Benjamin Clark

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Articles

Common Law and National Identity – Adam M. Carrington

3 weeks ago | lawliberty.org | Benjamin Clark |Adam Carrington |Mike Watson |Gage Klipper

Affirmative action, abortion, and LGBTQ rights: Americans debate the approach we should take to these issues along Constitutional, policy, and moral lines. Each matter holds distinct elements. However, when you strip the arguments for and against to their foundation, you find a common root. They all concern the meaning of the assertion, made in the Declaration of Independence, that “all men are created equal.”This example displays a broader point. First principles wear many clothes.
Politicians loves handing out tax breaks for small business. But do they work?

Feb 17, 2025 | inkl.com | Benjamin Clark |Bernard Keane

Everyone loves investment tax breaks for business, especially small business. Politicians love handing them out. The beneficiaries love receiving them. Providers of capital equipment love them because they boost demand — think of all those giant utes on the roads subsidised by tax breaks for tradies. The business press extols their virtues, even if they only bring forward tax deductions that would have been claimed over a longer period. But do they actually work?
Albanese squares up to Zuckerberg… but capitulates to Murdoch

Dec 15, 2024 | crikey.com.au | Benjamin Clark

On Thursday, the Albanese government announced a new plan — the news bargaining incentive (NBI) — to ensure tech giants keep paying for Australian journalism. The plan entails imposing an unavoidable levy on large digital platforms if they refuse to enter commercial deals with media outlets. The levy will apply to all social and search platforms with Australian revenue of more than $250 million.
Elon Musk wants to decimate America. Stop him by ditching Twitter

Nov 24, 2024 | crikey.com.au | Benjamin Clark

Like Lynx deodorant, wet dreams and the comedian Jimmy Carr, libertarianism is meant to be a phase men grow out of by at least their late teens. Elon Musk, however, appears to be growing more adolescent as he ages. His “small government” ideology is obviously blinkered, conveniently skating over the billions in taxpayer loans and contracts he has received. Nonetheless, it is increasingly central to both his political and business decisions.
The cost of living killed Kamala. It could end Albanese's leadership too

Nov 11, 2024 | crikey.com.au | Benjamin Clark

Anyone discussing the US election ought to affix this important caveat: the dust is still settling, results are still being processed and analysed, and it will probably take months to draw definitive conclusions. Nonetheless, there are some early indications of why many American voters failed to support Kamala Harris in sufficient numbers. These will not only provoke soul-searching among Democrats, but also spell bad news for Anthony Albanese and his Labor government.
Attention Boomers! Under Dutton, you'd have to drive hours to see your grandkids

Oct 29, 2024 | crikey.com.au | Benjamin Clark

Last week, Peter Dutton announced the Coalition’s new housing policy: a $5 billion fund for “enabling” infrastructure to unlock new developments, such as roads and pipes to greenfield sites. Where will these infrastructure projects and homes be built? Shadow housing minister Michael Sukkar has a “strong preference” for building in “new areas” — outer suburbs and the regions.
As Keir Starmer flails, is Paul Marshall the new Rupert Murdoch?

Sep 29, 2024 | crikey.com.au | Benjamin Clark

For a country with a relatively new government, the mood in the United Kingdom, from where I’m writing, is peculiarly downbeat — and not just due to the weather reverting to its usual dampness and grey. Not even the Cool Britannia nostalgia of Oasis’ unlikely reunion did much to cheer up locals, aside from a few half-joking bets about how many shows the Gallagher brothers will get through before brawling on stage. No, the sheer disaffection with government dysfunction has hardly abated.
NIMBYs are making our cities uglier

Sep 16, 2024 | crikey.com.au | Benjamin Clark

Why are new buildings uglier than old ones? This is an incredibly common question, asked most recently by New York Times columnist Ross Douthat. Caveats aside — there are some truly beautiful modern buildings out there, including ones that don’t revive past styles — even the least nostalgic urbanists should concede that too many modern buildings are drab or unsightly, and that such eyesores undermine public support for other new developments.
Paul Keating’s vision for superannuation is crumbling. Good

Sep 2, 2024 | crikey.com.au | Benjamin Clark

With each passing retort to the Albanese government, dutifully relayed by The Australian and the AFR, it becomes harder to maintain that former prime minister Paul Keating is any kind of progressive. Sure, he may once have contributed to some noble policies, and some of his foreign policy views — vulgar China apologia aside — provide a useful counterweight to the defence establishment.
Tim Walz’s lesson for Albanese: Don’t be a shrinking violet

Aug 18, 2024 | crikey.com.au | Benjamin Clark

To bastardise Dickens: let me tell you a tale of two progressive parties. One is experiencing the best of times (for now), the other the worst of times (well, not quite — it has suffered some doozies — but it certainly isn’t having much fun). One is heralding an age of wisdom, the other an age of foolishness. I could palaver on about belief and incredulity, lightness and darkness, but you get the picture.