Science Demands Big Government
A Harvard biologist makes a silly, dangerous comment.
The quotation of the week goes to Harvard professor Daniel E. Lieberman, for a statement he made in an opinion piece for the New York Times. Mr. Lieberman, a professor of human evolutionary biology, was among those who publicly defended New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg’s plan to ban the sale of sugared soft drinks in cups larger than 16 ounces. And he did so using, of all things, evolution.
Monday, 18 June 2012
Letter From America
Idiots Aplenty
God's Masks and God's Speech
Living Holy Lives
Martin Luther had a profoundly biblical understanding of the creation. He also had a profound understanding of the immanence of God in all He has made. God is working in and through all things. All things. So declares the Bible (Romans 11:33-36). So believed Martin Luther.
One implication was that Luther had a deep respect for one's circumstances in life. They were a living Bible of natural revelation. Our circumstances, he said, were comprehensively ordained and ordered by God. They were God's "masks". Behind each and every circumstance was the Person of God Himself.
Martin Luther had a profoundly biblical understanding of the creation. He also had a profound understanding of the immanence of God in all He has made. God is working in and through all things. All things. So declares the Bible (Romans 11:33-36). So believed Martin Luther.
One implication was that Luther had a deep respect for one's circumstances in life. They were a living Bible of natural revelation. Our circumstances, he said, were comprehensively ordained and ordered by God. They were God's "masks". Behind each and every circumstance was the Person of God Himself.
Saturday, 16 June 2012
Singing a New Song
King of All Kings
It's great to see modern hymn-writers celebrating the Kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ. This from Sovereign Grace Music:
It's great to see modern hymn-writers celebrating the Kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ. This from Sovereign Grace Music:
Public Sector Prejudice
Prisons and Glass Houses
People who live in glass houses should not throw stones--at least that's what we were gravely told whilst learning social manners. When we grew up we also learned that conflicts of interest are usually nefarious unless they are disclosed. Both adages are relevant in the following case.
New Zealand has finally introduced private management contracts for some selected prisons. The knee jerk reaction from hide bound statists (whose numbers are legion in this country) has been swift, predictable, simplistic and naive.
People who live in glass houses should not throw stones--at least that's what we were gravely told whilst learning social manners. When we grew up we also learned that conflicts of interest are usually nefarious unless they are disclosed. Both adages are relevant in the following case.
New Zealand has finally introduced private management contracts for some selected prisons. The knee jerk reaction from hide bound statists (whose numbers are legion in this country) has been swift, predictable, simplistic and naive.
Friday, 15 June 2012
Christian Charity
Unlike Any Other
This from John Calvin:
This from John Calvin:
The Lord commands us to do "good unto all men," universally, a great part of whom, estimated according to their own merits, are very undeserving; but here the Scripture assists us with an excellent rule, when it inculcates, that we must not regard the intrinsic merit of men, but must consider the image of God in them, to which we owe all possible honour and love; but that this image is most carefully to be observed in them "who are of the household of faith," inasmuch as it is renewed and restored by the spirit of Christ. Whoever, therefore, is presented to you that needs your kind offices, you have no reason to refuse him your assistance.
Unwelcome Attention
When the Idols Break
The Commentariat is paying more attention to Greece at present than that country has experienced in many years. The focus, of course, is upon Election II, since Election I failed to produce a government.
Our view is that Greece needs to get out of the Euro so that it can have the depression it really needs to have. At the moment it is being sustained on life-support by Euro loans, but the death is long, slow, and painful. Better to get it over quickly: Greece could then at least have an opportunity to begin to rebuild its dysfunctional economy.
The problem, however, is that Greeks have drunk socialist cool-aid for far too long.
The Commentariat is paying more attention to Greece at present than that country has experienced in many years. The focus, of course, is upon Election II, since Election I failed to produce a government.
Our view is that Greece needs to get out of the Euro so that it can have the depression it really needs to have. At the moment it is being sustained on life-support by Euro loans, but the death is long, slow, and painful. Better to get it over quickly: Greece could then at least have an opportunity to begin to rebuild its dysfunctional economy.
The problem, however, is that Greeks have drunk socialist cool-aid for far too long.
Thursday, 14 June 2012
Europe in Denial
Not a Pretty Sight
Leader of the UK Independence Party, Nigel Farage explains why he believes the Euro is finished.
Leader of the UK Independence Party, Nigel Farage explains why he believes the Euro is finished.
Mauian Ethics
Principled or Perversely Nacissistic?
New Zealand's current leading intellectual is one Ali Mau--touted in the media, celebrated in the salons. She has become the public face promoting homosexual "marriage". Mau's startlingly profound philosophical defence of homosexual marriage is the sovereignty of her will. She wants it; therefore she has a right to it. By this means, the argument elides into one over human rights. Homosexual "marriage" becomes, consequently, a human right. Not to grant it in law and protect it becomes "discrimination".
