Humans, unlike other creatures, have the incredible ability to consciously think about tomorrow. We can imagine different scenarios playing out, and plan for them accordingly. The same approach also allows us to consider the impact of our actions on others in simple and sometimes complex ways. We’re not just squirrels hoarding nuts because we feel…
What about the NHI sounds like a bad idea? Free, universal, comprehensive medical care – it’s a great ideal. What about our current healthcare setup sounds good? A small proportion of the population have access to excellent healthcare, but the vast majority have “access” to public health comprising long queues (often after long walks) to…
Wise quotes I stumbled across an interesting hypothesis today. It’s a few hundred years old so I expect many of you will already know it. It’s attributed to a German philosopher, Arthur Schopenhaur* who is described by the authors and editors of Wikipedia as beinng “known for his atheistic pessimism and philosophical clarity”. All truth…
It’s slightly disconcerting how in a relatively short few years, I’ve become so hopelessly dependent on objects, services and technologies (and one food) that I can’t imagine doing without them. This is not a long list, but I’ve thought fairly hard about it and while it is probably hyperbole to say I couldn’t do without…
After my last post around common misunderstandings of how medical schemes operate, I saw a Fin24 article on South African medical schemes that are below the required minimum solvency. What Fin24 readers had to say Nolulamo Matutu from Fin24 writes: Acting CEO of the CMA Patrick Matshidze told MPs 18 schemes have fallen below the…
Taxes are bad, right? Death and taxes, mentioned in the same breath so tax must be bad. We have to pay it, never want to pay it, imagine what we could afford if we didn’t have to pay it. Taxes are so bad that we spend millions on paying less tax. But of course that’s…
Tale I – Norway The Norwegian Oil Fund now owns 1.7% of all European shares – this for a country of 4.7 million people. Â It’s also known as the Petroleum Fund (Oljefondet in Norwegian) or The Government Pension Fund – Global. The Fund is effectively a country pension fund – save up now during the…
The Automobile Associate seems to think someone should care what their view on petrol prices is. photo credit: Daquella manera Taxes on fuel are like other taxes – a way of financing government expenditure and a distortion of an otherwise free market. The difference is that the free market does not price in externalities such…
