So claims Niall Ferguson, professor of history at Harvard.
(These are notes prepared for a Radio New Zealand ‘Nights’ Pundits conversation with Bryan Crump. Tuesday 12 December 2017.)
Read MoreOpinion is killing journalism
The 'little men' of the modern media are dragging down a once respected profession because they lack the courage to maintain the standards journalists once held dear
Read MoreWhat is Central Banking Really About?
The retirement of the Governor of the Reserve Bank of New Zealand leads to a reflection on what has been really going on.
Read MoreTrade Deals are about Winners AND Losers
Comparative advantage is rarely important in modern trade deals, such as TPP11 (CPTPP). Why bother?
Read MoreWe're getting the band back together!
Nostalgia acts are all the rage right now. The Golriz Ghahraman story gives us a chance to revisit the good old pre-2014 days of Dirty Politics.
Read MoreWhy does Don Brash think it is so important that we are one people?
Hearing the use of the Maori language on mainstream media during Maori Language Week provoked Don Brash to again demand that we be "one people" united in our Britishness. No doubt there are many people who agree with him. But is the tide of history leading to a more diverse society and is Maori language and culture becoming part of all of our lives?
Read MoreContra Quin: Ghahraman still did nothing wrong
Phil Quin says Golriz Ghahraman's time working for defendants in Rwandan war crimes trials deserves our condemnation. I don't think he's established the basis for such a claim.
Read MoreDid Golriz Ghahraman do anything wrong?
The job of an international human rights lawyer isn't always battling for the angels. Sometimes it involves having to look out for the interests of devils, as Golriz Ghahraman did.
Read MoreFree speech matters, in any language
An ODT column on the use of te reo in the media has put a lot of noses out of joint. Offensive as it is to some, let's learn from recent history and figure out how to discuss intolerance rather than simply yelling back
Read MoreRemembering Holodomor; The Great Ukrainian Famine
The connection between famines and democracy may not be obvious. but each sheds light upon the other.
Read MoreWhen did the future switch from being a promise to being a threat?
Poor Dave Withrow's radio insists on speaking te reo Māori to him. Won't someone please think of the aging fisherman?
Read MoreHow goes the revolution? Too soon to say
While they're still getting used to being taken seriously and driven around in limos, we've already seen some fumbles and fair play by the new government
Read MoreHow far right is New Zealand?
I prepared this for a US audience; hence its more American perspective. But it may also inform New Zealanders about their politics and about MMP politics.
Read MoreReducing Child Poverty
Despite many attempts, we have been remarkably ineffective at reducing child poverty. Can we expect the current government to do better?
Read MoreHow to Have More Coherent and Directed Child Policy and Support Services.
The new government may talk about paying greater attention to children, but it needs to change the advice and delivery institutions to achieve its goal.
Read MoreIn defence of discord
Kumbaya be damned... Labour needs to pull-up its big boy pants, thank National for its robust approach and get on with business. That is how you become a great government
Read MoreA very MMP election... & a manicured mandate
After a wee holiday, some thoughts on how the new government should play its hand... and reflections on some good decisions that laid the ground for the 'coalition of losers'
Read MoreHow Have We Changed?
Rogernomics wanted to change us culturally. Has it succeeded?
Read MoreSimon Bridges thinks that Simon Bridges is eroding parliamentary democracy
Changes to parliamentary procedure that Simon Bridges helped craft and then explicitly championed while in Government now appear to be bad for National in opposition. So Simon Bridges thinks that they are the worst attack on democratic rights we have ever seen.
Read MoreWe can do better than this
A dislike of capitalism is something that unites the partners in the new government. They believe it has done more harm than good. But what do they actually mean? And what is their alternative? Over the next three years we will find out and whether our lives can be better.
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