We are not kidding. This is the "Mau position". It is shared and endorsed by every simpering simpleton who finds such inanities to be compelling argument.
OK. Let's apply the Mau principle to the following case, as reported in the NZ Herald.
New Zealand's current leading intellectual is one Ali Mau--touted in the media, celebrated in the salons. She has become the public face promoting homosexual "marriage". Mau's startlingly profound philosophical defence of homosexual marriage is the sovereignty of her will. She wants it; therefore she has a right to it. By this means, the argument elides into one over human rights. Homosexual "marriage" becomes, consequently, a human right. Not to grant it in law and protect it becomes "discrimination".
We are not kidding. This is the "Mau position". It is shared and endorsed by every simpering simpleton who finds such inanities to be compelling argument.
OK. Let's apply the Mau principle to the following case, as reported in the NZ Herald.
Wednesday, 13 June 2012
Letter from the UK
The Queen's English
Long time forgotten is the impact of Johnson's English Dictionary. Once words were defined in meaning and in their spelling the ability to communicate could extend out beyond a single generation. The works and writing (and speech) of former generations could be understood by every new generation. Until Johnson's Dictionary, historical speech and writing was so unlike contemporary English it was virtually a foreign language.
But now we are so smart, we want to go back to enforced ignorance. The Queen's English Society in the UK has self-terminated. This from
Long time forgotten is the impact of Johnson's English Dictionary. Once words were defined in meaning and in their spelling the ability to communicate could extend out beyond a single generation. The works and writing (and speech) of former generations could be understood by every new generation. Until Johnson's Dictionary, historical speech and writing was so unlike contemporary English it was virtually a foreign language.
But now we are so smart, we want to go back to enforced ignorance. The Queen's English Society in the UK has self-terminated. This from
Oh, Canada
How Homosexual "Marriage" is Working Out in Canada
Homosexual "marriage" has become Unbelief's new public cause celebre. Not content with "civil unions" they want the real thing--absolute non-discrimination. Homosexuality has to be regarded as a human right. Therefore, if non-homosexuals can enter the marriage estate and be recognised accordingly by civil society, so must homosexuals. Or so the propaganda runs.
Listen to one of Unbelief's leading intellectuals argue the case. Ali Mau, bisexual, currently in a lesbian relationship, insists upon the human right of being able to enter a marriage. She had been married of course, but chose to desert her husband. Clearly marriage means a great deal to her. Bizarre, but true. This from the NZ Herald:
Homosexual "marriage" has become Unbelief's new public cause celebre. Not content with "civil unions" they want the real thing--absolute non-discrimination. Homosexuality has to be regarded as a human right. Therefore, if non-homosexuals can enter the marriage estate and be recognised accordingly by civil society, so must homosexuals. Or so the propaganda runs.
Listen to one of Unbelief's leading intellectuals argue the case. Ali Mau, bisexual, currently in a lesbian relationship, insists upon the human right of being able to enter a marriage. She had been married of course, but chose to desert her husband. Clearly marriage means a great deal to her. Bizarre, but true. This from the NZ Herald:
Tuesday, 12 June 2012
Syrian Atrocities
Not So Fast . . .
Western nations and their media have accepted beyond doubt that all the current atrocities in Libya are being perpetrated by the regime. But maybe not. We forget constantly that Sunni Muslims hate Shia Muslims. Alawite Muslims hate Sunnis--and vice versa. Moreover, we forget that Arabs are as skilled as anyone on the planet at propaganda and misinformation.
Consider the following, published in National Review Online:
Western nations and their media have accepted beyond doubt that all the current atrocities in Libya are being perpetrated by the regime. But maybe not. We forget constantly that Sunni Muslims hate Shia Muslims. Alawite Muslims hate Sunnis--and vice versa. Moreover, we forget that Arabs are as skilled as anyone on the planet at propaganda and misinformation.
Consider the following, published in National Review Online:
No Idea What Freedom Means
Swaddled in Kindness That Kills
People have a right to go to the grave in their own way. It's called freedom. Necessarily contingent to the ethic of freedom is that we have a human right to damage to ourselves, undermine our own health, shorten our lives by stupid habits, and otherwise act to our own destruction. Not before God, mind--but before civic authorities.
The most oft-heart objection to freedom arises out of social welfare: since the cost of paying for damage is collectivised in our kookie world, those who damage themselves--by what they eat, or drink, or ingest, for example--end up costing the collective. So, they must be made to stop it.
Rubbish.
People have a right to go to the grave in their own way. It's called freedom. Necessarily contingent to the ethic of freedom is that we have a human right to damage to ourselves, undermine our own health, shorten our lives by stupid habits, and otherwise act to our own destruction. Not before God, mind--but before civic authorities.
