IMPEACHMENT
Congress Fires Opening Shot Across Obama’s Bow.
by John Walsh, August 31, 2013 Information Clearing House
“Mr. President, in the case of military operations in Libya you stated that authorization from Congress was not required because our military was not engaged in “hostilities.” In addition, an April 1, 2011, memorandum to you from your Office of Legal Counsel concluded:…”President Obama could rely on his constitutional power to safeguard the national interest by directing the anticipated military operations in Libya—which were limited in their nature, scope, and duration—without prior congressional authorization.’”
“We view the precedent this opinion sets, where “national interest” is enough to engage in hostilities without congressional authorization, as unconstitutional.”
Text from letter of Rep. Scott Regall (R, VA) to Pres. Obama
Signed by 140 Reps, including 21 Democrats
The letter of Scott Regall (1) to Barak Obama has exploded on the scene with its opening words:
“We strongly urge you to consult and receive authorization from Congress before ordering the use of U.S. military force in Syria. Your responsibility to do so is prescribed in the Constitution and the War Powers Resolution of 1973.
“While the Founders wisely gave the Office of the President the authority to act in emergencies, they foresaw the need to ensure public debate – and the active engagement of Congress – prior to committing U.S. military assets. Engaging our military in Syria when no direct threat to the United States exists and without prior congressional authorization would violate the separation of powers that is clearly delineated in the Constitution.”
With these perhaps historic words the Congress has begun to claw back its Constitutional right to decide issues of war and peace. Significantly the letter comes from a Republican lawmaker, and it is clearly a tribute to the leadership of the libertarians in the Republican Party, most notably Ron Paul, Justin Amash and Rand Paul.
But the situation is grave enough, possibly leading on to a World War, that 21 Democrats have challenged the President and their Party bosses to sign the statement. They are moving beyond partisanship as Ron Paul did in challenging George W. Bush on the war on Iraq.
If that were all that the letter said, it would be momentous enough. But the statement goes further and labels Obama’s cruel war on Libya as “unconstitutional,” because it was done without so much as a nod to Congress. In the end no lawyer and no court, not even the Supreme Court, can overrule Congress when it decides what to do when it considers a serious presidential action as “unconstitutional.”
A secret list curated by social network giant Facebook was published online recently after an employee for one of the company’s third-world contractors, upset at his poor working conditions and meager wage, decided to fight back.
Amazing about Facebook all right. But the rules actually reflect and react to the peculiar mental processes of people. It is a desire to prevent all people from being drowned in the outpourings of minds that think that ear wax is interesting or toe-jam, or snot or whatever horrible thing you can imagine.
I once saw a Penthouse or Playboy with photos of a woman defecating onto a piece of glass. Bet many of you immediately think that the woman was disgusting. She was persuaded to do her ‘act’ by something low, probably the reward wasn’t even high.
Many human minds get stuck on reverse or merely low gear for life and have to be limited from spoiling the world for everyone else.
What’s going on here then, from today’s Herald online, Labour MP David Clark has pointed out that the Skycity convention center deal may just cost the tax payer some very big bucks after all,
Apparently the contract between the Government and Sky says that after a negotiation over the design of the convention center if the design agreed costs more than the agreed 402 million dollars the Government can choose to walk away from the deal OR throw in the cash to make up for any shortfall over 402 million dollars….
Another reason to vote NACT out! If “negotiations would continue through the 2014 election year”, then they may not be finished by the election (especially if it’s early in the year). Then a few design modifications to put it up above the $402 million mark, then activate the exit clause. It’s not like Sky City has been negotiating in good faith, so screw the bastards!
Especially if ShonKey uses the asset sale Referendum as an excuse for a snap election! National’s poll numbers aren’t going anywhere but down, so he might want to leave early – like a rat from a ship.
Wouldn’t the best way to raise the price past that $402 million threshold be to put up the purchase price of the TVNZ site. (If it has not been included in deal already, that is)
is the walk away opportunity before or after they get their extra pokies? If sky decide they don’t need a bigger convention centre, would they just have to put forward outrageously expensive specs so the govt walks away, and they still get to create more gambling addicts in the community?
Not sure Mac, the story in the Herald online didn’t go into that detail, a good question tho and hopefully David Clark gives it to Slippery the Prime Minister next time the Parliament is sitting…
I hope WINZ takes this into account before placing ‘work ready’ women in jobs that may involve heavy lifting that might put mothers who have given birth naturally at risk of workplace injury.
Ms De Luen, 60, suffered a vaginal prolapse after lifting an obese patient at Waikato Hospital in March last year, but had to wait 14 months in the public health system for surgery because her employer, Waikato District Health Board, called it a pre-existing condition caused by childbirth. However, an unrelated doctor’s examination two months earlier showed Ms De Luen did not have a prolapse and there was no cause for concern.
Ms De Luen said the pain was almost immediate after she lifted the patient. Four days later, the mother of two adult children, aged 40 and 37, went to her GP, who diagnosed the prolapse.
But the DHB, through its workplace insurer WorkAon under the ACC Partnership Programme, denied the injury was caused by an accident. Instead, it said because Ms De Luen had given birth, it was a pre-existing condition aggravated by the incident.
I guess that even if it is 37 years since the ‘pre-existing condition’ women should stay at home – just to be safe, of course. I mean, who knows what might happen to them if they venture out? They might get ripped off by workplace insurers, or something.
Am I missing something, or is the DHB saying it would rather pay for the surgery itself (via the public list) rather than have its insurer pay for it? Would love to see the cost analysis of that.
“is the DHB saying it would rather pay for the surgery itself ”
It does seem to lead to that conclusion. Is there an increase in the cost of cover if they have too many of these problems? (Deny the employee claim rather than fix the workplace issue is a whole other question). If that’s the case I guess it’s cheaper just to fit her op in when it suits the DHB rather than when it suits her – 14 months earlier would have been nice, I guess, given the pain and inconvenience and lost income.
What sort of insurance agreement is it when the insurer implies that it had no input in the decision to decline cover? And what does it mean that fundamental, complication-free, human activities are ‘pre-existing conditions’?
Did i miss something in the Leadership competition, Labour’s David Cunliffe is being quoted by RadioNZ as saying He will support the ‘Living Wage’ for all workers,
i greeted this news with an emphatically large YES, and who would have thunk it, employers are quoted as having the usual wail and whine about how unaffordable changing the minimum wage to the living wage would be,
Apparently there are some 600,000 workers who would receive a boost in their wages and employers are saying that this would ‘cost them’ 4 billion dollars,
That cost tho is simply alarmism at it’s worst, not all the low waged economy receives the $13.70 that is the minimum wage and if establishing the ‘living wage’ was a matter of 3 yearly steps to reach such a position the ‘cost’ is spread over 3 years,
Employers are being ‘simple’ seeing establishing the living wage as a ‘cost’ after all it isn’t like the low waged demographic are going to hoard such pay rises,
The economy will be the main beneficiary of the living wage as all such money will be spent back into the economy business will compete to grab a slice of such extra cash,
Business competing for a slice of the living wage will at the retail level at least probably have to hire more workers and suppliers will also be busier,
The Government will take in an be able to redistribute more monies from taxation and in general business will be far far busier recouping the living wage as profits….
Grant Robertson has pledged to introduce the wage for all Government workers while David Cunliffe wants to work towards a living wage for all New Zealanders.
Problem with all of this is that the Labour Party determines its policy. So how can they say “I will…” anything that isn’t already policy, and if it is already policy is this a clever way for the party to get its broader policy across under the guise of a leadership contest?
I can’t relate to Jones. I think most here get that. BUT is he appealing to a large group of NZers who need a voice? I don’t really think Labour is chasing my vote (even though I am currently going to vote Green). I am a white middle class female and I am not sure that is the vote Labour is missing out on… altho they are missing out on mine so I recognise I am contradicting myself. Hopefully what I am trying to convey is conveyed?
David Cunliffe wins that one in my opinion, what i would like Labour to release as an election policy is the living wage in the first 3 years of the next Labour Government,
How does Grant Robertson think the average head out there earning sweet F.A and not working for the Government or a Government contractor feels when they look at a policy of raising that minimum wage to a living wage only for those who work directly or indirectly for the government,
i am not effected by that minimum wage and i find it a ‘Bit s**t’ of Grant to paint such a distinction and such a policy is likely to ‘cost’ Labour votes at the 2014 election….
“I’m absolutely committed to seeing the sixth Labour government roll out a living wage as a minimum for public servants and as we can afford it through our contracting process,” Mr Cunliffe told Q+A.
“And yesterday I launched the idea of having an accreditation system where living wage employers could get a preference in government procurement,” he added.
and if I recall Mr Jones didn’t commit to a living wage? He repeated the need to support businesses to grow the economy including using our “resources”. Happy to be corrected on his stance on the living wage. I understand he believes in a near living wage for Ukranian sailors.
Yes David Cunliffe is on the right track here, but i still have the opinion that to go into the 2014 election with a policy of having the living wage for government employees and those contractors to the government’s employees will likely ‘cost’ Labour as many votes as what it would hope to gain,
The Government spend is obviously a huge part of the economy and much of that is spent into foreign economies, it would be good to see a Labour Government instruct ALL CEO’s to go through their budgets line by line to target spending that should be New Zealand based with a view to when contracts are renewed these contracts are biased heavily to New Zealand suppliers,
Contractors then could increase their chances of gaining such contracts by both submitting that they are ‘living wage’ employers along with how long they have been and further increase their chances by stating how many employees they would ‘take on’ by gaining the contracted work,
That’s the sort of business ‘competition’ that would benefit us all…
“The economy will be the main beneficiary of the living wage as all such money will be spent back into the economy business will compete to grab a slice of such extra cash,”
Won’t let me edit for some reason. I would also expect quite a few people to lose their job if the minimum wage went from $13.75 to $18.40, even over a space of 3 years.
Increased inflation will be low and quite acceptable. If the economy begins to overheat (what a nice problem to have instead of a stodgy sluggish economy), simple measures can rein it back in.
I would also expect quite a few people to lose their job if the minimum wage went from $13.75 to $18.40, even over a space of 3 years.
Why? It went from $8/hr in 2002 to $11.25 in 2007 (41% increase in 5 years).
That’s what I’m saying Lanth. Minimum wage got pushed up a large nominal amount, and inflation stayed well under control, and as bad12 said, that’s even given very low unemployment.
It is actually very difficult to generate significant additional inflation. It is a neoliberal theory used by orthodox economists (who are all paid well over the average wage) to scare working people away from seeking decent pay.
(Notice how it doesn’t stop massive pay rises ahead of inflation for the top 5% or 10% of income earners, or massive increases in incomes for corporations).
Hyperinflation is usually the result or very specific conditions. As far as I can tell these are limited to:
– Massive destruction of infrastructure and productive capacity by war.
– Severe currency collapse.
– Severe energy shock.
The “theory” that raising the minimum wage increases unemployment was debunked long ago, when people noticed that that when they raised the minimum wage, unemployment went down.
The minimum wage went to $18, and in order to maintain its workforces there was (and this is a way out there proposition not necessarily reflective of the real outcome) a drop in the increase of pay rates for management and higher earners in the same business and therefore their spending dropped overall, would that counter act inflation from the other end?
Is it possible that if businesses have to go up to $18 and they need those people to produce their goods (so cant lay them off) they would look to reduce salaries higher up the chain? Or pay less when recruiting the next middle management person?
I also wonder if there might not be an increase in productivity from those going from 13 to 18 per hour?
Going from $13.75 to $18/hr will have to be done in stages, and will have to be done in co-ordination with other government spending into the private sector economy.
Effectively you’d be moving wealth from the upper ends of the spectrum to the lower end. I don’t have a problem with that, really.
Well, in effect that is what has been happening for the last 25 years, but from the lower income to the higher income.
And let’s not ignore the share of national income that major corporations receive. I haven’t seen the statistics but I believe it to be massive and growing fast.
For instance, last year banking profits were enough to employ 60,000-70,000 people on $30K pa. Once you take in energy company and telco profits that number would be closer to 150,000.
Hey look…that’s roughly the number of unemployed people in this country. Spooky eh.
Right, the working poor should be mere serfs, not chained by bonds of steel but those of economic ism so that interest rates for the middle class remain low, nice…
What we need is actual money rises paid as set amounts to all, each few years so that poor people have their living maintained in line with measured inflation. The percentage rise, seemingly so egalitarian in speech, is a weapon of the wealthy. 10% rise, sounds good. On $20,000 per year that would be $200, on $200,000 the same percentage gives $2,000 p.a. And who needs it most?
Inflation which is expressed as a percentage is an attempt to keep track of prices and is really useful as an ongoing measure of the rises in price of a set list of items. But that percentage should be calculated to a money amount so that a rise to match inflation does not result in mere cents per hour or a $1 per week say Cullen brought in such a rise which was called the ‘chewing gum’ allowance. That was the Right side of Labour, in love with its ideology and theories, not the people who needed to be loved expressed as humane consideration.
I think for everyone to have a decent standard of living, inflation needs to be at about 5-6%. Keeping inflation at between 0-3% has pretty much inflicted poverty on many people.
