The Looking Forward Podcast

The Looking Forward Podcast Episode 93: Looking Forward: Endgame

Wed, 16 Dec 2020 13:37:02 +1000

After two years on air that’s a wrap for the IPA’s Looking Forward Podcast, as least as a weekly panel show. The biggest issues over the journey have been Trump and the populist insurrection on the centre-right, and of course coronavirus and how populations and Governments have responded.

CoHosts Scott Hargreaves and Chris Berg reflect on what they said and what they learned along the way, as they consider what’s next for the Centre-Right in America and Australia in particular. Will it be the continuing isolation of the libertarians, or will neofusionism take hold; adapting William F. Buckley’s broad church approach to a new era? If it was only the Cold War that held the original coalition together; to what can we look now?

Also mentioned is real economics versus the rubbish taught in (most) Universities, the disappointing nature of Australian business leaders and “Chairman’s Lounge Syndrome”, policy making in a risk-averse age, the overreliance on experts, the uses of a conservative disposition as a rational response to societal threats, and why we should (nevertheless) be optimistic about tech and society’s capacity to adapt and innovate.

In a final Books and Culture segment the hosts review their favourite picks and reflect on what these picks showed about the value society derives from the explosion of streaming services, the impact of great books, and also the corrosion of our creative culture and the extinguishment of the hero as evidenced by Barry, The Boys, and the proliferation of shows with assassins as the lead character.

The host send thanks to their listeners and urge those that aren’t already to join the IPA (ipa.org.au)

Thanks Ron, Great Party!

Thu, 10 Dec 2020 14:27:04 +1000

Will history’s verdict be that Trump trashed the legacy of Reagan - as some of his supporters delightedly claim - or that there are stronger continuities between the two, sharing records of lower taxes, regulatory reform and a strong military, all built on votes from mainstream Americans. Where has the Trump insurrection left the Republican Party, and what are the lessons for the Liberals in Australia? By disputing the election and frustrating the handover, will Trump drive people away or is he just positioning to be a de facto Leader of the Opposition for the next four years. If he is, what hopes for those like Marco Rubio who want to complete the demographic reversal of the two major parties, let alone “Restorationists” like Nikki Haley who want to walk the Republicans back from the attitude of permanent revolution. If Conservative Populism rules in Australia too, does that just mean Liberal politicians will jettison all philosophy and ideas and praise their own pragmatism whilst doing nothing that is not in their own self-interest? In the Books and Culture segment, Andrew Bushnell pays a deserved tribute to the great Chuck Yeager, dead at 97, and his portrayal in 1983’s The Right Stuff. Chris Berg’s children drive him to watch and praise Disney Plus’ consciously lightweight The World According to Jeff Goldblum, and Scott Hargreaves describes the epic battles of Tories and Whig in the Long Eighteenth Century in a two minute summary whilst reviewing Jonathan Swift: His Life and His World by Leo Damrosch Links: The Republican Identity Crisis After Trump (New Yorker) https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2020/11/02/the-republican-identity-crisis-after-trump

The Looking Forward Podcast Episode 91: Mysterious Measures to Decolonise Museums

Thu, 03 Dec 2020 14:59:21 +1000

All through the western world Museum Directors have set themselves the task of “decolonising” their collections and exhibits, but what could this become and what does it mean anyway? Do they know, or are they just going woke to protect their own jobs? Is it about appropriately recognising indigenous cultures, or something more?

Regular co-hosts Scott Hargreaves and Chris Berg are joined by the IPA’s Bella d’Abrera to look at the latest ructions at the British Museum and also museums and libraries closer to home, as they look for answers.

The Panel also looks at the fast-fading opportunity in NSW to finally dispense with the national cross-curriculum priorities crowding out and rendering incoherent what is taught K-10 across Auststralia.

Plus in the usual Books and Culture segment, they look at Norsemen, the Norwegian but English language program Berg describes as Game of Thrones meets The Office, the strangely interestingly documentary on the British/Canadian/Indian/American War of 1812, and the gobsmackingly good turns by Nicole Kidman and Hugh Grant in The Undoing.

The Looking Forward Podcast Episode 89: The Reckoning of Our Afghan War

Thu, 26 Nov 2020 13:39:56 +1000

The allegations of serious war crimes by Australian special forces contained within the Brereton Inquiry report mean some change is necessary even as justice takes its course. But should Parliamentarians involve themselves more in Defence and military oversight, as Andrew Hastie MP suggests, or could this politicise the military and cast it into the culture wars? Could adverse findings about a ‘warrior culture’ lead to something useless in its place? And could a ‘black armband’ view of our country and its military record imperil the venerated place of the Australian War Memorial in Australian life and remembrance?

Co-hosts Scott Hargreaves and Chris Berg are joined by former Defence Department employee, Andrew Bushnell, for this discussion. They also revisit the omnishambles that is South Australia’s response to its ‘pizza box’ coronavirus cluster. What does the panic tell us about Governments’ capacity to manage science, public health and known unknowns?

The panellists also discuss their culture picks, including the disappointing Hillbilly Elegy on Netflix, Gotham, the monumental history of New York’s early years, and Based on a True Story, the new and brilliant ‘memoir’ by SNL alumnus, Norm McDonald.

The Looking Forward Podcast Episode 89: Brutal Lockdowns Redux: SA Cut

Thu, 19 Nov 2020 14:39:12 +1000

Now it’s South Australia's turn for lockdown hell for at least six days, and Daniel Wild joins the panel live from Adelaide to report on the chaotic decision making behind the Government’s draconian measures.

Apparently the coronavirus spread by failure in Hotel Quarantine - who would have expected THAT! Seriously, are our Governments incapable of learning and preparing, and delivering a decent test and trace system?

Meanwhile, the Fatwa issued by Kevin Rudd against Rupert Murdoch gained support from Malcolm Turnbull and the ABC, and now the Senate has launched yet another inquiry into ‘media diversity’. How real are the claims made about Murdoch’s influence, and what does that really have to do with the state of media in Australia? Is this just setting us up for Finklestein Mark II, with government licensing of media outlets and journalists?

We then move on to discuss our culture picks for the week including Daniel’s Australian Prime Ministers by editor Michelle Grattan; Chris’s Netflix original TV series Stranger Things by Ross Duffer and Matt Duffer, which he recommends to anyone looking for an absurd, high quality production with amusing cliches; and Scott’s TV series The Crown by Peter Morgan which Scott enjoys but critiques for its pushing of political agendas and subtly supporting the aristocrats' snobbish view of Margaret Thatcher.

Culture Picks:

Australian Prime Ministers; Michelle Grattan
https://www.booktopia.com.au/australian-prime-ministers-michelle-grattan/book/9781760792091.html

Stranger Things; Ross Duffer and Matt Duffer
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4574334/

The Crown; Peter Morgan
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4786824/

The Looking Forward Podcast Episode 88: Just Another High Vis Election

Thu, 12 Nov 2020 14:47:16 +1000

It's a global High Vis vest frenzy, because whether or not he’s President going forward the global legacy of Trump is a realignment of politics, with heartland conservatives switched on and centre-right parties around the world looking for blue collar voters. To what extent can this be said about Australia and can it explain what's happened this week in the ALP as the Shadow Cabinet dissolved into a brawl over climate versus coal?

This realignment in the USA brought populist policy change on trade, taxes and social security, but could anyone other than Trump have withstood enormous media pressure surrounding the Paris Climate Agreement, as well as getting through the deregulation and massive tax cuts that he did? Can we ever imitate this in Australia or is our political system too dissimilar to America’s? Did State LNP organisations blow themselves up chasing populist positions? What will the Biden administration look like for the future of the USA and the rest of the world?

Joining Scott and Chris in this week’s episode to discuss these riveting questions is IPA Director of Communications, Evan Mullholland.

Culture Picks this week include Chris’ Children of Ash and Elm by Neil Price about Vikings; Scott’s podcast, Noise Before Defeat by Senator Jim Molan about Australian national security; and Evan’s pick of the American, deep-state action-thriller series, Condor by Tom Katzberg, Ken Robinson and Jason Smilovic.

The Looking Forward Podcast Episode 87: Trumpism in a Post Trump Era

Thu, 05 Nov 2020 13:50:27 +1000

There’s some grieving from Gideon on the Podcast as indications are that Joe Biden will be sworn in as President, though his fabled ‘blue wave’ failed to eventuate. Trump confounded the polls and energised a mass base of Americans in a way that suggests his political legacy will live on. Is this at the expense of the right’s traditional free market values - or was there a fusion? Did Trump really divide America, or was he just the first to be honest about the social and economic division and the nature of the ruling elite? How can the claim still be made that Trumpism is all dog whistle racism when the GOP made further gains amongst Latinos and other minorities? Trump has permanently flipped the world’s view of China but what now is the future for trade and tariff policies? Will Biden have Australia’s back during any further bruising retaliations by China?

Guests Gideon Rozner and Morgan Begg join Scott and Chris to answer these questions and also share their culture picks, which include Chris’ highly recommended Netflix TV series, The Queen's Gambit by Scott Frank and Allan Scott; Morgan’s documentary series on Netflix, High Score, stemming from his interest in the history of video games; and Gideon’s rerun of his favourite childhood TV show, 7th Heaven by Brenda Hampton.

The Looking Forward Podcast Episode 86: Australia's Coronavirus Endgame

Thu, 29 Oct 2020 14:09:57 +1000

Scott Morrison’s mid-year plan for a COVIDSafe economy is back on track having been derailed by Victorian bungling, but with vaccines uncertain and international borders closed, what is the outlook for Australia’s coronavirus Endgame? Can services like education and tourism ever rejoin king coal and iron ore as the foundations of our prosperity, at least any time soon? Why would any business invest when Governments can shut you down at any time?

Scott and Chris are joined by Andrew Bushnell to answer those questions and also focus on our first COVID State election in Queensland, which also looks like a post-economics election, with ballooning debt and public service payrolls barely even mentioned (except by the IPA!). It’s the clerisy’s business model at work…

And the other election coming up is in the USA - and it seems Trump’s comeback has made it once again too close to call (except by the panellists). The call is made on Florida and the Latino vote. Both candidates played to their strengths and strategy but only one can be vindicated.

Culture picks (53:28-1:05:43) look at streaming services La Révolution and the disappointing Brave New World, while the coverage of the AFL Grand Final gives Bushnell a chance to wax lyrical about Richmond FC.

Show Notes:

'Enough is enough': Gladys Berejiklian calls for states to open borders, pull their weight on hotel quarantine; Jodie Stephens

https://www.sbs.com.au/news/enough-is-enough-gladys-berejiklian-calls-for-states-to-open-borders-pull-their-weight-on-hotel-quarantine

Budget 2020: When will Australia re-open its borders?; Mosiqi Acharya

https://www.sbs.com.au/language/english/budget-2020-when-will-australia-re-open-its-borders

Still the Sunshine State? (IPA Review)

https://ipa.org.au/ipa-review-articles/still-the-sunshine-state

New IPA Research Proposes Models For A Queensland Upper House

https://ipa.org.au/ipa-today/new-research-proposes-models-for-a-queensland-upper-house

Culture Picks:

Brave New World (TV Series 2020)

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9814116/

La Révolution (TV Series 2020)

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt13044528/

The Looking Forward Podcast Episode 85: Global Progressives Unhinged By Jacindavirus (ARDERN 20)

Wed, 21 Oct 2020 15:45:24 +1000

Gideon Rozner joins the panel to compare world leaders’ various responses to coronavirus and how this links to politically polarised ideals of “leadership”. If leadership for progressives just means technocracy and more lockdowns, is that why Gideon’s labelling of Jancinda Adern as “incompetent” saw much frothing and outrage across domestic and global media?
We highlight the various leadership styles of Saint Jacida, Chairman Dan, the Donald and others, and ask what can be made of their approaches to gaining followers or popularity through the crisis? And we explain the difference between the errors of State leaders Daniel Andrews and Gladys Berejiklian.

The big question is why should performative leadership’ be rewarded while sheer managerial incompetence is ignored; and whether leadership and management can even be meaningfully separated?

In the USA President Trump aims to buck the media and the consensus of negative polls; but are those polls really reflective of the likely Electoral College outcomes? Will Americans vote on the virus, or economics and other themes that favour Trump? (37:06-52:40)

Culture Picks this week include American historical legal drama film, The Trial of the Chicago 7, written by Aaron Sorkin; Sally Rugg’s book, How Powerful We Are: Behind the Scenes with One of Australia's Leading Activists; and Apple TV series, Ted Lasso, Created by Brendan Hunt, Joe Kelly, Bill Lawrence. (53:00-1:06:24)

Show notes

From ‘beacon of hope’ to ‘incompetent’: world media on Jacinda Ardern’s big election win; Toby Manhire

https://thespinoff.co.nz/politics/19-10-2020/from-beacon-of-hope-to-incompetent-world-media-on-jacinda-arderns-big-election-win/

Thirteen Days – A Memoir of the Cuban Missile Crisis; Robert F. Kennedy

https://www.amazon.com.au/Thirteen-Days-Memoir-Missile-Crisis/dp/0393318346?tag=

The Pollster Who Thinks Trump Is Ahead; The Editors/National Review

https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/the-editors/id1150237453?i=1000495152748

Culture Picks

2020 American historical legal drama film, The Trial of the Chicago 7, written by Aaron Sorkin

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Trial_of_the_Chicago_7

2020 TV series, Ted Lasso, Created by Brendan Hunt, Joe Kelly, Bill Lawrence

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10986410/

Book by Sally Rugg, How Powerful We Are: Behind the scenes with one of Australia's leading activists

https://www.hachette.com.au/sally-rugg/how-powerful-we-are-behind-the-scenes-with-one-of-australias-leading-activists

The Looking Forward Podcast Episode 84: The Belated Collapse of Lockdown's Justifications

Wed, 14 Oct 2020 16:26:08 +1000

We may look back on this as the week when the global wave of coronavirus lockdown hysteria recedes, as more sensible voices and experts come to the fore, including a key WHO adviser condemning the use of lockdowns as a primary means of control for the coronavirus.

The historic Great Barrington Declaration led by Professor Sunetra Gupta (Oxford) and Jay Bhattacharya (Harvard) replaces lockdowns with “focused protection” to protect the most vulnerable people from the virus, while allowing those at much lower risk to work and/or return to school and life generally. How well does this map in Australia’s unique context to IPA Research calling for a strategy based on “Medical Capacity”? Report co-author Asher Judah joins regular panellists Scott Hargreaves and Chris Berg to discuss.

For months the IPA has been pointing to harm and suffering caused by the lockdowns yet the Victorian government is only beginning to admit this, and that “roadmap” goals are unachievable. As we survey the destruction of the State’s once great health system, its economy, and its people’s mental health, is there finally scope for a U-turn?

This week’s culture picks include four-part docuseries, Before the Web by Jim Epstein; The IPA’s Climate Change: The Facts 2020; and George Friedman’s novel, The Storm Before The Calm. (45:08-59:15)

Show notes:

The Great Barrington Declaration

https://gbdeclaration.org/

Reaching Immunity | A Private Summit of Epidemiologists Against Lockdowns; AIER

https://youtu.be/jtiInz1DWuA

Medical Capacity: An Alternative to Lockdowns; Daniel Wild and Asher Judah

https://ipa.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Medical-Capacity-An-Alternative-to-Lockdowns-IPA.pdf

Support for eased restrictions grows as Melburnians reach breaking point (IPA Research), Shannon Deery

https://www.heraldsun.com.au/coronavirus/support-for-eased-restrictions-grows-as-melburnians-reach-breaking-point/news-story/ddcdfbf189ee8c8cf330753546bb3dad

The Australian Century, Asher Judah

https://www.connorcourtpublishing.com.au/The-Australian-Century-_p_14.html

Culture picks:

Before the Web: The 1980s Dream of a Free and Borderless Virtual World, Jim Epstein

https://reason.com/video/before-the-web-the-1980s-dream-of-a-free-and-borderless-virtual-world/

Climate Change: The Facts 2020 (Chapter 19); IPA

https://climatechangethefacts.org.au/

The Storm Before the Calm, George Friedman

https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/252382/the-storm-before-the-calm-by-george-friedman/

The Looking Forward Podcast Episode 83: Trump's COVID: Halo or Catastrophe?

Wed, 07 Oct 2020 15:05:27 +1000

Trump has tested positive for COVID-19 less than one month before the US election. What will this mean for the politics surrounding the upcoming election and could this revelation play for or against Trump’s faltering campaign? (1:59-21:45)

Trump has also received a kind of ‘cocktail’ of medication in response to contracting the virus, not all of which is available to the common American citizen. In the spirit of Right to Try, should this accelerate clinician’s access to beneficial drugs rather than just waiting for a vaccine? And are lockups and the wait for a vaccine just making people’s health worse? (21:45-35:59)

We discuss last night’s budget and our sudden emergence as a big-State social democratic country with a small state low(er) tax revenue base. Will this Keynesian but pro-business budget lift us out of recession, or is it time to look at productivity? (36:00-50:31)

Culture picks this week include Musical label, Cryo Chamber; Aeschylus’ play, The Eumenides; and a two-part TV series by Billy Ray, The Comey Rule. (51:29-1:04:21)

Show notes:

“Effect of calcifediol (Vitamin D treatment; M Castillo, et al

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0960076020302764?fbclid=IwAR0Cl-D-Qx9g7YqbesGxjzQYGJ7-o5s7VY144QDyqLpHRZ4ffPTKXIlpoko

Is it wrong if I ask for the same?; Tyler Cowen

https://marginalrevolution.com/marginalrevolution/2020/10/is-it-wrong-if-i-ask-for-the-same.html

Donald Trump takes zinc. Maybe you should too; Allysia Finley

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/the-wall-street-journal/donald-trump-takes-zinc-maybe-you-should-too/news-story/79c7e91c0476d0f44e3dd62cbdea3f02

Why Human Challenge Trials Will Be Necessary to Get a Coronavirus Vaccine; Alex Tabarrok

https://nationalinterest.org/blog/coronavirus/why-human-challenge-trials-will-be-necessary-get-coronavirus-vaccine-152786

All the president's medicine: How doctors are treating Donald Trump; Sascha Pezenik, Sony Salzman and Dr. Divya Chhabra

https://abcnews.go.com/Health/presidents-medicine-doctors-treating-donald-trump/story?id=73423761

Debt To Hit $2.05 Trillion, 60 Years To Pay Off; IPA
https://ipa.org.au/ipa-today/debt-to-hit-2-05-trillion-60-years-to-pay-off

Culture Picks:

Musical label, Cryo Chamber

https://www.cryochamberlabel.com/

Play, The Eumenides, written by Aeschylus

https://www.ancient.eu/The_Eumenides/

‘Ah, how miserable! Three New Oresteias’; Emily Wilson, LRB

https://www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v42/n19/emily-wilson/ah-how-miserable

TV series by Billy Ray, The Comey Rule

https://www.stan.com.au/watch/the-comey-rule?gclsrc=aw.ds&ds_rl=1263226&gclid=CjwKCAjwq_D7BRADEiwAVMDdHt6ubXjhrdoUrrt45l3kabCA6giFROEhPY2VgHiqr7CE97modqG0QRoCXqoQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

The Looking Forward Podcast Episode 82: Pollies' Prison Prospects: Stunning Own Goal

Wed, 30 Sep 2020 16:43:20 +1000

Victoria has been electrified by the prospect that politicians and public servants from the Premier down could be charged and even jailed for deaths attributable to the Hotel Quarantine fiasco, under tendentious new industrial manslaughter laws only recently enacted by the Andrews Government. Governments must be held to account, but is this the job of the courts, or Parliaments and voters? If we start jailing politicians for incompetence, where will it end? (33:25-44:59).

Scott Hargreaves and Chris Berg are joined by Research Fellow Morgan Begg to discuss this and also the litany of civil rights violations justified in the name of pandemic. Where have been the institutions meant to defend our freedoms, and what precedent does this rampant State create for our future? (1:50-17:59).

The latest concern in Victoria is an “Omnibus Bill”, allowing government appointed ‘authorised officers’ to arrest and detain individuals just on the suspicion of intent to break rules. Is this necessary or just a left-wing Government’s adaption the Police State/‘law and order’ playbook formerly used by the right? (18:00-33:25).

Culture picks this week include the new Netflix film, Enola Holmes by Harry Bradbeer; Karl Ove Knausgaard’s book on Edvard Munch, So Much Longing in So Little Space; and a Netflix documentary by Jeff Orlowski, The Social Dilemma (44:59-1:04:55).

Shownotes:

Letter to WorkSafe Referring Ministers for Investigation; Ken Phillips

https://icau.worldsecuresystems.com/Downloads/Corona-Virus/Victoria/SEA-letter-to-WorkSafe-29Sept20.pdf

Four Victorian ministers, 16 public servants may face prosecution over alleged OHS law breaches; Robert Gottliebsen

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/four-victorian-ministers-16-public-servants-may-face-prosecution-over-alleged-ohs-law-breaches/news-story/20ace50f6e620fe3be9953e6b8dd2290

Picnicking rule-breakers face $5000 fines with police to blanket parks; Simone Fox Koob

https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/picnicking-rule-breakers-face-5000-fines-with-police-to-blanket-parks-20200928-p55zxj.html

Regulate? Innovate!; Chris Berg on social media regulation
https://ipa.org.au/ipa-review-articles/regulate-innovate

Covid Totalitarianism; Morgan Begg

https://ipa.org.au/publications-ipa/covid-totalitarianism

Culture Picks:

Enola Holmes

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7846844/

So Much Longing in So Little Space

https://www.penguin.com.au/books/so-much-longing-in-so-little-space-9781787300545

The Social Dilemma

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt11464826/

The Looking Forward Podcast Episode 81: RBG & After, Plus: Who's Replacing Nettle?

