Open mike 24/08/2015
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 …
Rob Salmond’s argument – too simplistic and wrong in its assumptions
As Mike Smith’s post last night relates, Rob Salmond makes the case that a properly left wing Labour Party is always going to lose. Screw that. More like a Tory Labour doesn’t deserve to win.
Would the last journalist to leave The Herald please turn out the lights
The Herald is shedding journalists. Dita De Boni will be particularly missed.
Open mike 23/08/2015
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 …
The Centre of Attention
In a post on Public Address titled “In defence of the centre” Rob Salmond uses a Guardian article by George Monbiot to pose the question “whether the old political orthodoxy of ‘move to the middle’ is, long term, a death-knell for left-leaning parties.” It’s good that Salmond’s raised the question; it’s certainly a matter for debate.
Like Solid Energy, hubris behind Landcorp’s predicament
Solid Energy was this month placed in Voluntary Administration following its financial collapse. Landcorp may not be in quite the same pit as the coal miner, but negative cash-flow and rising debt likely mean it has breached banking covenants. It may be forced to sell good assets at the bottom of the market. Simon Louisson questions why?
NRT: Exposing dirty politics
I/S at No Right Turn on the OIA into communications between Key and Glucina.
A Takahe is not a Pukeko
The Department of Conservation let some volunteers from Deerstalkers onto Motutapu with shotguns to shoot Pukeko to make more room for endangered Takehe. But four Takehe were killed by stray shot gun pellets. DOC is now talking about prosecuting the Deerstalkers. Time for them to accept blame for allowing such a stupid thing to occur. And the Government for compromising DOC’s ability to function by starving it of resources.
Charter $chools
Today’s Herald has an excellent piece on charter schools – School cash flows to owners’ pockets. What a surprise!
Health and safety categories – ludicrous and venal
A small sample of the reaction to National’s “health” and “safety” nonsense.
Open mike 22/08/2015
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 21/08/2015
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.
July 2015 the warmest month ever
July was hot hot hot. Meanwhile, let’s keep focussing on economic growth and more exports (and not making the middle classes too nervous that life is going to change radically, one way or another).
Zero integrity on zero hours
If you thought the Nats promising to sort out zero hours contracts was too good to be true — you were right.
Weekend social 21/08/2015
Weekend social is for non political chat. What’s on for the weekend, gigs, film or book reviews, sports, or whatever. No politics, no […]
Signs of a society under stress
The signs are all around us.
Government braces for expected worm farm mini golf fatality onslaught
Apparently worm farms and mini golf ranges are dangerous places. And worm farmers playing mini golf are in grave peril.
Greek PM calls new election
A bold move by an administration in an impossible position.
Open mike 21/08/2015
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 …
New Roy Morgan: National 50.5% vs LAB/GR 38%
National is at 50.5%. LAB/GR down 7% to 38%. The Opposition is still struggling to gain positive traction with the voting public.
Daily Review 20/08/2015
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.
A silly act: it begins
When Parliament passed the Harmful Digital Communications Act, many people warned that it would be abused to stifle political speech. And it has, with NZ First MP Tracey Martin incorrectly accusing a political blogger (who supported a rival NZ First MP) of violating the Act. A bad first start. But it figures, the act is silly, slow and unworkable.
John Key’s brighter future is not for everyone
While beneficiary numbers decrease the incidence of beneficiaries being trespassed and the numbers of pregnant women living homeless is increasing. Are we really seeing things improve or are more and more people falling through the cracks?
Dead Hands
Time worn patterns and predictable decisions.
Gower and the 3 News ratings slump
Seems like Hosking is not the only journalist attracting attention for his obvious pro-National bias.
Dom Post on TPP arrogance
An unusually forthright anonymous editorial in the Dom Post yesterday – not comfortable reading for the Nats on the TPP.
Open mike 20/08/2015
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 19/08/2015
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.
Nanaia Mahuta: Māori Party should stand up for workers
Nanaia Mahuta is calling on the Māori Party to do the right thing for Māori workers and vote to strengthen the Health and Safety Reform Bill.
Ponytailgate: What does Key have to hide?
The Ombudsman is to investigate John Key’s office’s refusal to provide information about what contact occurred between Key and Rachel Glucina during ponytailgate.
Key priorities – puppy photo op not Pike River people
Unbelievable.
Milk and media moron Mike
Media moron Mike Hosking blathering on about how self-interested “experts” are always right. He calls these “Facts”. I don’t think that he would know what a fact is if he tripped over a spreadsheet. Meanwhile announcing a reduction in supply has produced the expected increase in prices in the GlobalDairyTrade auction last night.
Murdoch on Key slash Hosking
Housing selloff – obsessive secrecy and power
National’s selloff of our state houses is yet another example of its two main obsessions, secrecy and unaccountable power.
Open mike 19/08/2015
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 …
Most allegations against Julian Assange dropped
Most of the allegations against Assange have been dropped but Swedish authorities still refuse to question him in London. And Assange still hasn’t been charged with a single crime.