Open Mike 01/06/2017
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Daily Review 31/05/2017
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 …
Tax cuts and 1600 deaths per year
One of the nasty little fishhooks in the budget was the cutting of the home insulation scheme (Warm Up New Zealand). The scheme had a benefit-cost ratio of $6 for every $1 invested. Around 1,600 people die in NZ a year of cold-related factors. Hope the tax cuts are worth it eh?
A generous donation to Labour
Thank you Robert Smellie QC, I’m sure your donation will be put to great use. Smellie said: “I am a practising Anglican and as such I see socialism as being far closer to the Gospel than free enterprise.”
Eight years to an electric transport world
The pace of change in transportation may mean that some time soon private ownership of petroleum cars may disappear.
Green Party List announced
Climate change, human rights, indigenous rights, Māori and Pasifika, and fresh, young faces on the 2017 Green Party List.
National’s social media is starting to suck
National’s social media have chosen a picture that sums up its policies well.
Open Mike 31/05/2017
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Daily Review 30/05/2017
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 …
English on our low wage growth
Bill English knows that our low wage economy is a ticking time-bomb for the government. He must be starting to get worried. The repeated promises of jam tomorrow are well worn out now.
A lesson from South Korea
The history of the Korean peninsular suggests that there is more than a remote chance of nuclear war breaking out some time soon.
Green Party position on National’s 2017 Budget
“The Budget is what allows National to govern. If National failed to pass the Budget, all its legal ability to tax and spend would dry up and the Government would fall apart. There is no way we would vote for the Budget, because that would be supporting the National Government and its agenda.” Metiria Turei and James Shaw, Green Party blog.
National promise to “monitor the rental market” – so where do tenants send reports of rent gouging?
In the wake of the accommodation supplement fiasco Joyce has promised that the government will monitor the rental market.
Questions that the media may wish to ask Mr J – Where do tenants send reports of rent gouging? – Exactly what action will the government take when they receive these reports?
NZ and UK political spectrums
Politics as a compass not a line.
Open Mike 30/05/2017
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Daily Review 29/05/2017
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 …
Gangs to vote – a hopeful sign for turnout?
Is this an isolated case or is it representative of a change of mood in the non-voting electorate?
Government was advised the Accommodation Supplement increase will not work
Radio New Zealand has reported that the Government ignored two year old treasury advice to implement the increase in the accommodation supplement.
Family package that punishes families
Apparently the Nats can’t even run a lolly scramble.
The Greens and voting on the Budget
Wondering about what the Greens are voting for? It might not be what you think.
The Greens on record
Despite rumours to the contrary, the Green Party was highly critical of National’s Budget.
Open Mike 29/05/2017
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UK Defense Secretary on Corbyn
A quite remarkable interview of Michael Fallon by Channel 4 News in the UK.
What the feck Greens
The Green Party caucus decision to support the Government’s tax reduction legislation is hard to comprehend and has created a perception of messiness in the way the Labour-Green MOU operates.
Book review: Eaarth
Good news for landlords
How nice of the government to help out property investors.
Open Mike 28/05/2017
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Corbyn on terrorism and UK settings.
Full speech given by Jeremy Corbyn yesterday.
Dumbest tweet – Collins vs Seymour
Each in its own way a masterpiece character study.
White middle class male privilege
Rohan Lord this week pulled out from being a Labour candidate because he thought his prospects of being elected were remote because he was a white middle class male. His comments displayed a complete lack of understanding of how the Labour Party works and ignores the fact that having a truly representative caucus is a virtue.
The cigarette crime spree
The cigarette crime spree is a real problem for National. Their “law and order” credentials are in tatters.
Ban cigarettes, find a way to compensate dairy owners for a transitional period.
Campbell on the budget
Campbell: “As I asked Joyce at the Budget lockup: ‘What is to stop landlords from treating this increase as a green light to hike up rents?’ … In reply, Joyce said that the government would be ‘keeping an eye’ on landlords, to ensure they did not abuse the situation.”
Stunning nature
Drilling for oil we shouldn’t use, in a place that should remain untouched. Is this really what NZ wants?
Roy Morgan poll (please no not Winston)
The chronically erratic Roy Morgan poll is out again, with Nat vs Lab/Green in a dead heat.
Open Mike 27/05/2017
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Daily Review 26/05/2017
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 …