Wed, 23 Sep 2020 16:08:32 +1000

This week saw the death of Ruth Bader Ginsberg and immediate controversy about who will replace her on the United States’ Supreme Court, as the Democrats invent reasons to stall the process. The panellists reflect on the career of a remarkable advocate and jurist, and examine how the Republican push in the Senate to confirm a Trump nomination as replacement will affect the election. If even Mitt Romney wants to do it, what’s stopping them? (2:12-35:50).

Likewise, Australia’s High Court also has some looming vacancies, due to the 72-year age of ‘statutory senility’ enforced on Justices of the High Court, with Justice Nettle soon to step down. Why aren’t Australians more interested in the choice of replacement shortly to be made by the Morrison Government, and – in light of controversial decisions such as Love/Thoms - do we need more scrutiny of the process for nomination? (35:50-56:32).

Culture picks this week include BGG cold war board game, Twilight Struggle; Elena Ferrante’s novel, Those Who Leave and Those Who Stay; and Taylor Sheridan and John Linson’s TV series, Yellowstone season 3 (56:41-1:08:02).

Show notes

Courting Calamity; Morgan Begg (IPA Review, Winter 2020)

https://ipa.org.au/ipa-review-articles/courting-calamity

Porter kicks off search for next High Court judge; Robert Pelly, AFR

https://www.afr.com/companies/professional-services/porter-kicks-off-search-for-next-high-court-judge-20200714-p55bvj

Save the Vote, Save the Court; Adam J White, The Bulwark

https://thebulwark.com/save-the-vote-save-the-court/

Looking Forward Ep 74 Review of RBG biopic, On the Basis of Sex; Scott Hargreaves

https://youtu.be/yBBO_wat60Q?t=3480

Culture picks

Those Who Leave and Those Who Stay

https://www.booktopia.com.au/those-who-leave-and-those-who-stay-elena-ferrante/book/9781925240023.html

Twilight Struggle

https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/12333/twilight-struggle

Yellowstone; Season 3

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4236770/

The Looking Forward Podcast Episode 80: Tear Down That Wall

Thu, 17 Sep 2020 18:09:12 +1000

There are hard borders with no sign of let up across Australia, as State Premiers spuriously justify all decisions as being on the basis of medical advice while enjoying the populist support for supposedly keeping out the virus. But they can only do so because in our crazy fiscally frazzled federation the Feds pick up the bill for the economic costs. And why can actors and footballers cross borders when ordinary people can't?
What will be the effects on our economy and indeed our nation; as we revert to self-contained colonies and the ties of family and work across borders are severed?
And for that matter, what of the tens of thousands of Australias stranded overseas because State Government failures mean they cannot be safely returned, as Australia joins North Korea in banning travel from Australia without a permit?
Evan Mulholland joins Chris Berg and Scott Hargreaves to discuss problems and possible solutions, and also look at the battle being waged by tech giants Google and Facebook as they fight moves by Australia's relative media minnows to grab a share of revenue, egged on by the ACCC (33:38-46:06). Just one part of a global war in which Australian consumers could be the loser.
In the regular Books and Culture segment (46:07-58:33) they look a Tim Wilson’s new book on Australia's social contract, the Netflix series Away, and the latest surrealist escapade form Charlie Kaufman, I'm Thinking of Ending Things.

Show Notes:

A big decision is due today in the Clive Palmer vs WA border row — here's why it matters

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-08-25/how-clive-palmers-wa-border-challenge-affected-by-court-decision/12589552

This is why it is so difficult for Australians to get home

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-09-17/why-is-it-so-hard-for-australians-to-get-home/12669902

Culture Picks

The New Social Contract; Tim Wilson

https://www.connorcourtpublishing.com.au/THE-NEW-SOCIAL-CONTRACT-Renewing-the-liberal-vision-for-Australia--Tim-Wilson_p_377.html

Away; Andrew Hinderaker

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Away_(TV_series)

I’m Thinking of Ending Things; Charlie Kaufman

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7939766/

The Looking Forward Podcast Episode 79: Victorians Have Made Their Bed

Wed, 09 Sep 2020 16:49:05 +1000

The Deputy CMO says to Victorians "make your bed", but they're fraying at the edges as their Premier loses credibility for refusing to admit he is pursuing a virus eradication strategy - something achieved literally nowhere in the world. How diabolical is the combination of political spin and ceaseless nudging from the army of "public health" advisers? And how much longer can Victorians be expected to trust the very politicians and ‘health experts’ who have consistently lied and obfuscated? (2:01-22:16).

New IPA research shows a "K-Shaped recovery", with public sector employment trending upwards while the private sector slopes violently downwards. Are we really ‘all in this together’ or is the divide between the public and private sector more apparent than ever? (22:16-32:46).

Victoria Police arrested a heavily pregnant Zoe Lee Buhler for a Facebook post about a peaceful protest. With civil liberties, Parliament, and Cabinet Government all suspended; what does this brave new world of Castro-length speeches from the Premier, unchecked police surveillance and a cowed and frightened population look like? (32:46-41:55).

What can we expect of our media when the Dan Andrews drip feeds a compliant press gallery via daily press conferences, and keeping people scared seems part of the business model? (41:55-57:03). Culture Picks this week include TV series, Schitts Creek, by Dan Levy and Eugene Levy, Righteous Gemstones, by Danny McBride and Raised by Wolves, by Aaron Guzikowski (57:03-1:05:13).

Show notes:

Victorians struggling to cope with lockdown have been told to make their bed in the morning; 7 News,

https://www.facebook.com/363623854300/posts/10159153769824301/?vh=e

A Public Choice Warning About Media; Peter Boettke

https://www.aier.org/article/a-public-choice-warning-about-media/

Daniel Andrews hits his 50th straight coronavirus update today — is it time he took a break?; Patrick Wood

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-08-21/daniel-andrews-hits-50-daily-coronavirus-updates-for-victoria/12565048

Culture picks:

Netflix TV series by Dan Levy and Eugene Levy, Schitts Creek

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3526078/

TV series by Danny McBride, Righteous Gemstones

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8634332/

TV series by Aaron Guzikowski, Raised by Wolves

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9170108/

The Looking Forward Podcast Episode 78: Hello? My BRI’s Stopped Working

Wed, 02 Sep 2020 16:06:21 +1000

The Prime Minister, Scott Morrison, has announced new legislation to ensure agreement the States, councils and universities have with foreign governments are consistent with Australian foreign policy. What does this mean for the relations with China and are there any risks with giving the Federal Government further powers? (2:05-15:48). What are the risks with the Victorian Government’s Belt and Road agreement as it relates to expensive plans for infrastructure projects that Victoria doesn't want or need? (15:48-27:33). The Democratic and Republican conventions took place in the US with their speeches demonstrating vastly different views of the USA. What does Trump’s post-convention poll bounce and focus on burning cities mean for the November election? (27:35-50:23). Culture picks for this week include Christopher Caldwell’s Age of Entitlement, Leder Games’ new boardgame, Root and Federico Fellini’s 1960 film, La Dolce Vita (51:18-1:04:52).

Show notes:

Scott Morrison vows to cancel state-foreign agreements if viewed to be against national interest; Brett Worthington and Stephen Dziedzic

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-08-27/scott-morrison-china-belt-and-road-cancel-state-agreements/12596184

Ensuring a Consistent Australian Foreign Policy; Prime Minister Scott Morrison

https://www.pm.gov.au/media/ensuring-consistent-australian-foreign-policy

Poll – Victorians Oppose Belt & Road Scheme

https://ipa.org.au/publications-ipa/poll-victorians-oppose-belt-road-scheme

Tunnel Vision: Scott Hargreaves and Daniel Wild

https://ipa.org.au/ipa-review-articles/tunnel-vision

Culture picks:

Age of entitlement, Christopher caldwell

https://www.amazon.com.au/Age-Entitlement-America-Since-Sixties/dp/1501106899

New type of boardgame - Root

https://ledergames.com/products/root-a-game-of-woodland-might-and-right

1960 film, La Dolce Vita, directed by Federico Fellini

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0053779/

The Looking Forward Podcast Episode 77: COVID19 At The Crossroads

Wed, 26 Aug 2020 16:49:38 +1000

After six months of COVID19 in Australia the panel discusses whether it’s time to say this is the new normal, and that we can neither wait for a vaccine nor indefinitely extend emergency powers.
Australian PM Scott Morrison announced a deal with AstraZenica for provide a coronavirus vaccine for all Australians in 2021, but is that even feasible or just an announcement driven by politics? And isn’t it too early for the PM to discuss mandating a vaccine before it even exists? (2:10-37:45). Daniel Andrews is pushing for an extension to Victoria’s state of emergency powers for an additional 12 months. What will this mean for democracy in Australia and do the current circumstances really warrant such infringement on our civil liberties (hint: no)? (37:45-51:25). Culture picks this week include the new Microsoft Flight Simulator; Conversations with John Anderson, and The Mandibles by Lionel Shriver (-1:03:40).

Show Notes:

COVID19 and the Path to Pragmatic Acceptance; Scott Hargreaves

https://ipa.org.au/ipa-today/17130

Revolt over Daniel Andrews’ coronavirus power grab: Rebecca Urban, Damon Johnston and Nicola Berkovic

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/politics/revolt-over-daniel-andrews-power-grab/news-story/88673d2c726d75477bf2cbbdb95d7f8a

State of Emergency Must Be Extended But It’s No Blank Cheque For Andrews: Derryn Hinch

https://www.theage.com.au/politics/victoria/state-of-emergency-must-be-extended-but-it-s-no-blank-cheque-for-andrews-20200825-p55p6v.html

Victorians cannot keep sacrificing liberties without a safety net

https://www.theage.com.au/politics/victoria/victorians-cannot-keep-sacrificing-liberties-without-a-safety-net-20200825-p55p7i.html

Culture Picks:

the new Microsoft Flight Simulator

https://www.microsoft.com/en-au/p/microsoft-flight-simulator-standard-preorder/9nxn8gf8n9ht

Lockdowns, Vaccines and Debt (Conversations with John Anderson), with Dr. Jay Bhattacharya of Stanford University.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtnYSEGViOnb7k8ezUaWUww

The Mandibles by Lionel Shriver

https://www.amazon.com.au/Mandibles-Family-2029-2047-Lionel-Shriver-ebook/dp/B0152XGO18/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=The+Mandibles&qid=1598424125&sr=8-1&tag=

The Looking Forward Podcast Episode 76: The Golden Age of Libertarian Scepticism

Wed, 19 Aug 2020 08:38:21 +1000

On this special episode of the IPA’s Looking Forward, co-host Chris Berg interviews Russ Roberts from the Hoover Institution, known to most as the long-standing host of Econtalk, and also Professor Mike Munger from Duke University, who is well known as a libertarian economist and political candidate.

Is the Pandemic just the perfect example of Hayek’s Knowledge Problem, that knowledge is dispersed and no “expert” can be across it? And how do politicians, epidemiologists and economists approach the problem of decision making under uncertainty – and do epidemiologists know as much as they say?

As the Pandemic both creates and exposes ridiculous nanny state regulations preventing us living our lives and making a living, is this the Golden Age of Libertarian Scepticism?

Does the Pandemic change the way you communicate the ideas of Liberty? How does a libertarian approach the wearing of masks, where voluntary or mandated?

What are wider lesson of liberty? When power is centralised what is the vision of human flourishing based on freedom and personal responsibility? How is this an optimistic vision of civil society, of voluntarism, of the role of markets and people in building trust and a better society?

And how did Mike Munger go when he ran for Governor of North Carolina on the Libertarian Party ticket, telling voters “what can you do for me?” was the wrong question?

The interview was conducted recently as part of the Friedman8 digital conference, hosted by the Australian Taxpayers’ Alliance & Australian Libertarian Society.

Econtalk; Russ Roberts

https://www.econtalk.org/

How Adam Smith Can Change Your Life: An Unexpected Guide to Human Nature and Happiness; Russ Roberts

https://www.amazon.com.au/Adam-Smith-Change-Your-Life-ebook/dp/B00INIXQA2?tag=

Tomorrow 3.0: Transaction Costs and the Sharing Economy; Mike Munger

https://www.amazon.com/Tomorrow-3-0-Transaction-Cambridge-Economics/dp/1108447341?tag=

The Knowledge Problem: We must stand humble before complexity and order without planning; Hayek

Frideman8
https://www.alsfc.com.au/

The Looking Forward Podcast Episode 75: Just the Ticket for Biden?

Wed, 12 Aug 2020 18:43:19 +1000

Joe Biden has decided Kamala Harris is to be his pick as vice president based on the fact she is an African-American woman. Should identity politics have a place in the presidential campaign, or should people of power be chosen rather on merit? (3:27-25:20). Dan Tehan has announced a review into Robert French’s freedom of speech on campus model. Should we be concerned about the issue of free speech rights on Australian campuses and should we be pushing further for a more in-depth review of this issue? (25:38-47:19). JK Rowling has been long under pressure to give in to the woke left whose failure to deal with the lessons of the Harry Potter Books and has subsequently faced the wrath of cancel culture. Does Harry Potter belong in the ‘woke left basket’ and are identity politics being taken too far by the cancel culture mob? (47:20-1:00:35). This week’s culture picks include Netflix’ series The Umbrella Academy, 2008 Australian movie Lake Mungo and 2019 film The Lighthouse (1:00:40-1:14:07)

Show Notes:

How Kamala Harris or Tammy Duckworth as VP could impact the Asian American and Pacific Islander vote: Deepa Shivaram

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2020-election/two-women-biden-s-vp-list-have-little-known-advantage-n1236073

Biden picks Kamala Harris as VP nominee: Christopher Cadelago and Caitlin Oprysko

https://www.politico.com/news/2020/08/11/joe-biden-vp-pick-kamala-harris-393768

Kamala Harris Got So High Smoking Weed in College She Thought She Was Listening To Snoop Dogg and Tupac: Nick Gillespie

https://reason.com/2019/02/12/kamala-harris-got-so-high-smoking-weed-i/

The Real Reason Cancel Culture is Rejecting “Harry Potter”: Renee Gorman

https://areomagazine.com/2020/08/07/the-real-reason-cancel-culture-is-rejecting-harry-potter/

Culture Picks:

The Lighthouse (2019)
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7984734/

the 2008 Australian film Lake Mungo.
https://m.imdb.com/title/tt0816556/

the Umbrella Academy on Netflix

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Umbrella_Academy_(TV_series)

The Looking Forward Podcast Episode 74: Mission Accomplished!

Wed, 05 Aug 2020 17:16:16 +1000

Victoria’s Premier Daniel Andrews is seemingly delighted to have brought Victoria to an unprecedented standstill as he pursues eradication of the runaway coronavirus. But what will be the economic costs and how confident can we be that it will actually work, especially as second, third and fourth waves are reported across the globe? Where is accountability for past and present maladministration, when the Andrews Government seeks to shut down or obfuscate Parliament at every opportunity? (2:55-34:39) Donald Trump has announced that TikTok will be banned in the United States raising national security concerns. Are concerns valid or is the ban simply an attack on freedom of speech and/or a chance to extort the owners for Microsoft’s benefit? (34:39-46:30) Your hosts Scott Hargreaves and Chris Berg are joined by the IPA’s Cian Hussey to answer these questions and share their culture picks. This week’s picks include Camila Russo’s The Infinite Machine, the Ruth Bader Ginsburg biopic On the Basis of Sex and Yuval Levin’s A Time to Build. (46:30-1:04:43)

Show Notes

Madness in Melbourne; Jeffrey A. Tucker

https://www.aier.org/article/madness-in-melbourne/

If New Zealand’s the coronavirus role model then we’re in strife; Adam Creighton

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/politics/if-new-zealands-the-coronavirus-role-model-then-were-in-strife/news-story/0dd4f1b0fbd5b1fcb9e969f5bc626da9

Coronavirus: Victoria stopped using the COVID app before virus spike; Olivia Caisley

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/victoria-stopped-app-use-before-spike/news-story/31a3928d308b9d96dae199b2922ab92d

The Coronavirus Is Never Going Away; The Atlantic

https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2020/08/coronavirus-will-never-go-away/614860/?fbclid=IwAR027V4IY-Eysv5rl8kjLd1HTX_agvA9DOhQJyZurk5_PSHA3KHXztzP0nU

Trump Wants U.S. Government To Get ‘A Lot Of Money’ For Allowing Microsoft-TikTok Deal; Forbes

https://www.forbes.com/sites/alisondurkee/2020/08/03/trump-wants-us-government-to-get-a-lot-of-money-for-allowing-microsoft-tiktok-deal/

Culture Picks

A Time to Build; Yuval Levin

https://www.amazon.com.au/Time-Build-Community-Recommitting-Institutions/dp/1541699270

The Infinite Machine; Camila Russo

https://www.amazon.com.au/Infinite-Machine-Crypto-hackers-Building-Internet-ebook/dp/B07X8HS2WC

On the Basis of Sex; Mimi Leder

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4669788/

The Looking Forward Podcast Episode 73: High Court Next Step For Ridd

Thu, 30 Jul 2020 11:49:43 +1000

Intellectual inquiry at Universities is under threat after the Federal Court overturned Peter Ridd’s initial victory in the Federal Circuit Court. What influenced the court’s decision and what does it mean? (0:00-26:24)

Welcome reform of Australia’s model defamation laws has been accepted by all states. How has defamation law been blocking free speech and what change will reform bring for media giants? (26:24-39:21)

As the joy of working from home begins to wear off, what will be the long-term implications of remote work on office policy, culture and economics? (39:21-55:43)

Your hosts Scott Hargreaves and Chris Berg are joined by the IPA’s Gideon Rozner to discuss these questions and share their culture picks. This week’s picks include the classic TV series’ Kath and Kim, Anne Applebaum’s Twilight of Democracy and Rick Wilson’s Running Against the Devil. (55:43-1:20:50)

Show Notes

Defamation law reform a ‘generational change’; Michael Pelly https://www.afr.com/politics/defamation-law-reform-a-generational-change-20200727-p55fxe

Google staff to stay working from home until at least July 2021; Rob Copeland and Peter Grant https://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/technology/google-staff-to-stay-working-from-home-until-at-least-july-2021/news-story/5e3c34c00b48649429caafdc59ce6a10

Working from home? You’ve just had a pay rise; Adam Creighton https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/politics/coronavirus-recession-is-going-to-hit-poor-hardest/news-story/aa77f370a0f39282e8341d6a8209512b

Companies start to think remote work isn’t so great after all; Chip Cutter https://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/the-wall-street-journal/companies-start-to-think-remote-work-isnt-so-great-after-all/news-story/2b73e90e38d39fe5479477d187520cd5

Mobility reform key to offset youth jobs pain: Treasury; John Kehoe https://www.afr.com/policy/economy/mobility-reform-key-to-offset-youth-jobs-pain-treasury-20200728-p55g3c

Culture Picks

Kath and Kim (TV Series)

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0272397/

Twilight of Democracy; Anne Applebaum https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/621076/twilight-of-democracy-by-anne-applebaum/

Running Against the Devil; Rick Wilson https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/623822/running-against-the-devil-by-rick-wilson/

The Looking Forward Podcast Episode 72 "Parliament Must Do Its Job"

Wed, 22 Jul 2020 15:25:51 +1000

After months of contradictory communication about the efficacy of face masks, they’re now increasingly mandatory: in what ways do they work and should we be required to wear them? (1:43-17:00)

Federal Parliament has been punted once again after the PM cancelled the next two sitting weeks. With every other Australian business expected to adapt and function as COVIDSafe, why can’t Parliament? (17:00-27:48)

Legislative reform is on the cards for Australia’s unwieldy environmental regulations: will green tape finally be cut to unleash economic recovery? (27:48-40:50).

Your hosts Scott Hargreaves and Chris Berg are joined by the IPA’s Evan Mulholland to address these questions and dive into their isolation culture picks. This week’s picks include the film Mr Jones, the TV Series’ McMillions as well as Sir Patricks Stewart’s A Sonnet A Day.

Show Notes

Face Coverings Mandatory for Melbourne and Mitchell Shire

https://www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/updates/coronavirus-covid-19/face-coverings-mandatory-melbourne-and-mitchell-shire

UK’s Virtual Parliament, Ranked; Annabelle Dickson

https://www.politico.eu/article/uks-virtual-parliament-ranked-prime-ministers-questions-coronavirus-videoconference-dominic-raab/

Independent Review of the EPBC Act; Professor Graeme Samuel AC

https://epbcactreview.environment.gov.au

EPBC Act Review: Jobs Win Over Litigious Green Activists
https://ipa.org.au/publications-ipa/epbc-act-review-jobs-win-over-litigious-green-activists

Culture Picks

Mr Jones (2019 Film)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mr_Jones_(2019_film)

McMillions (TV Series)

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9148598/

A Sonnet A Day; Sir Patrick Stewart

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLLLiEya-Q4RQdTJb97i8gU6MXHZs_HUlB

Shakespeare's Sonnets & Poems (Folger)

https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/0743273281/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_U_KH3fFbDG4HQ56

The Looking Forward Podcast Episode 71 "Conspiracy Theories Dismissed (Again)"

Wed, 15 Jul 2020 17:29:34 +1000

Well may we say God save the Queen because nothing will save the conspiracy theories about the Whitlam Government’s Dismissal. The released palace letters do however reveal deeper truths about our democracy and the falsity of Republican claims (2:24-25:16) As the US election gets closer, Republican are wondering if Trumpism would survive a loss and what’s in it for them afterwards (25:16-41:07) The woke media wars flare again as New York Times Opinion Editor Bari Weiss resigns under pressure. Does this reflect the birth of a new media model how can economics and philosophy explain this media moment? (41:07-1:00:47)

Your hosts Scott Hargreaves and Chris Berg are joined by the IPA’s Andrew Bushnell to answer these questions and share their culture picks. This week’s picks include the film First Man, Kendrah Morgan and Lesley Harding’s Modern Love, as well as the TV series’ Upload.

