Friday, November 22, 2002

This Is Freedom?. As the Cato/Fraser report admits, "something as complex as economic freedom is difficult to measure in practice." Perhaps we can go one step farther. It is not true that any number is better than no number at all, especially if it risks being used by the state's busybodies. Just like Keynesian, holistic constructs such as gross domestic product, freedom indexes correspond to nothing that individuals can buy, consume or even just observe; their main use is political -- i.e., generally to undermine economic freedom and prosperity. [Subversive Liberty] comment () trackback ()  6:41:01 PM     UN 'disturbed' by Jenin worker's killing. The UN says it is "deeply disturbed" by the death of a British aid worker in Jenin, accusing Israel of delaying medical aid. [BBC News | Front Page] Sure enough. comment () trackback ()  6:06:19 PM     Nigerian Miss World show cancelled. The organisers of the Miss World contest decide to move it to London from Nigeria after violent protests left more than 100 people dead in Kaduna. [BBC News | Front Page] The riots began after a Nigerian newspaper wrote about the contest, saying: "What would Muhammad think? In all honesty, he would probably have chosen a wife from among them." The Nigerian government's response to the violence has been to give assurances that the author of that article will be "brought to account." It was inevitable that the contest would be moved, but the real question is, what ever possessed the organizers to try holding an international event--any event--in a barbarian country? comment () trackback ()  6:02:51 PM     Trade Wars: Micron vs. Asia. Jobs before profits [The Register] The political reality is that jobs come before profits in the Asia mercantilist societies, so don't hold your breath waiting for Hynix to close its doors or for the Korean government to stop encouraging flat-out production of semiconductors. Like the Japanese before them, the Koreans believe that market share equals economic security, even if products like DRAM are sold below production cost. Western observers and Wall Street financial analysts may find such behavior irrational, but it makes perfect sense to an Asian politician in Seoul, Taipei or Beijing. The good news for American RAM manufacturers is that this sort of behavior by Korean companies will eventually lead to the same kind of economic problems that Japan is suffering. comment () trackback ()  5:53:29 PM     U.N. Official Killed in West Bank [AP World News] No doubt the UN will eventually decide to blame the Israelis. comment () trackback ()  1:34:09 PM     Lego Site Irks Maori Sympathizer. A website dedicated to a Lego product that uses some Maori words comes under a furious cyberattack and has to pull its user forums. Kim Griggs reports from Wellington, New Zealand. [Wired News] Evidently New Zealand suffers from political correctness too. Sadly, Lego is apparently giving in to these nutcases. comment () trackback ()  1:28:43 PM

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