The Standard

Social issues

Categories under Social issues

Burning issues of the day

Written By: - Date published: 12:32 pm, May 18th, 2015 - 9 comments

flag-meeting

Poverty and the budget

Written By: - Date published: 10:37 am, May 18th, 2015 - 13 comments

The levels of poverty and inequality in NZ are a disgrace. Apparently the budget is to “arrest the decline”, but we have heard such promises again and again from Key.

Capital gains tax to be introduced

Written By: - Date published: 11:45 am, May 17th, 2015 - 196 comments

National appears to be doing an about face on a Capital Gains Tax for housing.

Human Synergistics, Richard Prebble, and the end of government

Written By: - Date published: 6:08 am, May 17th, 2015 - 64 comments

Back in March 1988 David Lange had a clear idea about what lay ahead for New Zealanders as the long-term consequences of Roger Douglas’ psychopathic worshipping of the metaphysical Invisible Hand gradually materialised.

Your pre-budget speech

Written By: - Date published: 7:43 am, May 16th, 2015 - 38 comments

What would be in your budget speech if you were leader of the opposition?

Daily Review 15/05/2015

Written By: - Date published: 5:30 pm, May 15th, 2015 - 9 comments

Daily review is also your post. This provides Standarnistas the opportunity to review events of the day.  The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy). Don’t forget to be kind to each other.

Grant Robertson’s pre-budget speech

Written By: - Date published: 2:59 pm, May 15th, 2015 - 59 comments

Labour’s Finance spokesperson Grant Robertson gave his pre-budget speech this morning. “So, what would a responsible government be doing in the Budget next week?”…

McCready back again on Key’s harassment

Written By: - Date published: 9:23 am, May 15th, 2015 - 23 comments

I’m all in favour of holding Key accountable for his actions in general, but not when the victim herself has asked McCready to desist. McCready should respect her wishes.

McCready case thrown out

Written By: - Date published: 12:17 pm, May 14th, 2015 - 25 comments

Given that Amanda Bailey asked McCready to withdraw his case, this is good news.

The surplus lie

Written By: - Date published: 10:30 am, May 14th, 2015 - 68 comments

One of the biggest political deceptions in our lifetime? Or just an honest mistake by our noble Finance Minister?

Calling people names

Written By: - Date published: 9:22 am, May 14th, 2015 - 24 comments

Pulling ponytails and calling people names – I guess it’s true, the PM is 11 years old.

English welcomes Reserve Bank doing his job for him

Written By: - Date published: 9:03 am, May 14th, 2015 - 54 comments

Why is it left to the Reserve Bank to try and tackle the property bubble? It’s true – this government is recklessly complacent.

ACTing all surprised about it

Written By: - Date published: 7:03 am, May 13th, 2015 - 129 comments

ACT’s David Seymour is acting all surprised about the damaging consequences of right-wing policies. It’s like he’s seeing the world for the first time.

Open mike 13/05/2015

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, May 13th, 2015 - 64 comments

Open mike is your post. For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy). Step up to the mike …

Dear NZ Labour. Listen up.

Written By: - Date published: 12:06 pm, May 12th, 2015 - 48 comments

For the sake of reference – Nye Bevan was a Labour mp and the architect of the British NHS. Michael Sheen’s  speech was a defense of that institution, but the underpinning message is, well…

Uncomfortable reading for Key

Written By: - Date published: 7:02 am, May 12th, 2015 - 40 comments

Two opinion pieces yesterday make uncomfortable reading for Key.

Standfornz – when social media goes bad

Written By: - Date published: 7:02 am, May 11th, 2015 - 119 comments

The site www.standfor.co.nz is supposed to get us all excited about the flag distraction. It’s not turning out the way the Nats intended.

Fear, Loathing and Denial.

Written By: - Date published: 2:20 pm, May 10th, 2015 - 49 comments

There’s a major and rather obvious contributory factor to UK Labour’s failure in the UK general election that doesn’t seem to have drawn any comment. Until now…

Open mike 10/05/2015

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, May 10th, 2015 - 86 comments

Open mike is your post. For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy). Step up to the mike …

A generation betrayed

Written By: - Date published: 6:40 am, May 9th, 2015 - 38 comments

Everything that has been presented to the public about our elected governments’ concern for the environment, particularly in regard to climate change, has been a charade for 25 years.

The state housing sell-off

Written By: - Date published: 7:02 am, May 8th, 2015 - 7 comments

If National were serious about their “social housing” spin they would place restrictions on the use and resale of these houses. Without such protections its just another privatisation of public assets.

NSA bulk collection ruled illegal

Written By: - Date published: 6:32 am, May 8th, 2015 - 15 comments

In the US a federal appeals court has just ruled the NSA’s bulk collection of phone records is illegal.

Caption competition

Written By: - Date published: 3:06 pm, May 7th, 2015 - 23 comments

media-hairnets

The Whisky’s In.

Written By: - Date published: 11:27 am, May 7th, 2015 - 32 comments

Before the turgid post-election hell that the British Establishment will undoubtably unleash…

NRT: There is too much money in our politics

Written By: - Date published: 3:27 pm, May 6th, 2015 - 60 comments

Our political system is awash with money. There is clearly an arms race going on where National is trying to spend everyone else into the ground. National includes significant funding from Auckland property developers and real estate agents, and probably explains their effective disinterest in fixing Auckland housing.

Worst. Excuse. Ever.

Written By: - Date published: 8:17 am, May 6th, 2015 - 11 comments

a-man's-hair-tui

Embarrassed? Us?

Written By: - Date published: 7:08 am, May 5th, 2015 - 27 comments

“John Key … hopes he hasn’t embarrassed New Zealand in the wake of the embarrassing saga, which made headlines worldwide.” Ummm….

Destination: Next Progressive Majority

Written By: - Date published: 8:34 pm, May 4th, 2015 - 4 comments

The Fabian Society invites all those interested to join a discussion with Sir Michael Cullen, Peter Harris, Sarah Helm, Tracey Martin MP, Richard Harman and Lyndy McIntyre at  St  Andrew’s on the Terrace, Wellington, on Sunday 10th May at 1pm. Ideas on strategy, economy, party relations, communication and organising will all be canvassed. Read more and register here.

Worst. Interview. Ever.

Written By: - Date published: 9:30 am, May 4th, 2015 - 85 comments

On Radio NZ this morning John Key gave an interview that was cringe-worthy, defensive and accidently hilarious. The man is a joke … and not even an original one.

Ports of Auckland is out of control

Written By: - Date published: 8:33 am, May 3rd, 2015 - 30 comments

Ports of Auckland’s recent behaviour outlines a major weakness with Auckland super city.  Corporate interests are able to take precedence over the wishes of our democratically elected representatives.

Prosecuting Key

Written By: - Date published: 11:27 am, May 2nd, 2015 - 42 comments

Very wise of Bailey to dissociate herself from McCready, and make her own decisions about prosecuting Key.

(Image from Emmerson in The Herald)