Chinese New Year
With China’s New Year arriving, and a terrible flu virus struggling to be contained within it at the same time, it’s time to reflect again on China’s future and impact for New Zealand.
Economy
Posts on the economy, work, business, income, and labour
Federated Farmers launches petition against its business model
Federated Farmers has started a petition against an educational resource that teaches about climate change and activism because it does not present their industry in a sufficiently positive way.
National created more working groups than Labour
The Herald has reported that National in its first two years of Government created *more* working groups than Labour.
Guest Post – What is wrong with the left?
Guest post from old maaaaate cans about recent Stuff guest columns attacking the left for not civilised enough and wondering if it is because of right wing insecurity.
A message for conservatives about climate change and nuclear power
David Farrar has criticised young people not for their passion about addressing climate change, but for not supporting nuclear power as a potential solution. Even though it is too risky, too expensive, and too late.
What if Trump wins again?
We may as well prepare ourselves for Trump overperforming his popularity again and winning. We’ve had to deal with left’s retreat in most of the world in 2019. So let’s prepare and plot some likely accelerated changes in Trump’s second term.
The future of Capitalism
2019 has been a remarkable year for those wanting social, economic, and environmental renewal. The level of protest remains high, the idealism as […]
Labour raise the minimum wage
“Around a quarter of million workers will be better off next year”
Having us squabble over the welfare pie
When we hear a supposedly progressive economist talking about elderly people as decrepit, or rendering the elderly poor invisible, it’s time to revisit our moral compass.
What next after the White Island silence?
At 2.11pm on Monday December 16, New Zealanders are being invited to hold a minute’s silence to respect those who have died in the White Island/Whakaari explosion. Once that’s over, it’s time to start turning to what might occur to prevent this kind of disaster happening again.
Helen Kelly, together
We need your help to tell Helen’s story to New Zealanders in places and to communities who will otherwise not be reached. Please host a screening during the first two weeks of February, get your people there, and ask them to spread the word wider.
Brexit – sorry its not getting done anytime soon.
Can the Conservatives get brexit done by January 31st as they are promising in the election? The short answer is no. The slogan is catchy, and taps into public sentiment. But it is also pure unadulterated bullshit. If the Conservatives do form the next government these words will haunt them, especially Boris Johnson.
The Missing Millions
Millions of people and an entire region of the UK left out of polling calculations….
Thawing after the BRR
“The purpose of fiscal policy should be to ensure ongoing wellbeing for all and the health of our environment.”
Green Budget win backs public sector leadership on climate change
“We want to make sure hospitals, schools and other public institutions can use energy in a more climate-friendly way, cut emissions, and lower their energy bills.”
The NHS and privatisation
The NHS is well loved by the British public. It is seen as something which makes British society decent and civilised. That the NHS is now stretched and badly underfunded is seen as a national outrage. Fears of even further privatisation of the NHS due to a US trade deal has unsurprisingly made the NHS the number one election issue.
ACC are bankrolling the climate crisis
Why is ACC dragging the chain on fossil fuel divestment, and why is Labour letting them?
End Oil: “this is how we win”
The Museum of Oil History and SS4C dancing the Macarena ended an awesome week of protest action against oil drilling in NZ.
Immigration: we can’t keep succumbing to fear tactics
Whither Warren?
Is it too early to call negative odds on Elizabeth Warren’s candidacy?
Labour’s infrastructure spend announcement
Is the Government commitment to the budget responsibility rules weakening? Because at the Labour Party Conference Grant Robertson has indicated that the Government will shortly announce a big capital spend on infrastructure.
Labour Conference
It’s a weird moment for the Labour Party at Conference this weekend.
The cost of capitalism
I feel like I am describing some future-set dystopian novel, and the scary thing is that the AI, transhumanism, technofascist society is just around the corner.
Economists support Labour forming the next UK government
One hundred and sixty three British economists have signed a letter to the Financial Times to say they believe that Labour should form […]
Common-wealth Government
Advantage is testing an idea out. What will a common accountability framework for the government look like?
Austerity – who should pay for the financial crisis?
Nick Kelly on UK austerity and who should have paid for the financial crisis.
Green MP Gareth Hughes speaking bold truth ahead of his retirement at next election
“I’ve grown up knowing nothing but the revolution of the early 1980s. This is this operating system which was uploaded in New Zealand and people have tried to install better policies or better programs, but if they don’t work with the system, they are crashing”
The 2008 financial crisis casts a long shadow over UK politics
Nick Kelly on why the 2008 Global Financial Crisis is still having a dramatic effect on United Kingdom Politics.
Dunedin’s Hillside Rail Workshop
Good news for Dunedin and the Country as the Government has announced a $20 million upgrade of the Hillside Rail Workshop.
TWP – sorted?
A guest post from Chrissy Thomas on Te Whare Pounamu, Dunedin Women’s Refuge.
Trickle down fails yet again
Despite its continuous failure to work over the past 40 years trickle down remains a favourite justification by right wing administrations for allowing unfettered greed.
No Social welfare handouts for multinational corporations
Rio Tinto is practising further brinkmanship and have reportedly sent in a closure team to assess the viability of Tiwai Point and no doubt seek a Government handout. Is it time to say no and provide cheaper cleaner power to the country instead?
Unapologetic populism?
A Wall Street broker has accused Democratic nominee Elizabeth Warren of unapologetic populism in her desire to help workers, the environment, those with lower incomes, and women and minorities as if these are bad things.
Brittle cities
It is pretty hard to miss a variety of cities around the world going nuts for apparently minor offences.
Happy Labour day
Happy Labour day everyone. Have a great day. And don’t forget the importance of the Labour movement and of collective action in preserving and enhancing our quality of life.
The Government-Auckland relationship
The Sky City National Convention Centre fire brings the Government Auckland relationship to a very sharp edge. It was tense before. It’s worse now.