It’s strange that we call this the ‘free market’ then, just a thought on inflation, it’s linkage to interest rates is what scares the middle class into accepting the impoverishment of those below them in the economy,
i would be interested to know what would occur if the raising of interest rates were to be taken out of the hands of the Reserve Bank and it’s Governor and be ‘set’ by the Finance Minister,
What would happen in the economy if interest rates were set where they are now and the minimum wage was Legislated as the ‘living wage’,
As a start interest rates for those with mortgages would remain the same, wages for those on the lower rungs of the economy would rise giving them some discretionary spend,
How unstable would prices become and how much discretion would those lower in the economy have in avoiding such price rises is the question…
CV, but in that mix is also the ‘middle class, whether just plain home owners paying off the mortgage or the large number of them with the 2nd and 3rd rental investments also with mortgages attached,
Government can ‘get’ the short term speculators with a Capital Gains Tax, but, if Government were seen to ‘get’ the middle class by allowing interest rates to rise i would suggest that they wouldn’t be the Government for long,
To keep that middle class onside, no matter how much i condemn it’s move in the past 30 years into rental property as an investment, Government has to keep interest rates low,
Unfortunately the current ‘economics of the Apes’ scenario requires then that unemployment is used as a ‘tool’ to suppress demand in the economy along with the other crude ‘tool’ of suppressing wages for a large pool of the workforce,
Obviously Government to avoid the electoral fallout of rising interest rates must find a means of uncoupling interest rates from the inflation equation, a means that at present escapes me…
Currently home mortgage rates are a shitload higher than the Reserve Bank overnight rate of 2.5%.
Raise the rate 1% and force the banks to eat 1% less profit margin = home mortgage rates stay the same, but deposit rates climb by 1%, narrowing the profit margin between bank lending and borrowing rates.
That’s the big difference that “minimum wage causes unemployment” economists miss: workers spend their money at the local market or store, they don’t bank/invest/spend $14k on a meal prepared by a celebrity chef who’ll take the money offshore.
Money gravitates towards money. Stick it away from the big concentrations of cash, and it will pass through many people as it flows back towards the jafaland CBD. Give it to the already rich, and it won’t hit a tenth as many people.
Simple, who the f**k has given the mere suggestion that the living wage be $30 an hour??? the other point i wish to make to Slippery is Expletive deleted, Expletive deleted, Expletive deleted, Expletive deleted…
The $18/per hour figure has come from the Family Centre Social Policy Research Unit following independent research into a New Zealand living wage rate conducted in February 2013.
We arent grabbing figures out of a hat and making a joke of this like you John. A living wage is the income necessary to provide workers and their families with the basic necessities of life. Thats what Labour will provide for New Zealanders.
“Gridlock is predicted to worsen across the Wellington region after Transmission Gully and the Kapiti Expressway are built.
Hardest hit will be Wellington city, as people from Porirua and the Kapiti Coast ditch public transport in favour of a faster, cheaper journey into the capital on the new four-lane highways.
The predictions are contained in a report commissioned by Greater Wellington Regional Council, which warns that local roads could struggle to handle the additional tens of thousands of cars hopping off State Highway 1.
The report, by independent consultant Opus , was completed in December but has not yet reached the regional council table. It will be discussed at committee level next month. ” stuff.co.nz
Yes we were discussing this very gridlock in a Post last week, no time or fuel savings will be gained from Transmission Gully without some serious road building occurring at the point the Ngaraunga interchange disgorges onto the Wellington Urban Motorway where it meets the South bound traffic from the Hutt Valley,
There will simply be gridlock on the Ngaraunga Gorge and the only means of alleviating that gridlock would be to add two more lanes to the South bound Urban Motorway turning it into a ‘crazy spaghetti’ of 5 or 6 lanes which all the traffic Kapiti and Hutt would have a very short stretch of motorway to negotiate so as to be in the ‘right’ lane for their particular off-ramp,
Great for panel beaters but a recipe for disaster in terms of entering Wellington via it’s motorway system, and add another 2 billion dollars to the cost of transmission Gully…
Lolz, i am not sure, ‘it’ was here yesterday but then i think ‘it’ blinked so could be anywhere in ‘it’s’ fantasy world,Melbourne, Sydney, Timbucktoo, who knows…
Gridlock Ahh yes I remember those days spending hours stuck in a car, when mobile internet was a: Not yet invented, and B: when invented prohibitively expensive. So I have now moved the family to the Horowhenua (Yes Lurgee Levin) Sold the damn car built a couple of bikes and a stack of computers wired the house for noise, and here I am for the next 4 years. Oh well it could be worse. I could have to commute in AK or Welly
Now there’s a conundrum, worse or worst ? I always get them confused.
“..The economy will be the main beneficiary of the living wage as all such money will be spent back into the economy business will compete to grab a slice of such extra cash,.”
you are on the money with that one..
..it has long surprised me that labour/the left somehow fails to recognise/argue the potency of this example of basic logic..
..because it is economics 101..that one of the most efficient ways to kickstart an economy –
– is to increase the incomes of those who are forced to spend all of that income on the basics of life..
..this because of the churn..as all of that money goes straight back into the economy/tills. = boost..
..(much more efficient than tax cuts for the richest..eh..?..
..i don’t think we believe that trickle-down chimera..any more..eh..?)
..and this case/argument is proven when you look at the outcomes from richardson/shipley tearing away that ‘churn’-money from sole-parents etc..
..talk to any retailer from the time..and hear their tales of the recession that also hit them..
Indeed phillip ure, i well remember the recession that occurred after the hideous Richardson/Shiply benefit cuts of 1991,
National’s Steven Joyce was on RadioNZ a few minutes ago dragging the ‘jobs will be lost’ red herring through the debate,
Joyce sounded less than confidence, do i detect that note of fear, and Big Shame on RadioNZ for such biased radio for not having had one or both of the candidates appear on the radio to offer their opinion,
It is as you say ‘economics 101’, if you want to ensure the economy functions ‘better’ then put money into the hands of those who have little or no discretionary spending in their weekly budget and they will have little choice but to spend that money straight back into the local economy,
There is of course the i word, Inflation, and befor i sloped off into zzzzzland last night i told myself i need to delve into this side of the economic equation far deeper than i have at present,
the equation at present being that X people are kept unemployed and X people are kept on pitifully low wages to save the middle class and those above from the tyranny of interest rates rising, a situation which sees that middle class agreeing to an economy that is less than fully employed and with wages that make the lower paid demographic mere slaves bound not with chains of steel but instead the iron bonds of economic isms…
Put another log on the fire!!! and the next house price boom will be in??? the Tron, yes Hamilton, the National Government has been busily ensuring that the house price inflation currently burning through the Auckland market takes off in the city due south,
Here’s how, in the past 2 years National have sold off 116 State Houses in the Waikato,(from the Waikato Times online), in those 2 years it has overseen the build of only 33 State houses, despite HousingNZ the States provider of social housing having 114 families waiting on it’s ‘At Risk’ list and another 106 families on it’s ‘serious’ list,
By lowering the number of HousingNZ properties it has in the Waikato the Government is creating demand for rental property, once such a demand is artificially created by this Government the competition to secure property between the Home buyer and those wanting to buy property for rental investment will begin in earnest,
This Government did this and are still doing this in Auckland, selling off the HousingNZ rental stock and not replacing the numbers sold which has kept the demand for rental property growing and lead to price inflation in the Auckland market,
They are obviously now hellbent on repeating the experiment in Hamilton…
“Key conceded many families were struggling, saying “that’s why we have Working for Families and the like”. ” 2013
‘communism by stealth’ and a ‘costly welfare monster’ 2007 and 2008
“Key followed this speech up in February 2007 by committing his party to a programme which would provide food in the poorest schools in New Zealand. 2007 http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0702/S00059.htm
The recent TV propgram of the wealth gap pointed out that housing allowance subsidizes landlords who can charge higher rents; working for families subsidizes employers who can lower wages, and we know lack of a CGT with other legislation force scarcity at the top of the market by running down the rest of the housing stock. The middle and working classes (and a growing under class) are then ripped off by retail and utilities, funneling wealth up to the top of the upper class.
Yes hopefully that is also on the agenda for the next Labour Government, i remeber the contract with Westpac being renewed but cannot remember for how long,
KiwiBank should be readied to be able to conduct all the Governments business along with that should be a deliberate establishment of a large IT campus in one or other City so as to begin to group together the best brains in IT that this country possesses,
We may or may not have IT companies in New Zealand of such robustness as to be able to carry out an education payroll type of contract, but, if brought together in the one place i am sure that the multiple IT companies could and would have achieved a far better outcome for that particular contract than what occurred…
“A rundown three-bedroom Auckland villa with a large hole in the toilet floor and watermarked ceilings has sold for $1.2 million – $75,000 more than the asking price for a three-storey Tauranga mansion with harbour views and a swimming pool.
The two examples show the widening gap between Auckland’s property market and provincial New Zealand, as revealed in the Herald’s quarterly Property Report today.
Bayleys real estate agent Gavin Perry, said houses rarely came up for sale in the popular Tauranga location, just five blocks from the CBD.
“It’s very interesting what you can buy in Tauranga nowadays for $1 million, which is actually what seems like the entry price you can buy for in some parts of Auckland.”
The implications in the spread (AK- provincial nz) as the demographics suggest the aging AK population may realise the capital gains in downsizing to where they will have an equity nestegg.
The building development market has not been producing small 1-2 bedroom housing stocks (aside from retirement centres) for which the market will require over the next 20 yrs or so.
Can someone tell me please, why No Minister has a feed on The Standard?
[lprent: It is a multi-author blog with at least one leftish author and a number of other authors who are periodically readable and show an ability to argue. It also has some complete dipshits who do an excellent impersonation of Whaleoil without the keyboard diarrhea
Besides, I figured that we need a range of views for noisy grumpy old white men. No Minister gives a excellent assortment of those on that fringe. ]
Lolz, from the same program, or is that progrom, Hooten sounded like someone has given His silver spoon a serious twist,
Among the aah’s and ooh’s wee Matty managed to squeeze out that the current leadership contest was a good look for Labour,
i have to of course insert here a Mike Williams ”i agree”, Labour with a new leader possessing the skills to deliver the message will roll into 2014 and roll National back to the Opposition benches where that sorry bunch of silver spoon suckers truly belong…
I noticed that Shane Jones constantly tried to undermine both Robertson and Cunliffe. So much for the united Labour front. (Attempted to make himself out as the economic centrist compared to the other two.
Hammed it up for the camera when Cunliffe suggested an example for economic growth. ‘You’ve heard enough from the left’, hands in ears with wry smile).
Shane has said that he wants to take votes from National but, even if successful, if he were to lead Labour then that would inevitably lead to Labour losing female voters.
Jones even wore the blue tie.
I actually thought Cunliffe and Robertson were quite unified but Jones came across as a yob who basically admitted he’s National lite.
If Jones became PM I could see him becoming a Maori Muldoon.
Hooten and Williams have made some good points about Fonterras handling of the milk powder scare. First time I have heard something useful. I pray that it is not the exception that proves the rule.
* False positives occur.
* System should be that any perceived problem should freeze the powder and isolate it till the matter is investigated.
* That keeps it in-house and avoids the present anxious reaction by all over what has turned out to be nothing of importance.
* It takes time to investigate as not just one small sample but a colony of orgaisms have to be cultured and then examined and analysed.
phillip u
They all tend to be good looking though. I think from the celebrity style of human resource assessment they are successful. And that’s what NACTs want. They are no doubt following the current business practice of considering everyone with a certain level of professional competence to be interchangeable, good looks give extra points – generic and photogenic pollies chirping the same line.
Nick Davies on Bradley Manning and WikiLeaks ( 20′ 43″ )
09:30 Nick Davies broke the phone hacking scandal that had been covered up for
years by Rupert Murdoch’s News International, and his work saw the Guardian, alongside The New York Times, become the main news agency to publish excerpts from thousands of classified documents from US military servers. The cables were leaked by Bradley Manning, who was last month given a 35-year jail term for passing the files to WikiLeaks.
Pundits such as Armstrong are making the claim that the next election will be won/lost in the provinces. “It is in such provincial centres that next year’s election will be won and lost. On that score, Labour has an awful lot of ground to make up.”
Which is why Jones is pitching at the provinces. Am I right in thinking this is crap. The next election will be won/lost where is always has been, the major cities. In particular Auckland, and more particular, if Labour can get the vote out, in South Auckland.
I’m sorry but I dont give a shit about poking my tongue out at donkeyote and kidding myself I am taking part in the poltical process.
On the bus this morning two old ladies were complaining that they could either have a cup of tea or a milkshake but no sandwich to go with either.
There has been a genreal price rise over the last month that nobody seems to care about.
Well if you dont care then some people have too much.
Thats the issue in my book.
Dont have statistics….but I don’t think people from the provinces are particularly enamored with either flashy John Key Nact or Shane Jones
….in the provinces they face the same issues of employment , std of living , youth education, costs of university and employment and health issues as does everyone else….there is a lot of to and fro between country and city
…..what the provinces want IMO is a NZ leader , who understands NZ from a generational perspective, with a steady and ethical and balanced hand on the rudder…While not generally wildly radical….there are traditional Labour voters out in the provinces…just as there are Greens…and there are families who have traditionally voted Labour .
I would say ignore the provinces at your peril…particularly with the party vote
…popular also would be strengthening and retaining community Kiwi Bank ( Govt Guaranteed)and postal outlets( John Key has scoped privatising Kiwi Bank and Treasury has had Goldman Sachs evaluate it …and then downgraded!)
