Friday Morning Ramble–18.08.15

Auckland's "unbelievably friendly folk" were found to be some of the most "polite and accommodating" in the world.
One reader was "invited by strangers to the Chinese Lantern Festival on a hill overlooking the city"; another local
recommended taking "the ferry to the north shore Devonport suburb for the perfect combination of funky and
shabby chic." Overall, most agreed that there were "absolutely wonderful people everywhere!"
(And check out the ranking for Queenstown!)

Planners who can’t plan—a whole office full of them.
Independent Panel Slams Christchurch Council Planners – Hugh Pavletich, SCOOP

The RMA has never been amended to make it easier for you and I to build, but will be amended again to make it easier for government.
New 30-year plan for infrastructure rebuild – RADIO NZ NEWS

“The ever-fluctuating price of oil has the ability to humble even the most dictatorial of central planners.”
Oil still has the power to humble leaders who fail to hedge their bets – TELEGRAPH

So you’ve got a 30-year plan, huh?
Capitalists Have a Better Plan – Robert Murphy, THE FREEMAN

Chris Trotter praises the unsung architect of Rogernomics. (Well, it’s praise in everything but the adjectives.)
In praise of Bryce Wilkinson – Eric Crampton, OFFSETTING BEHAVIOUR 

(For young ‘uns who don’t know what Rogernomics was, and old ‘uns who thought it was a “revolution”…)
In the Revolution's Twilight – Lindsay Perigo, FREE RADICAL 

Lots of problems. Zero real solutions.
World-Class Auckland: How to make houses cheaper – NZ HERALD

No problem. The Reserve Bank’s planners have it all under control. Honest.
RBNZ targets Auckland specufestors – HOUSES & HOLES

“Rising house prices make homeowners richer. This is just the reason why we should extend the principle behind the spiralling Auckland housing market to other parts of the economy.” So how about …
A Vehicle Management Act for New Zealand – Oliver Hartwich, NZ INITIATIVE
An apology from the Executive Director - Oliver Hartwich, NZ INITIATIVE

Regulatory capture. NZ edition.
Timaru man warned for 'picking up mates from pub' – STUFF

“It's a curious post-modernist trend for laws to be created not to protect rights based on well-worn principles of individual rights and freedoms … but to "prevent harm" - to have laws to sanitise life so that "everyone" is protected.  However, the term "harm" doesn't even mean physical harm.”
Harmful Digital Communications Act indeed – LIBERTY SCOTT

"I believe there are more instances of the abridgment of the freedom
of the people by gradual and silent encroachments of those in
power than by violent and sudden usurpations."
~ James Madison, 1788.

“As the third Greek bailout package is currently being debated in eurozone parliaments, it is already becoming clear that it will not be sufficient.”
The third Greek bailout package is destined to fail – Oliver Hartwich, BUSINESS SPECTATOR

So-called “price stability” conceals a tremendous and growing instability.
Don’t Be Fooled By Our Current Price Stability – Frank Shostak, MISES DAILY
After 6 Years Of QE, And A $4.5 Trillion Balance Sheet, St. Louis Fed Admits QE Was A Mistake – ZERO HEDGE

We can tell them what 'Extended period' means: "Forever."
St. Louis Fed official: No evidence QE boosted economy – CNBC

So-called “price stability” has consequences.
The next leg of the commodities carnage – ZERO HEDGE
Crude tumbles to cycle lows despite production cuts – ZERO HEDGE

So-called “price stability” has consequences. “Emerging markets” are doing it tough.
The world should fear an emerging market rout - FT
Emerging markets’ shine dims as capital flight nudges $1tn in a year – GUARDIAN
Tough outlook for emerging markets – BBC NEWS

So-called “price stability” has consequences. Falling oil prices and government bans on food imports means the Russian bear is seething.
Russians experience first ‘horrible’ sustained decline in living standards in 15 years since Putin became president – NATIONAL POST

