Franklin & Papakura want out, Hide says ‘no way’
The people of Franklin and Papakura, who overwhelming oppose becoming part of the National/ACT government’s Supercity experiment, have been denied their request to keep […]
‘3 strikes’, typical ‘Do Nothing’ Key policy
The ‘3 strikes’ policy is the kind of policy you put in place when you want to look tough on crime but you […]
Open mike 20/01/2010
Topics of interest, announcements, general discussion. The usual rules apply (see the link to Policy in the banner). Step right up to the […]
The rise and fall of TV journalism
Not sure I agree with it all but the rise and fall of the TV journalist is an interesting micro-documentary:
The moral case for a decent minimum wage
There was quite an interesting discussion on the minimum wage yesterday after a poll showed 61% of Kiwis back a $15 an hour […]
Prince William media coverage ridiculous
The media coverage of Prince William’s visit really has gone a step too far. Aside from dominating TV, radio, and the newspapers, every […]
Cameron Slater’s shame: his latest moneymaker
Cameron ‘Whaleoil’ Slater has launched ‘SHAME’. It’s supposedly a lobby group to get suppression laws changed. Really, it looks like a money making […]
Minimum wage increase, what will it be?
John Key has ruled out a $2.50 an hour pay increase for New Zealand’s lowest paid workers but won’t give any indication of […]
Open mike 19/01/2010
Topics of interest, announcements, general discussion. The usual rules apply (see the link to Policy in the banner). Step right up to the […]
Between a rock and a hard place
At the end of the month the new kindergarten year begins. Reading this article in the SSTimes from yesterday reminded me of just […]
Kiwis back fairer minimum wage
Traditionally, the minimum wage was set at around 60-67% of the average wage. During the Muldoon era and the 1990s, National let the minimum […]
Say what?
Statements made in Parliament last year, in chronological order: Hon BILL ENGLISH: They have been telling us that we should copy the Australian […]
Open mike 18/01/2010
Topics of interest, announcements, general discussion. The usual rules apply (see the link to Policy in the banner). Step right up to the […]
News flash: I’ve written a post
You heard it here first. This is a post. Written by me. Am I being slightly narcissistic? Well if I am, TV3 was far […]
Coddington: exposing secret agendas = bad, attacking sex victims = meh
Deborah Coddington, former ACT MP and author of the filthy racist article “Asian Angst: Is it time to send some back?” that killed North […]
Bigot gets a bashing
MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow covers the outragous comments by rightwing Christian fundamentalist Pat Robertson on the Haitian earthquake. Great to see this bigot confronted. […]
Open mike 17/01/2010
Topics of interest, announcements, general discussion. The usual rules apply (see the link to Policy in the banner). Step right up to the […]
Farrar tries to cover for do nothing govt, and fails
Phil Goff has picked up on the point I made yesterday: while unemployment is falling in Australia due to the $42 billion stimulus […]
A note to the idiots. Weather is not climate.
When you get a cold snap in the local weather, it means that somewhere else got somewhat warmer. Weather is a case of […]
Key on holiday
After all of the kerfuffle about Key’s long holidays I figure there’s not much for me to say about it but it’s worth […]
Bhatnagar to knock out Hide?
There is a story in today’s Herald noting that current C&R Hobson councillor Aaron Bhatnagar is not going to stand for the new […]
Too far, Fran
Despite almost never agreeing with Fran O’Sullivan, I have respect for her. She comes from the ACT-right and her pieces reflect that but […]
Open mike 16/01/2010
Topics of interest, announcements, general discussion. The usual rules apply (see the link to Policy in the banner). Step right up to the […]
Covering for ‘Vacation John’
Both David Farrar and Cameron Slater have posts up attacking a comment by roger nome in one of our comment threads, and it […]
Dumb and dumber on the dole
So, Tariana Turia has (eventually) come out against Paula Bennett’s pointless policy of making people on the unemployment benefit reapply after a year. Of course, […]
Bulldozing Paradise
Today I thought I’d link to some of the amazing scenery Gerry Brownlee wants to bulldoze for his road through the middle of […]
Over-promise, under-deliver on health
Last year, Tony Ryall announced health reforms (ironically, an additional layer of beaurcracy) that he claimed would save $700 million over five years, about […]
NZ closes the gap with Aussie
Well, I didn’t think it could done but it has been. National has been promising to close the gap with Australia, and damned […]
Helping Haiti
The enormity of the disaster that has hit Haiti is becoming more apparent by the hour. It is thought that tens of thousands, if not […]
Open mike 15/01/2010
Topics of interest, announcements, general discussion. The usual rules apply (see the link to Policy in the banner). Step right up to the […]
Brownlee: Bulldoze road through Fiordland
What a start to the new year. Gerry Brownlee has admitted he’s pushing for a road to be built through our most pristine […]
The ‘whaling plan’
Govt drafts deal to end whaling in Antarctica – Herald Key plan to end Southern Ocean whaling – Stuff That sounds like a […]
I don’t know, what do you think?
Less than a week before the opening of the new $80 million Supreme Court building in Wellington, Prime Minister John Key is reserving […]
A humbug
Back in July of 2009 I wrote a post about John Key’s promises of a plan to stop job losses. At the time […]
Bye bye independent foreign policy
Crime rises, Nats’ get tough policies have no effect
You might recall that a bit over a year ago a salesman in a nice suit with a nice smile came and sold […]