Archive for November, 2010

‘Playing fair’ makes us losers in currency wars

Written By: - Date published: 6:29 am, November 12th, 2010 - 51 comments

The US Government has begun creating new money out of thin air, to inflate away the value of its debt and lower its currency to make its industries more competitive. It’s not the only country. Nearly all the major currencies are engaged in the ‘Currency Wars’, trying to force down their exchanger rates. We’re in the cross-fire doing nothing.

Open mike 12/11/2010

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, November 12th, 2010 - 53 comments

Open mike is your post. It’s open for discussing topics of interest, making announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose. Comment on whatever takes your fancy. The usual good behaviour rules apply (see the link to Policy in the banner). Step right up to the mike…

Law Society – rule of law under threat

Written By: - Date published: 10:37 pm, November 11th, 2010 - 13 comments

A fascinating interview on Nine to Noon this morning – Kathryn Ryan with Jonathan Temm, President of the Law Society, on what the Society sees as the government’s disturbing trend to pass laws that threaten the “rule of law” in New Zealand because they cut out  scrutiny from parliament, people and the courts. The specifics […]

Different approaches to campaigning in Mana

Written By: - Date published: 1:40 pm, November 11th, 2010 - 28 comments

The two major parties’ Mana campaigns are a prelude for 2011. Labour is focusing on boots on the ground and a strong candiate making personal contact with voters. National knows their candidate is weak so they’re turning to their one asset: Key. Meanwhile, Matt McCarten’s insurgent campaign is getting Left issues national coverage.

Captain Potty Mouth

Written By: - Date published: 12:06 pm, November 11th, 2010 - 27 comments

The PM’s Chief Press Secretary Kevin Taylor thinks he’s above those who are actually elected.  So much so he feels free to tell journalists that an elected Member, who represents the people of New Zealand who voted for him, is a “fuckwit” and that they can “quote him”. Or perhaps “Captain Panic Pants” will claim that it’s just the pressure getting to him.

Nats bullying schools again

Written By: - Date published: 11:08 am, November 11th, 2010 - 61 comments

The latest Nat campaign to stifle those who speak out against them is in full swing.  A report that a “Third of rebel schools appear to soften stance on standards” goes on to note the bullying tactics being used against schools to achieve this “compliance”.  These tactics have already caused a senior Ministry official in the Auckland region to refuse to participate in the harassment of schools in protest.

Govt Attacks Right To Silence

Written By: - Date published: 10:02 am, November 11th, 2010 - 12 comments

The Government is removing your Right to Silence in TWO Bills before the House.  The much-improved Search and Surveillance Bill, and the Alcohol Reform Bill.  Ripping up civil rights fought for over centuries that ensure a fair legal system, destroying a free press – all without much thought or care.

Caption competition

Written By: - Date published: 9:10 am, November 11th, 2010 - 13 comments

The image is from a flyer for Hekia Parata’s fundraiser at the ritzy Pauatahanui Inlet Lodge this evening (click through for full flyer). I bet there’ll be lots of working folks in Mana digging into their pockets for the $55 charge.

As for captions, here’s my suggestion:

‘The messiah feeds the 5,000 – for $55 a head’

Housing occupation not a stunt

Written By: - Date published: 7:22 am, November 11th, 2010 - 116 comments

Matt McCarten and his team took over a vacant state house in Mana to install a young couple who were previously living in a garage.  Four supporters were soon arrested.  The media are calling this action a “stunt”. To do so is to diminish the significance of the issue to which it was drawing attention.  Call it a protest.  People are living in squalor while state houses sit empty.  Why?

