At a campaign event last week President Biden said that in these mid-term elections “democracy is on the ballot”. This is absolutely true, and the outcome will be decided by those who show up to vote.
That’s not a request by the way. This post is a kind of “confessions of a cynic who allowed optimism to creep up and have a hand in thought processes” post.
Allowing for a Biden victory in the Democratic Party primary process, then come November, voters in the US will be voting on whether Buttiegieg or Trump will be the next President of the USA. That’s what I’m picking, and here’s why…
Originally posted onNick Kelly’s blog
Nick is a Director of Piko Consulting and works as a Political Adviser in The House of Lords.
Listening to the results being reported while driving on that California freeway, I recall thinking ‘this result could lead to the break up of the United Kingdom’. On hearing that both Northern Ireland and Scotland had voted to stay part of the EU, in contrast to the rest of the country, it was hard to imagine that this would not become a significant issue.
Millions of people and an entire region of the UK left out of polling calculations….
It seems that if you’re the right person, harbour the correct thoughts, have the right connections, and you don’t like whatever the political opinion, news or information that’s floating about is, then you can get it banned.
“As Greens, we’ve always stood for modernising our democracy, making MPs more accountable and giving the public better access to the levers of power.”
On how states in conflict, have seemingly and nevertheless, managed to share in the likely or possible creation of one common goal.
Idiot/savant on Spain’s love of democracy.
It would seem Labour’s got nuffin when it comes to the TPP.
The predictable reactions of regional and world leaders.
A long and interesting read in The Atlantic. “The very roots of the electoral system had been destabilized.”
Outspoken sociologist Dr Jarrod Gilbert on the “tribalists” who continued to back the Nats despite their brazen lies – “if Labour had made the same accusation against National and not a single economist supported it, would you have reacted the same way? No. Of course not. And that’s what defines you as a moron.”
Anarchism and democracy.
One of our key political challenges now is to broaden the understanding of what matters.
I/S at No Right Turn writes: “Around the world, we’ve seen a backlash against political establishments, driven in part by a recognition that economic and political systems are rigged to the advantage of the rich. And we have the same sentiments in New Zealand”
Max Rasbrooke has done an analysis of donations to political parties, and raises the concern that donations buy influence. There is a solution to this problem.
Probably not, but after 9 years of Brighter Future / Dirty Politics it certainly can feel that way.
Andrew Little questioned the actions of this government, as he should, and has fronted up and taken personal responsibility for offense taken by other parties, as he should. He has endured a costly and draining leagal process with a result widely hailed as a victory for democracy. But apparently that isn’t enough, so here we go again.
The defamation case against Andrew Little has been an unwelcome distraction while he should have been free to do his job as leader of the largest opposition party. The consensus is that the process delivered a qualified win for Little, and a clear win for democracy.
George Monbiot explains in 2 minutes.
Here we are then. Article 50 has been invoked, and the 2 year countdown to Brexit begins.
A confluence of circumstantial evidence is all you ever get when you’re dealing with cryptofascists.
Willie Jackson is using his return to the political spotlight to good effect.
Fewer people, particularly young people, are voting. How do we turn this around?
Is the belief that democracy is essential falling in “Western” countries? In New Zealand particularly so?
Nothing and no-one is separate in this world. Nothing and no-one is more important than anything else or anyone else; no voice greater and no voice lesser.
Events in England really highlight the different processes of the two main parties. The Conservatives have completed their leadership transition, Labour’s contest has barely begun. Which model is best?
“It is possible to live in a society with a world view that does not include empire”
– Winona LaDuke
As previously discussed here, bad for the media, bad for democracy.
A healthy democracy requires a healthy media, and in NZ both are getting sicker.
Good shit happening in France.
Seems like not everyone in America is going to roll over for Trump.
oh, hallelujah…
Despite the travesty inside SkyCity, what was happening outside was in many respects a democratic nation at its finest.
Anarchism, past and present.
