Win or Lose: This is Labour
Some people have suggested that the more progressive parliamentary elements of the left are done and dusted. I’m not so sure…
International
August the 6th, 1945
Seventy years on…
Obama’s climate initiative – too little too late
Far too late in his presidency Obama is taking important action on climate change. But it isn’t enough, not nearly enough, as new research shows that we need to achieve “negative emissions” (i.e. carbon capture).
American oligarchy
The modern precariat and the Unconditional Basic Income
A UBI would allow ordinary people to shift their daily focus from doing paid jobs making money for others, to doing useful work of their own choice, under their own control.
TPPA hopefully sinking again
Looks like the TPP press conference has been delayed. Good. Lets hope this restraint of trade agreement stays that way. I had time to look at the varied opinions in the Herald this morning. A range from the good to the pathetic…
Malaysia are better negotiators
Looks like (ht Danyl Mclauchlan) Malaysia is smarter than us.
Amnesty International calls for prosecution of Israeli war crimes in Gaza
Amnesty International has release chilling video footage and analysis suggesting the Israeli armed forces committed war crimes against civilians during last year’s assault on Gaza.
Shut up and take your medicine
As commentators and dairy industry insiders warn of TPP disaster, the Nats’ message to we the people is shut up and take our medicine – oh and by the way the price just went up.
John Key – Snake Oil Salesman
John Key has tried to suggest that we have nothing to worry about planned changes to Pharmac caused by TPP. But a recent further release by Wikileaks on the effects of the Trans Pacific Partnership on State Owned Enterprises makes you wonder if the implications of TPP on Pharmac are as limited as he says.
left wing leadership candidate Jeremy Corbyn well ahead
Hard lefty Jeremy Corbyn has a 22 pt lead in the UK Labour leadership race. The Labour Party Blairites are definitely not happy.
Giving away the shop for nothing
We are giving away the shop and we don’t know what if anything we will get in terms of dairy access yet. Our negotiators have signaled that they are weak. And even if we get what we want it is probably worth bugger all anyway.
The great Chinese sharemarket selldown
The Chinese Stock market sell off has started again a couple of weeks after rather desperate measure were put in place. The question has to be what will the Government do now?
What will National give away?
Labour has set out its bottom lines for supporting the TPP. My question to National and its supporters – which of Labour’s bottom lines are you prepared to give away, and why?
Update: We can cross off point 1, Key sells out Pharmac.
ABC: The Lexicon of Labour
In a major shock, it appears veteren socialist Jeremy Corbyn is set to win the leadership of the UK Labour Party. Can his anti-austerity platform lift Labour up following their drubbing at the general Election? And can his ideas impact on our Labour Party here?
The Fighting Foreign Corporate Control Bill
With support from Labour, the Greens and the Maori Party NZ First is promoting the Fighting Foreign Corporate Control Bill. The support of one more MP will be sufficient to sent the Bill to select committee for consideration.
Go Trump Go!
For entertainment purposes we could do no better than having Donald Trump as the Republican nominee for the US presidential election.
Signposts and weathercocks
In Mhairi Black’s maiden speech she talked about signpost politicians whose principles are clear and weathercock politicians whose principles shift with the breeze.
Mhairi Black’s maiden speech
The youngest MP in the United Kingdom, the SNP’s Mhairi Black, recently gave her maiden speech in Parliament. Recommended viewing for some good old fashioned from the heart leftist speech.
One tough issue
Although the issue, the unfettered flow of overseas money into Auckland’s housing market, is important Labour’s current handling of this issue is not optimal and needs to be reconsidered.
Parnell Ponzi; When are National going to Act on Housing?
National need to act now to end the housing crisis. The market has failed and doing nothing is going to blight the future of Kiwis. The answer is easy. End speculation, build houses. But do National have the guts to do the right thing?
Phil Quin resigns from Labour
Phil Quin: “I cannot, however, belong to an organisation that considers racial profiling fair sport. It really is that simple. I will rejoin once this or any future leader publicly repudiates such tactics.”
Treaty of Versailles – Greek edition
Just like there clearly are first class Euros and second class Euros, it is just as clear that there are first class Europeans and second class Europeans. Nothing is settled and the chance of further conflict is high.
#ThisIsACoup
Twitter has responded to the savage terms of the deal that Greece has signed with other EU countries by the mass use of the hashtag #ThisIsACoup.
We Have aGreekment!
A deal has been struck for Greece. No Grexit, this time.
China Crisis
Good on Labour for saying what needed to be said. Can they, the Greens and NZ First save the next generation of Kiwis from being tenants in our own land?
Includes Bonus Seinfeld reference!
Auckland property buyers
The big story this morning is Labour’s analysis of Auckland property purchase data.
Rashbrooke on poverty in NZ and UK
Max Rashbrooke has a major article in The Guardian today looking at poverty in NZ and the UK, and what each country can learn from the other.
Slash Greek debt now!
Europe must agree to slashing Greece’s debt so that economic growth can begin again. Germany should understand this better than most.
Common People; Yanis Varoufakis is all Class.
The Greek Finance minister has unexpectedly quit. He had already said he would resign if the referendum was lost; nobody expected that he would go after such a stunning win. But it was the strategically correct thing to do. Why can’t some of the veterans in the NZ Labour Party take the hint?
The Greek referendum
Update: the No vote is predicted to win a resounding victory with 61% support of the total valid vote.
Toil and Trouble.
In the hope of some informed comment…
Nick Smith; Thick as a Short Plank?
National’s Nick Smith appears to have misled Parliament over the illegal export of Kauri logs. Thankfully for Smith, it’s nothing to do with the rumours swirling around who is responsible for the loss of our irreplaceable heritage timber, but more to do with the Minister’s inability to understand a clear and explicit piece of legislation.
Sanders vs Trump
It will probably turn out to be Clinton vs Bush of course. But wouldn’t Sanders vs Trump be more fun? And wouldn’t Sanders be a fascinating POTUS?
Open letter on Nauru
Twenty eight legal academics have written an open letter to Murray McCully expressing their concern at the worsening rule of law situation in Nauru.
Greece – damned if they do
Secret documents seen by The Guardian describe just how bad things will be for Greece if they accept the demands of the IMF / “troika”.