WeblogBahamas.com

On Integration

Rick Lowe

A question we need to ask ourselves.

"What do you think might help people integrate? Leave aside how many people should come here. For the people who have already arrived, do you think government (either local or central) should be trying to do more to help people fit in? Or is it up to us? Do you even agree that we should be aiming for new arrivals to fit in and feel British?" Bahamian?

Sounds like debates were having here about the Haitian migration issue (click here…) but it is one we need to discuss in a serious manner. It should not be a hot button election issue.

Read the entire article about Britain and their integration issue here…

What to do about unemployment

Rick Lowe

Mr. Jeffrey Todd, Business Editor of The Nassau Guardian called on Tuesday to ask what I thought about how the government can help stimulate the economy to create employment. See the interview with Mr. Winston Rolle, head of the Chamber of Commerce and myself here…

My initial suggestions:

1. Government needs to reduce some of the regulations. Even remove minimum wage for first time employees. At least let them get a foot on the ladder.
2. Review the business licensing process and cut down on the red tape and delays.

Obviously there is no easy answer with the economic turmoil around the world, and if Europe crashes, well who know when things will improve.

I know the political class intend to "help", but so often their policies inensify the problems they think they're alleviating.

Further reading: Unemployment. Causes and Cures by Farrell E. Block

Perry Christie wrong on taxpayer funded elections

Rick Lowe

Mr. Christie, leader of the Opposition PLP has stated that, "if elected, he would ensure the government provides some sort of election funding for parties and individuals running in a general election."

Surely Bahamians should not be forced to give their money in support of a political party or candidate that they would not otherwise support?

It never ceases to amaze me how some people in the political class believe they have the right to divvy up taxpayer money for their personal benefit.

In the same Bahama Journal article of Monday, February 6, 2012 Mr. Christie goes on to suggest that "Democracy ought not to be frustrated by people who don't have the means to do so".

Now there's an interesting twist.

Surely a political party should have to solicit voters support, financial and otherwise and not have the ability to take taxpayer money for their purposes?

It is the political parties themselves that have driven the cost of elections up trying to put on the best "show", making the cost prohibitive for the average person to throw their hat into the proverbial ring.

That is frustrating democracy more than anything else.

Additional reading:
Wrong to Use Tax Money for Campaigns by Edward H. Crane
The Failures of Taxpayer Financing of Presidential Campaigns by John Samples

Mr. Branville McCartney and his motivation

Rick Lowe

This letter to The Editor of The Tribune on February 3, 2012, reminded me of a couple things I've wanted to blog about regarding Mr. Branville McCartney's motivation for some time.

First, "when he donned his camouflage" while 'rounding up haitians' for the press, was little more than grandstanding. It reminded me of when the price control people would take their picture for the press while confiscating (read stealing) items from the food stores because they were supposedly priced incorrectly. As if it's a useful practice. Releasing statistics seems more beneficial.

Second. He resigned from Cabinet because he was called down for having to release haitians he had rounded up right after the tragic earthquake in Port 'au Prince, the capital city of Haiti.

Being "forced" to release the "prisoners" because there was no where to send them to - after Port 'au Prince was flattened , a humantarian effort of sorts, he was so incensed that he chose to resign his post from Cabinet and then the FNM party.

These two events give me pause about Mr. McCartney and his ability to lead a government.

In the first instance, grandstanding that way when rounding up illegal immigrants remains a vital part of the Immigration Departments work is a bit over the top. And, in the second instance, I wonder why the thought never occurred to him to slow down on these exercises until there was a clear indication of what was happening on the ground in Haiti?

It's all a bit peculiar to me. What's your take?

Rory Gallagher - Song of the week - February 6, 2012 - Barley & Grape Rag

 

 

Rory Gallagher, one of the many great guitarists out of the UK, was actually Irish, made some fabulous music. Not only was he a superb guitarist he was also a brilliant songwriter. Wonder what kind of music he'd be writing if he were still alive?

Anyway, when we were in Florida recently we came across a music store that was closing down and I was able to buy 10 of Gallagher's CD's for under $100. A steal.

Please visit the web site dedicated to his memory here… and buy some of his material. There's some great stuff to choose from, but if you're new to him I'd suggest "Crest of  A Wave", a best of set, and "Notes From San Francisco". They should give you a good feel for his work.

The song of the week is from his 1976 release, Calling Card. I hope you enjoy it.

Barley & Grape Rag

 

On introducing renewable energy any time soon: A pipe dream?

 

From GridCarbon iPhone App

Rick Lowe

Mr. Mark Humes, chairman of the DNA, was recently quoted in The Nassau Guardian feature column, "My Ten Cents", as saying "We need to introduce renewable energy sources like solar, hydro and wind that can all be used to bring down the cost of doing business".  (http://bit.ly/A0fT4m)

Preserving the environment is one thing, and it might even be desirable for the political class to encourage us to be more conscious of this, but even a country the size of the United Kingdom relies on coal, gas and nuclear for over 90% of its energy requirements. So is it even feasible at this point in time for an investment in these so called "green" technologies for The Bahamas?

