Posts on the economy, work, business, income, and labour
Written By: - Date published: 1:24 pm, January 15th, 2015 - 30 comments
The United Kingdom is debating entry into the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership, which like the TPPA will allow investor-state disputes to be resolved by unappealable unaccountable private arbitration. George Monbiot in the Guardian describes the issue well and has suggestions on how the proposal can be challenged.
Written By: - Date published: 3:43 pm, January 13th, 2015 - 64 comments
The self righteousness of the leaders who marched in Paris was there for all to see, but few in the media decry and point out the hypocrisy. How smug the World leaders feel, marching for freedom of expression and the media which they largely control and use for their political purposes. So who will speak […]
Written By: - Date published: 8:53 am, January 13th, 2015 - 81 comments
Political Scientists Bronwyn Hayward and Mark Boyd were interviewed on Radio New Zealand yesterday on New Zealand politics in 2014 and what happened during the election. They talked extensively on dirty politics, on the role of the media and how things can be improved in 2015.
Written By: - Date published: 11:15 am, January 12th, 2015 - 76 comments
Far from fading away into the Christmas haze, SkyCity looks likely to be one of the defining political issues for 2015.
Written By: - Date published: 8:54 am, January 10th, 2015 - 62 comments
bsprout on the Local Bodies blog, provides a case study, specific to Southland. At the same time, it outlines a more general pattern that can be seen in many places, each with their own local circumstances.
Written By: - Date published: 1:59 pm, January 9th, 2015 - 64 comments
Whatever the reason for a person’s disability if it is to such an extent that they cannot work we condemn them to a life of subsistence living with a big pay rise when, and if, they reach retirement age to 65% of the average wage!
Written By: - Date published: 9:21 am, January 6th, 2015 - 146 comments
Charlie Mitchell of the Dominion Post has analysed John Key’s formal speeches since 2007 to see what has from time to time been uppermost in Key’s mind. The results are interesting to say the least.
Written By: - Date published: 8:44 am, January 5th, 2015 - 94 comments
I was astonished by an anonymous NZ Herald editorial on New Years day – “NZ economy is in a good place and thriving”. Obviously an inferior intellect was slow cooked in the warm holiday weather. It turned to mush and regurgitated one of Bill English’s wet dreams. Dairy prices are unlikely to rebound any time soon.
Written By: - Date published: 9:41 am, January 2nd, 2015 - 275 comments
Yesterday, on Outspoken at RNZ, Craig McCulloch interviewed Jeanette Fitzsimons, Gareth Morgan and Metiria Turei on the future of the Green Party. Morgan wants the Greens to shift away from “scary” economic policies. Turei and Fitzsimons explain why not.
Written By: - Date published: 10:19 am, January 1st, 2015 - 21 comments
A July 2013 post by Helen Kelly was about Daniel Rockhouse who survived the Pike River Mine disaster, and then rescued Russell Smith. Yesterday Daniel Rockhouse got a bravery award. Read Kelly’s 2013 post here.
Written By: - Date published: 9:11 am, January 1st, 2015 - 35 comments
Happy New Year! Some songs for the times.
Written By: - Date published: 6:50 pm, December 29th, 2014 - 36 comments
How can young unemployed people get help in finding a job, when they have been trying to get one for some time?
Written By: - Date published: 1:26 pm, December 29th, 2014 - 54 comments
Pope Francis has created a stir recently. He has been instrumental in the ending by the United States of sanctions against Cuba, he has criticised the Curia for being inwardly focussed and not sufficiently concerned for the poor and he has reached out to Muslims. And to top things off he is intending to issue a Papal Encyclical on climate change and will be urging countries to enter into a meaningful agreement on climate change.
Written By: - Date published: 9:28 am, December 27th, 2014 - 42 comments
At last, some of our conservative short-term thinkers have woken up to the elephant in the room with the SkyCity convention centre subvention. Years late and their previous support has cost taxpayers dearly already. Perhaps they could learn to read reports? And think before committing us to be suckers?
