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Fourth of a series by Guest poster Blue. Honesty, transparency and trust were central planks of Key's 2008 election bid. He got tough on Winston Peters, insisting that he couldn't work with someone so dishonest, and his government would set higher standards. He promised to…
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Just finished reading John Armstrongs article on the union protest last week at Skycity. He is dead wrong about what it means. In his conference speech, the Prime Minister pitched his package as amounting to modest, moderate and pragmatic change. That night viewers saw the…
articles democratic participation john key national same old national
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Having just watched the q + a interview with Council of Trade Unions President Helen Kelly and Alasdair Thompson from the EPMA (a must-watch, Kelly did a great job) I think there are a few things that need to be said: It won't be union…
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We have it all wrong. What Brownlee was really trying to say. From William Joyce
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Open mike is your post. It's open for discussing topics of interest, making announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose. Comment on whatever takes your fancy. The usual good behaviour rules apply (see the link to Policy in the banner). Step right up to the mike...
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The NZSTA is supposed to represent its members - School Boards of Trustees. Instead they have become little more than a conduit of Minister Tolley's National Standards propaganda. Tolley was full or praise for President Lorraine Kerr at the recent NZSTA conference - what a…
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No Right Turn had an interesting post on National's Energy Strategy or more correctly a general lack of it yesterday. Reproduced with permission. Yesterday the government released its Draft New Zealand Energy Strategy [PDF] for consultation. So, how does it compare with Labour's 2007 version?…
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Third of a series by Guest poster Blue. An old post of Marty G's on the Standard says 'One of the stories from John Key's days as a currency trader is that he was always more of a salesman than an analyst. He wasn't good…
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Second of a series by Guest poster Blue. The biggest clue is how when he was younger, his aim in life was to ‘make a million dollars and be Prime Minister'. His sisters describe how he got in early practicing how to play golf, because…
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This series by guest poster Blue has a look at John Key now that we know a bit more about him. Back in July 2008, the New Zealand Herald published an ‘unauthorized biography' of John Key, the man who was likely to become Prime Minister.…
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Longer than your average blog post. But worth reading the thoughts of one of the greatest minds ever. Hat tip Information Clearing House. -- r0b Why Socialism? By Albert Einstein This essay was originally published in the first issue of Monthly Review (May 1949). Is…
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Open mike is your post. It's open for discussing topics of interest, making announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose. Comment on whatever takes your fancy. The usual good behaviour rules apply (see the link to Policy in the banner). Step right up to the mike...
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Halfcaste interviews a selection of Young Nats at their recent conference. Interviewer: "What's your favourite tribe?" Young Nat: "To be honest I don't have a favourite Maori tribe" Interviewer: "Top three?" Young Nat: "Ahh... I don't think I know..." Interviewer: "Don't know any Maori tribes?"…
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Another gem from Tom Scott.
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The Australian pollsters were out quick and fast on the weekend with the first state of the parties polls which reflected two opposing results with, on the one hand, the Australian Labor Party and the Coalition neck and neck and on the other, Labor holding…
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The words of this old song date back to the 1800's when dominant and rapacious employers in small company towns would require their employees to purchase essentials from a ‘company store'. And because the employee was so badly paid, inevitably they would run up steep…
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Speaking of things that should retire, Don Brash has been in the news: Let individuals choose when to retire Former National leader Don Brash has waded back into the retirement debate, suggesting future governments let workers decide for themselves what age to retire. His call…
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US Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke, the world's most powerful figure in monetary policy, said the other day that the economic recovery remains 'unusually uncertain' and that it's more likely things will turn out worse than the already rather bleak forecasts he presented to Congress…
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Open mike is your post. It's open for discussing topics of interest, making announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose. Comment on whatever takes your fancy. The usual good behaviour rules apply (see the link to Policy in the banner). Step right up to the mike...
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Disgraceful to see that National and ACT have voted down Labour MP Carol Beaumont's moderate and sensible bill to take action against loan sharks. This report captures the atmosphere of what was a pretty fierce debate in Parliament. Holding back tears, Beaumont told the House…
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Is there any aspect of government policy that isn't either attracting popular protest or damning criticism from the experts, or both? We've seen the last minute back down on mining after tens of thousands of Kiwis stood up, we're seeing a growing tide of anger…
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National's promises aren't worth the paper that they're printed on. They've broken plenty and downgraded most of the rest to "aspirational goals" (so much for catching up with Australia). Now John Key's current anti-worker employment policies add a whole new chapter to the list of…
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Open mike is your post. It's open for discussing topics of interest, making announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose. Comment on whatever takes your fancy. The usual good behaviour rules apply (see the link to Policy in the banner). Step right up to the mike...
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Remember back in 2008 when David Farrar and Cameron Slater launched a set of billboards comparing Helen Clark to a series of dictators over big issues like which lightbulbs you could buy and a recommendation on low-flow shower heads? The funny thing is she'd never…
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I dread debates on topics such as abortion and euthanasia. They tend to come down to deeply held personal beliefs that can never be changed. None the less, Doctor John Pollock has very publicly raised the topic of euthanasia, and I think that it's an…
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The country is short about 10,000 houses and many of the houses we do have (mostly privately owned rentals) are unhealthy. The housing shortage was a driver of the last housing boom and is still keeping house prices excessively high, while poor quality housing means…
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I've been talking to a few jokers in political circles since the Government's spectacular u-turn over mining, and the question everyone seems to be asking is "where is National's economic plan?" After all, this is a party that came into power promising to bring about…
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According to Stuff Andrew Little has confirmed his candidacy for the New Plymouth seat. I'd say he stands a very good chance of winning and will be a real thorn in the side of the National Party. It would seem that David Farrar does too:…
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We all remember the excuses National used when it first rammed through the fire at will legislation for workplaces with 20 or fewer staff. It would benefit marginal workers included the likes of the immigrants and former convicts. A risk free period of employment would…
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Good to see John Key's lies over the 90 day fire at will law are starting to catch up with him. Following yesterday's exchange in the House, the Herald has picked up on Key's smug assurances that even though his law will explicitly remove our…