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In Melbourne last week for the Australian Fabians AGM I picked up a copy of Lindsay Tanner's book "Sideshow". According to the back cover, Tanner "lays bare the relentless decline of political reporting and political behaviour that occurred during his career. Part memoir, part analysis,…
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Gordon Campbell, as ever, is there with the insightful commentary: Gordon Campbell on John Key’s assault on the welfare system If John Key is the face of moderation, there’s not much room left on the margins for the extremism of Don Brash. “Moderation” evidently means…
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This government's got a real talent for manufacturing crisis to suit them. The debt disaster is a classic - in order to get out of debt we have to cut public spending to the tune of almost $1billion and sell assets. Far from being in the same…
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My contribution: Key does the vertical plank. Not pictured, National's economic plan .
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If there is one silver lining to the cloud of a National government, it is that the MMP referendum has come up on their watch. It rather cripples their attack lines. • They can't claim that MMP creates weak government -- without condemning their own government…
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Elect a Labour-led government. Create 100K jobs. ['Main benefits' are: unemployment, sickness, invalids, DPB. Also added a table of benefit costs]
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Open mike is your post. For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the link to Policy in the banner). Step right up to the mike...
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Having starved the economy and created record unemployment the government is now preparing to stick the knife into the Kiwis it has failed - if they can't find a job in this broken economy they'll see their benefits reduced. Of course like all welfare policies…
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So it appears that John Banks, having applied for his Epsom candidature and ACT party membership at the same time, will get to face his mayoral campaign manager, Aaron Bhatnagar, as National candidate for Epsom. Banks was able to assure everyone on Morning Report this…
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A Herald poll asked people their views on raising the retirement age. Surprisingly, support was strong - 52.3% think the issue needs addressing National whines the country is broke so they have to cut public services and sell assets (while keeping on borrowing for tax…
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Plenty of polls lately. Do we really need so many? Last night we got a 3 News / Reid poll: National slips a little in poll, but still going strong National has taken a hit in the polls, following its budget which made cuts to…
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On Wednesday this week, Nick Smith is going to announce what amounts to the effective privatisation of a large part of ACC. You won’t hear the word privatisation uttered from his lips, he’ll use all sorts of other words like ‘competition’ and ‘market discipline’, but…
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Open mike is your post. For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the link to Policy in the banner). Step right up to the mike...
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The week that was 21 - 27 May Written by The Jackal at 9:22 AM A study undertaken by a citizen's group has found radioactive substances in the breast milk of women in Japan. 12.5% of those tested, were affected by Fukushima Dai-ichi fallout. Samples…
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Seen the coverage of Goff's visit to McGehan Close? So negative. Portrays it as cynical politics. Yet when Key visited in 2008, the coverage was fawning over the 'kompassionate konservative'. What's wrong with Goff going along to the place, it's in his own electorate, and…
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National Party pollster David Farrar has been revealed as the campaign strategist behind a coming anti-MMP campaign. He's joined by Nat 'campaign manager for hire' Simon Lusk* who did the work on the Brash coup at Steven Joyce's behest, Nat muck-thrower Cameron Slater, and Jordan…
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José Cláudio Ribeiro da Silva and Maria do Espírito Santo are heroes. Like Chico Mendes before them, they have paid for their activism with their lives: Amazon rainforest activist shot dead José Cláudio Ribeiro da Silva fought against illegal loggers and had received death threats…
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Open mike is your post. For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the link to Policy in the banner). Step right up to the mike...
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Reprinted from No Right Turn: "Mum and dad investors" When the government has been pushing privatization, it has relentlessly pushed the idea that the buyers of these state assets will be "mum and dad investors". The implication: the buyers will be ordinary kiwis (though why…
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Ever noticed how the big political journos will do a scathing attack on one major party then, the next day, one on the other major party? It's about maintaining access. If you only run attacks on one party, you'll stop getting stories from them (nearly…
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Auckland ratepayers are going to be stuck with a huge bill for the Nats' failure to properly cost the Supercity merger process. Specifically in this case, the cost of merging the IT systems. Planning for the Supercity merger was a shambles. There were many warnings…
accountability national/act government rodney hide supercity
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Open mike is your post. For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the link to Policy in the banner). Step right up to the mike...
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Live in Auckland and fancy a night out with Lefties, drinking and discussing politics & anything else that comes to mind? On May 31 7pm-9pm there's an evening of debate, hilarity, mystery and political intrigue at The Wine Cellar, St Kevin's Arcade, 183 Karangahape Rd.…
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I have been bemoaning that I'd missed the Operation 8 documentary. But there are more screenings around the country. Catch a showing near you because by the sound of the current state of the court case, this will not be resolved until next year at…
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Weekend social is for non political chat. What's on for the weekend, gigs, film or book reviews, sports, or whatever. No politics, no aggro, why can't we all just get along?
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PEDA last year. Parents Inc this year. Ministers giving backhanders to their mates is a growing trend. $1.5m is being cut from the Community Organisation Grants Scheme that funds things like Rape Crisis. Instead of this democratic, accountable process, the money will go to four…
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A new organisation, the Coalition for Social Justice, is calling for a march in Auckland tomorrow: Coalition For Social Justice Press Release: Coalition For Social Justice PRESS STATEMENT. A new group has been formed called the Coalition for Social Justice. Its aim is to organise…
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Based on the Herald's latest poll, that is a message the Left will be well advised to push hard. The poll shows 62% opposition vs 29% support for asset sales (that's nearly as unpopular as the Wellywood sign!), while NACT polls at 56%. So, at…
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The Greens and environmentalists have been talking about peak oil forever. Unfortunately, the Cassandras of New Zealand politics have been ignored for far too long. Now, the IEA and IMF have joined them in warning that governments need to act immediately. After decades of bouncing…