Open mike 07/02/2015
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 …
Weekend social 06/02/2015
Weekend social is for non political chat. What’s on for the weekend, gigs, film or book reviews, sports, or whatever. No politics, no […]
Guest Post – Waitangi Day, build a bridge and get over it
A Guest Post by David Meech presenting an irreverent view of Waitangi day, and New Zealand history and culture.
Open mike 06/02/2015
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 …
Better to Jaw Jaw than War War
Perhaps John Key should consider a Churchillian thought before he rushes to send our young to die in Iraq.
A calculated feeding of the beasts within
The social democracy of my youth has radically collapsed into our current culture of individualism, privatisation and personal greed.
The lie about productivity and wages
The Productivity Commission has a new report out which looks at changes in the labour income share, or LIS, from 1978 to 2010. […]
Orewa – 11 years on
Has it really been 11 years since Brash’s infamous Orewa speech? Yesterday Gareth Morgan gave a very different kind of speech there…
AFFCO Talley’s and Jobs That Count
Darien Fenton at Jobs That Count brings us the details of the fight for decent pay and conditions at Talley’s meat processing plants
Open mike 05/02/2015
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 …
Local Leadership
The Labour Local Government Council ran a hui last Friday in Wellington. I went along and it was one of the better Labour events I have been to in a long time – community-based organisers sharing and discussing what works. Crosby/Textor is onto it too.
Just what Christchurch needed
Our thoughts are with Christchurch as a huge fire rages to the west of the city.
So now it’s a family not a club
John Key wanted to be in the Five Eyes “club”, but I guess that didn’t focus group well, so now we’re being fed a new line – “family”.
Unemployment up
We need a much better analysis of what kinds of jobs and conditions are out there in NZ, crude figures are not telling us enough.
Andrew Little – principled politician
Issues surrounding Mike Sabin highlight the handling of the matter by Andrew Little. With commendable restraint he chose to privately notify the Prime Minister’s office that one of his MPs faced problems. And his recollection of matters is clearly better than Key’s recollection.
Open mike 04/02/2015
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Emmerson on dirty political romps
The Sabin issue timeline
An analysis of the timeline and a reading of Cameron Slater’s comments concerning Mike Sabin raises real questions about the veracity of what Key has been saying to the media. Update: It appears that David Garrett and Rodney Hide have expressed views wondering if Key’s statement about when he was told is actually correct. Update: And Matthew Hooton suggests that the Police may have advised the Government of the invesigation.
Abbot in trouble
Seems like Australian PM Tony Abbot might be facing a leadership challenge.
How do the Greens grow their base?
Following on from yesterday’s discussion of the future for Labour – what next for the Greens?
Open mike 03/02/2015
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 …
What did Key know about Sabin’s issues?
Now that Mike Sabin has resigned attention is on what John Key knew and when.
Murdoch on political exits
How does Labour keep the momentum?
Labour have bounced back well from the disastrous election result. But how do they keep up the momentum?
Open mike 02/02/2015
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Queensland and Northland
The conventional wisdom re the Queensland election late last year was ”that converting (Labor’s) current tally of nine seats into the 45 needed for a majority will be a bridge or more too far.” Anastascia Palaszczuk was obviously not conventional but was wise enough to dare to win on community issues. A community-issue based campaign in Northland could also spring a surprise here.
North of 2
The international energy agency’s (IEA) view on climate change is that we are “on track for a 3.5°C rise by 2040” (i.e. 4.2°C relative to pre-industrial).
Fatih Birol – IEA chief economist said (3 years ago)
When I look at this data, the trend is perfectly in line with a temperature increase of 6 degrees Celsius, which would have devastating consequences for the planet….we have 5 years to change the energy system – or have it changed
Charity is illegal in Florida
Little’s leadership
Two positive pieces in The Herald today on Andrew Little’s leadership.
Open mike 01/02/2015
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The Queensland State Election
The Queensland State election is on today. At the last election Labor was reduced to 7 out of 89 seats as punishment for its privatisation program. But the current Government has been that bad that the Premier may lose his seat and a resurgence by Labor looks likely. Update remarkably a change of government is on the cards …
PM’s science award winners on the sell-off
“The Government’s continuing attempts to divest itself of state housing overlook the enormous benefits to society which these homes produce in alleviating severe housing shortages. They were built up by successive generations of New Zealanders, and to “sell them off” under the pretence of efficiency is a disservice to all of us, whether we’re homeowners or renters.”
Eleanor Catton responds
The final word in this week’s debate about freedom of expression should be left to Eleanor Catton.
Open mike 31/01/2015
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The Northland by-election
A by-election is imminent – so how does Labour win in a safe National seat?
Weekend social 30/01/2015
Weekend social is for non political chat. What’s on for the weekend, gigs, film or book reviews, sports, or whatever. No politics, no […]