Jonathan Pie thinks Tony Blair is a psychopath
Jonathan Pye analyses Tony Blair’s history and contrasts his statements and actions with that of Jeremy Corbyn.
International
H1 and H2
In a few months, the two most important leadership roles on the planet could be held by women. How cool is that? We’ve come a long way, world!
Robert Reich’s letter to Bernie Sanders
The text of an open letter written by Ribert Reich to his friend Bernie Sanders.
Time for Bernie to stand down?
What will Bernie do now?
Funding priorities
Why are we spending so much money on “defense” when there are so many real and urgent needs? It is hard to imagine that our “enemies” could possibly do us more damage than we are inflicting on ourselves.
Taihoa on Immigration?
Winston Peters has called for a slashing of migrant worker numbers and for screening of would be workers based on things like their attitude to women. Is it time for a taihoa on immigration or is Winston just doing a Trump?
The election campaign, the $6,000 toaster and the media beat up
In Australia in the midst of the election campaign an ordinary Australian, Duncan Storrar, talked publicly about how difficult it was to live and support his children on the minimum wage. The response of the right through News Corp was to attack and humiliate him.
The Greatest; Muhammad Ali Dies.
Muhammad Ali, three times heavyweight boxing champion of the world, has died aged 74. Farewell, the Greatest.
Vaccines DO Cause Autism Shock!
A young Mexican scientist has compiled compelling evidence about the link between vaccines and autism. Not only does 12 year old Marco Arturo provide a comprehensive overview of the dangers, he also brilliantly channels Barack Obama. The best two minutes on the net today.
Waking up to the realities of neoliberalism and austerity
Even the IMF now acknowledges that neoliberal economics and government austerity policies have failed. Look around at New Zealand – you can see the effects.
America votes for…
Indigenous Perspectives
“It is possible to live in a society with a world view that does not include empire”
– Winona LaDuke
Trump In, Bern Out, Hillary Home and Hosed?
Donald Trump has finally got the last Republican delegates need to secure his candidacy. Bernie Sanders has lost his race (but is being pressured to stand as an independent). Now that the candidates are all but confirmed, the sideshow is over. It’s Clinton vs Drumpf in the most entertaining election in a generation.
William Gibson on Donald Trump
William Gibson of Neuromancer fame thinks that Donald Trump may be the real American fascist deal.
Trump overtakes Clinton on average of polls
For the first time Trump has overtaken Clinton on the average of polls. But don’t panic just yet.
Love Trump.
A class in political sloganeering 101. Read and learn.
Jonathan Pie has election anger
Jonathan Pie rails against media attempts to attack Jeremy Corbyn and Labour over the recent local body election results.
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.
Portugal
There are bits of good news out there, but there’s a lot of denial around the mess we’re in.
Nice weather down here…
… and a freight train coming down the tracks.
Make the TPP a Conscience Vote
Last week, Andrew Little gave Phil Goff permission to vote with National for the TPP. Bryan Bruce asks if it is time for all MPs to be given a conscience vote on the TPP.
What Possibility a Mid Winter Celebration?
According to the Herald on Sunday, some people aren’t just sitting back waiting for the Chilcot report to be released before deciding what to do. Some people are getting geared up.
Laundering earnings vs laundering money
When a corporation launders its earnings in a tax haven, it is completely upfront about where the money came from and who it belongs to, which differentiates the activity from “money laundering.”
What the TTIP teaches us about the TPP
TTIP, TTPA, same game around the globe, a take-over by American corporations, with the rights of the public held in no regard whatsoever.
Welsh Assembly.
A post to illustrate how fixed term parliaments work…off the back of some really woeful reportage.
John Key’s dead cat strategy
National is hoping to avoid a proper debate about issues raised by the Panama Papers by raising a series of idiotic diversions.
John Key vs the world
Is John Key the only international leader defending tax havens? Includes bonus international media round up of yesterday’s revelations.
Key’s Lawyer is a Mossack Man
Despite the PM’s assurances, it turns out the his lawyer had direct links to Mossack Fonseca. And so did everyone else in the room when Todd McClay was successfully convinced to drop the IRD review into foreign trust. Someone’s been telling porkies …
John Key chickens out of #panamapapers interview
This morning John Key refused to be interviewed on Radio New Zealand after learning that they intended to ask him questions about the Panama Papers. And some elements of the media are for some strange reason trying to say there is nothing to see because he personally has not been implicated.
NZ exporting poverty
By enabling tax evasion for the rich in other (notably South American) countries NZ is exporting poverty. It’s all perfectly legal. And that’s exactly the problem.
Arise, Sir Lynton
Lynton Crosby on his knees receiving a knighthood for services to conservative politics. To me, this really signals who is running the show, who is still running the show, and what their values are.
Alberta burning
The Canadian wildfire is “unprecedented” in its size and ferocity. There have been mass evacuations, and whole suburbs burnt out. Wildfires have doubled in Canada since the early 70’s – “And we’ve published work that states that this is because of human-caused climate change.”
London elects Muslim mayor
“Tooting MP becomes first Muslim mayor of an EU capital after beating Tory Zac Goldsmith by 57% to 43%”
Why was John Key singled out by Panama Papers hacker?
Why, out of all the rotten, corrupt and unprincipled nations of the earth, did the Panama Papers hacker single out New Zealand’s John Key for special mention?
UK Council Elections; A Referendum on Corbyn?
Voting in the UK council, mayoral and assembly elections has just closed. The first results are coming in and there appears to be a big protest vote. In Scotland, the question is who will come second, Labour or the Tories. In London, Sadiq Khan was a shoo in for mayor until Ken Livingstone had a brain fart. In Wales, the Greens and UKIP are hoping to make significant gains.
Ultimately, all eyes are on Jeremy Corbyn. This is make or break for the Labour leader.