Open mike 16/08/2016
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Daily Review 15/08/2016
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 …
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
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 …
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?
Left Side Story: What do New Zealanders actually earn?
Reprinted with permission, by Deborah Russell from Left Side Story: What do New Zealanders actually earn? And why we need to understand these figures.
Open mike 12/08/2016
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Leggett in Gollins’ pocket too!!!
It gets worse – another property developer is rattling the tin for Porirua carpetbagger Nick Leggett for Wellington’s mayoralty. Chris Gollins has been asking for donations, with donors having to submit email addresses to nick@gollins.co.nz. It seems Andrew Little might have been right to warn Stuart Nash MP off association with Leggett’s campaign.
Green Party Bill to improve the rights of renters
It’s time to stop viewing renting as second best, and put some decent laws in place to ensure everyone has the security of a home. The Green Party’s Member’s Bill aims to “strengthen tenants’ rights and promote secure, long-term tenancies.”
Daily Review 11/08/2016
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Immigration jobs and housing
Until we sort out our housing and unemployment problems it is surely time to reign in NZ’s currently record levels of immigration.
Reserve bank cuts OCR to record low
The Reserve Bank just cut the OCR to a historic low of 2%. And no it’s not good (economic) news.
The great slowdown
Eight years after the Global Financial Crisis the major western economies are stagnant. Is this the new norm?
Open mike 11/08/2016
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Daily Review 10/08/2016
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 …
Labour on student debt – beware of clickbait headlines
“Revealed: Labour’s plan to wipe student debt”. Nope. Saved you a click.
The Nauru files
Once again a whistleblower / leaker has done the world a service. Shame on Australia.
Grow the Commons
Robert Guyton on reclaiming the Commons one plant at at time.
On #Planetkey everyone owns a home
In Parliament yesterday John Key showed a clear lack of understanding of what being poor in New Zealand entails.
Open mike 10/08/2016
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Leggett in Parkin’s pocket?
Former Councillor Chris Parkin interviewed in Wellington’s DomPost shared his ambitions – investing in property in central Wellington, and getting Porirua mayor Nick Leggett elected in Wellington, of all places. Word has it that large billboards for Leggett around the town have been funded by Parkin. The last thing Wellington needs is a mayor who’s in a property investor’s pocket.