Author Archives: Simon Oberholster
Online game to simulate South African elections
At the end of September 2017, the eCivix South African Election Simulator will be released as a free-to-play online game. The game will be totally free, with no sign up…
Torch-light rally in Charlottesville casts spotlight on Trump’s bigotry
America President Donald Trump’s rather meek and non-specific response to the death of three people – most prominently an anti-neo-Nazi demonstrator – has, seemingly, half of America up in arms.…
Toward a new electoral system for South Africa
In May 2017 the Rational Standard carried a piece by Nicholas Babaya calling for a number of democratic reforms in South Africa. The first was the introduction of a two-round…
Gun rights and our dying institutions
Fourth of July holds a special place in the hearts of Americans, not least because it is their celebration of their obtainment of freedom and the establishment of their country;…
The Emperor is Naked & Other Lessons from the No Confidence Secret Vote
The Emperor is indeed naked but as South Africans learned on the 8th of August 2017 amid the outcome of the secret ballot vote of no confidence in Jacob Zuma,…
The Guptas and Capitalism: Not as Related as You Might Think
The Gupta scandal which preoccupies much of South African’s time and outrage is difficult enough to unravel without analysts, experts and others who try to score a few political points…
Nordic countries exemplify the built-in failures of Socialism
Nordic countries exemplify the built-in failures of Socialism: The Nordic countries (or Nordics), consist of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Sweden and Norway, as well as the Faroe Islands, Greenland and the…
Towards a DA-led Government?
Since the dawn of democracy in 1994, South African politics and party affiliation have been racially defined. Having secured their democratic right to vote for the first time in 1994…
Mkhwebane and her case
Let me start by saying this: Busisiwe Mkhwebane is an intelligent lady. And I hope and pray that I am not condescending by saying this. I believe when she wanted…
Consider that capitalism is the real problem
A recent op-ed in Fast Company urges us all to reconsider capitalism as the system we want for building our future society. The tacit assumption is that capitalism is responsible…