Open mike 26/06/2024

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29 comments on “Open mike 26/06/2024”

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  1. 1

    Power pain: Two-thirds of electricity consumers worried about their bills

    "We're not convinced that the competitive model that we have is fit for purpose now. There needs to be investigation around the vertical separation of gentailers – those big companies that are generating and retailing," Hart said.

    Was it ever competitive !? Oh and this next. All those BS ads pretending to be your electric friend…

    The survey also showed consumers found the electricity market harder to navigate, as retailers bundled power with other services, such as broadband.

    "One in four consumers who have bundled plans said they didn't know if they were getting a good deal. One in 10 actually discovered that their costs had increased," Hart said.

    https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/520572/power-pain-two-thirds-of-electricity-consumers-worried-about-their-bills

    1. 1.1

      As designed with generators paying out billions more than theyve earned which we are funding.

      The last national government you can thank for that.

      As for 'competetive' thats more spin as utilities are natural monopolies. Who else you going to get power/water etc from ?

      1. 1.1.1

        Yep. Nats and Max "competition" Bradford. However, this is maybe not something Winston First would like to be recalled..

        In fact Mr Bradford had strong support at the time from National's coalition partner from December 1996 to August 1998, New Zealand First.

        So the next time Mr Peters asks an audience "who did it?" the full answer is that he could not have done it without New Zealand First.

        In favour were National 44, New Zealand First 17, Act 8, United Future 1, and Alamein Kopu, 1. Against were Labour 37, and the Alliance 12.

        https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/peters-forgets-nz-first-support-for-power-reforms/MLF6HT7JDLXGB7NAWIRLZOSAQI/?c_id=1&objectid=10526747

        Oh yea, also re my previous link….

        "New Zealand's approach has relied heavily on promoting switching to drive competition and better prices for consumers, but evidence shows switching rates remain relatively low," Hart said.

        It was the last published work from the Consumer Advocacy Council, which would soon be disbanded after last month's Budget cancelled its funding.

        https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/520572/power-pain-two-thirds-of-electricity-consumers-worried-about-their-bills

        Cancelled !? Well thats a final nail in it then. Anyone tried the Powerswitch site ?

        https://www.powerswitch.org.nz/

  2. 2

    I am perplexed by that Assange plea deal to guilty.

    Why now? What pieces moved?

    There's State diplomacy between 3 countries minimum to unpack.

    1. 2.1

      Big ups to the Albanese government, mates across the ditch have informed me he has been quite firm with both the yanks and poms over the issue. And the role of Penny Wong, and her ministry. Have to say Penny Wong has been bloody impressive over the last couple of years.

    2. 2.2

      It is face-saving deal for the USA and nothing more.

      The USA wanted him convicted on charges carrying sentences of 30 years or more but knew that he would never be extradited from the UK after the recent UK High Court decision.

      Assange took the deal after 5 years of solitary confinement (essentially torture) and 7 years before that in the Ecuadorian embassy-who can blame him?

      When he gets back to Australia he will say he is innocent of any crime and acted a journalist. (The Guardian published the the information he supposedly illegally released)

    3. 2.3

      This covers the legal impasse*.

      https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/article/2024/may/21/julian-assange-us-biden-prosecution

      Unless ones focus is the first part of the guilty plea – assistance to Manning to gather the government information (Manning had already been pardoned for that offence after 7 years in prison – 35 year sentence) for dissemination, there is a residual concern for press freedom* outside the USA (US media would claim first amendment rights) as per extradition proceedings.

      The Swedish matter delayed focus on the extradition to the USA and this legal process (Assange was concerned he would be extradited to the USA from Sweden and the Americans hid their intent to prosecute him while that case was in play for that reason).

      Rudd is Ambassador to DC and Smith his FM is Ambassador to London, so Albanese had heavy hitters in place.

      In the end the legal impasse and Albanese government pressure resolved it.

      https://www.bbc.com/news/live/world-69145409

      1. 2.3.1

        Latest.

