Open mike 07/01/2020
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Get out now
General Soleimani was visiting Iraq at the request of the Iraqi Prime Minister to discuss mediation between the US and Iran. Following his assassination by the US the Iraqi Parliament has voted to ask all foreign troops to leave the country. New Zealand’s remaining troops should bring forward their scheduled departure and leave immediately.
Australia is no longer the lucky country
Australia is arguably no longer the lucky country. And if it does not resolve its addiction to coal it may not have a future.
Open mike 06/01/2020
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How To Get There 05/01/20
Welcome to TS’s Sunday think piece. It’s a blank sheet, a tabula rasa, waiting for your thoughts on the future and How To Get There.
Open mike 05/01/2020
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He wasn’t here to help us, was he
The utter failure of the Australian Prime Minister to lead during the bushfire crisis reminds us that it’s care for our children and communities that drives climate action. When people mobilise politicians will follow.
Open mike 04/01/2020
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Known Knowns and All the Other Ones
We cannot know everything and our only option is to trust others who know stuff that we don’t.
That 1914 Feeling
President Trump personally ordered the assassination of General Qassem Soleimani, head of Iran’s elite military Quds force. He was killed by rockets fired from US drones over Baghdad Airport. This is unlawful by any standards, as well as an act of war. Iran has promised retaliation.The doomsday clock just moved closer to midnight.
OPCW Scandal.
There was no chemical attack in Douma.
New book reveals Le Carré’s bleak view of post-Brexit world
John le Carré’s 26th book, Agent Running in the Field, which, according to the publishers is his take on Brexit, and suggests a dystopian future for European liberal democracies in a post-Brexit world. It follows John le Carré’s overarching theme – with friends like these, who needs enemies?
Open mike 03/01/2020
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Open mike 02/01/2020
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Goodbye 2019
Throughout the world 2019 was the worst year for the left since 1979. What will 2020 bring?
How To Get There: New Years Day edition
It’s tempting to think of the 2020s as the do or die decade, but deep, abiding, life affirming change will come from framing that also makes people feel good.
Open mike 01/01/2020
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The power of positive campaigning
With the 2020 election just round the corner and recent complaints about the left’s treatment of the #TurnArdern campaign it is a perfect time to think about the importance of language and positive uplifting campaign themes.
Open mike 31/12/2019
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Bridges and the Robertson trial
National has released a video of Simon Bridges talking about the trial he conducted against Tony Robertson and suggesting he is in politics to change the law. But the particular law he appears to be targeting was unchanged during the term of the last National Government.
Open mike 30/12/2019
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Why the Tories won the UK election?
Originally posted on Nick Kelly’s blog
What if Trump wins again?
We may as well prepare ourselves for Trump overperforming his popularity again and winning. We’ve had to deal with left’s retreat in most of the world in 2019. So let’s prepare and plot some likely accelerated changes in Trump’s second term.
How To Get There 29/12/19
Welcome to TS’s Sunday think piece. It’s a blank sheet, a tabula rasa, waiting for your thoughts on the future and How To Get There.
Open mike 29/12/2019
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Open mike 28/12/2019
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It Is the Thought That Counts
Antagonistic personalities are an obstacle to effective politics tackling major present problems.
Open mike 27/12/2019
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T’was the day of Christmas
National’s social media team spent Christmas day deleting tweets suggesting there was any link between its MPs and members of the #turnardern campaign.
Open mike 26/12/2019
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MMP Mark II*
What beats MMP? Open-list proportional representation with a low threshold would be a good option.
Open mike 25/12/2019
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Democratisation by Social Media and the Internet Is Just Meaningless Waffle
Social Media and the Internet are literally in our faces 24/7 but our political engagement is diminishing.
Open mike 24/12/2019
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The future of Capitalism
2019 has been a remarkable year for those wanting social, economic, and environmental renewal. The level of protest remains high, the idealism as […]
Protection from the climate crisis ruled a fundamental human right
In a groundbreaking decision, the Netherlands’ Supreme Court has ruled that the climate crisis is a human rights issue, and “the government must take urgent action on climate change to protect the fundamental rights of its people”.