The social sciences are just opinion dressed up as evidence-based theory. From something just sent to me, although published in the middle of December: Reform the economic system now or the populists will do it: The interests of the financial sector and the economy at large are different.

Direct inflation targeting is common today, but was unknown before the 1990s. Medium-term fiscal policy targets are also a modern invention, as are independent fiscal councils. Behind these institutions and policies lie a theoretical foundation — new Keynesian macroeconomics. John Maynard Keynes himself would probably characterise its average proponent as “a defunct economist”.

The theory asserts three key points. One, that a low rate of inflation is consistent with full employment, so it is sufficient for a central bank to target a low rate of inflation. Two, that fiscal policy should not be used for economic fine-tuning but should follow medium-term stability targets. And three, that neither monetary nor fiscal policy make a difference in the long run.

But as he says, there is a problem:

While the case for a challenge of the macroeconomic policy doctrine is overwhelming, I doubt the western policy establishment will do it. As happened during the financial crisis, vested interests will intervene. The macroeconomists who designed the models are the gatekeepers and the beneficiaries of the system. They are the independent central bankers. They are running the independent fiscal councils. Some are finance ministers.

If economists cannot tell that Obama along with the rest of these mad spenders have left our economies a wreck, it must only be because they are so cossetted from any actual economic problems that they are impervious to just about anything. Real living standards for a large part of the population are falling – tried to buy a house lately on an average income? – but they not only cannot explain it, they cannot even see it.

From MD in the comments to the previous post:

There are some new expressions we will see used frequently this year and we need to understand them:

fake news = news from non-leftist sources that give voice to the silent majority;

populism = a majority of the population rejecting the self-indulgent agenda the Left want to impose on everyone, by force if necessary;

there need to be checks and balances when the people get it wrong = we, the Left, will use the courts, international ‘law’, and the regulation-making power of the executive to force our agenda on an unwilling populace;

Australians are horrified at Trump’s victory (they actually said this on their ABC) = leftists are horrified that people are pushing back against their agenda;

Australia is the most successful multicultural society in the world (an oldie that makes regular appearances) = the Left don’t just want to vandalise our society; they want to rub our faces in it while they do it;

far-right party = a centrist party that promotes non-leftist mainstream policies;

Australia is a tolerant society = we are too afraid to express our views because of the threat of persecution by government agencies. Second, the leftist media not only will not give voice to the concerns of the community and will even go to the extreme of attempting to fabricate an alternative reality. Third, we have been cowed by government. We know we have no power and no rights so we just let them walk all over us;

This is an example of how democracy can fail = the people voted and we, the Left, did not like the result.

They first pretend that Trump won because of Russian hacking, they imply that hacking means that the Russians manipulated voting machines, and now take this out and out falsehood to a very dangerous international level. They are utterly deranged, who cannot understand the reality that they lost because they are a reprehensible lot who do not deserve to govern.

Capitalism is an economic system. Under capitalism, most of the means of production are owned by people who must make their living by selling the things they produce at prices that cover their costs. You can see capitalism in operation anywhere living standards have been rising.

Socialism is a form of parasitism. It bleeds productivity with its hunger for revenge against the successful and envy of what others have achieved that they cannot achieve themselves.

A socialist would rather be poor than that others should be rich. If socialists are to become rich themselves, they will never do it by producing something and creating value, but by finding their way into a position of political power that allows them to syphon off the wealth created by others.

Everything about this story from the start to the present moment is disturbing. It is partly the legislation and even more the personnel of the Human Rights Commission that has led us now to this: QUT case: Cindy Prior must pay students $200,000-plus.

Section 18C complainant Cindy Prior faces being pursued into bankruptcy after a judge ordered she pay an estimated $200,000 in legal costs for three QUT students who were accused of racial hatred over Facebook posts.

Somewhere along the way, the AHRC did not head this off into what it is supposed to do, which is to bring the parties together and help them sort out the issues. Instead, it was left to fester, and Ms. Prior was allowed to think that this was some kind of get-rich-quick scheme. Instead, she has been brought to financial ruin.

