Nat Vote: And the Loser Is ….
The Nation holds its breath as the dullest political leadership race in a generation snores to a close. Who will win by losing? Who will lose by winning? Who cares?
UPDATE: It’s Mullertime!
UPDATE: Bennett dumped!
Social issues
death with dignity
Two Referendums Too Many
The referendums on two contentious issues could cloud and crowd out the General Election.
End of Life Bill passes
David Seymour’s End of Life Bill passed through Parliament last night by 69 votes to 51. We are now facing a referendum at the next election.
Parliament votes to give disabled people the right to a good life
Before we get to talking about the right to die, can we please have a conversation about the right to live?
Dunne reckons next election will be close
Peter Dunne has come up with some 2020 election reckons that ignores current polling as well as National’s leadership problems.
Life and Death in Aotearoa – Debating Euthanasia
David Seymour’s Private Member’s Bill on euthanasia is back for debate in Parliament. Maggie looks at one of the great social issues of our time.
Can Sexism Save Simon’s Bacon?
National Party in dick pick SHOCKER!!!
Yes, Simple Simon reveals his saucy side as he SHOWS US HIS SAUSAGE.
But is anyone biting?
National is jamming cannabis law reform
So National be getting pretty liberal with the Marijuana stuff.
NRT on submitting on the End of Life Choice Bill
“If you care about the bill, I encourage you to speak up about it.”
Police launch moral crusade against old people
Police subjected a group of elderly people attending a meeting on assisted dying to random breath tests so that they could collect the identities of each person who attended.
Medical cannabis review
With Martin Crowe’s sad death we now learn that he too was self-medicating with liquid cannabis. The time for political timidity is past – make cannabis legally available for medical purposes.
Petition Peter Dunne to show some sense and some compassion
Helen Kelly is getting the run around from Peter Dunne with her request for permission to use cannabis oil. The talented Foxy is running a petition.
Life and Death and Cannabis
I am taking Cannabis Oil to manage my pain as my lung cancer takes over my body. It’s sort of as simple as that really. For some people talking about dying is confronting but actually talking about it allows us to think about how it happens – it is actually as much a social event as a physical one and knowing someone is comfortable, getting good treatment and pain relief is very much part of the social dimension as the physical one.
Treachery and silly season political snippets
There’s still a few MPs “on duty”. Their function is to maintain the semblance of active government and to roll out a bunch of announcements they hope will escape full scrutiny.
Terry Pratchett has gone to meet Death
“It is said that your life flashes before your eyes just before you die. That is true, it’s called Life.”
― Terry Pratchett, The Last Continent
This is how it’s done
This morning Cunliffe shows how to front the media on current issues, and respond to journalists questions clearly and decisively while being informed on the issues. Questions about Kōhanga Reo National Trust, US government debt crisis, affordable housing, need better skills training, Euthanasia Bill.
NRT: A surfeit of caution
I/S at No Right Turn on Street’s End of Life Choice Bill.
Parata to change careers?
Hekia Parata this week became the fourth minister in three months to see her career reduced to tatters. Looks like she’s planning a change.
Euthanasia bill
Maryan Street’s “End of Life Choice Bill” has triggered another round of debate. A recent poll shows public support for legalising voluntary euthanasia at an all time high. It’s a question of “when” not “if”.
When I’m 64
There seems to have been a reasonable breakthrough in research to reverse ageing. Is it a good thing? If you think the world has resource and environmental problems now, you ain’t seen nothing yet. If you think we have social injustice and insane inequities in wealth now, you ain’t seen nothing yet.
The euthanasia debate
A terminally-ill Auckland doctor writes to New Zealand Doctor magazine arguing for the legalisation of euthanasia in New Zealand.
Time to allow death with dignity
Why do we force someone to live who wants to die? Why is Margaret Page being forced to starve herself to death? It is time to change the law so that people are permitted the right to choose to end their lives when they choose by a humane method and with dignity.