I am truly trying to understand left wing thinking when it comes to negative outcomes of left wing ideals.. I get the impression that many lefties don’t acknowledge any culpability from negative results of leftist policies.
I post my example from yesterday again to see if someone can explain why sugar production in Venezuela has fallen so dramatically after it was nationalised in the early 2000’s. This is not just a one off event that can be explained by the effect of drought. It was a sustained declined over a period of years. Why couldn’t Venezuela keep sugar production at the levels it was when it was largely controlled privately?
The only explanation I have been given so far is that it is related to the fall in the price in oil or sanctions imposed by the US. That doesn’t seem to make sense given that the sugar is for domestic consumption and therefore both those things would have made it more attractive to produce locally rather than import.
I’m struggling to understand the cognitive dissonance of the left wing mind set. I can quite easily accept the negative outcomes of right wing policies.
The elephant graph posted by Anthony Robins today is an example of that. Free trade has negative consequences for a sector of society and public policy needs to take account of that. However I have never seen any acknowledgment from left wingers that policies they support also have negative consequences.
The situation in Venezuela is entirely predictable in terms of outcomes economically. If you reduce private sector involvement and increase public sector participation in the provision of goods and services the right wing economic viewpoint is that you retard production. This us what has happened. However I suspect accepting this self evident truth is too much more many lefties (like Draco for example). They will attempt to deflect the cause to other areas. I find that fascinating.
You are fascinated by what you believe to be “left wing” thought and you struggle to understand it. As a consequence you demand that thinkers from that field explain themselves to you.
Truly. Fascinating.
I challenge left wingers to explain outcomes which can be attributed directly to the ideals they expouse (i.e greater involvement of State and workers in control of production). Are you stating thus is not a key ideal of the left?
I challenged you to demonstrate that any of that rote-learned lazy tripe you call an argument has a basis in reality. With references, to support your assertion of “attributed directly”, for example.
Otherwise, why should anyone answer your loaded questions, mendacity boy?
*yawn* after all this time pasting TS with Venezuela and not actually gaining any understanding of political thought on this site, there’s bugger all anyone can do to enlighten you now.
Anyways, you say Venezuela, I say Honduras. I doubt many want either extreme.
No he’s not, those don’t interrupt the global flow of goods, y’see, and of course they wouldn’t have had lives even that good under a non-capitalist regime.
There are examples in NZ of shortages caused by free market policies. Try housing.
See Gos the problem with the free market is that in it you only need a willing buyer and a willing seller for the free market to have the illusion of working.
Bob Jones buys a private jet. you have just shown the free market works. But you dont see the market adjusting so everyone can have a private jet do you.
Sure ridiculous example but it can be applied to any part and any level of society.
You can have a Kebab shop that has 1000 customers and as such the kebab shop can stay open and in business. Yet at the same time you could have 100000 people who cannot afford a kebab.
Shortage does not always need to relate to supply. it can relate to a persons ability to overcome the barrier of price in order to be able to obtain the desired product or service and for an individual or section of society who cant afford it there is a shortage and as such they may as well have been living in the soviet union just perior to its collapse because for them the outcome is the same.
A good system would enable every single person to meet their essential basic needs as a bare minimum. A shit system won’t even be able to do that. The free market doesnt do that. But you go on defending your shitty system if you can’t think any bigger or broader than it.
you suspect vs taking a look at examples of the principle I outlined in pretty much every single so called first world country.
You champion a system that is so poor it cannot provide essential basic needs for everyone.
Your in telligent In Vino I’ll give you that but your very entrenched in the current system.
Without being able to check the “replies” column is creating a few problems. Not complaining as such because lprent does a magnificent job but the sooner we get it back the better. 😕
Edit: I know we can access immediately after leaving a comment but that’s not always convenient. We all have other lives.
Which particular “left wing ideals” led to this particular outcome Gosman? I’m truly interested in your in-depth detailed analysis, with multiple references and an attempt to asses what bias if any they may contain, showing:
1. That you can accurately summarise left wing ideals and,
2. That your argument has any basis.
Please, I’m truly, sincerely interested in “your” “opinion”.
Do you disagree that the State in Venezuela has encourage greater worker control and State ownership of industry and that is (or at least used to be) a key element if left wing economic theory?
As I stated above, right wing economic thinking suggests the outcome from following such a path is usually reduced quality and/or quantity of goods and services. This is exactly what has occured in Venezuela (and lots of other countries).
I don’t know much if anything about Venezuela, and you tell too many lies for me to take your word for it, so that’s why I asked for multiple references.
Your dismissal of US interference, for example, indicates that you believe it had no effect on Venezuela’s economy. I don’t believe you, and you’re doing a very very shit job of persuading me or indeed, putting up any argument whatsoever.
I have provided numerous source on Venezuela even from a left wing perspective (Venezuelananaalysis). Are you disputing any if the facts that have been put forward such as the decline in domestic Sugar production? I would be quite willing to investigate US interference if you can explain how it is meant to impact production of goods and services within Venezuela in industries largely controlled by the State. Explain a mechanism that allows the US to influence that and I’ll look to see if that is the case.
Meanwhile, in New Zealand. the right makes unemployment and homelessness. No wonder you want to talk about sugar production in a falling global market.
I’m not reading your source until you meet the requirements I laid out in 1.2: write an in-depth detailed multi-referenced analysis that demonstrates why the assertions in your loaded questions are true.
You would certainly have to show how what happens in Venezuela relates to Green and Labour policies in New Zealand, for example.
Remind me what part of “Socialism” involves one person making all the decisions. It’s sad that you just blew over your own house of cards. I suppose I can always enjoy the schadenfreude 😈
Read your second sentence (The first should have been 2 sentences..)
It makes no sense at all. Try to explain it in real English, please. ‘Medium’ is singular, and how does control of ‘medium’ go to large business etc etc??
Who are the first ‘they’ in your third mangled sentence (oil prices?), and maybe you could confirm that the second ‘they’ refers to oil prices?
By the way, it was USA fracking that caused oil prices to fall. But you are one of those who denies any kind of US sabotage, aren’t you?
Hi Gos
Can you please explain what is happening in US politics right now when right wingers have voted in Trump to lead them and his party are trying their best to oust him? A lengthy analysis would be welcome. Cheers
Largely irrelevant in the context of domestic production for a domestic market. Why can’t Venezuelan producers of sugar do so cheaper than foreign producers?
Please post a link to a graph that compares Venezuelan domestic sugar prices with global prices over the period 1950 – 2016.
Then, provide an in-depth detailed multi-referenced analysis of sugar production, its history and methods, both globally and in Venezuela, so that I can put your assertions in context while I think about them.
He is challenging group think on this site The response to challenging sacred lefty dogma with empirical observation highlights the religious zealotry and hate held by many here to any challenge to such dogma The right in turn are a lot more comfortable to ideas been challenged without the tantrums
Why can’t Venezuelan producers of sugar do so cheaper than foreign producers?
Perhaps the owners of the Venezuelan sugar cooperatives have decided that while up to 69% of sugar cane workers in other producer nations are affected by Chronic Kidney Disease, it’s not for them.
I hear the Philippines is importing sugar this year too. I guess the Coca Cola factories in Venezuela (ironic that the symbol of American affluence is produced there) aren’t importing from there.
It may be due to a move from “sweated labour” to improved working conditions. Or fewer workers wanting to work in the sugar fields when better jobs were available elsewhere.
Yep, Sugar is so good for you Gosman. I too am deeply concerned, but more about what concerns the right wing mindset. Worrying about sugar exports and I believe our very own government is deeply worried about luggage at present….
When are you going to own up about the toilet paper Gosman?
Seriously every time you open your mouth about Venezuela I just think you are talking a load of rubbish.
You lied for weeks about the toilet paper issue, and when it was pointed out that the supermarkets artificially created a crisis around toilet paper, you said nothing?
So to answer you question – why do right wingers lie and cheat the system, then blame the left for it?
My God……I hear your frustration Adam but remember……it’s not your fault that Gosman’s a twisted lying zealot with not a care for the world……aside from the miniscule and putrid part of it he inhabits. I mean who the fuck would regularly get on a more or less left wing blog and spiel such cruelty as moral gospel ? That’s a head that needs seeing to in my book. Poor man. Pity the people he/she lives with……if any.
Maybe a shift to stevia production could be better long term move for Venezuela. Stevia is grown in Brazil and Paraguay so may do ok in Venezuela. Getting rid of Coke is probably a positive change for Venezuela and the health of its citizens.
You are aware that simply because they don’t produce the product locally doesn’t mean they aren’t buying it aren’t you? They are importing it from other countries instead. This is costing them precious foreign exchange which they lack.
Gosman you are a bore. If you can’t do your own delving into USA overt and covert interference in central and southern American economies then go back to burying your head in the sand .
No, I challenge you to explain how US interference could lead to a catastrophic drop in production of sugar (amongst other products).
Your argument would be like stating the reason the USSR failed was because of US interference. There is a element of truth that the US was undermining the Soviet Union but the system itself was at fault for its eventual collapse.
Well, it cracked under the pressure of an arms race imposed by a technologically superior USA. But the fairy tale is that Capitalism is just so much better. No mention of the inconvenient fact that all the rich countries have been capitalist, and that no heavily industrialised, rich country has tried anything else, unless you go downscale to include Scandinavian countries small enough and isolated enough not to face that ire of American Capitalism in the way that Cuba, Chile, and Venezuela have had to do, along with others…
I have just watched the most appalling ever attempt on Q&A to politically assassinate Labour’s leader, Andrew Little. So much so that someone, somewhere, needs to publicly condemn TV1 for what was clearly a premeditated and politically motivated attempt to discredit him.