What I want to hear is from Gillian Triggs and the others at the AHRC who seem to me to share a goodly portion of the blame for what has happened to Ms Prior.

Classless Obamas Cancelled Photo-Op of White House Welcome for President-Elect Trump and Wife Melania.

The Obamas refused to be photographed welcoming President-Elect Donald Trump and his wife Melania to the White House Thursday morning, according to a report by the Wall Street Journal.

Nice touch. A jerk from start to end. And then there’s this: AWKWARD FIRST MEETING: Trump talks of ‘difficulties’ in chat with Obama at White House

Mr Trump claimed it was a “great honour” to meet with Mr Obama, who has he previously branded “the worst President in the history of our country”.

But he appeared solemn as the pair gave a joint press conference at the Oval Office, before reluctantly shaking hands with Mr Obama.

And then along the same lines: Awkward moment sworn enemies Obama and President-elect Trump pose together in the Oval Office during first EVER meeting. And if you go to the link you will not find a photo where the two are seen looking at each other in the eye. It may even be deep, personal and genuine, whatever they might say in public, and not just politics as usual. I understand what Rush means when he says I’m Getting Nervous About All These Calls for Trump to Unify with the Losers, but Trump is different. In any case, we are soon enough going to know.

ANN COULTER ADDITION: PRESIDENT TRUMP’S FIRST 100 DAYS.

Well, that was the easy part. All Trump had to do was vanquish people too stupid to pick up the thousand-dollar bill lying on the sidewalk — smug, smirking, out-of-touch establishment drones.

Now comes the part Americans have desperately hoped for, but almost never seen: A politician keeping his promises to the American people. (See, e.g., Senate candidate Marco Rubio’s 2010 promise to oppose amnesty if elected; Sen. Mitch McConnell’s 2014 promise to block Obama’s executive amnesty if Republicans were handed a Senate majority; Jeb Bush, John Kasich and Ted Cruz’s promise to support the 2016 Republican presidential nominee.)

Hey, anybody else remember “Read My Lips”? That was from the family too pristine to sully themselves by voting for Trump.

With the self-assurance of everything else they’ve said wrong about Trump from Day One, the media are already announcing that he, too, will betray the American people.

I don’t think so! To help Mr. Trump keep his promises, I’ve compiled a detailed schedule for his first 100 days in office. Please note that each day is meticulously planned:

Day 1: Start building the wall.

Day 2 – Day 100: Continue building the wall.

Good luck, President Donald Trump!

AND THEN THERE’S THIS: Trump is already working to erase Obama’s legacy from history. Would that he could. But what he can he will. Why the word “surprisingly” in the story? These people still don’t understand the nature of power and how it is used.

President-elect Donald Trump was surprisingly gracious as he met President Barack Obama in the Oval Office on Thursday but make no mistake: He is already working to erase major parts of Obama’s legacy from the history books.

Trump will be able to change some of Obama’s policies with a quick stroke of the pen. Others will be much more difficult, requiring justification to pass legal hurdles or buy-in from lawmakers on Capitol Hill or foreign leaders. . . .

Later in the day, Trump emerged from meetings with House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and noted that he wants to work on health care, immigration, lower taxes and job creation – all moving in an opposite direction from Obama.

Sounds good to me.

From Berlin Prepares to Admit Defeat on Refugees?. Apparently, we are now a model of some sort.

Germany is trying to walk back its open door promises on refugees and migrants even further, with the Interior Ministry reportedly looking to Australia as a model. The EU Observer explains that the proposed system would seek to intercept migrants at sea and send them back to North Africa. . . .

If Germany gets tougher on migrants, the usual suspects will repeat the usual platitudes about human rights and values. In just the past two weeks, for example, the Australian model has been repeatedly attacked by the editorial board of The New York Times. Moral preening, coupled with a studied inability to recognize real political and social limits of a controversial policy, has amplified an already-grim situation. Hopefully Berlin is finally beginning to sober up.

This is the video of Jennifer Hawkins introducing Trump in 2011 at the National Achievers Convention in Sydney.

And this is the video that has made the rounds.

