Truth, boomer memes and the next election campaign
Thanks to Facebook’s lax attitude to fact checking it appears that the next election campaign is going to be a rough one.
Politics
Posts on government and governence at national and local level, political parties,politicians, and political participation
British Justice tortures Assange
Craig Murray reports on the horror of Julian Assange’s treatment by British so-called “justice.” Read it and don’t weep. You can see why Murray resigned from the UK foreign service; their diplomacy is just as bad.
The Government-Auckland relationship
The Sky City National Convention Centre fire brings the Government Auckland relationship to a very sharp edge. It was tense before. It’s worse now.
Dog whistling Housing Corp tenants
National has announced that it will put an end to a “state house for life” if it gets into power next year. But its rationale is not only cruel but based on a faulty understanding of the local reality.
Farmers given a chance. I think National will screw it up for them.
One of the less endearing traits of National is their ability to screw almost anything up for short-term advantage regardless how it impacts long-term. Usually this comes from the results of in-fighting within the party. The agricultural emissions deal is likely to get caught again.
Sneaky Simon somersaults on support for Terrorism Bill
National has welched on a promise to support the Terrorism Suppression (Control Orders) Bill so that it can play politics with law and order issues.
Zero Carbon Bill reported back
The Zero Carbon Bill has been reported back largely unchanged. But National has a series of talking points that suggest it will not cooperate with the passage of the bill into law.
NZ First Youth drags party screaming and kicking into 20th century
At New Zealand First’s weekend conference the party’s youth wing has forced the party to rethink its ultra conservative view on pill testing services being offered at festivals.
How To Get There 20/10/19
Welcome to TS’s Sunday think piece. It’s a blank sheet, a tabula rasa, waiting for your thoughts on the future and How To Get There.
Reality kicks in for US trolls.
It has been an interesting few days looking at political reality kicking in on politics and the net in the UK and the […]
Why unions won’t give up on Fair Pay Agreements
The CTU has launched a campaign to raise awareness about a discussion paper released by the Government on fair pay agreements amongst media comment that government support may not be secure.
“Extinction Rebellion blanket ban chilling and unlawful”
Amnesty International condemn police blanket ban on Extinction Rebellion protests in London.
Burning down the house
Why is it that conservative politicians throughout the world engage in rhetorical attacks on laws that in many situations actually serve important purposes?
Later climate change deniers
The recent local government elections resulted in a number of people committed to addressing climate change being elected. And an apparent thinning of those who think that it is a hoax.
Caption contest
Keep it seemly …
One News Colmar Brunton Poll Oct 2019
The October TV One/Colmar Brunton poll is out. Like yesterday’s devastating TV3 poll result showing National not waving, but drowning, today’s poll confirms that NZ is still heading toward an historic Labour/Green Government, despite the Tories flirting with numbers in the high fifties.
UPDATE: Some weirdness with the numbers: they add up to 101% and 47% does not actually give National 60 seats, so the ‘Poll Says National Can Govern’ headlines are a wee bit optimistic. TRP.
Online voting – no. Try polling booths
Amid calls to install online voting from the technologically illiterate who are appear to be unaware of the risks, there is clear disagreement from those who do know the risks. Politicians should listen to them. While postal voting is an expensive and failing system, online voting as a system is certain to be way worse.
Newshub: poll shows Labour/Green could govern alone
Is less spin and more analysis too much to ask?
Dunedin’s Aaron Hawkins
Dunedin is going to be a very interesting test of politics and opportunity over this coming three years for this new mayor.
How To Get There 13/10/19
Welcome to TS’s Sunday think piece. It’s a blank sheet, a tabula rasa, waiting for your thoughts on the future and How To Get There.
2019 local body election results
Discussion post for live election results and turnout stats.
John Key 2.0
Chris Luxon has announced he will be seeking National’s nomination for the Botany seat next year. john Key is pleased. But Jami Lee-Ross is not … Update: Nor is Matthew Hooton …
National’s extreme gang rhetoric
National has engaged in some extreme rhetoric concerning gangs which is not reality based.
Elizabeth Warren on Facebook and the US presidential election
“They’re allowing Trump to spend over $1 million a week right now for ads on their platform—including ones that air the same lies that TV stations won’t.”
About the $7.5 billion surplus
The announcement of a $7.5 billion surplus for the last fiscal year combined with a $5.5 billion surplus the year before proves once and for all that Steven Joyce’s claim of a $11.5 billion deficit in Labour’s costings was bollocks.
$7.5 billion surplus
The Government has announced a $7.5 billion dollar surplus. Is it time to start spending?
Will online voting solve the turnout problem
Auckland Council voting returns are very low. But is the problem voter apathy or is our postal system not up to scratch? And will digital voting be a panacea?
Rates, debt, growth and PPP
Stuff had an interesting piece looking at rates, taxes and local infrastructure “Rates are much lower than you think, and they’re responsible for miserable growth in cities”. They just missed out one crucial factor. The way that PPP debates often block infrastructure. Interesting that got missed..
How To Get There 6/10/19
Welcome to TS’s Sunday think piece. It’s a blank sheet, a tabula rasa, waiting for your thoughts on the future and How To Get There.
NRT: Climate Change: Join the rebellion
“there’s more than one way to protest, and as the climate crisis bites, then continued government inaction is likely to push people towards more confrontational styles of protest.” Extinction Rebellion’s Wellington day of action is on Monday.
National’s plans to torment poor people leaked
National’s plans to torment poor people for political gain have been leaked.
C&R candidate says something really offensive and stupid
A Whau Community and Resident Local Board candidate has apologised for using racist slurs against a minority group and accusing them of engaging in widespread fraud. But despite his apology an C&R spokesperson has doubled down on his original statements.
Green MP Chlöe Swarbrick on fire
“The political status quo is unfit to confront the climate crisis”
Parliamentary TV – should we shut it?
Occasionally, this site puts up a video from parliament. Probably happens a few times per month at best. Not a whole lot of interest. It is put up for the public to observe parliament when required. While it’d be fun to make clips mocking National politicians – why should the public pay to provide feedstock for juveniles to do that? Either have and follow the simple rules similar to every other content provider or shut down parliamentary TV.
The Government’s Economic Development Plan
Last week the government launched its Economic Development Plan, arguably late but with lots of useful initiatives.
How To Get There 29/9/19
Welcome to TS’s Sunday think piece. It’s a blank sheet, a tabula rasa, waiting for your thoughts on the future and How To Get There.