…. and anything else that strengthens local communities………
….eg bringing back Adult Continuing Community Education….( which National ditched)
….strengthen local all night Medical Centre hubs and hospitals for geriatric and respite care also maternity
….create training/apprenticeships for youth
….encouragement for small rural businesses and especially boutique tourist initiatives eg wine /produce/cheese sales at gate
@W Smith….doubt Shane Jones would be popular with the Labour vote and 50% woman vote in the provinces at all!….He is really Nact not Labour….and the women I have talked to aren’t enthused…in fact quite derogatory
The rural vote counts especially in the Party vote …and Cunliffe would do very well!…but not Grant Robertson IMO…however Louise Wall as a straight talking sporty type could do very well as Deputy for Labour Leader Cunliffe
Luddite Environmental Minister accused Greens of using airplanes, this same retort came from those opposed to steam railways, that the railway proponents used stage coaches to get the meeting.
Note to Rhino …. If you’re planning a review (or even an opinion) on the nicest man on Earth later on – chill. Take a deep breath – it ain’t worth the stress!.
It’s just that I’m anticipating you response to Jim Mora and the ‘word’ on Byron Bay.
GOD what a fukwit!
The best thing that went before was where Jesse was coming from – but then they all have mortgages to pay – which is probably a better explanation for 7 # – or whatever the hell it’s called
Good start to the leadership campaign for Robertson, Cunliffe and Jones however a note of caution needs to be sounded.
The last time a labour leader came out with promises but no figures to back them up we got the “show me the money” response and a win to National
If the aspiring leaders are going to go promising pay rises for everyone then they really should know how its going to be paid for…don’t expect any mercy for JK and realise that everything they’re promising will be noted by JK and will be used in the leadership debates
For whatever reason (probably intellectual snobbery) the left have always underestimated John Key: “hes just a money man, a gambler, puppet of USA, reads lines fed to him, media training etc etc”
Maybe he just happens to be really clever…naah the left should just keep underestimating him because that worked really well for Clark, Cullen, Goff, Campbell, Shearer and whoevers next in line to lead Labour…
not sticking up for labour here – but the constant meme of underestimating key – i reckon its only half true. People know hes a smart tricky bugger, but he also is a complete foolish clown.
I dont think its an issue of under estimating him – its more that he can change from goofball to snake at the drop of a hat, so in the modern news cycle he tends to lead because you always need to see which way hes going to go before you can counter it, and by that time hes already walked off to some other thing.
If you think hes going to be a goof and go first – he’ll just change into the snake version and pound you
after all – its hard to tackle a bucket of slime and ooze – it keeps changing shape.
PS – i doubt show me the money will work anymore – theres waaaay to many fiscal fuck ups from the nats now
No but remember some district councils have already realised the living wage would have meant a big increase in rates and so canned it, John Key will use that
Beer bore out of depth—and out of control.
Yet another failure for dire radio chat show The Panel, Radio NZ National, Monday 2 September 2013
Jim Mora, Vicky Hyde, Neil Miller
Today’s programme featured one Neil Miller, a beer writer who also dabbles in commenting about politics, though not to any discernible depth. Over the years as a guest on The Panel, he has sounded off against liberals, trade unions, John Minto and Robert Fisk, and announced that his favorite writer is the unfunny, brutal right wing “comedian” P.J. O’Rourke (Standardistas will remember O’Rourke was the genius who Brian Edwards could not remember interviewing.) Over the last year or so, Miller has refrained from commenting on much about anything beyond boutique beers. When he sticks to his speciality, he is bearable.
Today, however, Miller returned to commenting about politics. He has been listening to Senator Kerry’s ranting about Syria, and has evidently bought it all—-hook, line and sinker. He vehemently raved on for a good two minutes, snarling about the failure of the British parliament to blindly support U.S. claims and making it clear that he believes it is a moral imperative to support the Al-Qaeda rebels and to bomb the civilians of Syria. He was for the whole time uninterrupted and uncontradicted by either Jim Mora or Vicky Hyde, who calls herself a “skeptic”.
Appalled, I fired off the following email….
Please challenge Neil Miller’s credulous and irresponsible comments
Dear Jim,
Neil Miller is repeating US government propaganda as if it was the truth. Repeating John Kerry’s absurd assertions is no sort of argument at all.
Thanks for the letter Morrissey.
He was dreadful, mirroring Key.
“If you can legislate at $18.40 a hour and have no implications, why not make it $30 and hour – and show me one country in the world that has legislated for higher wages and it has been successful,” Key said.
Miller repeated this.
Is Miller ACT?
miller is perhaps the most pig-ignorant (and deeply annoying) of that (often sorry) line up of ‘experts’/’erudite-commenters’/cream of the nations’ intellectuals..eh..?….
..i mean..that ex-cop..?..and that ‘don’ (someone) person..?..
..and those various other ancient reactionaries they wheel/zimmer-frame in..?..(i’m looking at you..brian edwards..)
..i can’t figure out why the fuck he is there..that miller..he just pimps beer..everytime..and that’s it..?…(w.t.f. is that about..?..why is he allowed to do that..?..turn national radio into a fucken infomercial for his piss-pushing commercial-enterprises..?..why is he the only one allowed to do that..?)..
..and he (barely coherently) spouts the latest rightwing-shite/message..
..and his opinions clearly show that aside from his beer-passion..
..he’s as deep as a fucken beer-coaster..
..(and photos show he is a man who truly lives his ‘passion- – maybe a bit too much..eh..?…)..
..he’s the best the nation has/they can do..?
..and the thing is..opinions are one thing..and they can vary..and fair enough..
..but these ‘experts’ are often just allowed to peddle outright-lies..easily proven errors of fact..
..and they are never ever called on them..
..that bullshit is just alllowed to continue to float in the ether..
(btw..i didn’t hear it today..and can’t be bothered listening online..
..what did they say about byron bay..?..
(i lived there for a number of years..and there are worse places in the world to be..
..great service-industries there at the time..you could get cocaine home-delivered @ 3.00am/whenever..should you so choose/desire..
..and of course..there was the ‘mullumbimby-madness’..eh..?..
..i threw a birthday-party for my daughter when she turned ten..that went down in local-history..)
Will any candidate’s partner/spouse be running the party? No.
So what would they be in a campaign? Decoration.
People aren’t placards. Maybe all the significant others have better things to do than distract from a quite and interesting and fairly positive leadership campaign.
Put a sock in it Chris73. You’d be bitching your head off if he did. Already your lot have engaged the most intrusive and rubbishy bullshit about the Cunliffes’ baby care arrangements.
It was a dumb comment Cunliffe made, he should have said something like “we’ve worked hard to get here and I want to make sure everyone else has the same opportunity”
If I remember correctly Cunliffe did say that, can’t remember exactly what he said but I think the message was something similar to this. “I have climbed aboard and I am going to make sure the ladder is not removed so others cannot climb aboard.”
After seeing prat Gower this evening on TV3, the right is definitely shitting themselves that Cunliffe might WIN.
Cunliffe already gave an excellent response: ie they were a couple of kids from modest backgrounds, who, unlike the Nats, won’t be pulling the ladder up after themselves.
Predictable lack lustre response from you Chris73……….but sort of proves my point. You’ve picked a Catch 22 and your trolldom is invigorated. Don’t you have a fuck’n’ life in the realm of reasonable understanding ?
I guess shitting does this to people. Every orifice helps out………
Actually her background and the fact the old guard are backing Robertson is why I think Cunliffe is a better bet for Labour then Robertson also ruling out Norman is a big plus
Neil Miller on Mora this afternoon – once billed simply as a beer expert now trotted out as a political commentator as well – Miller made some claim (no authority cited) along the lines that changes to the youth rate put 9,000 youth job holders out of their jobs (this in the context of a discussion about living wage). I don’t know whether that’s true or not.
I am naturally suspicious of Miller however. For a start his voice and talky down persona reminds me very much of Simon Bridges. Secondly and obviously more importantly he always seems to me to be an unmitigated ShonKey Python sucker and arrogant with it. Coming out with the most extraordinary unabashed claims such as today re the referendum – “the asset sales question is corrupted by people playing politics” (paraphrased). Pleasingly the other panelist ticked him off for this mocking dismissal of democracy.
Those having knowledge (supported by reputable authority) re Miller’s claim that youth rate changes (presumably an increase) put 9,000 youth job holders out of their jobs, please share. If this was a bullshit throwaway line or only part of the story Miller must be castigated as must Mora for allowing it without challenge.
And as Morrissey pointed out, he raved on about supporting the US Intervention in Syria.
Apart from his interest in beer, what else do we know about him?
What makes him such an out and out right wing nut job?
Perhaps he is popular for offering to pay rounds at the pub. That would not be impossible in swaying Mora’s choice when you hear his varied selection of talkers passing themselves as experts or wits or informed incisive commentators.
No no no he’s not a RWJN……….he’s one of those arseholes who knows everything and to him his spot on Mora is just proof of that. And in truth Mora is in symbiosis with that notwithstanding the hideous Mr Affable so relentlessly performed.
Just selfish backward “I’m famous” fuckwits squatted on their upper middle class fart cushions……..that hilarious feature akshully being superfluous given their ugly sphincters’ failings – a gaseousness approaching intolerably toxic levels for the rest of us.
They know nothing about the broadness of life in NZ and care not therefore !
It’s all about the shitty “them”. What a waste of public money……..
I’ll believe you – I couldn’t stand hanging around for The Panel. A couple of hours of Mora before that – including his agreeing with anything and everything the man from Byron Bay said just made me want to puke
Does anyone know if he’s related to Michael Mora btw? If so they’d be chalk and cheese.
As for the Miller and Mora thing – you’ll notice Mora agrees with EVERYTHING his guests say. The reason everyone thinks he’s just the cat’s whisker is that his tactic is to compliment and grovel to anyone he has on the programme (such as it is). The guy’s so inoffensive, it’s offensive.
Current affairs and information it’s not!
But Tim he doesn’t emphasise CA&I really. He has some other phrase like A Panel like No Other or something, that would be right. He’s just a guy who has got the name of being nice because he goes round and smartens up people’s gardens on tv. And that makes him a real treasure don’t you think? We all love people who do that, there is such a need. I know I have one, for a better garden that is. And that makes him an expert on the latest populist viewpoint I should think.
Fascinating piece on Oz politics. Their system of preferential voting. If you tick for above the line choice of preferences then you go with whatever the party you voted for has chosen. If you want to choose for yourself, you go below the line. And each box has to be filled out in some sort of order or the whole thing is invalid.
I have voted there years ago before they decided that NZs weren’t people of standing, and it wasn’t easy then. Now apparently there have been a rash of small parties. They are all to be printed and I think it’s in the 100’s, did I hear 253, and fitted on an A3 sheet sideways which is the maximum size for the printing process. But to get all the parties and boxes on, the font will be so small that a magnifying sheet will be needed. Pythonesque. Have a good tipple of Schadenfreude.
Insight program on Nights with Bryan Crump. http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/insight
NZ Radio Awards 2013: winner of the Best Documentary or Feature Programme & co-winner of Best Daily or Weekly series under an Hour Duration
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The Minister for Disability Issues must act urgently to reinstate flexibility around the funding for disability support and apologise to disabled carers. ...
This story has been initiated by a leftie shill reporter who proactively sought to call a member of a former band, which disbanded twelve years ago, give their biased appraisal of what was said in my speech, and concocted a ham-fisted attempt at a story that does nothing but show ...
The Government has accepted Labour’s change to the Road User Charge (RUC) discount for hybrid vehicles, meaning there will still be some incentive for people to buy greener vehicles. ...
Many in the mainstream media have taken what was said in New Zealand First’s State of the Nation Speech in Palmerston North on Sunday and deliberately, deceitfully, and ignorantly misrepresented what I said and why I said it. The headlines and commentary on the news stated that I compared ‘co-governance ...
Kicking the most vulnerable people out of state housing and pushing them towards homelessness will result in a proliferation of poverty and trauma across our most vulnerable communities. ...
Te Pāti Māori co-leader and MP for Waiariki, Rawiri Waititi has penned a letter asking MPs to support his members bill to remove GST from all food. The bill is expected to go through its first reading in parliament this Wednesday. “I’m calling on all political parties to support my ...
Good afternoon. Thank you for, in your very busy lives, turning up to this meeting today. On October 14th last year New Zealanders overwhelmingly voted for change. That is exactly what this new government is bringing. New Zealand First campaigned to ‘take back our country’ and stop the disastrous economic ...
This year is about getting real with Kiwis and discussing the tough issues, as the National Government exacerbates inequality and divides New Zealand, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said ...
The Government adding Significant Natural Areas (SNAs) to its already roaring environmental policy bonfire is an assault on the future of wildlife that makes Aotearoa unique. ...
After 12 years of fighting to protect our moana we are finding ourselves back at square one and back at court. Today, the Environmental Protection Agency is sitting in Hawera to reconsider an application from Trans-Tasman Resources to dig up 50 million tonnes of the seabed in South Taranaki. This ...
Minister Shane Jones’ decision to step away from a seabed mining project is evidence of the murky waters surrounding the Government’s fast-track legislation. ...
The growth of Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation caused so much worry that a special oversight group was set up by the last government in a bid to get greater coherence in the publicservice on Treaty matters. When ministers first considered the need for tighter oversight in 2021, there ...
The growth of Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation caused so much worry that a special oversight group was set up by the last government in a bid to get greater coherence in the publicservice on Treaty matters. When ministers first considered the need for tighter oversight in 2021, there ...
The Coalition Government’s miscalculation saga continues as it has forgotten an eyewatering $90 million gap in its interest deductibility cost figures, say Labour Finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds and Revenue Spokesperson Deborah Russell. ...
He Pou a Rangi Climate Change Commission has today released advice that says if the Government doesn’t act now New Zealand is at risk of not meeting its climate goals. ...
The Coalition Government has today confirmed it is abandoning first home buyers who are struggling to get ahead, says Labour Finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds. ...
