Blogging will be at irregular hours for the next week. I am in Sydney for the Mont Pelerin Society conference. The MPS was founded in 1947 by Friedrich Hayek, “…to facilitate an exchange of ideas between like-minded scholars in the hope of strengthening the principles and practice of a free society and to study the workings, virtues, and defects of market-oriented economic systems.” Home to several Nobel laureates, the MPS is an oasis of freedom-loving individuals in a world that seems to reward statism and conformity. Belonging to this organization is one of the great honors of my life.
And perhaps I will have to travel overseas more often. When I landed in Sydney, I discovered that order had been restored to the universe. By that, I mean that the beloved Bulldogs had thrashed the Tennessee Volunteers 41-14.
Well here’s a ego booster for you Dan.
I find the prospect of Dan Mitchell coming here way more exciting than:
Barack Obama
Queen Elizabeth II
The Pope
Tom Cruise
The Dalai Lama
In fact, I couldn’t really give a damn if the above people come here or not.
Hope you enjoy your time here. I’m writing you an encyclopaedic e-mail detailing differences in Australian culture and politics you might find interesting.
At the very least it might help you get to sleep if you’re jet-lagged. Send it soon as I’m done.
I’m currently in Geelong, (about 50 miles out of Melbourne), by the way. You’d like it. Everyone here is nuts about sports. One of the top AFL teams resides here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geelong_Football_Club
Hope you enjoy your time in Australia Dan; the country has many shared values with the US but without the history, so they’re often in need of further education.
And I concur that the Geelong Football Club is one of Australia’s finest institutions.
Well, if Mt. Pelerin ever becomes an independent nation, perhaps high up on some mountain like Switzerland, then please let me know. And let me know what their requirements are for permanent residency. I plan to move there and I also think that Mt. Pelerinites will be delighted to have me as a resident. I’m a nuclear physicist and perhaps one of the few taxes that Mt. Pelerinites will need to assess is to build the indispensable nuclear weapons that will guarantee their independence while surrounded by a statist “from each according to his ability, to each according to his need” centrally planned world.
Go Dawgs!
@south
Heh. I’m not from Geelong. I just happen to be here at the moment.
I’m not a big sports fan, but I do take great pleasure in antagonising the locals when the Cats lose.
Still, they’re nothing to Collingwood supporters. I thought Trekkies were a little out of whack, but those guys are certifiable.