The culture wars have recently erupted with a vengeance. On the day that the IPCC has confirmed that the world is running out of time to do something to try and preserve what we have National and associated entities have complained that fuel prices are…
Get ready, according to the AA, for petrol at $3 a liter for Christmas. Taxes make up about 43% of the cost. Anti tax petitions are circulating. We also need to get ready for James Shaw's Zero Carbon bill, with its measured impact on electricity…
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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 …
One of the supposedly most contentious things this Government has done is take steps to stop offshore oil drilling. Shock horror, there was no consultation, it will cost lots of jobs and it is one of the reasons that business confidence is plummeting. Although stories…
The recent passing of Penny Bright got me thinking about her tireless and fearless fights. Other people came to my mind too, e.g. Helen Kelly, Lecretia Seales, and Nelson Mandela. Some people talk about their “calling”, others mention “purpose” or “dream” or “faith” (not necessarily…
It would fit the karma of a leftie universe if the United States was now suffering from its political choices. But it’s the reverse: the United States economy is roaring and President Trump is starting to be rewarded for delivering what he promised. The United…
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In my personal opinion the English artist Banksy is one of the best artists of our time. His art captures the absurdity of our times and is trenchantly anti corporate. It focusses on ordinary people and ordinary scenes but adds in an element of pathos.…
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There is so much extraordinary news that comes out of America each week. This week the latest news is that Kavanaugh looks like he will become a Supreme Court Justice, despite there being major questions about his actual suitability based on historical allegations of sexual…
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 …
There was some sad news overnight. Auckland political activist Penny Bright finally succumbed to ovarian cancer and died overnight. Penny was one of Auckland's unique political activists. She was a regular attendee at protests and had that endearing characteristic of saying exactly, precisely what she…
There was an interesting interview involving Taxpayers' Union head Jordan Williams yesterday morning aired on Radio New Zealand. His appearance was a defence of the use of fake names when making OIA requests. Why The Taxpayer's Union could not get real private persons to ask…
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 …
I was planning to ignore National's civil war and write something about the Government's bill to stop the issue of of further permits for offshore oil drilling. But instead National's simmering problems created by the very unwise decision to find out who leaked Bridges' travel…
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 …
Gosh. This is awkward. Talk about dirty politics. David Fisher has discovered that the Taxpayer's Union, the National Party aligned entity whose founders include David Farrar, has been using multiple fictitious identities for its Official Information Act applications. From Fisher's article in the Herald: False…
I'm willing to bet, that like me, you assumed Zionism was rooted within Judaism. But it isn't. In fact, Zionism was opposed by Jewish communities to the extent that the first Zionist Congress of 1897 had to moved from Munich to Basel because of pressure…
I said yesterday that I did not think that Jami-Lee Ross was National's leaker. I am going to have to review that opinion. Now I am not so sure. Richard Harman at Politik (paid content) has reported that well placed sources have told him that…
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 …
The National caucus can't be a very happy place right now. What with a witch hunt being conducted and Simon Bridges sparing no effort or expense to find out who leaked his travel expense details. And with inept negative leadership. I feel sorry for their…
Anti-science group WAVESnz have paid for a huge billboard on Auckland's Southern motorway attacking children's right to be healthy. The billboard, near the off ramp to Middlemore hospital, is intended to scare young parents off from vaccinating their children. Curiously, it appears to be pitched…
While the local right have spent the last week nit picking at Jacinda Ardern something significant has happened internationally. Jacinda Ardern has emerged as the western leader who is the antithesis of every thing that Donald Trump stands for. Check out this Guardian video if…
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 …
