One of the most basic of economic principles is that when you constrain supply, you can raise prices because the demand remains the same. But if you do not constrain product, then you generate mountains. Fonterra appear to be trying to prove that principle still…
National's selloff of our state houses is yet another example of its two main obsessions, secrecy and unaccountable power. In Tracy Watkins' piece this morning: Government's social housing legislation passes first hurdle ... The Social Housing Reform (Transaction Mandate) Bill enables the Government to transfer…
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 …
I've always considered the handling of Julian Assange's case by the Swedish and UK authorities as being politically motivated in the extreme. LPrent voiced the very same suspicion about the Swedish prosecutor Marianne Ny way back in 2010 and that has been the way things…
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.
In breaking news: Inquiry to be held into Saudi sheep deal The controversial deal that saw $11.5 million of taxpayer money on a Saudi farm is to be examined by the Auditor-General. Lyn Provost has announced she will carry out an inquiry into the expenditure…
National (worst "dealmakers" ever) have already given up on protecting Pharmac in the TPP negotiations. Key glibly says that the government will just cover any increased medication costs. Sounds easy doesn't it, but here's the reality under which Pharmac operates today: Pharmac plea for more…
While we devote acres of pixels to flag distractions and "celebrity" nonsense, the health of the nation goes largely unremarked. Was there any MSM coverage of the latest Ministry of Social Development report - Household Incomes in New Zealand: trends in indicators of inequality and…
John Key and National has always appeared to be on the leading edge of understanding and manipulating public opinion. But it seems that something of a tsunami has erupted and Key's most trusted media supporters are being denigrated for their bias. And his judgment appears to…
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 …
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.
John Key was interviewed this morning by Paul Henry on TV3. The interview was cringeworthy. The complete lack of independence shown by Henry and the obsequious nature of his treatment of Key were a joke. Winston Peters has criticised Mike Hosking for being a National…
August 13th was Earth Overshoot Day 2015 (aka Ecological Debt Day). Read all about it: Earth Overshoot Day marks the date when humanity’s demand for ecological resources and services in a given year exceeds what Earth can regenerate in that year. We maintain this deficit…
The old myth that National are good managers of the economy should now be well dead and buried. By any realistic assessment of the records of the last two governments, Labour is the party of economic competence. Labour: 9 surplus budgets, paid down net government…
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 …