The panel guests consisted of Bryce Edwards, Phil Quin and Heather Roy. The subject matter… Nick Leggett. There was no attempt to explain what happened or what Little said – or why. Instead the public was subjected to a long rant from Phil Quin (which was why he was invited in the first place) about a restaurant dinner in Auckland where he and Nick Leggott spoke to the people gathered. Yeah… he talked about American politics – nothing else – and we weren’t told what Leggett spoke about but we can guess. According to Quin it was all an imagined conspiracy on Little’s part, but no-one (other than beltway types) would have known what he was talking about except that… Andrew Little is a really bad guy and so is the Labour Party.
The most telling moment was when Bryce Edwards tried to add his contribution – which I suspect was going to bring some semblance of balance to the discussion – but he was cut off by the host (whose name escapes me) and on came some ads. But not before a surprised Edwards let out an “aaagh” of frustration. Deliberate? You bet!
You should do a Broadcastings Standards complaint Anne.
I didn’t see it but it is very clearly lacking in balance with a panel like that. Roy is from ACT, Quin has been criticising Labour for decades now, wanting a return to the Rogernomics era. In the 1990s he tried to organise a coup against Helen Clark and Bryce Edwards is, at best, centrist. There should have been someone who could argue Labour’s position to meet the requirements of the act.
Been down that road Karen. Took Q&A to the BSA over their handling of the Hobbit dispute – must have been around 2010/11. It was a total sham. They made it about Helen Kelly (who received a drubbing on the programme in question) and said she was… quite capable of looking after herself.
My complaint had nothing to do with Helen Kelly as a person and whether she could look after herself. As if I would presume to be an arbiter of someone like Helen Kelly’s personal character anyway. Yes, I took the stinging rebuke personally, and just hoped that Helen Kelly (who I don’t personally know) did not buy their nonsense.
I agree your complaint may not be upheld but it may make TVNZ be a bit more careful next time. They hate having to spend time justifying themselves to the BSA.
This is just the start. The whole MSM are at it.
But like they were always assuring us that no one outside the Wellington beltway cares about National’s dirty deeds like the Saudi sheep saga, the Panama Papers, homelessness, dodgy steel, etc etc etc – this time it may backfire, because nobody outside the Wellington beltway truly cares about the Nash/Leggett/Little conflict.
The funniest thing is that the panel reckoned Little should have been talking about “Nick Smith not Nick Leggat”, apparently he opened his stand up doing exactly that.
But this is very clearly a beltway issue, its a shame Q&A have picked it up because they’ve been doing some excellent shows lately, imho.
This now is starting to look like an orchestrated beat up. Who is behind it? It was gallery journalists who brought up the topic when questioning Little so someone has primed them Quin? Pagani? Leggett? My guess is Quin.
Shame that so many gallery journalists have swallowed this.
You know I’m going back donkeys’ years like 40 when a minor ‘journalist’ in Wellington said to me “Well how can Norman Kirk control a country when he can’t even control his own weight?” and then another household name journalist Spiro Zavos said to me when challeneged about the legalities of racist South African rugby tours……”I’ve done Legal System” (the Law 101 at Vic’ at the time).
I have to say this. Our ‘jonolists’ being intellectually and socially pretty much nothing, cannot be trusted other than to pos’ themselves so as to lick the arse of power. In the expectation of being rewarded for it. By the arses they lick. And then they get ‘oh so up their own arses’ when it seems to work. Trev’ of the Hearld for example, junketing with Key.
They are basically very poor examples of humanity. To a man and a woman not very bright. Otherwise they would have done ‘Law’. Not that the rote shit of ‘Law’ speaks of bright. We are so ill-served by the media.
They are such wannabees. And double-shotters. Saw Duncan Garner and his production man I guess, all skinny jeans and florid shirts and RM Williams boots disporting themselves in McDonalds in Wellsford 7.00 am one morning. Talking loud, musing loud, “look at me look at me” Fuck ! what cheapies. In Kaikohe they mighta’ got a well deserved hiding for being so up-themselves waha’.
Chuck, Jason Ede ran a Dirty Politics “black ops team alpha 2 bravo” from John Keys office, tax payer funded dirty tricks where he had access to secret SIS files (for PMs eyes only!) where he had a network of complacent journos & bloggers to smear the opposition & manipulate the last few elections. So there is form of state sponsored smearing & you seemingly support it?
Ann has just posted this below “I noted some comments from Quin the other day about some very, very nasty stuff doing the rounds about him after he left Labour. How did he know it came from L.P. members?”
My guess… all 3 of them – Quin, Pagani and Leggett. Josie loves hanging out with TV celebrities and Gallery types. They are happy to oblige her for tidbits from the enemy camp – Labour. Since I doubt she’s still a member (certainly not an active one) she doesn’t actually know anything of worth.
I noted some comments from Quin the other day about some very, very nasty stuff doing the rounds about him after he left Labour. How did he know it came from L.P. members? If there was anything it was confined to the Wellington beltway. Never heard a whisper in Auckland. Have my doubts it was as serious as he’s making out, but all good with which to bash Labour over the head.
This Gorman reminds me of ShonKey…… Ask him to put up some evidence , and he goes off on to some other blah mindless drivel….. Key does it to use up media airtime….. Sounds good and confident, but no substance….. And certainly no answer.
Sunday morning, I’ll take a look at The Standard for a while, to see what interesting topics are being discussed there…what’s this? Some person named “Gosman” is demanding we answer questions on his chosen topic! How quaint he is! How petulant and righteous he acts when people point to his churlish behaviour.
Other threads, thankfully, are not infested with his pabulum. I’m look to those.
I started a business 10 years ago this November. I started it because I wanted to generate passive income. I wanted enoughy passive income so that I could as much as possible live the life I want to live. It is my life afterall.
To make this happen there are others who work for me. For many years and still to this day they have been paid and I have not.
If I could I would generatew enough passive income and put in place enough automation so that those working for me no longer had to work unecessarily eaither and could then live the life that they each in turn would like to live.
The realisation I came to and the reason I am wqriting this is that in my view every single person should have passive income. Every person should be ( in a good system…. one designed to work for us ) able to live the life they want to live.
Each person should be able to meet their essential basic needs for themselves and their family. Our system doesnt enable this. People are run ragged and in talking to those in the community the one thing everyone lacks is time.
Time is the other thing that is required for me and you and everyone else to be able to live the life that we would like to live. Whatever that life may be and yours will differ from mine and thats ok.
Having passive income that is enough to live on gives you time also. Time so that you can live the life you want to live.
In living the lives we want to live we currently have to work to earn money in order to survive let alone be able to live the life we want to live. So before we can do that we have two barrieres we need to overcome under the current system. We need to make money for ourselves (enough to live the life we want to live) and before we can do that we need a job of some description.
A system that enables humans or in other words a good system does not put in place barriers. In facrt it seeks to remove them.
Having an entire system where everyone has passive income removes those barriers.
We then have a system that enables each and everyone of us and gives us the time to life the lives we each would like to live.
In our current system their are limited options to enable this to happen and each of them is a barrier to having a system of passive income so each of these should not be used but an entirely new and different way found to enable a better system.
The current options are
tax and redistribute wealth – somewhat illogical if you are changing the system to one that gives people money. Why would you take it from some in the first place besides this only gives those it is being taken from a reason to vote against it.
Increase debt to pay for it. We struggle to pay for essential services such as health and education as it is and we have the highest debt our nation has ever had. It is also counter intuitive to a system designed to give people money to enable them to live the life they want top live. Debt forces people rto work not because the work is rewquired and needs to be done for society, No it requires work top be done to earn money to pay back the debt. It is enslavement by debt so again not a good option.
Printing money well this simply in the current system devalues the currency and reduces purchasaing power so not necessarily a good option either at lewast not within the current currency markets.
Nobody said we had to have a debt based monetary system and if having one enslaves people at a time where there are going to be less jobs available therough technological automation then perhaps we should be looking at the same technological automation to replace thew debt based monetary system with one that generates passive income for everyone and enables us all to have time and to be able to live the life we eaxch woulsd like to live. Not only for us but for every single generation that comes after us.
Participation sounds egalitarian, but it leads to some interesting contradictions. The most elaborate camps and spectacles tend to be brought by the rich because they have the time, the money, or both, to do so. Wealthier attendees often pay laborers to build and plan their own massive (and often exclusive) camps. If you scan San Francisco’s Craigslist in the month of August, you’ll start to see ads for part-time service labor gigs to plump the metaphorical pillows of wealthy Burners.
The rich also hire sherpas to guide them around the festival and wait on them at the camp. Some burners derogatorily refer to these rich person camps as “turnkey camps.”
And yet the festival thrives despite these aberrations. The people who go truly come in all shapes, sizes and agendas. It’s inevitable there will be contradictions and tensions. With in excess of 60,000 people in one place, it’s far too big to experience the whole of it in the time you are there.
But the point is that for just one week, many people get to live an alternative way of experiencing the world … and that alone energises them.
how about a worker owned business, organised along burning man/permaculture principles, looking to transfer to a sharing economy?
less about $ (although they are handy), but stronger in building communities, bringing together the like minded and showing a powerful positive example of cooperation.
You gotta love Iceland. First they tell the global banking system to fuck off, then the world’s first lesbian PM … and now this:
One of Europe’s most radical political parties is expected to gain its first taste of power after Iceland’s ruling coalition and opposition agreed to hold early elections caused by the Panama Papers scandal in October.
The Pirate party, whose platform includes direct democracy, greater government transparency, a new national constitution and asylum for US whistleblower Edward Snowden, will field candidates in every constituency and has been at or near the top of every opinion poll for over a year.
As befits a movement dedicated to reinventing democracy through new technology, it also aims to boost the youth vote by persuading the company developing Pokémon Go in Iceland to turn polling stations into Pokéstops.
I can see another Turkey event here – with outside interests stoking unrest. Heaven forbid that a country would offer Edward Snowden asylum and direct democracy, that’s never going to happen – to close to the US and his sphere of interest. Fun times ahead for the plucky Iceland. Would that we could grow some cajones and do something similar..
The USA still has a base on the North East of Iceland I think. They will have an interest in politics!
