The Google Diversity Memo is the Counter-Culture Manifesto We Need

You've probably already heard about this controversy by now, but in case you're unaware, Google scientist James Damore was recently fired for writing an internal memo titled 'Google's Ideological Echo Chamber', (politely) criticising Google's diversity measures and recommending alternatives for maximising career opportunities for the under-represented (especially women). The reason that this was so controversial…

Rhodes Must Stand

As I've made quite clear in a previous text, I am opposed to the 'Rhodes Must Fall' campaign, and am opposed to the radical revision of history in general. It is not in spite of Rhodes' zealous attitude towards colonialism and his galling and excessive national and racial chauvinism that I make this stand, but…

Communism as Spectre (Introduction)

As a born again anti-communist, I cannot deny that I still find the Communist Manifesto to be a powerful, enchanting and intoxicating work. Although I now consider communism (in its Marxist manifestation, in contrast to nineteenth-century anarchist-communism which retrospectively might better be called something like anarchist-communalism) to be fundamentally corrupt - not just corrupt in…

John Stuart Mill Predicts Soviet Communism

"The most cogent reason for restricting the interference of government, is the great evil of adding unnecessarily to its power. Every function superadded to those already exercised by the government, causes its influence over hopes and fears to be more widely diffused, and converts, more and more, the active and ambitious part of the public…

Five-Year Old Girl Fined £150 for Unlicensed Lemonade Stand

Making the papers this morning, a five-year old girl is fined £150 by local council for selling 50p cups of homemade lemonade to passing festival goers. Four Tower Hamlet council enforcement officers issued her a fixed penalty notice, demanding immediate payment of £90 or £150 if unable to pay right away. Girl was reduced to…

Mises Elucidates the Marxian Philosophy

"The essence of the Marxian philosophy is this: We are right because we are the spokesmen of the rising proletarian class. Discursive reasoning cannot invalidate our teachings, for they are inspired by the supreme power that determines the destiny of mankind. Our adversaries are wrong because they lack the intuition that guides our minds. It…

“That’s Not Real Capitalism” – a Herculean Hurdle

A few months ago, I got chatting to some representatives of the Socialist Workers Party at their table on one of Cardiff's high streets. Not knowing anything about them, I asked the usual cursory questions: “Are you Marxists? How do you feel about Stalin's legacy? Are you Trotskyists? What's your position on Lenin?” As I…