The most oft-heart objection to freedom arises out of social welfare: since the cost of paying for damage is collectivised in our kookie world, those who damage themselves--by what they eat, or drink, or ingest, for example--end up costing the collective. So, they must be made to stop it.
Rubbish.
Monday, 11 June 2012
Letter From the UK (About Spain)
The European Disease Virulent in Spain
The systemic corruption now coming to light within the Spanish banking system is breathtaking. But, as is always the case, such large scale, systemic graft and corruption can only exist and (temporarily) flourish if the state and politicians run interference and cover.
Doubtless the ignorant critics will decry the evils of capitalism. They will call for more social controls and political direction, declaiming capitalism (or the economic system based upon the rights of private property) as hopeless flawed due its spawning greed and exploitation. The reality is that the "capitalism" of Spain (and the West in general these days) is not free market or private property based. It is crony capitalism, where the political authorities and the government act as patrons of favoured businesses and certain monied barons who pay.
The Guardian exposes just how corrupt the Spanish banking system has become.
The systemic corruption now coming to light within the Spanish banking system is breathtaking. But, as is always the case, such large scale, systemic graft and corruption can only exist and (temporarily) flourish if the state and politicians run interference and cover.
Doubtless the ignorant critics will decry the evils of capitalism. They will call for more social controls and political direction, declaiming capitalism (or the economic system based upon the rights of private property) as hopeless flawed due its spawning greed and exploitation. The reality is that the "capitalism" of Spain (and the West in general these days) is not free market or private property based. It is crony capitalism, where the political authorities and the government act as patrons of favoured businesses and certain monied barons who pay.
The Guardian exposes just how corrupt the Spanish banking system has become.
Unfit for Motherhood
A Woman's Right to Choose
The New Zealand government is considering granting the courts power to sentence a serial recidivist child abuser to permanent childlessness. The proposal is that if such a person were to bear subsequent children they would automatically be removed from the mother at birth.
The Commentariat is affecting outrage over the idea.
Evil and wickedness stalk the heart of every human being. Human hearts are hearts of darkness. So believed Dostoevsky, Conrad, and Faulkner. So declares the Bible itself--the very Word of the Living God. The heart of man, says the Scripture, is deceitful above all else and desperately wicked.
The New Zealand government is considering granting the courts power to sentence a serial recidivist child abuser to permanent childlessness. The proposal is that if such a person were to bear subsequent children they would automatically be removed from the mother at birth.
The Commentariat is affecting outrage over the idea.
Evil and wickedness stalk the heart of every human being. Human hearts are hearts of darkness. So believed Dostoevsky, Conrad, and Faulkner. So declares the Bible itself--the very Word of the Living God. The heart of man, says the Scripture, is deceitful above all else and desperately wicked.
Saturday, 9 June 2012
Douglas Wilson's Letter From America
Up With People With Calculators
Politics
Written by Douglas Wilson
Wednesday, 06 June 2012
The vote in Wisconsin the other night was heartening, on a number of levels.
First, I was gratified that the very first thing Scott Walker did was give glory to God for His abundant grace. Cynics can dismiss that sort of thing as campaign boiler plate, but in the Bible, it remains a big deal. It is important to do. He also made a point of mentioning how he and his family were sustained by the prayers of many people.
Second, it happened in Wisconsin, for crying out loud. Wisconsin is not just the dairy state, it is the labor union state. Shoot, the cows are the largest public sector union they have.
Politics
Written by Douglas Wilson
Wednesday, 06 June 2012
The vote in Wisconsin the other night was heartening, on a number of levels.
First, I was gratified that the very first thing Scott Walker did was give glory to God for His abundant grace. Cynics can dismiss that sort of thing as campaign boiler plate, but in the Bible, it remains a big deal. It is important to do. He also made a point of mentioning how he and his family were sustained by the prayers of many people.
Second, it happened in Wisconsin, for crying out loud. Wisconsin is not just the dairy state, it is the labor union state. Shoot, the cows are the largest public sector union they have.
Shrinking Violets at Auckland University
Free Speech for Us: Proscription For Everyone Else
In Orwell's satire Animal Farm, "officially" all animal are equal, but some are more equal than others.
No doubt the Students Association at Auckland university would loudly and proudly proclaim its belief in free speech--which is a form of equality. In fact there have been recent unruly protests disrupting law abiding activities of other free citizens, leading to arrests of erstwhile Auckland University students. The shrill cry of protest could be heard all over Albert Park: students have a right to protest and to freedom of speech we were told with megaphonic force.
However, now it turns out that the Students Association is a living, walking, talking example of what Orwell was pointing out.
In Orwell's satire Animal Farm, "officially" all animal are equal, but some are more equal than others.
No doubt the Students Association at Auckland university would loudly and proudly proclaim its belief in free speech--which is a form of equality. In fact there have been recent unruly protests disrupting law abiding activities of other free citizens, leading to arrests of erstwhile Auckland University students. The shrill cry of protest could be heard all over Albert Park: students have a right to protest and to freedom of speech we were told with megaphonic force.