Icelanders think that the name Iceland is a bit strange since Iceland is a very green country yet Greenland is almost totally covered in snow and therefore be better called Iceland.
And yes Iceland has people-power and holds their money players accountable. A model for us?
People may have heard of the “Alt-right”, championed by the likes of the racist troll Milo Yiannopoulos. It’s a mish-mash of reactionary conservatism (of the Gamergate variety), right-wing libertarianism, “meritocracy” and neoliberalism that inevitably metasizes into oligarchism and adulation of dictatorship.
It’s apparently rife among the tech industries and attracts many who at one stage might have described themselves as liberal. I’ve a few friends from Europe old enough to remember the first time around…
Hi Poisson, that link helps to explain how aspartame, phenolanylin(?) etc got into the food system.
‘Sabbaticals’ for executives between Monsanto and the fda.
I’ve just got into my Jim-Jams – the ones with the little WWI RAF and Fokker biplanes all over them – I’m now in the process of running upstairs to comb my hair and brush my teeth and then I’ll be tucked up in bed, with tears streaming down my cheeks.
Tomorrow, I might have a bit of a tantrum when I’m in the Supermarket, lying on my back, kicking my feet up in the air. Manager will no doubt come over and ask sympathetically: “Oh now, what’s upsetting ya, young fella, eh ???”. Between all the crying and sobbing, all I’ll be able to blurt out is “Colmar Brunton, No Colmar Brunton !!!”.
i’ve had half a day with a lap top refusing to pick up wifi i was bloody close to tantrum time my self , fortunately for me one of the many icons or buttons i pushed did the trick, buggered i know which one though.
An instant analysis from Climate Nexus refers to today’s Louisiana rainstorm as a “classic signal of climate change.” It’s right. The NWS maintains a statistical database used to calculate the “annual exceedance probability” of a given rainfall event — basically, the expected frequency this event would occur in any given year.
Today’s rainstorm in Louisiana is at least the eighth 500-year rainfall event across America in little more than a year, including similarly extreme downpours in Oklahoma last May, central Texas (twice: last May and last October), South Carolina last October, northern Louisiana this March, West Virginia in June, and Maryland last month.
“Remember when Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg decided to help “fix” Newark’s public schools? In 2010, Zuckerberg — perhaps hoping to improve his image after his callous depiction in biopic The Social Network — donated $100 million to Newark’s education system to overhaul Newark schools.
The money was directed as a part of then–Newark Mayor Cory Booker’s plan to remake the city into the “charter school capital of the nation,” bypassing public oversight through partnership with private philanthropists.
Traditionally, public education has been interwoven with the democratic process: in a given school district, the community elects the school board every few years. School boards then make public decisions and deliberations. Zuckerberg’s donation, and the project it was attached to, directly undermined this democratic process by promoting an agenda to privatize public schools, destroy local unions, disempower teachers, and put the reins of public education into the hands of technocrats and profiteers.”
Well, you have to have the right people running the shop.
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Buzz from the Beehive The 180 or so recipients of letters from the Government telling them how to submit infrastructure projects for “fast track” consideration includes some whose project applications previously have been rejected by the courts. News media were quick to feature these in their reports after RMA Reform Minister Chris ...
It would not be a desirable way to start your holiday by breaking your back, your head, or your wrist, but on our first hour in Singapore I gave it a try.We were chatting, last week, before we started a meeting of Hazel’s Enviro Trust, about the things that can ...
Calling all journalists, academics, planners, lawyers, political activists, environmentalists, and other members of the public who believe that the relationships between vested interests and politicians need to be scrutinised. We need to work together to make sure that the new Fast-Track Approvals Bill – currently being pushed through by the ...
Feel worried. Shane Jones and a couple of his Cabinet colleagues are about to be granted the power to override any and all objections to projects like dams, mines, roads etc even if: said projects will harm biodiversity, increase global warming and cause other environmental harms, and even if ...
Bryce Edwards writes- The ability of the private sector to quickly establish major new projects making use of the urban and natural environment is to be supercharged by the new National-led Government. Yesterday it introduced to Parliament one of its most significant reforms, the Fast Track Approvals Bill. ...
Michael Bassett writes – If you think there is a move afoot by the radical Maori fringe of New Zealand society to create a parallel system of government to the one that we elect at our triennial elections, you aren’t wrong. Over the last few days we have ...
Without a corresponding drop in interest rates, it’s doubtful any changes to the CCCFA will unleash a massive rush of home buyers. Photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: The six things that stood out to me in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, poverty and climate on Monday, April 22 included:The Government making a ...
Sunday was a lazy day. I started watching Jack Tame on Q&A, the interviews are usually good for something to write about. Saying the things that the politicians won’t, but are quite possibly thinking. Things that are true and need to be extracted from between the lines.As you might know ...
In our Weekly Roundup last week we covered news from Auckland Transport that the WX1 Western Express is going to get an upgrade next year with double decker electric buses. As part of the announcement, AT also said “Since we introduced the WX1 Western Express last November we have seen ...
TL;DR: The six key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to April 29 include:PM Christopher Luxon is scheduled to hold a post-Cabinet news conference at 4 pm today. Stats NZ releases its statutory report on Census 2023 tomorrow.Finance Minister Nicola Willis delivers a pre-Budget speech at ...
A listing of 29 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, April 14, 2024 thru Sat, April 20, 2024. Story of the week Our story of the week hinges on these words from the abstract of a fresh academic ...
The ability of the private sector to quickly establish major new projects making use of the urban and natural environment is to be supercharged by the new National-led Government. Yesterday it introduced to Parliament one of its most significant reforms, the Fast Track Approvals Bill. The Government says this will ...
This is a column to say thank you. So many of have been in touch since Mum died to say so many kind and thoughtful things. You’re wonderful, all of you. You’ve asked how we’re doing, how Dad’s doing. A little more realisation each day, of the irretrievable finality of ...
Identifying the engine type in your car is crucial for various reasons, including maintenance, repairs, and performance upgrades. Knowing the specific engine model allows you to access detailed technical information, locate compatible parts, and make informed decisions about modifications. This comprehensive guide will provide you with a step-by-step approach to ...
Introduction: The allure of racing is undeniable. The thrill of speed, the roar of engines, and the exhilaration of competition all contribute to the allure of this adrenaline-driven sport. For those who yearn to experience the pinnacle of racing, becoming a race car driver is the ultimate dream. However, the ...
Introduction Automobiles have become ubiquitous in modern society, serving as a primary mode of transportation and a symbol of economic growth and personal mobility. With countless vehicles traversing roads and highways worldwide, it begs the question: how many cars are there in the world? Determining the precise number is a ...
Maintaining a safe and reliable vehicle requires regular inspections. Whether it’s a routine maintenance checkup or a safety inspection, knowing how long the process will take can help you plan your day accordingly. This article delves into the factors that influence the duration of a car inspection and provides an ...
Mazda Motor Corporation, commonly known as Mazda, is a Japanese multinational automaker headquartered in Fuchu, Aki District, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan. The company was founded in 1920 as the Toyo Cork Kogyo Co., Ltd., and began producing vehicles in 1931. Mazda is primarily known for its production of passenger cars, but ...
Your car battery is an essential component that provides power to start your engine, operate your electrical systems, and store energy. Over time, batteries can weaken and lose their ability to hold a charge, which can lead to starting problems, power failures, and other issues. Replacing your battery before it ...
In most states, you cannot register a car without a valid driver’s license. However, there are a few exceptions to this rule. Exceptions to the RuleIf you are under 18 years old: In some states, you can register a car in your name even if you do not ...
Mazda, a Japanese automotive manufacturer with a rich history of innovation and engineering excellence, has emerged as a formidable player in the global car market. Known for its reputation of producing high-quality, fuel-efficient, and driver-oriented vehicles, Mazda has consistently garnered praise from industry experts and consumers alike. In this article, ...
Struts are an essential part of a car’s suspension system. They are responsible for supporting the weight of the car and damping the oscillations of the springs. Struts are typically made of steel or aluminum and are filled with hydraulic fluid. How Do Struts Work? Struts work by transferring the ...
Car registration is a mandatory process that all vehicle owners must complete annually. This process involves registering your car with the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and paying an associated fee. The registration process ensures that your vehicle is properly licensed and insured, and helps law enforcement and other authorities ...
Zoom is a video conferencing service that allows you to share your screen, webcam, and audio with other participants. In addition to sharing your own audio, you can also share the audio from your computer with other participants. This can be useful for playing music, sharing presentations with audio, or ...
Building your own computer can be a rewarding and cost-effective way to get a high-performance machine tailored to your specific needs. However, it also requires careful planning and execution, and one of the most important factors to consider is the time it will take. The exact time it takes to ...
Sleep mode is a power-saving state that allows your computer to quickly resume operation without having to boot up from scratch. This can be useful if you need to step away from your computer for a short period of time but don’t want to shut it down completely. There are ...
Introduction Computer-Assisted Translation (CAT) has revolutionized the field of translation by harnessing the power of technology to assist human translators in their work. This innovative approach combines specialized software with human expertise to improve the efficiency, accuracy, and consistency of translations. In this comprehensive article, we will delve into the ...
In today’s digital age, mobile devices have become an indispensable part of our daily lives. Among the vast array of portable computing options available, iPads and tablet computers stand out as two prominent contenders. While both offer similar functionalities, there are subtle yet significant differences between these two devices. This ...
A computer is an electronic device that can be programmed to carry out a set of instructions. The basic components of a computer are the processor, memory, storage, input devices, and output devices. The Processor The processor, also known as the central processing unit (CPU), is the brain of the ...
Voice Memos is a convenient app on your iPhone that allows you to quickly record and store audio snippets. These recordings can be useful for a variety of purposes, such as taking notes, capturing ideas, or recording interviews. While you can listen to your voice memos on your iPhone, you ...
Laptop screens are essential for interacting with our devices and accessing information. However, when lines appear on the screen, it can be frustrating and disrupt productivity. Understanding the underlying causes of these lines is crucial for finding effective solutions. Types of Screen Lines Horizontal lines: Also known as scan ...