Show Notes

Most surprising of the Palace letters shines new light on Whitlam; Anne Twomey

https://www.smh.com.au/national/most-surprising-of-the-palace-letters-shines-new-light-on-whitlam-20200713-p55bpw.html

The Palace letters are every bit the bombshell they promised to be; Jenny Hocking

https://www.theage.com.au/national/the-palace-letters-are-every-bit-the-bombshell-they-promised-to-be-20200713-p55bpx.html

Running Against the Devil: A Plot to Save America from Trump- and Democrats from Themselves; Rick Wilson

https://www.amazon.com.au/Running-Against-Devil-Trump-Themselves/dp/0593137582

The Death - and Rebirth - of the Newspaper?; Chris Berg

https://www.spectator.com.au/2020/07/the-death-and-rebirth-of-the-newspaper/

Resignation Letter; Bari Weiss

https://www.bariweiss.com/resignation-letter?fbclid=IwAR2hxFzKfLQ4D7tWWkzJOA-VlSFy8TPtiAlowEasB4toUx4G0u8M3cOt0tQ

Bari Weiss Resigns From New York Times Opinion Post; Edmund Lee

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/14/business/media/bari-weiss-resignation-new-york-times.html

Culture Picks

First Man; Damien Chazelle

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1213641/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0

Modern Love: The Lives of John and Sunday Reed; Kendrah Morgan and Lesley Harding

https://www.mup.com.au/books/modern-love-paperback-softback

Upload (TV Series)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Upload_(TV_series)

Looking Forward Episode 70 "Double Déjà vu in Dan's Victoria"

Wed, 08 Jul 2020 18:03:59 +1000

It's a double case of Déjà vu in Victoria as it enters Stage 3 lockdown once again, just as the State's finances look like they're headed for a crisis reminiscent of the 1990s, meaning the rest of Australia might once again have to bail it out.
The panel of Scott Hargreaves, Chris Berg and Daniel look at how the outbreak has derailed the national coronavirus containment strategy, and followed a series of failures by the State Government (2:25-22:19). They also analysed the electoral implications of Trump's landmark 4th July speech at Mt Rushmore, which drew the election battlelines with him the side of Western Civilisation versus cancel culture (22:19-39:42) and returning to Victoria the panel looks at IPA research showing the State's plunge into massive debt predated the COVID depression, driven by fantastically expensive transport projects.(39:42-53:45)
In the Books and Culture segment the panel reviews the forthcoming Friedman Conference, the release of the musical Hamilton on Disney streaming service, and demographer Joel Kotkin's book out of the USA on the middle class under pressure from what he calls "neo-feudalism".

Show Notes

Déjà vu in Dan Andrewstan; Daniel Wild

https://www.spectator.com.au/2020/07/deja-vu-in-dan-andrewstan/

Tunnel Vision; Scott Hargreaves and Daniel Wild

https://ipa.org.au/ipa-review-articles/tunnel-vision

Acting on Climate Change and Health in Victoria; Brett Sutton et al.

https://www.mja.com.au/system/files/issues/212_08/mja250527.pdf

Remarks by President Trump at South Dakota’s 2020 Mount Rushmore Fireworks Celebration

https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-statements/remarks-president-trump-south-dakotas-2020-mount-rushmore-fireworks-celebration-keystone-south-dakota/

Lin-Manuel Calls “Hamilton” Cancel Culture Criticisms “Valid”; Erika Marie

https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/lin-manuel-calls-hamilton-cancel-culture-criticisms-valid-news.113873.html

Culture Picks

Friedman Conference; Australian Taxpayers’ Alliance

https://www.alsfc.com.au/

The Coming of Neo-Feudalism; Joel Kotkin

https://www.amazon.com.au/Coming-Neo-Feudalism-Warning-Global-Middle-ebook/dp/B07VCG8RPF

Hamilton The Musical; Lin-Manuel Miranda

https://www.disneyplus.com/movies/hamilton/3uPmBHWlO6HJ

Looking Forward Episode 69 “Would You Like Fries With That?”

Thu, 02 Jul 2020 14:34:28 +1000

Will the increase in humanities course fees be effective driving job-ready graduates and incentivising academics to deliver meaningful degrees? (03:12-28:00). Modern day ‘witch hunts’ and cancel culture: what has our society come to when militant minorities can make your life hell? (28:01-43:49). The panel discusses the IPA’s new Podcast Five Favourite Books, kicking off with special guest Greg Sheridan as an exclusive to IPA members, and more generally the ideas and literature of our heritage. (47:01-53:19). Your co-hosts Scott Hargreaves and Chris Berg are joined by the IPA’s Bella d’Abrera to answer these questions as well as share their culture picks.

This week’s picks include The Room Where It Happened: A White House; John Bolton, The Spy and the Traitor; Ben Macintyre, and War for Eternity; Benjamin Teitelbaum. (55:46-1:15:05)

Show Notes

Special IPA Membership Offer: Five Favourite Book

https://ipa.org.au/bookoffer

Lead Headline and Sub-Header for The New York Times; Tyler Cowen https://marginalrevolution.com/marginalrevolution/2020/06/lead-headline-and-sub-header-for-the-new-york-times.html

Culture Picks

The Room Where It Happened: A White House; John Bolton https://www.amazon.com/Room-Where-Happened-White-Memoir/dp/1982148039

The Spy and the Traitor; Ben Macintyre

https://www.amazon.com/Spy-Traitor-Greatest-Espionage-Story/dp/1101904194

War for Eternity; Benjamin Teitelbaum

https://www.penguin.com.au/books/war-for-eternity-9780241431078

Ep 68: Falling Statues & Falling Elites

Wed, 17 Jun 2020 17:07:35 +1000

The movement to tear down statues of historical figures and the past they represent has swept across continents. What do these statues represent and what is their place in the collective history of the nation? (1:57-25:24)

Former Minister, Adem Somyurek, resigned from the ALP after allegations of branch stacking. What light does this shed on the business model of political parties and what does it reveal about the nature of politics? (25:24-39:37)

The NRL has used the power of the people to fight to get out from under the COVID-19 government restrictions. Should other organisations follow suit and what does this tell us about how to get industries back up and running? (39:37-51:34)

Your co-hosts Scott Hargreaves and Chris Berg are joined by the IPA’s Zachary Gorman to answer these questions as well as share their culture picks. This week’s picks include Delta Blues: The Life and Times of the Mississippi Masters Who Revolutionised American Music, Hilary Mantel’s The Mirror and The Light as well as the popular YouTube channel PewdiePie. (51:34-1:06:16)

Ep 67: Policing Under Pressure

Wed, 10 Jun 2020 14:35:15 +1000

This week saw thousands of Australians breaking social distancing laws protesting racism. As more people vote with their feet and ignore lockdown laws, is the pandemic effectively over and what does this mean for lockdown laws? (2:15-16:29) The protestors in the United States are now advocating for the police force to be defunded. What is the place for the police in our society and what would reasonable reform entail? (16:29-30:45) At the New York Times a staff revolt forced an editor to resign just for publishing an opinion piece by a Republican Senator. Has campus woke culture taken over newspapers and is there still a place for legitimate debate in news outlets? (30:45-46:40) Your hosts Scott Hargreaves and Dr Chris Berg are joined by the IPA’s Director of Policy, Gideon Rozner, to answer these questions as well as share their culture picks. This week’s picks include the Netflix series Space Force, Daron Acemoglu and James Robinson’s Narrow Corridor and Ian Kershaw’s To Hell and Back. (46:40-1:02:41)

Show Notes

How Pandemics End; Gina Kolata

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/10/health/coronavirus-plague-pandemic-history.html

NSW Police Minister Says Protests Larger than 10 People will be Deemed Illegal; Lisa Visentin and Dana McCauley

https://www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw/nsw-police-minister-says-protests-larger-than-10-people-will-be-deemed-illegal-20200608-p550kr.html

Calls to Cut Funding for Police Grow in Wake of Protests; Eliza Collins

https://www.wsj.com/articles/calls-for-defunding-police-grow-in-wake-of-protests-11591663621?emailToken=4a15ee00fe662b2e33fb3cb14cc28622XAYX0AVtf0LjeZOVLBxGjGm8Jhg6o9i2JLxm42WdLJtzg4nn+t6M1Gpi2DoEKeGROWFeiUbm8vgwc8cq1oSk5VE99vuQfsWgpGzVplwEumg%3D&reflink=article_copyURL_share

Why Are the Police in Charge of Road Safety?; Alex Tabarrok

https://marginalrevolution.com/marginalrevolution/2020/06/why-are-the-police-in-charge-of-road-safety.html

When Journalists Stop Believing in Debate; Damon Linker

https://theweek.com/articles/918140/when-journalists-stop-believing-debate

Culture Picks

Space Force (TV Series)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_Force_(TV_series)

The Narrow Corridor: States, Societies, and the Fate of Liberty; Daron Acemoglu and James A. Robinson

https://www.amazon.com.au/Narrow-Corridor-States-Societies-Liberty-ebook/dp/B07MCRLV2K

To Hell and Back: Europe 1914 - 1945; Ian Kershaw

https://www.amazon.com.au/Hell-Back-Europe-1914-1949/dp/0143109928

Ep 66: Where to Now?

Wed, 03 Jun 2020 15:40:26 +1000

As protests and riots break out across America the important issues of policing and police immunities are getting lost, but will feature at election time. But when civil order is challenged by rioters, what options do Governments have but law and order? Is it Trump or the Democrat-controlled cities who have most to do? (2:12-40:02) The Federal Court made a landmark decision to hold a company liable for defamatory comments made by third parties on its Facebook page, putting the fear of god into all sorts of users of the platform? (40:02-46:54) The Liberal government has reached out to Big Business and Big Unions expecting industrial relations reform, but what hopes do we have when the process lacks both vision and involvement by the forgotten people? (46:54-56:24) Your hosts Scott Hargreaves and Dr Chris Berg are joined by IPA Adjunct Fellow Aaron Lane to answer these questions as well as share their culture picks. This week's picks include the movie The Leopard, the hit tv-series The Great and John Grisham's The Guardians. (56:24-1:05:57)

Show Notes

ACTU Rump in Morrison's Tent But Quiet Aussies Are Left Out; Daniel Wild

https://ipa.org.au/publications-ipa/opinion/actu-rump-in-morrisons-tent-but-quiet-aussies-are-left-out

Monopoly on Violence; Max Weber

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monopoly_on_violence#Max_Weber's_theory

Our leaders have dithered and lied about the riots as the nation goes up in flames; Tucker Carlson

https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/tucker-carlson-nation-flames-leaders-dithered

Culture Picks

The Great (TV Series); Tony McNamara

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Great_(miniseries)

The Leopard (Movie); Luchino Visconti

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0057091/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1

The Guardians; John Grisham

https://www.amazon.com.au/Guardians-John-Grisham/dp/0385544189

Ep 65: Liberalising Australia: Then and Now.

Wed, 27 May 2020 16:16:31 +1000

As Australia is once again faced with the desperate need to liberalise and our reinvigorate our economy post-lockdown, we're joined by an intellectual warrior of the last great era of reform in 80's and 90's, Professor Emeritus Wolfgang Kasper, to explore what's similar and what's different between then and now, and what are the eternal truths about how to mobilise labour, capital and entrepreneurship by cutting red and green tape and getting government out of the way.

Drawing on compelling case studies from post-war German, Spain, Malaysia and indeed Australia, liberalisation is shown to deliver great benefits. But there is a whole new challenge to be faced, and not just from left, as free market reformers grapple with an intellectual landscape convinced deregulation somehow failed and that Governments are best placed to mobilise capital, and the exposure of reliance on China for key supplies has changed everything. The best responses draw on the greats, on Locke and Smith, and also the simple realities of trade where it impossible to untangle supply chains. Wolfgang joins regular co-hosts Scott Hargreaves and Chris Berg and guest panelist Andrew Bushnell to discuss needed reforms, reflect on the Prime Minister's National Press Club address, and question whether the language of reform in the 80's will cut through in 2020s.

Ep 64: Can WHO Be Cured?

Wed, 20 May 2020 18:17:00 +1000

Just as Trump throws a grenade at the WHO it agrees to a bodged up review into the coronavirus pandemic. Is there a place for a global health organisation that has underperformed and who is possibly doing more harm than good? (2:20-16:10) Peter Ridd, featured on the IPA’s new Heretic Podcast, was sacked by James Cook University for speaking out against its climate change studies. The Heretic’s auteur Gideon Rozner tells how the Podcast came to be (16:10-30:56) The ACCC is drafting a code which will force technology giants to pay media companies for their news. Is this just evening up the bargaining power or a catastrophically dumb and outrageous example of government sanctioned theft (thanks Chris)? (30:56-50:40) Your hosts Scott Hargreaves and Dr Chris Berg are joined by the IPA’s Gideon Rozner to answer these questions as well as share their culture picks. This week’s picks include the hit Australian TV series Lego Masters, Peter Coleman’s The Liberal Conspiracy and the Netflix film Have a Good Trip. (50:40-1:08:24)

Show Notes

The Heretic Membership Offer

https://ipa.org.au/hereticoffer

Donald Trump’s letter to Dr. Tedros of the World Health Organisation

https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1262577580718395393

ACCC calls for consultation to set news bargain between Google, Facebook and media; Lilly Vitorovich and Leo Shanahan

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/media/accc-calls-for-consultation-to-set-new-bargain-between-google-facebook-and-media/news-story/c939c778bb7d72aa3dd2cb717c816b83

Lego Can Avoid Ai WeiWei, But It Can’t Avoid Politics; Chris Berg

https://chrisberg.org/2015/10/lego-can-avoid-ai-weiwei-but-it-cant-avoid-politics/

Did Lego Really Block Ai WeiWei?; Scott Hargreaves

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/did-lego-really-block-ai-weiwei-scott-hargreaves/

Culture Picks

Lego Masters

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lego_Masters_(Australian_TV_series)

The Liberal Conspiracy: The Congress for Culture Freedom and the Struggle for the Mind of Postwar Europe; Peter Coleman

https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/0029064813/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_9JZWEbGWJZ2QM

Have a Good Trip: Adventures in Psychedelics

https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/have_a_good_trip_adventures_in_psychedelics

Ep 63: A Return To Freedom?

Wed, 13 May 2020 16:29:25 +1000

The government has introduced a three-stage plan to return Australians to some form of normalcy. What are these decisions based off and is the uncertainty over the consequences small enough? (2:07-20:30) Sweden has been the most prominent and controversial example of an alternative lockdown model. How does their response shape the debate between social vs medical outcomes of pandemics? (20:30-40:42) Finally, the panel reflects on the systematic thoughts of the late Sir Roger Scruton, asking what will conservatism look like post COVID-19? (40:42-59:59) Your hosts Scott Hargreaves and Dr Chris Berg are joined by the IPA’s Andrew Bushnell to answer these questions as well as share their culture picks. This week's picks include three new TV series: Normal People, The Last Dance and The English Game. (59:59-1:18:12)

Show Notes

Consummate Conservative; Andrew Bushnell

https://ipa.org.au/ipa-review-articles/consummate-conservative

Lockdowns in SIR Models; Benjamin Moll

https://benjaminmoll.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/SIR_notes.pdf

We Know Everything – And Nothing – About Covid; Matt Ridley

http://www.rationaloptimist.com/blog/we-know-everything-and-nothing/

How Pandemics End; Gina Kolata

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/10/health/coronavirus-plague-pandemic-history.html

No return to the policy status quo: Albanese; Phillip Coorey

https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/no-return-to-the-policy-status-quo-albanese-20200510-p54rjj

Culture Picks

Normal People; TV series directed by Lenny Abrahamson and Hettie Macdonald

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9059760/

The Last Dance; TV series directed by Jason Hehir

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8420184/

The English Game; TV series directed by Julian Fellowes

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_English_Game

Ep 62: Let's Get Back to Work

Wed, 06 May 2020 17:47:55 +1000

This week the Government focus is finally on getting Australians back to work. But with coronavirus panic still a factor, will the public take the PM’s lead or vote with leaden feet? (1:34-21:42) Daniel Andrews has self-isolated in refusing to reopen Victorian schools, but do health risks really out-weigh social and economic impacts? (21:42-34:54) With negotiations for a trans-Tasman travel bubble underway, what’s the next stage in the long history of Australia and New Zealand’s relationship? (34:54-48:09) Co-hosts Scott Hargreaves and Chris Berg are joined by IPA Research Fellow, Dara Macdonald, to answer these questions as well as share their culture picks. This week’s picks include The Great Influenza, Oscar Wilde’s De Profundis and Randolph Churchill’s Young Statesman. (48:09-1:08:54)

Show Notes

Have a COVID-19 Plan; National COVID-19 Coordination Commission

https://pmc.gov.au/nccc/have-covid-19-plan

COVID-19 information for workplaces; Safe Work Australia

https://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/covid-19-information-workplaces

This could be the start of a terrible friendship; Katrina Grace Kelly (Fair Work & JobsKeeper)

The Australian, May 2, 2020 ($)

Schools are reopening, so here’s a guide to the situation in each State and Territory; ABC

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-05-04/australian-schools-reopening-after-coronavirus-closures/12211526

COVID-19 in schools – the experience in NSW
ncirs.org.au

New Zealand and Australian Federation; Ged Martin

https://www.gedmartin.net/australia-new-zealand-and-federation-1883-1901-c

Culture Picks

The Great Influenza: The Story of the Deadliest Pandemic in History; John M. Barry

https://www.amazon.com.au/Great-Influenza-Deadliest-Pandemic-History/dp/0143036491

De Profundis; Oscar Wilde

https://www.amazon.com/Profundis-Oscar-Wilde/dp/150582480X

Young Statesman: Winston S. Churchill 1901-1914; Randolph S. Churchill

https://www.amazon.com/Young-statesman-Winston-Churchill-1901/dp/B002KZQTG2

Ep 61: Download Or Else

Thu, 30 Apr 2020 18:28:05 +1000

Over three million Australians have downloaded the COVIDSafe App but the Australian Government has a terrible record on digital security and privacy. Co-hosts Scott Hargreaves and Chris Berg are joined by IPA Adjunct Fellow Matthew Lesh - now Director of Research at the Adam Smith Institute in London - to discuss this plus the UK's own experience of coronavirus as the Tories struggle to implement Brexit and find a coherent agenda for growth when Big Government holds sway. Plus they look at the forces pushing for and against the survival of the European Union as Eurocrats centralise more power but the struggling Euro threatens to blow up the whole financial system.

Books and Culture picks include Albert Camus' The Plague
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Plague

The TV series Jack Ryan
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Ryan_(TV_series), and

The essay on Nassim Nicholas Taleb by Allan Farrington at Medium, A Tale of Two Talebs
https://medium.com/@allenfarrington/a-tale-of-two-talebs-1775dff3302b

Ep 60: Restoring Dynamism After Deep Freeze

Wed, 22 Apr 2020 17:47:02 +1000

Only if we're free enough to adapt and allow entrepreneurs to create new businesses and institutions will the economy be dynamic enough for the high growth trajectory we need after the devastation of the lockdown.

A very special episode of The Looking Forward Podcast as Professor Jason Potts from RMIT University and host Dr Chris Berg join host Scott Hargreaves and the IPA’s Dan Wild to discuss their new book; Cryoeconomics: How to Unfreeze an Economy After a Pandemic. The panel discusses what the freezing / unfreezing metaphor used by Governments assumes too much and how Australia should find its way out of the social and economic crisis.

Show Notes
The Problem of ‘Freezing’ An Economy in a Pandemic
https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3572365

Ep 59: Only the First to Bail Out?