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed the passing of legislation to move light electric vehicles (EVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) into the road user charges system from 1 April. “It was always intended that EVs and PHEVs would be exempt from road user charges until they reached two ...
New Zealand is strengthening its ability to combat illegal fishing outside its domestic waters and beef up regulation for its own commercial fishers in international waters through a Bill which had its first reading in Parliament today. The Fisheries (International Fishing and Other Matters) Amendment Bill 2023 sets out stronger ...
Economists Carl Hansen and Professor Prasanna Gai have been appointed to the Reserve Bank Monetary Policy Committee, Finance Minister Nicola Willis announced today. The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) is the independent decision-making body that sets the Official Cash Rate which determines interest rates. Carl Hansen, the executive director of Capital ...
Apartment owners and buyers will soon have greater protections as further changes to the law on unit titles come into effect, Housing Minister Chris Bishop says. “The Unit Titles (Strengthening Body Corporate Governance and Other Matters) Amendment Act had already introduced some changes in December 2022 and May 2023, and ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters will travel to Egypt and Europe from this weekend. “This travel will focus on a range of New Zealand’s traditional diplomatic and security partnerships while enabling broad engagement on the urgent situation in Gaza,” Mr Peters says. Mr Peters will attend the NATO Foreign ...
Transport Minister Simeon Brown is encouraging all road users to stay safe, plan their journeys ahead of time, and be patient with other drivers while travelling around this Easter long weekend. “Road safety is a responsibility we all share, and with increased traffic on our roads expected this Easter we ...
About 1.4 million New Zealanders will receive cost of living relief through increased government assistance from April 1 909,000 pensioners get a boost to Superannuation, including 5000 veterans 371,000 working-age beneficiaries will get higher payments 45,000 students will see an increase in their allowance Over a quarter of New Zealanders ...
Ensuring social housing is being provided to those with the greatest needs is front of mind as the Government restarts social housing tenancy reviews, Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka says. “Our relentless focus on building a strong economy is to ensure we can deliver better public services such as social ...
The Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary will not go ahead, with Cabinet deciding to stop work on the proposed reserve and remove the Bill that would have established it from Parliament’s order paper. “The Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary Bill would have created a 620,000 sq km economic no-go zone,” Oceans and Fisheries Minister ...
Dam safety regulations are being amended so that smaller dams won’t be subject to excessive compliance costs, Minister for Building and Construction Chris Penk says. “The coalition Government is focused on reducing costs and removing unnecessary red tape so we can get the economy back on track. “Dam safety regulations ...
The coalition Government is expanding the medium-scale adverse event classification to parts of the North Island as dry weather conditions persist, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced today. “I have made the decision to expand the medium-scale adverse event classification already in place for parts of the South Island to also cover the ...
The passing of legislation giving effect to coalition Government tax commitments has been welcomed by Finance Minister Nicola Willis. “The Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill will help place New Zealand on a more secure economic footing, improve outcomes for New Zealanders, and make our tax system ...
Science, Innovation and Technology Minister Judith Collins and Tertiary Education and Skills Minister Penny Simmonds today announced plans to transform our science and university sectors to boost the economy. Two advisory groups, chaired by Professor Sir Peter Gluckman, will advise the Government on how these sectors can play a greater ...
The Budget will deliver urgently-needed tax relief to hard-working New Zealanders while putting the government’s finances back on a sustainable track, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The Finance Minister made the comments at the release of the Budget Policy Statement setting out the Government’s Budget objectives. “The coalition Government intends ...
The coalition Government will look at options to address a zoning issue that limits how much financial support Queenstown residents can get for accommodation. Cabinet has agreed on a response to the Petitions Committee, which had recommended the geographic information MSD uses to determine how much accommodation supplement can be ...
Cabinet has agreed to a short extension to the final reporting timeframe for the Royal Commission into Abuse in Care from 28 March 2024 to 26 June 2024, Internal Affairs Minister Brooke van Velden says. “The Royal Commission wrote to me on 16 February 2024, requesting that I consider an ...
The coalition Government is delivering an $18 million boost to New Zealanders needing to travel for specialist health treatment, Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says. “These changes are long overdue – the National Travel Assistance (NTA) scheme saw its last increase to mileage and accommodation rates way back in 2009. ...
The Government is recognising the innovative and rising talent in New Zealand’s growing space sector, with the Prime Minister and Space Minister Judith Collins announcing the new Prime Minister’s Prizes for Space today. “New Zealand has a growing reputation as a high-value partner for space missions and research. I am ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has confirmed New Zealand’s concerns about cyber activity have been conveyed directly to the Chinese Government. “The Prime Minister and Minister Collins have expressed concerns today about malicious cyber activity, attributed to groups sponsored by the Chinese Government, targeting democratic institutions in both New ...
Independent Reviewers appointed for School Property Inquiry Education Minister Erica Stanford today announced the appointment of three independent reviewers to lead the Ministerial Inquiry into the Ministry of Education’s School Property Function. The Inquiry will be led by former Minister of Foreign Affairs Murray McCully. “There is a clear need ...
State Highway 1 across the Brynderwyns will be open for Easter weekend, with work currently underway to ensure the resilience of this critical route being paused for Easter Weekend to allow holiday makers to travel north, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Today I visited the Brynderwyn Hills construction site, where ...
Introduction Good morning to you all, and thanks for having me bright and early today. I am absolutely delighted to be the Minister for Infrastructure alongside the Minister of Housing and Resource Management Reform. I know the Prime Minister sees the three roles as closely connected and he wants me ...
New Zealand stands with the United Kingdom in its condemnation of People’s Republic of China (PRC) state-backed malicious cyber activity impacting its Electoral Commission and targeting Members of the UK Parliament. “The use of cyber-enabled espionage operations to interfere with democratic institutions and processes anywhere is unacceptable,” Minister Responsible for ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters and Defence Minister Judith Collins today announced New Zealand will provide logistics support for the upcoming Solomon Islands election. “We’re sending a team of New Zealand Defence Force personnel and two NH90 helicopters to provide logistics support for the election on 17 April, at the request ...
The European Union Free Trade Agreement Legislation Amendment Bill received Royal Assent today, completing the process for New Zealand’s ratification of its free trade agreement with the European Union. “I am pleased to announce that today, in a small ceremony at the Beehive, New Zealand notified the European Union ...
Public consultation on the terms of reference for the Royal Commission into COVID-19 Lessons has concluded, Internal Affairs Minister Hon Brooke van Velden says. “I have been advised that there were over 11,000 submissions made through the Royal Commission’s online consultation portal.” Expanding the scope of the Royal Commission of ...
Hardworking families are set to benefit from a new credit to help them meet their early childcare education (ECE) costs, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. From 1 July, parents and caregivers of young children will be supported to manage the rising cost of living with a partial reimbursement of their ...
A specialised Independent Technical Advisory Group (ITAG) tasked with preparing and publishing independent non-binding advice on the design of a "green" (sustainable finance) taxonomy rulebook is being established, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. “Comprising experts and market participants, the ITAG's primary goal is to deliver comprehensive recommendations to the ...
Defence Minister Judith Collins has thanked the Chief of Army, Major General John Boswell, DSD, for his service as he leaves the Army after 40 years. “I would like to thank Major General Boswell for his contribution to the Army and the wider New Zealand Defence Force, undertaking many different ...
25 March 2024 Minister to meet Australian counterparts and Manufacturing Industry Leaders Small Business, Manufacturing, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly will travel to Australia for a series of bi-lateral meetings and manufacturing visits. During the visit, Minister Bayly will meet with his Australian counterparts, Senator Tim Ayres, Ed ...
Government commits almost $3 million for period products in schools The Coalition Government has committed $2.9 million to ensure intermediate and secondary schools continue providing period products to those who need them, Minister of Education Erica Stanford announced today. “This is an issue of dignity and ensuring young women don’t ...
Good morning, it’s great to be here. First, I would like to acknowledge the New Zealand Institute of Building Surveyors and thank you for the opportunity to be here this morning. I would like to use this opportunity to outline the Government’s ambitious plan and what we hope to ...
Minister for Pacific Peoples Dr Shane Reti has announced the Government’s commitment to the Auckland Secondary Schools Māori and Pacific Islands Cultural Festival, more commonly known as Polyfest. “The Ministry for Pacific Peoples is a longtime supporter of Polyfest and, as it celebrates 49 years in 2024, I’m proud to ...
Before moving onto the substance of today’s address, I want to recognise the very significant and ongoing contribution the Breast Cancer Foundation makes to support the lives of New Zealand women and their families living with breast cancer. I very much enjoy working with you. I also want to recognise ...
New Zealand has notched up a first with the launch of University of Canterbury research to the International Space Station, Science, Innovation and Technology and Space Minister Judith Collins says. The hardware, developed by Dr Sarah Kessans, is designed to operate autonomously in orbit, allowing scientists on Earth to study ...
Introduction Thank you for inviting me to speak with you today and I’m sorry I can’t be there in person. Yesterday I started in Wellington for Breakfast TV, spoke to a property conference in Auckland, and finished the day speaking to local government in Christchurch, so it would have been ...
The Coalition Government is contributing more than $1 million to support the establishment of an emergency multi-agency coordination centre in Northland. Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell announced the contribution today during a visit of the Whangārei site where the facility will be constructed. “Northland has faced a number ...
New Zealanders have enjoyed a broader range of voices telling the story of Aotearoa thanks to the creation of Whakaata Māori 20 years ago, says Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka. The minister spoke at a celebration marking the national indigenous media organisation’s 20th anniversary at their studio in Auckland on ...
Commercial catch limits for some fisheries have been increased following a review showing stocks are healthy and abundant, Ocean and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The changes, along with some other catch limit changes and management settings, begin coming into effect from 1 April 2024. "Regular biannual reviews of fish ...
Opposition MPs and unions are criticising a proposal by New Zealand’s Ministry of Pacific Peoples to cut staff by 40 percent. The country’s largest trade union — The Public Service Association — says the ministry has informed staff that it is looking to shed 63 of 156 positions. Opposition MPs ...
A poem by Poetry Aotearoa Yearbook 2024 featured poet Carin Smeaton. Daughtr of the 90s when she gets promoted to usherette a baby blu eel carries her all the way up to mothership she’s hovering high she lets the underaged in to see keanu reeves she lets the only lonely ...
Analysis by Keith Rankin. Keith Rankin, trained as an economic historian, is a retired lecturer in Economics and Statistics. He lives in Auckland, New Zealand. My earlier article – Can ‘Good’ be the Greater Evil? – looked at the issue of how wars should end, and how Good versus Evil ...
The only published and available best-selling indie book chart in New Zealand is the top 10 sales list recorded every week at Unity Books’ stores in High St, Auckland, and Willis St, Wellington.AUCKLAND1 AMMA by Saraid de Silva (Moa Press, $38)A stunning debut novel reviewed by Brannavan ...
From Steve Martin to Ricky Stanicky, a pick’n’mix of things worth watching and listening to this long weekend. This is an excerpt from our weekly pop culture newsletter Rec Room. Sign up here. If you’re at a loss for something to occupy yourself with this Easter, don’t panic: The Spinoff’s got ...
Jesus had dinner with his 12 disciples right before he died. Noted historian Madeleine Chapman finds out who really deserved to be there.First published in 2018 but let’s be honest, the subject is timeless. As you sit on your couch this Easter Sunday, eating a chocolate egg you know ...
The newly-promoted Northern League club is on a mission to return to the National League for the first time in two decades. Plenty about domestic football in New Zealand has changed in that time – but the sense that this amateur competition is not an entirely level playing field remains. ...
Comment: Every year on February 2, a dozen men in tuxedos and top hats approach the burrow of a groundhog in Gobbler’s Knob, Pennsylvania and entice the beaver-like rodent to emerge and predict the weather. If the groundhog, named Punxsutawney Phil, sees its own shadow when it is summoned, legend ...
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Auckland Council has put a deadline on new weather-impacted property owners applying for categorisation as government funding looks set to run out. Councillors have voted to support a deadline of September 30 for property owners who haven’t accessed support to come forward and engage with the council’s recovery office. It ...
NONFICTION 1 BBQ Economics by Liam Dann (Penguin Random House, $40) “It’s official,” wrote Dann nine days ago in the Herald, where he works as business editor at large, “we’re in recession.” Yeah, great. He delivered the bad stats: “GDP fell 0.1 percent in the December 2023 quarter, compared with ...
By Anneke Smith, RNZ News political reporter A petition urging the New Zealand government to provide urgent humanitarian assistance to the Palestinian people has been tabled in the House. More than 200 people gathered on Parliament’s forecourt today and they were met by MPs from Labour, the Greens and Te ...
Pacific Media Watch The Paris-based global media freedom watchdog RSF (Reporters Without Borders) has appealed for information about the “disappearance” of Palestinian journalist Bayan Abusultan. She was reportedly last seen on March 19 among people “sequestered” in this week’s raid and siege of Al Shifa hospital by Israeli troops in ...
EDITORIAL:The Jakarta Post It happens again and again; indigenous Papuans fall victim to Indonesian soldiers. This time, we have photographic evidence for the brutality, with videos on social media showing a Papuan man being tortured by a group of plainclothes men alleged to be the Indonesian Military (TNI) members. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Robyn J. Whitaker, Director of the Wesley Centre for Theology, Ethics, and Public Policy & Associate Professor, New Testament, Pilgrim Theological College, University of Divinity A strange and eclectic range of activities takes place across these few weeks of the year. Some ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Panizza Allmark, Professor Visual & Cultural Studies, Edith Cowan University It’s Easter weekend, which means many of us will be kicking back with the greatest hits on repeat. But whether you’re a boomer, or an ‘80s or ’90s kid, you might be ...