Right-clicking is a common and essential computer operation that allows users to access additional options and settings. While most desktop computers have dedicated right-click buttons on their mice, laptops often do not have these buttons due to space limitations. This article will provide a comprehensive guide on how to right-click ...
Powering up and shutting down your ASUS laptop is an essential task for any laptop user. Locating the power button can sometimes be a hassle, especially if you’re new to ASUS laptops. This article will provide a comprehensive guide on where to find the power button on different ASUS laptop ...
Dell laptops are renowned for their reliability, performance, and versatility. Whether you’re a student, a professional, or just someone who needs a reliable computing device, a Dell laptop can meet your needs. However, if you’re new to Dell laptops, you may be wondering how to get started. In this comprehensive ...
Two-thirds of the country think that “New Zealand’s economy is rigged to advantage the rich and powerful”. They also believe that “New Zealand needs a strong leader to take the country back from the rich and powerful”. These are just two of a handful of stunning new survey results released ...
In today’s digital world, screenshots have become an indispensable tool for communication and documentation. Whether you need to capture an important email, preserve a website page, or share an error message, screenshots allow you to quickly and easily preserve digital information. If you’re an Asus laptop user, there are several ...
A factory reset restores your Gateway laptop to its original factory settings, erasing all data, apps, and personalizations. This can be necessary to resolve software issues, remove viruses, or prepare your laptop for sale or transfer. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to factory reset your Gateway laptop: Method 1: ...
“You talking about me?”The neoliberal denigration of the past was nowhere more unrelenting than in its depiction of the public service. The Post Office and the Railways were held up as being both irremediably inefficient and scandalously over-manned. Playwright Roger Hall’s “Glide Time” caricatures were presented as accurate depictions of ...
Roger Partridge writes – When the Coalition Government took office last October, it inherited a country on a precipice. With persistent inflation, decades of insipid productivity growth and crises in healthcare, education, housing and law and order, it is no exaggeration to suggest New Zealand’s first-world status was ...
Rob MacCulloch writes – In 2022, the Curriculum Centre at the Ministry of Education employed 308 staff, according to an Official Information Request. Earlier this week it was announced 202 of those staff were being cut. When you look up “The New Zealand Curriculum” on the Ministry of ...
Chris Bishop’s bill has stirred up a hornets nest of opposition. Photo: Lynn Grieveson for The KākāTL;DR: The six things that stood out to me in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, poverty and climate from the last day included:A crescendo of opposition to the Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill is ...
Monday left me brokenTuesday, I was through with hopingWednesday, my empty arms were openThursday, waiting for love, waiting for loveThe end of another week that left many of us asking WTF? What on earth has NZ gotten itself into and how on earth could people have voluntarily signed up for ...
Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on the past week’s editions.State of humanity, 20242024, it feels, keeps presenting us with ever more challenges, ever more dismay.Do you give up yet? It seems to ask.No? How about this? Or this?How about this?Full story Share ...
Determining the hardest sport in the world is a subjective matter, as the difficulty level can vary depending on individual abilities, physical attributes, and experience. However, based on various factors including physical demands, technical skills, mental fortitude, and overall accomplishment, here is an exploration of some of the most challenging ...
The allure of sport transcends age, culture, and geographical boundaries. It captivates hearts, ignites passions, and provides unparalleled entertainment. Behind the spectacle, however, lies a fascinating world of financial investment and expenditure. Among the vast array of competitive pursuits, one question looms large: which sport carries the hefty title of ...
Introduction Pickleball, a rapidly growing paddle sport, has captured the hearts and imaginations of millions around the world. Its blend of tennis, badminton, and table tennis elements has made it a favorite among players of all ages and skill levels. As the sport’s popularity continues to surge, the question on ...
Abstract: Soccer, the global phenomenon captivating millions worldwide, has a rich history that spans centuries. Its origins trace back to ancient civilizations, but the modern version we know and love emerged through a complex interplay of cultural influences and innovations. This article delves into the fascinating journey of soccer’s evolution, ...
Tinting car windows offers numerous benefits, including enhanced privacy, reduced glare, UV protection, and a more stylish look for your vehicle. However, the cost of window tinting can vary significantly depending on several factors. This article provides a comprehensive guide to help you understand how much you can expect to ...
Our two-tiered system for veterans’ support is out of step with our closest partners, and all parties in Parliament should work together to fix it, Labour veterans’ affairs spokesperson Greg O’Connor said. ...
Stripping two Ministers of their portfolios just six months into the job shows Christopher Luxon’s management style is lacking, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said. ...
It appears Nicola Willis is about to pull the rug out from under the feet of local communities still dealing with the aftermath of last year’s severe weather, and local councils relying on funding to build back from these disasters. ...
The Government is making short-sighted changes to the Resource Management Act (RMA) that will take away environmental protection in favour of short-term profits, Labour’s environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
Labour welcomes the release of the report into the North Island weather events and looks forward to working with the Government to ensure that New Zealand is as prepared as it can be for the next natural disaster. ...
The Labour Party has called for the New Zealand Government to recognise Palestine, as a material step towards progressing the two-State solution needed to achieve a lasting peace in the region. ...
Some of our country’s most important work, stopping the sexual exploitation of children and violent extremism could go along with staff on the frontline at ports and airports. ...
The Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill will give projects such as new coal mines a ‘get out of jail free’ card to wreak havoc on the environment, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said today. ...
Cuts to frontline hospital staff are not only a broken election promise, it shows the reckless tax cuts have well and truly hit the frontline of the health system, says Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall. ...
The Green Party has joined the call for public submissions on the fast-track legislation to be extended after the Ombudsman forced the Government to release the list of organisations invited to apply just hours before submissions close. ...
New Zealand’s good work at reducing climate emissions for three years in a row will be undone by the National government’s lack of ambition and scrapping programmes that were making a difference, Labour Party climate spokesperson Megan Woods said today. ...
More essential jobs could be on the chopping block, this time Ministry of Education staff on the school lunches team are set to find out whether they're in line to lose their jobs. ...
The Government is trying to bring in a law that will allow Ministers to cut corners and kill off native species, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said. ...
Cancelling urgently needed new Cook Strait ferries and hiking the cost of public transport for many Kiwis so that National can announce the prospect of another tunnel for Wellington is not making good choices, Labour Transport Spokesperson Tangi Utikere said. ...
A laundry list of additional costs for Tāmaki Makarau Auckland shows the Minister for the city is not delivering for the people who live there, says Labour Auckland Issues spokesperson Shanan Halbert. ...
The Green Party has today launched a step-by-step guide to help New Zealanders make their voice heard on the Government’s democracy dodging and anti-environment fast track legislation. ...
The National Government’s proposed changes to the Residential Tenancies Act will mean tenants can be turfed from their homes by landlords with little notice, Labour housing spokesperson Kieran McAnulty said. ...
Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson is calling on all parties to support a common-sense change that’s great for the planet and great for consumers after her member’s bill was drawn from the ballot today. ...
A significant milestone has been reached in the fight to strike an anti-Pasifika and unfair law from the country’s books after Teanau Tuiono’s members’ bill passed its first reading. ...
New Zealand has today missed the opportunity to uphold the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment, says James Shaw after his member’s bill was voted down in its first reading. ...
Today’s advice from the Climate Change Commission paints a sobering reality of the challenge we face in combating climate change, especially in light of recent Government policy announcements. ...
Minister for Disability Issues Penny Simmonds appears to have delayed a report back to Cabinet on the progress New Zealand is making against international obligations for disabled New Zealanders. ...
The Government’s newly announced review of methane emissions reduction targets hints at its desire to delay Aotearoa New Zealand’s urgent transition to a climate safe future, the Green Party said. ...
The Government must commit to the Maitai School building project for students with high and complex needs, to ensure disabled students from the top of the South Island have somewhere to learn. ...
Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey and his Government colleagues have made a meal of their mental health commitments, showing how flimsy their efforts to champion the issue truly are, says Labour Mental Health spokesperson Ingrid Leary. ...
Paul Goldsmith will take on responsibility for the Media and Communications portfolio, while Louise Upston will pick up the Disability Issues portfolio, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced today. “Our Government is relentlessly focused on getting New Zealand back on track. As issues change in prominence, I plan to adjust Ministerial ...
Recreational catch limits will be reduced in areas of Fiordland and the Chatham Islands to help keep those fisheries healthy and sustainable, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The lower recreational daily catch limits for a range of finfish and shellfish species caught in the Fiordland Marine Area and ...
Energy Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed an important milestone in New Zealand’s hydrogen future, with the opening of the country’s first network of hydrogen refuelling stations in Wiri. “I want to congratulate the team at Hiringa Energy and its partners K one W one (K1W1), Mitsui & Co New Zealand ...
The coalition Government is delivering on its commitment to improve resource management laws and give greater certainty to consent applicants, with a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) expected to be introduced to Parliament next month. RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop has today outlined the first RMA Amendment ...
Overseas models for regulating the oil and gas sector, including their decommissioning regimes, are being carefully scrutinised as a potential template for New Zealand’s own sector, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. The Coalition Government is focused on rebuilding investor confidence in New Zealand’s energy sector as it looks to strengthen ...
Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell has today released the Report of the Government Inquiry into the response to the North Island Severe Weather Events. “The report shows that New Zealand’s emergency management system is not fit-for-purpose and there are some significant gaps we need to address,” Mr Mitchell ...
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith is today travelling to Europe where he’ll update the United Nations Human Rights Council on the Government’s work to restore law and order. “Attending the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva provides us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while ...
Associate Agriculture Minister, Mark Patterson, formally reopened the world’s largest wool processing facility today in Awatoto, Napier, following a $50 million rebuild and refurbishment project. “The reopening of this facility will significantly lift the economic opportunities available to New Zealand’s wool sector, which already accounts for 20 per cent of ...
