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Inequality has been very much in the news following the release of the OECD report. Friday saw the publication of two really excellent pieces that between them provide a comprehensive overview. Here's Gordon Campbell on Scoop: Gordon Campbell on income inequality... ...Yet on Wednesday, there…
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I gave up on the prospect of international climate change negotiations ever achieving anything significant after the failure at Copenhagen (we clearly lack the will to save ourselves). Sure enough the current talks at Lima, after failing to reach agreement, went in to "extra time".…
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Open mike is your post. The Standard is not a conspiracy – just a welcome outlet for the expression of views. Leaders that command respect will not be undermined by this. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy). Step up to the…
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Two New Zealands will shortly celebrate Christmas, the poor and the rich. Two recent articles really highlight the differences, the first on food banks: Mission in action: Christmas rush as tough times bite Hundreds of families from as far away as Hamilton are queuing at…
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John Drinnan's piece on Freed puzzles me: When will website be Freed The much-vaunted Freed website is still under lock and key. It has been nine weeks since it started advertising for numerous staff - including "drone operators". Freed has been tempting writers with generous financial packages…
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The final Roy Morgan poll for the year is out. I know that we should look at trends, that one poll of itself is not evidence of anything and that sampling error and all other sorts of anomalies should always be taken into account. But…
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Open mike is your post. The Standard is not a conspiracy – just a welcome outlet for the expression of views. Leaders that command respect will not be undermined by this. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy). Step up to the…
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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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Today RNZ Morning Report broadcast an interview by Amelia Langford with PSA National Secretary Richard Wagstaff. Susie Fergusson introduces the interview stating that Bill English told the House this week that the "average wage" has increased by approximately $3,000 over the last two years. It is…
bill english capitalism child welfare crime education equality health housing minimum wage same old national Unions wages
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Like the Key government, today's anonymous Herald editorialist refuses to acknowledge the implications of the OECD report on inequality. The title is a bit of a giveaway: Competition way to reduce inequality The piece begins: The OECD, often described as a club of rich countries,…
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Open mike is your post. The Standard is not a conspiracy – just a welcome outlet for the expression of views. Leaders that command respect will not be undermined by this. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy). Step up to the…
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Ten weeks ago I became a granny. I must admit, before this beautiful little boy was born I worried about the ethics of bringing another child into the world, just as I did before my own hormonal drive overtook my intellect 29 years ago and…
Abuse of power climate change community democracy cost of living democracy under attack Dirty Politics election 2014 Environment minimum wage poverty Privatisation social democracy socialism Spying sustainability war water
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Andrew Little has wasted no time in making his mark, not just on the Labour Party but on New Zealand politics. What is already clear is that here is a Labour leader who is thinking seriously about what it means to be in government. A…
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finally had time to read up on the CIA report released in a summary version, with lots of redacted bits. this post has a summary of the 5 most damning findings: torture didn't stop a single terrorist attack the CIA lied about the success of…
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The lied about surplus in the run up to the 2014 National Election is looking like matching Penn and Teller for magical skills. It's the ultimate disappearing act. Unlike bad economic figures when Labour is in Government, this isn't National's fault. Bill English says so.…
ACC accountability budget 2014 debt / deficit Economy economy gst Politics tax
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A good speech from Green MP James Shaw in Parliament's closing session yesterday. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bPzceA6RNZM
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Open mike is your post. The Standard is not a conspiracy – just a welcome outlet for the expression of views. Leaders that command respect will not be undermined by this. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy). Step up to the…
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So various Tory voices, fresh from finding Len Brown guilty of needing a wee; now find he's to blame for failing to get his visionary Central Rail Loop started on time, with its delayed start to 2018. But surely the blame lies not with him,…
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Can you believe the Government's plan to sell off our state houses? Write to Bill English and tell him what you think byclicking here. ----------- In a few hours, MPs will be breaking up for the summer. But during the holiday, the Government will be…
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The Labour Party last night celebrated the 30th Anniversary of its greatest betrayal of New Zealanders with another spectacular act of betrayal. By working hand-in-glove with the National Ltd™ Cult of John Key to usher in “spy at will” legislation, Labour has colluded in the…
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The normal rules apply. Keep it seemly ...
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This National government actively closes its eyes to the truths that it doesn't want to hear. All manner of evidence on education, social welfare, the environment, climate change, dirty politics, is regularly denigrated or denied. Bill English is the latest. The truth that he wishes…
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bsprout on the Local Bodies blog has two recent posts on the NZ government's "head in the sand" approach to climate change and the environment. The first, published on December 2, critiques the government's approach to business, mining and the environment: "Head in the Sand Leadership…
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Auckland and Christchurch especially need a big increase in affordable housing. A Kiwibuild if you like. But National only tinkers. It leaves people with young children to rent in a market that forces them to move often. This affects our kids - our next generation…
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http://www.parliament.nz/en-nz/pb/sc/make-submission/51SCFDT_SCF_00DBHOH_BILL60721_1/countering-terrorist-fighters-legislation-bill Another day of shame for the New Zealand Government. as they march us in lockstep....... Towards the sort of police State we used to fight. http://kjt-kt.blogspot.co.nz/2013/06/new-zealand-joins-roll-of-shame.html "With recent legislation New Zealand's Government continues it's shameful attacks on human rights. Bill allowing detention without trial,…
Abuse of power Environment human rights poverty Spying uncategorized workers' rights
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Reposted from Polity The OECD announced today: Widespread increases in income inequality have raised concerns about their potential impact on our societies and economies. New OECD research shows that when income inequality rises, economic growth falls. One reason is that poorer members of society are…
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Open mike is your post. The Standard is not a conspiracy – just a welcome outlet for the expression of views. Leaders that command respect will not be undermined by this. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy). Step up to the…
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this article in the herald was published a few days ago, and raises concerning trends amongst asian families: Pacific and Maori young still have by far the highest rates of poverty-related illness, but the Maori rate dropped steeply from 58 hospital admissions for poverty-linked conditions…
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Labor's win in the recent Victorian state election was historic - the first time a one-term government had been turned out for more than 60 years. It was also a fantastic example of how organisation can win elections. Labor's leader Daniel Andrews' focused on having…
activism Andrew Little australian politics campaigning democratic participation elections
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Scott at Imperator Fish kindly lets us syndicate his posts. This one is originally here. The New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union is outraged at the scandalous behaviour of Auckland mayor Len Brown. The people of Auckland deserve better than a mayor who spends public money discharging…