RNZ Pacific Fiji’s Acting Public Prosecutor has filed an appeal against the sentences of former prime minister Voreqe Bainimarama and suspended police chief Sitiveni Qiliho in their corruption case. Bainimarama was granted an absolute discharge for attempting to pervert the course of justice while Qiliho received a conditional discharge with ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Arosha Weerakoon, Senior Lecturer and General Dentist, School of Dentistry, The University of Queensland Casezy idea/Shutterstock How does toothpaste work? What did people use before toothpaste was invented? – Amelia, age 7, Meanjin (Brisbane) Thanks for your ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Brett Hallam, Associate professor, UNSW Sydney IM Imagery/Shutterstock Solar SunShot is well named. The Australian government announced today it would plough A$1 billion into bringing back solar manufacturing to Australia, boosting energy security, swapping coal and gas jobs for those ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Clare Dix, Research Fellow in Nutrition & Dietetics, The University of Queensland Easter is the time for chocolate. The shops are full of fantastically packaged and shiny chocolates in all shapes and sizes, making trips to the supermarket with children more challenging ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Emma Felton, Adjunct Senior Researcher, University of South Australia Even in a stubborn cost-of-living crisis, it seems there’s one luxury most Australians won’t sacrifice – their daily cup of coffee. Coffee sales have largely remained stable, even as financial pressures have ...
Mining company Trans-Tasman Resources has unexpectedly withdrawn its application for a consent to suck the valuable metals vanadium and titanium from the Taranaki seafloor, as it apparently wagers on the Government’s new fast-track process. It had spent two-and-a-half days putting its case to the Environmental Protection Agency’s decision-making committee, at ...
Contrary to the Associate Minister of Education’s claims, analysis of Healthy School Lunches Programme - Ka Ora, Ka Ako assessments has revealed it provides excellent value for the taxpayer dollar, as a groundswell of public opposition to Government ...
Greenpeace says wannabe Taranaki seabed miner Trans-Tasman Resources is likely banking on Christopher Luxon’s fast-track process to side-step proper scrutiny of its Taranaki seabed mining proposal by bailing out of the Environmental Protection Agency hearing ...
Kiwis Against Seabed mining today slammed Australian owned would-be seabed miner Trans Tasman Resources (TTR) for abandoning its application to the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) to mine the seabed of the South Taranaki Bight. The company ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Katie Attwell, Associate Professor, School of Social Sciences, The University of Western Australia Ground Picture/Shutterstock Months after COVID vaccines were introduced in 2021, governments and private organisations mandated them for various groups. Health and aged care workers were among the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andrew Dzurak, Scientia Professor Andrew Dzurak, CEO and Founder of Diraq, UNSW Sydney Diraq For decades, the pursuit of quantum computing has struggled with the need for extremely low temperatures, mere fractions of a degree above absolute zero (0 Kelvin or ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adrian Beaumont, Election Analyst (Psephologist) at The Conversation; and Honorary Associate, School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Melbourne A national Essential poll, conducted March 20–24 from a sample of 1,150, gave the Coalition a 50–44 lead including undecided, a reversal ...
The Taxpayers’ Union has today made a formal request under the Regulations of the People’s Republic of China on Open Government Information () for information held about how New Zealand Members of Parliament are spending taxpayer ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Robert Nelson, Honorary Principal Fellow, The University of Melbourne A Byzantine depiction of the Eucharist in Saint Sophia Cathedral, Kyiv.Jacek555/Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA A nasty quarrel arose in the 11th century over what kind of bread should be used in holy ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Patrick Hesp, Professor, Flinders University Patrick Hesp In some parts of Australia, coastal dunes are retreating from the ocean at an alarming rate, as waves carve up the beach and wind blows the sand inland. But coastal communities are largely ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Luke Heemsbergen, Senior Lecturer, Digital, Political, Media, Deakin University With an impressive 60% of the US smartphone market, Apple is undeniably big, but not a clear monopoly. Yet, years of innovation by Apple have effectively given the company its own exclusive ...
Whether you’re facing layoffs or are just an emotional junior staffer, it’s always a good idea to scout out a good crying place before you need it. It’s an incredibly hard time for Wellington. Across the city, thousands of public servants are hearing tough news about redundancies and layoffs. Government ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By James Miller-Jones, Professor, Curtin University Nuclear explosions on a neutron star feed its jets. Danielle Futselaar and Nathalie Degenaar, Anton Pannekoek Institute, University of Amsterdam, CC BY-SA How fast can a neutron star drive powerful jets into space? The answer, it ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Daryl Adair, Associate Professor of Sport Management, University of Technology Sydney Earlier this week, independent MP Andrew Wilkie accused the AFL of conducting “off the books” illicit drug testing to identify players using substances of abuse, then inappropriately withdrawing them from matches ...
The Government’s announcement that it will scrap plans for a vast marine sanctuary around the Kermadec Islands is ‘shameful’ and will make it impossible for Aotearoa New Zealand to meet its international commitments, says the World Wide Fund for Nature ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Quiggin, Professor, School of Economics, The University of Queensland Shutterstock The federal government has bowed to pressure from the car industry, announcing it will relax proposed emissions rules for utes and vans and delay enforcement of the new standards ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Suzanne Rutland, Professor Emerita, University of Sydney In his latest book, Jewish Life in Medieval Spain, Jonathan Ray focuses on the tumult of the 14th century in Spain – a time of the plague, civil strife and war between the two largest ...
While creating a slate of world-class shows, Whakaata Māori also developed a generation of world-class creatives. Television is an odd word. It mixes the Ancient Greek and Latin languages, and its most literal meaning is “far-off sight”. In the contemporary and living language of te reo Māori, “whakaata” as a ...
Yesterday the UN Security Council passed a resolution demanding an immediate ceasefire in Israel’s war on Gaza. This significant step and the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza prompted an urgent debate in the New Zealand Parliament. Leader ...
The Government’s decision to reduce access to continuous glucose monitors (CGM) not only threatens the lives of children with type 1 diabetes and increases the potential for ‘Dead in Bed’ syndrome, but also threatens the health of their parents an ...
Apples are available year-round, but the wide variety on offer involves intensive scientific research – and large-scale commercialisation. What’s beautiful, red, sweet and crunchy? Tony Martin’s favourite kind of apple: Sassy. The CEO of apple and pear breeding organisation Prevar, Martin’s fondness for Sassy represents professional success as well as ...
Family violence specialist service Shine is calling on employers to stop asking for proof of domestic violence in order for employees to access domestic violence leave. The call comes five years after the introduction of the Domestic Violence ...
The Deputy Chairperson of the Finance and Expenditure Committee is calling for public submissions on the Budget Policy Statement 2024. The Budget Policy Statement 2024 (BPS) sets out the Government's priorities for the 2024 Budget. It explains the approach ...
Brutal government spending cuts that will see the size of the Ministry for Pacific Peoples slashed by 40% will hit Pasifika communities hard, the PSA says. The Ministry has told staff that it is seeking voluntary redundancies, and to redeploy and reassign ...
I live with five people I mostly love, but our different ideas about generosity are starting to really irk me.Want Hera’s help? Email your problem to helpme@thespinoff.co.nzDear Hera,This is a bit of a random one but here goes. I’m 22 and work an OK job (OK meaning I get paid ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Maria Nicholas, Senior Lecturer in Language and Literacy Education, Deakin University Earlier this month, the New South Wales government announced it would roll out programs for gifted students in every public school in the state. This comes amid concerns gifted school ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Christopher Rudge, Law lecturer, University of Sydney Massachusetts General Hospital In a world first, we heard last week that US surgeons had transplanted a kidney from a gene-edited pig into a living human. News reports said the procedure was a ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By David Tombs, Howard Paterson Chair of Theology and Public Issues, University of Otago The 5th-century Maskell panel showing Jesus in a loincloth.British Museum, CC BY-NC-SA When Jesus is shown on the cross, he is almost always depicted wearing a loincloth around ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Panizza Allmark, Professor Visual & Cultural Studies, Edith Cowan University Shutterstock When you think about a red object, you might picture a red carpet, or the massive ruby in the Queen’s crown. Indeed, Western monarchies and marketing from brands such ...
COMMENTARY:Jewish Voice for Peace The UN Security Council passed a resolution demanding an immediate ceasefire in Gaza on Monday — and for the first time since the beginning of the Israeli military’s genocide of Palestinians, the United States abstained rather than vetoing it. Security Council resolutions are legally binding, ...
Asia Pacific Report A New Zealand investigative journalist and author says the US spy system hosted by the Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB) appears to be a controversial intelligence system used in global capture-kill operations. Writing a commentary for RNZ News today, Nicky Hager, author of Secret Power, a 1996 ...
While Nicola Willis wouldn’t give any details on its size, she said a package of tax cuts is definitely still coming in this year’s budget, writes Catherine McGregor in this excerpt from The Bulletin, The Spinoff’s morning news round-up. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign up here. ...
The Taxpayers’ Union is welcoming the investigation into the Department of Internal Affairs after it was revealed that the Department’s Chief Executive personally reached out to expedite a DJs passport application. Taxpayers’ Union Campaigns ...
Finance minister Nicola Willis delivers her first budget statement, and unwittingly helps Joel MacManus save his relationship. Nicola Willis strode into the Beehive Theatrette. Around me, on the green foldout seats, were the country’s top business and political journalists. They were all here to see her announce the Budget Policy ...
Twenty years ago today, Māori Television launched after much controversy. Jamie Tahana looks back on its survival and impact across two decades. Chad Chambers stepped onto the stage, the brim of his cap casting a shadow across his face. His smile beamed as bright as his white freezing works gumboots, ...
Tauranga, Rotorua, Wellsford, Onehunga, Westhaven marina – Gavin Strawhan walks the meanish streets of New Zealand in his entertaining debut novel The Call, almost sure to roar into the number 1 position on the Nielsen bestseller chart, its front cover bearing a rave from somebody: “A really good and genuinely ...
On a Thursday in February, at Wellington’s Conservation House, the Conservation Authority, a statutory body advising the eponymous department and minister, Tama Potaka, opened its 195th meeting. Under consideration that afternoon was an agenda item written by Tim Bamford, chief advisor in the Department of Conservation’s biodiversity, heritage and visitors ...
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IMPEACHMENT
Congress Fires Opening Shot Across Obama’s Bow.
by John Walsh, August 31, 2013 Information Clearing House
“Mr. President, in the case of military operations in Libya you stated that authorization from Congress was not required because our military was not engaged in “hostilities.” In addition, an April 1, 2011, memorandum to you from your Office of Legal Counsel concluded:…”President Obama could rely on his constitutional power to safeguard the national interest by directing the anticipated military operations in Libya—which were limited in their nature, scope, and duration—without prior congressional authorization.’”
“We view the precedent this opinion sets, where “national interest” is enough to engage in hostilities without congressional authorization, as unconstitutional.”
Text from letter of Rep. Scott Regall (R, VA) to Pres. Obama
Signed by 140 Reps, including 21 Democrats
The letter of Scott Regall (1) to Barak Obama has exploded on the scene with its opening words:
“We strongly urge you to consult and receive authorization from Congress before ordering the use of U.S. military force in Syria. Your responsibility to do so is prescribed in the Constitution and the War Powers Resolution of 1973.
“While the Founders wisely gave the Office of the President the authority to act in emergencies, they foresaw the need to ensure public debate – and the active engagement of Congress – prior to committing U.S. military assets. Engaging our military in Syria when no direct threat to the United States exists and without prior congressional authorization would violate the separation of powers that is clearly delineated in the Constitution.”
With these perhaps historic words the Congress has begun to claw back its Constitutional right to decide issues of war and peace. Significantly the letter comes from a Republican lawmaker, and it is clearly a tribute to the leadership of the libertarians in the Republican Party, most notably Ron Paul, Justin Amash and Rand Paul.
But the situation is grave enough, possibly leading on to a World War, that 21 Democrats have challenged the President and their Party bosses to sign the statement. They are moving beyond partisanship as Ron Paul did in challenging George W. Bush on the war on Iraq.
If that were all that the letter said, it would be momentous enough. But the statement goes further and labels Obama’s cruel war on Libya as “unconstitutional,” because it was done without so much as a nod to Congress. In the end no lawyer and no court, not even the Supreme Court, can overrule Congress when it decides what to do when it considers a serious presidential action as “unconstitutional.”
Read more….
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article36055.htm
This will go nowhere. There is no way in hell that the senate, let alone a GOP dominated house will vote to impeach a President over this.
A secret list curated by social network giant Facebook was published online recently after an employee for one of the company’s third-world contractors, upset at his poor working conditions and meager wage, decided to fight back.
http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2012/02/22/low-wage-facebook-contractor-leaks-secret-censorship-list/
http://www.washingtonsblog.com/2012/03/social-media-giants-set-up-free-speech-zones-to-censor-dissent.html
Amazing about Facebook all right. But the rules actually reflect and react to the peculiar mental processes of people. It is a desire to prevent all people from being drowned in the outpourings of minds that think that ear wax is interesting or toe-jam, or snot or whatever horrible thing you can imagine.
I once saw a Penthouse or Playboy with photos of a woman defecating onto a piece of glass. Bet many of you immediately think that the woman was disgusting. She was persuaded to do her ‘act’ by something low, probably the reward wasn’t even high.
Many human minds get stuck on reverse or merely low gear for life and have to be limited from spoiling the world for everyone else.
