Open mike 28/03/2016

28 comments on “Open mike 28/03/2016 ”

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1. Manuka AOR 1

   28 March 2016 at 7:28 am

   Privacy in the Age of Surveillance: A panel discussion by Chomsky, Greenwald and Snowden.

   “What is privacy and what is an individual’s right to it?
   “That is the question that renowned linguist and MIT professor Noam Chomsky, National Security Agency (NSA) whistleblower Edward Snowden, and Intercept co-founding editor Glenn Greenwald sought to answer on Friday evening as the three (virtually) shared a stage for a panel discussion at the University of Arizona in Tuscon.” [Includes vid of the 2 hr panel discussion, and links through to live blog] http://www.commondreams.org/news/2016/03/26/chomsky-snowden-greenwald-privacy-age-surveillance
2. Manuka AOR 2

   28 March 2016 at 7:39 am

   The TPP – A Corporate Lobbyist’s Dream
   “International agreements like the TPP are a corporate lobbyist’s dream. Here is the playbook for creating them.

   · Get the world’s most powerful corporations together to make a wish list of rule changes.
   · Bundle them into an international agreement of thousands of pages of technical legal text that few people are likely to read.
   · Call it a free-trade agreement and promise that it will create jobs, grow economies, and bring the world together.
   · Include a provision that foreign corporations can sue a signatory government for any loss of anticipated profits due to government action.
   · Require that these claims be decided by secret international tribunals composed of three private-sector attorneys; preclude review of the awards they grant.
   · Push the agreement through the national legislative bodies of the prospective member nations under rules that limit debate, prohibit amendments, and require a simple up-or-down majority vote.” – David Korten: http://www.yesmagazine.org/new-economy/the-thing-sanders-trump-and-clinton-agree-on-its-that-bad-20160323
   • reason 2.1

     28 March 2016 at 8:02 am

     “Corporate clout

     Some history will clarify a lot. The first systematic attempt to establish corporate supremacy over national laws and regulations, begun in 1997 by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, was more honest by calling itself the Multilateral Agreement on Investments (MAI). Under MAI rules, foreign businesses would be guaranteed all the advantages enjoyed by domestic producers and services of the participating countries.

     If implemented, the larger foreign investors in these markets could have easily wiped out smaller domestic players with the superior force they can muster and would, once and for all, have made the older standard development methods, known as “import substitution industrialization,” impossible.

     Potential competitors would become perennial subcontractors. In other words, the MAI was a blatant move to implement neocolonialism by treaty.” …….

     “If the banks responsible for the credit crisis of 2008 and the subsequent global recession that is still with us had not been lifted out of “the market” by the state, they would no longer exist.

     Powerful corporations have been allowed to swallow the state; they have, as economist James Galbraith explains, created a “predator state,” which they naturally exploit for their own expansion. There is no frame of reference with which we can more convincingly define the TPP.”…………… The Japan Times
     • Manuka AOR 2.1.1

       28 March 2016 at 8:45 am

       ” they have, as economist James Galbraith explains, created a “predator state,” which they naturally exploit for their own expansion.”

       Very well put! An example of this “predatory state” in action might be seen in regard to the attempted regulation of the potential carcinogen, Glyphosate, aka RoundUp.

       “Glyphosate (patented by Monsanto as RoundUp) is a controversial herbicide that the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer has deemed to be a probable carcinogen. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rescinded its initial classification of glyphosate as a possible carcinogen after receiving new data submitted by Monsanto, mostly from unpublished studies. TACD notes that, “The EPA concluded that the Monsanto studies, including the unpublished ones, were ‘reasonably available and relevant scientific data,’” even though they were based largely on data deemed to be Confidential Business Information and not available for peer review. In the U.S., glyphosate would only be taken off the market should scientists prove it is a carcinogen, a process thwarted by EPA’s continued acceptance of “reasonably available” data from industry. ” : http://www.iatp.org/documents/following-breadcrumbs-tpp-text-provides-clues-to-us-positions-in-ttip#sthash.IncC8cFr.dpuf
       • One Two 2.1.1.1

         28 March 2016 at 9:36 am

         Europe’s ENVI have formally objected to the renewal of approval to use Glyphosate

         Toxic poisons in all forms are being exposed while public awareness is spreading rapidly, despite the deceptions

         Exposure and awareness of lies are reaching critical mass, the inevitable change cannot be halted

         Agri and Pharma will both go the same way…
         • Manuka AOR 2.1.1.1.1

           28 March 2016 at 11:29 am

           “Agri and Pharma will both go the same way…”