Wed, 15 Apr 2020 17:41:45 +1000

Australia has been one of the most successful countries in reducing transmission of the coronavirus. Why are the Australian infection rates so low and what does this mean for policymakers and citizens? (2:44-22:37) Virgin Australia has asked the government for a bail out, what role should the government play in restoring the economy and how should this shape policy decisions? (22:37-44:25) Joe Biden is the presidential nominee for the Democrats, what went wrong for Bernie Sanders and what does this mean for the elections in November? (44:25-1:02:40) Your hosts Scott Hargreaves and Dr Chris Berg are joined by the IPA’s Andrew Bushnell to answer these questions as well as share their culture picks for the week. This week’s isolation picks include the new album by The Strokes The New Abnormal, the American true crime documentary Tiger King and the Netflix Thriller Giri/Haji. (1:02:40-1:19:06)

Show Notes

Tackling Virus Risks Head On is Way Forward for Business; Scott Hargreaves

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/tackling-virus-risks-head-way-forward-business-scott-hargreaves

Coronavirus Australia: Worst Year Since Great Depression, says IMF; Patrick Commins

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/economics/coronavirus-worst-year-since-great-depression-says-imf/news-story/0e9976bdbd46ebae16d19f8190241467

Australia’s endgame must be total elimination of COVID-19; John Daley and Stephen Duckett

https://grattan.edu.au/news/australias-endgame-must-be-total-elimination-of-covid-19/

Culture Picks

The New Abnormal; The Strokes

https://open.spotify.com/album/2xkZV2Hl1Omi8rk2D7t5lN?si=QfZL5QDISjGEit_MoowbCQ

Tiger King

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiger_King

Giri/Haji

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8001106/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0

Ep 58: Government Models Can't Guide Us Back

Wed, 08 Apr 2020 17:18:00 +1000

The government has revealed the very simple model driving their public policy response to COVID-19. With focus placed on macro modelling general claims, the government must narrow its attention to micro measures and a timeline for society's recovery (1:26-23:44) On the weekend the IPA called for a safe and responsible roll back of social restrictions, and now the debate’s started on removing petty restrictions and starting economic recovery. (23:44-36:13) Parliament has decided to sit for the last time until August, just when social and economic policy decisions need more scrutiny than ever (36:13-54:56) Your hosts Scott Hargreaves and Dr Chris Berg are joined by the IPA's Andrew Bushnell as they answer these questions as well as share their isolation culture picks. This week’s picks include the computer game Surviving Mars, Sarah Bakewell's How to Live / A Life of Montaigne, and Demolition Man by Marco Brambilla. (54:56-1:11:01)

Show Notes

Begin to End the Lockdown Now! (with Gideon Rozner)
https://youtu.be/Nn5adebL-Co

Coronavirus: $1600 fine withdrawn for L-plater charged for breaching lockdown; Remy Varga and Rachel Baxendale

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/coronavirus-victorian-lockdown-lplater-cops-fine-lesson-for-driving-with-mum/news-story/144e5f83370929f59d694f272ef5f83f

Upcoming Public Hearings (editor: what’s missing here?)

https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Upcoming_Public_Hearings

PM plans staggered virus exit; Phillip Coorey

https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/pm-plans-staggered-virus-exit-20200407-p54hqp

Coronavirus: Push to let COVID-19 infect us slowly; Yoni Bashan

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/coronavirus-plan-to-let-covid19-infect-us-slowly/news-story/7a459ae042dfe3316ba42055dc4e5b99

NSW Premier says coronavirus social distancing to stay ‘until vaccine is found'; Paige Cockburn

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-04-07/nsw-coronavirus-social-distancing-to-stay-until-vaccine-found/12126802

‘Use isolation to our advantage': Who is exempt from the hard WA border closure?; Lauren Pilat

https://www.watoday.com.au/national/western-australia/use-isolation-to-our-advantage-who-is-exempt-of-the-hard-wa-border-closure-20200405-p54hb6.html

Fortress Queensland: borders locked down as state records fourth death; Stuart Layt

https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/national/queensland/fortress-queensland-borders-locked-down-as-state-records-fourth-death-20200402-p54glt.html

Coronavirus: Call to sign up for 'Team Australia’ has fallen on a lot of deaf ears; Janet Albrechtsen

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/commentary/coronavirus-call-to-sign-up-for-team-australia-has-fallen-on-a-lot-of-deaf-ears/news-story/6466ca0aa44fd3946092b45e88ad656b

Culture Picks

Demolition Man; Marco Brambilla

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0106697/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0

How to Live or A Life of Montaigne; Sarah Bakewell

https://www.amazon.com.au/How-Live-Montaigne-Question-Attempts/dp/1590514831

Surviving Mars; Paradox Interactive

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surviving_Mars

Ep 57: Of Moral Panics and Spendathons

Fri, 03 Apr 2020 17:18:04 +1000

This week’s episode is brought to you from the Looking Forward remote studio! This week the Australian Government introduced the centrepiece of their corona virus crisis strategy, ‘the job keeper scheme’. How can we bring Australians back to work to unfreeze the frozen economy? (1:48-18:06) Everyday more social restrictions are emplaced on citizens, showing many what it is to live in a police state. How much power should politicians and the police have to curtail civil liberties and at what point has it gone too far? (18:06-37:38) The economic price tags for new policies have piled up, will these policies ever be reversed and how can the economy be rebuilt? (37:38-56:43) Your host Scott Hargreaves and Dr Chris Berg are joined by the IPA’s Gideon Rozner to answer these questions and share their isolation culture picks. This week’s picks include Zionism: the concise history, the TV show Modern Love and Lord Macaulay’s The History of England from the Accession of James the Second. (56:43-1:10:26)

Show Notes
Cryoeconomics: how to unfreeze the economy
https://medium.com/@cryptoeconomics/cryoeconomics-how-to-unfreeze-the-economy-a5536ee261f0

Culture Picks
Zionism: the concise history; Alex Ryvchin
https://www.connorcourtpublishing.com.au/Zionism-the-concise-history--Alex-Ryvchin_p_302.html

Modern Love (TV Series)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modern_Love_(TV_series)

The History of England from the Accession of James the Second; Lord Macaulay
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_History_of_England_from_the_Accession_of_James_the_Second

Ep 56: Our Values will Sustain Us

Wed, 25 Mar 2020 16:07:23 +1000

As the pandemic rises, government must make decisions based on uncertainty. What trade-offs are we making and what values are defining these trade-offs? (2:00-22:20) It’s the 'short sharp shock' model of shutdown versus the 'flatten the curve' approach, which should guide Australian policy? (22:20-34:44) The pandemic has put extreme pressure on job loss and the economy, how are governments all over the world responding and what are the long term consequences? (34:44-50:30) Your hosts, Scott Hargreaves and Dr Chris Berg are joined by the IPA's Andrew Bushnell to answer these questions and dive into their culture picks including the film John Wick 3, the new Spanish Netflix movie The Platform and Michael Petroni's film The Messiah. (50:30-1:04:08)

Show Notes

Stop with the fatalism: Don't flatten it, Crush The Curve on Coronavirus; JoNova

http://joannenova.com.au/2020/03/stop-with-the-fatalism-dont-flatten-it-crush-the-curve-on-coronavirus/

Culture Picks

John Wick 3; Chad Stahelski

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6146586/

Messiah; Michael Petroni

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7671598/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1

The Platform; Galder Gaztelu-Urrutia

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8228288/

Ep 55: The Patient Needs to Survive the Cure

Wed, 18 Mar 2020 15:48:50 +1000

The coronavirus pandemic has turned the world upside down. Whilst governments all around the world scramble for solutions, what are the policy affects for citizens? (3:25-16:10). Different countries' approach to the pandemic response highlight complexities of decision making, and the importance of sensibly drawing on rather than deferring to experts. (16:10-26:50) The virus has pricked open many underlying economic issues, is the performance of presenting stimulus packages enough to save Australians? (26:50-45:22) Your hosts Scott Hargreaves and Dr Chris Berg, are joined by the IPA's Gideon Rozner and Kurt Wallace to discuss these questions and share their culture picks including the computer game Plague Inc, the streaming series Star Trek: Picard, Tim Shipman's All Out War and Abraham Kuyper's Our Program: A Christian Political Manifesto. (45:22-1:12:46)

NB: The promoter of the Benedict Option was identified in the episode as Patrick Deneen, however the author is Rod Dreher.

Show Notes

Dutch embrace 'herd immunity' as dire death warning prompts UK to change course; Bevan Shields
https://www.smh.com.au/world/europe/dutch-embrace-herd-immunity-as-dire-death-warning-prompts-uk-to-change-course-20200317-p54arv.html

While other countries lost precious time, Taiwan mobilised to keep COVID-19 at bay; Ben Hurley
https://www.smh.com.au/world/asia/while-other-countries-lost-precious-time-taiwan-mobilised-to-keep-covid-19-at-bay-20200316-p54ah8.html

Coronavirus spreads quickly and sometimes before people have symptoms, study finds; The University of Texas at Austin
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/03/200316143313.htm

Cut the 'crapshoot politics', Mr Morrison, and cut the red tape to set business free; Janet Albrechtsen
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/commentary/cut-the-crapshoot-politics-mr-morrison-and-cut-the-red-tape-to-set-business-free/news-story/a92411aad8976f0e5c053ffd6daee597

World Health Organisation Boot-Licks China, With Deadly Results; Time Andrews
https://thefederalist.com/2020/03/17/u-s-funds-world-health-organization-that-boot-licks-china-with-deadly-results/

Diamond Princess Mysteries; Willis Eschenbach
https://wattsupwiththat.com/2020/03/16/diamond-princess-mysteries/

Culture Picks

Plague Inc; Ndemic Creations
https://www.ndemiccreations.com/en/22-plague-inc

Star Trek: Picard
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8806524/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1

All Out War; Tim Shipman
https://www.amazon.com/All-Out-War-Britains-Political/dp/0008215154

Our Program: A Christian Political Manifesto; Abraham Kuyper
https://www.amazon.com.au/Our-Program-Christian-Political-Manifesto-ebook/dp/B0199BCHKG

Ep 54: The Cracks in Our Ivory Towers

Wed, 11 Mar 2020 15:36:23 +1000

It’s the Looking Forward Podcast’s first special episode of 2020! This week our focus is on what’s wrong with our Universities, featuring special guest Dr Phil Magness from the American Institute for Economic Research and co-author of Cracks in the Ivory Tower.

Your hosts Scott Hargreaves and Dr Chris Berg, are joined by the IPA’s Dr Bella D’Abrera to discuss with Phil Magness the pathologies evident in university teaching, research and social activism, in the USA and in Australia.

The panel goes inside Phil’s book and its application of public choice economics to explain bloated university administrations, rising costs, useless courses, and rent extraction by second-rate academics.

The panel asks when did higher education become a moral mess? Why are students fleeing politicised disciplines? And is the use of social media by academics corrupting the history profession?

Due to technical issues video of Dr Magness during the interview was not available.

Purchase your copy of Cracks in the Ivory Tower here:

https://www.amazon.com.au/Cracks-Ivory-Tower-Higher-Education-ebook/dp/B07NYT5P7C

Show Notes

Cracks in the Ivory Tower; Phillip Magness and Jason Brennan

https://global.oup.com/academic/product/cracks-in-the-ivory-tower-9780190846282

My Most Notable Articles of 2019; Phil Magness

https://www.aier.org/article/my-most-notable-articles-of-2019/

Here is Proof that the Leftist Tilt on Campus Has Gotten Dramatically Worse; Phil Magness

https://www.aier.org/article/here-is-proof-that-the-leftist-tilt-on-campus-has-gotten-dramatically-worse/

The Rise of Identity Politics: An Audit Of History Teaching At Australian Universities In 2017; Bella d’Abrera

https://ipa.org.au/publications-ipa/research-papers/rise-identity-politics

Ep 53: Governments Fresh Out Of Ideas

Wed, 04 Mar 2020 14:23:25 +1000

As COVID 19 tests key institutions like the WHO, the panel asks whether rate cuts and stimulus packages just further reveal that our central bankers and policy makers have no ideas what our economy really needs? (0:57-19:52) It’s the issue that made the IPA’s Evan Mulholland Twitter famous, so is the push for four-bins recycling and plastics obsessions scheme pushing Australia forward or back? (19:52- 33:17) Taxpayers are funding the ABC while its so-called Media Watch acts as the enforcement arm fighting critics like the IPA to protect its rivers of gold. (33:17-44:50)

Your hosts Scott Hargreaves and Dr Chris Berg are joined by the IPA’s Dara Macdonald and Evan Mulholland to answer these questions and share their culture picks including Helena Rosenblatt’s The Lost History of Liberalism, Yasmine Mohammed’s Unveiled, the Academy Award winner Parasite and the ABC’s podcast The Eleventh presented by Alex Mann. (44:50-1:02:10)

Show Notes

Speech, National Plastics Summit- Australian Parliament House, ACT; Prime Minister

https://www.pm.gov.au/media/speech-national-plastics-summit-australian-parliament-house-act

Environmentalists Make Good Movie Villains Because They Want to Make your Real Life Worse; Sonny Bunch

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2019/01/03/environmentalists-make-good-movie-villains-because-they-want-make-your-real-life-worse/

The Perverse Panic over Plastic; John Tierney

https://www.city-journal.org/needless-panic-over-disposable-plastic

Scott Morrison’s Recycling Strategy to Grow Green Jobs; Geoff Chambers

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/politics/scott-morrisons-recycling-strategy-to-grow-green-jobs/news-story/8826aaa48b7df0b2c402e9141842bcc9

IPA v ABC; Media Watch

https://www.abc.net.au/mediawatch/episodes/ipa/12016756

Culture Picks

The Lost History of Liberalism; Helena Rosenblatt

https://www.amazon.com.au/Lost-History-Liberalism-Ancient-Twenty-First/dp/0691170703

Unveiled; Yasmine Mohammed

https://www.booktopia.com.au/unveiled-yasmine-mohammed/book/9781999240530.html?msclkid=092088e103a9198ba951d6bd33ddb277&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=!%20Shopping%2090c&utm_term=4585169650599087&utm_content=All%20Custom%20Label

Parasite; Bong Joon Ho

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6751668/

The Eleventh; Alex Mann

https://www.abc.net.au/radio/programs/the-eleventh/

Episode 52 - Sanders: Back To The Future!

Wed, 26 Feb 2020 16:05:07 +1000

Scott Morrison’s religious freedom bill has been labelled confusing, inappropriate, unfair and unloved; so is it finally dead? (1:34-20:07) When Bernie Sanders has a lock on the Democrat nomination, is his support for Castro’s Cuba just the tip of a communist iceberg ? (20:07-34:10) Looking Forward was at the Senate inquiry into nationhood, national identity and democracy, and asks if the High Court hasn’t hijacked the proces? (34:10-50:00) Your hosts Scott Hargreaves and Dr Chris Berg are joined by the IPA’s Morgan Begg and RMIT University’s Dr Aaron Lane to answer these questions and dive into their culture picks including Marielle Heller’s A Beautiful Day in the Neighbourhood, the podcast Verdict with Ted Cruz, Victor Kravchenko’s I Chose Freedom and Clint Eastwood’s Richard Jewel. (50:00-1:09:24)

Show Notes

Unions and employers join forces to oppose religious freedom bill; Dana McCauley

https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/unions-and-employers-join-forces-to-oppose-religious-freedom-bill-20200224-p543tf.html

At Cross Purposes; Morgan Begg

https://ipa.org.au/ipa-review-articles/at-cross-purposes

Saunders defends comments praising Castro’s Cuba: ‘The truth is the truth’; Paul LeBlanc

https://www.cnn.com/2020/02/24/politics/sanders-defends-castro-cuba-comments-cnntv/index.html

Australian Values and the Enduring Importance of the Nation-State; Daniel Wild, Zachary Gorman and Andrew Bushnell

https://ipa.org.au/research-areas/ideas-and-liberty/australian-values-and-the-enduring-importance-of-the-nation-state

Culture Picks

A Beautiful Day in the Neighbourhood; Marielle Heller

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3224458/

Verdict with Ted Cruz; Ted Cruz

https://www.podcastrepublic.net/podcast/1495601614

I Chose Freedom; Victor Kravchenko

https://www.amazon.com/Chose-Freedom-Personal-Political-Official/dp/B0006AQTT0

Richard Jewel; Clint Eastwood

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3513548/

Ep 51: What Drove Holden Away?

Wed, 19 Feb 2020 16:01:09 +1000

What does the demise of Holden say about tariff protection and perennial dreams of a domestic manufacturing base? (1:53-25:40) What is the future of Australian identity now that the High Court has decided to make a third category of Australian? (25:40-45:43) Boris Johnson’s Government is looking at taking the BBC to a subscription model, so why not with the ABC and SBS? (45:43-55:14) Your hosts Scott Hargreaves and Dr Chris Berg are joined by the IPA’s Andrew Bushnell and Dara Macdonald to answer these questions and share their culture picks including the award winning 2018 film Jojo Rabbit, Eric Weinstein’s podcast The Portal, William Dalrymple’s The Anarchy, and the 1957 film Sweet Smell of Success.

Show Notes

Holden closing down, to be axed from Australia by the end of 2021

https://www.9news.com.au/national/holden-axed-from-australia-in-2020-ending-72-years-of-car-making/29ba88b5-3061-4839-921d-b2fea77dcd21

ScoMo Yet to Learn His ABC’s; Justinian the Great

http://catallaxyfiles.com/2020/02/17/scomo-yet-to-learn-his-abcs/

Insane Obsession: Australia’s Auto Industry Waste; Chris Berg

http://chrisberg.org/2013/05/insane-obsession-australias-auto-industry-waste/

No 10 could scrap BBC licence fee in favour of a subscription model

https://www.theguardian.com/media/2020/feb/16/no-10-launches-attack-on-bbc-as-licence-fee-comes-under-threat

Against Public Broadcasting; Chris Berg and Sinclair Davidson

https://www.connorcourtpublishing.com.au/Against-Public-Broadcasting-Why-and-how-we-should-privatise-the-ABC--Chris-Berg-and-Sinclair-Davidson_p_177.html

Culture Picks

Jojo Rabbit; Taika Waititi

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2584384/

The Portal; Eric Weinstein

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-portal/id1469999563

The Anarchy: The Relentless Rise of the East India Company; William Dalrymple

https://www.booktopia.com.au/the-anarchy-william-dalrymple/book/9781408864388.html

Sweet Smell of Success (1957); Alexander Mackendrick

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0051036/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0

Ep 50: The High Court And Third Class Australians

Wed, 12 Feb 2020 16:17:52 +1000

How does the wreckage left by the High Court’s decision to create a new category of Australian affect our nation’s political and social future? (2:20-22:33) In the new age of money, what are the consequences of a digital currency amidst a public backlash over cash bans? (22:33-36:57) The MAdE Establishment group of George Calombaris has gone under taking 400 jobs with it, and the panel asks how much the longer hospitality sector can last as an award system of obscene complexity and a relentless union campaign on ‘wage theft’ poison the well? (36:57-50:20) Your hosts Scott Hargreaves and Dr Chris Berg are joined by the IPA’s Gideon Rozner and Kurt Wallace to answer these questions as they celebrate the Looking Forward Podcast’s 50th episode! They then explore their culture picks for the week including the dramedy series Succession, Milton Friedman’s classic Capitalism and Freedom, Wilhelm Ropke’s The Humane Economist, and David Brooks’ landmark essay from The Atlantic, The Nuclear Family Was A Mistake. (50:20-1:18:42)

Show Notes:

Love v Commonwealth of Australia; Thoms v Commonwealth of Australia [2020] HCA 3 (11 February 2020)

http://www.austlii.edu.au/cgi-bin/viewdoc/au/cases/cth/HCA//2020/3.html

Radical High Court Divides Australia By Race; Morgan Begg

https://ipa.org.au/publications-ipa/media-releases/radical-high-court-divides-australia-by-race

Age of Currency Disruption is Here; Chris Berg

http://chrisberg.org/2020/02/age-of-currency-disruption-is-here/

George Calombaris: Unions Under Fire Over Empire Collapse; Ewin Hannan

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/parts-of-george-calombariss-food-empire-may-reopen-under-different-ownership/news-story/4efda45709c4ea25199b7604cddbe2b1

George Calombaris: now all too many of those underpaid workers will also soon be unemployed; Charles Pier

https://www.spectator.com.au/2020/02/george-calombaris-now-all-too-many-of-those-underpaid-workers-will-also-soon-be-unemployed/

Culture Picks:

Succession; HBO

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7660850/

Capitalism and Freedom; Milton Friedman

https://www.amazon.com.au/Capitalism-Freedom-Anniversary-Milton-Friedman-ebook/dp/B006JP11HQ

The Humane Economist; Wilhelm Röpke

https://shop.acton.org/products/the-humane-economist

The Nuclear Family Was a Mistake; David Brooks

https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2020/03/the-nuclear-family-was-a-mistake/605536/

Ep 49: Freedoms Lost As Unelected Bureaucrats Unleashed

Wed, 05 Feb 2020 16:13:50 +1000

This week the panel tackles the latest victories for unelected bureaucrats, as Bridget McKenzie takes a hit for the sin of ignoring Departmental advice, and the failed Foreign Interference laws licence snooping and partisan point scoring. Meanwhile the panel wonders how the federal government comes to be funding footy club change rooms in the first place (federalism anybody)? (1:50-10:55) And how Shadow Attorney-General seems to be the only one in Canberra who can get the bureaucracy to act with alacrity (10:55-25:15) And where do the Ministerial changes leave the National Party? (25:15-33:00) Also Scott Morrison shutting the border with China has economic implications for our massive tourism and education sectors; even as the Leninist state in China struggles to contain the crisis. (33:00-46:03) Your hosts Scott Hargreaves and Dr Chris Berg are joined by the IPA’s Morgan Begg and Zachary Gorman to answer these questions and dive into their culture picks. This week’s picks include the horror film Doctor Sleep, Peter Seamer’s Breaking Point, Netflix’s new docuseries on the NFL star Aaron Hernandez, Killer Inside: The Mind of Aaron Hernandez, as well as Amanda Hollis-Brusky’s novel on The Federalist Society’s modern American political history movement, Ideas with Consequences: The Federalist Society and the Conservative. (46:03-1:09:07)

Show Notes:
Announcement of Grants; Australia National Audit Office (ANAO)
https://www.anao.gov.au/work/request/announcement-grants

Culture Picks:
Doctor Sleep; Mike Flanagan
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5606664/

Breaking Point; Peter Seamer
https://www.booktopia.com.au/breaking-point-peter-seamer/book/9781760641290.htmlKiller Inside: The Mind of Aaron Hernandez; Netflix
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt11475228/

Ideas with Consequences: The Federalist Society and the Conservative Counterrevolution (Studies in Postwar American Political Development); Amanda Hollis-Brusky
https://www.amazon.com/Ideas-Consequences-Conservative-Counterrevolution-Development/dp/0199385521

Ep 48: Sir Roger Scruton and the Truth in Conservatism

Thu, 30 Jan 2020 12:05:59 +1000

The Looking Forward Podcast welcomes the new year with the first show of 2020! In the Books and Culture segment the panel discusses the legacy of the late great British Conservative Philosopher, Sir Roger Scruton, who addressed a symposium of the IPA's Foundations of Western Civilisation Program in 2014. Your hosts Scott Hargreaves and Dr Chris Berg are joined by the IPA’s Andrew Bushnell and Dr Bella d’Abrera to explore Scruton's Uses of Pessimism, his commitment to the ideals of truth and beauty, and his place in the conservative pantheon. (54:07-1:03:00) At the top of the show the panel examines whether the nation has locked in behind Australia Day, as the left rebels against Tanya Plibersek's idea for schoolchildren to recite the pledge of citizenship (1:35-19:58) Also, the factors that contributed to the disasters of the fire season and why even the greens should be focussed on adaptation and prevention. (19:58-35:11) And finally, China has released a stream of misleading information regarding the coronavirus. What can we trust and what does it mean for Australians? (35:11-43:51). The other staff picks are the contemporary novel Fleishman is in Trouble, and the science fiction film Ad Astra starring Brad Pit (spoiler alert) (43:51-54:07).

