Women’s March Speech.
Sometimes, someone just knocks it out the park. Viola Davis just knocked it out the park. (h/t Carolyn_nth)
Politics
Posts on government and governence at national and local level, political parties,politicians, and political participation
High Country selloff scandal laid bare
A feature in yesterday’s Domion Post Weekend lays bare the extent of the scandalous selloff of huge tracts of our high country. The tenure review of the high country has been conducted since 1992 to privatise some of the land and also bringing parts into the conservation estate. The process has been followed by both National and Labour governments.
Obstructionist losers
Despite controlling all three branches of the Government the Republicans have failed to get a funding bill passed and the US Government is facing shut down.
States United.
On how states in conflict, have seemingly and nevertheless, managed to share in the likely or possible creation of one common goal.
Why President Trump should be opposed by the left
Ten reasons why Donald Trump is anti worker and bad for America’s working class.
It’s time to embrace nanny state
Rather than apologise, it’s time the Left and the new government embraced “nanny state” as a positive, just as the gay community claimed the previously pejorative term “queer”. A nanny state is clearly economically and socially more efficient. We should celebrate our nanny state and not apologise for it.
Congratulations Jacinda Ardern
Jacinda Ardern has announced that she is expecting her first child.
Shock horror right wing think tank thinks NZ not very democratic
National’s cheerleaders are pushing an international report which suggests that New Zealand’s democratic system is only slightly better than average in world terms. But the organisation behind the report and the methodology used need some checking.
Nuclear Options.
What could possibly be wrong in opting for a nuclear option?!
Can This Government Regain Power on Its Policies?
The sixth Labour led Government has made a good start to its term. But what policy results will New Zealand have to vote for and campaign on in 2020?
Is it OK for a woman with an opinion to host TVNZ’s Breakfast?
It’s great news that Hayley Holt has landed a cool new gig hosting TVNZ’s Breakfast show. It’s not so great that before she […]
Ko te reo te mauri o te mana Māori
The language is the life force of the mana Māori. Which is why the Government and the Opposition should pledge support to ensure it survives and thrives.
NRT: Spain refuses to respect Catalonia’s election.
Idiot/savant on Spain’s love of democracy.
Racist dog whistling
We may think that we now live in more enlightened times where the scourge of racism is finally being dealt to and is no longer considered acceptable but recent events in Australia and the United States suggests that this is not the case.
Two Faced Liberalism.
Caring and heartless.
Is it time to Nationalise Auckland?
It has been a decade now since Minister of Local Government Rodney Hide proposed amalgamating all of Auckland’s city councils into one enormous entity by dumping much of the Royal Commission’s proposals. Well it’s time to hold its results to account.
Climate Change and the New Zealand Defence Forces
It’s always bugged me that our military forces are under-used in New Zealand. It’s time we invited them to protect us from climate change.
You Cowed?
To bleat and wring hands, or to act? Jeez. It’s a difficult one.
Won’t somebody please think about the RONs?
National has announced a publicity campaign not about climate change or child poverty or our failing health systems or the housing crisis or anything else but about roads.
Jim Anderton 1938 – 2018
Jim Anderton’s funeral is at 2pm today, and will be livestreamed from youtube.
What will 2018 hold for Labour?
What does Labour do this year to make sure this Government is a success and its achievements something that progressives can be proud of?
Theatre and Oprah
Maybe ‘circus’ would be more apt that ‘theatre’ with regards the Oprah spectacle.
Hatchets and Knives.
A little on the (predictable) fallout from Emily Thornberry’s BBC Radio 4 interview.
RIP Jim Anderton
Jim Anderton has passed away. A politician of passion and principle.
UK Intelligence
From the Opposition Labour Party, a rare instance of common sense and intelligence on display with regards foreign relations.
Up in Smoke.
US reverses Federal marijuana stance.
The Froth Comes off The Beer
Auckland appears to be following the trend set by Melbourne and Sydney of a softening in expected prices for selling houses.
“We are never asking for it”
Solidarity with Madeline Anello Kitzmiller.
Duck and cover
Over the past 24 hours Trump has threatened war by comparing button sizes with Kim Jon Un and Steve Bannon has described Trump Campaign’s 2016 meeting with a group of Russians in Trump Tower as “treasonous” and “unpatriotic”.
What will 2018 bring for National?
What are National’s prospects this year? Will Bill English survive as leader? Will there be resignations and a clean out of the front bench? Stay tuned …
News stories and NZ rape culture
“Public nudity isn’t illegal, but offensive behaviour is.” – Thomas Beagle, Chair of the NZ Council for Civil Liberties
Israel fights back
In what may be the first of a number of publicity stunts Rabbi Shmulay Boteach has placed a full page advertisement in the Washington Post condemning Lorde and New Zealand for showing solidarity with Palestine.
What will 2018 bring for Donald Trump?
The New York Times has broken a astory suggesting that Australian Ambassador to the UK Alexander Downer informed the FBI that the Trump camp knew about the Russian hacking of Hillary Clinton’s emails four months before the 2016 Presidential election.
The ten most popular Standard posts of 2017
The ten most read Standard posts of 2017.
Man of the year and global leader of the year
Why Donald Trump should be considered to be man of the year and why the left should be thinking about why he is succeeding.
2018 mental flossing: Power
Following the change in Government, the question is, who is in control on either side.