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Humans seem to have a paranoid fascination with our own demise. Aside from the doomsday predictions like that for today, there's numerous movies. They show our fears and sometimes the realisation of the most destructive elements embodied by our species: social, environmental, behavioural, political. Some…
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The other day, David Farrar helpfully linked to an international report (here, here, and here) into achievement in education. Somehow though, he missed the part where educational achievement rose in all but one measure under Labour and then fell in each measure under National.
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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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Herald cartoonist Emerson on National's choices:
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Currently in New Zealand, democracy is increasingly under threat. The mainstream news media and professional journalists have an extremely important role to play in revitalising democratic processes. However, with democratic decline and the neoliberal capture of the dominant voices in the MSM, disempowered voters are…
accountability blogs david cunliffe david shearer democratic participation labour news telecommunications tv
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Merry Christmas I’d like to wish you a Merry Christmas, a Happy New Year and a relaxing and safe summer break. I’ll be heading up north to the beach to enjoy a few days in the sun with my family. I’m looking forward to catching…
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Japan just elected a Liberal Democrat government promising more jobs through a huge quantitative easing programme. The US has stated it'll continue QE until unemployment drops below 6.5%. The effect has been to send our dollar to new highs, killing exporters and import-exposed local businesses.…
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If you and I were told that (variously) our sons and daughters, grandchildren, nieces and nephews were going to be killed tomorrow, would I be right to suspect that we might sit up and take notice? And if the news was relayed to us by…
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Interesting anonymous editorial in The Herald yesterday: Sacred cows fair game as Govt clings to surplus A$66 million surplus in 2014-15 is, as Bill English noted yesterday, "not large". But, in the interests of avoiding embarrassment, it is one the Finance Minister is clearly very…
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Wellington Council has voted to spend some time looking at a new alternative to the Basin Fly-over plan. The government's response has been to threaten the council that other transport investment in Wellington - including light rail - will be scrapped unless they get their…
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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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Parata isn't the most corrupt minister Key has but she's definitely the most incompetent. Now, the Secretary of Education has been paid out to take the fall for Hekia's incompetence and that of her sister, Apryll, Deputy Secretary Performance and Change. Parata has maintained her…
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We're on track to reach half a million comments before the week is out (late Thursday, early Friday by the looks). Who will be number 500,000? As always, its nice to mark these milestones because it's a reminder of what a big and vibrant community…
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From Vernon Small: Education secretary quits State Services Commissioner Iain Rennie says he has accepted the resignation of the Secretary for Education Lesley Longstone. She was appointed to the role in November last year for a five-year term. ... There have been a series of…
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This morning was Metiria Turei's turn on TV3, to front for the Green Party, looking back at the last 12 months. This is a welcome corrective to Russel Norman getting the de facto leader tag. The tone and style of Turei's presentation was noticeably different…
business economy greens jobs Metiria Turei monetary policy polls tax transport
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So, National's still on track to surplus in 2014/15, eh? A $66m surplus. Well, don't be counting those chickens just yet. That projected Total Crown Operating Balance Excluding Gains and Losses, known to everyone as the surplus or deficit, is just 0.07% of projected Total…
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In Budget 2011, National made a big song and dance over the projection that 'they' would create 170,000 jobs in the next four years. Leaving aside the fact that they usually claim the government doesn't create jobs and that they were counting jobs from the…
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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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Key is so gaffe prone at the moment that he can't seem to get anything right. Trying to distract attention from the increased taxes required to maybe balance the budget one day, Key was pushing supposedly good news on health. (I say "supposedly" because the…
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This is one of a series of posts I hope to write over the summer based to some extent or other on a recent presentation by Kevin Anderson: Professor of Energy and Climate Change, University of Manchester, Tyndall Centre. Here are the links to the…
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Well it looks like the government has finally listened to all of the arguments about how unaffordable the Roads of National Significance are. Their response? To tax you more to pay for their white elephant. Remember, this is a government that wouldn't introduce a new…
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It was John Key's turn this morning to front up to TV3 for a look back at the year. He was in his best soothing and slick used car salesman mode. All is well on Planet Key, and anyone who says different is delusional. His…
assets capitalism class war cost of living exports jobs john key poverty same old national slippery
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Two pieces in The Herald last weekend repeated the well known warnings - that the government is failing to face up to the responsibilities of an aging population. As ever Bernard Hickey pulled no punches: Relax and be overburdened This week's conference on the sustainability…
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Market failure is one of the marks of our time. From unaffordable, low-quality housing to child poverty to the over-valued dollar killing jobs to over-priced broadband and failed government IT procurements, the market keeps getting it wrong. The Greens and Labour know the answer is…
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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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Funny old year for weather. In the last few weeks alone we've had “super storm" Sandy in New York, typhoon Bopha wreaking havoc in the Philippines, a deadly tornado in Auckland which went on to hit Rotorua. Now it's cyclone Evan. It trashed Samoa, and…
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David Shearer was on TV 3 this morning, reflecting on his last year. He looked calm and quite assured, presenting a friendly and reasonable persona. He claimed the following: that the Labour leadership contest is settled; that Labour has a new and different direction; that…
david cunliffe david shearer greens housing labour mana nz first polls poverty
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You have to respect how the Ports of Auckland workers stood staunch in the face of the bosses' attempt to contract out their jobs, without support from the 'leftwing' mayor and against an expensive PR effort. They're still getting their own back. PoAL has just…
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One of the defining characteristics of this government is their arrogant "we know best" attitude. Forcing through national standards against all advice. Ignoring environmental warnings and attacking the scientists that raise them. Likewise with a certain journalist and Afghanistan. Trampling local democracy in Canterbury in…
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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...