The Taxpayers’ Union* responds to the Clark and Thompson spying fiasco
* not a real union.
Politics
Deep stuff
How To Get There 23/12/18
Welcome to TS’s Sunday think piece. It’s a blank sheet, a tabula rasa, waiting for your thoughts on the future and How To Get There.
China; Hack to the Future!
China has apparently been sprung hacking hundreds of western businesses and Government agencies, including some here in NZ. Should we be worried?
A Right Shambles
With the UK Tories self imploding, the US President contemplating jail time, Angela Merkel moving on and the conservative parties on both sides of the Tasman looking increasingly irrelevant, what should the left do to fill the gap?
Labour’s education reforms
The Government has released a discussion paper proposing radical change to our education system, including the establishment of regional hubs to improve cooperation between schools and provisions to strengthen the proposition that kids should attend their local well resources and well run school.
Pete Shelley: History is Made by Those Who Turn Up
Pete Shelley, lead singer of ground breaking punk band Buzzcocks has died. And Ed Sheeran still walks among us. Where’s the justice?
The Reserve Bank Reform Bill
The Government is planning changes to the Reserve Bank Act to require it to seek full employment. Maybe it is time for a dramatic change to its powers so that it has the regulatory powers to properly deal with the Australian banks.
National; Leaking Like a Sieve
Another day, another leak from the National Party. If it’s not JLR, just who is poking the borax inside the Tory caucus?
New Privacy Law for 2019
A new Privacy law is in the process of being enacted. But in a world where privacy breaches are rampant and the consequences potentially devastating will it be enough?
TERFed Out: UPDATED
Labour MP Louisa Wall has written an opinion piece in response to Herald columnist Rachel Stewart’s attack earlier in the week on the trans community and their LGBTIQ+ allies. It’s very good.
UPDATE: Rachel Stewart, as predicted, has blocked me on twitter. But not before going full on racist.
China, Huawei and us
It’s high time this government woke up to the intelligence gathering capacity and ambition of China in New Zealand.
All that is wrong with America’s democracy
In Georgia, despite the Repbublican candidate who oversaw the election process engaging in the mass disenfranchisement of Democrat voters, the removal of voting machines to make voting in Democrat areas more difficult and baseless smearing of the Democrat candidate, the result is on a knife edge and a second vote is a possibility.
ILG, a Rock, and a Hard Place
The Sroubek beat up is still with us. Why won’t National tell us what they knew and what they agreed to?
Labour Party Conference 2018
It’s conference time! The NZ Labour party is into it’s second century and into Government. What can we expect from this weekend’s hui in Dunedin and what policies and positions do Standard readers think need to be pushed?
An Ineffectual Opposition Is Bad News
An ineffectual Opposition creates a vacuum that will be filled by the Mainstream and Social Media as they will assume the role of unelected and non-representative opposition in effectuo.
Lime Sour
Lime scooters are this year’s finger spinner. The problem is that unlike last year’s must have toy, e-scooters are a public menace.
What are we waiting for?
We seem to be waiting for something? But what is it?
Jami-Lee Ross: But Wait, There’s More!
Jami-Lee Ross has twisted the knife a little further into Simon Bridge’s back this arvo, releasing a second tape and announcing he won’t be quitting Parliament. Turns out he may need the income to fund a divorce.
Second Kremlin Killer Unmasked, Putin Untroubled
We know the real names of the Russian spies who bungled the Salisbury novichok poisoning. Will it make a difference to the Kremlin’s plans?
Fighting for a just cause is empowering
A purpose in life is an awesome Force of Nature.
Failed Estate – the ABC of Trust
In Australia this week the Liberal Government has become embroiled in a scandal relating to political pressure being brought to sack the head of the ABC and one of its most senior reporters. Failed estate has the details.
How Patriarchy Works; A Newshub Special Investigation
A schoolgirl correctly identified exactly what caused the stink at Carterton South school. Why wasn’t she listened to?
Police spying must be investigated
Amnesty International is calling for an inquiry into the actions of Thompson and Clark to be expanded to include their involvement in police activities.
The Government’s plan for a modern and prosperous New Zealand
Text of Jacinda Ardern’s major speech delivered today.
We are failing kids from poor families
Kirsty Johnston has produced an in-depth analysis of the current rate of young people from poor backgrounds entering professional ranks. And the news is not good.
Paranoia, Bullshit and Ordinary Lives.
It seems that for some, trashing out the lives of ordinary people is fine, because “Russia bad”. It’s not fine…
Coalition Problems? Tell ’em they’re Dreaming!
Oh dear. The Winston Peters led governing coalition has completely collapsed and thank God Simon Bridges is there to pick up the pieces. I warned you this would happen! And look! Over there … the sky is falling. Falling, I tells ya!
Is Politik a propaganda mouthpiece for the UK Embassy?
In Politik’s 7 September issue we are told that Western diplomats in Wellington are surprised that Winston Peters has not accused Russia of the Skripal poisoning or joined some other countries in taking reprisals. Editor Richard Harman quotes a source to tell us that the British in particular were “pissed” at Peters’ response. Well dearie me. I’m with Winston, a wise old owl.
US Mid Terms; Obama Enters the Ring
America gets ready to rumble in the November mid terms, as Barack Obama enters the ring. At stake is control of both houses and the fate of the Trump presidency.
Kremlin Killers?
UK Police have named the two Russian spies accused of the Novichok poisonings. But what can Britain do about it?
Let Chelsea Manning speak
Chelsea Manning wants to visit New Zealand and talk about how evil war is and what should be done to stop it. We should let her.
The Pope’s Letter to All Believers
The pope missed a great recent chance to state that accused abusers should be walked to the nearest Police station, make written statements, face trial, hopefully jailed, then defrocked, and excommunicated.
About freedom of speech
Simon Wilson in the Herald neatly skewers suggestions that Donald Brash is a free speech warrior and raises important issues about the interplay between free speech and attacks on “political correctness” also known as tolerance and respect.
We need more radicals coming here
We need more radical voices again here. But it’s like MMP has turned us once again into the passionless people. It always looks like “hate speech” when you hate it.
The difference between Don Brash and Southern & Molyneux
What is the difference between Don Brash and Stefan Molyneux and Lauren Southern. And why should Brash’s right to freedom of expression be greater than Monyneux’s or Southern’s?
Should we defend global institutions?
With the world facing environmental, economic and social crises now more than ever before is a time for strong international institutions.