Trevor Loudon
Encyclopedia
Trevor Loudon is a New Zealand
political activist who was vice president of the ACT New Zealand Party from 2006 to 2008. He has been involved in politics in Christchurch
for many years, most notably the Campaign for a Soviet Free New Zealand a group which published dossiers on people involved in the anti-nuclear movement, declaring them to be communists
and "connecting the dots" between them and their supposed Soviet masters.
He describes himself as "[Believing] in freedom with responsibility, not freedom from responsibility. My ideal society is one in which government is slashed to the bone and people are free to reach their potential." In addition to his libertarian
economic views he is strongly anti-communist
, in a 2006 post to his blog (see below) he stated "Socialism
, is in short a manifestation of mental illness
or major character deficiency." he has also stated a belief that communists are responsible for "supplying much of the world's illegal drugs," although he supports drug legalization (while being personally against drug use). He is a self-described "student" of the Zenith Applied Philosophy
cult
, an offshoot of Scientology
. In 2006 he wrote on his blog "I have studied at Z.A.P. from 1976 to 1982, 1986/7 and 1999 to current. I am enjoying my studies immensely at the moment and plan to continue indefinitely."
activity. Favorite subjects for attack are Green Party
co-leader Russel Norman
and MP Keith Locke
, as well as academics he views as left-wing, posts about whom are titled "Socialist Academic Profile". (S.A.P.)
A series of posts he wrote on US presidential candidate Barack Obama
attracted the attention of the conservative US based Accuracy in Media
organization, who brought Loudon's allegations of Obama's communist connections to a wider audience. Loudons allegations even received coverage in The Washington Post
, though the columnist stated that "The charges [against Obama] ranged from the absurd to the merely questionable".
In April 2010, Loudon launched a wiki, KeyWiki, with the intent of profiling what he characterizes as leftist activists. KeyWiki launched with over 35,000 profiles on people it links with the Democratic Socialists of America, the Center for American Progress, and other progressive organizations. Merely signing a petition is enough for KeyWiki to start a "stub" on a person. The site strictly limits who may contribute.
"We've got congressmen in there, 'peace' activists, labor unionists, black radicals, 'religious' socialists, 'greenies', left wing academics , Obama appointees and thousands of card-carrying socialists and communists," Loudon said in announcing the project. "In short, all the people who are dragging America down."
Cabinet Minister David Benson-Pope
, who was the subject of a number of allegations over physical assault on pupils in the 1980s, to Heinrich Himmler
. A spokesman for Benson-Pope said that the joke was in bad taste, stating that "Mr Loudon is clearly a failed stand-up comedian with bad taste and poor judgment and he's perfectly suited as office holder of the ACT Party." Loudon claimed that the post had been a joke that "went around the Internet. Quite a few people posted that."
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
political activist who was vice president of the ACT New Zealand Party from 2006 to 2008. He has been involved in politics in Christchurch
Christchurch
Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the country's second-largest urban area after Auckland. It lies one third of the way down the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula which itself, since 2006, lies within the formal limits of...
for many years, most notably the Campaign for a Soviet Free New Zealand a group which published dossiers on people involved in the anti-nuclear movement, declaring them to be communists
Communism
Communism is a social, political and economic ideology that aims at the establishment of a classless, moneyless, revolutionary and stateless socialist society structured upon common ownership of the means of production...
and "connecting the dots" between them and their supposed Soviet masters.
He describes himself as "[Believing] in freedom with responsibility, not freedom from responsibility. My ideal society is one in which government is slashed to the bone and people are free to reach their potential." In addition to his libertarian
Libertarianism
Libertarianism, in the strictest sense, is the political philosophy that holds individual liberty as the basic moral principle of society. In the broadest sense, it is any political philosophy which approximates this view...
economic views he is strongly anti-communist
Anti-communism
Anti-communism is opposition to communism. Organized anti-communism developed in reaction to the rise of communism, especially after the 1917 October Revolution in Russia and the beginning of the Cold War in 1947.-Objections to communist theory:...
, in a 2006 post to his blog (see below) he stated "Socialism
Socialism
Socialism is an economic system characterized by social ownership of the means of production and cooperative management of the economy; or a political philosophy advocating such a system. "Social ownership" may refer to any one of, or a combination of, the following: cooperative enterprises,...
