Center for Liberal Leadership

Manufactured Inequality: the bright side of wealth disparities

April 9, 2008 at 7:17 am | In Economy, Globalization & Dev't. | Leave a Comment

Beyond ethical concerns, there are two arguments frequently employed to contend against “too much” redistribution of income. The first argument is that redistribution distorts incentives and thus carries a severe loss in efficiency. For example, when a government levies taxes on incomes, people have incentives to make a lower effort (since they will not be able to receive the entire product of their work).

The second argument is that monetary income (consumption) is a poor proxy for actual welfare. Consider the following example: an undergraduate student in economics can pursue a career in finance with a high profile of future incomes, or he can pursue an (equally effort-demanding) academic career, with noticeably lower incomes. Usually the decision is not easy, what might indicate that, in spite of the differences in incomes, the well-being under both activities is pretty much the same. The parity in well being is partially explained by the consumption of some goods and services (in a wide sense) “purchased” by a cut in salary (e.g. time flexibility, lack of stress, taste for that particular job, etc.). Since the consumption of those (costly) goods and services is not measured in the surveys, a comparison of the incomes (or even the expenditures) of individuals in both situations would be simply erroneous. Read More…

The liberal position towards LGBT rights: an international approach

December 11, 2007 at 6:58 am | In Human and Civil Rights | Leave a Comment

By Jeroen Mimpen & Anita Vink, Jonge Democraten, The Netherlands

Lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transsexuals (LGBTs) are an oppressed minority in many societies, who face cultural, social, political and legal barriers to fully expressing themselves. One of the main liberal challenges for the 21st century is to fight homophobia and promote equal rights for all sexual orientations. This article elaborates on the current state of affairs in a number of countries and contemplates on the possibilities to address LGBT rights from an international perspective. Should we adhere to idealism or pragmatism, or can we combine both? And what means are most effective in addressing this issue? These and other questions are explored below.

The liberal position
From a liberal point of view, it is a shame that LGBT rights are still an issue in the world, since everyone has the right to be treated equally, as long as a person does not damage the general welfare or the wellbeing of others. Moreover, liberals have a strong belief in the right of every person to express and develop their identities to the fullest. The conviction of many authorities and governments that they can decide how the personal life of their citizens should be shaped, is an intolerable concept for any liberal thinker. Read more..

Liberalism, is it really working in developing countries?

December 11, 2007 at 6:54 am | In Election, Politics &Governance | Leave a Comment

Hannah Asomaning

Even though there are some cardinal differences between liberalism and socialism, there is not much difference in the two systems in developing countries, Mr Kwesi Jonah, a Political Scientist at the University of Ghana said in an interview on Joy FM, a radio station in Ghana.

He stressed that there is not much difference between liberal and social democrats in the African political setting since developing countries are not entirely independent in deciding the approaches to their economies.

Mr Jonah explained that economic programmes in developing countries are handed down from Bretton Woods’ institutions, and this makes it extremely difficult for political ideologies to triumph, thereby eroding the impact of political ideology of governments in developing countries within their peculiar environmental circumstances. Read more…

Why the Youth is the Future

August 13, 2007 at 8:14 am | In Liberal Values & Ideologies | Leave a Comment

An essay by Inge Snip

Through history one can see that students started many major changes in history. Not only the French Revolution should be mentioned, but also the revolution-waves around 1848. Especially the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989 in china cannot be forgotten in this perspective. Even in the last few years, it were the students who were able to change politics: The Rose Revolution, The Orange revolution and the Tulip revolution are major examples. Looking at it in a historical perspective: the youth is the future. Read more.

Originally Posted at The Libel.

Globalization and the Rapid Social Changes

August 13, 2007 at 8:09 am | In Economy, Globalization & Dev't. | Leave a Comment

If a sociologist had proposed ten years ago to write a book about globalization, nowadays – it would’ve been a dull of apprehension!!! What is actually globalization???
By globalization, we usually mean the process whereby societies, communities and individuals are increasingly interconnected around the world. Social processes in one part of the world impact on those in other parts.
Globalization can be equated with the collapse of so-called communism and the establishment of free markets on a truly international scale. Establishment of the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the extent the European Union (EU) indicates the growth of new markets – the expansion of a world economy. Read more.

Libel and the Freedom of the Press

August 13, 2007 at 8:00 am | In Election, Politics &Governance | Leave a Comment

Why this of all issues to discuss here, you ask? There’s so many more that demand comment, like the upcoming stance the Supreme Court will be taking with regard to extra-judicial killings, the deathwatch on the Liberal Party of the Philippines and my thesis that the Republic will soon face its last “wake-up call”, albeit this time without any Guardians because all of those sworn to defend the Philippines have either gone abroad, gone corporate, or gone call center. Or gotten so horribly disillusioned that slitting one’s throat might be a much better option. Read more.

Originally Posted at The Libel.

Information, Misinformation and Disinformation: For God’s Sake, what is the Truth?

July 12, 2007 at 9:23 am | In Education | Leave a Comment

By K.J. John

What is responsible citizenship within the context of an emerging new world order, defined more by media and virtual realities than by the real world of material and earthly realities? But, first some context definitions from the title of the book Asian Cyberactivism: Freedom of Expression and Media Censorship.