Hon Andrew Bayly, Minister for Small Business and Manufacturing At the Southland Otago Regional Engineering Collective (SOREC) Summit, 18 April, Dunedin Ngā mihi nui, Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Ko Whanganui aho Good Afternoon and thank you for inviting me to open your summit today. I am delighted ...
The Government is delivering on its commitment to bring back the Three Strikes legislation, Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee announced today. “Our Government is committed to restoring law and order and enforcing appropriate consequences on criminals. We are making it clear that repeat serious violent or sexual offending is not ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has today announced four new diplomatic appointments for New Zealand’s overseas missions. “Our diplomats have a vital role in maintaining and protecting New Zealand’s interests around the world,” Mr Peters says. “I am pleased to announce the appointment of these senior diplomats from the ...
New Zealand is contributing NZ$7 million to support communities affected by severe food insecurity and other urgent humanitarian needs in Ethiopia and Somalia, Foreign Minister Rt Hon Winston Peters announced today. “Over 21 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance across Ethiopia, with a further 6.9 million people ...
Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Paul Goldsmith is congratulating Mataaho Collective for winning the Golden Lion for best participant in the main exhibition at the Venice Biennale. "Congratulations to the Mataaho Collective for winning one of the world's most prestigious art prizes at the Venice Biennale. “It is good ...
The Government is reforming financial services to improve access to home loans and other lending, and strengthen customer protections, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly and Housing Minister Chris Bishop announced today. “Our coalition Government is committed to rebuilding the economy and making life simpler by cutting red tape. We are ...
“China remains a strong commercial opportunity for Kiwi exporters as Chinese businesses and consumers continue to value our high-quality safe produce,” Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says. Mr McClay has returned to New Zealand following visits to Beijing, Harbin and Shanghai where he met ministers, governors and mayors and engaged in trade and agricultural events with the New ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has completed a successful trip to Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines, deepening relationships and capitalising on opportunities. Mr Luxon was accompanied by a business delegation and says the choice of countries represents the priority the New Zealand Government places on South East Asia, and our relationships in ...
New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...
The Government is today releasing a list of organisations who received letters about the Fast-track applications process, says RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. “Recently Ministers and agencies have received a series of OIA requests for a list of organisations to whom I wrote with information on applying to have a ...
Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister David Jonathan Boldt as a Judge of the High Court, and the Honourable Justice Matthew Palmer as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Boldt graduated with an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 1990, and also holds ...
Education Minister Erica Stanford will lead the New Zealand delegation at the 2024 International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) held in Singapore. The delegation includes representatives from the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) Te Wehengarua and the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa. The summit is co-hosted ...
A stopbank upgrade project in Tairawhiti partly funded by the Government has increased flood resilience for around 7000ha of residential and horticultural land so far, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones today attended a dawn service in Gisborne to mark the end of the first stage of the ...
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters will represent the Government at Anzac Day commemorations on the Gallipoli Peninsula next week and engage with senior representatives of the Turkish government in Istanbul. “The Gallipoli campaign is a defining event in our history. It will be a privilege to share the occasion ...
Science, Innovation and Technology and Defence Minister Judith Collins will next week attend the OECD Science and Technology Ministerial conference in Paris and Anzac Day commemorations in Belgium. “Science, innovation and technology have a major role to play in rebuilding our economy and achieving better health, environmental and social outcomes ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...
The Government has announced that $20 million in funding will be made available to Westport to fund much needed flood protection around the town. This measure will significantly improve the resilience of the community, says Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. “The Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...
The Government is proud to support the first ever Repco Supercars Championship event in Taupō as up to 70,000 motorsport fans attend the Taupō International Motorsport Park this weekend, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. “Anticipation for the ITM Taupō Super400 is huge, with tickets and accommodation selling out weeks ...
Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced an increase to the Rates Rebate Scheme, putting money back into the pockets of low-income homeowners. “The coalition Government is committed to bringing down the cost of living for New Zealanders. That includes targeted support for those Kiwis who are doing things tough, such ...
The Coalition Government is investing in a project to boost survival rates of New Zealand mussels and grow the industry, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has announced. “This project seeks to increase the resilience of our mussels and significantly boost the sector’s productivity,” Mr Jones says. “The project - ...
Benefit figures released today underscore the importance of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “Benefit numbers are still significantly higher than when National was last in government, when there was about 70,000 fewer ...
The Government’s commitment to doubling New Zealand’s renewable energy capacity is backed by new data showing that clean energy has helped the country reach its lowest annual gross emissions since 1999, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand’s latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory (1990-2022) published today, shows gross emissions fell ...
The Government is bringing the earthquake-prone building review forward, with work to start immediately, and extending the deadline for remediations by four years, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Our Government is focused on rebuilding the economy. A key part of our plan is to cut red tape that ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his Thai counterpart, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, have today agreed that New Zealand and the Kingdom of Thailand will upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026. “New Zealand and Thailand have a lot to offer each other. We have a strong mutual desire to build ...
RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Transport Minister Simeon Brown have today announced the Coalition Government’s intention to extend port coastal permits for a further 20 years, providing port operators with certainty to continue their operations. “The introduction of the Resource Management Act in 1991 required ports to obtain coastal ...
Today’s announcement that inflation is down to 4 per cent is encouraging news for Kiwis, but there is more work to be done - underlining the importance of the Government’s plan to get the economy back on track, acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. “Inflation is now at 4 per ...
Refreshed health guidance released today will help parents and schools make informed decisions about whether their child needs to be in school, addressing one of the key issues affecting school attendance, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour. In recent years, consistently across all school terms, short-term illness or medical reasons ...
Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is streamlining high-level oceans management while maintaining a focus on supporting the sector’s role in the export-led recovery of the economy. “I am working to realise the untapped potential of our fishing and aquaculture sector. To achieve that we need to be smarter with ...
Associate Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson is speaking at the International Wool Textile Organisation Congress in Adelaide, promoting New Zealand wool, and outlining the coalition Government’s support for the revitalisation the sector. "New Zealand’s wool exports reached $400 million in the year to 30 June 2023, and the coalition Government ...
The Government is making legislative changes to make it easier for new early learning services to be established, and for existing services to operate, Associate Education Minister David Seymour says. The changes involve repealing the network approval provisions that apply when someone wants to establish a new early learning service, ...
Changes to the Resource Management Act will align consenting for coal mining to other forms of mining to reduce barriers that are holding back economic development, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “The inconsistent treatment of coal mining compared with other extractive activities is burdensome red tape that fails to acknowledge ...
Trade, Agriculture and Forestry Minister Todd McClay has concluded productive discussions with ministerial counterparts in Beijing today, in support of the New Zealand-China trade and economic relationship. “My meeting with Commerce Minister Wang Wentao reaffirmed the complementary nature of the bilateral trade relationship, with our Free Trade Agreement at its ...
“Never again - No AUKUS” was the message of the wreath laid at this morning’s national ANZAC Day commemorative service at Pukeahu National War Memorial Park this morning by the Stop AUKUS group. ...
Until this month, Auckland swimmer Hazel Ouwehand had never met a qualifying time in an Olympic event for a New Zealand team, even as a junior. Now she’s very likely off to the Paris Olympics after swimming well under the qualifying standard in the 100m butterfly twice – both in ...
While Anzac Day has experienced a resurgence in recent years, our other day of remembrance has slowly faded from view.The Sunday Essay is made possible thanks to the support of Creative New Zealand. Original illustrations by Hope McConnell.First published in 2022.The high school’s head girl and ...
Australian and New Zealand volunteers fought together in the Waikato War, yet still its place in the Anzac tradition is unacknowledged by our defence forces or Returned Services Association.First published in 2018.When I was a boy cub I attended Anzac Day services in the South Auckland suburb of ...
A poem by Wellington writer Tayi Tibble.Hoki Mai She kisses him goodbye with her eyes still wet and alight from their last swim in the Awatere river. At the train station celebration, she leads the Kapa Haka but her voice keeps breaking under and over itself like waves. ...
A poem from Bill Manhire’s 2017 book of verse Some Things to Place in a Coffin.My World War I Poem Inside each trench, the sound of prayer. Inside each prayer, the sound of digging. Image courtesy of Auckland War Memorial Museum. ...
There are three books I have wolfed down in one sitting over the last two years. Colleen Maria Lenihan’s gorgeous and sad debut Kōhine, Noelle McCarthy’s memoir Grand about becoming her mother and then unbecoming her, and now Hine Toa, a staunch yet gentle self-portrait by living legend Ngāhuia te ...
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Asia Pacific Report Students and activist staff at Australia’s University of Sydney (USyd) have set up a Gaza solidarity encampment in support of Palestinians and similar student-led protests in the United States. The camp was pitched as mass graves, crippled hospitals, thousands of civilian deaths and the near-total destruction of ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By James B. Dorey, Lecturer in Biological Sciences, University of Wollongong Australian teddy bear bees are cute and fluffy, but get a look at that massive (unbarbed) stinger! James Dorey Photography Most of us have been stung by a bee and we ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jen Roberts, Senior Lecturer, School of Humanities and Social Inquiry, University of Wollongong Aussie~mobs/FlickrVictor Farr, a private in the 1st Infantry Battalion, was among the first to land at Anzac Cove just before dawn on April 25 1915. Victor Farr ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Gregory Moore, Senior Research Associate, School of Ecosystem and Forest Sciences, The University of Melbourne Gregory Moore I had the good fortune to care for the sugar gum at The University of Melbourne’s Burnley Gardens in Victoria where I worked for ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Hawkins, Senior Lecturer, Canberra School of Politics, Economics and Society, University of Canberra BagzhanSadvakassov/Upsplash, CC BY-SA Australia’s inflation rate has fallen for the fifth successive quarter, and it’s now less than half of what it was back in late 2022. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rachel Ong ViforJ, ARC Future Fellow & Professor of Economics, Curtin University Just when we think the price of rentals could not get any worse, this week’s Rental Affordability Snapshot by Anglicare has revealed low-income Australians are facing a housing crisis like ...
