Blair
Mulholland
Life Lived Laissez-Faire
Life Lived Laissez-Faire
Welcome to the website of
social and political commentator Blair Mulholland. Here you'll
find commentary on current events, as well as details of my stance on various issues, my career and background, my twin daughters, and some of my other interests and hobbies.
Recent Items
Reforming MMP
9th May 2011 -from Clint Heine and Friends
I think that after fifteen years of getting used to a new political system, very few New Zealanders are entirely happy with MMP. It is certainly more democratic than the old first past the post system, which distorted election results and even saw Labour win the popular vote in '78 and '81 but still lose the election. However, there are huge issues with the undemocratic nature of list MPs and how they are selected, as well as the fickle nature of the 5% threshold.
Some minor tinkering with MMP would eliminate these problems:
[Read more]
Some minor tinkering with MMP would eliminate these problems:
[Read more]
Brashgasm!
24th April 2011 -from Clint Heine and Friends
Well look who's back to save the day!
Don Brash is truly a unique and compelling politician, and for a second time, he has openly and publicly challenged the incumbent leader of a political party. Will it work for him again?
[Read more]
Don Brash is truly a unique and compelling politician, and for a second time, he has openly and publicly challenged the incumbent leader of a political party. Will it work for him again?
[Read more]
You Should Watch This Speech
7th April 2011
When was the last time you heard a National
MP quote Reagan and Thatcher? An excellent start to what will hopefully
be a great political career.
Begging the Question on Drug Prohibition
4th April 2011 -from Clint Heine and Friends
As I often used to say: I hate alcoholics - they give us drunks a bad
name. And so it is with other drugs. The vast majority who use them
responsibly and in moderation are defamed by the small minority who can't control themselves.
My support for drug legalisation is based largely on the belief that the harm resulting from prohibiting drugs generally outweighs the harm resulting from their legal availability... [Read more]
My support for drug legalisation is based largely on the belief that the harm resulting from prohibiting drugs generally outweighs the harm resulting from their legal availability... [Read more]
Eating Roaches
3rd April 2011 - from Clint Heine and Friends
There is no such thing as involuntary poverty in New Zealand, and I wish
we would stop pretending it exists. We pay billions of dollars in
taxes to ensure it doesn't happen.
If children are eating roaches, that is a parenting issue, not a poverty issue... [Read more]
If children are eating roaches, that is a parenting issue, not a poverty issue... [Read more]
The National-But-More-Staunch Party?
16th March 2011 - from Clint Heine and Friends
I am an unashamed supporter of laissez faire political philosophy. I
believe that a government governs best when it governs least. And while
I believe that the most advanced societies are defined by the level of
social and economic infrastructure they possess, that infrastructure is
best provided by free enterprise and free markets, not the lumbering
hand of the State.
It was for this reason that I supported ACT for many years. However, in the last three years, the disconnect between what ACT says and what it does has grown wider and wider... [Read more]
It was for this reason that I supported ACT for many years. However, in the last three years, the disconnect between what ACT says and what it does has grown wider and wider... [Read more]
My Submission to the NZ Parliament on the Voluntary Student Union Membership Bill
30th March 2010
I support this Bill being passed by the New Zealand Parliament.
I served as a member of the Student Executive of the Auckland University Students' Association in both 1998 (when it was compulsory for students to join) and 2000 (when membership was voluntary)... [Read more]
I served as a member of the Student Executive of the Auckland University Students' Association in both 1998 (when it was compulsory for students to join) and 2000 (when membership was voluntary)... [Read more]