Easy come, easy go...?
The Great China Ponzi—-An Economic And Financial Trainwreck Which Will Rattle The World – David Stockman, CONTRA CORNER
 China woes pound tech-heavy secondary (Korean) bourse – YON HAP NEWS
China stocks plunge further as investors eye state retreat – A.F.R.
Investors flee the stock markets in China – JOURNAL TELEGRAPH

The world’s most recent experiment in socialism ends the same way they’ve all ended.
Caracas, Venezuela has been voted the world's most unfriendly city – CONDE NAST TRAVELER
Venezuela’s currency is worth less than a napkin – CNN MONEY
If Venezuela Implodes, Will Its Neighbors Be Ready? – BLOOMBERG VIEW
Oil price slide casts doubt on Venezuela’s bonds – FT

The human environment. However bad things are, you’ve got to admit it’s getting better.
Life Expectancy by Age in selected Country from 1990 to 2013 – HEALTH INTELLIGENCE
Posts on Health Economics – UTOPIA—YOU ARE STANDING IN IT

Productivity is not about more muscles, or more hours.
Work smarter, not harder - TVHE

Personally I like to think of comfort zones as "resting" zones, a pause to take breath in between periods of effort and growth.”
Comfort, the Ultimate Self-Sabotage? – Tarryne West, HUFFINGTON POST

“Almost every single thing Trump claims about foreigners and the economy is false or misleading.”
5 Charts that Show Trump's Immigration Paper Is Nonsense – David Bier, ANYTHING PEACEFUL

“GOP #2 also vows to ‘seal’ the ‘northern border, the Pacific border, the Atlantic border, every border”
Wanting more Drone Kills: Ben Carson Wants to Use Drones on Illegal Immigrants ( one drone strike, boom, and gone) – Matt Welch, HIT & RUN

“Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders are wrong. The history of the United States shows that borders — and nations — can exist without immigration restrictions.”
Nations (and Borders) Can Exist Without Restricting Immigration – Ilya Somin, ANYTHING PEACEFUL

Ed Mazlish says Objectivists have got it wrong on immigration. Amy Peikoff begs to differ.
A Response to Ed Mazlish’s Call for Ideological Screening of Immigrants – Amy Peikoff, DON’T LET IT GO

Beautiful. Pauline Hanson's former fish and chip shop is now run by Vietnamese refugees:

Libertarians say Rand Paul has got wrong on foreign policy. Dalibor Rohac begs to differ. “Besides a political calculus, aiming at the Republic nomination, Paul’s change of heart may also be a result of a clash with reality. Perhaps the senator is beginning to understand what many in the libertarian movement still refuse to see—namely, that a wholesale rejection of any active role for American foreign policy is unwise and reckless, and would ultimately jeopardize libertarian principles of individual freedom.
Time for a Rethink?: Libertarians and Foreign Policy – Dalibor Rohac, WORLD AFFAIRS

“Totalitarianism seeks fusion of self and society, declaring there shall be no such thing as separation. The totalitarian fantasy is that individual and society are one—that human beings are bound inseparably to their nation.”
The Psychology of Totalitarianism: Review Essay of Japan's Holy War – Richard Keonigsberg, LIBRARY OF SOCIAL SCIENCE

“Here's the thing about student radio: everyone has their own story.”
Radio Punks | A history of student radio – RADIO NZ
Radio Punks: So many stories – Russell Brown, HARD NEWS

"I was always so impulsive … ”

Trumpet tone. Beautiful.

While the Nazis were breaking heads and ripping up Europe, there were Germans still trying to dance.

The cult of celebrity. Seriously.

[Hat tips Hugh Pavletich, Macrobusiness, Michael Strong, Julian Simon, the great liberal, Tarryne West, Asylum Seeker Resource Centre (ASRC), Barry Jenkin saved my life, Jim Matzger, Stephen Hicks, William R Hicks Jr, Lawrence Reed, Jim Rose, Political Cure, Patrick Black, Condé Nast Traveler, Oliver Cooper, Jack, Steve Forbes] ‏

Have a great weekend!
And thanks for reading.
PC

PS: And ….