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I am truly trying to understand left wing thinking when it comes to negative outcomes of left wing ideals.. I get the impression that many lefties don’t acknowledge any culpability from negative results of leftist policies.
I post my example from yesterday again to see if someone can explain why sugar production in Venezuela has fallen so dramatically after it was nationalised in the early 2000’s. This is not just a one off event that can be explained by the effect of drought. It was a sustained declined over a period of years. Why couldn’t Venezuela keep sugar production at the levels it was when it was largely controlled privately?
The only explanation I have been given so far is that it is related to the fall in the price in oil or sanctions imposed by the US. That doesn’t seem to make sense given that the sugar is for domestic consumption and therefore both those things would have made it more attractive to produce locally rather than import.
http://www.latimes.com/world/mexico-americas/la-fg-venezuela-imports-20160809-snap-story.html
Truly, I am. Truly.
I’m struggling to understand the cognitive dissonance of the left wing mind set. I can quite easily accept the negative outcomes of right wing policies.
The elephant graph posted by Anthony Robins today is an example of that. Free trade has negative consequences for a sector of society and public policy needs to take account of that. However I have never seen any acknowledgment from left wingers that policies they support also have negative consequences.
The situation in Venezuela is entirely predictable in terms of outcomes economically. If you reduce private sector involvement and increase public sector participation in the provision of goods and services the right wing economic viewpoint is that you retard production. This us what has happened. However I suspect accepting this self evident truth is too much more many lefties (like Draco for example). They will attempt to deflect the cause to other areas. I find that fascinating.
You are fascinated by what you believe to be “left wing” thought and you struggle to understand it. As a consequence you demand that thinkers from that field explain themselves to you.
Truly. Fascinating.
I challenge left wingers to explain outcomes which can be attributed directly to the ideals they expouse (i.e greater involvement of State and workers in control of production). Are you stating thus is not a key ideal of the left?
I challenged you to demonstrate that any of that rote-learned lazy tripe you call an argument has a basis in reality. With references, to support your assertion of “attributed directly”, for example.
Otherwise, why should anyone answer your loaded questions, mendacity boy?
*yawn* after all this time pasting TS with Venezuela and not actually gaining any understanding of political thought on this site, there’s bugger all anyone can do to enlighten you now.
Anyways, you say Venezuela, I say Honduras. I doubt many want either extreme.
Do you have evidence of serious shortages in Honduras caused by free market policies? If so I will have a look.
Getting specific aren’t you? Not at all interested in widespread poverty, societal breakdown and murders of environmentalists at all?
No he’s not, those don’t interrupt the global flow of goods, y’see, and of course they wouldn’t have had lives even that good under a non-capitalist regime.
Or so the right wing tell themselves.
+1
There are examples in NZ of shortages caused by free market policies. Try housing.
See Gos the problem with the free market is that in it you only need a willing buyer and a willing seller for the free market to have the illusion of working.
Bob Jones buys a private jet. you have just shown the free market works. But you dont see the market adjusting so everyone can have a private jet do you.
Sure ridiculous example but it can be applied to any part and any level of society.
You can have a Kebab shop that has 1000 customers and as such the kebab shop can stay open and in business. Yet at the same time you could have 100000 people who cannot afford a kebab.
Shortage does not always need to relate to supply. it can relate to a persons ability to overcome the barrier of price in order to be able to obtain the desired product or service and for an individual or section of society who cant afford it there is a shortage and as such they may as well have been living in the soviet union just perior to its collapse because for them the outcome is the same.
A good system would enable every single person to meet their essential basic needs as a bare minimum. A shit system won’t even be able to do that. The free market doesnt do that. But you go on defending your shitty system if you can’t think any bigger or broader than it.
I suspect there is a serious shortage of proper democratic lifestyle, but your blinkered market mentality won’t recognise such a thing, will it?
you suspect vs taking a look at examples of the principle I outlined in pretty much every single so called first world country.
You champion a system that is so poor it cannot provide essential basic needs for everyone.
Your in telligent In Vino I’ll give you that but your very entrenched in the current system.
Coffee, I was replying to Goosey Gosman. Your well-written comment sneaked in before mine. I have no argument with what you wrote.
Without being able to check the “replies” column is creating a few problems. Not complaining as such because lprent does a magnificent job but the sooner we get it back the better. 😕
Edit: I know we can access immediately after leaving a comment but that’s not always convenient. We all have other lives.
Which particular “left wing ideals” led to this particular outcome Gosman? I’m truly interested in your in-depth detailed analysis, with multiple references and an attempt to asses what bias if any they may contain, showing:
1. That you can accurately summarise left wing ideals and,
2. That your argument has any basis.
Please, I’m truly, sincerely interested in “your” “opinion”.
Do you disagree that the State in Venezuela has encourage greater worker control and State ownership of industry and that is (or at least used to be) a key element if left wing economic theory?
As I stated above, right wing economic thinking suggests the outcome from following such a path is usually reduced quality and/or quantity of goods and services. This is exactly what has occured in Venezuela (and lots of other countries).
Gosman you’ll get better engagement if you don’t put up straw man arguments.
What element is a strawman and why so I won’t attempt to bring it up again.
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
I don’t know much if anything about Venezuela, and you tell too many lies for me to take your word for it, so that’s why I asked for multiple references.
Your dismissal of US interference, for example, indicates that you believe it had no effect on Venezuela’s economy. I don’t believe you, and you’re doing a very very shit job of persuading me or indeed, putting up any argument whatsoever.
Apart from your habitual ad nauseam, that is.
I have provided numerous source on Venezuela even from a left wing perspective (Venezuelananaalysis). Are you disputing any if the facts that have been put forward such as the decline in domestic Sugar production? I would be quite willing to investigate US interference if you can explain how it is meant to impact production of goods and services within Venezuela in industries largely controlled by the State. Explain a mechanism that allows the US to influence that and I’ll look to see if that is the case.
You’ve provided no sources here.
Meanwhile, in New Zealand. the right makes unemployment and homelessness. No wonder you want to talk about sugar production in a falling global market.
I provided a link to the source. Are you disputing the source and if so why?
I’m not reading your source until you meet the requirements I laid out in 1.2: write an in-depth detailed multi-referenced analysis that demonstrates why the assertions in your loaded questions are true.
You would certainly have to show how what happens in Venezuela relates to Green and Labour policies in New Zealand, for example.
Or alternatively, you can fuck off.
Venezuela is a basket case I think you can agree with me on that OAB.
Hugo Chavez 2 decades of centralizing all decisions (into his hands) the state taking control of medium to large business etc etc has lead to this.
While oil prices were high they masked the issues at hand, however once they started to fall so did Venezuela.
Half of all oil exported today from Venezuela goes to paying back a $50 billion loan from China.
Remind me what part of “Socialism” involves one person making all the decisions. It’s sad that you just blew over your own house of cards. I suppose I can always enjoy the schadenfreude 😈
Read your second sentence (The first should have been 2 sentences..)
It makes no sense at all. Try to explain it in real English, please. ‘Medium’ is singular, and how does control of ‘medium’ go to large business etc etc??
Who are the first ‘they’ in your third mangled sentence (oil prices?), and maybe you could confirm that the second ‘they’ refers to oil prices?
By the way, it was USA fracking that caused oil prices to fall. But you are one of those who denies any kind of US sabotage, aren’t you?
Oops.
Do you honestly think the decision to “frack” for oil in the US was to screw with the Venezuelan economy?
For profit in general, and then the Russian economy, but Venezuela was no doubt a minor bonus, much to your joy.
“It makes no sense at all.”
Of course it does my friend…that is why you are reduced to playing the English teacher.
“By the way, it was USA fracking that caused oil prices to fall. But you are one of those who denies any kind of US sabotage, aren’t you?”
Venezuela was sabotaged by Socialism.
“This is exactly what has occured in Venezuela (and lots of other countries).”
Name em
To give you a start I will name one for you, Ukraine. Please carry on
Hi Gos
Can you please explain what is happening in US politics right now when right wingers have voted in Trump to lead them and his party are trying their best to oust him? A lengthy analysis would be welcome. Cheers
What happened to global sugar prices over the period in question?
Largely irrelevant in the context of domestic production for a domestic market. Why can’t Venezuelan producers of sugar do so cheaper than foreign producers?
Please post a link to a graph that compares Venezuelan domestic sugar prices with global prices over the period 1950 – 2016.
Then, provide an in-depth detailed multi-referenced analysis of sugar production, its history and methods, both globally and in Venezuela, so that I can put your assertions in context while I think about them.
Hahahahaha. LIAR. Like YOU would ever post that kind of detailed analysis if ever called to task.
Bwahahahahaha.
Gosman has a habit of setting homework for people. I doubt the real Nelson Muntz would need that explained.
What homework have I set before?
Thank you for making my point. You think I’m going to trawl through your troll effluent for examples. Get a clue.
Gosman, was that your first try at real wit??
I am not sure you showing off that you may have done a paper in post grad research techniques is really adding anything here OAB
I have not done a paper in post grad research techniques. Perhaps I should write one, since they seem so friggin’ obvious.
In your own words, explain the sum of Gosman’s contribution to this and/or any other debate on this forum.
Sum Contribution Gosman = Sum Contribution OAB = 0
He is challenging group think on this site The response to challenging sacred lefty dogma with empirical observation highlights the religious zealotry and hate held by many here to any challenge to such dogma The right in turn are a lot more comfortable to ideas been challenged without the tantrums
“He is challenging group think on this site ”
no – hes posing straw man time wasting goal post shifting arguments, just like he always does
Perhaps the owners of the Venezuelan sugar cooperatives have decided that while up to 69% of sugar cane workers in other producer nations are affected by Chronic Kidney Disease, it’s not for them.
http://sugarcane-solidaridad.org/combatting-epidemic-chronic-kidney-disease-amongst-canecutters
http://www.aaas.org/news/science-researchers-hunt-origin-enigmatic-kidney-disease
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesoamerican_nephropathy
I hear the Philippines is importing sugar this year too. I guess the Coca Cola factories in Venezuela (ironic that the symbol of American affluence is produced there) aren’t importing from there.