Show Notes:

Tanya Plibersek calls for Australian children to take pledge of allegiance; SBS News

https://www.sbs.com.au/news/tanya-plibersek-calls-for-australian-children-to-take-pledge-of-allegiance

Roger Scruton on Liberty and Democracy in Western Civilisation

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=INKsy_vujTg&feature=youtu.be

Left Behind; IPA Review

https://ipa.org.au/ipa-review-articles/left-behind

Culture Picks:

Fleishman Is in Trouble; Taffy Brodesser-Akner

https://www.amazon.com.au/Fleishman-Trouble-Taffy-Brodesser-akner/dp/0525510877

Ad Astra; James Gray

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2935510/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0

Uses of Pessimism; Roger Scruton

https://www.amazon.com/Uses-Pessimism-Danger-False-Hope/dp/0199968977

The Looking Forward Podcast Christmas Special – The IPA’s Great Books for The Summer Break Part 2

Wed, 18 Dec 2019 15:59:20 +1000

This week continues The Looking Forward Podcast’s Christmas Special! IPA staff discuss their favourite books of the year with Chris and Scott, giving the titles you cannot miss. Today’s podcast features Zachary Gorman and Renee Gorman as they discuss The American Counter Revolution (3:06-20:52) and The Madness of Crowds (20:52-33:02), followed by Gideon Rozner and Daniel Wild on Corkscrewed (33:41-44:22) and The Rise of Victimhood Culture (44:22-58:49). The episode then finishes with Scott Hargreaves and Chris Berg reviews of Escape from Rome (59:05-1:16:16) and Rebooting AI (1:16:16- 1:26:47). Chris Berg also recommends Understanding the Blockchain Economy (1:27:11-1:27:27) and Cryptodemocracy (1:27:27-1:27:40).

Books discussed:

The American Counter Revolution

https://www.amazon.com/American-Counter-Revolution-Favor-Liberty-Americans/dp/3030037320

The Madness of Crowds

https://www.amazon.com.au/Madness-Crowds-Gender-Race-Identity/dp/1472959973/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3098XX7VHW9JN&keywords=the+madness+of+crowds+douglas+murray&qid=1576476850&s=books&sprefix=the+madness%2Cstripbooks%2C340&sr=1-1

Corkscrewed

https://www.amazon.com.au/Corkscrewed/dp/1925642127

The Rise of Victimhood Culture

https://www.amazon.com.au/Rise-Victimhood-Culture-Microaggressions-Spaces/dp/3319703285/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=the+rise+of+victimhood+culture&qid=1576476871&s=books&sr=1-1

Escape from Rome

https://www.amazon.com.au/Escape-Rome-Failure-Empire-Prosperity/dp/0691172188/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=escape+from+rome&qid=1576476891&s=books&sr=1-1

Rebooting AI

https://www.amazon.com.au/Rebooting-AI-Building-Artificial-Intelligence-ebook/dp/B07MYLGQLB/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=rebooting+AI&qid=1576476918&s=books&sr=1-1

Understanding the Blockchain Economy

https://www.amazon.com.au/Understanding-Blockchain-Economy-Institutional-Cryptoeconomics/dp/1788974999/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=understanding+the+blockchain+economy&qid=1576476946&s=books&sr=1-1

Cryptodemocracy

https://www.amazon.com.au/Cryptodemocracy-Blockchain-Democratic-Polycentricity-Institutional-ebook/dp/B07W6XVYW5/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=cryptodemocracy&qid=1576476968&s=books&sr=1-1

Christmas Special - The IPA’s Great Books For The Summer Break Part 1

Thu, 12 Dec 2019 08:35:52 +1000

It’s The Looking Forward Podcast’s Christmas special! For the next two weeks IPA staff will be sharing their must-read book recommendations of the year for your summer reading with Chris and Scott. Today’s podcast has Andrew Bushnell and Dr Bella d’Abrera discuss Madame Bovary and Serotonin (1:46-25:08), followed by James Bolt and Peter Gregory on Catch & Kill and 12 Rules For Life (25:08-44:48), and then Theodora Pantelich and Kurt Wallace finish with The House of Government and My Father Left Me Ireland (44:48-1:11:13). We apologise for the delay of this week’s episode as we fell victim to nationwide internet outages.

Books discussed:

Madame Bovary

https://www.amazon.com/Madame-Bovary-Classics-Gustave-Flaubert/dp/0553213415

Serotonin

https://www.amazon.com/Serotonin-Novel-Michel-Houellebecq/dp/0374261024

Catch & Kill

https://www.amazon.com/Catch-Kill-Conspiracy-Protect-Predators-ebook/dp/B07TD413RV

12 Rules For Life

https://www.amazon.com.au/12-Rules-Life-Antidote-Chaos/dp/0345816021

The House of Government

https://www.amazon.com/House-Government-Saga-Russian-Revolution/dp/0691176949

My Father Left Me Ireland

https://www.amazon.com/My-Father-Left-Me-Ireland/dp/0525538658

Ep 46: Are We Haunted By Turnbull's Ghost?

Wed, 04 Dec 2019 16:20:06 +1000

Why did Pauline Hanson sink the bill to crack down on unions, and what good would it have done? (1:48-15:29) Ten years on since Tony Abbott rolled Malcom Turnbull over climate change, are we still being haunted by his political ghost? (15:29-27:51) Do the worrying signs in our economy justify calls for stimulus, or is it time to get back to the basics of wealth creation? (27:51-44:03) Your hosts Scott Hargreaves and Dr Chris Berg are joined by the IPA’s Director of Policy, Gideon Rozner and Research Fellow Kurt Wallace to answer these questions as well as dive into their culture picks including Ted Gioia’s Music: A Subversive History, Llewelllyn Rockwell’s Against the Left, the late Clive James’ collection of essays Cultural Amnesia and the right-wing self-help book You Are the Message (44:03-1:06:02).

Fair Work (Registered Organisations) Amendment (Ensuring Integrity) Bill 2019

https://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/download/legislation/billsdgs/7040245/upload_binary/7040245.pdf;fileType=application%2Fpdf#search=%22legislation/billsdgs/7040245%22

Anatomy of a defeat: how a thaw between unions and One Nation doomed the 'integrity' bill; The Guardian

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2019/nov/30/anatomy-of-a-defeat-how-a-thaw-between-unions-and-one-nation-doomed-the-integrity-bill

Statement on the Conduct of Monetary Policy (1996)

https://www.rba.gov.au/monetary-policy/framework/stmt-conduct-mp-1-14081996.html

Culture Picks:

Music: A Subversive History; Ted Gioia

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/43886050-music

Against the Left: A Rothbardian Libertarianism; Llewellyn H Rockwell Jr

https://www.amazon.com/Against-Left-Libertarianism-Llewellyn-Rockwell/dp/099046315X/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1A4CLF0BIO2TT&keywords=against+the+left+lew+rockwell&qid=1575353266&sprefix=against+the+left+%2Caps%2C355&sr=8-1

Cultural Amnesia – Necessary Memories from History and the Arts; Clive James

https://www.amazon.com.au/Cultural-Amnesia-Necessary-Memories-History/dp/0393061167/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=clive+james+cultural+amnesia&qid=1575355472&sr=8-2

You Are the Message: Getting What You Want by Being Who You Are; Roger Ailes

https://www.amazon.com/You-Are-Message-Getting-Being/dp/0385265425

Ep 45: Westpac: Woke Capitalism and the Compliance State

Wed, 27 Nov 2019 14:17:29 +1000

The Federal Attorney General has proposed we treat social media companies as publishers. Will this punish Silicon Valley lefties or silence Australia’s conservative voices for fear of our crazy defamation laws? (1:59-24:04) As the CEO of our wokest bank, Westpac, taps the mat, what should we make of its bruising encounter with regulator Austrac’s over money-laundering claims? (24:04-37:12) Political parties are declining as social institutions so what does this mean for our democracy? (37:12-48:57) Your hosts Scott Hargreaves and Dr Chris Berg are joined by IPA Research Fellow, Andrew Bushnell and National Manager of Generation Liberty, Renee Gorman to discuss these questions as well as divulge their culture picks including the new documentary Rise of Jordan Peterson, a new book on the sorry state of our Universities, Season 3 of The Crown and the movie that launched film director Michael Mann (48:57-1:05:21).

Show Notes:

Christian Porter's defamation reform would be a catastrophic mistake; Dr Chris Berg and Dr Aaron Lane, Sydney Morning Herald

https://www.smh.com.au/national/christian-porter-s-defamation-reform-would-be-a-catastrophic-mistake-20191123-p53dg4.html

The Woke Bank Asleep at The Wheel; John Roskam, IPA Executive Director

https://ipa.org.au/publications-ipa/the-woke-bank-asleep-at-the-wheel

Get out of your own way, Unleashing productivity; Deloitte

https://www2.deloitte.com/au/en/pages/building-lucky-country/articles/get-out-of-your-own-way.html

Regulatory Dark Matter; Kurt Wallace, IPA Research Fellow

https://ipa.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/IPA-Report-Regulatory-Dark-Matter-How-Unaccountable-Regulators-Subvert-Democracy-by-Imposing-Red-Tape-without-Transparency.pdf

John Howard warns of 'existential challenges' for Liberals and Nationals; Sydney Morning Herald

https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/john-howard-warns-of-existential-challenges-for-liberals-and-nationals-20191121-p53cyn.html

Culture Picks:

The Rise of Jordan Peterson; Patricia Marcoccia

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10469384/

Melbourne screening of the Rise of Jordan Peterson

https://ipapeterson.eventbrite.com.au/

CAMPUS MELTDOWN The Deepening Crisis in Australian Universities; William O. Coleman

https://www.connorcourtpublishing.com.au/CAMPUS-MELTDOWN-The-Deepening-Crisis-in-Australian-Universities--William-O-Coleman-editor_p_288.html

The Crown Season 3; Peter Morgan

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4786824/

Thief; Michael Mann

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0083190/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_8

Ep 44: What's Next As China Slams Door On Liberal MPs And Hong Kong Protestors?

Wed, 20 Nov 2019 16:25:15 +1000

Are we in the West too focussed on trade to tackle China’s on human rights abuses in Hong Kong and with the Uighurs? (00:01-21:00) Treasurer Josh Frydenberg says our ageing population is an “economic time bomb”, but is he just softening boomers up for another tax and pension raid? (21:00-33:00) Boris Johnson is ahead in the polls, Boris’ deal a real Brexit and why did the Brexit Party give up? (33:00-44:00).

Your hosts Scott Hargreaves and Dr Chris Berg are joined by the IPA’s Evan Mulholland and Daniel Wild to answer these questions and share their culture picks including H.P. Lovecraft’s 1936 classic sci-fi/horror novella, At the Mountains of Madness, a podcast by the Herald Sun about the 1999 Victorian state election between Jeff Kennett and Steve Bracks, and the Man in the High Castle, a sci-fi series on Amazon Prime which explores what the world would look like had the Axis powers won WWII (44.00-01.03.53).

SHOW NOTES

Rebooting AI: Building Artificial Intelligence We Can Trust, Gary Marcus and Ernest Davis

https://www.amazon.com/Rebooting-AI-Building-Artificial-Intelligence-ebook/dp/B07MYLGQLB

Ageing population is 'economic time bomb': Frydenberg, Australian Financial Review

https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/ageing-population-is-economic-time-bomb-frydenberg-20191118-p53bgi

Paul Keating's speech on Australia's China policy – full text, The Guardian

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2019/nov/18/paul-keatings-speech-on-australias-china-policy-full-text

The Economics of ZPG, Chris Berg & Jason Potts, Quadrant

https://quadrant.org.au/magazine/2016/04/economics-zero-population-growth/

These Are the Brexit Battlegrounds That Will Decide the U.K. Election, Bloomberg

https://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/2019-uk-election-primer/

How’s That? Daniel Wild, IPA Review

https://ipa.org.au/ipa-review-articles/hows-that

At the Mountains of Madness, H. P. Lovecraft

https://www.amazon.com/At-Mountains-Madness-Other-Terror/dp/0345329457

Face Off, Herald Sun (podcast)

https://open.spotify.com/show/0GO20vX5zmC7yUIhwCdey3?si=9t24ThwgQGm2lPudYpGXY

The Man in the High Castle (TV series)

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1740299/

Corporate Virtue Signalling: How to Stop Big Business from Meddling in Politics, Jeremy Sammut

https://www.connorcourtpublishing.com.au/CORPORATE-VIRTUE-SIGNALLING-HOW-TO-STOP-BIG-BUSINESS-FROM-MEDDLING-IN-POLITICS--Jeremy-Sammut_p_264.html

Ep 43: Is Tony Abbott Our Biggest National Security Threat?

Wed, 13 Nov 2019 16:06:44 +1000

What on earth is the Government up to with its Foreign Influence Transparency Scheme and how did Tony Abbott become Australia’s biggest threat to national security? (2:33-18:09) Where exactly is the Australian Research Council sending its grants the Humanities? (18:09-33:40) What does the reaction to the IPA’s ‘Race has no Place’ video say about the debate on the voice to parliament? (33:40-43:11)

Your hosts Scott Hargreaves and Dr Chris Berg are joined by the IPA’s Morgan Begg and Dr Bella D’Abrera to answer these questions and dive into their culture picks which include Netflix’s take on the Legend of Henry V, James Scott’s Against the Grain, David Watkin’s classic Morality and Architecture and the new Netflix investigation into Bill Gates’s brain (43:11-1:04:38)

Foreign Influence Transparency Scheme Act 2018

https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C2018A00063

Bella d’Abrera, IPA, The Humanities in Crisis: An Audit of Taxpayer-Funded ARC Grants

https://ipa.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/The-Humanities-in-Crisis-An-Audit-of-Taxpayer-funded-Arc-Grants.pdf

IPA Video: Race Has No Place in the Constitution

https://ipa.org.au/ipa-tv/race-has-no-place-in-the-australian-constitution

Anthony Dillon on Constitutional Recognition of Indigenous Peoples (2017)

https://quadrant.org.au/magazine/2017/07/constitutional-recognition-indigenous-peoples/

Culture Picks:

The King; Netflix

https://www.netflix.com/au/title/80182016

Against the Grain; James C. Scott

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34324534-against-the-grain

Morality and Architecture; David Watkin

https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/1856886.Morality_and_Architecture_Revisited

Inside Bill’s Brain: Decoding Bill Gates; Netflix

https://www.netflix.com/au/title/80184771

Ep 42: Fall Of The Berlin Wall - 30 Years On

Wed, 06 Nov 2019 16:10:10 +1000

What led to the remarkable fall of the Berlin Wall nearly thirty years ago and the collapse of the Soviet Union just two years later? What is the legacy and threat of communism as an ideology and a geo-political force? (2:12-1:01:10) In anticipation of the anniversary on November 9th, your hosts Scott Hargreaves and Dr Chris Berg along with historians Dr Richard Allsop and Dr Zac Gorman answer these questions as well as divulge their Berlin Wall themed culture picks including film Barbara set in East Germany, Stephane Courtois’ The Black Book of Communism, a documentary on the Pope’s role in overcoming communism and John Le Carre’s classic The Spy Who Came In from the Cold (1:01:10-1:17:21).

Show Notes:

The Struggle to Save the Soviet Economy: Mikhail Gorbachev and the Collapse of the USSR (The New Cold War History); Chris Miller

https://www.amazon.com/Struggle-Save-Soviet-Economy-Gorbachev/dp/1469630176

Culture Picks:

Barbara; Christian Petzold

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2178941/

The Black Book of Communism: Crimes, Terror, Repression; Stephane Courtois

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/106169.The_Black_Book_of_Communism

Liberating a Continent: John Paul II and the Fall of Communism; David Naglieri

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5461680/

The Spy Who Came In from the Cold; John Le Carre

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/19494.The_Spy_Who_Came_In_from_the_Cold

Ep 41: Driving Economic Growth - Lessons From The USA And Canada

Wed, 30 Oct 2019 15:46:42 +1000

Why is Australia’s economic growth grinding to a halt while the US is going gangbusters? Might it have something to do with cutting red tape and reducing taxes? This week your hosts Scott Hargreaves and Dr Chris Berg are joined by the IPA’s Director of Research, Daniel Wild, and special guest Dr Patrick McLaughlin, Director of Policy Analytics at the Washington DC based Mercatus Center. They’ll be tackling everything from a new tool being adopted by US and Canadian Governments to tackle Red Tape (RegData), the impact Trump has made on restraining the US bureaucracy, and whether artificial intelligence means robots will displace humans (1:54-43:16) as well as diving into culture picks including the new Steven Soderbergh film The Laundromat, Ian Mclean’s Why Australia Prospered, Neal Stephenson’s sci-fi classic The Diamond Age and Tyler Cowen’s Big Business: A Love Letter to an American Anti-Hero.

RegData: Australia; Mercatus Center

https://www.mercatus.org/publications/regulation/regdata-australia

How much law do we have to obey? Chris Berg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_wV5kUDVcT0

How British Columbia Defeated Red Tape – And How We Can Too; Gideon Rozner

https://ipa.org.au/ipa-tv/how-british-columbia-defeated-red-tape-and-how-we-can-too

IPA’s Red Tape Research Program

https://ipa.org.au/research-areas/red-tape

Culture Picks:

Chris: The laundromat (Netflix)

https://www.netflix.com/au/title/80994011

Dan: Why Australia Prospered; Ian Mclean

https://press.princeton.edu/books/hardcover/9780691154671/why-australia-prospered

Patrick: The Diamond Age; Neal Stephenson

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/827.The_Diamond_Age

Scott: Big Business: A Love Letter to an American Anti-Hero; Tyler Cowen

https://www.amazon.com/Big-Business-Letter-American-Anti-Hero/dp/1250110548

Ep 40: Whose Right to Know?

Wed, 23 Oct 2019 16:06:20 +1000

Right to Know is a great principle to get behind, but why should journalists be given special legal privileges? And wouldn’t they need be licensed? (2:05-19:03) Who would get to distinguish truth from lies in election campaigns under proposed new election advertising? (Hint: not you) (19:03-34:14) This Nobel Prize season the welcome focus on African achievements gets us thinking: how best to secure economic growth in the developing world? (34:14-47:12) Your hosts Scott Hargreaves and Dr Chris Berg are joined by the IPA’s Andrew Bushnell and the Young IPA Podcast’s Peter Gregory to answer these questions as well as talk about their culture picks including so called whistleblower Edward Snowden’s memoir Permanent Record, Harold Bloom’s national bestseller The Western Canon, classic action film To Live and Die in L.A. and Netflix’s latest season of its Brummie crime drama Peaky Blinders (47:12-1:06:09).

Show Notes:

Army’s reports kept secret to avoid flak on social media; The Australian

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/defence/armys-reports-kept-secret-to-avoid-flak-on-social-media/news-story/92b4d6fb4470dd90d409aa283350c01c

Liberal MPs complain about GetUp at inquiry into 2019 election; The Guardian

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2019/oct/21/liberal-mps-complain-about-getup-at-inquiry-into-2019-election

AEC reveals candidate privacy breach, while MPs call for truth in advertising laws; The Age

https://www.theage.com.au/politics/federal/aec-reveals-candidate-privacy-breach-while-mps-call-for-truth-in-advertising-laws-20191022-p532z0.html

Promoting peace and reconciliation

https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/peace/2019/press-release/

Research to help the world’s poor

https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/economic-sciences/2019/press-release/

Can privatisation solve Ethiopia’s problems? Marginal Revolution

https://marginalrevolution.com/marginalrevolution/2018/06/can-privatization-solve-ethiopias-problems.html

The Atlas Network’s Doing Development Differently Project.

https://www.atlasnetwork.org/difference/

Book Review: The White Man’s Burden; The Institute of Public Affairs

https://ipa.org.au/ipa-review-articles/hargreaves-review-white-mans-burden

Culture Picks:

Permanent Record; Edward Snowden

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/46223297-permanent-record

The Western Canon: The Books and School of the Ages; Harold Bloom

https://www.amazon.com/Western-Canon-Books-School-Ages/dp/1573225142

The Western Canon reviewed by Scott Hargreaves; 100 Great Books of Liberty

https://ipa.org.au/ipa-today/the-books-and-schools-of-the-ages

List of books recommended by Harold Bloom in the Western Canon; Adelaide University

https://ebooks.adelaide.edu.au/l/literature/bloom/complete.html

To Live and Die in L.A; William Friedkin

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0090180/

Peaky Blinders, Netflix

https://www.netflix.com/au/title/80002479

Ep 39: Enter the Dragon's Den

Wed, 16 Oct 2019 15:47:46 +1000

Is Extinction Rebellion giving protest a bad name and do we need tougher laws to crack down on their disruptive antics? (1:26-15:25) Is there a cultural cringe at our universities and is that why they’re killing off Australian history? (15:25-28:32) Has ScoMo caught the inquiry disease and become a do-nothing PM? As he might say, we’ll look into it! (28:32-41:40) Your hosts Scott Hargreaves and Dr Chris Berg are joined by the IPA’s very own Gideon Rozner and Renee Gorman to tackle these questions as well as dive into their culture picks such the recent Nobel Prize in economics, Stephen King’s classic horror novel “Pet Sematary”, Annelise Nielson’s bank bashing book “Money Spinners” and Jeffrey M. Chwieroth and Andrew Walter’s new book “The Wealth Effect”. (41:40-59:42).

