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Letter From the United Kingdom

Written By: - Date published: 2:50 pm, April 24th, 2019 - 116 comments

 
Jeremy Corbyn’s class  performance has been driving the MSM, the Tories, and the Blairite remnants crazy

CGT Dumped

Written By: - Date published: 2:08 pm, April 17th, 2019 - 244 comments

The Government has announced that there will be no Capital Gains Tax. It’s a shame, but it’s good politics.

Reflections on Free Speech and Public Discourse

Written By: - Date published: 7:00 am, April 15th, 2019 - 119 comments

Silencing dissonant voices only leads to more and stronger dissonant voices and further radicalisation.

Brexit: May’s Remaining Options for Leaving

Written By: - Date published: 6:24 pm, April 2nd, 2019 - 28 comments

Theresa May is entering the Brexit death spiral. Her last real chance to get her own preferred deal over the line will happen in a Tory cabinet meeting overnight. But what are the other options?

UPDATE: May has now invited Jeremy Corbyn for talks on a soft Brexit. But will the Labour leader be in a mood to help?

Xi-ing Jacinda

Written By: - Date published: 8:32 pm, March 29th, 2019 - 73 comments

Jacinda Ardern will get a very warm welcome in Beijing based on immense respect for her and for New Zealand.  Xi Jin-Ping has just returned from a very successful visit to Europe, joining Italy to the Belt and Road initiative and buying 300 jets from Airbus. Pepe Escobar outlines the implications for Eurasia. Much food for thought.

Daily review 29/03/2019

Written By: - Date published: 8:03 pm, March 29th, 2019 - 13 comments

Daily review is also your post.This provides Standardistas 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 …

Daily review 25/03/2019

Written By: - Date published: 5:30 pm, March 25th, 2019 - 39 comments

Daily review is also your post. This provides Standardistas 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 …

We need more than capital gains tax to address inequality

Written By: - Date published: 2:41 pm, March 25th, 2019 - 46 comments

The most important comment in the Tax Working Group’s Final Report is that even the reasonably comprehensive capital gains tax proposed is likely to have only a minor impact on addressing inequality — what is needed is a more progressive income tax system that lifts the top marginal tax rate 

Power pricing not just a rip-off, it’s immoral

Written By: - Date published: 3:23 pm, March 22nd, 2019 - 43 comments

Submissions for the final report on the Electricity Price Review closed today at noon. My recent experience with Genesis Energy reveals pricing by power company majors not only rips customers off, but is immoral. The initial report of the EPR is unlikely to address this issue.

Banning Rambo weapons not a knee-jerk

Written By: - Date published: 5:35 am, March 21st, 2019 - 185 comments

Passing stringent gun controls is far from a knee-jerk reaction to the Christchurch massacre – our politicians of all stripes have procrastinated over this ever since the 1990 Aramoana massacre. We already have the 13 recommendations of the 2017 Law & Order committee that were rejected. Let us at the very least now accept those.

The trouble with hate speech

Written By: - Date published: 1:02 pm, March 16th, 2019 - 319 comments

Yesterday’s terrorist attack which has resulted in 49 kiwis losing their lives highlights issues brought up by the tour of New Zealand by Lauren Southern and Stefan Molyneux and the debate about if hate speech should ever be tolerated.

Just outlaw semi-automatic weapons

Written By: - Date published: 10:54 am, March 16th, 2019 - 213 comments

I’ve used and worked with weapons for large chunks of my life. They’re not there for dickheads. There aren’t any reasons to keep operational semi-automatic weapons in civilian life. Just outlaw them. The conviction for unlawful possession of them requires mandatory imprisonment.

Christchurch: The Next Day

Written By: - Date published: 10:38 am, March 16th, 2019 - 123 comments

It’s the morning after the horrific attacks in Christchurch. 49 are dead, many more injured. The PM is flying to the city, having announced our gun laws are to be immediately strengthened. The country is reeling, but the fascists are bound to lose.

Brexit: the No Deal Vote

Written By: - Date published: 7:02 am, March 14th, 2019 - 46 comments

Day 2 of Westminster’s ‘meaningful votes’ on Brexit. This time its Deal or No Deal. Now with bonus Snoop Mogg!