Open mike 11/11/2010

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, November 11th, 2010 - 47 comments

Open mike is your post. It’s open for discussing topics of interest, making announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose. Comment on whatever takes your fancy. The usual good behaviour rules apply (see the link to Policy in the banner). Step right up to the mike…

Poppy day in Beijing

Written By: - Date published: 9:36 pm, November 10th, 2010 - 6 comments

It’s diplomacy time in the Asia-Pacific region. While Secretary Clinton came to New Zealand and Australia and President Obama to India and Indonesia, Prime Minister Cameron has gone to  Beijing with a large delegation hoping to drum up business for Britain. Cameron’s pre-visit publicity was all about how he was going to  lecture the Chinese […]

Informed debate from Jonathan Coleman

Written By: - Date published: 2:00 pm, November 10th, 2010 - 22 comments

Yesterday, Jonathan Coleman was handed the job of doing the introductory speech on the Taxation (International Investment and Remedial Matters) Bill 2010. Coleman was reading from a prepared speech that someone had handed him, and it was the wrong speech for the wrong Bill. Coleman, without seeming to realise anything was amiss, proceeded to repeat verbatim a speech Peter Dunne gave a year ago for the Taxation (International Taxation, Life Insurance, and Remedial Matters) Bill.

Efficient cars – possible now

Written By: - Date published: 12:58 pm, November 10th, 2010 - 70 comments

Incredibly efficient cars can be manufactured now… but they aren’t being made.

What would it take to kick-start what would be a major part of making our future sustainable?

Confidence in govt falls on Hobbit debacle

Written By: - Date published: 11:38 am, November 10th, 2010 - 47 comments

The latest Roy Morgan poll shows confidence in government plummeted during the Hobbit debacle. It shows confidence in government falling to a new low for Key’s administration. At the beginning of the year, nearly three-quarters of the population agreed the country was heading in the right direction. Barely 50% do now.

Dole numbers still rising

Written By: - Date published: 10:30 am, November 10th, 2010 - 10 comments

While the unemployment rate continues to jump around like mad, the dole numbers are telling a consistent story. And it’s not a good one. Every month this year has been worse than normal. In October, the number of Kiwis on the dole fell by 0.1%, that’s compared to a 1.1% fall last October and an average 3.1% drop each October under Labour. This October there were 4,800 more people on the dole than last October. Didn’t you say we were coming out of the recession strongly, Mr Key?

The other great tax lie

Written By: - Date published: 8:47 am, November 10th, 2010 - 11 comments

The Budget 2010 tax cuts for the rich were supposed to be paid for by magical extra growth.  But the growth isn’t happening and the government now has a $2.2 billion shortfall in income.  So the tax cuts aren’t “broadly neutral” at all.  We’re paying for them with borrowing.  Is that “Ambitious for New Zealand”?

Inequality Rises

Written By: - Date published: 7:00 am, November 10th, 2010 - 53 comments

Wages rose for the rich and fell for the poor this year, according to a Employers and Manufacturer’s Association survey. Managing Directors got a 3.7% rise from $190k to $197k, whilst the unskilled production workers beneath them saw their wages drop 6.5% or $2000 to $29.5k.

The recession, combined with this government, hurts the poor the hardest.

Open mike 10/11/2010

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, November 10th, 2010 - 50 comments

Open mike is your post. It’s open for discussing topics of interest, making announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose. Comment on whatever takes your fancy. The usual good behaviour rules apply (see the link to Policy in the banner). Step right up to the mike…

National – No Friend to Women

Written By: - Date published: 2:44 pm, November 9th, 2010 - 45 comments

The gender pay gap is increasing by about 1 percentage point each year under Pansy Wong’s watch – it’s now 13%.  And a new report out shows women’s level of participation in key leadership areas is static or falling.  Female unemployment had passed 7 percent for the first time in 12 years.  National’s policies equate to an attack on women.

Brave whistleblower in Ministry of Education

Written By: - Date published: 1:54 pm, November 9th, 2010 - 73 comments

An education blog reports a revolt in the Ministry of Education, with a senior official in the Auckland region refusing to bully schools over national standards.  That is well and bravely done.  So much easier to keep your head down and “just follow orders”.  But these orders are very very wrong.

