NRT on submitting on the End of Life Choice Bill
“If you care about the bill, I encourage you to speak up about it.”
Politics
democratic participation
Making official Information flow again
“Ministers realised they had a device through which they could reduce the surprises they suffered. And, as it went on, the surprises ministers no longer wanted to experience became greater in number and smaller in significance.Increasingly, it placed on the public service a political imperative which it had never had to shoulder. “
Labour and rural voters
In recent years Labour has allowed National to dominate rural politics. Maybe it is time for Labour to think about reaching out to rural voters and suggest to them that a progressive vote is in their interests.
Remember, remember!
Sunday the 5th of November from 12 O’Clock onwards, by the bandstand in Dunedin’s Botanic Gardens.
The new government and the TPPA-11
An update from Professor Jane Kelsey on the TPPA-11, a look at the issues for the new Labour-led government, and reasons why we still need to be concerned.
Begone, capitalism! You don’t own me
Do we want to be owned by capitalism and stay in its trap of wage and debt slavery, or do we want to boldly go to post-capitalism, whatever that might be.
This coming digital war
This is the first Labour Government of the digital age. How progressives respond to social media attacks may be crucial to its success.
“Reporters”.
“Once upon a time, in a world far away” we had these people called “reporters”.
An honourable profession, who considered it their job to keep the public accurately and completely informed.
Austria and Europe
Europe is showing a worrying trend to the right as anti immigration parties are voted into office. Austria provides the latest example.
Facebook and democracy
A long and interesting read in The Atlantic. “The very roots of the electoral system had been destabilized.”
First Past the Post nostalgia
A timely reminder that we replaced FPP for very good reasons.
There is hope
Anarchism and democracy.
We need a new version of MMP
This guest post looks at the ways that the national governments in Scotland and Wales operate. Their functional systems are effectively MMP, but they break up their list into regional areas which makes it easier to gain the voters to put regional issues into the wider debate.
Peters campaigned against the Nats – his party wants him to do the right thing
Peters campaigned hard against the Nats, and for a change in government (check out the speech and video). To keep faith with democracy and with his party members he has to go with Labour Green (check out the feedback and polls). If Peters goes the other way NZF will implode.
Some election night notes
The timing of this election’s results, how NZ governments are formed, and election stress.
Election night coverage
Some places for lefties to follow the counting and take part in the talking.
Today is the last day to enroll – and you should
Today is the last day you can enroll to vote in the election. Historically far too many people in the 18-24 age group have not enrolled. The same again would suit the Nats very well indeed.
Update: Newsroom: “A record turnout of early voters suggests a youthquake in action – and the polls might be wrong.”
Update: If you are trying to enrol and the queues are long, here are the other ways you can do it, including online!
Update: you can enrol up until midnight Friday online, and then vote at a polling station on Saturday. Details here.
This is how you change the Government – enrol and vote at the same time*
* option only available before election day.
I’m off to vote today
Voting has opened for advance votes and the expectation is that it will be pretty heavy prior to polling day over the next couple of weeks. I’ll be out there voting today for Jacinda Arden as my local MP, and for the Greens as my party vote.
This is how you change the Government – electorate vote Goldsmith if you are on the Epsom roll
For progressive Epsom voters the best way to change the Government may be to give your electorate vote to Paul Goldsmith.
The election of truth vs lies
Even those who have supported National in the past must see that this current bunch have lost their way. National needs to renew itself, some time in opposition will do them good. Don’t vote for liars.
Challenging the divine right of kingmakers
23 days to go. We’re now this close to changing the government, and have a real chance at a truly progressive government with a Labour/Green coalition. For that we need strong Green representation.
This is how you change the Government – Enrolments
The first of what will be a series of posts on practical steps that people can take to elect a progressive Government. In this post the importance of getting as many people enrolled as possible.
How to vote from anywhere
The Greens have produced a video on what you need to do to vote internationally.
What will the next Labour caucus look like?
Early days but Labour’s surge should result in an outstanding array of talent entering Parliament.
Do you?
In the interests of keeping it simple, an obvious fact or two and a basic proposition.
#LeftwithEnough
Mary St George writes about participatory democracy in this year’s election and the new twitter chat #LeftwithEnough.
The language of electioneering
Turns out TOP might help form a 4th National government.
The Catholic Church is urging its parishoners to vote
The catholic bishops of Aotearoa have released a pamphlet urging parishoners to vote. And apart from conservative positions on euthenasia and drug liberalisation the policies they support have a decidedly progressive bent.
Who are the real enemies of the centre left?
Simon Wilson recently claimed that left wingers and party members are problems for and enemies of Labour and the Greens. This is why I think he is wrong.
This Bloody Vote.
Disentangling the veritable plate of spaghetti that’s been set before us this election.
NRT: Everybody knows the dice are loaded…
I/S at No Right Turn writes: “Around the world, we’ve seen a backlash against political establishments, driven in part by a recognition that economic and political systems are rigged to the advantage of the rich. And we have the same sentiments in New Zealand”
Northern Ireland
In the wake of the UK election hung parliament, issues are emerging with the Conservatives/DUP coalition and its effect the Northern Ireland peace process, that bring into question the Tories’ ability to govern.
UK General Election discussion post
General discussion thread for the UK election.
Pre-UK election discussion
“It’s election week, I f*cking love it…” – Jonathan Pie.
Green Party List announced
Climate change, human rights, indigenous rights, Māori and Pasifika, and fresh, young faces on the 2017 Green Party List.