Government Should Prioritise Job Creation
.. in Kenya. They wouldn’t be racist now, would they ?
http://allafrica.com/stories/201309010057.html
What’s going on here then, from today’s Herald online, Labour MP David Clark has pointed out that the Skycity convention center deal may just cost the tax payer some very big bucks after all,
Apparently the contract between the Government and Sky says that after a negotiation over the design of the convention center if the design agreed costs more than the agreed 402 million dollars the Government can choose to walk away from the deal OR throw in the cash to make up for any shortfall over 402 million dollars….
Another reason to vote NACT out! If “negotiations would continue through the 2014 election year”, then they may not be finished by the election (especially if it’s early in the year). Then a few design modifications to put it up above the $402 million mark, then activate the exit clause. It’s not like Sky City has been negotiating in good faith, so screw the bastards!
Elections have a great way of focussing the mind and coming to agreement on matters.
Especially if ShonKey uses the asset sale Referendum as an excuse for a snap election! National’s poll numbers aren’t going anywhere but down, so he might want to leave early – like a rat from a ship.
Wouldn’t the best way to raise the price past that $402 million threshold be to put up the purchase price of the TVNZ site. (If it has not been included in deal already, that is)
you are not surprised are you Bad?
coupled with their express lie that 800 jobs, not 340 jobs would be created…
it will also turn out to be a lie that the convention centre will run at anything but a loss.
18 jobs!
is the walk away opportunity before or after they get their extra pokies? If sky decide they don’t need a bigger convention centre, would they just have to put forward outrageously expensive specs so the govt walks away, and they still get to create more gambling addicts in the community?
Not sure Mac, the story in the Herald online didn’t go into that detail, a good question tho and hopefully David Clark gives it to Slippery the Prime Minister next time the Parliament is sitting…
I’m a cynical chap sometimes 🙂
Job creation .. for negotiators.
I hope WINZ takes this into account before placing ‘work ready’ women in jobs that may involve heavy lifting that might put mothers who have given birth naturally at risk of workplace injury.
I guess that even if it is 37 years since the ‘pre-existing condition’ women should stay at home – just to be safe, of course. I mean, who knows what might happen to them if they venture out? They might get ripped off by workplace insurers, or something.
Am I missing something, or is the DHB saying it would rather pay for the surgery itself (via the public list) rather than have its insurer pay for it? Would love to see the cost analysis of that.
“is the DHB saying it would rather pay for the surgery itself ”
It does seem to lead to that conclusion. Is there an increase in the cost of cover if they have too many of these problems? (Deny the employee claim rather than fix the workplace issue is a whole other question). If that’s the case I guess it’s cheaper just to fit her op in when it suits the DHB rather than when it suits her – 14 months earlier would have been nice, I guess, given the pain and inconvenience and lost income.
What sort of insurance agreement is it when the insurer implies that it had no input in the decision to decline cover? And what does it mean that fundamental, complication-free, human activities are ‘pre-existing conditions’?
Weird.
Did i miss something in the Leadership competition, Labour’s David Cunliffe is being quoted by RadioNZ as saying He will support the ‘Living Wage’ for all workers,
i greeted this news with an emphatically large YES, and who would have thunk it, employers are quoted as having the usual wail and whine about how unaffordable changing the minimum wage to the living wage would be,
Apparently there are some 600,000 workers who would receive a boost in their wages and employers are saying that this would ‘cost them’ 4 billion dollars,
That cost tho is simply alarmism at it’s worst, not all the low waged economy receives the $13.70 that is the minimum wage and if establishing the ‘living wage’ was a matter of 3 yearly steps to reach such a position the ‘cost’ is spread over 3 years,
Employers are being ‘simple’ seeing establishing the living wage as a ‘cost’ after all it isn’t like the low waged demographic are going to hoard such pay rises,
The economy will be the main beneficiary of the living wage as all such money will be spent back into the economy business will compete to grab a slice of such extra cash,
Business competing for a slice of the living wage will at the retail level at least probably have to hire more workers and suppliers will also be busier,
The Government will take in an be able to redistribute more monies from taxation and in general business will be far far busier recouping the living wage as profits….
Cunliffe’s press release from yesterday morning:
From RNZ this morning:
Problem with all of this is that the Labour Party determines its policy. So how can they say “I will…” anything that isn’t already policy, and if it is already policy is this a clever way for the party to get its broader policy across under the guise of a leadership contest?
I can’t relate to Jones. I think most here get that. BUT is he appealing to a large group of NZers who need a voice? I don’t really think Labour is chasing my vote (even though I am currently going to vote Green). I am a white middle class female and I am not sure that is the vote Labour is missing out on… altho they are missing out on mine so I recognise I am contradicting myself. Hopefully what I am trying to convey is conveyed?
conveyed, and agreed.
“Problem with all of this is that the Labour Party determines its policy. So how can they say “I will…” ”
I have been wondering about that too Tracey. It’s one thing for a leader to say “I will…”, but these men aren’t even leaders yet.
David Cunliffe wins that one in my opinion, what i would like Labour to release as an election policy is the living wage in the first 3 years of the next Labour Government,
How does Grant Robertson think the average head out there earning sweet F.A and not working for the Government or a Government contractor feels when they look at a policy of raising that minimum wage to a living wage only for those who work directly or indirectly for the government,
i am not effected by that minimum wage and i find it a ‘Bit s**t’ of Grant to paint such a distinction and such a policy is likely to ‘cost’ Labour votes at the 2014 election….
TV One yesterday reported:
and if I recall Mr Jones didn’t commit to a living wage? He repeated the need to support businesses to grow the economy including using our “resources”. Happy to be corrected on his stance on the living wage. I understand he believes in a near living wage for Ukranian sailors.
Yes David Cunliffe is on the right track here, but i still have the opinion that to go into the 2014 election with a policy of having the living wage for government employees and those contractors to the government’s employees will likely ‘cost’ Labour as many votes as what it would hope to gain,
The Government spend is obviously a huge part of the economy and much of that is spent into foreign economies, it would be good to see a Labour Government instruct ALL CEO’s to go through their budgets line by line to target spending that should be New Zealand based with a view to when contracts are renewed these contracts are biased heavily to New Zealand suppliers,
Contractors then could increase their chances of gaining such contracts by both submitting that they are ‘living wage’ employers along with how long they have been and further increase their chances by stating how many employees they would ‘take on’ by gaining the contracted work,
That’s the sort of business ‘competition’ that would benefit us all…
“The economy will be the main beneficiary of the living wage as all such money will be spent back into the economy business will compete to grab a slice of such extra cash,”
AKA, inflation.
Won’t let me edit for some reason. I would also expect quite a few people to lose their job if the minimum wage went from $13.75 to $18.40, even over a space of 3 years.
Increased inflation will be low and quite acceptable. If the economy begins to overheat (what a nice problem to have instead of a stodgy sluggish economy), simple measures can rein it back in.
Why? It went from $8/hr in 2002 to $11.25 in 2007 (41% increase in 5 years).
And unemployment stayed very low.
Inflation ran at 2.7% annual compounding over that time period. Towards the upper end of the 1-3% target. Total change was 16.4%.
So in real terms, the wage went up by 21.22%, not the 41% nominal amount.
”And unemployment stayed very low” being the heart of the matter…
That’s what I’m saying Lanth. Minimum wage got pushed up a large nominal amount, and inflation stayed well under control, and as bad12 said, that’s even given very low unemployment.
It is actually very difficult to generate significant additional inflation. It is a neoliberal theory used by orthodox economists (who are all paid well over the average wage) to scare working people away from seeking decent pay.
(Notice how it doesn’t stop massive pay rises ahead of inflation for the top 5% or 10% of income earners, or massive increases in incomes for corporations).
Hyperinflation is usually the result or very specific conditions. As far as I can tell these are limited to:
– Massive destruction of infrastructure and productive capacity by war.
– Severe currency collapse.
– Severe energy shock.
The “theory” that raising the minimum wage increases unemployment was debunked long ago, when people noticed that that when they raised the minimum wage, unemployment went down.
Lanth, economics and math is NOT my forte.
With that in mind IF
The minimum wage went to $18, and in order to maintain its workforces there was (and this is a way out there proposition not necessarily reflective of the real outcome) a drop in the increase of pay rates for management and higher earners in the same business and therefore their spending dropped overall, would that counter act inflation from the other end?
Is it possible that if businesses have to go up to $18 and they need those people to produce their goods (so cant lay them off) they would look to reduce salaries higher up the chain? Or pay less when recruiting the next middle management person?
I also wonder if there might not be an increase in productivity from those going from 13 to 18 per hour?
Going from $13.75 to $18/hr will have to be done in stages, and will have to be done in co-ordination with other government spending into the private sector economy.
If people on upper incomes don’t get pay rises in line with inflation, then their real income is going down.
Effectively you’d be moving wealth from the upper ends of the spectrum to the lower end. I don’t have a problem with that, really.
Well, in effect that is what has been happening for the last 25 years, but from the lower income to the higher income.
And let’s not ignore the share of national income that major corporations receive. I haven’t seen the statistics but I believe it to be massive and growing fast.
For instance, last year banking profits were enough to employ 60,000-70,000 people on $30K pa. Once you take in energy company and telco profits that number would be closer to 150,000.
Hey look…that’s roughly the number of unemployed people in this country. Spooky eh.
Right, the working poor should be mere serfs, not chained by bonds of steel but those of economic ism so that interest rates for the middle class remain low, nice…
What we need is actual money rises paid as set amounts to all, each few years so that poor people have their living maintained in line with measured inflation. The percentage rise, seemingly so egalitarian in speech, is a weapon of the wealthy. 10% rise, sounds good. On $20,000 per year that would be $200, on $200,000 the same percentage gives $2,000 p.a. And who needs it most?
Inflation which is expressed as a percentage is an attempt to keep track of prices and is really useful as an ongoing measure of the rises in price of a set list of items. But that percentage should be calculated to a money amount so that a rise to match inflation does not result in mere cents per hour or a $1 per week say Cullen brought in such a rise which was called the ‘chewing gum’ allowance. That was the Right side of Labour, in love with its ideology and theories, not the people who needed to be loved expressed as humane consideration.
I think for everyone to have a decent standard of living, inflation needs to be at about 5-6%. Keeping inflation at between 0-3% has pretty much inflicted poverty on many people.
It’s strange that we call this the ‘free market’ then, just a thought on inflation, it’s linkage to interest rates is what scares the middle class into accepting the impoverishment of those below them in the economy,
i would be interested to know what would occur if the raising of interest rates were to be taken out of the hands of the Reserve Bank and it’s Governor and be ‘set’ by the Finance Minister,
What would happen in the economy if interest rates were set where they are now and the minimum wage was Legislated as the ‘living wage’,
As a start interest rates for those with mortgages would remain the same, wages for those on the lower rungs of the economy would rise giving them some discretionary spend,
How unstable would prices become and how much discretion would those lower in the economy have in avoiding such price rises is the question…
And keeping interest rates low is another problem.
Benefits property speculators wanting to leverage up; penalises savers and retirees trying to live off interest on their bank deposits.
CV, but in that mix is also the ‘middle class, whether just plain home owners paying off the mortgage or the large number of them with the 2nd and 3rd rental investments also with mortgages attached,
Government can ‘get’ the short term speculators with a Capital Gains Tax, but, if Government were seen to ‘get’ the middle class by allowing interest rates to rise i would suggest that they wouldn’t be the Government for long,
To keep that middle class onside, no matter how much i condemn it’s move in the past 30 years into rental property as an investment, Government has to keep interest rates low,
Unfortunately the current ‘economics of the Apes’ scenario requires then that unemployment is used as a ‘tool’ to suppress demand in the economy along with the other crude ‘tool’ of suppressing wages for a large pool of the workforce,
Obviously Government to avoid the electoral fallout of rising interest rates must find a means of uncoupling interest rates from the inflation equation, a means that at present escapes me…
Currently home mortgage rates are a shitload higher than the Reserve Bank overnight rate of 2.5%.
Raise the rate 1% and force the banks to eat 1% less profit margin = home mortgage rates stay the same, but deposit rates climb by 1%, narrowing the profit margin between bank lending and borrowing rates.
And it is the BIG employers that are bitching, most of the ‘little’ employers already pay over the minimum rate to their staff.
And if you look at it properly.
Workers have more money.
Workers SPEND more money.
Employers hire more staff to cope.
Workers have more money.
What a nasty vicious circle this is to the Nats.
That’s the big difference that “minimum wage causes unemployment” economists miss: workers spend their money at the local market or store, they don’t bank/invest/spend $14k on a meal prepared by a celebrity chef who’ll take the money offshore.
Money gravitates towards money. Stick it away from the big concentrations of cash, and it will pass through many people as it flows back towards the jafaland CBD. Give it to the already rich, and it won’t hit a tenth as many people.
What is your answer to Key who said, “If that is so simple, why not raise it to $30/hr?”
my answer is
“if lowering taxes will create jobs and fire up the economy, why not drop it to a flat 10%.?”
It’s about balance.
Simple, who the f**k has given the mere suggestion that the living wage be $30 an hour??? the other point i wish to make to Slippery is Expletive deleted, Expletive deleted, Expletive deleted, Expletive deleted…
The $18/per hour figure has come from the Family Centre Social Policy Research Unit following independent research into a New Zealand living wage rate conducted in February 2013.
We arent grabbing figures out of a hat and making a joke of this like you John. A living wage is the income necessary to provide workers and their families with the basic necessities of life. Thats what Labour will provide for New Zealanders.
“Gridlock is predicted to worsen across the Wellington region after Transmission Gully and the Kapiti Expressway are built.