, is in short a manifestation of mental illness
Mental illness
A mental disorder or mental illness is a psychological or behavioral pattern generally associated with subjective distress or disability that occurs in an individual, and which is not a part of normal development or culture. Such a disorder may consist of a combination of affective, behavioural,...
or major character deficiency." he has also stated a belief that communists are responsible for "supplying much of the world's illegal drugs," although he supports drug legalization (while being personally against drug use). He is a self-described "student" of the Zenith Applied Philosophy
Zenith Applied Philosophy
Zenith Applied Philosophy is a Christchurch, New Zealand based organisation founded by John Dalhoff in 1974. ZAP has a world view which is a combination of Scientology, Eastern mysticism and the ideas of the American John Birch Society. There is extensive overlap between the organisation and the...
cult
Cult
The word cult in current popular usage usually refers to a group whose beliefs or practices are considered abnormal or bizarre. The word originally denoted a system of ritual practices...
, an offshoot of Scientology
Scientology
Scientology is a body of beliefs and related practices created by science fiction and fantasy author L. Ron Hubbard , starting in 1952, as a successor to his earlier self-help system, Dianetics...
. In 2006 he wrote on his blog "I have studied at Z.A.P. from 1976 to 1982, 1986/7 and 1999 to current. I am enjoying my studies immensely at the moment and plan to continue indefinitely."
New Zeal
Loudon maintains a prolific and controversial blog entitled New Zeal. Many of his posts make allegations about the backgrounds of political opponents whom he sees as "menace[s] to liberty," often tying them to communistCommunist party
A political party described as a Communist party includes those that advocate the application of the social principles of communism through a communist form of government...
activity. Favorite subjects for attack are Green Party
Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand
The Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand is a political party that has seats in the New Zealand parliament. It focuses firstly on environmentalism, arguing that all other aspects of humanity will cease to be of concern if there is no environment to sustain it...
co-leader Russel Norman
Russel Norman
Dr Russel William Norman is a New Zealand politician and environmentalist. He is a Member of Parliament and co-leader of the Green Party alongside Metiria Turei.- Early life :...
and MP Keith Locke
Keith Locke
Keith James Locke is a current New Zealand MP representing the Green Party who was first elected to parliament in 1999. he is the Green Party spokesperson on Foreign Affairs, Defence, Ethnic Affairs, Pacific Affairs, Human Rights, Immigration, Police and Auckland Transport...
, as well as academics he views as left-wing, posts about whom are titled "Socialist Academic Profile". (S.A.P.)
A series of posts he wrote on US presidential candidate Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
attracted the attention of the conservative US based Accuracy in Media
Accuracy in Media
Accuracy In Media is an American, non-profit news media watchdog founded in 1969 by economist Reed Irvine. AIM describes itself as "a non-profit, grassroots citizens watchdog of the news media that critiques botched and bungled news stories and sets the record straight on important issues that...
organization, who brought Loudon's allegations of Obama's communist connections to a wider audience. Loudons allegations even received coverage in The Washington Post
The Washington Post
The Washington Post is Washington, D.C.'s largest newspaper and its oldest still-existing paper, founded in 1877. Located in the capital of the United States, The Post has a particular emphasis on national politics. D.C., Maryland, and Virginia editions are printed for daily circulation...
, though the columnist stated that "The charges [against Obama] ranged from the absurd to the merely questionable".
In April 2010, Loudon launched a wiki, KeyWiki, with the intent of profiling what he characterizes as leftist activists. KeyWiki launched with over 35,000 profiles on people it links with the Democratic Socialists of America, the Center for American Progress, and other progressive organizations. Merely signing a petition is enough for KeyWiki to start a "stub" on a person. The site strictly limits who may contribute.
"We've got congressmen in there, 'peace' activists, labor unionists, black radicals, 'religious' socialists, 'greenies', left wing academics , Obama appointees and thousands of card-carrying socialists and communists," Loudon said in announcing the project. "In short, all the people who are dragging America down."
Controversy
Loudon sparked some controversy when in December 2005 his blog featured a post titled "Himmler and Benson-Pope; Spot the Difference?" comparing LabourNew Zealand Labour Party
The New Zealand Labour Party is a New Zealand political party. It describes itself as centre-left and socially progressive and has been one of the two primary parties of New Zealand politics since 1935....
Cabinet Minister David Benson-Pope
David Benson-Pope
David Henry Benson-Pope is a New Zealand Labour Party politician who sat in the Parliament of New Zealand from 1999 to 2008. He formerly served as a cabinet minister....
, who was the subject of a number of allegations over physical assault on pupils in the 1980s, to Heinrich Himmler
Heinrich Himmler
Heinrich Luitpold Himmler was Reichsführer of the SS, a military commander, and a leading member of the Nazi Party. As Chief of the German Police and the Minister of the Interior from 1943, Himmler oversaw all internal and external police and security forces, including the Gestapo...
. A spokesman for Benson-Pope said that the joke was in bad taste, stating that "Mr Loudon is clearly a failed stand-up comedian with bad taste and poor judgment and he's perfectly suited as office holder of the ACT Party." Loudon claimed that the post had been a joke that "went around the Internet. Quite a few people posted that."