Take the power back
The Jobs That Count campaign isn’t just about Talley’s AFFCO. It’s about getting local councils that work for all of us and make sure that the big businesses in our communities give back to us.
Politics
democratic participation
Democracy doesn’t belong to government…
42 years on, Norman Kirk’s words and work remain a beacon.
Guest post: Tane Phillips for Māori Vice President
The Standard’s authors have offered candidates for the upcoming Labour Party internal elections the chance to guest post about why they’re running. Tane Phillips has been nominated for the position of Māori Vice President. Here’s his vision for the role and the party.
Legalize It
Is it time for a referendum on marijuana? There is strong support for the use of medicinal marijuana. Should we just admit that Kiwis like smoking dope and simply legalise it?
Guest post: Eva Hartshorn-Sanders for Senior Vice President
The Standard’s authors have offered candidates for the upcoming Labour Party internal elections the chance to guest post about why they’re running. Eva Hartshorn-Sanders has been nominated for the position of Senior Vice President. Here’s her vision for the role and the party.
Offer to NZLP candidates
As the biggest left blog in New Zealand the Standard is offering candidates in Labour’s upcoming party role elections the chance to let us know what they stand for.
Is US Green Party’s Jill Stein the new people’s champion?
Plus she makes Fox News reporters’ heads explode.
Is Democracy peaking?
Has traditional democracy’s power peaked and will it be replaced by a social media generated consciousness?
Remembering our personal political power
Even in times of upheaval there are things we can do. Here are 11 post-Brexit ways to act right now.
Dirty Politics Farrar and freedom of speech
There’s a petition – Get Rid of Hosking – it’s closing in on 16K signatures. Dirty Politics Farrar is a mite agitated about it, so let’s all give the Streisand effect a big hand.
Pay up Compass
Not only has Compass being serving below quality food to hospital patients but it appears that they may not have paid some long term employees what they are entitled to.
Mana 2.0
Hone’s back! The leader of the Mana party has announced he’s re-forming the Mana Movement and will stand again in Te Tai Tokerau. Is there a chance of a deal with Labour to strengthen the next Government?
What the Swiss voted on (UBI proposal)
Some context for the debate.
Stick a Fork in Him, He’s Dunne
The Labour/Greens electoral pact spells the end of the line for Parliament’s most self serving MP, Peter Dunne. National have a choice to make; stand down in Ohariu or stab him in the back. And then there’s the equally supine Maori party. Te Ururoa Flavell’s hold on his seat is also shaky. No Flavell, no Maori Party.
No Mates National. The Brighter Future just arrived!
Indigenous Perspectives
“It is possible to live in a society with a world view that does not include empire”
– Winona LaDuke
We’re going to burn it all, until we burn it down.
What does it really mean to reduce NZ’s total fossil fuel use by 50% by 2030: a warm up discussion for an upcoming thought experiment.
Climate Change Change Pt 1: What are we waiting for?
Before government spending cuts there was The Riot for Austerity, a grass roots Climate Change movement that showed how it was possible for ordinary people to change and significantly reduce their carbon emissions without someone forcing them to.
A Design for Living; Guest Post
Young Labour member and regular TS reader TheSocialDemocrat has drawn up a manifesto for change. As neo-liberalism enters its twilight phase, now is the time to redefine the debate about what makes a society great.
Simplicity
Good shit happening in France.
Can We Trust Winston Peters?
Recent polling makes it clear that neither National or Labour can win power without the support of NZ First. So should the left be worried that Winston Peters will take his party back over to the blue team?
Fear is a Man’s Best Friend
It’s been an intense day or two for Andrew Little. But he’s still feeling better than John Key. Why? Because Key’s got the fear.
TPP submissions closing soon
The current closing date for public submissions on the TPP is Friday March 11th. Labour’s David Clark is calling for an extension.
The Butcher’s Apron or the Tea Towel
Next week the voting on part two of the Key Legacy Project © begins. We’re being given a choice between the outdated and the bland. The Butcher’s Apron or the Tea Towel. Do you care?
JMG: The Decline and Fall of Hillary Clinton
As with Corbyn, and as with Syriza, the US oligarchy is now finding out that ordinary people are refusing to buy into the status quo regardless of how much big money spin is being spun.
Homosexual law reform happened 30 years ago
Some thoughts on yesterday’s gay pride parade and why National has in the space of 30 years changed from being deeply anti gay rights to being superficially in support.
Corporate Saviours
oh, hallelujah…
The end of conventional wisdom?
After Bernie Sanders’ dead-heat with Hillary Clinton in Iowa, the race to the Democrat nomination at the upcoming convention just got much more interesting. A Quinnipiac poll now has him trail her nationally by two points. Just as with Corbyn in Britain, the pundits are tying themselves in knots trying to make sense of it.
Building a mass movement
Republished by request, and permission from Stephanie Rodgers at Boots Theory
[Content note: mentions of transphobia, sexual violence and violence against people of colour]
Local Democracy
Ad discusses a phenomenon where Local Government is having a greater and greater effect on New Zealand’s development. But local politicians are having less and less effect.
Protection of National Security Information
At the heart of the project is the tension between national interests and individual rights. Questions about how to balance these interests are not new, but they have been brought into sharp focus by recent international events.
Flagpole Sitta
John Key’s $26 million dollar flag flop bores it’s way to the halfway line tonight. The first referendum closes at 7 PM, first results at around 8.30. $26 million … that’s a lot of cancer drugs, child care centres and elder care we won’t be getting because the PM wants a signature legacy his dreary leadership doesn’t actually deserve.
National Ltd™’s Sam Lotu-Iiga tries to pull the wool over our eyes
It was suggested in Parliament that SERCO’s first place position on the Prison Performance Table had been the result of Lotu-Iiga and his department having had the wool pulled over their eyes.
Jarrod Gilbert is tilting at windmills
The Official Information Act is now moribund and access to information beyond its scope is granted only to a chosen few and under strict conditions.
Standing in the Shadow of the Red Flag
“Why would Goff stand for the Auckland mayoralty as an independent candidate considering his life-long commitment to the Labour Party?”
Why indeed?
Is it time for Labour to stand candidates in local elections under the party banner? And can the party lift its profile and its general election prospects by being bolder in the provinces?
Boots Theory: Flag referendum 1
What to do with these ballot papers that just arrived in the mail?
The Tide is High
I’m pleased about the Roy Morgan result. The last RWC was worth 2-3% in the polls to National. This RWC … nothing. And in the days since that poll, John Key has overseen an astonishing attack on the women of Parliament. I think we’ve reached Peak Key.