Tuesday 27 July 2010

The Douglas “Revolution” [updated]

Turns out a few of my Australian readers are either members or supporters of Australia’s Liberal Democratic Party, and since the main choice this election seems to between a feral unionist and a feral evangelist, any freedom-loving Australians should think seriously about following Liberty Scott’s recommendation and voting for them.

Unfortunately, however, since Roger Douglas delivered the world’s most boring speech at their National Conference recently, I’m told several LDPers have become unfathomably enamoured of the man who some people still believe carved out a “revolution” in New Zealand twenty-five years ago.

So for the benefit of those otherwise good folk (and anybody else still in thrall to that idea) I can thoroughly recommend Lindsay Perigo’s 1996 take on the idea that Roger carried out a revolution: In the Revolution's Twilight.  Perigo explains how the various reforms have ultimately failed — and describes the philosophical revolution it will take for liberty to succeed:

Introduction

Part I: The Foundations of a Revolution
Advocating an Ethical Revolution; The Reign of Altruism

Part II: Of Three Who Fell
The Fall of the Nationals; The Ascendance of Roger Douglas; Principles, Hayek, or a Cup of Tea

Part III: The Betrayal
The Return of the Nationals; Liberty or Hayek; A Coalition Forms; The Fallout

Part IV: The Choice
One Step Forward, Three Steps Back; Theory and Practice; The Moral and the Practical

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Roger's "reforms" were mostly pathetic

It was Ruth in just one budget who started on the hard work.

Then Hellen and Cullen undid every single one of Roger & Ruth's reforms

NZ needs a budget much much harder than Ruth's Mother of All Budgets - and it needs it immediately.

How on earth Roger & Rodney - who surely know this - can live with themselves actually voting for the English budget is completely beyond me!

Anonymous said...

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Shane Pleasance said...

PC - links seem wonky.

Russell W said...

You'd vote Lib Dems in the same way you *might* vote ACT in NZ if there was no LIBZ; i.e., hold your nose, get used to being disappointed with their wetness, and endure Rugless speeches etc.