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I've just read Vernon Small's piece today and I actually learned things from it, other than opinions plucked out of thin air by the author. Small explains the fiscal and economic challenges now existing that the next government will have to cope with and, with…
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It was galling to see John Armstrong slam Labour for not having released its Christchurch recovery policy having just refused to cover Labour's skills package or its mining policy. It's like the Left can't win with the guy. Labour releases policy and he turns a…
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I thought that last night's RWC opening ceremony in Auckland looked good, and I'm sure that the fans that managed to get in enjoyed "party central". But the aspect of the opening that is getting all of the headlines this morning is the public transport fiasco:…
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Recently retired Mike Lofgren spent 28 years as a Congressional staffer, 16 of them working for the Republicans. His take on that party is interesting, to say the least: Goodbye to All That: Reflections of a GOP Operative Who Left the Cult ...Both parties are…
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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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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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Media Advisory: March to Save Factory Farming Crueltctsff@hotmail.co.nz http://ctsff.wordpress.com On Saturday the 10th of September, 12pm, the Campaign to Save Factory Farming will be marching from the Civic Square to parliament. We will arrive at parliament at 1pm. With the National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee about…
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Non-political post, but I don't think The Standardistas can ignore the small event starting in Aotearoa today. I've got my ticket to the opening game, and I'm desperately looking forward to cheering on the ABs, tonight and through to October 23. So - what are…
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John Key's New Zealand From the Herald, an example of just what National's cuts mean for people in need: A young mother and her baby facing a cold night with nowhere to stay in Gisborne turned to a real estate agency for rescue, after three…
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Interesting to see the truth coming out about the NZ media's hero Peter Whittall: DISAGREEMENT WITH WHITTALL Earlier he told the inquiry a disagreement over a lack of a second emergency exit at the mine had sparked a relationship breakdown between Rockhouse and the then Pike River…
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Visiting lawyer, activist and author Polly Higgins has caused quite a stir: Eco-crimes are crimes against humanity - author A visiting author is calling for crimes against nature, or "ecocide", to be recognised as the fifth crime against humanity. British environmental lawyer and writer Polly…
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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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It was with sadness that I heard Chris Carter's valedictory speech last night. As he said he was a Labour man through and through. Carter spent decades working hard as an electorate MP, a Minister, and most of all a hardworking member of the Labour…
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Nicky Hager's Other People's Wars and the Urewera 'terror raids' fiasco raise, once again, serious questions. Are the security agencies that are meant to protect our society from threats, themselves operating outside the law and democratic control? Not according to Key. And he knows because…
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Special pleading watch .... “Racism is definitely associated with power and using power to deprive another group,” she said. “Maori are not in a position of power in this country and therefore cannot deprive Pakeha.” I guess Mutu’s logic is that as a Maori she cannot…
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IHC workers won a lengthy court battle to have the work they do overnight (so-called 'sleepover' shifts) recognised as work worthy of the minimum wage. The $300m in backpay they were due would have bankrupted IHC. The government, so keen to bailout corporate mates, refused…
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RNZ had the news this morning that the schools most strongly opposing the nonsense of "national standards" - the Boards Taking Action Coalition - have decided to change their tactics. Hundreds of schools are abandoning a protest against national standards in reading, writing and maths.…
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So the Minister of Police has issued a statement saying there would be no apology to the Urewera 18 since charges have been dropped against most of them. The Crown and the Police should absolutely apologise. The Police have said there wasn't enough evidence to…
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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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Respected Financial Times journalist Martin Wolf argues that the last thing we need in a world of excess saving is for creditworthy governments to cut their borrowing. He presents evidence that shows that fiscal deficits are helpful not because they return the economy to swiftly…
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But the similarities are not just physiological. From the official Thomas the Tank Engine site: Bulgy was a bad-tempered double-decker bus who was out to close down the rails and "Free the Roads". He has no scruples and knows how to tell a lie when…
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"Just keep to your promises. I was at some of the family meetings where you promised off camera to parents who were in tears that you would do your utmost to try to get the men out. Money was not a problem. Those same parents…
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This year, the government made Meridian sell some dams to Genesis, which funded the purchase by borrowing. Meridian then paid a special dividend to the Crown. It made both Genesis and Meridian worth less. A government couldn't make those kind of reforms if it had…
bill english david cunliffe david parker energy national phil goff privatisation
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This post by I/S at NoRightTurn will upset some but I think it makes an important point. It's natural to soothe the pain of a death by labeling the cause heroic. The danger is that this understandable emotional reaction becomes hijacked to justify continuing an…
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National is the party of middle aged white guys. There's been plenty of commentary on how clearly their party list reflects this, including this excellent piece by guest poster Dean here at The Standard. Unable to defend National's list on these terms, chief Nat spinster…
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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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Robert Reich writes about the impact of growing inequality in the United States. He has a graphic that shows the effects over the past hundred years. As the US and Europe come closer to their Niagara fall, his logic is compelling. Edmund Burke's saying that…
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Treasury has now adopted their masters' political line on income statistics. The latest Treasury MEI uses average after-tax wages to argue that an average worker is better off by 2% since October 2010. The Quarterly Employment Survey showed gross average weekly earnings rose 4.3% (including…
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The "Urewera 18" are now down to four. The police persecution has now been dropped for eleven of those charged in the Operation 8 raids four and half years ago. Crown Solicitor Simon Moore said the effect of a recent Supreme Court ruling on the…