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ABs vs France
Now for the final - ABs vs France 9:00 pm at Eden Park - may the best team win. Even we non-rugby fans will have something to celebrate, in just a few hours it will all be over! [whew ... that was close ... imagine…
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Archives · 2011-10-17 to 2011-10-23
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Searching: posts Sorted by: newest Results: 1–30 of 47
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One citizen. One dollar. One vote.
The Occupation movement in most locations seems to be staying true to its ideals. Decision making is a participatory (not a representative) democratic process. That has advantages, it's inclusive and egalitarian. It also has disadvantages, there's no strong leadership. The movement is often accused of…
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Open mike 23/10/2011
Open mike is your post. For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the link to Policy in the banner). Step right up to the mike...
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Double Dipton’s double downgrade doubletalk
Bill English: "a change in the credit ratings could push interest rates up ... about 0.1 percent." Nek minnit: Since the double downgrade, interest rates on new government bonds have risen by 0.2 per cent for bonds maturing in 2015 and 0.4 per cent for…
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An Occupation Occupied. What’s Next?
I’m not sure where the call for solidarity action on O15 came from. But from scanning through the OWS pages, it didn’t emanate from there. (How could it when no-one speaks for OWS?) From what I can gather, the pre-planning for the occupations in New…
activism community democracy democratic participation political education Politics
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National – putting the disaster into Disaster Management
New Zealand's economy, Christchurch, Pike River, Rena - all terrible disasters to befall our country and our Government. It's a massive challenge to respond well to such crises, and nobody really expects a magic wand, but we do have a right to expect some kind of…
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US to leave Iraq by Xmas – Obama
Mission accomplished. Meanwhile Cameron comes to urge Key to keep our troops in Afghanistan.
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Everything is OK
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Questions for leaders’ debate
I'm of two minds on the matter of supporting the televised leaders' debates. John Key has been allowed to dictate the format, insisting on debating only Goff. I think democracy would be better served by having more party leaders on stage, and I wish that…
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Open mike 22/10/2011
Open mike is your post. For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the link to Policy in the banner). Step right up to the mike...
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National’s Little smears and the big issue of market greed
xA good interview with Andrew Little on the Nat's failed attempt to smear him over facebook comments. Nice comments about David Farrar and strong support for the occupy movement. Good to see. By the way, is it just me or is National's obsession with opposition…
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Weekend social 21/10/2011
Weekend social is for non political chat. What's on for the weekend, gigs, film or book reviews, sports, or whatever. No politics, no aggro, why can't we all just get along?
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RWC final highlights inequalities
A very thoughtful piece from Simon Collins in today's Herald: Deep divisions over $1000 for a Rugby World Cup game as poverty grows Have we gone a bit mad? Or is it all worth it to bring a touch of joy into our lives in…
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Some questions in passing
Wouldn't a Key endorsement of Banks be an admission that a Labour-led government is possible if ACT doesn't make it? Is the delay in Key's endorsement because the Nats are worried that revelations will make Banks unelectable regardless and an endorsement will tarnish Brand Key…
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That sinking feeling
More protests in Tauranga. Simon Bridges blames "out of towners". That'll go down like a cup of cold sick with the angry locals. Guess that's what you get from a first-term MP who has only ever had to ride on Key's coattails and is now…
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Mishandled Rena costing Nats votes
Unlike some news organisations we don't usually bother reporting Horizon polls here. Their numbers generally sound like wonderful news for the political Left, because they tend to rate National led and Labour led coalitions as pretty much neck and neck. But hyping these results would…
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Open mike 21/10/2011
Open mike is your post. For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the link to Policy in the banner). Step right up to the mike...
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Death cab for Banksie
Another Epsom poll has ACT' stuffed. Goldsmith: 37% Banks: 24% Parker: 17%. However, it also says the blue-rinsers will obediently tick Banks if Key explicitly tells them to. But will he? Will the chance of saving 2% ACT be worth the nationwide loss of votes…
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Another broken promise
Remember how John Key was busy on the day of the double downgrade. Hosting his *wink* not election ad *wink* on RadioLive? Remember how he promised to "talk to someone important" to stop Coro St being moved to 5:30? Yeah. Another broken promise. Can't even…
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A ludicrous budget
I know a family in terrible financial trouble. Their budget is a mess. Here's the summary: their annual income is $21,700 their budgeted spending for the year is $38,200 their shortfall for the year will be $16,500 this will be added to their current debt…
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Debate on the electoral system
RNZ's Insight is hosting a debate on the Electoral System Referendum next Wednesday in Wellington. It's an excellent panel, with Jim Bolger, Michael Cullen, Ruth Richardson and Jeanette Fitzsimons, as well as Sandra Grey from the Campaign for MMP and Jordan Williams from Vote for…
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The Right’s crocodile tears for higher pay
It's disappointing to see the Dom joining with the Right's mouthpieces in attacking Labour's work and wages policy. The editorial says of course "something" must be done about low and inequitable wages but opposes introducing a system modeled on the one that delivers high wages…
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DPF – deliberately missing the point
DPF is all up in arms over Rodney candidate Christine Rose sharing someone's picture on facebook. He seems to think she's some extreme candidate who thinks John Key is personally responsible for the disasters. Instead, any reasonable reading would have it that she's agreeing that…
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Wasting Police time
Anyone noticed the sudden overbearing presence of Police at peaceful protests? Bugging Greenpeace and intimidating lawful activists. 25 Police at a 150-strong anti-deepsea drilling protest in Tauranga. 12 officers at a 60 worker picket at CMP Rangitikei. Are they just hyper because of the Cup…
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A global test of non-violent protest
The most visible manifestation of the 1% are bankers - and the Occupation movement has them worried. I wouldn't have believed this report, for example, but it includes video evidence to back up its claims: The banks fight back: Customers locked in and arrested after…
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Open mike 20/10/2011
Open mike is your post. For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the link to Policy in the banner). Step right up to the mike...
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3News lynch mob
Someone at 3News needs to switch to decaf. This headline is very misleading: Harawira: Hang Rena captain - or Steven Joyce Controversial MP Hone Harawira's calling for the captain of the stricken vessel the Rena to be hanged over the environmental disaster the ship has…
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JK: The last thing I need is a ship on a reef
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YUgi1C12AXU
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The Front Fell Off
The Front Fell Off - Clarke and Dawe explain maritime disasters: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQKjj_FDI_M And again on the Gulf oil spill: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ClvLp4vXJ5I All good build up to our own home-grown version (with apologies to Clarke & Dawe, and thanks to Lyndon in comments for the link): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJVnSIv6Mm8&feature=player_embedded
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Nats’ Rena spin all at sea
The Nats are clearly at panic stations over the public backlash on their handling of the Rena. Last week, Nick Smith was calling this our "worst maritime environmental disaster". Now, National pollster David Farrar and National shiteater Cameron Slater are trying to minimise the Rena…