It may be due to a move from “sweated labour” to improved working conditions. Or fewer workers wanting to work in the sugar fields when better jobs were available elsewhere.
Yep, Sugar is so good for you Gosman. I too am deeply concerned, but more about what concerns the right wing mindset. Worrying about sugar exports and I believe our very own government is deeply worried about luggage at present….
When are you going to own up about the toilet paper Gosman?
Seriously every time you open your mouth about Venezuela I just think you are talking a load of rubbish.
You lied for weeks about the toilet paper issue, and when it was pointed out that the supermarkets artificially created a crisis around toilet paper, you said nothing?
So to answer you question – why do right wingers lie and cheat the system, then blame the left for it?
My God……I hear your frustration Adam but remember……it’s not your fault that Gosman’s a twisted lying zealot with not a care for the world……aside from the miniscule and putrid part of it he inhabits. I mean who the fuck would regularly get on a more or less left wing blog and spiel such cruelty as moral gospel ? That’s a head that needs seeing to in my book. Poor man. Pity the people he/she lives with……if any.
From what I have read in the time I have been reading, I think you have sussed Gosman very well, North.
Maybe a shift to stevia production could be better long term move for Venezuela. Stevia is grown in Brazil and Paraguay so may do ok in Venezuela. Getting rid of Coke is probably a positive change for Venezuela and the health of its citizens.
You are aware that simply because they don’t produce the product locally doesn’t mean they aren’t buying it aren’t you? They are importing it from other countries instead. This is costing them precious foreign exchange which they lack.
Gosman you are a bore. If you can’t do your own delving into USA overt and covert interference in central and southern American economies then go back to burying your head in the sand .
No, I challenge you to explain how US interference could lead to a catastrophic drop in production of sugar (amongst other products).
Your argument would be like stating the reason the USSR failed was because of US interference. There is a element of truth that the US was undermining the Soviet Union but the system itself was at fault for its eventual collapse.
How could it not !
Well, it cracked under the pressure of an arms race imposed by a technologically superior USA. But the fairy tale is that Capitalism is just so much better. No mention of the inconvenient fact that all the rich countries have been capitalist, and that no heavily industrialised, rich country has tried anything else, unless you go downscale to include Scandinavian countries small enough and isolated enough not to face that ire of American Capitalism in the way that Cuba, Chile, and Venezuela have had to do, along with others…
I have just watched the most appalling ever attempt on Q&A to politically assassinate Labour’s leader, Andrew Little. So much so that someone, somewhere, needs to publicly condemn TV1 for what was clearly a premeditated and politically motivated attempt to discredit him.
The panel guests consisted of Bryce Edwards, Phil Quin and Heather Roy. The subject matter… Nick Leggett. There was no attempt to explain what happened or what Little said – or why. Instead the public was subjected to a long rant from Phil Quin (which was why he was invited in the first place) about a restaurant dinner in Auckland where he and Nick Leggott spoke to the people gathered. Yeah… he talked about American politics – nothing else – and we weren’t told what Leggett spoke about but we can guess. According to Quin it was all an imagined conspiracy on Little’s part, but no-one (other than beltway types) would have known what he was talking about except that… Andrew Little is a really bad guy and so is the Labour Party.
The most telling moment was when Bryce Edwards tried to add his contribution – which I suspect was going to bring some semblance of balance to the discussion – but he was cut off by the host (whose name escapes me) and on came some ads. But not before a surprised Edwards let out an “aaagh” of frustration. Deliberate? You bet!
You should do a Broadcastings Standards complaint Anne.
I didn’t see it but it is very clearly lacking in balance with a panel like that. Roy is from ACT, Quin has been criticising Labour for decades now, wanting a return to the Rogernomics era. In the 1990s he tried to organise a coup against Helen Clark and Bryce Edwards is, at best, centrist. There should have been someone who could argue Labour’s position to meet the requirements of the act.
Been down that road Karen. Took Q&A to the BSA over their handling of the Hobbit dispute – must have been around 2010/11. It was a total sham. They made it about Helen Kelly (who received a drubbing on the programme in question) and said she was… quite capable of looking after herself.
My complaint had nothing to do with Helen Kelly as a person and whether she could look after herself. As if I would presume to be an arbiter of someone like Helen Kelly’s personal character anyway. Yes, I took the stinging rebuke personally, and just hoped that Helen Kelly (who I don’t personally know) did not buy their nonsense.
Once bitten like that and twice shy.
I agree your complaint may not be upheld but it may make TVNZ be a bit more careful next time. They hate having to spend time justifying themselves to the BSA.
This is just the start. The whole MSM are at it.
But like they were always assuring us that no one outside the Wellington beltway cares about National’s dirty deeds like the Saudi sheep saga, the Panama Papers, homelessness, dodgy steel, etc etc etc – this time it may backfire, because nobody outside the Wellington beltway truly cares about the Nash/Leggett/Little conflict.
I think the explanation as to why our media have become such toadys to the national party is quite simple They all voted blue .
Oh diddums Anne, this happens to Key all the time !
“this happens to Key all the time !” Citation please, I have never seen Key beat up by the media, ever! Just 1 example will suffice.
National Party suck up Tracy Watkin’s piece on this issue…
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/opinion/83106498/Labours-tent-no-longer-big-enough-for-the-right-wingers?cid=app-iPhone
I suspect its the old story, Leggatt and Quin have contacts in the gallery who are happy to do some shit stirring.
The funniest thing is that the panel reckoned Little should have been talking about “Nick Smith not Nick Leggat”, apparently he opened his stand up doing exactly that.
But this is very clearly a beltway issue, its a shame Q&A have picked it up because they’ve been doing some excellent shows lately, imho.
And it seems Stacey Kirk has joined in the let’s do some Andrew Little bashing.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/opinion/83097599/stacey-kirk-opportunity-squandered-labour-flounders-without-focus
This now is starting to look like an orchestrated beat up. Who is behind it? It was gallery journalists who brought up the topic when questioning Little so someone has primed them Quin? Pagani? Leggett? My guess is Quin.
Shame that so many gallery journalists have swallowed this.
“This now is starting to look like an orchestrated beat up. Who is behind it?”
Most likely it was “black ops team alpha 2 bravo” 🙂
Come on really though…Andrew Little was a idiot and brought it on himself.
You know I’m going back donkeys’ years like 40 when a minor ‘journalist’ in Wellington said to me “Well how can Norman Kirk control a country when he can’t even control his own weight?” and then another household name journalist Spiro Zavos said to me when challeneged about the legalities of racist South African rugby tours……”I’ve done Legal System” (the Law 101 at Vic’ at the time).
I have to say this. Our ‘jonolists’ being intellectually and socially pretty much nothing, cannot be trusted other than to pos’ themselves so as to lick the arse of power. In the expectation of being rewarded for it. By the arses they lick. And then they get ‘oh so up their own arses’ when it seems to work. Trev’ of the Hearld for example, junketing with Key.
They are basically very poor examples of humanity. To a man and a woman not very bright. Otherwise they would have done ‘Law’. Not that the rote shit of ‘Law’ speaks of bright. We are so ill-served by the media.
They are such wannabees. And double-shotters. Saw Duncan Garner and his production man I guess, all skinny jeans and florid shirts and RM Williams boots disporting themselves in McDonalds in Wellsford 7.00 am one morning. Talking loud, musing loud, “look at me look at me” Fuck ! what cheapies. In Kaikohe they mighta’ got a well deserved hiding for being so up-themselves waha’.
Chuck, Jason Ede ran a Dirty Politics “black ops team alpha 2 bravo” from John Keys office, tax payer funded dirty tricks where he had access to secret SIS files (for PMs eyes only!) where he had a network of complacent journos & bloggers to smear the opposition & manipulate the last few elections. So there is form of state sponsored smearing & you seemingly support it?
Cry me a river…
So called Dirty Politics is played by all sides.
Ann has just posted this below “I noted some comments from Quin the other day about some very, very nasty stuff doing the rounds about him after he left Labour. How did he know it came from L.P. members?”
That’s a form of “dirty politics”…do I care? no.
Who is behind it?
My guess… all 3 of them – Quin, Pagani and Leggett. Josie loves hanging out with TV celebrities and Gallery types. They are happy to oblige her for tidbits from the enemy camp – Labour. Since I doubt she’s still a member (certainly not an active one) she doesn’t actually know anything of worth.
I noted some comments from Quin the other day about some very, very nasty stuff doing the rounds about him after he left Labour. How did he know it came from L.P. members? If there was anything it was confined to the Wellington beltway. Never heard a whisper in Auckland. Have my doubts it was as serious as he’s making out, but all good with which to bash Labour over the head.
This Gorman reminds me of ShonKey…… Ask him to put up some evidence , and he goes off on to some other blah mindless drivel….. Key does it to use up media airtime….. Sounds good and confident, but no substance….. And certainly no answer.
“No, I challenge you…”
Tan
Trum
Sunday morning, I’ll take a look at The Standard for a while, to see what interesting topics are being discussed there…what’s this? Some person named “Gosman” is demanding we answer questions on his chosen topic! How quaint he is! How petulant and righteous he acts when people point to his churlish behaviour.
Other threads, thankfully, are not infested with his pabulum. I’m look to those.
I started a business 10 years ago this November. I started it because I wanted to generate passive income. I wanted enoughy passive income so that I could as much as possible live the life I want to live. It is my life afterall.
To make this happen there are others who work for me. For many years and still to this day they have been paid and I have not.
If I could I would generatew enough passive income and put in place enough automation so that those working for me no longer had to work unecessarily eaither and could then live the life that they each in turn would like to live.
The realisation I came to and the reason I am wqriting this is that in my view every single person should have passive income. Every person should be ( in a good system…. one designed to work for us ) able to live the life they want to live.