High pay makes elitists view us as serfs

Written By: - Date published: 12:31 pm, November 9th, 2010 - 41 comments

I’ve never really understood the logic of paying CEOs multi-million dollar salaries. Can Telecom’s $7m man, Paul Reynolds, for example, really be worth 100 skilled technicians? Is there no-one who is basically as good who would work for a million or two less? Now, research shows high pay gaps for CEOs actually makes them worse bosses.

Key – War on P?

Written By: - Date published: 11:23 am, November 9th, 2010 - 17 comments

Do you remember when John Key declared War on P a year ago?  The action has been… underwhelming.  The Police have been getting on with quietly doing a good job, to be sure, but when you grandiosely declare “War” on something, you expect a bit more attention to have been paid to it.

‘Minister Hitler’ comment upsets Farrar – sad he didn’t think of it himself

Written By: - Date published: 10:59 am, November 9th, 2010 - 82 comments

It’s interesting to see the amount of anti-teacher information National is sending to Farrar and Slater. The depth of research involved in uncovering this stuff means it’s clearly research unit work. The latest tidbit Farrar and Slater have their knickers in a twist about is a principal referring to Anne Tolley as ‘Minister Hitler’ on her Facebook wall.

SAS inspires money-making scheme

Written By: - Date published: 9:30 am, November 9th, 2010 - 23 comments

I’m a nurse at a public hospital. Our social fund is looking a bit thin this year so we thought would invite school groups to come along to the hospital, charge $25 a head, and let them play around with the equipment like X-ray machines and bandages to get a sense of how we work as a team. I’m sure Mr Key will say it’s a “good idea“.

In the hole and still digging

Written By: - Date published: 8:03 am, November 9th, 2010 - 65 comments

Tax take is down due to reduced spending and the government’s response is to urge “restraint” and keep cutting. These cuts will, of course, help fuel higher unemployment and further reduced spending, which will probably result in calls for further cuts. We’ll also see asset sales if the Nats win a second term, which will […]

Media turning

Written By: - Date published: 6:38 am, November 9th, 2010 - 26 comments

The Herald just accused Key of “blood on his hands” for failing to act on alcohol abuse.  That’s an extraordinary rebuke.  It far exceeds anything I can call from that pulpit directed at Helen Clark.  John Key just lost another big chunk off his Teflon coating.

Open mike 09/11/2010

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, November 9th, 2010 - 93 comments

Open mike is your post. It’s open for discussing topics of interest, making announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose. Comment on whatever takes your fancy. The usual good behaviour rules apply (see the link to Policy in the banner). Step right up to the mike…

Nats’ economic plan: more oil, more cows

Written By: - Date published: 12:14 pm, November 8th, 2010 - 70 comments

We’ve been critical of this do nothing government’s economic record, but now I/S at No Right Turn has received documents that lay out the Nats’ economic plan. They rejected the notion of government, business, and workers pulling together to create a better economy and went with: 1) find lots of oil 2) lots of GM cows.

Nats push ahead with ACC privatisation agenda

Written By: - Date published: 10:30 am, November 8th, 2010 - 22 comments

The Government is planning to reduce ACC cover and portray it as a cost saving for levy-payers. You would get less income coverage when injured and have to endure a longer wait time of three weeks until your coverage would begin. Levies would be personalised on the private model. This is privatising ACC on bite at a time with no actual cost savings.

SAS -services for sale?

Written By: - Date published: 8:48 am, November 8th, 2010 - 45 comments

I’m gobsmacked that John Key thinks it is a “good idea” for the SAS to whore itself and Crown property out so that fat businessmen can play soldier. What is our elite force doing pandering to the delusions of middle-aged dickheads to make money for a private fund? And what has happened to the SAS’s secrecy?

Children bigger than politics

Written By: - Date published: 7:21 am, November 8th, 2010 - 35 comments

Shame on those who put politics above the well-being of children. Pity those who wallow so intensively in the mud of politics that they are unable to see any issue in other than political terms. Shame and pity on those, like National’s pet blogger DPF, who are prepared to advocate a system likely to damage children because all they can see is politics.  They can’t see the evidence.  They can’t see the children.  Only the game.