The Digital Library of Liberty & Power
incorporating the Guillaumin Collection of the Great Books of Liberty
Further research into the origins and meaning of the national anthem, “Advance Australia Fair” (henceforth AAF), is revealing some interesting facts. The Author: Peter Dodds McCormick (c. 1834-1916) The author Peter Dodds McCormick (c. 1834-1916) (his nom de plume was “Amicus” – so shouldn’t this be “nom de tune”?) was a Scottish immigrant who came … Read more
After a long absence from Australia (20 years) it is interesting and instructive to be here on “Australia Day”. The day itself was hot and humid (37.5C) as was the perennial arguments about what “the 26th of January” is or should be all about, when “the 26th of January” should be held, or even whether … Read more
Zombie Economics A couple of years ago (July 2018) I gave a talk at a Students for Liberty conference on “Zombie Economics” with particular reference to the Marxist “manifestation” of this intellectual beast which refuses to die, no matter how many times it has been “killed” (intellectually speaking of course). It has been the revolutionary … Read more
“Lord Acton” (John Emerich Edward Dalberg-Acton) (1834-1902) believed that historians should make moral judgements about the actions of the people they studied, in particular political and religious leaders. His best known statement of this view can be found in a series of letters he wrote to Bishop Creighton in 1887. They contain some of his … Read more
[Katsushika Hokusai, “The Great Wave off Kanagawa” (c. 1829–1833)] [Note: This post is part of a series on the History of the Classical Liberal Tradition] When did classical liberals become self-conscious that they were advocating an entire worldview (Weltanschauung) of politics, economics, and social relationships in general which was a) consistent internally, b) was different from … Read more
I would add a few more conditions to the very useful list Don drew up yesterday. These are the principle of proportionality the principle of consistency the principle of the “unseen” and unintended consequences of this intervention the principle of the impossibility (or great unlikelihood) of rational economic calculation by government planners the “precautionary principle” … Read more