However, now it turns out that the Students Association is a living, walking, talking example of what Orwell was pointing out.
Friday, 8 June 2012
Douglas Wilson's Letter From America
Ugly Dies
Theology - Life in the Regeneration
Written by Douglas Wilson
Tuesday, 05 June 2012
George MacDonald once famously said that obedience is the great opener of eyes. But obedience has to come from an obedient heart, and in order to have obedient hearts, we must have new hearts. This brings us (yet again) to the foundational necessity of the new birth. Without that reality, there is absolutely nothing we can do to make the Christian life work. Whatever we try to make it work, without the new birth, we are like monkeys pushing buttons on a broken cash register. Nothing happens.
Theology - Life in the Regeneration
Written by Douglas Wilson
Tuesday, 05 June 2012
George MacDonald once famously said that obedience is the great opener of eyes. But obedience has to come from an obedient heart, and in order to have obedient hearts, we must have new hearts. This brings us (yet again) to the foundational necessity of the new birth. Without that reality, there is absolutely nothing we can do to make the Christian life work. Whatever we try to make it work, without the new birth, we are like monkeys pushing buttons on a broken cash register. Nothing happens.
Reforming Spirituality
Liberation and Subjection
The Reformation was an attempt to reform Christianity, back to its historical doctrinal positions and to the Scriptures itself. The Reformers taught that contemporary Christianity as they experienced it in Western Europe had departed significantly from the early Church fathers and the Scriptures.
An evidence of this is how often the Reformers cite the early Church fathers in their writing. For example, in The Institutes of the Christian Religion Calvin cites and quotes Augustine most often amongst the fathers, but the work contains wide ranging references to ante-Nicene and post-Nicene theologians and church leaders.
One of the reformulations of the Reformation had to do with how we understand the spiritual. For many in pre-modern Europe the notion of spirit and spiritual was more informed by neo-platonic pagan conceptions than the Scriptures.
The Reformation was an attempt to reform Christianity, back to its historical doctrinal positions and to the Scriptures itself. The Reformers taught that contemporary Christianity as they experienced it in Western Europe had departed significantly from the early Church fathers and the Scriptures.
An evidence of this is how often the Reformers cite the early Church fathers in their writing. For example, in The Institutes of the Christian Religion Calvin cites and quotes Augustine most often amongst the fathers, but the work contains wide ranging references to ante-Nicene and post-Nicene theologians and church leaders.
One of the reformulations of the Reformation had to do with how we understand the spiritual. For many in pre-modern Europe the notion of spirit and spiritual was more informed by neo-platonic pagan conceptions than the Scriptures.
Thursday, 7 June 2012
Satisfied in God
Why Are You Cast Down, Oh My Soul?
There are many Christians who struggle with sadness and depression. Amidst all the grief of soul, the everlasting arms always remain, always sustain, always hold up. Below is a rendition of Psalm 42 written by one of the sons of Korah during a time of deep personal distress which affirms this.
The rendition is by by Brian Eichelberger of Mars Hill Church’s Sing Team, who writes:
I have lost my appetite
And a flood is welling up behind my eyes
So I eat the tears I cry And if that were not enough
They know just the words to cut and tear and prod
When they ask me “Whereʼs your God?”
Why are you downcast, oh my soul?
Why so disturbed within me?
I can remember when you showed your face to me
As a deer pants for water, so my soul thirsts for you
And when I behold Your glory, You so faithfully renew
Like a bed of rest for my fainting flesh
I am satisfied in you. When Iʼm staring at the ground
Itʼs an inbred feedback loop that brings me down
So itʼs time to lift my brow
And remember better days
When I loved to worship you and all your ways
Singing sweetest songs of praise
Why are you downcast, oh my soul?
Why so disturbed within me?
I can remember when you showed your grace to me
As a deer pants for water, so my soul thirsts for you
And when I survey your splendour, You so faithfully renew
Like a bed of rest for my fainting flesh
I am satisfied in you.
Let my sighs give way to songs that sing about your faithfulness
Let my pain reveal your glory as my only real rest
Let my losses show me all I truly have is you
Cause all I truly have is you
So when Iʼm drowning out at sea
And your breakers and your waves crash down on me
Iʼll recall your safety scheme
Youʼre the one who made the waves
And your Son went out to suffer in my place
And to tell me that Iʼm safe
So why am I down?
Why so disturbed?
I am satisfied in you I am satisfied in you I am satisfied in you.
You can listen to the whole album here for free or download it for $4.
Hat Tip: Justin Taylor
There are many Christians who struggle with sadness and depression. Amidst all the grief of soul, the everlasting arms always remain, always sustain, always hold up. Below is a rendition of Psalm 42 written by one of the sons of Korah during a time of deep personal distress which affirms this.
