New Zealand’s alternative 1984
What would have happened if in 1984 David Lange had exerted control and appointed a centrist rather than right wing Labour cabinet?
TPP circus rolls on
The new year begins much as the old one ended, with secrets, evasions and dissent over the TPP and what it means for NZ.
Open mike 14/01/2016
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Boots Theory: Move left to win? Move left to win!
Boots Theory on the American Working Families Charter, how they are trying to move the Democratic Party to the left, and possible lessons for New Zealand.
Royal Bank of Scotland to investors: “Sell everything”
The Bank of Scotland has advised advised its clients to brace for a “cataclysmic year” and a global deflationary crisis.
Open mike 13/01/2016
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Te Reo Putake spins the black circle and has a listen to Bowie’s final album, Blackstar.
National’s vision for New Zealand’s future
Stephen Joyce has had published an opinion piece in this morning’s Herald which extolls the virtue of free trade and ignores the pitfalls. Such as those shown this week when TransCanada sued the US Government for rejecting the Keystone XL pipeline contract.
Open mike 12/01/2016
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Ground Control to Major Tom
David Bowie’s death has been announced.
Open mike 11/01/2016
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Why are we working so hard?
A recent New Matilda article discusses why at a time of increasing productivity the need to work has increased and not decreased.
Open mike 10/01/2016
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The problem with free market capitalism
This morning’s Herald contains a story about a young man who with a family gift has managed to purchase eleven houses over the past five years and can afford to pay World of Warcraft all day.
Open mike 09/01/2016
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Life and Death and Cannabis
I am taking Cannabis Oil to manage my pain as my lung cancer takes over my body. It’s sort of as simple as that really. For some people talking about dying is confronting but actually talking about it allows us to think about how it happens – it is actually as much a social event as a physical one and knowing someone is comfortable, getting good treatment and pain relief is very much part of the social dimension as the physical one.
Little: Labour to Defy TPPA
Labour Leader Andrew Little has announced that the next Labour led Government will defy the TPPA’s attack on our sovereignty. Good on Labour – that’s the leadership we need.
Well this is awkward
Jamie Whyte yesterday wrote an article for the Herald claiming that child poverty does not exist in New Zealand. But he wrote essentially the same article in 2005 about child poverty in Great Britain.
Open mike 08/01/2016
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TPPA to be signed in New Zealand but the Government is not confirming
The Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement will be signed in New Zealand on February 4, 2016. But the Government is not confirming …
Film review: The New Star Wars movie
And now for something completely different for the Standard, a film review.
Open mike 07/01/2016
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Saudi Arabia and the free trade deal
David Shearer has disagreed with the Greens that New Zealand should suspend negotiations on the free trade agreement with Saudi Arabia until it improves its human rights record.
Open mike 06/01/2016
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The major world risks in 2016
Ad reviews Eurasia’s appraisal of global risks the world faces in 2016.
The China Stockmarket crisis
Overnight there has been further turmoil on the Chinese Stock exchange with stocks plummeting 7% before trading was stopped. And things may only get worse when a 6 month ban on trading by major stock owners is lifted.
Open mike 05/01/2016
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The difference between a terrorist and a good old boy
In the US of A the armed invasion of a State Building by a group determined to hold onto the building has been met with no response from the police.
Barbaric Death Cult or friend and ally?
Spot the difference.
Open mike 04/01/2016
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Jeremy Corbyn’s first hundred days
Jeremy Corbyn has recently experienced his 100th day in office as Labour Leader. And despite many predictions of his untimely demise the impression is that he may just hold on and make a difference,
Open mike 03/01/2016
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The myth of drug dependancy and poverty
New research from Morgan Foundation suggests that poverty can be alleviated by increasing incomes and that the beneficiaries will be children of poor families not vendors of alcohol and cigarettes.
The great carbon credit swindle
On December 17, 2015 the Government released a series reports suggesting that New Zealand is complying with Kyoto Protocol obligations. A dig into the reports confirms however that the compliance is in name only and is for spin purposes rather than a real attempt at addressing the world’s most pressing problem.
Open mike 02/01/2016
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Open mike 01/01/2016
Happy New Years people. May it be a good one.