But who of the millions who have been lied to about the reality will ever get to find out? And to see what has been made of the story, this is from The Australian: US election 2016: Donald Trump sexually humiliates Jennifer Hawkins.

But the comments at The Australian shows that at least some of these are onto it. These are the top comments in order from the top rated, which are almost all from two days ago which was when the story was released.

james 2 days ago
I am still waiting for The Australian to retract this nonsense with a full apology to Trump, Hawkins and us, the suffering readers, putting up with these hack jobs.

Trump talks about draining the swamp, we have a a few swamps in various Australian news rooms that need draining.

My subscription money can easily be invested elsewhere and I have to say, I am seriously thinking about it. I think it a privilege to be able to comment about articles and opinion pieces, but it does not rule my decision making.

To The Australian editors: Clean out your staff and clean up your act!

Sandra 2 days ago
Oh please. What a carry-on over nothing. I swear this paper is getting worse every day.

Timothy 2 days ago
Just a couple of objective points … that is, if objectivity in “news” is still acceptable.

1. The ‘author’ of this “news” article seems to have forgotten to put their name to this piece but then again, can you blame them given the ‘quality’ of this piece.

2. The ‘author’ of this “news” article seems to have either never listened to the audio or they have intentionally left out more than one line of the back and forth dialog clearly to make the actual event appear more risqué so as to suite their own purpose rather to inform the readership.

3. The ‘author’ of this “news” article seems to have either never watched the video or they have intentionally failed to make the observation that Hawkins appeared to be enjoying the banter and further, that Hawkins on several occasions while standing very close to Trump, did, in fact, make intentional physical contact with Trump first in what appeared to be signs of affection.

4. The ‘author’ of this “news” article seems to have either never watched the video or they have intentionally failed to make the observation that Hawkins could clearly have either not come up on the stage or left the stage at anytime before saying “Thank you.” to the audience before returning to her seat if she had, in fact felt bullied, intimidated, sexually harassed, etc.

5. The ‘author’ of this “news” article either intentionally or intentionally has mislead the readership when they say “The video is the latest of a number that have emerged in recent weeks, showing Mr Trump making crass remarks about women and boasting that he can grab and kiss them without consent because of his fame.” (emphasis added)

I both fear and hope that what has happened here is that some intern has managed to get a “news” article published on-line without it having been reviewed by a ‘real’ journalist and/or even the most junior of editors. I would hate to think that The Australian has stooped to this level and call it “news”. We can but live in hope.

John 2 days ago
I’m no Trump fan BUT…..

Your narration of what the video shows is unhinged and dreadfully unfair.

It’s not – as you claim – Trump sexually humiliating Jennifer Hawkins. Watch it and its actually an amusing, good hearted roast. She doesn’t seem the slightest put out.

Will 2 days ago
Since I know you won’t publish my comment let me say this. I am appalled by the way the dinosaur media have sold their souls to support the obviously very, very corrupt Clinton family and all their minions including those in the FBI, the State department, the department of Justice and the White house. Whoever wrote this crap didn’t even have the decency to put their name to it. Its time to put on the big boy pants, ignore your special interests and actually report the bloody news!

Jean-Pierre 2 days ago
I have “perused” almost all the comments posted below and came to the conclusion that the OZ has shot itself in the foot with this – anonymous – piece of garbage. Refund/termination of subscription is an option I am about to contemplate…… What an utter crap……

Ian 2 days ago
Will you give it up, please?

The number of people I know who are cancelling their Australian subscription after the outcome of the US election – you don’t want to know.

Why you so slavishly repeat the Clinton-owned MSM propaganda, I will never understand.

Have they really bought you too?

Barry 2 days ago
Why is Australia’s leading newspaper giving up on journalism? This is the kind of juvenile muck usually associated with what University newspaper editors think is print worthy.

Come on “The Australian”, lift your game.

