Interest rates and banks
Yesterday Andrew Little criticised the banks’ failure to pass on the cut in Official Cash Rate (OCR) to we the people via mortgage / interest rate cuts. Naturally the political right went ballistic.
Economy
capitalism
Who is ultimately responsible for NZ’s massive dairy farm debt?
People talk of excessive borrowing in the dairy sector. Of course, the real problem is that of excessive lending.
The Gun Club
In the wake of the shooting of four police officers in Kawerau, it’s time NZ had a cold, hard look at our gun culture. We need an inquiry that addresses both legal and illegal gun ownership. But there’s a related matter that also needs looking at …
Economic anger and political madness
History clearly shows us that when people are economically stressed they turn to extreme action and extreme leaders. Economist Jared Bernstein argues that the Trump ascendancy is another example of this.
TPP to criminalise ordinary viewers
A lot of people out there couldn’t give a stuff about the TPP because they don’t see it affecting them. This might change their minds.
Health law expert on the TPP
We won’t be able to say that we weren’t warned.
the Global Death Economy
A new edition of “Confessions of an Economic Hitman” has been released. It makes it clear that we are in the grip of a global “Death Economy” and a collective embrace of ‘Thanatos’, the death instinct.
What poverty?: Emirates declares 1st Class a success
Looks like the top 1% and the cashed up asset rich are doing just fine. The rest of you, work harder.
What have the Unions ever done for us?
A video from the TUC in the UK explaining how important Unions are which is just as relevant for Aotearoa as it is for the UK.
The TPPA could blight public education
The TPPA could bring us charter schools on steroids, and threaten policies like free tertiary education. In general its a way of locking in a permanent, international right-wing governance which can limit and constrain the kind of social policies that any future NZ left-wing government might want to enact.
Racist Talleys to Cancel Waitangi Day Holiday?
The Talley’s owned meatworks in Rangiuru is threatening to discipline workers and sue their union if workers choose to observe the Waitangi Day holiday tomorrow. How’s that Brighter Future working out, people?
NOW UPDATED! Hear what Talleys have to say.
TPPA snippets and media coverage
Snippets from recent pieces on the TPP, including The Spinoff’s José Barbosa an his take on the media coverage of the Auckland protest.
Jobs and wages
Boring stuff about boring old jobs and wages.
20,000 protesters – 0 arrests
Despite the travesty inside SkyCity, what was happening outside was in many respects a democratic nation at its finest.
UN experts issue warning on TPP
When the UN is issuing warnings on the TPP, don’t you think it would be wise to listen?
The TPPA day of shame
Undated: The TPPA has now been signed, but not ratified, and not (hello NZ Herald!) “passed in to law”. There have been widespread protests throughout Auckland.
RNZ had live coverage with John Campbell.
Garner’s TPP rant rejected by the silent majority
TPPA ‘National Interest Analysis’ – get both sides
The Government has released a TPPA ‘National Interest Analysis’. It should be read along with TPP Legal’s extensive analysis of the costs and risks.
Keep Calm and Carry On
Regular commenter Paul rounds up the links you need to read to prepare yourself for the coming second GFC. National won’t be able to pass this one on to future generations by loading NZ up with crippling debt. We’ll be paying for GFC2 economically, socially and personally, right here, right now.
Key deserved boos for his TPP lies at Ratana
Key’s “strident” defence of the TPP was booed at Ratana yesterday. With good reason, because his glib assurance that “Not a single part of TPP cuts across the Treaty of Waitangi” is yet another Key lie.
NZ participating in climate fraud
An article that appeared on December 26th in the Dom Post is much too important to be left languishing in the Christmas news vacuum. “We [NZ] have been the biggest abuser of fraudulent carbon credits. Someone should be answerable as an accessory to the fraud.”
TPPA don’t sign speaker tour details
Professor Jane Kelsey and Lori Wallach are speaking in the main cities next week about the repercussions of New Zealand entering into the Trans Pacific Partnership agreement.
Another attempt to minimise the significance of poverty
A piece yesterday foreshadows a report on poverty from right-wing lobby group “The New Zealand Initiative”. It’s (surprise!) another attempt to minimise the significance of poverty in NZ – and it’s another big distraction…
Rightwing populism is the new normal – Gary Younge
Gary Younge is a feature columnist with the Guardian. In this film he explains why the Trump phenomenon is a symptom of current societal change.
Building a mass movement
Republished by request, and permission from Stephanie Rodgers at Boots Theory
[Content note: mentions of transphobia, sexual violence and violence against people of colour]
62 vs 3.6 Billion
Ever widening inequality generates ever more astonishing statistics – suck up economics in action. The super-rich are laughing all the way to the bank.
Robertson / Labour on the future of work
It’s a good thing that one of the major parties is thinking seriously about the future…
Not all research is created equal
A recent “research” report on alcohol, funded by brewing company Lion, has been in the news lately. Sadly, not everything that purports to be research is honest research.
How to improve pay gender equality
It’s been a hardy annual finding of late – the pay gap between males and females is getting steadily worse. History suggests that Labour governments have some answers…
TPP circus rolls on
The new year begins much as the old one ended, with secrets, evasions and dissent over the TPP and what it means for NZ.
Boots Theory: Move left to win? Move left to win!
Boots Theory on the American Working Families Charter, how they are trying to move the Democratic Party to the left, and possible lessons for New Zealand.
Royal Bank of Scotland to investors: “Sell everything”
The Bank of Scotland has advised advised its clients to brace for a “cataclysmic year” and a global deflationary crisis.
National’s vision for New Zealand’s future
Stephen Joyce has had published an opinion piece in this morning’s Herald which extolls the virtue of free trade and ignores the pitfalls. Such as those shown this week when TransCanada sued the US Government for rejecting the Keystone XL pipeline contract.
Why are we working so hard?
A recent New Matilda article discusses why at a time of increasing productivity the need to work has increased and not decreased.
The problem with free market capitalism
This morning’s Herald contains a story about a young man who with a family gift has managed to purchase eleven houses over the past five years and can afford to pay World of Warcraft all day.
The major world risks in 2016
Ad reviews Eurasia’s appraisal of global risks the world faces in 2016.