Show Notes:

Calls to review 'excessive' protest laws in wake of Extinction Rebellion arrests, The Sydney Morning Herald

https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/calls-to-review-excessive-protest-laws-in-wake-of-extinction-rebellion-arrests-20191010-p52zhq.html

Call to promote Australian culture, The Australian

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/call-to-promote-australian-culture/news-story/11fbc6cf6f4f4cd71cdbc042ccf07e8f

‘Universities neglect Australian studies’, The Australian

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/higher-education/universities-neglect-australian-studies/news-story/ad2c525507ce1bf3ae830e317ce38841

Leaders told to lead and stop passing the buck to bureaucrats, The Australian

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/politics/leaders-told-to-lead-and-stop-passing-the-buck-to-bureaucrats/news-story/57ed5a56d286e5c9ab289a4bba92b5c5

Culture Picks:

Nobel Prizes in Economic Sciences

https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/lists/all-prizes-in-economic-sciences/

The Poverty Lab, The New Yorker

https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2010/05/17/the-poverty-lab

Pet Sematary, Stephen King

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/33124137-pet-sematary

Annelise Nielson, Money Spinners

https://www.penguin.com.au/books/money-spinners-9781760893170

The Wealth Effect: How the Great Expectations of the Middle Class Have Changed the Politics of Banking Crises; Jeffrey M. Chwieroth; Andrew Walter

https://www.amazon.com/Wealth-Effect-Expectations-Changed-Politics/dp/131660778X

Wealth anxiety and political populism in democracies, Andrew Walter

http://alumni.online.unimelb.edu.au/s/1182/match/wide.aspx?sid=1182&gid=1&pgid=17885&cid=25514&ecid=25514

Ep 38: Who's Afraid Of The Nation State?

Wed, 09 Oct 2019 16:38:23 +1000

Scott Morrison has criticised ‘negative globalism’. What makes sticking up for the nation state “Trumpian”? (1:39-23:48) The Liberal Party is currently celebrating its 75th anniversary has it become too much of a broad church/election machine to inspire conservative voters? (23:48-35:51) The NBA went into meltdown after a tweet made by the Houston Rockets’ general manager supporting Hong Kong protestors. Could – just maybe – the massive Chinese sports market have anything to do with it? (35:51-51:20) Your hosts Scott Hargreaves and Dr Chris Berg are joined by the IPA’s Andrew Bushnell and Dr Zac Gorman to answer these questions as well as dive into their culture picks which include classic journalism movie All the President’s Men, Douglas Murray’s new book The Madness of Crowds: Gender, Race and Identity, the hugely popular TV show Breaking Bad and the latest anti-hero movie to hit cinemas, Joker.

The 2019 Lowy Lecture: Prime Minister Scott Morrison

https://www.lowyinstitute.org/publications/2019-lowy-lecture-prime-minister-scott-morrison

Scott Morrison Echoes Trump as he Warns Nations Must Avoid ‘Negative Globalism’; Katharine Murphy & Ben Doherty

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2019/oct/03/scott-morrison-echoes-trump-as-he-warns-nations-must-avoid-negative-globalism

Liberal Party to celebrate 75th anniversary

https://www.skynews.com.au/details/_6093230829001

Daryl Morey Tweet

https://twitter.com/dmorey/status/1181000808399114240?s=19

Culture Picks:

All the President’s Men; Alan J. Pakula

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0074119/

The Madness of Crowds: Gender, Race and Identity; Douglas Murray

https://www.amazon.com/Madness-Crowds-Gender-Race-Identity/dp/1635579988

Joker; Todd Phillips

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7286456/

Breaking Bad; Vince Gilligan

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0903747/

Ep 37: The Anti-Trump Movement Strikes Again

Wed, 02 Oct 2019 17:47:08 +1000

More on the Impeachment story in the US as even Scott Morrison gets dragged in by the Democrats. Real issue or deep state hit job? (1:54-20:40) Is the legalisation of cannabis in the ACT last week even necessary when we've already got functional decriminalisation, and what happens with Commonwealth laws? (20:40-34:40) The 70th anniversary of the People’s Republic of China was marked with an expansive military parade but what's to celebrate in this totalitarian dictatorship? (34:40-46:37) Your hosts Scott Hargreaves and Dr Chris Berg are joined by adjunct fellow Aaron Lane and the IPA’s Daniel Wild to answer these questions as well as divulge their culture picks such as the The Best Political Cartoons of the Year 2005, the late Napoleon Chagnon’s Noble Savages, Chris and Aaron’s latest book on Cyrptodemocracy and AFL’s recent grand final runners up, GWS (46:37-1:09:02).

Show Notes:

Donald Trump asked Australia to help investigate the Mueller probe. What's it got to do with impeachment?

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-10-01/donald-trump-scott-morrison-impeachment-what-you-need-to-know/11563098

Culture Picks:

The Best Political Cartoons of the Year, 2005 Edition

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-10-01/donald-trump-scott-morrison-impeachment-what-you-need-to-know/11563098

Noble Savages: My Life Among Two Dangerous Tribes -- the Yanomamo and the Anthropologists, Napoleon Chagnon

https://www.amazon.com.au/Noble-Savages-Dangerous-Yanomamo-Anthropologists-ebook/dp/B006VJN2FE

How Blockchain Can Radically Expand Democratic Choice, Darcy Allen; Chris Berg; Aaron Lane

https://rowman.com/ISBN/9781498579636/Cryptodemocracy-How-Blockchain-Can-Radically-Expand-Democratic-Choice

Ep 36: Coal Is Good

Wed, 25 Sep 2019 17:08:51 +1000

Scott Morrison’s diplomacy in his trip the USA was all matey and bit cringy, but successful, and he got out of town just in time for the Democrats to declare the Ukraine/Biden/Trump imbroglio was enough for impeachment. (1:45-19:54) New Hope Mine in Queensland is mired in approval hell in Australia’s longest running mine dispute and it’s time the legal privileges given to environmental activists are wound back (19:54-30:28) What’s Buggin’ Kevin this week? The two-time former PM thinks the ABC favours the Greens (who knew?) and the main threat to democracy is the Murdoch Empire, and. What other gems can be found in his speech? (30:28-42:08) Your hosts Scott Hargreaves and Dr Chris Berg are joined by the IPA’s Dr Zac Gorman and Kurt Wallace to answer these questions as well as dive into their culture picks such as Dream Machine, a reflection on the NRL’s Canberra Raiders and what they reveal about our nation’s capital, and Austro Libertarian Magazine: a new journal of Austrian economics and libertarianism (42:08-1:02:48).

Show Notes:

Donald Trump will (probably) never be impeached
https://www.news.com.au/finance/work/leaders/donald-trump-will-probably-never-be-impeached/news-story/614d49331269f6d64e71b14e175f046d

New Hope blasts green groups’ loophole on secondary boycotts, Brad Thompson
https://www.afr.com/companies/mining/new-hope-blasts-green-groups-loophole-on-secondary-boycotts-20190922-p52toq

Oakey businesses owners threatened with boycotts have called for calm, John McCarthy
https://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/oakey-businesses-owners-threatened-with-boycotts-have-called-for-calm/news-story/1c854274a6ccc7dc5b50c610245a6bad

The Complacent Country: Alternative Visions for Australia’s Democracy, The Need for a Royal Commission into the Abuse of Media Power, Kevin Rudd
http://kevinrudd.com/2019/08/29/the-complacent-country-alternative-visions-for-australias-democracy-the-need-for-a-royal-commission-into-the-abuse-of-media-power/

Culture Picks:

The Dream Machine: J.C.R. Licklider and the Revolution That Made Computing Personal, M. Mitchell Waldrop
https://www.amazon.com/Dream-Machine-Licklider-Revolution-Computing/dp/0670899763

Wolf Hall, Hilary Mantel
https://www.amazon.com/Wolf-Hall-Hilary-Mantel/dp/0312429983

The 100 best books of the 21st century
https://www.theguardian.com/books/2019/sep/21/best-books-of-the-21st-century

Australia’s Biggest 13 Mistakes, The Institute of Public Affairs
https://ipa.org.au/ipa-review-articles/australias-13-biggest-mistakes

Austro Libertarian Magazine
https://www.austrolibertarian.com/magazine

Ep 35: Woke Museums And The Parisian Nonsense Machine

Wed, 18 Sep 2019 17:00:33 +1000

Following the ACCC’s digital platforms inquiry, Facebook amongst others has argued its recommendations make targeted advertising unworkable. Are the proposed regulations just protecting weaker competitors? (1:21-17:03) As incarceration rates rise to unsustainable levels, how can we make punishment work while offering a path to redemption and a productive life? (17:03-32:16) There’s been an outbreak of wokeness at the International Council for Museums (yes, it exists), and the new (and interminable) definition of “museum” is the distilled essence of post-modern nonsense. (32:16-47:27) Your hosts Scott Hargreaves and Dr Chris Berg are joined by the IPA’s criminal justice expert Andrew Bushnell and adjunct fellow Sinclair Davidson to answer these questions as well as divulge their culture picks which include American drama series Boardwalk Empire, Netflix’s Spanish crima dramas Money Heist, the latest Blockchain books authored by Chris and Sinclair themselves, and Amazon Prime’s new series The Boys.

Show Notes

Why Western Australia Needs Criminal Justice Reform, Andrew Bushnell

https://ipa.org.au/publications-ipa/why-western-australia-needs-criminal-justice-reform

From jail to earning $150k a year – Korey Penny’s case could be a blueprint for WA prison reform

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-09-05/prison-incarceration-rates-rise-steeply-in-wa/11475350

Trying to redefine museums: a disease of our times (Henry Ergas)

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/commentary/trying-to-redefine-museums-a-disease-of-our-times/news-story/8412ab485b9f29ecc68c2c688eb8a341

Digital Platforms Inquiry

https://consult.treasury.gov.au/structural-reform-division/digital-platforms-inquiry/

Culture Picks:

Boardwalk Empire (Terence Winter)

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0979432/

Money Heist (Alex Pina)

https://www.netflix.com/title/80192098

Understanding the Blockchain Economy: An Introduction to Institutional Cryptoeconomics, Chris Berg; Sinclair Davidson; Jason Potts

https://www.e-elgar.com/shop/understanding-the-blockchain-economy

Cryptodemocracy: How Blockchain Can Radically Expand Democratic Choice, Darcy Allen; Chris Berg; Aaron Lane

https://rowman.com/ISBN/9781498579636/Cryptodemocracy-How-Blockchain-Can-Radically-Expand-Democratic-Choice

The Boys (Garth Ennis, Seth Rogen et al)

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1190634/

Ep 34: 1.2 Million Reasons Why JCU Should’ve Left Peter Ridd Alone

Wed, 11 Sep 2019 17:10:19 +1000

The government is pushing ahead with plans to extend trials of the cashless welfare card, but with it will we see the start of drug testing Newstart recipients? (1:36-14:50) The Federal Circuit Court has awarded Peter Ridd $1.2 million following the decision that he was unlawfully terminated by James Cook University. With JCU likely to appeal, is it finally time for Education Minister, Dan Tehan, to step in? (14:50-28:01) Robert Mugabe, leader of Zimbabwe post-independence, has passed away at the age of 95. What does the post-colonial mess that is Zimbabwe tell us about the vital role of institutions in fostering development and freedom? (28:06-40:30) Your hosts Scott Hargreaves and Dr Chris Berg are joined by the IPA’s Evan Mulholland and Dr Zac Gorman to answer these questions and dive into their culture picks such as Samuel Gregg’s book Faith and the Struggle for Western Civilisation, Scott Pape’s economic bestseller The Barefoot Investor, new movies, Apollo 11 and First Man, on the historic moon landing and the great Victor Davis Hanson’s podcast on the lessons of the Versailles Treaty (40:30-59:40).

Show Notes:

Robert Mugabe: From Liberator to Tyrant

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-27519044

U.N chief lauds Mugabe role in fighting apartheid

https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/latest-robert-mugabe-zimbabwe-leader-dies-95-65425412

Culture Picks:

Faith and the Struggle for Western Civilisation, Samuel Gregg

https://www.amazon.com/Reason-Faith-Struggle-Western-Civilization-ebook/dp/B07F6P81DX

The Barefoot Investor, The Only Money Guide You’ll Ever Need, Scott Pape

https://www.amazon.com.au/Barefoot-Investor-2018-Update-Money/dp/0730324214

Apollo 11, Todd Douglas Miller

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8760684/

First Man, Damien Chazelle

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8760684/

The Lessons of the Versailles Treaty, Victor Davis Hanson

https://amgreatness.com/2019/07/24/the-lessons-of-the-versailles-treaty/

The Classicist: Versailles at 100

https://www.hoover.org/research/classicist-versailles-100

Ep 33: Who Let The Lunatics Run The Asylum?

Wed, 04 Sep 2019 16:46:07 +1000

Last Thursday Attorney General, Christian Porter released a draft package for Religious Discrimination Bills. Can anti-discrimination law work in the favour of conservatives and religious bodies? (1:46-16:27) Education Minister Dan Tehan takes an interest in the state of free speech on campus. Why are university administrators in denials about free speech crisis on campus? (16:27-32:14) Following the mass of hysteria regarding Boris Johnson’s big push we’re finally seeing some movement with Brexit. The question on everyone’s minds now is will there be an election before Brexit and is British Parliament doing its job? (32:14-42:34) Your weekly hosts Scott Hargreaves and Dr Chris Berg are joined by the IPA’s Renee Gorman and Gideon Rozner to answer these questions as well as discuss their culture picks such as stand-up comedian Dave Chappelle’s boundary pushing new show Sticks & Stones, comedy film Stan & Ollie based on comedic duo Laurel and Hardy, Jonah Goldberg’s discussion of Western Civilisation with Niall Ferguson on his podcast The Remnant and the new season of Utopia: Rob Sitch’s comedy show on life in the Canberra bubble (42:34-56:47).

Show Notes

Religious Freedom Bills
https://www.ag.gov.au/Consultations/Pages/religious-freedom-bills.aspx

Dan Tehan MP, Minister for Education, Address to National Press Club, 28 August 2019
https://ministers.education.gov.au/tehan/national-press-club

Culture Picks:Dave Chappelle: Sticks & Stones
https://www.netflix.com/au/title/81140577

Stan & Ollie, Jon S. Baird
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3385524/

The Remnant with Jonah Goldberg, Episode 129
https://theremnant.blubrry.net/2019/08/26/episode-129-basement-history/

Andrew Roberts on Churchill and the Craft of Biography, Econtalk
http://www.econtalk.org/andrew-roberts-on-churchill-and-the-craft-of-biography/

Utopia, Rob Sitch
https://www.abc.net.au/tv/programs/utopia/

Ep 32: Has Disney Won The Trade War?

Wed, 28 Aug 2019 17:41:47 +1000

The G7 summit last week saw new tariffs but also an outbreak in niceness. Are Trump’s tariffs part of some grand master plan to win the trade war? (1:50-17:25) In the context of the Royal Commission into child sex abuse, new laws for mandatory reporting are making a big show of challenging the seal of the confession. Is this a violation of religious freedom? (17.25 – 33:00) Disney has just announced a plethora of new movies, begging the question, what are the economic and cultural ramifications of the industry giant? (33:00 – 48:12) Your hosts Scott Hargreaves and Dr Chris Berg are joined by Andrew Bushnell and Christian Kerr to answer these questions, as well as divulging their culture picks such as Quentin Tarantino’s latest movie Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, nostalgic 80’s TV show Stranger Things, rock stars Nick Cave and Warren Ellis with the MSO and Netflix TV show Mindhunter Season 2. (48:12 – 1:03:16)

Show Notes:

Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, Quentin Tarantino

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7131622/

Stranger Things, Netflix

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4574334/

Nick Cave and Warren Ellis with the MSO

https://www.mso.com.au/whats-on/2019/nick-cave-warren-ellis/

Mindhunter Season 2, Netflix

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5290382/

Ep 31: Hong Kong: Nobody Puts Freedom In The Corner

Wed, 21 Aug 2019 17:48:57 +1000

With 1.7 out of 7.4 million people protesting in Hong Kong, the Chinese Government is under scrutiny as never before (1:35-23:40). In the latest of a series of devastating results, the federal court has dismissed a significant case that ASIC launched against Westpac. Is ASIC too hard, too soft, or just incompetent? (23:40-36:50). Donald Trump wants to buy Greenland, however, the Danish Prime Minister says she has no interest. Is this the biggest real-estate deal on earth, or a decision for the locals? (36:50-44:19). Scott Hargreaves and Dr Chris Berg are joined by Daniel Wild and Dr Zac Gorman to discuss these questions and share their culture picks, including China born British writer, Ma Jian, and his book China Dream, Toy Story 4 and its commentary on communism, Karl Popper’s old classic The Open Society and Its Enemies, and Steve Smith’s remarkable comeback in the latest Ashes series. (46:50-59:04).

Show Notes:

What If Everyone’s Wrong About China? Tyler Cowen, Bloomberg

https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2019-08-19/china-s-liberalization-shouldn-t-be-ruled-out-just-yet?utm_campaign=socialflow-organic&utm_content=economics&utm_medium=social&cmpid%3D=socialflow-twitter-economics&utm_source=twitter

Engineers of the Soul: Ideology in Xi Jinping's China by John Garnaut,

https://sinocism.com/p/engineers-of-the-soul-ideology-in

The State Strikes Back: The End of Economic Reform in China

https://www.piie.com/bookstore/state-strikes-back-end-economic-reform-china

ASIC loses landmark case against Westpac, Tim Boyd, Financial Review

https://www.afr.com/companies/financial-services/asic-loses-landmark-case-against-westpac-20190813-p52ggy

Why does Donald Trump want to buy Greenland? Phillip Inman, The Guardian

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/aug/19/why-does-donald-trump-want-to-buy-greenland

Donald Trump, Twitter

https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1163961882945970176?s=20

Dr Jennifer Marohasy at Climate Change Concern Forum in Maroochydore, Institute of Public Affairs, YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dVlu-7_FxD8&feature=youtu.be

Culture Picks:

Chinese Dream, Ma Jian

https://www.amazon.com/China-Dream-Ma-Jian/dp/178474249X

Toy Story 4

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1979376/

The Open Society and Its Enemies, Karl R.Popper

https://www.amazon.com/Open-Society-Its-Enemies-One/dp/0691158134

Steve Smith’s comeback at The Ashes

https://www.smh.com.au/sport/cricket/smith-wade-centuries-steer-resurgent-australia-to-commanding-position-20190805-p52dsz.html

Ep 30: The Centre-Right Is Alive And Well

Wed, 14 Aug 2019 17:32:41 +1000

Is the Keneally-fuelled success of the inaugural CPAC Australia conference a one-off or another sign of a vibrant centre-right movement? (01:40-14:20). What is it with Greta Thunberg and her alarmist followers; and does the elite encouragement reveal the deeper agenda of expanding State control? (14:20-25:10). How does the case of Comcare v Banerji, in which a public servant used an anonymous Twitter account to criticise the government’s immigration policy, differ from the Israel Folau case? (25:10-27:30). Scott Hargreaves is joined by Dr Richard Allsop, Evan Mulholland and Gideon Rozner to discuss these questions and share their culture picks, including Nikki Sava’s latest book on the downfall of Malcolm Turnbull, John Ruddick’s argument for more democracy in the Liberal Party, a dark (if not nihilist) comedy on HBO/Foxtel starring former SNL actor Bill Hader as a hit man who wants to be an actor, and Anne Henderson’s new book on 19th century free trade Labor politician, Paddy Glynn (34:10-56:00).