The rendition is by by Brian Eichelberger of Mars Hill Church’s Sing Team, who writes:
The song begins by following closely to Psalm 42 singing, “As the deer pants for water so my soul thirsts for you.” The second verse then dives more into my personal response to the Psalm. A lot of times my tendency is to go into a depression looking into myself which only spirals me further down.
The song is meant to preach to myself and call me to remember the times when I experienced the glory and goodness of God which can help bounce me out of that vicious cycle. It’s meant to get my eyes off of me and be satisfied in God alone.
I have lost my appetite
And a flood is welling up behind my eyes
So I eat the tears I cry And if that were not enough
They know just the words to cut and tear and prod
When they ask me “Whereʼs your God?”
Why are you downcast, oh my soul?
Why so disturbed within me?
I can remember when you showed your face to me
As a deer pants for water, so my soul thirsts for you
And when I behold Your glory, You so faithfully renew
Like a bed of rest for my fainting flesh
I am satisfied in you. When Iʼm staring at the ground
Itʼs an inbred feedback loop that brings me down
So itʼs time to lift my brow
And remember better days
When I loved to worship you and all your ways
Singing sweetest songs of praise
Why are you downcast, oh my soul?
Why so disturbed within me?
I can remember when you showed your grace to me
As a deer pants for water, so my soul thirsts for you
And when I survey your splendour, You so faithfully renew
Like a bed of rest for my fainting flesh
I am satisfied in you.
Let my sighs give way to songs that sing about your faithfulness
Let my pain reveal your glory as my only real rest
Let my losses show me all I truly have is you
Cause all I truly have is you
So when Iʼm drowning out at sea
And your breakers and your waves crash down on me
Iʼll recall your safety scheme
Youʼre the one who made the waves
And your Son went out to suffer in my place
And to tell me that Iʼm safe
So why am I down?
Why so disturbed?
I am satisfied in you I am satisfied in you I am satisfied in you.
You can listen to the whole album here for free or download it for $4.
Hat Tip: Justin Taylor
SS Facebook Floats Then Sinks
Take the Money and Run
Did you get some Facebook shares? Well, good for you. You will now be part of the glorious rags to riches story. But maybe not.
There are some uncomfortable rapids ahead. Firstly, an old sage once observed that only fools and horses buy initial public offerings (IPO's). OK, so you are going to miss a bargain occasionally. But the whole purpose of a public offering in almost every case is to dress the company up for sale, hype it, promote it, tell all the goods news that is to come so as to get the best possible share price. IPO's parade mutton dressed as lamb.
Thus with Facebook. And that leads to our second point: Facebook shares at the IPO were priced at one hundred times current earnings. That means, if earnings stayed the same as today, you would have to hold the shares one hundred years just to earn back the price you paid--let alone get a return on your investment. Care to hang around that long? No, of course not, you say. Why not?
Did you get some Facebook shares? Well, good for you. You will now be part of the glorious rags to riches story. But maybe not.
There are some uncomfortable rapids ahead. Firstly, an old sage once observed that only fools and horses buy initial public offerings (IPO's). OK, so you are going to miss a bargain occasionally. But the whole purpose of a public offering in almost every case is to dress the company up for sale, hype it, promote it, tell all the goods news that is to come so as to get the best possible share price. IPO's parade mutton dressed as lamb.
Thus with Facebook. And that leads to our second point: Facebook shares at the IPO were priced at one hundred times current earnings. That means, if earnings stayed the same as today, you would have to hold the shares one hundred years just to earn back the price you paid--let alone get a return on your investment. Care to hang around that long? No, of course not, you say. Why not?
Wednesday, 6 June 2012
Antarctic Sea Ice
Nothing to See Here; Move Along
Down in the Antipodes we are assailed (less repetitively than four years ago it is true) with portends of huge disasters coming our way. More often than not, the threats are supposed to come from Antarctica. Because the world is warming, don't you know, Antarctic sea ice will soon disappear. Not only will that inundate small islands in the Pacific and raise sea levels in Australia and New Zealand to the destruction of many coastal houses, it will also threaten shipping lanes in the south. Modern day Titanic-bane icebergs will disembowel ships at will. Commerce will be disrupted and many lives tragically lost. All due to the imminent catastrophe of global warming.
So, how's that Antarctic sea ice going?
Yup, definitely shrinking away to nothing. Nothing to see here. Move along, please. But it is not true, eminent, enlightened climate "scientist" that over the last 35 years billions and billions of tonnes of "new" carbon dioxide have been released by horrible mankind into the atmosphere, causing irrevocable global warming to the utter destruction of the race? Apparently, someone has forgotten to tell the Antarctic. For goodness sake, get down there and declaim to the ice its resistance to science.
Threaten it with extinction if it doesn't start to co-operate and extinguish itself.
