Kia-ora
From New Scientist. How to be a denialist.
How to be a denialist
Martin McKee, an epidemiologist at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine who also studies denial, has identified six tactics that all denialist movements use. "I'm not suggesting there is a manual somewhere, but one can see these elements, to varying degrees, in many settings," he says (The European Journal of Public Health, vol 19, p 2).
* 1. Allege that there's a conspiracy. Claim that scientific consensus has arisen through collusion rather than the accumulation of evidence.
* 2. Use fake experts to support your story. "Denial always starts with a cadre of pseudo-experts with some credentials that create a facade of credibility," says Seth Kalichman of the University of Connecticut.
* 3. Cherry-pick the evidence: trumpet whatever appears to support your case and ignore or rubbish the rest. Carry on trotting out supportive evidence even after it has been discredited.
* 4. Create impossible standards for your opponents. Claim that the existing evidence is not good enough and demand more. If your opponent comes up with evidence you have demanded, move the goalposts.
* 5. Use logical fallacies. Hitler opposed smoking, so anti-smoking measures are Nazi. Deliberately misrepresent the scientific consensus and then knock down your straw man.
* 6. Manufacture doubt. Falsely portray scientists as so divided that basing policy on their advice would be premature. Insist "both sides" must be heard and cry censorship when "dissenting" arguments or experts are rejected.
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Sunday, May 9, 2010
Bill Payne and Andrew Hamilton: Why NZ needs to be on the side of the angels - Opinion - NZ Herald News
Bill Payne and Andrew Hamilton: Why NZ needs to be on the side of the angels - Opinion - NZ Herald News
Kia-ora
Funding for start up companies is an ongoing problem. Venture Capital works on a 1 in 10 basis. Out of every 10 startups roughly 1 in 10 will return capital many times. 3 will make a reasonable return and 6 will fail to return on the capital invested.
Banks will only lend to startups on the owners mortgage or other solid assets.
The cost of capital for businesses from banks and finance companies is often prohibitive, especially as New Zealand interest and exchange rates are usually artificially high compared with overseas competitors. (Due to externalities of the reserve bank act).
Many new businesses founder from lack of capital at the first stage of expansion, after the owners mortgage equity is exhausted, despite being basically viable.
Shareholder funding is only available after a certain stage is reached. Also shareholders do not normally contribute anything to funding, in the way a private owner does, after their initial share purchase. Shareholders then become a cost to the business. Often demanding excessive borrowing to maintain dividends.
The demand for increasing share value is a social cost because a shareholder owned business requires constant growth. Continual growth is not sustainable.
Shareholders often close down and asset strip businesses even though they are making fair incomes because they see an opportunity to make more elsewhere. Lately elsewhere has been funny financial products.
We need a new funding model which allows for steady state sustainable businesses.
The New Zealand business man with the bach,beamer and boat is not a bad aspiration. Small/medium steady state businesses are the mainstay of our economy.
Kia-ora
Funding for start up companies is an ongoing problem. Venture Capital works on a 1 in 10 basis. Out of every 10 startups roughly 1 in 10 will return capital many times. 3 will make a reasonable return and 6 will fail to return on the capital invested.
Banks will only lend to startups on the owners mortgage or other solid assets.
The cost of capital for businesses from banks and finance companies is often prohibitive, especially as New Zealand interest and exchange rates are usually artificially high compared with overseas competitors. (Due to externalities of the reserve bank act).
Many new businesses founder from lack of capital at the first stage of expansion, after the owners mortgage equity is exhausted, despite being basically viable.
Shareholder funding is only available after a certain stage is reached. Also shareholders do not normally contribute anything to funding, in the way a private owner does, after their initial share purchase. Shareholders then become a cost to the business. Often demanding excessive borrowing to maintain dividends.
The demand for increasing share value is a social cost because a shareholder owned business requires constant growth. Continual growth is not sustainable.
Shareholders often close down and asset strip businesses even though they are making fair incomes because they see an opportunity to make more elsewhere. Lately elsewhere has been funny financial products.
We need a new funding model which allows for steady state sustainable businesses.
The New Zealand business man with the bach,beamer and boat is not a bad aspiration. Small/medium steady state businesses are the mainstay of our economy.
Matt McCarten : Protest a glimmer of hope in our doormat country - page 2 - Opinion - NZ Herald News
Matt McCarten : Protest a glimmer of hope in our doormat country - page 2 - Opinion - NZ Herald News
Kia-ora
The transfer of wealth from ordinary people and the increase in inequality in New Zealand continues as Matt McCarten says in this Herald article.
The share of national income for wage and salary earners has decreased from 75% in 1980 to 50% today. At the same time executive salaries have increased at a much greater rate than skilled wage and salary earners wages. No wonder why New Zealanders are borrowing to maintain their standard of living.
Do we want to be like the Philippines. A few rich people living behind walls and private security while the rest fight over the leavings, because that is the way our Governments are taking us!
Kia-ora
The transfer of wealth from ordinary people and the increase in inequality in New Zealand continues as Matt McCarten says in this Herald article.
The share of national income for wage and salary earners has decreased from 75% in 1980 to 50% today. At the same time executive salaries have increased at a much greater rate than skilled wage and salary earners wages. No wonder why New Zealanders are borrowing to maintain their standard of living.
Do we want to be like the Philippines. A few rich people living behind walls and private security while the rest fight over the leavings, because that is the way our Governments are taking us!
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