Show notes:

German meat tax proposal a risk to consumption, Fitch says

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/economics/german-meat-tax-proposal-a-risk-to-consumption-fitch-says/news-story/170869b035582cfc6d91a46ebb07f8a1

In praise of the bands that said no to Greta Thunberg

https://blogs.spectator.co.uk/2019/08/in-praise-of-the-bands-that-said-no-to-greta-thunberg/

Outrage culture is killing free speech, Andrew Bushnell

https://www.spectator.com.au/2019/08/outrage-culture-is-killing-free-speech/

The Road to Ruin, Niki Savva

https://www.booktopia.com.au/the-road-to-ruin-niki-savva/prod9781925322729.html

On Mutiny, David Speers

https://www.booktopia.com.au/on-mutiny-david-speers/prod9780522875065.html

Culture picks:

Plots and Prayers: Malcolm Turnbull's demise and Scott Morrison's ascension, Niki Savva

https://www.dymocks.com.au/book/plots-and-prayers-malcolm-turnbulls-demise-and-scott-morrisons-ascension-by-niki-savva-9781925849189

Make the Liberal Party Great Again, John Ruddick

https://www.dymocks.com.au/book/make-the-liberal-party-great-again-by-john-ruddick-9781925642568

Barry, HBO

https://www.hbo.com/barry

Federation’s Man of Letters – Patrick McMahon Glynn, Anne Henderson

https://www.connorcourtpublishing.com.au/FEDERATION’S-MAN-OF-LETTERS-PATRICK-McMAHON-GLYNN--Anne-Henderson_p_278.html

Ep 29: Conceptual Engineering And The Death Of The English Language

Wed, 07 Aug 2019 17:41:41 +1000

Does Noel Pearson’s argument that ‘the Voice’ is based on indigeneity and not race stand up? (01:30-17:00) What are the options for conservatives seeking to combat internet mobs and academic packs bent on defaming (or downright destroying) an individual, as happened recently to Nigel Biggar and Roger Scruton? (17:00-35:00) And does the Melbourne Institute’s latest HILDA survey really show a rise in inequality? (90:35-0:45) Dr Chris Berg and Scott Hargreaves are joined by Dr Bella D’Abrera and Andrew Bushnell to discuss these questions and share their culture picks, including a book on the unresolved legacy of the Vietnam War by Pulitzer Price-winning author Viet Thanh Nguyen (0:45-0:49), the final cut of the classic 1979 film ‘Apocalypse Now’(0:49-0:54), a Latin American soap opera on the Liberator, Simón Bolívar (0:54-:59) and Geoffrey Blainey’s autobiography, ‘Before I Forget’ (0:59-01:03:22).

Quillette podcast with Toby Young and Nigel Biggar on how to deal with online outrage mobs

https://player.fm/series/quillette-podcast/quillettes-toby-young-talks-to-professor-nigel-biggar-about-academic-outrage-mobs-and-how-to-defeat-them

Nothing Ever Dies: Vietnam and the Memory of War by Viet Thanh Nguyen

https://www.hup.harvard.edu/catalog.php?isbn=9780674660342

Before I Forget by Geoffrey Blainey

https://www.penguin.com.au/books/before-i-forget-9781760890339

Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) Statistical Report 2019

https://melbourneinstitute.unimelb.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0011/3127664/HILDA-Statistical-Report-2019.pdf

Noel Pearson’s remarks to the Key Forum, Cape York Institute, 3 August 2019

https://capeyorkpartnership.org.au/all-updates/all-we-seek-is-our-rightful-place-thank-you/

Bolivar on Netflix

https://www.netflix.com/au/title/80220422

Apocalypse Now: The Final Cut

https://apocalypsenowfinalcut.com/

Ep 28: Who Doesn't Have Access To Your Metadata Now?

Wed, 31 Jul 2019 14:52:22 +1000

Why are not just the police but also councils and dozens of government agencies allowed to access your metadata without a warrant? (01:40-15:15) Do digital platforms like Google and Facebook need more regulation, and why on earth is the ACCC seeking to solve ‘fake news’ and prop up traditional media? (15:15-37:50) Is Barnaby Joyce right to say Newstart should be increased, and how should we think about it? (37:50-50:35) Dr Chris Berg and Scott Hargreaves are joined by Kurt Wallace and Professor Jason Potts to discuss these questions and share their culture picks: a podcast by Reason on postmodernism, a brilliant comedy called ‘Fleabag’ from Amazon Prime via the ABC, John Marsden's new book 'The Art of Growing Up', and a fascinating ABC documentary series on the people and history of the Torres Strait (50:35-01:06:42).

ACCC, Digital Platforms Inquiry – Final Report

https://www.accc.gov.au/publications/digital-platforms-inquiry-final-report

Blue Water Empire, Series 1 Episode 1, ABC iView

https://iview.abc.net.au/show/blue-water-empire/series/1/video/IP1505Q001S00

Is Postmodernism Marxist or Libertarian? A Soho Forum Debate, Reason

https://pca.st/s53I

Fleabag, ABC Comedy

https://iview.abc.net.au/show/fleabag

The Art of Growing Up

https://www.panmacmillan.com.au/9781760556723/

Ep 27: "Now Hearing The Case Of Taxpayer v Taxpayer"

Wed, 24 Jul 2019 17:48:14 +1000

If JCU appeals to a higher court, should the Commonwealth cover Peter Ridd’s legal costs? (03:50-20:50) Is George Calombaris really the whipping boy for ‘wage theft’, and what does that phrase actually mean? (20:50-31:50) And is BoJo as UK PM really the ‘new Trump’? (31:55-43:45) Dr Chris Berg and Scott Hargreaves are joined by Evan Mulholland and Gideon Rozner to discuss these questions and share their culture picks, including Memoirs of Roman Emperor Hadrian, a collection of essays on free speech, Trump etc from American Psycho author Brett Easton Ellis, the actual book of The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood (which doesn’t follow the left’s narrative), and ‘The Loudest Voice’ miniseries on Stan about Fox News founder Roger Ailes, played by Russell Crowe subtly subverting the caricature. (43:45-1:04).

SHOW NOTES

Christian Porter: Commonwealth could fund Peter Ridd’s fight against James Cook University, Joe Kelly, The Australian

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/politics/christian-porter-commonwealth-could-fund-peter-ridds-fight-against-james-cook-uni/news-story/fcf614cf33ec9b088ea2fcf9e6949455

Against Public Broadcasting: Why and how we should privatise the ABC, Chris Berg and Sinclair Davidson

https://www.connorcourtpublishing.com.au/Against-Public-Broadcasting-Why-and-how-we-should-privatise-the-ABC--Chris-Berg-and-Sinclair-Davidson_p_177.html

Memoirs of Hadrian, Marguerite Yourcenar

https://www.bookdepository.com/Memoirs-Hadrian-Marguerite-Yourcenar/9780141184968

White, Brett Easton Ellis

http://breteastonellis.com/books/

The Handmaid’s Tale, Margaret Atwood

http://margaretatwood.ca/shop/

The Loudest Voice

https://www.sho.com/the-loudest-voice

The Loudest Voice in the Room, Gabriel Sherman

https://www.gabrielsherman.com/

Ep 26: What Does Scott Morrison Actually Think About Recognition

Thu, 18 Jul 2019 12:22:36 +1000

The panellists decipher the Morrison Government’s mixed messages on a Voice to Parliament and consider the real difficulties with a changing the constitution (1:20-18:22) then argue the pros and cons of an LNP proposal to set up an Office of Science Quality Assurance to challenge the science relied upon by bureaucrats (18:22-33:41) and seek to understand the National Conservatism launch, a big conservative confab in the USA (33:42-51:06). In the Books and Culture segment the panellists looks at some book which bear on the story of indigenous Australia prior to European settlement, an book smuggled out of North Korea at great danger to the author’s life, David Epstein’s Range, and Season 3 of Stranger Things.

https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/550188/range-by-david-epstein/9780735214484/
https://www.theguardian.com/books/2017/mar/11/the-accusation-forbidden-stories-from-inside-north-korea-by-bandi-review
https://www.nationalreview.com/corner/national-conservatism-conference-why-nationalism-and-why-now/
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4574334/
https://www.booktopia.com.au/dark-emu-bruce-pascoe/prod9781921248016.html
https://www.allenandunwin.com/browse/books/general-books/history/The-Biggest-Estate-on-Earth-Bill-Gammage-9781743311325

Special Episode: Troy Bramston

Mon, 15 Jul 2019 17:02:56 +1000

A very special episode of The Looking Forward Podcast as Troy Bramston, senior writer with The Australian, joins Dr Chris Berg, Scott Hargreaves and Richard Allsop to discuss his new book Robert Menzies: The Art Of Politics. The panel cover Australia's life, his political fights and his legacy, while also talking about how the original IPA Looking Forward document underpinned many of Menzies' policies in office.

Purchase your copy of Robert Menzies: The Art of Politics here: https://scribepublications.com.au/books-authors/books/robert-menzies

Ep 25: How Not to Protect Religious Freedom

Wed, 10 Jul 2019 16:19:35 +1000

How should government protect free speech and religious freedom? (1:50-19:38) How much (more) should taxes actually be cut? (19:38- 38:09) And why is Trump planning to send taxpayer dollars to the Moon? (38:09-49:22) Dr Chris Berg and Scott Hargreaves are joined by Aaron Lane and Kurt Wallace to answer these questions and share their culture picks, including The Terror, Yesterday, Groen's essays on the French Revolution, and Clive James' translation of Dante's Inferno (49:22-1:05:39).

SHOW NOTES:

Mass Death Dies Hard, Clive James in IPA Review

https://ipa.org.au/ipa-today/massdeathdieshard?highlight=clive%20james

The Terror

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Terror_(TV_series)

Yesterday

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8079248/?ref_=nv_sr_1?ref_=nv_sr_1

Unbelief and Revolution, Guillaume Groen van Prinsterer

https://www.amazon.com/Unbelief-Revolution-Lexham-Classics-Prinsterer/dp/168359228X

The Divine Comedy, Dante Alighieri, translation by Clive James

https://www.panmacmillan.com/authors/clive-james/the-divine-comedy/9781447244226

Ep 24: What Will Freedom Look Like In 2050?

Wed, 03 Jul 2019 15:47:39 +1000

It's the first live episode of Looking Forward! Recorded at the Australian Libertarian Society's Friedman Conference last month, Scott Hargreaves and Dr Chris Berg were joined by John Roskam and Renee Gorman in a crowded theatre to discuss the future of freedom in Australia and internationally in such areas as freedom of speech, the future of technology and national security with great questions from Looking Forward listeners.

Ep 23: Should GoFundMe Repent?

Wed, 26 Jun 2019 16:51:57 +1000

What is the fallout of GoFundMe's decision to remove Israel Folau's fundraising campaign from its website? (1:33 - 29:04) Donald Trump launches his 2020 campaign - what should his election strategy be? (29:04 - 41:33) And what does Scott Morrison's recent speech on red tape mean for Australia's economy? (41:33-52:34) Scott Hargreaves and Dr Chris Berg are joined by Daniel Wild and Renee Gorman to discuss these questions and share their culture picks for the week, including The Whitlams, a new book by teenage climate activist Greta Thunberg, Child's Play and the Cricket World Cup.

SHOW NOTES:

The collection of the IPA’s work on red tape

https://ipa.org.au/research-areas/red-tape

The Death Camp of Tolerance South Park episode

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0705969/

Love This City, The Whitlams

https://open.spotify.com/album/3sIHMtI9WworI4PRHWuTeB

No One Is Too Small to Make a Difference, Greta Thunberg

https://www.amazon.com.au/One-Too-Small-Make-Difference-ebook/dp/B07R996JNV/ref=sr_1_3?qid=1561531620&refinements=p_27%3AGreta+Thunberg&s=books&sr=1-3

Child’s Play

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8663516/

Special Episode: Dr Peter Ridd

Fri, 21 Jun 2019 07:00:04 +1000

Dr Peter Ridd joins The Looking Forward Podcast to discuss his legal case with James Cook University, the science of the Great Barrier Reef, the state of academic freedom and scientific research, and what his ordeal means for other academics who want to speak their mind.

Ep 22: Will Facebook's Libra Kill Off Central Banking?

Wed, 19 Jun 2019 16:36:25 +1000

What do the Hong Kong protests mean, and why are they so important? (2:17-18:25) Facebook releases Libra - how much of a threat is this to the current banking system and what does it mean for the future of money (18:25-39:34)? And what is regulatory dark matter and why is it holding back Australia's economy? (39:34-46:45) Dr Chris Berg and Scott Hargreaves are joined by Professor Sinclair Davidson and IPA Research Fellow Kurt Wallace to discuss these topics and share their culture picks including John Wick, Poverty Inc, A podcast from the Mercatus Centre and Solaris.

SHOW NOTES:

Rein in regulators to cut red tape, Kurt Wallace:

https://ipa.org.au/publications-ipa/media-releases/reign-in-regulators-to-cut-red-tape

John Wick

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2911666/

Poverty, Inc.

https://www.povertyinc.org/

Elinor Ostram as an intellectual, podcast from the Mercatus Centre:

https://ppe.mercatus.org/podcasts/06122019/elinor-ostrom-intellectual

Elinor Ostrom: An Intellectual Biography, Vlad Tarko:

https://www.amazon.com/Elinor-Ostrom-Intellectual-Vlad-Tarko/dp/1783485892

Solaris, Stanislaw Lem

https://www.bookdepository.com/Solaris-Stanislaw-Lem/9780571311576

Ep 21: What Can The State Keep Secret From The Public?

Wed, 12 Jun 2019 17:10:45 +1000

What have the raids on journalists told us about the state of free speech in Australia, and when are state secrets worth protecting? (1:51-26:28) Some conservatives in America want to break the alliance with libertarians – should Australian conservatives do the same? (26:28-50:12) And are we spending too much on incarceration? (50:12-54:31) Dr Chris Berg and Scott Hargreaves are joined by Andrew Bushnell and Evan Mulholland to discuss these issues and share their culture picks, including SuperIntelligence, a podcast accompanying Chernobyl, Deadwood and this year’s Reith Lecture.

Show Notes:

'The Pointless Argument Tearing Conservatives Apart - Rich Lowry, Politico

https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2019/06/05/the-pointless-argument-tearing-conservatives-apart-227085

'Against The Dead Consensus' - Various Authors, First Things

https://www.firstthings.com/web-exclusives/2019/03/against-the-dead-consensus

'Against Peacetime Conservatism' - Will Chamberlain, Human Events

https://humanevents.com/2019/05/31/against-peacetime-conservatism/

'Against David French-ism' - Sohrab Ahmari, First Things

https://www.firstthings.com/web-exclusives/2019/05/against-david-french-ism

'AJF White Paper plots law reform pathway for press freedom' - AJF

https://www.journalistsfreedom.com/ajf-white-paper-plots-law-reform-pathway-for-press-freedom/

SuperIntelligence, by Nick Bostrom

https://www.amazon.com.au/Superintelligence-Dangers-Strategies-Nick-Bostrom-ebook/dp/B00LOOCGB2/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr

Chernobyl, podcast by Craig Mazin and Peter Sagal

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-chernobyl-podcast/id1459712981

Deadwood

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4943998/

‘Law’s Expanding Empire’, a lecture by Jonathan Sumption

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0005t85

Ep 20: The State of our Origins: Would Another ATSIC Solve Anything?

Wed, 05 Jun 2019 16:25:13 +1000

Indigenous Recognition is back in the news – what will this look like and what does it have to do with the national anthem? (1:45-15:52) Scott Morrison visits the Solomon Islands: is this related to Belt and Road, and what should Australia’s response be? (15:52-27:54) Trump’s trade war extends to Mexico, and Australia came close to having tariffs against its goods – where is globalism at in 2019? (27:54-42:11) Scott Hargreaves and Dr Chris Berg are joined by Dr Zachary Gorman and Gideon Rozner to discuss these issues and share what they’ve been reading and watching this week, including 16 Ways To Defend A Walled City, Dangerous Hero, a series of documentaries on the failed Murray Darling Basin Plan and a new paper on the secret discussions which made Canberra our capital city.

SHOW NOTES
16 Ways To Defend A Walled City, K.J. Parker https://www.amazon.com/Sixteen-Ways-Defend-Walled-City/dp/0316270792

Dangerous Hero: Corbyn’s Ruthless Plot for Power, Tom Bower: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dangerous-Hero-Unmissable-investigative-biographer/dp/0008299579

The MDBA’s Man Made Drought, Topher Field: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=327497544604368

“Dished like a dinner” by the Victorians? The 1899 Seat of Government Compact and its Repercussions in the early Australian Commonwealth, Paul Strangio: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/ajph.12533

Ep 19: Why Size Doesn’t Matter For So-Called Minor Parties

Wed, 29 May 2019 17:24:29 +1000

What can the results of the EU elections tell us about the future of Britain and the rest of Europe? (1:31-20:14) The Australian federal election was called the triumph of the minor parties - but was it? (20:14-36:03) And should professional protestors be stripped of Newstart, and is this even an issue? (36:03-47:30). Scott Hargreaves and Dr Chris Berg are joined by Andrew Bushnell and Richard Allsop to discuss these questions and share what they've been reading and watching this week, including Chernobyl, The System of the Constitution, Catch 22 and Troy Bramston’s new biography of Menzies.

SHOW NOTES:

It's the Values, Stupid, IPA Review article by Andrew Bushnell: https://ipa.org.au/ipa-review-articles/its-the-values-stupid

Chernobyl: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7366338/

The System of the Constitution, by Adrian Vermeule: https://www.amazon.com/System-Constitution-Adrian-Vermeule/dp/0199838453

Catch-22 TV Series: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5056196/

Robert Menzies: The Art Of Politics, by Troy Bramston: https://scribepublications.com.au/books-authors/books/robert-menzies

Ep 18: A Time for Mainstream Australians

Wed, 22 May 2019 00:02:02 +1000

Was the upset victory of the Morrison-led Coalition Government a stunning repudiation of the progressive left and its identity politics and climate change obsessions, or a vote by a conservative electorate for steady as she goes? And what does it mean for the populist revolt? (01:38 - 20:43). With a majority in the House and a more amenable Senate, what should be the agenda of the Morrison Government to deliver the prosperity, opportunity and freedoms sought by mainstream Australia? (20:43 - 35:25). And where should the Centre-Left go now, as its international counterparts continue their lurch to the left? (35:25 - 49:08). Scott Hargreaves and Dr Chris Berg are joined by Daniel Wild and Gideon Rozner to discuss these issues and share what they’ve been reading, watching and listening to this week, including Seven Types of Atheism, The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza (Dallas, Texas), Valley of the Boom and Game of Thrones. Valley of the Boom on National Geographic Channel
https://www.nationalgeographic.com.au/tv/valley-of-the-boom/ The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza
https://www.jfk.org/

Seven Types of Atheism by John Gray.
https://www.amazon.com.au/Seven-Types-Atheism-John-Gray-ebook/dp/B077TCF56Q/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=John+Gray&qid=1558503294&s=books&sr=1-1

Game of Thrones
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0944947/

Ep 17: Can Capitalism Be Woke?

Wed, 15 May 2019 16:30:36 +1000

Both the Coalition and Labor have the same new home buyers policy, so just how much should the rest of us be panicking? (1:31-15:16) The Israel Folau saga has shown the rise of ‘woke capitalism’ in Australia, why and how should this be combated? (15:16-33:31) US unemployment is now at record lows, so is Donald Trump’s economic agenda working? (33:31-44:46) Scott Hargreaves and Dr Chris Berg are joined by Daniel Wild and Dr Bella d’Abrera to discuss these issues and share what they’ve been reading, watching and listening to this week, including Wandering Earth, Cosi Fan Tutte, The Captured Economy and Goethe: Life as a Work of Art (44:46-59:27)

Show notes

Latest First Home Buyers Policy Is Shortsighted And Likely To Create A Bubble, Daniel Wild https://ipa.org.au/publications-ipa/latest-first-home-buyers-policy-is-shortsighted-and-likely-to-create-a-bubble

The Rise of Woke Capital, Ross Douthat

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/28/opinion/corporate-america-activism.html

The Wandering Earth, Liu Cixin

https://www.amazon.com.au/Wandering-Earth-Classic-Science-Collection-ebook/dp/B00CXUKNA2

Cosi Fan Tutte, Mozart

https://opera.org.au/home/productions/cosi-fan-tutte/cheat-sheet

The Captured Economy, Brink Lindsey & Steven M. Teles

https://www.amazon.com/Captured-Economy-Powerful-Themselves-Inequality/dp/019062776X

Goethe: Life as a Work of Art, Rüdiger Safranski

https://www.amazon.com/Goethe-Life-as-Work-Art/dp/0871404907

Ep 16: Vote Early and Vote Often

Wed, 08 May 2019 17:30:29 +1000

The ALP has recommitted to an Indigenous Voice to Parliament, what will this actually turn out to be, and why does this divisive policy never go away? (1:42-15:36) The Adani mine enters it sixth year since approval but still is in purgatory, why won't governments let it be built? (15:36-29:24) And the millionth early voter will cast their ballot today - does early voting help or hurt our democracy? (29:24-42:32) Dr Chris Berg and Scott Hargreaves are joined by Andrew Bushnell and Morgan Begg to discuss these issues and share what they've been reading and watching this week, including Persecution and Tolerance, Cracks in the Ivory Towers, The Age of Surveillance Capitalism and Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile.

