Tipping vs fair wages
I don’t know of a single piece written in support of Bennett’s proposal. She has been in the bubble too long, and lost touch with the values of NZ.
Open Mike 24/05/2017
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Oh Manchester …
Terrible news from Manchester where two explosions have killed at least 19 people and injured many more. This post will be updated as more news comes in.
Budget details “leak”
Richard Harman at Politik: A “Families’ Income Package” is likely to be at the core of this week’s Budget. Sources close to the Government have “leaked” details of the Budget to POLITIK.
Stuff – online survey on NZ direction
Stuff is running an online survey – Is New Zealand on the right track?
Geddis on TPP11
Geddis: “So either Bill English was lying to Susie Ferguson on the radio, or his advisors lied to him about what TPP11 will require, or the Crown’s lawyers are lying to the Waitangi Tribunal.”
Strong and Stable – guess National’s campaign slogan!
We’ve had the Brighter Future (it sucks). We’ve had The Cusp of Something Special (it wasn’t). What will National’s soundbite slogan be this time?
$14 billion to meet Paris Agreement targets
Why isn’t National taking active steps to curb our emissions? We committed to reduce to 30 per cent below 2005 levels by 2030, instead we are expected to increase. This is a massive failure of vision, commitment, and competence.
Open Mike 23/05/2017
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Daily Review 22/05/2017
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 …
Caption contest
Pre budget positioning for a government that says it is “doing all it can”
National does the bare minimum that it thinks it can get away with for those in need. This positioning is just preparing the ground for a budget that does more the same not enough.
No one owns water, apart from corporations who sell it …
The Herald has reported that ordinary New Zealanders are paying 500 times as much for water as corporations who export it.
Voter transitions 2011 2014
Peter Ellis from Peter’s Stats Stuff
Let’s green the red zone
A Christchurch community group has come out with an outstanding solution for what to do with red zone land that is currently unusable.
The Greens – Budget for All Mothers
Some great ideas in The Greens “Budget for All Mothers”. Surely no “data driven” “social investment” party could be opposed?
Open Mike 22/05/2017
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For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy).
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President Pence
Mensch and Taylor report that: “Multiple sources close to the intelligence, justice and law enforcement communities say that the House Judiciary Committee is considering Articles of Impeachment against the President of the United States.”
The UK elections – Has Labour got the big mo?
And in the United Kingdom the election that was meant to be a foregone conclusion suddenly is suddenly tightening.
Book review: Here on Earth – An Argument for Hope
A brief review of Here on Earth: An Argument for Hope, by Tim Flannery. An argument for hope is exactly what we need, but does Flannery make the case?
Slater v Craig – battle of the has beens
The High Court this week has been asked to dissect the decline of the Conservative Party and of the 2014 form of dirty politics.
Open Mike 21/05/2017
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For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy).
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New Zealand’s Neoliberal Drift
In New Zealand, neoliberal reforms have widened inequality and undermined the country’s self-image as an egalitarian paradise.
Sitemeter is broken – no Open Parachute stats.
Over months, the readings from Statcounter had gotten increasingly inaccurate. Since the other public site stats packages have significiant other flaws on highish volume sites, we stopped running any. That means that the blog rankings for this site at Open Parachute stopped. Bomber can claim a empty position because he can’t check his statistics.
Campbell on the TPP cargo cult
Gordon Campbell: “The TPP has literally become a cargo cult ritual that’s being performed in the hope that someday, one day, the Americans will return, bearing gifts.”
Assange and Manning
Swedish prosecutors are dropping their seven year old preliminary investigation into an allegation of rape against Julian Assange. Chelsea Manning has been released from prison after serving seven years of a 35-year sentence.
Open Mike 20/05/2017
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For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy).
Step up to the mike …
Daily Review 19/05/2017
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 …
Little replies to property specualtors
Good piece by Andrew Little where he addresses the arguments of the property speculators. “It’s common sense. Taxpayers shouldn’t be subsidising speculators and helping them outbid home buyers.”
The possible privatisation of Ports of Auckland
The Government is attempting through coercion and cajoling to get Auckland Council to privatise Ports of Auckland.
Suicide, Mike King, and mental health services
On the issues of suicide and mental health, the choice is pretty clear. Bungling and abuse from National, a positive plan for action from Labour.
Hey Kids: Voting’s Fun!
The Jonathan Pie guide to voter engagement.
Open Mike 19/05/2017
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 18/05/2017
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 …
Someone please give Patrick Gower a hug
Poor wee chap is obviously desperate for some attention, if this latest incoherent thrashing on the dead TPP is anything to go by – Bill English has saved TPP.
Armstrong demolishes Nats on housing
John Armstrong is not impressed: Government’s handling of housing crisis lurches from chaotic to shambolic