| ||||
|
If you're having problems reading this newsletter, please view the original at http://www.ldp.org.au/news/Feb09newsletter.html
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ It appears the December newsletter was not received by some members. The relevant articles are repeated here. _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ The Australian Electoral Commission has given final approval for the change in the party name, from Liberty and Democracy Party to Liberal Democratic Party (official abbreviation Liberal Democrats (LDP)). The change was expected but objections by both the Liberal Party and Democrats had to be addressed. With the name settled, the Party can resume making its voice heard on issues relating to freedom and government interference. _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Most political parties issue membership cards so that members can prove their membership. As a new party, the LDP has been reluctant to spend money on these while there are other priorities. However, the Federal Executive recently decided that members would be send membership cards as a way of reinforcing the party's appreciation of them. Expect to receive yours in the mail within a few weeks. _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Sweden's government recently reversed a decision to phase out the country's 10 nuclear reactors, saying they could be replaced at the end of their life spans. "The phase-out law will be abolished. The ban in the nuclear technology law on new construction will also be abolished," the government said in a statement. "Authorisations can be granted to successively replace the existing reactors once they reach the end of their economic life spans," it said, adding that no state money would be provided for nuclear projects. Nuclear power accounts for nearly half of Sweden's electricity production. The country voted in a non-binding referendum in 1980 to phase out its 12 reactors by 2010, but that target was abandoned in 1997 after officials acknowledged there would not be sufficient alternative energy sources. "The climate issue is now in the spotlight and nuclear power will therefore remain an important part of Swedish electricity production in the foreseeable future," the government said. In Australia, nuclear energy isn’t even on the agenda as a possible method of producing electricity and in some States it is illegal to explore for uranium. The LDP’s Energy Policy calls for ALL sources of energy to be considered. COMMENTS INVITED: With countries such as Russia, China, UK and France stepping up their nuclear power program, what do you think should be the future direction of Australia, to ensure a stable supply of low emission energy? _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ The shortest, most restricted duck hunting season ever has been declared for Victoria. The State Government has approved a 49 day season to run from March 21 to May 8. The bag limit is five birds per day of which at least three must be the ubiquitous wood ducks. LDP President Peter Whelan described the decision as a blow to practical conservationists. “Year after year, dedicated duck shooters have worked in their own time to restore
wetlands and waterfowl breeding areas, even building nesting boxes and shooting
predators like foxes,” explained Whelan.
“However, with the shorter season many city based hunters will decide it’s just not worth the trip to their favourite shooting area. As a result they won't be able to enjoy their annual meal of naturally grown, humanely harvested, roast duck. Nor will they spend their money in rural areas.” “It is important for city people not to lose touch with
rural communities; increasingly there are divisions developing between
city and country. It is the aim of the LDP to remind city people that their meat
doesn’t originate pre-wrapped on plastic trays; it is farmed or hunted.
The LDP’s Environment policies have been written with
that in mind.”
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Sydney Motorbike Expo Update As most members know, the LDP was evicted from the Sydney Motorbike Expo by the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) after the first day. Strange indeed for a group that supposedly represents manufacturers and importers of motorbikes when the LDP policies are clearly pro-bike. The latest news is that we have initiated legal action against the FCAI claiming compensation of $60,000. Our membership drive for motorbike riders continues. _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Article by Mart Laar, Prime Minister of Estonia from 1992 to 1994 and from 1999 to 2002. He has also advised the Georgian government on economics. It is said that the only thing that people learn from history is that people learn nothing from history. Looking at how the world is handling the current economic crisis, this aphorism appears sadly true. World leaders have forgotten how the collapse of Wall Street in 1929 developed into a world-wide depression. It happened not thanks to market failures but as a result of mistakes made by governments which tried to protect their national economies and markets. The market was not allowed to make its corrections. Government interventions only prolonged the crisis. We may hope that, even as we see several bad signs of neo-interventionist attitude, all the mistakes of the 1930s will not be repeated. But it is clear that the tide has turned again. Capitalism has been declared dead, Marx is honoured, and the invisible hand of the market is blamed for all failures. This is not fair. Actually it is not markets that have failed but governments, which did not fulfill their role of the "visible hand" -- creating and guaranteeing market rules. Weak regulation of the banking sector and extensive lending, encouraged by governments, are examples of this failure. At the
same time, it is clear that the invisible hand still points the way out of
crises. It is easy to see when we look at how the post-communist
transition countries are tackling the economic crisis. After the collapse of
communism, Central and Eastern Europe and the Baltic countries launched several
radical reforms and achieved remarkable economic growth. Some of these countries
have trusted the invisible hand more, others less. As a result, not only have
the results of reforms been different, but the impact of economic crises as
well.