           Before the TPP signing I thought that too, but the dirty tricks depts of some of those corporations are very much alive and kicking – ref that “Following breadcrumbs” link above. That document exposes methods that are already written into the TPP. Will the change you’re seeing arrive before ratification? I hope you’re right though..
           • One Two 2.1.1.1.1.1

             28 March 2016 at 1:28 pm

             No doubting the size of the challenges that exist, with or without TTP etc

             The change I refer to has already moved passed the stage where it could become ineffective. The genie is already out of the bottle, and no paper contract will prevent the wholesale rejection of chemical toxins which have been eating away at biological organisms , for an age

             Too many people are becoming cognizant of the petrol-chemical death, and serious injury causing industries

             The other option, is that all species succumb to an ever increasing abuse of bodies and minds, until little to nothing is left which can sustain natural, and organic life forms
   • Tautuhi 2.2

     28 March 2016 at 9:57 am

     The TPPA basically makes certain areas of Government redundant.

     Why would the NACT Party support this Agreement when Multi Nationals hardly pay any tax here in NZ anyway.

     Basically “I SMELL A RAT, AND IF IT SMELLS LIKE A RAT, IT PROBABLY IS A RAT?”
3. Penny Bright 3

   28 March 2016 at 9:07 am

   Who is still ‘writing off’ Bernie Sanders as having no chance of winning the Democratic Party nomination for US President?

   In my opinion – it ain’t over till it’s over …..

   http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/mar/26/sanders-wins-washington-alaska-caucus-election-results-delegates-clinton

   Bernie Sanders crushes Hillary Clinton in Alaska, Washington and Hawaii

   Penny Bright
   2016 Auckland Mayoral candidate

   (The female ‘Bernie Sanders’ of the 2016 Auckland Mayoralty campaign 😉
   • Kevin 3.1

     28 March 2016 at 10:25 am

     Now that the southern states have finished their primaries, Clinton will really have a fight on her hands as they move into territory more friendly to Sanders. Needing to win around 65% of the remaining delegates will not be an easy task although hammering Clinton in Alaska, Hawaii and Washington will certainly give Sanders followers hope. The big ones of California, New York and Pennsylvania will be crucial to both candidates.

     If Clinton wins the nomination, it will be another of those peculiarities of American politics where she won enough primaries in areas that will vote Republican come November, by a segment of the population who are essentially voting AGAINST their best interests.

     Go figure…
4. pat 4

   28 March 2016 at 10:02 am

   http://www.theguardian.com/business/2016/mar/27/trade-policy-uk-eu-referendum-us-bernie-sanders-donald-trump-ttip-globalisation

   a recurring theme
5. joe90 5

   28 March 2016 at 10:20 am

   Trump won’t rule out going to war with China, thinks democracy is hurting America,

   http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/gop-primaries/274386-trump-refuses-to-rule-out-war-with-china-i-dont-want-to-be
   • One Two 5.1

     28 March 2016 at 11:05 am

     America is not going to engage in direct warfare with China

     Not even if Hillary was POTUS
6. Bill 6

   28 March 2016 at 11:13 am

   I missed this.

   This week, Finance Minister Bill English was dealt a blow by the Salvation Army, which rejected his suggestion it buy Housing New Zealand stock.

   http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11422949

   Can we expect some Australian outfit to buy the whole caboodle now? Maybe the TTPA will deliver some other nice overseas buyer for houses that the taxes of many peoples’ parents and grandparents paid for? Or, what about Serco?
   • tc 6.1

     28 March 2016 at 11:24 am

     Be nice to know the detail under which the salvos were expected to suck up this housing stock, exact locations, the t&c’s so to speak of NACTs public housing flogging.

     What about iwi then billy boy? The MP did pass this sale so they can participate in the carve up.

     Opposition seem mostly asleep on this blatant election lie that will see unnecessary suffering purely and simply to line more backers pockets.
     • saveNZ 6.1.1

       28 March 2016 at 3:24 pm

       If the Natz deem themselves too incompetent to run state houses and expect the Sallies to do it, maybe the Natz should do NZ a favour and step down from parliament.
       • whateva next? 6.1.1.1

         28 March 2016 at 8:28 pm

         I wish MSM would make that excellent point.
7. UncookedSelachimorpha 7

   28 March 2016 at 11:34 am

   Great article on RNZ today from Greg Roughan explaining how our agriculture sector’s primary ‘product’ is capital gains.

   The current government’s cluelessness on growing the real economy is well illustrated in this piece.
8. adam 8

   28 March 2016 at 11:58 am

   They said this out loud.
   • joe90 8.1

     28 March 2016 at 12:14 pm

     Here’s the Harper’s article.

