Open mike 04/02/2016
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What they don’t tell you about the TPPA
When a government prepares to surrender a share of its sovereignty, you would expect a compelling reason for doing so. No country would accept limits on its law-making power without an equal trade-off, surely? Well, no country except New Zealand. The TPPA places substantial limits on the government’s law-making powers while offering very little in return.
NRT: 28,000 unemployed under National
No Right Turn (with a side of Bernard Hickey) on today’s unemployment figures.
ECONOMY IN PERIL! DANGER!! WARNING!!!
Key’s second waitress bungle
Key’s badly dented “political antennae” took another solid beating yesterday, with his second high-profile bungle involving a waitress.
Nope
Open mike 03/02/2016
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Candidate flag not fit for purpose
Apart from being a symbolic fail of epic proportions, the “wrong colour flag” fiasco highlights the fact that the candidate flag isn’t even fit for purpose…
Daily Review 02/02/2016
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 …
The Iowa Caucuses
A running post concerning the results from the Iowa Caucuses.
Garner’s TPP rant rejected by the silent majority
A tale of two States of the Nation speeches
The State of the Nation speeches provide an interesting start to the political year. John Key’s speech borrowed Labour Green policy that until now the Government has consistently derided and tried to present it as a “kickstart” while Andrew Little’s tertiary education policy announcement has received almost universal support and National is struggling to work out what attack lines to use.
Praise for Labour’s tertiary bombshell
Although there have been predictable howls of outrage from the usual suspects, the media reaction to Labour’s bold tertiary education policy has been generally great.
Open mike 02/02/2016
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Your Favourite Conspiracy Sucks
The return of the X Files has got me thinking. Just how hard is it to keep a big conspiracy secret? Happily, a British scientist has the answer; it’s bloody hard. More or less impossible, actually, according to his new formula. It seems the truth really is out there.
NRT: “The TPP is too important for democracy”
Fran O’Sullivan seems to be arguing against democracy in her bitter little rant in Saturday’s Herald against Labour’s opposition to the TPP. Labour, of course, is representing its constituents, many of whom have significant doubts about the TPP or its benefits to New Zealand (or to them). That’s what political parties should do in a democratic country.
So, how would you spend $1.2B per year?
A Kiwi Kids allowance for all under fives, with totally fee free public primary and secondary schools.
Newshub (and another flag poll)
3 News is dead, replaced by Newshub. That’s News Hub, not New Shub. Though New Shub would be funnier.
Final hours for submission on voluntary euthanasia
The end of today is the last chance to make a submission to Parliament on voluntary euthanasia.
Another policy to be proud of
Labour has rolled out another big bold policy that will shape the national discussion for years. Critics, most of whom received a free tertiary education themselves back in the day, want to deny a younger generation the same right (and pocket a tax cut instead). Enter Steven Joyce…
Open mike 01/02/2016
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Andrew Little: The working futures plan
The text of Andrew Little’s state of the nation speech delivered this afternoon.
New Day Rising
Goff and Shearer’s disloyal and self serving support for the TPPA has backfired. They’ve shown that the ABC faction are now a spent force and that Andrew Little has the overwhelming support of caucus. The sun has set on the splitters and there is a new day rising.
Postcards from the brighter future
Part of an occasional series.
Open mike 31/01/2016
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Andrew Little’s State of the Nation Speech
All good progressives are invited tomorrow afternoon to Albert Park in Auckland to hear Andrew Little’s state of the nation speech. Update: because of possible bad weather the speech will start at 1 pm. Bring an umbrella!
Abattoir Blues
The Sheepgate scandal rolls on. PM John Key has just confirmed we will be celebrating the Saudi Arabian government’s recent execution of 47 political opponents by gifting them a portable abattoir.
Kelly interviewed by Campbell on RNZ Checkpoint
Open mike 30/01/2016
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 29/01/2016
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 …
Caption contest
Keep it humourous.
Good money after bad into the bottomless pit of charter schools
Yesterday the Nats confirmed the closing of a failed Northland charter school. Turns out we’ll be paying an extra $400,000 for the first quarter of this year, even though the school will not open. Brilliant.
Message from Andrew Little about TPPA
The text of an email Andrew Little has sent to members.
National – trying to provoke TPP violence?
The police are “visiting” TPP activists – Key is cynically trying to blow the “law and order” dog whistle. But would he really go so far as to try and provoke open violence for political gain?
Is RBNZ ignoring deflation bogey?
Is Reserve Bank Governor Graeme Wheeler so concerned about the bogey of Auckland’s housing bubble that he is underestimating an equally nasty bogey – deflation? Deflation will certainly cure the problem of the property bubble, but that cure will be at a terrible cost.
Open mike 29/01/2016
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