During the 1990s, the most radical and successful reforms came from the three Baltic States: Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. Open markets, economic liberalization, fast privatization, stable currencies, flat tax rates -- all of these became the trademark of the "Baltic Tigers." Early in the new millennium, the Baltic countries started to enjoy the fruits of their reforms. Economic growth reached 11% to 12% per year. Living standards rose to 60% to 70% of the European average from 15% to 20% in 1992. Yet times of rapid growth are unfortunately not always times of good decisions. Governments thought they could afford a Western-style welfare state because the economy was doing so well. Conservative financial policy was weakened, lending was encouraged, chances to join the euro zone were missed, and social expenditures rose beyond the economy's ability to bear them. Combine these mistakes with corruption, weak government and loose control of the banking sector, and the results can be very difficult -- as in Latvia, which had to take out a loan from the IMF. Countries with a more effective visible hand, such as Lithuania and Estonia, are doing much better. Estonia is cutting nearly 10% of its government budget, relying more on the market than on state intervention, and hoping to keep its finances under control so that it can join the euro zone by 2011. The
situation is even better in some parts of Central and Eastern Europe. While the
European Commission last month projected the euro-zone economy to contract by
1.9% this year, most new member states' economies are forecast to grow. The most
positive developments are in countries that have learned from the Baltic
experience and introduced radical economic reforms. They have even learned from
the mistakes of the Baltic States - and not tried to become too rich too fast.
The "best" reformer in Central and Eastern Europe, Slovakia,
introduced a flat 19% universal tax rate and launched other reforms, allowing
Slovakia to join the euro zone last month. The Commission predicts that Slovakia
will have the highest economic growth rate in Europe this year, at 2.7%. At the
same time Hungary, which has been very cautious on reforms, has been hit harder
by the crisis than the more radical reformers, and like Latvia is now dependent
on the IMF.
The same experience is seen in former Soviet republics. Russia has been slow in its economic reforms and built up an authoritarian state; it was hit especially badly by the economic crisis. Russia's aggression against Georgia last August and its gas war with Ukraine this January have made the crisis only worse for the Russian people. The trust of foreign investors is gone, and capital is quickly escaping Russia. Georgia,
on the other hand, has followed a very different policy. It has fought against
corruption, is building up stronger democratic institutions, and has supported a
good business climate, which the World Bank ranks 18th in the world. Making the
visible hand more effective has allowed Georgia to trust the invisible hand of
the market. This in turn has helped Georgia - against all odds - overcome the
results of Russian aggression with surprising ease so far. Like the rest of the
world, Georgia was hit by the recession. But the response of its government was
not to increase taxes, but to cut them and continue with reforms. Georgia's
response to the crisis has, according to the IMF's latest report, been more
successful than anybody hoped.
So as we see, freedom still works. Moving the world away from free choice and restoring the power of Big Brother is not the right answer to our current problems. _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Contributions, details of meetings are welcome up to 6pm on the second Friday of each month, after which the newsletter is submitted for editing. Send to : Graham Nickols dnickols@optusnet.com.au Urgent material missing the deadline should be forwarded directly to David Leyonhjelm at treasurer@ldp.org.au _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Given the size of the LDP a lot of our members aren't able to make it to our state branch meetings. So here's a list of links of websites that may interest you. None of the listed websites are affiliated with the LDP and none of the views expressed represent LDP policy. Australian Libertarian Society If you have a link you'd like to appear here email info@ldp.org.au and let us know about it. |
Want to help the LDP?The best way to help is to join the party or upgrade to financial membership by downloading the application form.If you're already a financial member you can make a donation by direct bank transfer to: Meet-UpUp-coming state branch meetings.NSW Branch For more info regarding how to get there go here.Vic Branch 7.00 pm Wednesday 4 March Cafe on Bourke For more info go here
| |||
| To unsubscribe from this newsletter, please reply to pr@ldp.org.au | ||||
