Open mike 05/03/2014
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National’s ICT failures.
After having the past five and bit years with National’s negative policies about anything to do with new technologies, it is really nice to see some partially formed red-tinged morning ideas about how to encourage local usage of the net appearing on the sky’s horizon. National’s ICT strategy seems to see how uselessly slow they can do everything and how much they can slow down the development of ICT in NZ.
Silver linings
When I first heard a Labour staffer had accidentally sent Amy Adams’ office a document on ICT my first thought was “here we go again.”
But then I heard Adams’ weird and defensive interview on Checkpoint. So I took a look at the actual paper and realised just why she was so awkward and nervous on what should have been an easy political hit.
NRT: Inequality is bad for growth
No Right Turn succinctly points out the impact of the International Monetary Fund changing its mind on the adverse effects of inequality in the economic sphere. A case of an accumulation of facts overriding dumb ideology.
Colin Craig does not want to disclose his view on gays
Colin Craig has announced that he is off to Court to sue someone called Russell Norman who I think is the same person as Greens leader Russel Norman. And he is going to leave documents relating to his views of gays in the closet by only suing Norman for his comments about women. One wonders what he has to hide?
NZ independence? back to the future
NZ seems like a client state of both US imperialism, and the UK monarchy: a throwback to the first part of the 20th century. John Key was quick to support the US & EU lines on the Crimea; some low achieving, British royals are visiting NZ at taxpayers’ expense.
Polity: Three ramshackle PR fiascos and you’re out
Rob Salmond at Polity points to the right wing publicists who pose as independents, set up publicity shells for nutters, and who seem to make outright lying their hallmark. Perhaps it is time that journalists start describing them as they are rather than quoting them as they prefer. They should be “blogger and National’s pollster” or “part-time lawyer and ACT supporter.”
Open mike 04/03/2014
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How short are memories?
John Key is attacking David Cunliffe for using a trust to obscure some donations – whilst repeating the word ‘tricky’ about Cunliffe as […]
Shooting Messengers with Wonky Long Bows.
Looks like Mark Ames really has lost the plot viz a viz Glen Greenwald and ‘The Intercept’
Taxpayers Union – concentrating on the banal and ignoring the big issues
Mojo Mathers has been criticised by the Taxpayers Union for the travel costs associated with attending a recent interview in Masterton. Attacking her for doing her job is completely mean spirited. But the means of generating the story, where details are fed to the media and then the Taxpayer’s Union are offered up for comment, are of concern. And surely there are bigger issues to worry about.
Open mike 03/03/2014
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UK Labour goes OMOV
UK Labour’s special conference yesterday changed the Party’s rules for leadership selection, and the basis for affiliate involvement. One-person-one-vote is the general rule, and block voting for leadership and selection by affiliates including unions is replaced by individual and intentional involvement.
A tale of two journalists
Trisha Dunleavy has outlined the problems a& challenges for public service TV in NZ. Contrasting tales of 2 TV journalists – Rachel Smalley & Patrick Gower – highlight the problems with NZ’s (currently) dominant infotainment approach to news.
The retirement age debate
Labour’s current policy to gradually increase the age of retirement is a fiscally appropriate response to the pressures that will result from the baby boomer bulge in the population approaching retirement. But is it the right thing to do?
Open mike 02/03/2014
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How to build better beggars
In the United States, the street beggars have great patter. Despite what South Park would have us believe, when you walk down the […]
National misleads on child poverty
So under National Treasury has underestimated poverty significantly for the past five years. And rather than acknowledging this immediately they have waited two months and presented a full court press of information when admitting the mistake. And they still have ministers saying that poverty is not increasing in Aotearoa …
Open mike 01/03/2014
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Weekend Social 28/02/14
In response to ‘certain mutterings’, weekend social is back, providing a thread for non-political chat/topics. Enjoy 🙂
Why we train health and safety reps
Sadly those that don’t want workers to be trained in health and safety are attacking the courses the CTU runs for health and safety rep training, ironically including the Minister of ACC. This blog is a rather boring “on the record” blog setting out how the contract is run in preparation for any further attacks. They might not happen over night, but they will happen!
NRT: Treasury, National, and child poverty
In many ways what is even more irritating about this screwup by treasury is that it isn’t likely to be the children living below the poverty line that has an impact. It is the large numbers of elderly that Treasury has now discovered getting worse off and falling into poverty. After all they have a vote. Whereas children don’t so the future accumulated costs of their poverty aren’t something that this government will concern itself about.
Voices and Power
When did the left leave the left? Or, perhaps more accurately, why do we continue to regard liberals as being of the left?
Militarism and the NZ Left?
Two uncritical articles in Auckland’s local press, raise questions about the role of the NZ military, and the educational and cultural impact of a military charter school. Unstated and unquestioned, is the nature of NZ’s relationship with that of militaristic US imperialism.
IF: Politics Explained: It’s all about the kids
Scott Explains Politics. This week, it’s All About The Kids.
Nat techhead needs 3D brain transplant
In my experience, left politicians are a interesting mix of being either pretty damn technophobic or having an inept over-enthusiasm for it. But I get the impression that they’ve done some study and thinking on most tech areas I raise with them. However it’d be pretty clear to everyone who has followed 3D printing over the last decade that Maurice Williamson, National’s version of a techhead, appears to be clueless.
Open mike 28/02/2014
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Bent Bill
What do you call someone who knowingly relies on false information to defend his case?
Bill English.
NRT: A dirty deal
When the government dropped charges against former Pike River boss Peter Whittall over the Pike River mine explosion, they claimed that the simultaneous announcement that he would pay compensation to the families of the 29 men he was accused of killing was just a coincidence, and that there was no deal. As usual, they lied.
Tony Ryall standing down
Tony Ryall has announced that he will not seek re election at this year’s general election. He brings to ten the number of sitting National MPs who will not be contesting the election this year.
BREAKING EXCLUSIVE: Allies win World War Two
Breaking: These Germans will be defeated. In an EXCLUSIVE report, Imperator Fish can now confirm that the Allies won World War Two. Hitler will be DEFEATED !!!!
LB: Executive Principals and National’s Education Dystopia
When John Key announced the Government’s plan of spending a whopping $359 million on education it was received with a sort of stunned incredulity. The problem is that few conservative governments understand education and the value of professional knowledge and the treatment of the Christchurch schools revealed a total disregard of the importance of communities.
The Genesis share float has problems
The Government has effectively conceded that the Genesis share float will not meet expectations and is softening New Zealand up to the prospect that only 30% of the shares may be sold. It makes you wonder why they are still going a head with the sale.
Open mike 27/02/2014
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Labour’s new Parliamentary chief of staff …
David Cunliffe has announced his new chief of staff following Wendy Brandon’s resignation because of ill health. It is veteran strategist Matt McCarten.
Polity: X more thoughts on poll bias
Whenever the media report on polls, they get accused of all manner of biases by the blinkered commentariat. Most of it is nonsense, of course. But some criticism of the polling methods themselves may have more merit that Rob Salmond first thought. While he is not yelling “fire” at this stage, he does think there may be smoke. Something that he did not think that three years ago.