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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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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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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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
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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 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
How to rescue Trump – and make up with Putin
What can the U.S. security collective do to work with their government and achieve something positive with Donald Trump?
The other conference
Richard Harman on the Politik blog: “Overall, to use a favourite Government saying, it was an ‘untidy’ weekend capped by a flat speech from English which saw delegates ignore placards they’d been given to wave when he finished speaking.” The B-team is missing John Key.
Open Mike 18/05/2017
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Daily Review 17/05/2017
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 …
Sledge of the day
Four eyes and an arsehole
NZ with its various operations around this end of the Pacific really doesn’t need its own intelligence gathering operations blown by the current incompetent blowhard of the White House. Nor does anyone else who shares information with the US. That is the problem with Trump childishly boasting about the intelligence gathered by others merely to boost his ego.
Compare two housing plans
It must be election year, because National has admitted that the market has failed, and swallowed the dead rat of state building. A useful graphic summary in The Herald lets you compare National and Labour’s housing plans…
UK Labour manifesto – for the many not the few
UK Labour unveils a plan that is both radical and responsible.
Open Mike 17/05/2017
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Step up to the mike …
Daily Review 16/05/2017
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 …
Nat housing announcement – far too little far too late
Useful but – mostly re-announcing existing developments, far too little, far too late, and open to property speculators…
National’s long history of intimidation
It isn’t just third term arrogance. Ngaro is merely the latest example of National’s long history of attacking, intimidating, and trying to silence critical voices and facts. Take a stroll with me down memory lane…