Shattering
When things fall apart, the disintegration can reach such a speed that it’s hard to keep an eye on everything that’s happening. Is liberalism on the cusp?
Politics
elections
Postal voting – essentially dead
Stuff has an article up about last years local body elections in Auckland. As usual the interesting parts are at the end. But I have to reiterate – online voting isn’t the answer. As a programmer, I’d just call it stupid and dangerous.
The Wave Crashing In…
The race to win the most support from Democratic and Independent voters in the Democratic Primaries is over bar the shouting, but…
To Kill Democracy…
If major Democratic Party donors and ‘big business’ lobbyists wanted to monkeywrench democracy in the US, then here’s how they could go about it.
Sustainable NZ not so sustainable after all
It appears that National’s dream of an alternative Green party that would drive the real Green Party below the threshold is in tatters with news that Sustainable NZ is on the skids.
National has nothing to be afraid of
National has absolutely nothing to worry about the prosecution of four people for carving up a donation to the National Party.
National’s donation reporting problem
National’s recent donations returns suggest that a large total of their donations are made in the under $15,000 category, the benefit of which is that the donor’s identity does not have to be disclosed. Update: The four accused have been named.
Green Party call for national discussion on political party funding and donations reform
It’s clear that Parliament is incapable of meaningful reforms to itself, as some political parties have a vested interest in the status quo, a citizens’ assembly would remove bias around these important decisions.
– NZ Green Party
Back in the U.S.S.A.
The onslaught launched against Trump from sections of corporate media and liberal institutions will look as nothing next to the unified onslaught that will be unleashed against a President Sanders.
National received two dodgy $100,000 donations
The SFO charges laid in the District Court reveal that it investigated not one but two dodgy $100,000 donations to National.
The problem with opinion polls
This week the Reid Research Poll predicted a Labour Green government and the Colmar Brunton poll predicted a National ACT government. Which one will be proved correct?
Will DPF condemn National for hiding the identity of its donors?
David Farrar has called for the suspension of Winston Peters from Cabinet for reasons which would also justify the suspension of Simon Bridges from the National Party.
Will Bernie Sanders unseat Donald Trump?
It will take a full renewal of democracy in the United States. So how does Bernie beat Trump?
Bernie by 6K.
Iowa and beyond.
The Big One’s Coming In.
These past few years anyone might be forgiven for believing liberals have never heard of King Canute. How else to explain their stupid resistance to inevitable change? And now…
Pay the money back Simon
Simon Bridges has stated that National wants to pay the undeclared $100,000 donation back but even though nearly two years have passed since it was made it still remains unrepaid.
Is National the party of law and order?
Following the announcement by the Serious Fraud Office of charges relating to the donation of $100,000 to the National Party Simon Bridges claim of being exonerated appear to be optimistic.
SFO files charges in relation to National Party donations
The SFO has confirmed that it has charged four persons with offences relating to the receipt of donations by the National Party.
19th September: Talk Like a Pirate Day
Plus we get to choose our government again.
Why UK Labour lost? Part 8: What it takes to win
Originally posted on Nick Kelly’s blog
The UK Labour Party in the 2019 election assumed that like in 2017, the release of their policy manifesto would see their support increase significantly. Assuming that 2019 would be a re-run of 2017 was a foolish mistake.
Why UK Labour lost? Part 5: Antisemitism
Originally posted onNick Kelly’s blog
Why UK Labour lost? Part 2: UK Labour’s Strange loyalty to First Past the Post.
Originally posted on Nick Kelly’s Blog
Simon Bridges went to China
It has been revealed that Simon Bridges’trip to China last year was organised by National MP and former teacher of English to Chinese spies Jian Yang and that an offer of assistance from MFAT was declined.
The power of positive campaigning
With the 2020 election just round the corner and recent complaints about the left’s treatment of the #TurnArdern campaign it is a perfect time to think about the importance of language and positive uplifting campaign themes.
MMP Mark II*
What beats MMP? Open-list proportional representation with a low threshold would be a good option.
The British Election result 2019
Democracy is a precious thing, and not something that can be taken for granted. Having an electoral system where every vote matters is crucial to creating a decent society. It is time that the UK started seriously debating electoral reform and how to improve its democratic systems.
How to counter angry boomer campaigns
The UK election was won not by Russian bots but by older voters with limited technical skills circulating poorly designed ads. What can be done in New Zealand to counter what is clearly a right wing campaign tactic?
Is it better to deliver in Government or better to shine?
Let’s frame this in leftie terms: can you get in, do grunty policy moves, and stay popular?
Lefties on The Standard: UK election edition
A dedicated post on The Standard providing a discussion space for left-wing people only.
The Missing Millions
Millions of people and an entire region of the UK left out of polling calculations….
Pop Media Bullshit – another example.
It’s said that in times of war, the first casualty is truth. Well, since truth is taking such a pummeling these days, it follows that we are at war, no?
The freedom to lie during an election campaign
Two recent National advertisements involving drastically inaccurate graphics have attracted attention. And at the same time National is opposing changes to the Electoral Law that would extend the time that it is an offence to publish a false and misleading advertisement during an election period.
An Early Christmas.
Christian tradition dictates Christmas falls on the 25th of December. This year though, if we simply view Christmas through a lens of ‘good things happening’, then Christmas is coming early.
Little’s Electoral Bill a curate’s egg – good in parts
I’ve always liked Punch magazine’s famous cartoon “True humility” where the curate assures his bishop noticing his bad egg that parts of it are excellent. Most discussion on Little’s Bill has focused on the bad bits regarding foreign donations. The good bit requires all political ads online to be attributed.
Labour Conference
It’s a weird moment for the Labour Party at Conference this weekend.
The folly of electoral pacts
Originally posted Nick Kelly’s blog One feature of the UK election has been various electoral alliances or deals done. This has mostly occurred […]