Thu, 24 June 2004

Press Release Libertarianz Alcohol

More Nannying. More Tax. No Dyson?

"More tax and more nannying" is how Libertarianz spokesman Peter Cresswell describes the 'major new programme' announced today by Labour wowser Damien O'Connor to 'reduce alcohol-related harm.' "This new 'levy' adds to the dozen or so new taxes already introduced by Michael Cullen this term.

"Drinkers will be paying yet another tax on their tipple to fund this feel-good crap," notes Cresswell, who asks: "When will government simply leave people alone to live their lives in their own way? Have they never heard of the phrase 'self-responsibility?'"

Cresswell agrees in part with O'Connor however. "We certainly do need a change in our culture - a change away from the busybody wowserism embraced by Nanny-State government."

Concluding, a wry Cresswell says he is surprised Ruth Dyson was not announcing the new programme. "She has after all proved a model of self-responsibility in this regard."

ENDS

© Scoop Media

Gordon Campbell: On the Sony cyber attack

Given the layers of meta-irony involved, the saga of the Sony cyber attack seemed at the outset more like a snarky European art film than a popcorn entry at the multiplex.

Yet now with (a) President Barack Obama weighing in on the side of artistic freedom and calling for the US to make a ‘proportionate response’quickly followed by (b) North Korea’s entire Internet service going down, and with both these events being followed by (c) Sony deciding to backtrack and release The Interview film that had made it a target for the dastardly North Koreans in the first place, then ay caramba…the whole world will now be watching how this affair pans out. More>>