Down in the Antipodes we are assailed (less repetitively than four years ago it is true) with portends of huge disasters coming our way. More often than not, the threats are supposed to come from Antarctica. Because the world is warming, don't you know, Antarctic sea ice will soon disappear. Not only will that inundate small islands in the Pacific and raise sea levels in Australia and New Zealand to the destruction of many coastal houses, it will also threaten shipping lanes in the south. Modern day Titanic-bane icebergs will disembowel ships at will. Commerce will be disrupted and many lives tragically lost. All due to the imminent catastrophe of global warming.
So, how's that Antarctic sea ice going?
Yup, definitely shrinking away to nothing. Nothing to see here. Move along, please. But it is not true, eminent, enlightened climate "scientist" that over the last 35 years billions and billions of tonnes of "new" carbon dioxide have been released by horrible mankind into the atmosphere, causing irrevocable global warming to the utter destruction of the race? Apparently, someone has forgotten to tell the Antarctic. For goodness sake, get down there and declaim to the ice its resistance to science.
Threaten it with extinction if it doesn't start to co-operate and extinguish itself.
The Fourth Reich
Germany's Euro Feint?
We are agnostic on what the outcome will be from the present European financial crisis. But watching it unfold is exceedingly diverting. In broad relief, the options are: either Greece leaves (or is ejected from) the Euro leading to a general break-up of the currency union, or Greece stays and the union is preserved.
If the former, the break-up will cause financial turmoil and banking failures until the respective countries hit bottom and begin to trade their way out of depression. If the latter, European nations lose national sovereignty to a much more powerful Federal Europe, dominated by Germany.
The intriguing question is, Who is going to blink first? German Chancellor Merkel, or the Eurocrats? And, beneath it all, is the German republic playing a game of poker where it finally sees an opportunity for the end-game it has long sought: a centralised European government, controlled by Germany? As the incoming Obama administration said, never let a good crisis go to waste.
We are agnostic on what the outcome will be from the present European financial crisis. But watching it unfold is exceedingly diverting. In broad relief, the options are: either Greece leaves (or is ejected from) the Euro leading to a general break-up of the currency union, or Greece stays and the union is preserved.
If the former, the break-up will cause financial turmoil and banking failures until the respective countries hit bottom and begin to trade their way out of depression. If the latter, European nations lose national sovereignty to a much more powerful Federal Europe, dominated by Germany.
The intriguing question is, Who is going to blink first? German Chancellor Merkel, or the Eurocrats? And, beneath it all, is the German republic playing a game of poker where it finally sees an opportunity for the end-game it has long sought: a centralised European government, controlled by Germany? As the incoming Obama administration said, never let a good crisis go to waste.
Tuesday, 5 June 2012
Buy Three, Read One
Book of the Month/June 2012
Engaging the Culture - Book Review
Written by Douglas Wilson
Friday, 01 June 2012
In this very fine book, Jonah Goldberg rises to the defense of ideology, and about time somebody did. He acknowledges that there has been a stream of Burkean/Kirkian conservative thought that has been suspicious of ideology, but this has just been the natural prudence that wants to avoid movements in the grip of one idea. Those who have nothing but one hammer will soon see the entire world as a nail.
There is a nobler kind of ideology, what conservative Christians would describe as a biblical worldview. This is the ideology of anyone who has come to a conclusion. Chesterton once said that the purpose of an open mind is the same as that of an open mouth -- it is meant to close on something. This is the kind of ideology that liberals hate -- this is what they are at war with when they eschew "labels" of any kind. Theirs is the kind of hatred of ideological labels that enables them to think of bipartisanship as anything that agrees with them. They don't like labels because the labels describe them accurately (p. 65).
And here is Goldberg's main target
Engaging the Culture - Book Review
Written by Douglas Wilson
Friday, 01 June 2012
In this very fine book, Jonah Goldberg rises to the defense of ideology, and about time somebody did. He acknowledges that there has been a stream of Burkean/Kirkian conservative thought that has been suspicious of ideology, but this has just been the natural prudence that wants to avoid movements in the grip of one idea. Those who have nothing but one hammer will soon see the entire world as a nail.
There is a nobler kind of ideology, what conservative Christians would describe as a biblical worldview. This is the ideology of anyone who has come to a conclusion. Chesterton once said that the purpose of an open mind is the same as that of an open mouth -- it is meant to close on something. This is the kind of ideology that liberals hate -- this is what they are at war with when they eschew "labels" of any kind. Theirs is the kind of hatred of ideological labels that enables them to think of bipartisanship as anything that agrees with them. They don't like labels because the labels describe them accurately (p. 65).
And here is Goldberg's main target
Discretionary Justice
Whimsically Destroying Families
In New Zealand it is a criminal offence to smack one's child. Well maybe. Our Prime Minister, John Key in one of his most feckless moments once announced that "good parents" who smacked their children would not be prosecuted. In other words, the police and the courts would, despite the law, show discretion and leniency to good, mainstream, decent Kiwi parents.
