Author Archives: Rafe Champion

David Leyonhjelm. Free speech is a lot more than 18C

Posted on 2:50 pm, January 20, 2017 by Rafe Champion

Free speech is a lot more than the right to freely comment on issues of race – important though that is. There is other legislation that contains restrictions on speech just as oppressive and infantile as Section 18c of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Freedom of speech, Guest Post, Rafe | 7 Comments

David Leyonhjelm on the Australian of the Year awards

Posted on 2:17 pm, January 20, 2017 by Rafe Champion

The Australian of the Year Awards cost taxpayers $4 million each year – which means every Australian chips in nearly 20 cents. I want my money back. Ever since Tim Flannery got the gong in 2007, these Awards have become … Continue reading →

Posted in Guest Post, Rafe | 12 Comments

A bit about Trump’s main man Stephen Bannon

Posted on 9:47 pm, January 18, 2017 by Rafe Champion

David Horowitz profile of Trump’s chief strategist Stephen Bannon Trump, then trailing in the polls, shook up his team and made Stephen K. Bannon the CEO of his campaign. Within weeks the Trump ship began to turn around, then move … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 27 Comments

Heads up from Keith Windschuttle on the Aboriginal recognition agenda

Posted on 9:40 am, January 17, 2017 by Rafe Champion

A note on a very important volume from Quadrant Books. The Break-up of Australia: The Real Agenda Behind Aboriginal Recognition sounds a warning about the slippery slope that will lead from the apparently innocent recognition of the “First People” in … Continue reading →

Posted in Australian Story, Rafe | 105 Comments

For nerds and Popper fans

Posted on 4:48 pm, January 16, 2017 by Rafe Champion

A talk by a major scientist on Popper’s philosophy of science and how it helped his career. Mostly good but a bit weak on some points, especially the function of consensus, he thinks that frauds are rapidly found out.

Posted in Philosophy, Rafe | 1 Comment

William Happer on global warming

Posted on 12:32 pm, January 15, 2017 by Rafe Champion

A nice interview with a scientist who knows a bit about atmospheric physics and related matters. He was sacked from the Department of Energy by Al Gore but don’t be put off. A lot of information and telling arguments. He … Continue reading →

Posted in Global warming and climate change policy, Rafe | 5 Comments

David Leyonhjelm on good debt and bad debt

Posted on 9:41 am, January 7, 2017 by Rafe Champion

In delivering more debt and deficits, Treasurer Scott Morrison recently made a point of explaining that there is good debt and bad debt. Bad debt is when the Government borrows to fund things that are lapped up straight away and … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget, Guest Post | 21 Comments

Judith Curry the latest casualty in the climate wars

Posted on 9:56 am, January 5, 2017 by Rafe Champion

Just as a breath of fresh air on the climate front is approaching in Washington DC, Judith Curry has bailed out of Georgia Tech. A deciding factor was that I no longer know what to say to students and postdocs … Continue reading →

Posted in Global warming and climate change policy, Rafe | 30 Comments

More items of interest Jan 3

Posted on 11:20 am, January 3, 2017 by Rafe Champion

Dr Dan from Washington DC says, workers do best in unregulated markets. For bean counters. Update of US climate change funding. As they say, a billion here and a billion there, and soon you are talking real money. Screw the … Continue reading →

Posted in Rafe | 1 Comment

David Leyonhjelm on greenhouse policy

Posted on 11:15 am, January 3, 2017 by Rafe Champion

Once again, the Government has been getting its knickers in a knot over climate change. And once again, despite three politically shrewd options to choose from, it is choosing a dumb fourth option. The first of the shrewd options is … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics and economy, Global warming and climate change policy, Guest Post, Rafe | 55 Comments