Daily review 11/03/2019

Written By: - Date published: 5:30 pm, March 11th, 2019 - 20 comments

Daily review is also your post. This provides Standardistas 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 …

Caption contest

Written By: - Date published: 3:11 pm, March 8th, 2019 - 36 comments

Keep it seemly.

The right to strike for their future

Written By: - Date published: 2:49 pm, March 8th, 2019 - 25 comments

Good editorial in the DomPost today supporting the students’ strike for their future environment. I can’t say the same for David Farrar on National radio yesterday opining they should strike at the weekend. For another lesson in patronising, watch Senator Dianne Feinstein’s treatment of the kids in California.

Thanks a million Ruth

Written By: - Date published: 10:00 pm, March 5th, 2019 - 23 comments

Ruth Dyson, in my opinion up in the top rank of great Labour women, has announced she will leave Parliament at the end of this term. Typically in advance and typically without fanfare. Her contribution to Labour and to the less fortunate in our country has been huge.

Daily review 04/03/2019

Written By: - Date published: 5:30 pm, March 4th, 2019 - 39 comments

Daily review is also your post. This provides Standardistas 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 …

‘Taxpayers union’ – too ‘stupid’ to understand tax?

Written By: - Date published: 9:30 am, February 26th, 2019 - 59 comments

There is a classic piece of waffle in the NZ Herald about when capital gains tax will apply to the family home. But the conditions when this applies are extremely simple and obvious. However professed experts on taxation like the so-called ‘taxpayers union’ can’t understand them. Probably because they are paid not to.

Can we have a future, with capitalism?

Written By: - Date published: 8:50 am, February 25th, 2019 - 192 comments

The concentration of wealth and power insufficiently regulated capitalism has caused, now works against the survival of human civilisation. With the wealthy opposing any attempts to limit the damage which affects their wealth.

Walls and Bridges

Written By: - Date published: 11:56 am, February 16th, 2019 - 54 comments

It’s been a horror week for two leaders and a leader who will never be leader.

TRP casts a wary and weary eye over three political zombies whose time appears up.

And, oh, Jeremy Corbyn.

 

Daily review 15/02/2019

Written By: - Date published: 5:30 pm, February 15th, 2019 - 42 comments

Daily review is also your post. This provides Standardistas 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 …

Can Sexism Save Simon’s Bacon?

Written By: - Date published: 9:26 pm, February 13th, 2019 - 115 comments

National Party in dick pick SHOCKER!!!

Yes, Simple Simon reveals his saucy side as he SHOWS US HIS SAUSAGE.

But is anyone biting?

 

Daily Review 13/02/2019

Written By: - Date published: 5:30 pm, February 13th, 2019 - 26 comments

Daily review is also your post. This provides Standardistas 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 …

Open Mike 12/02/2019

Written By: - Date published: 7:00 am, February 12th, 2019 - 84 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 …

Should teaching about the Treaty of Waitangi be compulsory?

Written By: - Date published: 1:19 pm, February 7th, 2019 - 226 comments

It was sure refreshing to see the current head of the National Party saying on Waitangi Day that teaching of New Zealand history should be compulsory in the New Zealand curriculum.

Happy Waitangi day

Written By: - Date published: 9:41 am, February 6th, 2019 - 30 comments

Waitangi day should be a day of celebration and a day of reflection.

Open Mike 03/02/2019

Written By: - Date published: 11:38 am, February 3rd, 2019 - 57 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 …

Take the oil!

Written By: - Date published: 6:23 pm, January 28th, 2019 - 87 comments

Before he was elected President, Donald Trump’s approach to United States illegal attacks on Iraq and Libya was that their only mistake was that the US didn’t “take the oil.” After becoming President, his approach to oil-rich Venezuela was “can’t we just invade them?”

Update: John Bolton confirms its about the oil.

The Power of Anger

Written By: - Date published: 8:13 am, January 28th, 2019 - 75 comments

Anger can be a great catalyst for change if used wisely.