Calculated cruelty
National has announced two populist cruel policies today of benefit cuts for beneficiaries on the Jobseeker benefit for over two years and random drug testing for beneficiaries.
Economy
poverty
Government makes Move On Orders Bill less shit
This week the Government reluctantly reversed its intent to allow homeless teenagers to be prosecuted if they did not move to somewhere less safe when required to move on by police.
Homelessness kills
Very sad recent news from yesterday. Three homeless people in Aotearoa, the land of plenty, have recently frozen to death.
This Government’s war on the homeless and the young
In a land of milk and honey you would think that every kiwi would have plenty to eat and somewhere to live. But this week has shown the Government wants to refuse emergency to some poor people and feed young children inadequate school lunches.
The absurdity of the Move on Orders law
Paul Goldsmith’s move on orders bill applies to young people aged 14 even though existing legislation provides police with all the powers they need to deal with homeless young people.
National wages war on the poor
How cruel do you have to be to raise rents for some of our poorest citizens during a cost of living crisis?
Why does this Government hate poor people?
The Government will today announce its response to increasing pressure on household budgets cause by the oil crisis. And it seems inevitable that poor people who are not working will be excluded from its effect.
Fining beggars
Fining beggers will only increase their problems and moving them on will not solve the problem only spread it around.
Green Shoots, Anyone?
There is no evidence of immediate improvement in our economy, or of this government improving it.
Why the next election will not be easy for Labour
This may be a one term National Government. But electoral law reform, the state of Labour’s coalition partners, a possible economic upturn and a change in National’s leader threaten this.
Metiria Turei was right but did we learn the lesson?
In 2017 the Greens shifted the Overton Window on a compassionate response to poverty, but where are we now?
Ani O’Brien’s weird take on homelessness
Ani O’Brien thinks that claims by Chloe Swarbrick that the Government is intentionally increasing homelessness are engaging in hyperbole and are not true. But who is the person engaging in hyperbole?
So the Government has increased homelessness
For some time now National has been crowing about how they have solved the emergency housing problem in Aotearoa. But a recent report suggests that their policies have cause a surge in the number of homeless kiwis.
The left should unite on tax, fast
… before the election starts to get real.
The ultimate Fuck you, to your neighbours, the community and the environment. Private helicopters!
Again, we were woken up by a bunch of hoodrats drifting on the intersection by our house. Great clouds of smoke and lots of noise. As you do at three o clock in the morning, my brain started tying this together with recent articles about private helicopters in urban areas, and other forms of antisocial “Fuck You’s” to the rest of us.
State-run food stores anyone?
What if we broke New Zealand’s grocery misery with our own grocery store?
The mother of the mother of all budgets is unrepentant
Ruth Richardson remains totally convinced that her “mother of all budgets” was appropriate and claims that it was responsible for slaying inflation and promoting a high-growth high-wage high-employment economy.
Farewell Pope Francis
“Let us not be afraid to say it: we want change, real change, structural change. The system has imposed the mentality of profit at any price, with no concern for social exclusion or the destruction of nature.”
The Libelle liquidation
The first liquidator’s report on Libelle Group Limited suggests the company was hopelessly incapable of performing its role in providing the National-Act Government’s version of school lunches.
Cuts to Disability Services Are Part of a Class War
Over the last year, the Coalition has unleashed a series of cuts which have been devastating for the disabled community. These cuts are part of a class war — and it’s time to organise and fight back, writes Elliot Crossan.
Where Is the Resistance to Privatisation and Austerity?
As the Coalition moves to partially privatise our healthcare system, and Seymour fatally undermines the free school lunch programme, it is time for us to take to the streets and fight back, writes Elliot Crossan.
Seymour is wrecking the school lunch program
David Seymour’s handling of changes to free school lunches has been an unmitigated disaster. Is the plan to make the scheme that bad it can then be cancelled?
State of the Nation – dire
Remember National’s promise to get us back on track? Salvation Army’s latest state of the nation report suggests that for ordinary people things are getting much worse.
When publicity stunts go bad
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon recently posted a picture of him helping with a gift box initiative for the poor. But at the same time he is overseeing the cessation of funding for food banks.
Free School lunches have a profound beneficial effect on learning
This is what David Seymour was told. But he and the Government still chose to push through significant cuts to the scheme.
National sneakily reduces child poverty targets
It has emerged that National has sneakily reduced child poverty targets.
The implications of UK Labour’s success for NZ Labour
What should New Zealand Labour learn from UK Labour’s success in the recent election?
Government is cutting funding for food banks
Are things back on track? How about for those who can least afford to feed themselves? It appears not with reports that funding for food banks is being slashed. And the consequence could be dire.
Back on Track?
National campaigned on the promise of getting the country back on track. How is it going?
Let them eat cake
David Seymour has stated that funding for free school lunches will be cut by up to half.
How not to make friends and influence people
An increase in lung cancer rates and a decrease in the amount that working families receive so that tax credits for landlords can be put in place tells you everything you need to know about the priorities of this Government. Your blood should be boiling by this stage and it is only two days in.
Aotearoa the way you want it?
The new Government’s policies give the impression they were formulated by members of a Workingman’s club in the 1970s and negotiated over a few beers.
Should you be more worried about co-governance or the top 1%?
To the those voting ACT or NZF or National this year because you are worried about co-governance. I have a secret for you. You have been co-governed by the richest 1% for decades.
What really matters this election – poverty
National has shown its real priorities with proposals to cut benefits that will pay for increased tax concessions for landlords and increasing prison resources in anticipation of the crime wave the increased poverty will cause.
Fifteen Green MPs, or more
The political courage of the Green Party is paying off.
A letter to Chris Hipkins
My 2c on what I think Chris Hipkins needs to do to win this year’s election.