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We've covered the Living Wage campaign before. From their web site: As the gap between the rich and the poor grows in New Zealand and poverty increases, more and more New Zealanders don't get paid enough to meet their needs, enjoy their lives and participate…
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Remember how National's excuse for cutting the top tax rate from 39% to align with the trust rate at 33% was that half of the rich were dodging the top tax rate - so, they should all get a tax cut. Tax cuts for tax…
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Remember the Ports of Auckland lock-out? The bosses tried to starve out 300 workers and their families to push through contracting out, which would cut $6m a year out of its wage bill/their pay packets. The workers won. Now, PoAL has reported a $12m loss…
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The Maori Party is meeting with National to discuss the Waitangi Tribunal's report on water and asset sales today. Notice how no-one's saying 'will they walk if the Nats ignore the Tribunal and proceed to breach the Treaty?' That's what happens when you cry wolf…
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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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Like many people I'm always bemused by the lack of logic that the climate change deniers (CCD's) have in their extremely selective picking of things to get wound up about. Mostly when I see them coming through comments in this site, a few minutes thought…
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In policy terms, Key has three options on asset sales - plow ahead, cut a deal with iwi, or call it quits. The politics around each is very different. Trying to cut a deal with iwi now would be a major change of tack for…
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Print papers are going tabloid, the media world is changing, and everyone is finding their way in the brave new world. NZ is well served, I think, in the range of online offerings that are exploring beyond the fringes of the mainstream media. Scoop pitches…
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xkcd - makes you think...
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My regular Sunday piece of interesting, longer, deeper stories I found during the week. It’s also a chance for you to share what you found this week too. Those stimulating links you wanted to share, but just didn’t fit in anywhere (no linkwhoring). This week:…
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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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John Key has said some pretty stupid things in his time as PM (along with the outright lies, insults to other countries, racist jokes and so on). And once Key makes a claim, no matter how stupid or how offensive, he never backs down, never…
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David Parker got stuck in to the Nats' lack of economic record last week. He has abundant material to work with of course, but he did a good job of it too: Parker gives National's economic policies a 'fail' Labour finance spokesman David Parker yesterday…
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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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What a craven cave-in. Lobbied by big booze, Collins has given in. Alco-pops will be left to the industry to regulate. Collins says the Government can step in quickly and regulate if they don't - yeah right. The alcohol industry already has a strategy to…
alcohol drinking liberally john key Judith Collins leadership
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Yesterday, we got official confirmation that the gap between the rich and everyone else is wider than ever. The top 10% of households have seen their incomes rise while virtually everyone else has gone backwards. It’s the most vulnerable in our community who are the…
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Just up this afternoon on Stuff: The Government must halt its asset sales programme until Maori water rights can be sorted out, the Waitangi Tribunal says. And Tom Scott this morning in the DomPost: Says it all really - National's wheels are coming off. lprent…
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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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David Shearer is right. The rise in inequality under National, shown by the latest Household Incomes report from MSD, is a bloody disgrace. It's the effect on kids that's got him going. Shearer says: And what’s even worse, the number of children living in hardship…
benefits child welfare david shearer employment equality jobs poverty unemployment
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The excellent Andrew Geddis at Pundit has an interesting post up this morning. You should head on over there and check it out. Here are a couple of extracts to get you started... Is someone trying to game the MMP review? by Andrew Geddis The Electoral…
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The Cancer-mongers' ad campaign is complete crap. Ineffectual ads that won't get anyone on side. Doesn't matter though. They're not aiming to convince you with the ads themselves. The actual aim's to put a few hundred thousand dollars in media outlets' pockets with the promise…
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The Government has injuncted* RNZ from running a story based on a leaked Kiwirail document that shows National's under-investment in Kiwirail will make the tracks more dangerous and less useable at a time when it is firing 200 maintenance staff. Brownlee's excuse? "the media outlet…
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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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On The Nation last weekend Steven Joyce insisted he was busy talking to business about export growth; he obviously wasn't listening to exporters whose number one problem is our over-valued and highly speculated exchange rate. Joyce described Labour's sensible approach to taking a fresh look…
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Crossing the line is an occupational hazard of public political comment. Especially when you set yourself up as an edgy persona. Fortunately, there's a warning system. You think you're being clever, but the animal part of your brain feels its wrong- it's that burning feeling…
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In highlighting the record exodus to Australia and the failures of the Key government to live up to its campaign promises, Claire Trevett wrote: The Department of Statistics is usually a benign presence on the political landscape, but over the past few months it has…
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Afghanistan is turning into a nasty mess in more ways than one. My heart goes out to the families of all of those who have been killed in the conflict, especially those of the ten Kiwi soldiers so far. I have a certain sympathy for…
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Deborah Russell is a lecturer in taxation at Massey University (and she recently joined the Labour Party). Deborah wrote an opinion piece for the Dominion Post on Tuesday setting out some constructive thoughts on welfare. With her permission we're reprinting extracts here. I suggest you…
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The Nats' asset sales are beset at all sides. The companies aren't ready for sale. Their future revenue is too uncertain to attract investors. The Government would end up with more debt not less. New, hidden, fiscal costs keep on coming to light. Few New Zealanders…
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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...