Open Mike 23/12/2025

Written By: notices and features - Date published: - 9 comments
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9 comments on “Open Mike 23/12/2025”

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  1. 1

    When is an Asset sale NOT an Asset sale? : When its Monetisation….

    Wily Winnie weasels….

    Winston Peters makes u-turn on Chorus debt sell-off

    New Zealand First leader Winston Peters has reversed his previous opposition to the Chorus debt sell-off, saying it is "monetisation" rather than an asset sale.

    Asked why Peters had changed his mind, a spokesperson told RNZ a key word in the announcement was 'monetisation'.

    "Monetisation is a mechanism to effectively adjust the timing of the maturity of the debt," the spokesperson said.

    "New Zealand First stands firm on its position on state asset sales."

    https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/582452/winston-peters-makes-u-turn-on-chorus-debt-sell-off

    Just NO to Ol' Wily Winnie or any of his NZFist cronies !

    1. 2.1

      DMK, not seen that particular cartoonist before ? (and I have many for essential uplifts : )

      I liked (amongst the general awesome : ) "except the billionaires" and "but every day just got crazier"

      IMO AI is but an new improved pyramid scheme…21st century techstyle massive.

      Oh, on the Human pushback….I had earlier linked in a discussion, one Timnit Gebru. Dont know if you have heard of? Anyway if of use…

      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timnit_Gebru#2018%E2%80%932020:_Artificial_intelligence_ethics_at_Google

      1. 3.1.1

        Very clever, Barfly, especially since Rumplestiltskin spun yellow straw into gold, probably like Trump's skin or hair.

        On Google, the moral of Grimm's Rumplestiltskin story is described thus- "Properly thought-out words and actions are important to avoid future conflicts. False claims and hasty decisions may have negative consequences and affect the parties involved. To correct any mistakes made, it is also crucial to show responsibility and be accountable for such actions."

        Trumplestiltskin does not know or practice the moral of his story…….

    2. 3.2

      Ooh I want to cling to my nice stories. I don't like 6 year old smartaliks. And I don't like his beard either, it doesn't look like a regular one. He won't ever get a visit from Santa the way he goes on.

  4. 4

    Further on Privatisation and Plunder.

    Chapter three, Privatisation and Inequality by Bill Rosenberg, looks at the history, the scandals (Fey, rich whites come up a lot!), increased costs for consumers and under investment in infrastructure that have occurred in the flawed privatisation experiment.

    There are a few graphs that tell much the same story. While these can be claimed as successes that is only through a financial lens of an (often overseas) investor.

    Because essential services have been corporatised, focus has shifted to returning a dividend from providing a service. So, we pay more for energy, comms, internet access etc and said companies drag their heels with investing in renewables as an example.

    I know none of this is news. Us older heads must keep reminding others there was a fairer more equitable way. Unions have power because we belong or contribute time or money. Those Christmas BBQs and get togethers are another, possibly fraught, opportunity.

    Dennis, yesty, said let us know if something we don't already know comes up. The lesson from this chapter is privatisation is a political act not an economic one.

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