Hardest hit will be Wellington city, as people from Porirua and the Kapiti Coast ditch public transport in favour of a faster, cheaper journey into the capital on the new four-lane highways.
The predictions are contained in a report commissioned by Greater Wellington Regional Council, which warns that local roads could struggle to handle the additional tens of thousands of cars hopping off State Highway 1.
The report, by independent consultant Opus , was completed in December but has not yet reached the regional council table. It will be discussed at committee level next month. ” stuff.co.nz
Yes we were discussing this very gridlock in a Post last week, no time or fuel savings will be gained from Transmission Gully without some serious road building occurring at the point the Ngaraunga interchange disgorges onto the Wellington Urban Motorway where it meets the South bound traffic from the Hutt Valley,
There will simply be gridlock on the Ngaraunga Gorge and the only means of alleviating that gridlock would be to add two more lanes to the South bound Urban Motorway turning it into a ‘crazy spaghetti’ of 5 or 6 lanes which all the traffic Kapiti and Hutt would have a very short stretch of motorway to negotiate so as to be in the ‘right’ lane for their particular off-ramp,
Great for panel beaters but a recipe for disaster in terms of entering Wellington via it’s motorway system, and add another 2 billion dollars to the cost of transmission Gully…
I didn’t visit the thread but saw srylands name on the side init. Is he back living there now? Moved back from Aussie has he? 😉
Lolz, i am not sure, ‘it’ was here yesterday but then i think ‘it’ blinked so could be anywhere in ‘it’s’ fantasy world,Melbourne, Sydney, Timbucktoo, who knows…
Gridlock Ahh yes I remember those days spending hours stuck in a car, when mobile internet was a: Not yet invented, and B: when invented prohibitively expensive. So I have now moved the family to the Horowhenua (Yes Lurgee Levin) Sold the damn car built a couple of bikes and a stack of computers wired the house for noise, and here I am for the next 4 years. Oh well it could be worse. I could have to commute in AK or Welly
Now there’s a conundrum, worse or worst ? I always get them confused.
worse
as in, things could be worse. A third tory term, for instance.
” a faster, cheaper journey into the capital on the new four-lane highways ” .. with an NZ$12.00 toll each way ?
Lolz, and mind the traffic chaos at the bottom of Ngaraunga Gorge….
@bad..
“..The economy will be the main beneficiary of the living wage as all such money will be spent back into the economy business will compete to grab a slice of such extra cash,.”
you are on the money with that one..
..it has long surprised me that labour/the left somehow fails to recognise/argue the potency of this example of basic logic..
..because it is economics 101..that one of the most efficient ways to kickstart an economy –
– is to increase the incomes of those who are forced to spend all of that income on the basics of life..
..this because of the churn..as all of that money goes straight back into the economy/tills. = boost..
..(much more efficient than tax cuts for the richest..eh..?..
..i don’t think we believe that trickle-down chimera..any more..eh..?)
..and this case/argument is proven when you look at the outcomes from richardson/shipley tearing away that ‘churn’-money from sole-parents etc..
..talk to any retailer from the time..and hear their tales of the recession that also hit them..
..q.e.d..eh..?
phillip ure..
Indeed phillip ure, i well remember the recession that occurred after the hideous Richardson/Shiply benefit cuts of 1991,
National’s Steven Joyce was on RadioNZ a few minutes ago dragging the ‘jobs will be lost’ red herring through the debate,
Joyce sounded less than confidence, do i detect that note of fear, and Big Shame on RadioNZ for such biased radio for not having had one or both of the candidates appear on the radio to offer their opinion,
It is as you say ‘economics 101’, if you want to ensure the economy functions ‘better’ then put money into the hands of those who have little or no discretionary spending in their weekly budget and they will have little choice but to spend that money straight back into the local economy,
There is of course the i word, Inflation, and befor i sloped off into zzzzzland last night i told myself i need to delve into this side of the economic equation far deeper than i have at present,
the equation at present being that X people are kept unemployed and X people are kept on pitifully low wages to save the middle class and those above from the tyranny of interest rates rising, a situation which sees that middle class agreeing to an economy that is less than fully employed and with wages that make the lower paid demographic mere slaves bound not with chains of steel but instead the iron bonds of economic isms…
yup, cos no jobs lost under his government…
he’s had to make them up to have any … see claim of 800 jobs at sky convention centre rather than more conservative 340.
Arent articles like the one referred to below vacuous without reference to the miles covered etc?
I am no Government fan but this kind of article actually tells us very little, imo.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/9112848/Ministers-rack-up-fuel-costs
Put another log on the fire!!! and the next house price boom will be in??? the Tron, yes Hamilton, the National Government has been busily ensuring that the house price inflation currently burning through the Auckland market takes off in the city due south,
Here’s how, in the past 2 years National have sold off 116 State Houses in the Waikato,(from the Waikato Times online), in those 2 years it has overseen the build of only 33 State houses, despite HousingNZ the States provider of social housing having 114 families waiting on it’s ‘At Risk’ list and another 106 families on it’s ‘serious’ list,
By lowering the number of HousingNZ properties it has in the Waikato the Government is creating demand for rental property, once such a demand is artificially created by this Government the competition to secure property between the Home buyer and those wanting to buy property for rental investment will begin in earnest,
This Government did this and are still doing this in Auckland, selling off the HousingNZ rental stock and not replacing the numbers sold which has kept the demand for rental property growing and lead to price inflation in the Auckland market,
They are obviously now hellbent on repeating the experiment in Hamilton…
Rising house prices leads to the incumbent being re-elected.
Dropping house prices leads to the incumbent being voted out.
All actions drive from this.
What about stagnate house prices, lower wages, high costs of living, and poorer housing stock?
“Key conceded many families were struggling, saying “that’s why we have Working for Families and the like”. ” 2013
‘communism by stealth’ and a ‘costly welfare monster’ 2007 and 2008
“Key followed this speech up in February 2007 by committing his party to a programme which would provide food in the poorest schools in New Zealand. 2007 http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0702/S00059.htm
Food in schools
What is the ‘progress’ on the announcement the Nats made several months ago?
it took them 7 years after making the policy to make the announcement so…
The recent TV propgram of the wealth gap pointed out that housing allowance subsidizes landlords who can charge higher rents; working for families subsidizes employers who can lower wages, and we know lack of a CGT with other legislation force scarcity at the top of the market by running down the rest of the housing stock. The middle and working classes (and a growing under class) are then ripped off by retail and utilities, funneling wealth up to the top of the upper class.
anyone willing to commit to removing govt biz from westpac to a locally owned bank ??
Yes hopefully that is also on the agenda for the next Labour Government, i remeber the contract with Westpac being renewed but cannot remember for how long,
KiwiBank should be readied to be able to conduct all the Governments business along with that should be a deliberate establishment of a large IT campus in one or other City so as to begin to group together the best brains in IT that this country possesses,
We may or may not have IT companies in New Zealand of such robustness as to be able to carry out an education payroll type of contract, but, if brought together in the one place i am sure that the multiple IT companies could and would have achieved a far better outcome for that particular contract than what occurred…
Great answer for me, thx bad12. Make a lotta jobs too the way you propose it.
But I am also guessing if and mean IF, heaven forbid, nact get back in, what’s the betting they will try to sell Kiwibank instead ?
“A rundown three-bedroom Auckland villa with a large hole in the toilet floor and watermarked ceilings has sold for $1.2 million – $75,000 more than the asking price for a three-storey Tauranga mansion with harbour views and a swimming pool.
The two examples show the widening gap between Auckland’s property market and provincial New Zealand, as revealed in the Herald’s quarterly Property Report today.
Bayleys real estate agent Gavin Perry, said houses rarely came up for sale in the popular Tauranga location, just five blocks from the CBD.
“It’s very interesting what you can buy in Tauranga nowadays for $1 million, which is actually what seems like the entry price you can buy for in some parts of Auckland.”
The implications in the spread (AK- provincial nz) as the demographics suggest the aging AK population may realise the capital gains in downsizing to where they will have an equity nestegg.
The building development market has not been producing small 1-2 bedroom housing stocks (aside from retirement centres) for which the market will require over the next 20 yrs or so.
Can someone tell me please, why No Minister has a feed on The Standard?
[lprent: It is a multi-author blog with at least one leftish author and a number of other authors who are periodically readable and show an ability to argue. It also has some complete dipshits who do an excellent impersonation of Whaleoil without the keyboard diarrhea
Besides, I figured that we need a range of views for noisy grumpy old white men. No Minister gives a excellent assortment of those on that fringe. ]
@ linz..and (ahem..!..)..why whoar doesn’t..?..
phillip ure..
I’d like to see Yes Minister have a permanent link. Anything for a light larf to allow some R&R
before the next onslaught into our wonderful world.
Thank you for your explanation about No Minister. I wonder if he pays royalties for the use of the Searle cartoon.
mike williams is on nat-rad laughing/sneering at the idea that a labour govt would introduce a living -wage..
..he predicts labour will veer back to the centre..post-leadership battle..
..and that it won’t happen..
phillip ure..
Lolz, from the same program, or is that progrom, Hooten sounded like someone has given His silver spoon a serious twist,
Among the aah’s and ooh’s wee Matty managed to squeeze out that the current leadership contest was a good look for Labour,
i have to of course insert here a Mike Williams ”i agree”, Labour with a new leader possessing the skills to deliver the message will roll into 2014 and roll National back to the Opposition benches where that sorry bunch of silver spoon suckers truly belong…
He’s a fan of Shane Jones.
Both dinosaurs.
Watching the Labour lads on Q+A:
I noticed that Shane Jones constantly tried to undermine both Robertson and Cunliffe. So much for the united Labour front. (Attempted to make himself out as the economic centrist compared to the other two.
Hammed it up for the camera when Cunliffe suggested an example for economic growth. ‘You’ve heard enough from the left’, hands in ears with wry smile).
Shane has said that he wants to take votes from National but, even if successful, if he were to lead Labour then that would inevitably lead to Labour losing female voters.
Jones even wore the blue tie.
I actually thought Cunliffe and Robertson were quite unified but Jones came across as a yob who basically admitted he’s National lite.
If Jones became PM I could see him becoming a Maori Muldoon.
Hooten and Williams have made some good points about Fonterras handling of the milk powder scare. First time I have heard something useful. I pray that it is not the exception that proves the rule.
* False positives occur.
* System should be that any perceived problem should freeze the powder and isolate it till the matter is investigated.
* That keeps it in-house and avoids the present anxious reaction by all over what has turned out to be nothing of importance.
* It takes time to investigate as not just one small sample but a colony of orgaisms have to be cultured and then examined and analysed.
tho’ i do agree with one thing these three righties (williams/hooten/ryan) agree on..
..just how mindbogglingly incompetent the agricultural minister nathan ‘clutch cargo’ guy is..
..(he who is prone to touching electric-fences..just to see if they are on..and often they are..(brilliant..!..eh..?..)
..and i have to put craig ‘the hapless one’ foss on notice..
..guy is close to seizing his ‘dumber-than-a-sack-of-doorknobs’ crown..
..and this is the surprise – at the lack of depth of talent in the national party..
..that the hapless-one..and now clutch..are really the best they have..?
.and let’s not even go near parata..
phillip ure..
phillip u
They all tend to be good looking though. I think from the celebrity style of human resource assessment they are successful. And that’s what NACTs want. They are no doubt following the current business practice of considering everyone with a certain level of professional competence to be interchangeable, good looks give extra points – generic and photogenic pollies chirping the same line.
Assange wikileaks Bradley Manning – good info and background on radionz this a.m.
http://www.theguardian.com/profile/nickdavies
http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/ninetonoon
Nick Davies on Bradley Manning and WikiLeaks ( 20′ 43″ )
09:30 Nick Davies broke the phone hacking scandal that had been covered up for
years by Rupert Murdoch’s News International, and his work saw the Guardian, alongside The New York Times, become the main news agency to publish excerpts from thousands of classified documents from US military servers. The cables were leaked by Bradley Manning, who was last month given a 35-year jail term for passing the files to WikiLeaks.
Let’s not forget about this prick.
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/jun/04/adrian-lamo-testifies-bradley-manning
Pundits such as Armstrong are making the claim that the next election will be won/lost in the provinces. “It is in such provincial centres that next year’s election will be won and lost. On that score, Labour has an awful lot of ground to make up.”
Which is why Jones is pitching at the provinces. Am I right in thinking this is crap. The next election will be won/lost where is always has been, the major cities. In particular Auckland, and more particular, if Labour can get the vote out, in South Auckland.
I’m sorry but I dont give a shit about poking my tongue out at donkeyote and kidding myself I am taking part in the poltical process.
On the bus this morning two old ladies were complaining that they could either have a cup of tea or a milkshake but no sandwich to go with either.
There has been a genreal price rise over the last month that nobody seems to care about.
Well if you dont care then some people have too much.
Thats the issue in my book.
@northshoreguynz
Dont have statistics….but I don’t think people from the provinces are particularly enamored with either flashy John Key Nact or Shane Jones
….in the provinces they face the same issues of employment , std of living , youth education, costs of university and employment and health issues as does everyone else….there is a lot of to and fro between country and city
…..what the provinces want IMO is a NZ leader , who understands NZ from a generational perspective, with a steady and ethical and balanced hand on the rudder…While not generally wildly radical….there are traditional Labour voters out in the provinces…just as there are Greens…and there are families who have traditionally voted Labour .
I would say ignore the provinces at your peril…particularly with the party vote
David Cunliffe would be popular in the provinces
The stats would be interesting to see. Where the numbers are. But I agree, Cunliffe would be popular in the provinces as well.
