone to vote for you by taking money to give to them from someone else, how dreadfully crass! It’s breaking the rules! a race to the bottom! (Meanwhile the handouts to the rich … Continue reading In defence of “buying” the votes of poor and working people
DePonySum 