Each person should be able to meet their essential basic needs for themselves and their family. Our system doesnt enable this. People are run ragged and in talking to those in the community the one thing everyone lacks is time.
Time is the other thing that is required for me and you and everyone else to be able to live the life that we would like to live. Whatever that life may be and yours will differ from mine and thats ok.
Having passive income that is enough to live on gives you time also. Time so that you can live the life you want to live.
In living the lives we want to live we currently have to work to earn money in order to survive let alone be able to live the life we want to live. So before we can do that we have two barrieres we need to overcome under the current system. We need to make money for ourselves (enough to live the life we want to live) and before we can do that we need a job of some description.
A system that enables humans or in other words a good system does not put in place barriers. In facrt it seeks to remove them.
Having an entire system where everyone has passive income removes those barriers.
We then have a system that enables each and everyone of us and gives us the time to life the lives we each would like to live.
In our current system their are limited options to enable this to happen and each of them is a barrier to having a system of passive income so each of these should not be used but an entirely new and different way found to enable a better system.
The current options are
tax and redistribute wealth – somewhat illogical if you are changing the system to one that gives people money. Why would you take it from some in the first place besides this only gives those it is being taken from a reason to vote against it.
Increase debt to pay for it. We struggle to pay for essential services such as health and education as it is and we have the highest debt our nation has ever had. It is also counter intuitive to a system designed to give people money to enable them to live the life they want top live. Debt forces people rto work not because the work is rewquired and needs to be done for society, No it requires work top be done to earn money to pay back the debt. It is enslavement by debt so again not a good option.
Printing money well this simply in the current system devalues the currency and reduces purchasaing power so not necessarily a good option either at lewast not within the current currency markets.
Nobody said we had to have a debt based monetary system and if having one enslaves people at a time where there are going to be less jobs available therough technological automation then perhaps we should be looking at the same technological automation to replace thew debt based monetary system with one that generates passive income for everyone and enables us all to have time and to be able to live the life we eaxch woulsd like to live. Not only for us but for every single generation that comes after us.
A thoughtful comment CC. Here is an alternative:
http://burningman.org/culture/philosophical-center/10-principles/
In the context of the festival it works. It changes lives, it opens up a whole sense of possibilities that are entirely shut down in ‘normal life’.
Scratch a hippy…….
Participation sounds egalitarian, but it leads to some interesting contradictions. The most elaborate camps and spectacles tend to be brought by the rich because they have the time, the money, or both, to do so. Wealthier attendees often pay laborers to build and plan their own massive (and often exclusive) camps. If you scan San Francisco’s Craigslist in the month of August, you’ll start to see ads for part-time service labor gigs to plump the metaphorical pillows of wealthy Burners.
The rich also hire sherpas to guide them around the festival and wait on them at the camp. Some burners derogatorily refer to these rich person camps as “turnkey camps.”
https://www.jacobinmag.com/2015/08/burning-man-one-percent-silicon-valley-tech/
And yet the festival thrives despite these aberrations. The people who go truly come in all shapes, sizes and agendas. It’s inevitable there will be contradictions and tensions. With in excess of 60,000 people in one place, it’s far too big to experience the whole of it in the time you are there.
But the point is that for just one week, many people get to live an alternative way of experiencing the world … and that alone energises them.
hi cc, thanx for the comment.
how about a worker owned business, organised along burning man/permaculture principles, looking to transfer to a sharing economy?
less about $ (although they are handy), but stronger in building communities, bringing together the like minded and showing a powerful positive example of cooperation.
You gotta love Iceland. First they tell the global banking system to fuck off, then the world’s first lesbian PM … and now this:
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/aug/12/polls-suggests-icelands-pirate-party-form-next-government
I can see another Turkey event here – with outside interests stoking unrest. Heaven forbid that a country would offer Edward Snowden asylum and direct democracy, that’s never going to happen – to close to the US and his sphere of interest. Fun times ahead for the plucky Iceland. Would that we could grow some cajones and do something similar..
The USA still has a base on the North East of Iceland I think. They will have an interest in politics!
Icelanders think that the name Iceland is a bit strange since Iceland is a very green country yet Greenland is almost totally covered in snow and therefore be better called Iceland.
And yes Iceland has people-power and holds their money players accountable. A model for us?
How self-pity turns toxic, how demagogues use it, and where it leads:
http://thebaffler.com/salvos/pity-o-god-republican-faludi
People may have heard of the “Alt-right”, championed by the likes of the racist troll Milo Yiannopoulos. It’s a mish-mash of reactionary conservatism (of the Gamergate variety), right-wing libertarianism, “meritocracy” and neoliberalism that inevitably metasizes into oligarchism and adulation of dictatorship.
It’s apparently rife among the tech industries and attracts many who at one stage might have described themselves as liberal. I’ve a few friends from Europe old enough to remember the first time around…
http://thebaffler.com/blog/mouthbreathing-machiavellis
https://medium.com/welcome-to-the-scream-room/im-with-the-banned-8d1b6e0b2932#.mri33abl3
http://boingboing.net/2015/01/28/a-beginners-guide-to-the-red.html
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2016/05/05/meet-milo-yiannopoulos-the-appealing-young-face-of-the-racist-alt-right.html
Thought for the day,ethics of civil service
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CpvqwWMWEAAMfJ7.jpg:large
Hi Poisson, that link helps to explain how aspartame, phenolanylin(?) etc got into the food system.
‘Sabbaticals’ for executives between Monsanto and the fda.
Civil service indeed!
in the meantime over in the us another riot brewing after another ‘fleeing’ suspect was killed.
the worlds has become a fucked place
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/ex414
this is actually chilling to watch and to listen to it.
as the guys on the life feed says, the Mainstream Media is not alive.
holy shite, this is the ‘how to create a riot’ by simply not doing anything when one still could.
Couldn’t get that to run on the link provided Sabine.
its a life feed and needs refreshing quite a bit. i
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/ex414
follow the comments on the side of the screen .
fox6news here now.
http://fox6now.com/on-air/live-streaming/
seems to be cooling down. the commentary is just spectacular.
Wayyyy past time for another Colmar Brunton. Always release on a Sunday. There’ll be tears before bed-time if we don’t see one in about half an hour …
Perhaps such a poll has bad news for the Government so they have sent it back to be checked and “adjusted?”
I’ve just got into my Jim-Jams – the ones with the little WWI RAF and Fokker biplanes all over them – I’m now in the process of running upstairs to comb my hair and brush my teeth and then I’ll be tucked up in bed, with tears streaming down my cheeks.
Tomorrow, I might have a bit of a tantrum when I’m in the Supermarket, lying on my back, kicking my feet up in the air. Manager will no doubt come over and ask sympathetically: “Oh now, what’s upsetting ya, young fella, eh ???”. Between all the crying and sobbing, all I’ll be able to blurt out is “Colmar Brunton, No Colmar Brunton !!!”.
i’ve had half a day with a lap top refusing to pick up wifi i was bloody close to tantrum time my self , fortunately for me one of the many icons or buttons i pushed did the trick, buggered i know which one though.
Been there done that. On mine it turned out there is a little slide switch on the side that turned the wifi on and off.
Swordfish love the story of your jim-jams ! But no Swordfish, no tears please. His Effeteness is gone by 2017 if not before.
Oh dear, you’ve got it bad swordfish. But don’t worry. It probs. coming tomorrow night – the day after they did the Q&A hatchet job on Andrew Little.
Once in 500 year flood number eight.
An instant analysis from Climate Nexus refers to today’s Louisiana rainstorm as a “classic signal of climate change.” It’s right. The NWS maintains a statistical database used to calculate the “annual exceedance probability” of a given rainfall event — basically, the expected frequency this event would occur in any given year.
Today’s rainstorm in Louisiana is at least the eighth 500-year rainfall event across America in little more than a year, including similarly extreme downpours in Oklahoma last May, central Texas (twice: last May and last October), South Carolina last October, northern Louisiana this March, West Virginia in June, and Maryland last month.
https://psmag.com/americas-latest-500-year-rainstorm-is-underway-right-now-in-louisiana-98acbdf435d0#.c59wau8hn
More from Jeff Masters.
https://www.wunderground.com/blog/JeffMasters/record-flooding-in-southeast-louisiana-may-get-worse
“Remember when Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg decided to help “fix” Newark’s public schools? In 2010, Zuckerberg — perhaps hoping to improve his image after his callous depiction in biopic The Social Network — donated $100 million to Newark’s education system to overhaul Newark schools.
The money was directed as a part of then–Newark Mayor Cory Booker’s plan to remake the city into the “charter school capital of the nation,” bypassing public oversight through partnership with private philanthropists.
Traditionally, public education has been interwoven with the democratic process: in a given school district, the community elects the school board every few years. School boards then make public decisions and deliberations. Zuckerberg’s donation, and the project it was attached to, directly undermined this democratic process by promoting an agenda to privatize public schools, destroy local unions, disempower teachers, and put the reins of public education into the hands of technocrats and profiteers.”
https://www.jacobinmag.com/2015/08/burning-man-one-percent-silicon-valley-tech/
Well, you have to have the right people running the shop.
/
Perhaps the one thing uniting all neoreactionaries is a critique of modernity that centers on opposition to democracy in all its forms. Many are former libertarians who decided that freedom and democracy were incompatible
https://techcrunch.com/2013/11/22/geeks-for-monarchy/
http://rationalwiki.org/wiki/Neoreactionary_movement
Money rules whatever the provenance, even if it be seeming good guy ‘giving back’…….money rules. We know this.
Remember Peter Talley got knighted.
We honour the wrong people in this country.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/wanganui-chronicle/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503423&objectid=11693272
Bludgers.
Until Friday of last week, council CEO Kym Fell had been talking with Affco, the major trade-waste user, to find an alternative treatment solution that may have resulted in lower costs for the new plant. Affco, Open Country Dairy and Land Meats had indicated they wanted to build their own treatment plant but use the city pipes and consents to discharge into the ocean.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/wanganui-chronicle/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503426&objectid=11690404