Except that, by definition, any parent who smacked cannot be a good, decent, mainstream Kiwi parent. They are committing a crime. Mr Key "promised" that if such good, decent parents ended up being prosecuted, he would change the law. Again, Mr Key--whilst being no-doubt genuine in his "decent bloke" kind of way--meant well, but was and continues to be remarkably naive.
He apparently has little comprehension of what pre-dates a criminal conviction:
In New Zealand it is a criminal offence to smack one's child. Well maybe. Our Prime Minister, John Key in one of his most feckless moments once announced that "good parents" who smacked their children would not be prosecuted. In other words, the police and the courts would, despite the law, show discretion and leniency to good, mainstream, decent Kiwi parents.
Except that, by definition, any parent who smacked cannot be a good, decent, mainstream Kiwi parent. They are committing a crime. Mr Key "promised" that if such good, decent parents ended up being prosecuted, he would change the law. Again, Mr Key--whilst being no-doubt genuine in his "decent bloke" kind of way--meant well, but was and continues to be remarkably naive.
He apparently has little comprehension of what pre-dates a criminal conviction:
Monday, 4 June 2012
Ageless Wisdom
God Feeding Babies
Luther's understanding of calling and vocation is startling and radical to modern ears, influenced by secularism. But it is true to Scripture itself. Consider the following account from Gustaf Wingren on Luther's understanding of divine providence and the multiple offices of every human in carrying out His providence:
Secondly, because when a mother feeds her child, God is feeding the child, and because when the soldier defends his neighbours, God is defending the neighbours, likewise all work, all human agency must be regarded as God providing and God working. All of life, then, is holy. All lawful work, and offices, and responsibilities are holy. The distinction between sacred and secular evaporates.
Luther's understanding of calling and vocation is startling and radical to modern ears, influenced by secularism. But it is true to Scripture itself. Consider the following account from Gustaf Wingren on Luther's understanding of divine providence and the multiple offices of every human in carrying out His providence:
God creates the babes in the mother's body--man being only an instrument in God's hand--and then he sustains them with his gifts, brought to the children through the labors of father and mother in their parental office. "Even though a father is an instrument of procreation, God himself is the source and author of life."
From this flow some scintillating truths. Firstly, human work, agency, and labour is not co-labouring with God in the sense that we do something and God does something, each contributing to the whole. Rather, God is the entire complete and whole actor; we are His servants, God working in and through us.
God himself will milk the cows through him whose vocation that is. He who engages in the lowliness of his work performs God's work, be he lad or king. To give one's office proper care is not selfishness. Devotion to office is devotion to love, because it is by God's own ordering that the work of the office is always dedicated to the well-being of one's neighbour. Care for one's office is, in its very frame of reference on earth, participation in God's own care for human beings. [Gustaf Wingren, Luther on Vocation, trans. by Carl C. Rasmussen (Eugene, Oregon: Wipf & Stock Publishers, 1957), p.9.]
Secondly, because when a mother feeds her child, God is feeding the child, and because when the soldier defends his neighbours, God is defending the neighbours, likewise all work, all human agency must be regarded as God providing and God working. All of life, then, is holy. All lawful work, and offices, and responsibilities are holy. The distinction between sacred and secular evaporates.
Burdens Borne by Some
Private Schools Labour Under Grave Injustice
The teacher unions hate private schools. Teachers that work in the government school system don't appreciate the existence of schools they do not effectively control. Private schools represent competition, and government functionaries do not like competition.
One of the arguments repeatedly put forward is that private schools (of which there are precious few in New Zealand) suck money out of the state's education budget. The state pays a small annual per-pupil grant to private schools that represents a small fraction of the actual cost of educating a pupil. This, says the state education monopolists, represents funds which should properly go to government schools.
The counter argument, run by the Treasury, is that if all private schools closed and their pupils transferred to the government education system, the costs to the taxpayer would be substantially higher: thus, private schools actually save taxpayers money.
Both arguments miss the real injustice and inequity inflicted upon private school parents by the current system.
The teacher unions hate private schools. Teachers that work in the government school system don't appreciate the existence of schools they do not effectively control. Private schools represent competition, and government functionaries do not like competition.
One of the arguments repeatedly put forward is that private schools (of which there are precious few in New Zealand) suck money out of the state's education budget. The state pays a small annual per-pupil grant to private schools that represents a small fraction of the actual cost of educating a pupil. This, says the state education monopolists, represents funds which should properly go to government schools.
The counter argument, run by the Treasury, is that if all private schools closed and their pupils transferred to the government education system, the costs to the taxpayer would be substantially higher: thus, private schools actually save taxpayers money.
Both arguments miss the real injustice and inequity inflicted upon private school parents by the current system.
