Interest free student loans – still safe for now?
A right wing “think-tank” wants to load students up with even more debt.
UNICEF call for action on NZ poverty
Once again this country under National is rightly shamed in the international media.
Open mike 18/08/2016
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Daily Review 17/08/2016
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The Christchurch Commons
Meanwhile, down in Christchurch the plan is to put water back in the centre of our physical, cultural and spiritual lives.
NRT: Against anti-whistleblower laws
I/S at No Right Turn does great analysis of legislation. His coverage of the new spying laws has been excellent. Here he is on National’s clumsy and misguided attempt to re-impose official secrets. Criminalised for reading The Guardian?
Affordable housing fail – we can’t rely on the private sector
To the complete surprise of no one, private sector developers have largely waited out the “affordable houses” requirement in the special housing areas. Another National failure.
Grant Robertson on the adjusted unemployment figure
“The sad reality is that while the change in measurement might elicit a lower number or percentage it will not mean one fewer person is unemployed.”
Open mike 17/08/2016
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July 2016 was the hottest single month recorded since 1880
July 2016 was the hottest month ever in recorded modernity.
Daily Review 16/08/2016
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New Zealand’s most shameful secret: ‘We have normalised child poverty’
Fuck the whole “Brighter Future” New Zealand.
Richard Wagstaff: “Things need to change”
The inaugural CTU organisers’ conference is being held in Auckland this week, bringing together organisers from across the CTU affiliated unions to discuss […]
Spy vs Us
Today National introduced a bill that will enable the NZ Government to spy on its citizens.
Another Key lie is why this government can’t be trusted with increased spying powers
When caught abusing new powers the response will be the same as when caught out abusing the old – meh, so sue us.
A UK Labour Split
The options for UK Labour appear to be limited. Split or die or do both.
Open mike 16/08/2016
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Daily Review 15/08/2016
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Shit in the water
The damage so far in the Havelock North “gastro” outbreak is one possible death, two older people in intensive care, 18 hospitalised, 50 making their way to the emergency department, 280 notifications, and hundreds of kids staying away from school.
In praise of David Shearer
David Shearer has criticised the Australian Government as having lost its “moral compass” in relation to the Nauru Asylum Detention Centre.
Spark – kudos
Our wages are too low generally, and this is one of the main economic challenges that we face. A few more employers committing to paying a living wage would be a good place to start.
The housing crisis and the diseases of poverty
Rheumatic fever is on the rise again. It is likely that other diseases of poverty are also or will also increase as the housing crisis drags on under National.
Open mike 15/08/2016
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This is the face of the failure of globalisation
My apologies to Mohammad Jamal, the man in the photo, for using his largely unknown story to make a point about free-trade and Western privilege.
Why do right wing politicians like stealing dead babies identities?
Savea Peseta Al Harrington Lavea, Auckland Future candidate for the Whau Local Board, shares an unfortunate similarity with David Garrett.
NZ at the Olympics
Congratulations to all the athletes representing NZ at the Olympics!
Globalisation and global incomes (the “elephant graph”)
An elegant graph explains why free trade is a good thing, but why it is causing a backlash in rich “Western” countries.
Open mike 14/08/2016
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Taonga tax
Tourists are coming for our “clean green” image (however undeserved), no reason why they shouldn’t be happy to help contributing to maintaining / strengthening it.
Auckland Future’s fuster cluck of a campaign
Auckland Future’s campaign has struck problems with candidates being nominated for the wrong positions, multiple right wing candidates running for the same positions and questions over whether the vetting of candidates has been as optimal as could be hoped for.
Left Militant
With wars breaking out at an alarming rate and democracy going backwards in much of the world what should a leftie foreign policy be?
Open mike 13/08/2016
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Daily Review 12/08/2016
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TPP – with a whimper
Plenty of folk today pronouncing the death of the TPP. This is a victory for activism.
Saudi sheepgate coverup continues
What was the payment for, why did the Nats go ahead with it against all advice, and why won’t they release the letter?
Legalize It
Is it time for a referendum on marijuana? There is strong support for the use of medicinal marijuana. Should we just admit that Kiwis like smoking dope and simply legalise it?