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6:00 am, December 23rd, 2024 - 22 comments
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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 Policy).
Step up to the mike …
Heading into the new year, we on the left have a massive task: to save our democracy from ‘wealth!’
Over dramatic? Perhaps . . . perhaps not.
When we see, in real time, the over-the-top influence of the billionaires on the last American election, and ‘Trumps’ Project 2025, when we can see similar things happening in the UK and Europe, when Australia is taking active steps to curtail the influence of wealth on their elections, and when we can see plain evidence of money manipulating our politicians (Winton, for instance, buying Bishop), then it’s past time to start removing money from our political processes.
We cannot expect the Natz, ACT or NZFirst to so anything, they, after all, are the beneficiaries of pretty massive donations.
The Greens and Ti Paarti Maori are already on board.
https://substack.com/@warlock2012/note/c-82325177?r=pr9pu
That only leaves Labour. We need to convince the Labour Party to enact legislation to severely limit the influence of big money – in the form, as per Australia, of limiting contributions, or completely funding all parties from the public purse – something must be done!
https://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/health/hospital-computer-system-fails-again
If a patient dies due to government underfunded I T , surely they could be taken to court for criminal negligence?
Except that would set a precedent. Not just hospital death by IT, but death from malnutrition as a result of the government slashing funding to foodbanks, unsurvivable benefit rates, and kicking people out of emergency accommodation, deliberately not funding mental health services Etc, etc, etc.
A lot of government policy contributes directly and indirectly to premature deaths, but don't worry – even if they made it to court, millions of taxpayer's money would be spent by Crown Law defending the government.
A petty, vengeful, toddler with nukes.
https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/trump-says-he-might-demand-panama-hand-over-canal-2024-12-22/
https://www.propublica.org/article/trump-companies-accused-tax-evasion-panama
Grenada and Panama have a reputation for being places where a POTUS can show his imperial Monroe Doctrine "shock and awe" Star Wars lightsaber prowess. One can just feel the powerful hand grip and the fast moving use of fingers on keys.
Between the G and the P is the R of “Ruritania”.
Based on this central European country.
Sophie heiress to its rule is also the Jacobite claimant to the Court of Saint James.
https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-d&q=Liiechenstein
Of course he's ignorant.
/
@sifill.bsky.social
I will not respond to most of Trump’s nonsense. But out of respect for my forbears, let me set the record straight. The people who did most of the working & dying in constructing the Panama Canal were Black ppl from the West Indies. Not Americans. This guy… For more: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/america...
https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:rjr6nfdzrfngjgc34jjyty6a/post/3ldubx56o5c2k
I'm not sure the world has enough popcorn for the next four years
'Rules based order'
A rules based order.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/360532501/cadburys-loses-royal-warrant-first-time-170-years
Ethical leadership.
Cadbury only hung on because the Queen and her ancestors liked Bournville dark chocolate (us commoners only knew of Vita). Otherwise their resort to unnatural cheap ingredients, which made them untrustworthy and dishonest – and then sacre bleu, reduced size of blocks to hide price increases, would have been the end of them years back.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bournville
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arden,_Warwickshire
History lesson. Cadbury fort was the symbol of British sovereignty. It was build to house 500 commoners under security of 500 guards. Later after the legions left in 406CE, the tradition was carried on by the 500 on horse.
Their legend was that of the 2nd 6th. They served near the wall and were demobilised to Yorkshire and continued their horse expertise. After defeast by the Cantabrians of Spain (who used horse), the 2nd 6th hired in groups from the Black Sea for their legion. They brought with them, the legend of the women of the lake. The mythical origin of European royalty (old European for river is Danu) as old as the flood of c5500BCE in the Black Sea region.
Celtiberians?
Probably, those living there now are more mountain Castilian.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/537469/interislander-ferry-kaiarahi-resumes-sailing-after-fault-fixed
5 more years out of these old rust buckets?
But a Toyota Corolla will be cool! Just wait til they make an amphibious one!
Do not worry the government is not providing a cheap alternative to IREX
https://www.stuff.co.nz/politics/360530998/unions-economist-predicts-new-cook-strait-ferries-will-cost-least-17-billion
Yep, reading this wearing my Nicky No Boats t-shirt and wondering who would like a bumper sticker for Christmas.
https://bhnshop.nz/products/bhn-nicky-no-boats-t-shirts
Wow just so blatant about one rule for the greedy, and one rule for the rest of us.
A month before we start eating each other, within the year most of us would be done.
The temporary breakdown of Earth’s magnetic field 42,000 years ago sparked major climate shifts that led to global environmental change and mass extinctions, an international research team including a University of Wollongong (UOW) scientist has found.
This dramatic turning point in Earth’s history – laced with electrical storms, widespread auroras, and cosmic radiation – was triggered by the reversal of Earth’s magnetic poles and changing solar winds.
[…]
The study suggests that were a similar shift in the Earth’s magnetic poles to occur now, the consequences for modern society would be huge.
Not only would incoming cosmic radiation destroy our electric power grids and satellite networks, it would trigger a new wave of climate change.
“Why do we care what happened 42,000 years ago? Because what happened is terrifying and could happen again,” Professor Dosseto said.
“If it happened again, the consequences would be tragic for humankind and would go well beyond losing mobile phone reception – however terrifying that might seem.
“Although the weakening of the magnetic field only lasted a few hundred years, it had consequences on Earth’s climate, environment and life for the following thousands of years – a cautionary tale for our current impact on the planet.
“It will take a while for the planet to clean up our mess, even long after we’re gone.”
https://www.uow.edu.au/media/2021/ancient-new-zealand-tree-reveals-a-turning-point-in-earths-history-42000-years-ago.php
A lot of reasons why someone would create the Silo TV series.
Bunker sharing survivalism.
You must be fun at kids parties.
A mortgage free home and a million dollars saved to have comfortable retirement.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/money/360525194/what-retirement-has-really-looked-year
How many achieve this?
W and I denying help to young people.
Conditions on access to emergency housing.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/537488/grave-fears-over-fate-of-young-people-left-homeless-this-festive-season
I read that today as well. I just felt the same. This is a sick and mean spirited shower we have "governing" NZ at the moment. They forget that government is for all people, not just the wealthiest and sorted.