        Judge Ramona Manglona is now running through the specific details of the "conspiracy to obtain and disclose national defence information" charge – which is the felony Assange will plead guilty to under the terms of his deal.

        Assange is telling the courtroom that when he published the classified documents that had been leaked to him in 2010, he was working as a journalist and believed he would be protected by the first amendment.

        He also said he believes the Espionage Act – which he is being charged under – conflicts with the first amendment.

        The prosecutor is now outlining the government's case again, and calling on Assange to listen carefully so that he can challenge any details he thinks are wrong.

        They're going through how the WikiLeaks founder actively enouraged leaks of classified information – saying he told leakers that "top secret means nothing".

        https://www.bbc.com/news/live/world-69145409

    4. 2.4

      Biden is in big trouble electorally. Going balls deep for Israel means the social democrat wing of his party – AOC and the squad and the coalition that got him over the line last time – is ambivalent in its support for his reelection at best. By doing a deal over Assange he is trying to shore up his credibility with a powerful group of Democrats.

      It demonstrates the growing influence of AOC, expect her to be a challenger for the Democratic nomination in 2028.

      1. 2.4.1

        Interesting point.

        One of the Squad Jamaal Bowman just got ousted today.

        I'd prefer Gavin Newsom the California Governor for a 2028 tilt, over Harris or AOC. Better hair 😀

  3. 3

    Bloody good interview of Osian Llywelyn the Deputy Welsh Language Commissioner and Director of Regulation by Pat over at BHN.

  4. 4

    Farmer fears cutting stock numbers only way to meet environmental standards

    https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/520582/farmer-fears-cutting-stock-numbers-only-way-to-meet-environmental-standards

    Well…maybe you just do. Plenty of good reasons. These farmers should have done so….

    Cows euthanised after being found stuck in mud, without water

    2000 cattle surrounded by mud, with insufficient water.

    https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/country/520160/cows-euthanised-after-being-found-stuck-in-mud-without-water

    Some were found to be severely underweight and in poor health because of a lack of grass cover and supplementary feed.

    https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/country/517517/taranaki-farmer-on-home-detention-after-failing-to-care-for-his-cattle

  5. 5

    "Ah yeah, well, he can go down the rabbit hole that he's talking about and stay down there because his day in terms of politics is well and truly over … I'm afraid his use-by date – if it ever was there – is well and truly gone.”

    Winston Peters on Chris Hipkins. Bit of a cheek coming from that close to extinct fossil.Washed up too many times. Very predictable and boring.🥱

    2. 5.2

      Winston's mean spirited bovine fecal rhetoric is sounding more and more like the convicted felon in the USA. As he ages he seems to think it's more amusing.

    4. 5.4

      Gone are the days when Winston actually stood for something and achieved things. Now he is just an angry old man who distrusts everyone and sees conspiracies everywhere.

      If anyone is past their use-by date it is him.

  7. 7

    In Israel there has been conflict over the "Basic Law" and how judges to their Supreme Court are appointed.

    Now the Supreme Court has determined that religious Jews have no exemption from conscription.

    There have long been exemptions for conscription for young men registered in full-time religious study, but a legal arrangement allowing the practice to continue had expired.

    The religious Jews accepted a Zionist state in return for standing or status. But the numbers have gone from hundreds in 1949 to 63,000.

    https://international.la-croix.com/news/politics/israel-funds-ultra-orthodox-jews-to-study-instead-of-work/17899

    The elephant in the room as to equal citizenship, is no conscription of Arabs (thus avoiding the issue of refusal and disruption of pro settler occupation practice).

    https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cnee42vmn7xo

    Back in 1967, it was said occupation would end Israel as it was. And Likud coming to power in 1977 and beginning settlement made it so.

    Interesting times.

    1. 9.1

      The kids will be fine, and the boot camps will be waiting to welcome them with open arms and $3 lunches.

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