I've been interested in economics for some time. I heard about Modern Monetary Theory (MMT) recently. Much as I challenge numerous elements of "mainstream" economics, Modern Monetary Theory that just didn't ring true. As I looked into it further, I found that Modern Monetary Theory had less and less validity, and a lot of the historical claims about money didn't make sense either.
This is the text of a speech I gave to the Ryde-Hunters Hill Flora and Fauna Preservation Society on the 7th of May. I was asked to comment on environmental issues, and hope I did a decent job of that.Hello, I'm John August Fusion/Pirate party candidate for Bennelong. Within Bennelong, I often bushwalk, and have walked here from Cressy Road, I've been on your local walking tours, and have also sometimes dropped in on your outpost down the way. I'm also getting involved with the Lane Cove bushcare group, so have an additional interest in the area.
So, I need to denote preferences, much as we all say "you can choose your own preferences", it seems obligatory. Notably, Labor has been kind enough to put me at 3rd, and I need to do my bit. But, in the fine John August tradition, I can't just make a list, much as know people would put forward that list without the thinking behind it, and say "Aha! Look at John August's preferences! What does that tell you!". But that assumes someone can be bothered ...Previously, in the Pirate Party, preferences were determined by a vote amongst all members.
I'm receiving multiple similar emails from different people about the same set of causes. Sites like getup.com , dogooder.co and advocacysender.com These sites offer to back causes, monetising your desire to change the world for the better.
Here's the speech I gave recently to the Eastwood Chamber of Commerce on the 11th of April. At the time, I made the point of recognising that there can be good people in the Liberal Party, and good candidates , but that was in the broader context of the Morrison Government and its record. For sure, I did not want to directly have a go at the Liberal Party candidate next to me. Trying to further illustrate this duality, I noted that Menzies increased the pension and decimalised currency - but also took us to Vietnam and invited the Brits to test their nukes in our backyard.
Why am I not a skeptic? Well, at least, why am I not a part of organised skepticism, as claimed by the so-called Australian Skeptics, actually the NSW branch of Skepticism in Australia? It's the experiences I've had, and the resulting appreciation I developed. You might just claim it's sour grapes, but hopefully you'll find the detailed story persuasive.
Jordan Peterson is a professor of Psychology at the University of Toronto. A controversial figure, he has attracted much attention and criticism. Missing, however, is a critique from a left anarchic viewpoint - both Prof. Peterson and his critics have a blind spot here. I wrote this article to fill that hole.
Taking a look at Al-Jazeera coverage, and the conspicious absence of some events overlapping between Australia and Qatar.
While visiting my Aunt in Wollongong, one of her neighbours mentioned that he got up at 6am to watch Al-Jazeera news on SBS, where they were piping that through to their main broadcast, and that it gave an intriguingly "different" point of view.