Τετάρτη 15 Ιανουαρίου 2014

Adoption by homosexual couples in Greece? The conservative reaction

The Greek government does not miss a chance to prove its conservatism. Unwilling to face family as an ever changing institution, chosen by people to pursue their own happiness, the Greek government has not established the legal framework which would make adoption by same sex couples possible.

Its conservatism deters the government from facing reality: according to Greek law adoption by a single person is allowed. Individuals are not asked what their sexual preferences are, when they apply for becoming mother or father of an adopted child. The presented as “single” parent may be a homosexual willing to raise the child with their mate. As a result, the government's effort to maintain a traditional form of family, not suitable for all, results in having new forms of family, despite chosen by the individuals, out of the scope of law.


In other words, conservatives' effort to provoke traditional family leads to having new forms of family treated in an unequal way. The problem's cause is conservatives' unwillingness to face the new which individuals created, proving right Hayek's view that “by refusing to face the facts the conservative only weakens his own position”.

Κυριακή 12 Ιανουαρίου 2014

Freedom of speech and "protection" of minorities

 Wise people know that there exists no individual aware of everything, possessing the key- answer to every question. In order, for the individuals, to learn and evolve, a free market of ideas must be created, where one contributes with one's ideas and where one changes one's mind or strengthens one's arguments influenced by other individuals' knowledge transferred to the market.

Laws restricting freedom of speech in the name of minorities' protection are, in fact, a way for the state to establish a monopoly of deciding which ideas are bad or worthless or even harmful. In order to protect individuals from them, it vanishes them from the market of ideas, which is no longer a free but a centrally controlled one.


State's sheer hypocrisy is demonstrated by the fact that it prefers to control expression, in the name of minorities, whereas it is unwilling to create a free society of tolerance and acceptance, in order to eliminate discrimination against them. Greece provides an example here: governed by a government unwilling to recognize minorities' rights (Muslims, immigrants, homosexuals are treated against the equality principle) considers speech-restricting laws an expedient measure, so as to protect those minorities.      

Σάββατο 4 Ιανουαρίου 2014

Free Wi-FI - a boost for development. Really?

The Prime Minister’s declarations for free wi-fi connection come under the mantle of “growth”, but we shouldn’t buy. Once free wi-fi is provided, the companies which failed to win the tender will be swept from the market or grow significantly weaker as the demand for their paid services will be minimal.The lack of competition entails decreased investments and thus no technological progress is expected. The winning company will be disincentivised to make large-scale investments as a)there are no strong competitors to run behind b)there’s an increased uncertainty regarding the continuation of their activity(cronyism,corruption,other extra-market factors) which fuels predatory behavior.Furthemore,internet provider’s contraparte will be the government, establishing a state’s monopsony,which goes down to suboptimal outcomes for internet users: enterprises in the free market spend large amounts of money so as to individualize the preferences of the various costumer types.But when the state will stand for millions of internet users,unavoidably the “average costumer’s needs” rationale kicks in and the more demanding users among us won’t be able to find a product that best suits their needs.For the aforementioned reasons,contrary to what mr.Samaras holds,such a provision would impede “growth”,distort the market and lower the quality standards of provided services. 

Mariela Tiliakou