@northshoreguynz….Off the top of my head:
…popular also would be strengthening and retaining community Kiwi Bank ( Govt Guaranteed)and postal outlets( John Key has scoped privatising Kiwi Bank and Treasury has had Goldman Sachs evaluate it …and then downgraded!)
…. and anything else that strengthens local communities………
….eg bringing back Adult Continuing Community Education….( which National ditched)
….strengthen local all night Medical Centre hubs and hospitals for geriatric and respite care also maternity
….create training/apprenticeships for youth
….encouragement for small rural businesses and especially boutique tourist initiatives eg wine /produce/cheese sales at gate
David Cunliffe would be popular in the provinces
– Shane Jones would be more popular in the provinces but sadly they don’t count as much these days
@W Smith….doubt Shane Jones would be popular with the Labour vote and 50% woman vote in the provinces at all!….He is really Nact not Labour….and the women I have talked to aren’t enthused…in fact quite derogatory
The rural vote counts especially in the Party vote …and Cunliffe would do very well!…but not Grant Robertson IMO…however Louise Wall as a straight talking sporty type could do very well as Deputy for Labour Leader Cunliffe
Louisa Wall could do very well indeed, except that caucus gets to choose the deputy and they’re in Robertson’s pocket.
Interesting press release.
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO1309/S00010/anonymous-mp-information.htm
Nothing on Tony Ryall? Or is his dirty washing an open secret?
Well come on Anon, if you have dirt on these MPs let’s see it.
Luddite Environmental Minister accused Greens of using airplanes, this same retort came from those opposed to steam railways, that the railway proponents used stage coaches to get the meeting.
Note to Rhino …. If you’re planning a review (or even an opinion) on the nicest man on Earth later on – chill. Take a deep breath – it ain’t worth the stress!.
It’s just that I’m anticipating you response to Jim Mora and the ‘word’ on Byron Bay.
GOD what a fukwit!
The best thing that went before was where Jesse was coming from – but then they all have mortgages to pay – which is probably a better explanation for 7 # – or whatever the hell it’s called
Good start to the leadership campaign for Robertson, Cunliffe and Jones however a note of caution needs to be sounded.
The last time a labour leader came out with promises but no figures to back them up we got the “show me the money” response and a win to National
If the aspiring leaders are going to go promising pay rises for everyone then they really should know how its going to be paid for…don’t expect any mercy for JK and realise that everything they’re promising will be noted by JK and will be used in the leadership debates
You mean he can remember things sometimes ? Nah.
For whatever reason (probably intellectual snobbery) the left have always underestimated John Key: “hes just a money man, a gambler, puppet of USA, reads lines fed to him, media training etc etc”
Maybe he just happens to be really clever…naah the left should just keep underestimating him because that worked really well for Clark, Cullen, Goff, Campbell, Shearer and whoevers next in line to lead Labour…
not sticking up for labour here – but the constant meme of underestimating key – i reckon its only half true. People know hes a smart tricky bugger, but he also is a complete foolish clown.
I dont think its an issue of under estimating him – its more that he can change from goofball to snake at the drop of a hat, so in the modern news cycle he tends to lead because you always need to see which way hes going to go before you can counter it, and by that time hes already walked off to some other thing.
If you think hes going to be a goof and go first – he’ll just change into the snake version and pound you
after all – its hard to tackle a bucket of slime and ooze – it keeps changing shape.
PS – i doubt show me the money will work anymore – theres waaaay to many fiscal fuck ups from the nats now
No but remember some district councils have already realised the living wage would have meant a big increase in rates and so canned it, John Key will use that
Beer bore out of depth—and out of control.
Yet another failure for dire radio chat show
The Panel, Radio NZ National, Monday 2 September 2013
Jim Mora, Vicky Hyde, Neil Miller
Today’s programme featured one Neil Miller, a beer writer who also dabbles in commenting about politics, though not to any discernible depth. Over the years as a guest on The Panel, he has sounded off against liberals, trade unions, John Minto and Robert Fisk, and announced that his favorite writer is the unfunny, brutal right wing “comedian” P.J. O’Rourke (Standardistas will remember O’Rourke was the genius who Brian Edwards could not remember interviewing.) Over the last year or so, Miller has refrained from commenting on much about anything beyond boutique beers. When he sticks to his speciality, he is bearable.
Today, however, Miller returned to commenting about politics. He has been listening to Senator Kerry’s ranting about Syria, and has evidently bought it all—-hook, line and sinker. He vehemently raved on for a good two minutes, snarling about the failure of the British parliament to blindly support U.S. claims and making it clear that he believes it is a moral imperative to support the Al-Qaeda rebels and to bomb the civilians of Syria. He was for the whole time uninterrupted and uncontradicted by either Jim Mora or Vicky Hyde, who calls herself a “skeptic”.
Appalled, I fired off the following email….
Please challenge Neil Miller’s credulous and irresponsible comments
Dear Jim,
Neil Miller is repeating US government propaganda as if it was the truth. Repeating John Kerry’s absurd assertions is no sort of argument at all.
Yours in disgust at glib guests,
Morrissey Breen
Northcote Point
Thanks for the letter Morrissey.
He was dreadful, mirroring Key.
“If you can legislate at $18.40 a hour and have no implications, why not make it $30 and hour – and show me one country in the world that has legislated for higher wages and it has been successful,” Key said.
Miller repeated this.
Is Miller ACT?
Morrissey +1
miller is perhaps the most pig-ignorant (and deeply annoying) of that (often sorry) line up of ‘experts’/’erudite-commenters’/cream of the nations’ intellectuals..eh..?….
..i mean..that ex-cop..?..and that ‘don’ (someone) person..?..
..and those various other ancient reactionaries they wheel/zimmer-frame in..?..(i’m looking at you..brian edwards..)
..i can’t figure out why the fuck he is there..that miller..he just pimps beer..everytime..and that’s it..?…(w.t.f. is that about..?..why is he allowed to do that..?..turn national radio into a fucken infomercial for his piss-pushing commercial-enterprises..?..why is he the only one allowed to do that..?)..
..and he (barely coherently) spouts the latest rightwing-shite/message..
..and his opinions clearly show that aside from his beer-passion..
..he’s as deep as a fucken beer-coaster..
..(and photos show he is a man who truly lives his ‘passion- – maybe a bit too much..eh..?…)..
..he’s the best the nation has/they can do..?
..and the thing is..opinions are one thing..and they can vary..and fair enough..
..but these ‘experts’ are often just allowed to peddle outright-lies..easily proven errors of fact..
..and they are never ever called on them..
..that bullshit is just alllowed to continue to float in the ether..
(btw..i didn’t hear it today..and can’t be bothered listening online..
..what did they say about byron bay..?..
(i lived there for a number of years..and there are worse places in the world to be..
..great service-industries there at the time..you could get cocaine home-delivered @ 3.00am/whenever..should you so choose/desire..
..and of course..there was the ‘mullumbimby-madness’..eh..?..
..i threw a birthday-party for my daughter when she turned ten..that went down in local-history..)
phillip ure..
http://www.chancerygreen.com/index.php/what-we-do/10-our-people/14-karen-price
Serious question here: Cunliffe wants to win and looking at his wifes profile she looks like a real go getter, an asset and a damn good one at that
Why isn’t he using her in his campaign a bit more…I really don’t get it
Because it’s about potential leaders, not their spouses.
Thats true but shes impressive which could only help Cunliffe…plus its never a bad idea promoting as a role model smart, successfull women
Will any candidate’s partner/spouse be running the party? No.
So what would they be in a campaign? Decoration.
People aren’t placards. Maybe all the significant others have better things to do than distract from a quite and interesting and fairly positive leadership campaign.
I’m sure it’ll be somewhere in the Labour rules of engagement drawn up for this leadership contest. Next to the bans on stilletos and strychnine.
Put a sock in it Chris73. You’d be bitching your head off if he did. Already your lot have engaged the most intrusive and rubbishy bullshit about the Cunliffes’ baby care arrangements.
It was a dumb comment Cunliffe made, he should have said something like “we’ve worked hard to get here and I want to make sure everyone else has the same opportunity”
If I remember correctly Cunliffe did say that, can’t remember exactly what he said but I think the message was something similar to this. “I have climbed aboard and I am going to make sure the ladder is not removed so others cannot climb aboard.”
After seeing prat Gower this evening on TV3, the right is definitely shitting themselves that Cunliffe might WIN.
karol and OAK both got the quote…here is karol’s
http://thestandard.org.nz/smell-fear/#comment-687019
Thanks VP
Had a senior moment commonly known as SOS
That should have read as Thanks C V
CV as VP (or at least; deputy PM) would be amusing – if only for the look on Curran’s face!
Predictable lack lustre response from you Chris73……….but sort of proves my point. You’ve picked a Catch 22 and your trolldom is invigorated. Don’t you have a fuck’n’ life in the realm of reasonable understanding ?
I guess shitting does this to people. Every orifice helps out………
Director, the New Zealand Carbon Exchange, (2004 – present)
Oh really. I’ve changed my mind.
Actually her background and the fact the old guard are backing Robertson is why I think Cunliffe is a better bet for Labour then Robertson also ruling out Norman is a big plus
Though of course S. Jones would be best for NZ 🙂
Neil Miller on Mora this afternoon – once billed simply as a beer expert now trotted out as a political commentator as well – Miller made some claim (no authority cited) along the lines that changes to the youth rate put 9,000 youth job holders out of their jobs (this in the context of a discussion about living wage). I don’t know whether that’s true or not.
I am naturally suspicious of Miller however. For a start his voice and talky down persona reminds me very much of Simon Bridges. Secondly and obviously more importantly he always seems to me to be an unmitigated ShonKey Python sucker and arrogant with it. Coming out with the most extraordinary unabashed claims such as today re the referendum – “the asset sales question is corrupted by people playing politics” (paraphrased). Pleasingly the other panelist ticked him off for this mocking dismissal of democracy.
Those having knowledge (supported by reputable authority) re Miller’s claim that youth rate changes (presumably an increase) put 9,000 youth job holders out of their jobs, please share. If this was a bullshit throwaway line or only part of the story Miller must be castigated as must Mora for allowing it without challenge.
And as Morrissey pointed out, he raved on about supporting the US Intervention in Syria.
Apart from his interest in beer, what else do we know about him?
What makes him such an out and out right wing nut job?
Perhaps he is popular for offering to pay rounds at the pub. That would not be impossible in swaying Mora’s choice when you hear his varied selection of talkers passing themselves as experts or wits or informed incisive commentators.
No no no he’s not a RWJN……….he’s one of those arseholes who knows everything and to him his spot on Mora is just proof of that. And in truth Mora is in symbiosis with that notwithstanding the hideous Mr Affable so relentlessly performed.
Just selfish backward “I’m famous” fuckwits squatted on their upper middle class fart cushions……..that hilarious feature akshully being superfluous given their ugly sphincters’ failings – a gaseousness approaching intolerably toxic levels for the rest of us.
They know nothing about the broadness of life in NZ and care not therefore !
It’s all about the shitty “them”. What a waste of public money……..
I’ll believe you – I couldn’t stand hanging around for The Panel. A couple of hours of Mora before that – including his agreeing with anything and everything the man from Byron Bay said just made me want to puke
Does anyone know if he’s related to Michael Mora btw? If so they’d be chalk and cheese.
As for the Miller and Mora thing – you’ll notice Mora agrees with EVERYTHING his guests say. The reason everyone thinks he’s just the cat’s whisker is that his tactic is to compliment and grovel to anyone he has on the programme (such as it is). The guy’s so inoffensive, it’s offensive.
Current affairs and information it’s not!
http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=519_1378042365
[lprent: Provide context to any link. Moved to OpenMike ]
Ummm – why should we click on this link? Would you like to provide some context or are you just a spam bot?
But Tim he doesn’t emphasise CA&I really. He has some other phrase like A Panel like No Other or something, that would be right. He’s just a guy who has got the name of being nice because he goes round and smartens up people’s gardens on tv. And that makes him a real treasure don’t you think? We all love people who do that, there is such a need. I know I have one, for a better garden that is. And that makes him an expert on the latest populist viewpoint I should think.
Fascinating piece on Oz politics. Their system of preferential voting. If you tick for above the line choice of preferences then you go with whatever the party you voted for has chosen. If you want to choose for yourself, you go below the line. And each box has to be filled out in some sort of order or the whole thing is invalid.
I have voted there years ago before they decided that NZs weren’t people of standing, and it wasn’t easy then. Now apparently there have been a rash of small parties. They are all to be printed and I think it’s in the 100’s, did I hear 253, and fitted on an A3 sheet sideways which is the maximum size for the printing process. But to get all the parties and boxes on, the font will be so small that a magnifying sheet will be needed. Pythonesque. Have a good tipple of Schadenfreude.
Insight program on Nights with Bryan Crump.
http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/insight
NZ Radio Awards 2013: winner of the Best Documentary or Feature Programme & co-winner of Best Daily or Weekly series under an Hour Duration
Australia goes to the polls in less that a week to decide between Kevin Rudd and Tony Abbott.
Philippa Tolley looks at the key battlegrounds where the election will be decided, whether it’s policy or the leaders that matter most and how voters will cope with a record number of registered parties.
Excellent article by Chris Trotter:
http://thedailyblog.co.nz/2013/09/02/democratic-distempers-how-labours-leadership-election-is-unsettling-the-neoliberal-establishment/
Trotter is always good for historical context – those decades of political engagement really do count for something!
It is indeed a good article.