SHOW NOTES

Persecution and Tolerance by Noel D. Johnson and Mark Koyama: https://www.amazon.com/Persecution-Toleration-Religious-Cambridge-Economics/dp/1108441165

Cracks in the Ivory Tower, by Jason Brennan and Phillip Magness: https://www.amazon.com/Cracks-Ivory-Tower-Higher-Education-ebook/dp/B07NYT5P7C

The Age of Surveillance Capitalism, by Shoshana Zuboff: https://www.amazon.com/Age-Surveillance-Capitalism-Future-Frontier/dp/1610395697

Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2481498/

Ep 15: Zero Inflation And Our Failing Institutions

Wed, 01 May 2019 16:17:12 +1000

Australia has reached zero inflation – has this killed off modern monetary theory? (1:17-19:52) What can we make of Bill Shorten and Elizabeth Warren’s policy on childcare, and what should policy be? (19:52-36:55) And what does the apparent success of Clive Palmer’s advertising blitz say for the future of small parties in Australia and the concerns of the Australian voters? (36:55-49:56) Scott Hargreaves and Dr Chris Berg are joined by Daniel Wild and Kurt Wallace to discuss these questions and share what they’ve been reading, watching and listening to this week, including Trumponomics, The Virtue of Nationalism, The Rise of Victimhood Culture and Russian Doll (49:56-1:09:34)

Show Notes

Trumponomics by Stephen Moore & Art Laffter, https://www.amazon.com/Trumponomics-Inside-America-Revive-Economy/dp/1250193710

The Virtue of Nationalism, by Youram Hazony, https://www.amazon.com/Virtue-Nationalism-Yoram-Hazony/dp/1541645375

Youram Hazony on The Rubin Report, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GwO4iMcJak4

The Rise of Victimhood Culture, by Bradley Campbell & Jason Manning: https://www.booktopia.com.au/the-rise-of-victimhood-culture-bradley-campbell/prod9783319703282.html?source=pla&gclid=Cj0KCQjw5J_mBRDVARIsAGqGLZCyjrrKPgu2a8XGO3BXHqIpTDQzzMCqqLMf_bWXIQRui427iukCyhwaAltFEALw_wcB

Russian Doll: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7520794/

Ep 14: The Lasting Effects Of The Peter Ridd Case

Wed, 24 Apr 2019 16:34:07 +1000

Dr Peter Ridd has won his legal battle with James Cook Univeristy, what does this mean for academic freedom in Australia? (1:34-19:15) The Mueller report has been released - will there be impeachment and is this a good strategy for Democrats? (19:15-37:25) And GetUp! are now a major political force in Australia, what should the centre-right's response be? (37:25-51:09) Scott Hargreaves and Dr Chris Berg are joined by Dr Aaron Lane and Gideon Rozner to discuss these issues and share what they've been reading, watching or listening to this week, including a new translation of The New Testament, Brexit: The Uncivil War, The Roads to Modernity: The British, French, and American Enlightenments and The Aftermath (51:09-1:04:38)

Show Notes:

The New Testament: A Translation, by David Bentley Hart: https://www.amazon.com/New-Testament-David-Bentley-Hart/dp/0300186096

Brexit: The Uncivil War: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8425058/

he Roads to Modernity: The British, French, and American Enlightenments, by Gertrude Himmelfarb: https://www.amazon.com/Roads-Modernity-British-American-Enlightenments/dp/1400077222

The Aftermath: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5977276/

Year Zero: A History of 1945, by Ian Buruma: https://www.amazon.com/Year-Zero-History-Notable-Adults/dp/1594204365

Ep 13: What would a liberal vision for Australia look like?

Wed, 17 Apr 2019 16:59:38 +1000

The election has been called, what would a truly liberal vision for Australia look like? (2:03-18:36) Julian Assange has left the Ecuadorian Embassy, should we be concerned about this, and what is at stake? (18:36-30:27) Israel Folau’s sacking by Rugby Australia raises an interesting question, what should liberals support in a battle between contract law and freedom of expression? (30:27-44:16) And Dr Peter Ridd’s fantastic victory for freedom of speech, what are the lessons for young academics out there? (44:16-50:57) Dr Chris Berg is joined by Andrew Bushnell, Daniel Wild and Dr Zach Gorman to discuss these questions and share things they’ve been reading, watching and listening to this week, including The History of England podcast, Ken Burns’ The Civil War, Narcos: Mexico and The Art of the Score. (50:27-1:02:40)

Show Notes:

20 Policies To Fix Australia

https://ipa.org.au/publications-ipa/parliamentary-research-briefs/20-policies-to-fix-australia

Peter Ridd Wins Biggest Victory on Free Speech in a Generation, Gideon Rozner

https://ipa.org.au/publications-ipa/peter-ridd-wins-biggest-victory-on-free-speech-in-a-generation

The History of England Podcast

https://thehistoryofengland.co.uk/

Ken Burns: The Civil War

https://www.netflix.com/au/title/70202577

Narcos: Mexico

https://www.netflix.com/title/80997085

The Art of the Score Podcast

http://www.artofthescore.com.au/

Ep 12: Vegans And The Tsunami Of Rights And Justice

Wed, 10 Apr 2019 16:51:45 +1000

Animal rights activists shut down traffic in Melbourne and stage other protests around Australia. When does a protest become illegal, and where does animal rights activism come from? (1:31-24:52). The French Review finally comes out, is it a strong enough statement about the need for more protection for free speech on Australian campuses? (24:52-39:15) And as we wait to find out what day the next federal election will be held, the panel examine why fixed election dates are a terrible idea (39:15-44:55.) This week Scott Hargreaves and Dr Chris Berg are joined by Andrew Bushnell and Richard Allsop to discuss these matters and share their culture picks for the week, including George Higinbotham and Eureka, The Highwaymen, Rivalry and Central Planning and Don’t Tell Mum I Work on the Rigs…She Thinks I’m a Piano Player in a Whorehouse. (44:55 – 1:01:27)

Show Notes
Free Speech On Campus Audit 2018, Report by Matthew Lesh:
https://ipa.org.au/publications-ipa/research-papers/free-speech-on-campus-audit-2018
George Higinbotham and Eureka: The Struggle for Democracy in Colonial Victoria by Geraldine Moore
https://scholarly.info/book/george-higinbotham-and-eureka/
The 'Whig' View of Australian History by A W Martin
https://www.mup.com.au/books/the-whig-view-of-australian-history-paperback-softback
The Highwaymen
https://www.netflix.com/title/80200571
Rivalry and Central Planning: The Socialist Calculation Debate Reconsidered by Don Lavoie
https://www.amazon.com/Rivalry-Central-Planning-Calculation-Reconsidered/dp/1942951124
Don't Tell Mum I Work on the Rigs...She Thinks I'm a Piano Player in a Whorehouse by Paul Carter
https://www.allenandunwin.com/browse/books/general-books/biography-autobiography/Dont-Tell-Mum-I-Work-on-the-RigsShe-Thinks-Im-a-Piano-Player-in-a-Whorehouse-Paul-Carter-9781741146981

Ep 11: Trump and French on Campus Free Speech

Wed, 03 Apr 2019 15:23:31 +1000

The federal budget shows the Liberals are fighting for reelection, but are they fighting for smaller government and lower taxes? (1:40-14:37) As the release of the French Review approaches, we examine the state of free speech at Australian universities, and the role of universities when so much censorship comes from students? (14:37-33:58) And Labor announces their new climate policy - are electric cars really the future? (33:58-47:29) Scott Hargreaves and Dr Chris Berg are joined by Dr Bella d'Abrera and Professor Sinclair Davidson to discuss these issues and share what they've been reading, watching and listening to, including the NRA museum in Virginia, Love, Death and Robots and two different translations of The Odyssey (47:29-1:01:53)

SHOW NOTES

A Half Good Budget, Media Release by Kurt Wallace: https://ipa.org.au/publications-ipa/media-releases/a-half-good-budget

Free Speech On Campus Audit 2018, Report by Matthew Lesh: https://ipa.org.au/publications-ipa/research-papers/free-speech-on-campus-audit-2018

Labor's Electric Car Plan Won't Help Ordinary Australians, article in The Daily Telegraph by Andrew Bushnell: https://ipa.org.au/publications-ipa/in-the-news/labors-electric-car-plan-wont-help-ordinary-australians

The NRA Museum in Virginia: http://www.nramuseum.org/

Love, Death & Robots: https://www.netflix.com/title/80174608

The Odyssey by Homer, translated by Emily Wilson: https://www.amazon.com/Odyssey-Homer/dp/0393089053

The Odyssey by Homer, translated by E V Rieu:https://www.amazon.com/Odyssey-Penguin-Classics-Homer/dp/0140449116

Ep 10: What Will Conservatism Look Like After Trump?

Wed, 27 Mar 2019 14:09:13 +1000

The NSW election was a significant win for the coalition, what lessons can the centre-right take out of it? (1:21-16:09) The Mueller report doesn’t find evidence of collusion, was this a witch hunt the whole time, and what does this mean for Democrats going forward? (16:09-42:56). And what will conservatism look like after Donald Trump? Is Trump himself already post-Trump? (42:56-55:52). Scott Hargreaves and Dr Chris Berg are joined by Andrew Bushnell and Evan Mulholland to discuss these questions and share what they’ve been reading, watching and listening to this week, including Anatomy of Next, Karl Ove Knausgård, The Dirt and the new BBC miniseries of Les Miserables. (55:52-1:14:25)

Show notes:
‘Against the Dead Consensus’ by various authors in First Things: https://www.firstthings.com/web-exclusives/2019/03/against-the-dead-consensus
Anatomy of Next: https://foundersfund.com/anatomy-of-next/
The End by Karl Ove Knausgård https://www.penguin.com.au/books/the-end-9780099590194
The Dirt: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0800325/
Les Miserables: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5900600/

Ep 9: How Should We Regulate Social Media, If At All?

Wed, 20 Mar 2019 14:38:47 +1000

Is the push for more regulation of social media platforms really the right approach post-Christchurch (2:27-18:14)? A scandal in the United States reveals how families are rorting the College system to get their children into leading schools, what does this say about our culture’s approach to education (18:14-32:56)? And how much of a problem is crony capitalism in the modern economy(32:56-43:29)? Scott Hargreaves and Dr Chris Berg are joined by Dr Zachary Gorman and Gideon Rozner to answer these questions and discuss what they’ve been watching, reading and listening to this week, including the Oscar-winning documentary Free Solo, A Companion to John of Salisbury, Counterpart and Right Here, Right Now: Politics and Leadership in the Age of Disruption by former Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper

Show notes:

Attacks on our freedoms should not be met with further attacks on our freedoms, Gideon Rozner: https://ipa.org.au/publications-ipa/attacks-on-our-freedoms-should-not-be-met-with-further-attacks-on-our-freedoms

School’s Out, Zeev Vinokurov in IPA Review: https://ipa.org.au/ipa-review-articles/schools-out

Is Capitalism Sustainable? By Michael Munger: https://www.aier.org/article/capitalism-sustainable

Free Solo: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7775622/

A Companion to John of Salisbury by Christoph Grellard and Frederique Lachaud: https://www.amazon.com/Companion-Salisbury-Companions-Christian-Tradition/dp/9004265104

Counterpart: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4643084/

Right Here, Right Now: Politics and Leadership in the Age of Disruption by Stephen Harper: https://www.amazon.com/Right-Here-Now-Leadership-Disruption/dp/0771038623/ref=sr_1_fkmrnull_1?keywords=Right+Here+Right+Now+Stephen+Harper&qid=1553041813&s=books&sr=1-1-fkmrnull

Ep 8: Was Federation A Mistake?

Wed, 13 Mar 2019 15:49:43 +1000

The federal Coalition is falling apart – but could and should the Liberal and National Parties continue and coexist, and was federation a mistake (1:24-16:09)? The upcoming NSW election raises issues about why state government obsess about infrastructure, and what powers they should actually have (16:09-33:10)? And Milo Yiannopolous gets his visa to speak in Australia, but how come a 'Liberal' government even considered stopping it, and what do these visa wrangles mean for free speech (33:10-41:06)? Scott Hargreaves and Dr Chris Berg are joined by John Roskam and Catallaxy Files contributor Dimitri Burshtein to answer these questions and share what they've been reading, watching and listening to, including Captain Marvel, Little Pink House, Why Culture Matters Most and War and Peace (41:06-59:04)

Show Notes:

Kludgeocracy: The American Way of Policy by Steven M. Teles: https://www.newamerica.org/economic-growth/policy-papers/kludgeocracy-the-american-way-of-policy/

Captain Marvel: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4154664/

Little Pink House: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3863632/

Why Culture Matters Most by David C. Rose: https://global.oup.com/academic/product/why-culture-matters-most-9780199330720?cc=au&lang=en&

The Greatest of All Novels by Gary Saul Morson in the New Critereon: https://www.newcriterion.com/issues/2019/3/the-greatest-of-all-novels

Ep 7: Is Limited Government Finished?

Wed, 06 Mar 2019 15:09:18 +1000

Even deep greens are worried renewable energy can't save the planet - so why are our political parties making it our energy future (2:43-18:30)? Ross Douthat's article in The New York Times says that the era of limited government is over as conservatives push to use big government to influence culture and society; the panel argues about whether that move is a good thing (18:30-39:12). Chris is in Western Australia for Liberty Week and fronted a Generation Liberty event talking about drug law reform - the panel debate what good drug policy looks like and why drug law shows medical care must be privatised (39:12-51:37). In the reading, watching and listening segment, the panel discuss Sharp Objects, True Detective Season 3, MC Escher and The Arctic Monkeys.

Panel: Scott Hargreaves, Dr Chris Berg, Daniel Wild and Andrew Bushnell

Show Notes:

Independent Analysis of the Costs of the Paris Agreement Supports Previous IPA Research

https://ipa.org.au/publications-ipa/in-the-news/independent-analysis-of-the-costs-of-the-paris-climate-agreement-support-previous-ipa-research

The Era of Limited Government Is Over - Ross Douthat, The New York Times

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/26/opinion/cons ervatives-republicans-trump.html

Sharp Objects

https://www.im db.com/title/tt2649356/

True Detective: Season 3

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2356777/episodes

MC Escher exhibition at NGV

https://www.ngv.vic.gov.au/exhibition/escher-x-nendo-between-two-worlds/#about

Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino - The Arctic Monkeys

https://open.spotify.com/album/1jeMiSeSnNS0Oys375qegp

Ep 6: Is Socialism Making A Comeback?

Wed, 27 Feb 2019 10:41:07 +1000

Bernie Sanders is running for President again - is socialism making a comeback? (1:25-20:37) The Federal Government is on the verge of appointing Ita Buttrose as the new Chair of the ABC, the panel discusses the problems the ABC has and whether we can expect any real change (20:37-33:20). The Oscars ceremony rewards diversity and no one watched or cared (33:20-50:00). And in the reading, watching and listening segment, the panel discuss Father James Grant’s book Keeping The Faith (50:00-1:02:02).

Guests: Dr Bella d’Abrera and Father James Grant

Show Notes:

Keeping the Faith by Father James Grant

https://www.connorcourtpublishing.com.au/Keeping-the-Faith-The-Battle-for-Australian-Catholicism--Fr-James-Grant_p_129.html

Ep 5: Will We Regret Trump's National Emergency?

Wed, 20 Feb 2019 11:34:56 +1000

Does the passage of the medivac bill really show the decline of major political parties in Australia (1:40-17:20)? What does the declaration of a national emergency mean for America, and could the same words be used to enable a disastrous climate change political agenda (17:20-31:03)? And is the Space Force a sign we’re headed for a new Cold War in space (31:03-38:55)? Scott Hargreaves and Dr Chris Berg are joined by Dr Richard Allsop and Gideon Rozner to discuss these issues and share what they’ve been reading, watching or listening to this week.

Show Notes:

Alienated America: Why Some Places Thrive While Others Collapse by Timothy P Carney:
https://www.amazon.com/Alienated-America-Places-Thrive-Collapse/dp/0062797107?fbclid=IwAR3ye8dDFC4Vc_d_W68M6SidZ2_6VmhSjdjLL8R_Hqeap0VgJNs_qe3wR4g

'Report From Alienated America', Reason Podcast:
https://reason.com/blog/2019/02/15/tim-carney-alienated-america-podcast?fbclid=IwAR3R37tyFC7aeCLbex55bDpPUW_WRKPHs1Rk2j-c93fJnTKjg7stg0YY8q0

Midnight at Chernobyl by Adam Higginbotham:
https://www.amazon.com/Midnight-Chernobyl-Greatest-Nuclear-Disaster-ebook/dp/B07GNV7PNH?fbclid=IwAR0O7MlrRnjrxhqXuR-pegWHBNlc0RvT1p89cY8hxH8daog_vFA8QWXyUCI

The Land Of Dreams by David Kemp:
https://www.booktopia.com.au/the-land-of-dreams-david-kemp/prod9780522873337.html?fbclid=IwAR3WNhDSiqJGTNk002JXzMDxfzN3yX5sJw_3NiM_8wBoF6Zx0mnfUI801xo

Trumponomics by Stephen Moore & Arthur B Laffer:
https://www.amazon.com/Trumponomics-Inside-America-Revive-Economy/dp/1250193710?fbclid=IwAR2MZsM1sbjCCq_sldqo9sX5LDe1b02IexQHUAsbZl9LdOT4LN2MqKYl-Vo

Special Episode - Postmodernism with Dr Stephen Hicks

Fri, 15 Feb 2019 14:53:30 +1000

What is postmodernism, and what are the goals of the postmodernist movement? On this special episode of the Looking Forward Podcast Scott Hargreaves and Dr Chris Berg are joined by Canadian philosopher Dr Stephen Hicks and the IPA’s Dr Bella d’Abrera to discuss Hicks’ work esposing the true beliefs of the postmodernist movement and why modern civilisation is incompatible with their ideas.

Dr Stephen Hicks is about to tour Australia to speak more about his work. Go to Truearrowevents.com for more details.

Ep 4: Elites v Democracy, Who Wins?

Wed, 13 Feb 2019 16:10:56 +1000

On this week’s Looking Forward, Scott Hargreaves and Dr Chris Berg are joined by IPA Executive Director John Roskam and former Liberal MP John Pesutto. The panel discuss Kevin Rudd’s new essay The Complacent Country and what the role of a politician should be (1:49-20:19), the Hayne Royal Commission and what Royal Commissions say about the democratic process (20:19-39:06), and the closure of Melbourne University Press and what the future of intellectual debate is in Australia (39:06-50:20). They also share what they’ve been reading and watching recently, including the podcast The Dropout, Richard Nixon: The Life by John Farrell, Political Reality Meets Economic Reality by Howard Marks and Victor Davis Hanson’s new podcast ‘Can Higher Education Be Saved’.

Show notes:

The Dropout: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-dropout/id1449500734?mt=2

Richard Nixon: The Life by John Farrell: https://www.amazon.com/Richard-Nixon-Life-John-Farrell/dp/0385537352

Political Reality Meets Economic Reality by Howard Marks: https://www.oaktreecapital.com/docs/default-source/memos/political-reality-meets-economic-reality.pdf

‘Can Higher Education Be Saved’ by Victor Davis Hanson: https://www.hoover.org/research/classicist-victor-davis-hanson-can-higher-education-be-saved

Special Episode - Churchill: Walking With Destiny

Wed, 06 Feb 2019 16:36:49 +1000

In this special episode of The Looking Forward Podcast Dr Chris Berg and Scott Hargreaves are joined by John Roskam, Executive Director of the IPA to interview former guest of the IPA in 2012 Andrew Roberts, author of the international bestseller Churchill: Walking With Destiny about the book, the life and times of Winston Churchill and his legacy today. They also discuss the modern criticism of Churchill and whether his detractors are correct, and the teaching of history today (3:17-46:55). Then Scott, Chris and John reflect on the discussion, what they learned from reading the book and what lessons people can take today from Churchill’s life (47:03-1:10:18)

Episode 3 - 6 February 2019

Wed, 06 Feb 2019 16:13:40 +1000

On this week’s Looking Forward Dr Chris Berg and Scott Hargreaves are joined by IPA Research Fellow Daniel Wild and RMIT Professor of Institutional Economics Sinclair Davidson. The four look at the Hayne Royal Commission and why it is “an exercise in catharsis” for the government (1:18-14:15). Next topic is Jacinta Price being temporarily removed from Facebook and what conservative people can do to broadcast their opinions when they don’t align with those of the tech giants, and whether governments should regulate access to social media platform (14:15-26:14). And then the panel moves to the announcement of a new regulator to oversee Australian sport and the history of the government’s relationship with gambling (26:14-37:17). Then the four discuss what they’ve been reading and watching this week, including The Americans, Black Panther, Get Me Roger Stone! and The Future of Work.

Further reading referenced in the show: John Roskam, ‘CBA Gets Beaten Up By The Culture Cops', Australian Financial Review: https://ipa.org.au/publications-ipa/in-the-news/cba-gets-beaten-up-by-the-culture-cops?highlight=regulate%20culture

Episode 2 - 30 January 2019

Wed, 30 Jan 2019 15:58:18 +1000

Scott Hargreaves and Dr Chris Berg are joined by Andrew Bushnell and Aaron Lane to discuss Victoria's blackouts in last week's heat wave and how to fix energy policy, Buzzfeed laying off opinion staff and what that means for the current state and future of journalism, and New Zealand's 'well-being' budget and how governments should measure the health of a nation.

Episode 1 - 23 January 2019

Wed, 23 Jan 2019 14:44:20 +1000

In this first episode of Looking Forward, hosts Scott Hargreaves and Dr Chris Berg are joined by IPA Senior Fellow Richard Allsop and the National Manager of the IPA’s Generation Liberty Program Renee Gorman. The panel discuss women in Parliament and what should be done, the generational change in the Liberal Party that will come after the next election and why it is needed, and the US government shutdown and why getting rid of the State of the Union address is a great idea.

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Looking Forward - Pilot Episode

Wed, 23 Jan 2019 11:22:02 +1000

In this pilot episode of Looking Forward, hosts Scott Hargreaves and Dr Chris Berg are joined by Professor Sinclair Davidson of RMIT and IPA Research Fellow Daniel Wild to discuss Theresa May's defeat over the Brexit deal and why a No Deal Brexit isn't as bad as people think, the Productivity Commission's recommendations on superannuation and what should be the future of super and the IPA's poll on attitudes towards Australia Day.