Topics
I figured that it wouldn’t be a bad idea to list the reasons I chose specific categories for this blog. While I read Robin Hanson’s Overcoming Bias blog regularly, I assume that the statements below show some clear bias.
Annoyance
These typically label things that, obviously, I (and quite possibly others) find annoying. This category overlaps regularly with the Petty label.
Behaviour
Given my interest in Economic Psychology and Behavioural Economics the topic indicates the discussion of human behaviour and motivation.
Booze
I’m a moderately big fan of a variety of boozy concoctions including beer in all its wonderous variety, gin and girl-drinks. I tend to believe that lousy booze is over-marketed and booze in general has a surfeit of public policy vilification, affecting freedom. While the title of this blog has an overt link to booze it won’t dwell too much on the subject.
Business
This topic is included to provide the sometime subtle line between economics and the actual machinations of business organizations and business regulation.
Canada
I live in Canada and have a vested interest in the people, government and public policies of this mostly really, really swell country. I like that Canada is a large country with loads of open space, is mostly fairly competent in governing itself, and is where people from the world over come to start new lives. Channelling Alec Baldwin’s fatuous public statements, I suppose I’d look for a new, possibly temporary, country of exile if the NDP were to ever win a majority or policy-controlling federal government position.
Child Development
As a person who was once a child and as a parent with children, I’m very interested in child development - especially with respect to developmental stages, public policy, freedom, genetics and medicine. I tend to believe that genetics are a very strong determiner of human traits, that parents are mostly responsible for the exposure to the wider world of their children, and that loads of unrestricted (read: unorganized) play, especially in the early years (before the age of 85), is vital to good child development.
Culture
In the case of this blog, Culture tends to refer to cultural bias and how it affects freedom, public policy, politics and behaviour. Culture overlaps with countries and religion regularly.
Economics
I have a degree in Economics and have found over the years that economic tools are excellent in determining likely outcomes. In terms of economic philosophy I tend strongly towards the agnostic, believing that freedom - i.e. laissez faire policies - creates progress through creativity and problem solving. I believe that a free market, with equal rule of law, minimal bureaucracy, strong property rights and clear regulations against fraud, provides the best outcomes. I tend to view those who believe that wealth and prosperity are a fixed pies, with unbridled and unmitigated derision.
Europe
Europe is a populous and rich part of the world which regularly impinges into many areas of conversation, hence its inclusion. Europe as a label will be used when discussion European policy and culture.
Freedom
I would tend to define myself as a libertarian and view most groups’ need to exhibit control over my life and the lives of those around me to be anathema. Control-fetishists (”there outta be a law”) that spend their days looking for ideas and issues that they can protest and shut-down, provide good fodder for debate but ultimately are mostly dangerous to liberty. See also: religion.
Petty
This is a petty label that provides indication of petty actions or beliefs.
Philosophy
Used in the more general sense of ideas and bias, not as the study of philosophy.
Public Policy
Public Policy indicates posts covering ideas that have moved or are likely to influence and move from the political or philosophical realm into actionable law.
Religion
I tend strongly toward the aetheistic/agnostic end of the spectrum. I also strongly subscribe to the notion that those who base their morality entirely upon their religion run the (often dangerous) risk of losing that morality when crises of faith inevitably occur. I strongly believe in the separation of church and state whether that religion is the United Church of Canada, Eco-Gaiaism, Wahhabist Islam, crystals or PETA (but not PETA).
UK
I’m a big anglophile from a family of Dutch immigrants with a decent track record of anglophilia. I’m also a big fan of the UK and like to spend time there whenever economically feasible. Currently I’m quite disturbed by the erosion of civil liberties by all levels of the British government and their petty apparatchiks. Many posts on the UK for the foreseeable future will also be labelled with petty and freedom.
US
I’m also a big fan of the US in many aspects, especially around the freedoms that its citizens enjoy and vast diversity of opinion fostered by its culture.