Written By: - Date published: 10:00 am, December 26th, 2014 - 64 comments
Thomas Piketty in his book Capital in the Twenty-First Century came to the strong conclusion that capitalism left by itself will increase inequality and cause increased risk of social, economic and democratic upheaval. He has an unlikely supporter, albeit critical, in Bill Gates, one of the richest men in the world.
Written By: - Date published: 1:05 pm, December 24th, 2014 - 71 comments
The smug middle class National voter seems oblivious to how close they are to financial hardship…
Written By: - Date published: 9:42 am, December 24th, 2014 - 28 comments
The UK Green Party is gaining in popularity as many people turn away from the 3 established parties. The radical left Syriza party in Greece could possibly gain power in their election – what powerful international right wing forces would then be unleashed?
Written By: - Date published: 8:23 am, December 22nd, 2014 - 33 comments
A new report shows that Steven Joyce’s MBIE fiefdom is failing miserably. Meanwhile the MBIE is under fire for the major cost blow out of the Sky City Casino deal – another deal with Joyce’s imprints all over it.
Written By: - Date published: 8:44 am, December 20th, 2014 - 11 comments
So suggestions on how to have an ethical christmas that is light on the planet and will improve the plight of humanity.
Written By: - Date published: 8:18 am, December 19th, 2014 - 56 comments
The government has failed to tackle NZ’s on-going housing crisis. Fuel/energy poverty is increasing, with a higher proportion of households unable to afford any heating. More Kiwis are renting than in the 2006 census, & more Aucklanders live in over-crowded households.
Written By: - Date published: 5:04 pm, December 18th, 2014 - 19 comments
Another day, another crucial leak of information relating to a relentless drive by the USA to have control of as much data as they can, in as many countries as possible.
Written By: - Date published: 10:00 am, December 18th, 2014 - 137 comments
The price of crude oil has nearly halved in the past six months and is causing massive repercussions throughout the world with both the Russian economy and the American Shale Oil industry under threat. The geopolitical implications are complex.
Written By: - Date published: 9:24 am, December 18th, 2014 - 9 comments
National are not responsible for the eventual recovery, they are responsible for delaying it.
Written By: - Date published: 2:15 pm, December 17th, 2014 - 7 comments
Scott examines Bill’s likely excuses for failing to deliver something National have promised since 2011
Written By: - Date published: 12:00 pm, December 17th, 2014 - 20 comments
The Meatworkers Union today launch a campaign for Jobs That Count – to try to get better conditions for these marginalised workers who face it all – seasonal work, dangerous jobs, casual and zero hours contracts and anti-union pressure.
Written By: - Date published: 2:18 pm, December 16th, 2014 - 73 comments
The Nats are going to miss the only target they ever cared about hitting – the mythical surplus. Seven wasted years and counting…
Written By: - Date published: 9:00 am, December 16th, 2014 - 33 comments
people are reporting that they have been unable to access emergency grants for food, simply because that are unable to reach WINZ staff to apply for one.
Written By: - Date published: 8:55 am, December 14th, 2014 - 65 comments
Inequality has been very much in the news recently. Friday saw the publication of two really excellent pieces that between them provide a comprehensive, if depressing overview.
Written By: - Date published: 10:24 am, December 13th, 2014 - 65 comments
Two New Zealands will shortly celebrate Christmas, the poor and the rich. Here’s a crazy thought…
Written By: - Date published: 9:39 am, December 12th, 2014 - 16 comments
On RNZ this morning PSA National Secretary Richard Wagstaff criticised Bill English for his misleading rhetoric about rises in “average wages”. NZ’s income and wealth gaps have increased in recent decades. The lowest income remain low; the top earners get big salary increases.
Written By: - Date published: 7:50 am, December 12th, 2014 - 181 comments
Message to today’s anonymous Herald editorialist – competition doesn’t close the inequality gap, it widens it. In other news, black is black not white, and water is wet. How can you write such drivel?
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