Bill’s big policy flop
Fair to say that Bill English’s “big” policy announcement today was a total flop.
Politics
Posts on government and governence at national and local level, political parties,politicians, and political participation
Andrew Little well received in Dunedin
(Photo – Peter McIntosh the Otago Daily Times)
O’Connor and Jackson for Labour
Like many, I have mixed feelings about these developments, but on balance I am in favour of the “broad church” approach
The Peter Thiel citizenship grant
The Peter Thiel paper dump raise more questions than they answer and hints at ongoing communication with National ministers and that John Key approached Thiel to make the donation subsequently made to Key’s earthquake fund.
Date of the 2017 election
Labour gets serious about regional development
Labour is serious about regional development. It is proposing a 10 year $200m package of regional initiatives. The first of these was just announced in Dunedin.
Morgan in Mt Albert
Via NewsHub: Gareth Morgan and his party to contest Mt Albert by-election?
English condemned
Interim PM Bill English is getting a hammering for his “weak and indecisive” response to Trump’s Muslim ban.
A message to Bill English
A touching cartoon message to Bill English on why he should increase New Zealand’s refugee intake.
Shock after shock
Understanding shock events is part of the solution.
Then hope
Hope and action are also part of the solution.
A PM but not a leader
Bill English has failed his first test of real leadership. Compare and contrast, English and Little’s responses to the Muslim ban.
Update: The image is Emmerson’s take in The Herald.
The Labour Green 2017 campaign launch
Yesterday’s joint Labour Green state of the nation event was effectively a campaign launch for the 2017 election. And it went well.
Will English speak up on Trump’s ban?
World leaders are condemning Trump’s Muslim ban. What does the PM of our country have to say on the matter?
Andrew Little – State of the Nation speech
The text of Andrew Little’s State of the Nation speech delivered today.
Labour Greens joint State of the Nation livestream and discussion
Be part of the movement to change the Government. Sunday 2pm.
Updated with speeches
Peter Thiel’s citizenship and consequent questions of corruption
Journos have been looking at how Peter Thiel gained citizenship. Not because he shouldn’t have been made a citizen. But it was done without any public notice using a special section of the immigration act. That reeks of a corruption route by a minister or officials. Reasons need to be made public for this and other decisions done this way.
The cost of education
National needs to do something to address spiraling education costs in both the secondary and tertiary sectors.
Maybe Trump is what the left needed
Donald Trump’s ascendancy to power presents the left with the chance of showing that progressive politics is a much better choice than the alternative.
Labour and Greens joint State of the Nation speech Sunday 2pm
Be part of the movement to change the Government.
Punching Nazis, and practicing resistance
Being human, Linda Tirado, and lessons for New Zealand.
Doomsday Clock moves forward
“For the first time in the 70-year history of the Doomsday Clock, the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists’ Science and Security Board has moved the hands of the iconic clock 30 seconds closer to midnight.”
Postcards from the Trumpocalypse
This is what an unfettered right-wing government looks like.
Godzone for billionaires
Peter Thiel’s fast tracking of his citizenship application needs some explaining by the Government.
New Lynn should grab Greg Presland (damnit)
Greg Presland has been daft enough put his hand up for Labour candidate in New Lynn. That would be unfortunate for this site. But my advice for Labour and New Lynn is to grab him. Media say that the leading candidates are him and Deborah Russell. Regardless of a her competence, a non-Auckland resident is a big ask in the era of MMP seats.
2017: Political Year in Prospect
Morgan Godfery, Mike Munro and Stephanie Rodgers will discuss this topic Thursday 26 January at Connolly Hall, Guildford Terrace, Wellington at 5:30pm for the Fabian Society. All welcome – will be interesting.
Privatised Education Strikes Again.
The problems we have identified many times, with privatisation of essential services, continue.
Minimum wage increase doesn’t meet real costs (the CPI is broken)
Any increase in the minimum wage is better than nothing, but National’s increases have not kept pace with the real cost increases (notably housing) faced by low income earners. That is why we are seeing the rise of the working poor, and increases in homelessness and poverty.
Trump’s global gag law on abortion
“Donald Trump signs anti-abortion executive order surrounded by men”
Māori politics – “don’t believe the hype”
Totally unexpected in an election year, but Te Ururoa Flavell is making a play for the Māori seats. Morgan Godfery has some thoughts on the hype.
Everything Contained. Everyone Led.
So what’s important? Millions on the streets and what might become of that, or how many more or fewer people attended a given President’s big day? Just asking…
Auckland’s shit beaches
Not meant as a general criticism. Auckland has lovely beaches. When they aren’t drowning in shit that is.
Mt Albert – a friendly by-election
Campaigning is underway in Mt Albert. Looks like it will be a very different kind of by election.
Protest Marches
The Sister Marches have been a huge success worldwide.
Andrew Little: Together, we will fight for justice for Pike families
I want justice for the families of the worst workplace tragedy in decades. If New Zealanders choose to change the Government this year, Pike will be a priority in my first hundred days as Prime Minister.
Predator free NZ – how are we doing?
It has been 6 months since the announcement that New Zealand would be predator free by 2050. But is sounds like nothing concrete has happened yet.