Category Archives: Social

Is there now more psychological violence?

Posted on May 2, 2018 by Paul Frijters

In all ways that we measure these things, physical violence has reduced in Western countries in the last 70 years, particularly mainland Western Europe. What about psychological violence though? Psychological violence, ie the inflicting of mental pain, takes many forms. … Continue reading →

Posted in Cultural Critique, Education, Ethics, Health, History, Humour, Inequality, Libertarian Musings, Life, Media, Miscellaneous, Parenting, Personal, Philosophy, Public and Private Goods, regulation, Religion, Social, Society | 13 Comments

Brexit Scenarios and some Advice for Brexiteers

Posted on March 2, 2018 by Paul Frijters

Brexit is the main political issue in the UK, competing with sex for the attention of the public. It is a daily gamble whether the news headline is about some politician fondling a knee 55 years ago or a row … Continue reading →

Posted in bubble, Cultural Critique, Democracy, Geeky Musings, Humour, Political theory, Politics - international, Social, Society | 11 Comments

How to tax the platform economy?

Posted on February 2, 2018 by Paul Frijters

In the engine room of nation states, ie the tax departments, the coming battle with platform providers is taking shape. Uber, airbnb, facebook, linkedin, ebay, jobseek, and a myriad of specialised platform providers facilitate micro-trades that are largely untaxed by … Continue reading →

Posted in Death and taxes, Economics and public policy, Employment, Information, Innovation, Intellectual Monopoly Privileges, Intellectual Property, IT and Internet, Law, Political theory, Politics - international, Politics - national, Public and Private Goods, regulation, Social | 20 Comments

Advance Australia Fair: ignore the other national histories on offer.

Posted on November 15, 2017 by Paul Frijters

National history is the story that binds ‘us who make up the nation’ into a single entity with a collective memory. It has a purpose and as such we can choose what historical events and realities to put into that … Continue reading →

Posted in Cultural Critique, Death and taxes, Democracy, Ethics, Geeky Musings, History, Humour, Indigenous, Life, Politics - national, Race and indigenous, Social, Society | 36 Comments

Let’s have another World War!

Posted on November 6, 2017 by Paul Frijters

Sometimes, it feels like 1910 all over again. Then, a confident Germany was the up-and-coming industrial power house, fearing an even more up-and-coming Russia, with the UK and France desperately holding on to their colonial empires. Now, a confident China … Continue reading →

Posted in Bullshit, Business, Climate Change, Cultural Critique, Death and taxes, Democracy, Economics and public policy, Employment, Environment, Ethics, Geeky Musings, Gender, History, Humour, Immigration and refugees, Indigenous, Inequality, Information, Innovation, Intellectual Monopoly Privileges, Journalism, Media, Miscellaneous, Music, Philosophy, Political theory, Politics - international, Politics - national, Public and Private Goods, Race and indigenous, regulation, Religion, Science, Social, Social Policy, Society, Sport-general, Theatre, Travel | 5 Comments

The #MeToo moment: another disaster for the Democrats?

Posted on October 30, 2017 by Paul Frijters

The #MeToo flood of stories of women who feel abused by men – ranging from lurid stares to straightforward rape – seems like a disaster to me for the Democrats. Not because of the stories themselves, but because of how … Continue reading →

Posted in bubble, Bullshit, Cultural Critique, Gender, Health, Humour, Information, IT and Internet, Law, Libertarian Musings, Life, Media, Miscellaneous, Philosophy, Religion, Social | 19 Comments

Some Game of Thrones Season 8 speculation

Posted on September 2, 2017 by Paul Frijters

Let me indulge, purely for entertainment value, in some fan-speculation on what we will see on-screen after the Long Night is over and the final 6 episodes Of Game of Thrones are run in 2019. Let me first talk about … Continue reading →

Posted in Art and Architecture, bubble, Bullshit, Climate Change, Cultural Critique, Dance, Death and taxes, Democracy, Economics and public policy, Education, Employment, Environment, Ethics, Films and TV, Food, Geeky Musings, Gender, Health, History, Humour, Immigration and refugees, Indigenous, Inequality, Information, IT and Internet, Journalism, Law, Libertarian Musings, Life, Literature, Media, Medical, Metablogging, Miscellaneous, Music, Parenting, Personal, Philosophy, Political theory, Politics - international, Print media, Products, Public and Private Goods, Race and indigenous, regulation, Religion, Review, Science, Social, Social Policy, Society, Space, Sport-general, Startup, Terror, Theatre, Travel, Uncategorised, Uncategorized, WOW! - Amazing | 2 Comments