     At the time, I was writing a book about the politics of drug prohibition. I started to ask Ehrlichman a series of earnest, wonky questions that he impatiently waved away. “You want to know what this was really all about?” he asked with the bluntness of a man who, after public disgrace and a stretch in federal prison, had little left to protect. “The Nixon campaign in 1968, and the Nixon White House after that, had two enemies: the antiwar left and black people. You understand what I’m saying? We knew we couldn’t make it illegal to be either against the war or black, but by getting the public to associate the hippies with marijuana and blacks with heroin, and then criminalizing both heavily, we could disrupt those communities. We could arrest their leaders, raid their homes, break up their meetings, and vilify them night after night on the evening news. Did we know we were lying about the drugs? Of course we did.”

     https://web.archive.org/web/20160323023430/https://harpers.org/archive/2016/04/legalize-it-all/?single=1
9. greywarshark 9

   28 March 2016 at 12:58 pm

   The Easter Rising of 1916 Ireland is being remembered there and by the Irish diaspora.
   We are getting to the stage where we will need a rising ourselves. Do we awake or hold a wake!

   Only we can’t wait all those years till the oppressive powers and their fellow-travellers go through the process of denial, retaliation, punishment, deaths, starvation in prison, excrement protest etc. before the light shines at the end of the tunnel. We have to achieve breakthrough from the mire that holds us in the next 10 years so we can start attempting to cope adequately with the effects of Climate Change, and the hornet-nest stirring of the Dark Empire which is cloaked by technology making their reality invisible, so we only see holograms of Disneyland.

   This link refers to the 1985 Anglo-Irish Agreement which Thatcher signed for Britain.
   Wikipedia put this rider – Not to be confused with the 1921 Anglo-Irish Treaty or the 1998 British–Irish Agreement.– which other agreements attempted to provide for a fairer working relationship between the two countries.

   But the years between 1916 and 1985 were fraught and deadly. Breaking the stones in politicians’ and leaders’ heads is not easy, and the people who try may suffer the task of breaking real stones or other symbolic punishment in prison.
   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anglo-Irish_Agreement

   But which power would we rise up against? Would it be the have-nots against the gloating haves and a civil war that wrecked the country? Is this the only way for the despairing to act to return people power and a true democracy? And such action rarely does. But is it, to paraphrase Churchill, – It may not be the best, but its’s the best we know of?
   Guardian comment on The Rising –
   http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/mar/25/the-guardian-view-on-the-easter-rising-centenary-irelands-history-lesson-for-britain
   http://foreignaffairsreview.co.uk/2014/04/anglo-irish/
10. Penny Bright 10

    28 March 2016 at 1:55 pm

    Do you believe that it’s a ‘conflict of interest’ for Auckland Council to be a member of the NZ Property Council?

    I do.

    Penny Bright
    2016 Auckland Mayoral candidate.
    • Craig H 10.1

      28 March 2016 at 3:29 pm

      No – some development is required, including by the Council, and engaging in some manner is better than not engaging.
11. joe90 11

    28 March 2016 at 3:42 pm

    Fuck Brazil.

    Los Angeles Times Verified account
    ‏@latimes

    Brazil seizes abortion drugs sent to women living in fear of Zika http://lat.ms/1of9M13

    https://twitter.com/latimes/status/714259489185251328
12. Macro 12

    28 March 2016 at 4:56 pm

    Evening Harold Exclusive
    Trump says he has never forgiven Muslims for killing Jesus. 🙂

    “The reason no one talks about the Muslims killing Jesus is political correctness, plain and simple. Well I’ve never worried about being political, and I’ve never worried about being correct, I just say what I think” said Trump.

    🙂
    Good read
13. Macro 13

    28 March 2016 at 5:02 pm

    Driverless cars are here to stay! 🙂
14. pat 14

    28 March 2016 at 11:04 pm

    1.3 billion people…

    http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-35888535
15. Gangnam Style 15

    29 March 2016 at 5:25 am

    Those jokers the Tax Payers Union don’t like UBI, they have “concluded it would likely push the New Zealand economy into recession due to a reduced labour supply from the windfall increase in incomes.” – they have made a nice simplistic statement for the Audreys & Tracys & BMs & other trolls to regurgitate.

    “(W)e do not regard the Taxpayers’ Union as either credible or independent commentators on this matter or many others,” – Grant Robertson.

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/78316664/taxpayers-union-rubbishes-universal-basic-income-idea

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