Using an iPhone App that measures the UK Grid Carbon Intensity, developed by the University of Southampton called GridCarbon, only 3.9% of the UK's power was from Wind and .9% from Hydro. Coal accounted for 54.8%, Gas 20.6% and Nuclear 20% (as at 1:45am GMT on February 4, 2012). See image at left.

What is the cost of a wind farm or hydro plant? Where would they have to be placed to work? How about solar panels large enough to run a power grid for an average New Providence neighbourhood? In other words, has a cost benefit analysis been done or are these cute, throw away lines at election time?

Sure, why not dream of a cleaner and cheaper way of producing electricity. But to suggest this technology or even our ability to use it in a practical manner is available and at prices we can afford any time soon, so the price of business will be reduced, is little more than a pipe dream.

Lets protect the environment of course, but we also have to be practical about it.

Some sensible talk on economic inequality

Rick Lowe

Hope you enjoy the following video from Economic Freedom and Professor Robert Lawson.

Poke around their web site for a bit. I bet you'll enjoy it.

Burmese pythons thought to be wrecking Florida's Everglades

 

Click on image for more information from www.naturephoto-cz.com

Rick Lowe

I posted those photos of the Everglades yesterday as a result of this article in The International Business Times and other newspapers.

Here's a heartbreaking snippet from the article by Amir Khan:

"The Burmese python is wrecking the Florida Everglades ecosystem and have devastated small mammal populations in the area, according to a recent study. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the number raccoon and possums spotted in the Everglades has dropped more than 98 percent, bobcat sightings are down 87 percent, and rabbits and foxes have not been seen at all in years.

"Burmese pythons are not native to the Everglades. They were spotted since the 1980s, but were established as an invasive species in 2000. It is not known how they originated, but some believe that pet owners abandoned snakes once they reach an unmanageable size (Burmese pythons can grow up to 12 feet). Another theory on how Burmese pythons came to the Everglades is that a holding warehouse filled with imported Burmese pythons was destroyed by Hurricane Andrew, releasing the snakes en masse in a single area.

Florida's Fabulous Everglades. Simply incredible.

 The following photos were taken over the years in Florida's Everglades.

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 Click on each image for a closer look.

 

But what about welfare you ask

Rick Lowe

A reader of our post yesterday, while sympathetic to the point raised, wondered what happened to those people in society that cannot work or help themselves.

This is a legitimate question, although she was conferring the responsibility to help on the "government". I quickly pointed out that private charity was pushed out by government mandates as noted by Dr. Richard Ebeling in a lecture entitled The Economics of Liberty and The Welfare State, watch it here… and I still think private charity is the best route.

If that doesn't help, read The Poverty of Welfare: Helping Others in Civil Society by Michael Tanner.

Here's what sums it up best as far as I'm concerend.  It's from Donald J. Kochan and his 1997 article for The Freeman entitled, The Pervasive Duty to Rescue: Only Private Charity Can Help Those Truly in Need of Assistance.

"…Government programs create dependency, create flawed incentives, and are too broad and generalized to target resources effectively. They hurt more than they help. In tort law, an individual can be held liable for a failed rescue when his heroic attempts are beyond his capacity and actually do harm to the one in need of assistance. The government, however, is not liable for the harm its rescue programs do.

"Only private charity can meet the requirements of those truly in need of assistance. Private funds can be targeted toward those in actual need. Moreover, private organizations are smaller and more localized, allowing them to address the specific problems that needy people have and apply specific solutions, instead of merely sending out impersonal checks drawn against government accounts. Finally, private charities must be more accountable, for they do not have the coercive power of taxation available to ensure continued funding.

"Government programs, unfortunately, have co-opted this superior private approach. Many people believe that they need not get involved because of a flawed perception that the government is doing the job. Moreover, many cannot afford to assist privately, given the drain on their budget from taxation. In tort law, a person can be held liable for preventing a needy individual from getting more effective assistance.[6] That, essentially, is what the government does by its discouragement of private charity, but again, the government is not liable for the harm it does.

"The rules of the common law, developed over many centuries, usually exhibit a profound wisdom in the ordering of human affairs. The rule against compulsory rescues is such a rule. If you were obligated to help everyone in need, the demands on your time and money would be almost endless. The only solution to the problem that protects the individual’s freedom of action and property rights is the one adopted by the common law: there is no legal duty to rescue. There may be a moral duty, but the law leaves that to the individual and his conscience." (Emphasis added).

Using the coercive force of government to "help" the less fortunate only encourages depedency, and I don't think that's what society wants. It is surely not what's best.