Author Archive

We need to talk about immigration

Written By: advantage - Date published: 9:09 am, February 5th, 2017 - 189 comments

How does the left discuss the immigration debate so that it can counter the anti immigration sentiments fostered by the likes of Donald Trump, Theresa May and Malcolm Turnbull?

Good night, and good luck

Written By: advantage - Date published: 10:00 am, February 1st, 2017 - 24 comments

Donald Trump’s attack on human rights is nothing new. American history has many examples of attacks on basic rights.

Maybe Trump is what the left needed

Written By: advantage - Date published: 8:30 am, January 28th, 2017 - 72 comments

Donald Trump’s ascendancy to power presents the left with the chance of showing that progressive politics is a much better choice than the alternative.

The Lighthouse

Written By: advantage - Date published: 8:00 am, January 14th, 2017 - 19 comments

The lighthouse is a piece of public art recently erected in downtown Auckland. It is to celebrate the institution of the State House and has been paid for by real estate barons.

Show me

Written By: advantage - Date published: 9:39 am, January 13th, 2017 - 45 comments

It is time for Trump, English and Little to give us an idea on what their policies will do for employment and the rights of workers.

The CIA Director confirmation hearings

Written By: advantage - Date published: 11:03 am, January 10th, 2017 - 17 comments

Mike Pompey is Donald Trump’s chosen head for the CIA. He is someone who believes in the mass collection of all metadata and combining it with all publicly available information. Are we going to see the unprecedented destruction of rights of privacy?

Changes in the United States

Written By: advantage - Date published: 9:00 am, January 8th, 2017 - 79 comments

The implications for the world of Donald Trump’s forthcoming ascendancy to the office of President of the United States.

A word of thanks

Written By: advantage - Date published: 8:30 am, January 6th, 2017 - 11 comments

Robert Guyton deserves many thanks for the series of posts he recently wrote for the Standard.

Positive

Written By: advantage - Date published: 8:00 am, January 2nd, 2017 - 19 comments

This is a difficult concept for the left to address in election year in New Zealand but it’s possible to be positive about 2017.

I have an idea

Written By: advantage - Date published: 8:30 am, December 25th, 2016 - 12 comments

Advantage muses on the meaning of Christmas and how our response to it says a lot about who we are.

Keep it in the ground

Written By: advantage - Date published: 8:00 am, December 22nd, 2016 - 51 comments

In the last days of the Obama presidency the current President is taking steps to protect the Arctic from oil drilling.

The first Trump ripple

Written By: advantage - Date published: 1:17 pm, December 17th, 2016 - 96 comments

Donald Trump’s telephone call with the Taiwanese president has created a response which it seems clear he did not anticipate.

Weak Cities

Written By: advantage - Date published: 8:30 am, December 16th, 2016 - 44 comments

Current governance structures for our cities that rely on corporate management are proving to be ineffective and are not delivering the sort of result our democracy needs.

What would happen if the EU fell apart?

Written By: advantage - Date published: 10:13 am, December 8th, 2016 - 22 comments

The EU has had a difficult year and its future looks uncertain. What happens if it goes?

Barbecue season

Written By: advantage - Date published: 8:00 am, December 7th, 2016 - 84 comments

Now that we are entering the post Key era the Barbecue season presents the perfect time for all good progressives to talk to everyone about the importance of politics.

Trump’s broad international challenges

Written By: advantage - Date published: 9:00 am, December 1st, 2016 - 10 comments

Barak Obama is leaving Donald Trump a number of international crises to face. What will the Donald do and will he make America great again?

Earthquakes v Climate Change

Written By: advantage - Date published: 8:00 am, November 25th, 2016 - 23 comments

Have the recent earthquakes and the likely political response altered the emphasis that will being given to addressing climate change?

Angela Merkel’s values

Written By: advantage - Date published: 8:00 am, November 19th, 2016 - 30 comments

Angela Merkel has offered Donald Trump close cooperation on world issues, but with a rather important tag.

Kindness

Written By: advantage - Date published: 1:38 pm, November 17th, 2016 - 13 comments

It has been a terrible year. People should think about being kind to each other and looking after each other.

Democracy can be refined

Written By: advantage - Date published: 8:00 am, November 15th, 2016 - 125 comments

Democracy is difficult. Government is far too complex and ordinary people have neither the time nor the inclination to spend time to understand it properly. So what are the alternatives?

Was Obama a good President?

Written By: advantage - Date published: 9:00 am, November 10th, 2016 - 65 comments

How will history judge Barack Obama as president?

Donald Trump is good

Written By: advantage - Date published: 8:00 am, November 9th, 2016 - 72 comments

Advantage suggests that there may be some good come out of the Trump campaign.

Nationalism or patriotism?

Written By: advantage - Date published: 11:00 am, November 4th, 2016 - 39 comments

Winston Peters appeals to the former but is the latter now a more important concept?

David Cunliffe announces his retirement from politics

Written By: advantage - Date published: 12:00 pm, November 1st, 2016 - 335 comments

David Cunliffe has announced that he will not be standing for Parliament at the next election.

Follow the money

Written By: advantage - Date published: 8:21 am, October 30th, 2016 - 30 comments

Phase 2 of the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism Act is due to come into force soon and will require lawyers, accountants and other professionals to verify the source of client funds. This will give the Government increased power to monitor capital flows. What will they discover?