Peter 2 days ago
memo to the australian media . . we don’t vote for the US president so strop throwing your biased rubbish down our throat

Ben 2 days ago
This is the final straw. This rag has spent months and months looking for the tiniest story on trump. Yet ignoring the fact we are up to the podesta email leaks 21. Now she’s under investigation again by the FBI and you hardly touch on it. Come Monday I’ll cancel my subscription and source my news via social media, Wikileaks and Russia today. Your hatred for trump is too transparent.

Nick 2 days ago
This is a horrendous article. Writer too spineless to attach their name. You can have your subscription back

James 2 days ago
I’m dropping my subscription. The video showed that both of these people had humour. Who would have thought that when standing in front of a crowd you would embellish a story for a bit of entertainment! Trump seems completely reasonable here in this context. It’s a shame the Australian has lost its integrity.

Frank 2 days ago
Having watched that video, whats the problem? He is telling a joke. A little bit risque. So what? The audience is laughing right along with him. The model doesn’t seem offended. No BS or PC nonsense with Trump. What you see is what you get. Fantastic.

Joan 2 days ago
Big story on corrupt Hillary so what do they do, try a itty bitty Donald is a pervert story. We are on to you.

Anne N 2 days ago
If you want the TRUE story of that video. Google!

I did and found the event in Sydney in 2011 at the National Achievers Convention. Jennifer was on stage for several minutes waving and playing the crowd and then she introduced the next guest, Donald Trump.

He walked out and she greeted him by kissing him on the cheek, then he kissed her on her cheek as her face was turning toward the camera.. He did not lay a hand on her.

She then walked off stage leaving him to talk.

The video is on Youtube dated Oct, 2, 2011.. You will also see this latest edited versions if you Google,, that may even have it’s audio edited to suit the agenda/ but the original is all anyone should be interested in., that is if you are only interested in true facts.

The tape is 1min 58 seconds long.

Lynda 2 days ago
This is an absolute disgrace and insult to our intelligence- you are going to lose HEAPS of subscriptions over this one! We are over it.

John 2 days ago
Interesting…I just watched the video in it’s entirety and it’s nothing like what has been portrayed…indeed, the exact opposite.

I see only two possible alternatives…either the article was written by a junior journalist not capable of doing the most basic research or “The Australian” has an agenda.

Which is it?

Colin 23 hours ago
Disgraceful reporting trying to get attention like the trashy USA media. I was there in the audience and I actually have a similar recording. It was nothing like what this paper is portraying it. Anyone can take a 2 min clip from a longer presentation and twist it to fit. Very disappointed.

John 2 days ago
Is this it, this what I never finished reading? Pathetic. How desperate are these leftie gits going to become? Boy they are worried.

What a rubbish article. Did Clinton pay for this?

What a beat up. It’s all good natured banter.

Donald Trump – National Achievers Congress 2011″ and watch the whole talk.

Then you can see for yourself how stupid this article is and how dishonest the video excerpt provided really is.

Like many other subscribers I’m also thinking of cancelling my subscription. I thought I was paying for journalism and thoughtful opinions. Not propaganda and hit pieces.

Well, you can see who didn’t.

Watch the video and here is the story from which it was taken: Hillary Caught Using Child Actor At Pennsylvania Town Hall. The first para:

At a Hillary Clinton town hall yesterday in Haverford, Pennsylvania, a 15 year old girl was supposedly “chosen at random” to ask a question of the former Secretary of State. But, the well-scripted performance raised some suspicion with a YouTuber named Spanglevision who decided to dig a little deeper. And, wouldn’t you know it, the “random” participant was none other than child actor, Brennan Leach, whose father just happens to be Pennsylvania democratic State Senator Daylin Leach. Oh, and in case it wasn’t obvious, Daylin supports Hillary for president…shocking.

This story has been picked up at Instapundint under the heading: HILLARY CAUGHT USING CHILD ACTRESS AT PENNSYLVANIA TOWN HALL. And as part of that post, there is this incredible footage from the movie, Wag the Dog that replicates as part of a film what you have just seen as an actual reality.

The problem may be that I am unable to be as cynical as I need to be about the way things really are to comprehend in full the dishonesty that seems to be found in every part of the public world that I would like to think I know something about.

But really, the question that ought to be asked is why is this even an issue in an American presidential election?