Is Karl Marx dead?
2018 marks several anniversaries of Karl Marx whose significance for the critique of capitalist society is hard to diminish. But what now for his beliefs?
Economy
class war
The Centre, the Left and UK local elections
Thoughts on a resurgent left and a collapsing centre.
Radical Socialism
‘nother guest post by Nick Kelly (Upper Hutt boy in London)
Thank you Metiria.
Some movement on social security (a thing we all deserve)
Is capitalism obsolete?
Former Greek finance minister Yanis Varoufakis has given a speech where he has stated that capitalism is coming to an end because it is making itself obsolete.
The Largesse
April the first and second mark the days when those receiving entitlements receive a yearly increase in line with the CPI and the governments increase to Accommodation Supplement also comes into effect. So what does it all mean for those receiving entitlements?
Democracy, Faux Democracy and Terror.
Facebook, Putin, poisoning and Ghouta have all given fairly extensive media coverage of late. Nothing much on Afrin. Afrin has just fallen to terrorists backed by Turkey.
Update: the photo used for this post is of the The Queer Insurrection and Liberation Army (TQILA), who are part of the International Revolutionary People’s Guerrilla Forces fighting in Syria.
Sanctions. Weapons of War.
When elite’s tussle, shouldn’t we look after us and ours?
Where’s my share?
Had anyone with a job (other than the top 2 tiers of management) had a wage increase higher than inflation recently?
Stop Using the ‘F’ Word.
Because words matter.
The Housing Crisis.
Can politics deliver?
Trickledown …
Over in America Republican intellectual genius Paul Ryan tweeted how a School teacher who will receive $1.50 extra per week because of Republican tax cuts was grateful for the increase. But it did not go down well …
NZ Court of Appeal and the Ministry of Health
The government has a responsibility to act fairly, centre its services around the needs of people, and treat NZ citizens as human beings.
Buttered Bread
What side’s yours buttered on?
Jacinda Ardern’s child poverty speech
In a major speech yesterday on poverty, Prime Minister Ardern has laid out fully and forthrightly what is the problem and what need to be done.
Bill your pants may be on fire
Bill English has criticised the Government for only offering an officer briefing on the day that legislation is due to be introduced into Parliament. But appears to have forgotten an offer made by Jacinda Ardern 48 days ago.
Ruminations on deprivation
Man gets wet feet. Is reminded of privilege.
Rimutaka Prison.
Who are the bigger criminals?
Updated.
NRT: Not good enough
“The government today announced some employment relations reforms, including the restoration of meal breaks and the right to collective bargaining. But they also plan to retain 90 day trial periods for small businesses“
The Humanity.
Thoughtless thugs. Killers.
Solidarity
History not forgotten.
The Saviour Machine
Our ingenuity.
Up in Smoke.
US reverses Federal marijuana stance.
This. Almost.
It’s not perfect. Maybe it’s a start.
The Herald thinks Jacinda Ardern is a Marxist
The Herald has equated Jacinda Ardern’s desire to temper the worst excesses of capitalism with the full embrace of marxist communism.
Voltairine de Cleyre
When history buries treasures, those treasures don’t have to remain buried.
Twyford reverses National’s flawed methamphetamine housing policy
Phil Twyford has shown this new Government has a brain as well as a heart by halting National’s ridiculous state house methamphetamine policy where the presence of minuscule traces would result in eviction even though there was no proof the tenant was responsible and he has apologised to Robert Erueti for the harm caused.
Tenancy Stuff.
How’s about private tenants in New Zealand were warm, dry and secure? Too big an ask?
Why New Zealand should support the Tongan League team and forget about the Americas Cup
The Tongan national league team has invigorated Auckland in a way I have not previously seen basically for nothing. Meanwhile Team New Zealand and the Americas Cup are demanding hundreds of millions of dollars for economic benefits that the recipients should be paying for.
Labour to seek consensus over child poverty
Jacinda Ardern intends to reach out to National to try and furnish a bi partisan approach to dealing with child poverty. It is a good idea, but I don’t like her chances.
Social Democracy is still alive
With socialist governments in rapid decline right across the world, and just a very few social democrat governments re-emerging after many years out of power, it’s useful to remind ourselves of what governmental combinations are working well.
TVNZ pays Chief Executive a bonus after massive plunge in profits
TVNZ’s board has decided to respond to a massive plunge in profitability by paying it chief executive a bigger salary package and a large bonus.
Beneficiary for life: the joys of permanent disability in present day NZ
What happens to long term beneficiaries who can’t increase their income with paid work?
This TPP…
Some aspects of the TPP no-one’s mentioning.
The Missing Noun.
When they said they wanted to eradicate poverty, I didn’t suspect they simply meant to expunge the word.
Home Sweet Home
The changing face of New Zealand.