Saturday, 2 June 2012
Women in Islamic Countries
See No Evil, Hear No Evil
An article has recently appeared in Foreign Policy Magazine, entitled Why Do They Hate Us? Written by Mona Eltahawy, it deals with rampant, universal misogyny in the Middle East.
An article has recently appeared in Foreign Policy Magazine, entitled Why Do They Hate Us? Written by Mona Eltahawy, it deals with rampant, universal misogyny in the Middle East.
Name me an Arab country, and I'll recite a litany of abuses fuelled by a toxic mix of culture and religion that few seem willing or able to disentangle lest they blaspheme or offend. When more than 90 percent of ever-married women in Egypt -- including my mother and all but one of her six sisters -- have had their genitals cut in the name of modesty, then surely we must all blaspheme. When Egyptian women are subjected to humiliating "virginity tests" merely for speaking out, it's no time for silence. When an article in the Egyptian criminal code says that if a woman has been beaten by her husband "with good intentions" no punitive damages can be obtained, then to hell with political correctness. And what, pray tell, are "good intentions"? They are legally deemed to include any beating that is "not severe" or "directed at the face." What all this means is that when it comes to the status of women in the Middle East, it's not better than you think. It's much, much worse.This is an issue which the Western Commentariat usually regards as too impolite to talk about. Decent people, apparently, don't discuss such things.
Condescending and Disrespectful
"Seeker Friendly" Churches
Many Christians take very seriously our Lord's command to preach the Gospel to all the nations. So seriously they risk making an idol of the responsibility, elevating it above all other duties and responsibilities equally given us by our God.
Reaching people for Christ can become more important than faithfulness to Him in all things. One manifestation is the attempt to engineer public worship into being "seeker friendly". The idea is that worship must be so organised and conducted that when a non-Christian enters, he or she immediately feels at home. As much as possible, everything must be made to be familiar, ordinary, and usual. The inevitable result is that the Word of God and the Gospel is dumbed down, and worship itself becomes profane--that is, simply a replication of life "outside the temple".
Many Christians take very seriously our Lord's command to preach the Gospel to all the nations. So seriously they risk making an idol of the responsibility, elevating it above all other duties and responsibilities equally given us by our God.
Reaching people for Christ can become more important than faithfulness to Him in all things. One manifestation is the attempt to engineer public worship into being "seeker friendly". The idea is that worship must be so organised and conducted that when a non-Christian enters, he or she immediately feels at home. As much as possible, everything must be made to be familiar, ordinary, and usual. The inevitable result is that the Word of God and the Gospel is dumbed down, and worship itself becomes profane--that is, simply a replication of life "outside the temple".
Friday, 1 June 2012
Secret "Kill Lists"
The Great Liberal's Other Side
The New York Times has written an article about President Obama that is both chilling and risible at the same time. First, the chilling aspect.
Obama and his Justice Department have "discovered" a new federal government power: the right to execute American citizens abroad, without any due process, checks and balances, or judicial review. Obama reserves the right and power to make every "kill" decision. He personally reviews all "candidates" and makes a selection.
The New York Times has written an article about President Obama that is both chilling and risible at the same time. First, the chilling aspect.
Obama and his Justice Department have "discovered" a new federal government power: the right to execute American citizens abroad, without any due process, checks and balances, or judicial review. Obama reserves the right and power to make every "kill" decision. He personally reviews all "candidates" and makes a selection.
The Fiscal Benefits of Tobacco
Asinine Zealotry
The zealots amongst us are trying to make New Zealand smoke free by 2025. Why? Well, it's good for us. The state knows best. The gummint is on a moral crusade--being spearheaded by our current nanny-in-chief, Tariana Turia. She and her Maori parliamentary cohort are all wound up because they believe smoking is a Maori health issue: tobacco addiction rates are much higher amongst Maori than non-Maori.
Rather than do the hard yards of actually reforming Maori society they have opted to take the "easy" road. Ban tobacco for everyone in the country. Hell hath no greater fury than a zealous politician trying to engineer redemption by legislating to make us good.
We confidently predict that as a consequence tobacco growing will rapidly expand in the benign New Zealand climate.
The zealots amongst us are trying to make New Zealand smoke free by 2025. Why? Well, it's good for us. The state knows best. The gummint is on a moral crusade--being spearheaded by our current nanny-in-chief, Tariana Turia. She and her Maori parliamentary cohort are all wound up because they believe smoking is a Maori health issue: tobacco addiction rates are much higher amongst Maori than non-Maori.
Rather than do the hard yards of actually reforming Maori society they have opted to take the "easy" road. Ban tobacco for everyone in the country. Hell hath no greater fury than a zealous politician trying to engineer redemption by legislating to make us good.
We confidently predict that as a consequence tobacco growing will rapidly expand in the benign New Zealand climate.
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