Author Archive
Just another coverup
Written By: - Date published: 7:03 am, October 14th, 2015 - 7 comments
The Nats changing lines on the Taji report look like just another routine coverup of just another routine lie. At least, I hope so, because not knowing / caring about the report would be worse.
Briefing Papers: Refugees and inequality
Written By: - Date published: 9:59 am, October 13th, 2015 - 9 comments
Briefing Papers have been busy recently, check out some recent articles. How long can wealth keep sucking up before a society breaks down completely?
The Taji report
Written By: - Date published: 7:02 am, October 13th, 2015 - 17 comments
An American report which came out shortly before Key’s visit to our troops at Taji camp in Iraq is strongly critical of conditions there, and of the efficacy of the training process. Key claims he didn’t know, yet another of his outbreaks of “convenient ignorance”.
Unions good for society and economy
Written By: - Date published: 9:37 am, October 11th, 2015 - 39 comments
Great post on the UK based NEF Blog: Don’t be fooled, dismantling the rights of workers is not good for you, or for the economy.
TPP aims to kill filesharing
Written By: - Date published: 1:37 pm, October 10th, 2015 - 159 comments
According to the EFF “The Final Leaked TPP Text is All That We Feared”…
More charter school hypocrisy
Written By: - Date published: 7:03 am, October 9th, 2015 - 21 comments
Turns out the Education Minister overrode Ministry advice to protect National’s pet charter schools from being evaluated on their actual outcomes. Plus a bonus side order of hypocrisy on class sizes.
TPP roundup
Written By: - Date published: 6:34 am, October 7th, 2015 - 161 comments
A roundup of the best analysis of and reaction to the TPP. The gains are minor and delayed, the losses are real. In NZ we don’t have any democratic input into ratification, but the US does, and the deal may fall there.
WINZ dysfunctional
Written By: - Date published: 12:07 pm, October 5th, 2015 - 22 comments
I guess it’s not exactly news that WINZ is dysfunctional, but its interesting to have some actual data on one of the symptoms. Bonus feature – one of the Nats’ worst excuses ever.
Exxon knew
Written By: - Date published: 7:02 am, October 5th, 2015 - 24 comments
Exxon knew all about global warming and the “hockey stick” all the way back in 1981. Naturally the course of action they decided on was to lie and deny.
Speech to UN height of hypocrisy
Written By: - Date published: 7:52 am, October 3rd, 2015 - 34 comments
Key’s little lecture to the UN would have been delivered with a lot more moral authority if it wasn’t built on the heights of hypocrisy.
Stephenson beats his critics
Written By: - Date published: 7:03 am, October 2nd, 2015 - 27 comments
Respected journalist Jon Stephenson has extracted an apology and payment from the NZ Defence Force for their attack on his work in 2011. He is owed an apology from John Key too…
Pandas WTF?
Written By: - Date published: 7:01 am, October 1st, 2015 - 41 comments
Pandas – one lightweight piece of fluff too far?
Dunne: Our foreign policy lacks any commitment to human rights
Written By: - Date published: 9:50 am, September 30th, 2015 - 32 comments
Peter Dunne doesn’t hold back in his assessment of the craven foreign policy – that is the creation of his government.
Commentary on research cuts
Written By: - Date published: 2:50 pm, September 29th, 2015 - 11 comments
It’s not just lefties such as yours truly who think it’s mad to cut agricultural (especially emissions) research.
Goff: Collins planning her move
Written By: - Date published: 9:53 am, September 28th, 2015 - 75 comments
Goff: “Judith’s column this week is the opening shot in her campaign to succeed John Key as National’s leader.”
Nats and reproductive rights
Written By: - Date published: 6:58 am, September 28th, 2015 - 210 comments
The Nats are obsessed with the reproductive rights of those they deem “unfit”. Once again they are floating the idea of compulsory controls.
Pope Francis speaks
Written By: - Date published: 8:32 am, September 26th, 2015 - 98 comments
Pope Francis has given two important speeches recently.
AgResearch cuts include greenhouse gas research – of course
Written By: - Date published: 12:28 pm, September 25th, 2015 - 29 comments
Cutting research into greenhouse gases? With our emissions profile? Now? This can’t possibly be mere stupidity. This must be willful blindness.
Welcome returns
Written By: - Date published: 6:42 am, September 25th, 2015 - 7 comments
Great to see two much needed voices back on line, Dita de Boni now writing for TVNZ, and John Campbell doing what he does best for RNZ. (Update with Andrea Vance’s more to TVNZ).
Government by Twitter
Written By: - Date published: 7:02 am, September 24th, 2015 - 66 comments
We have passed an interesting milestone in the evolution of NZ politics. Key’s poll-driven pandering has just been taken to the next level. Political / media dinosaurs will never be able to dismiss “The Twitterati” again.
Flagging a dead horse
Written By: - Date published: 12:31 pm, September 23rd, 2015 - 213 comments
Gareth Morgan pulls no punches on the flag fiasco, and a breaking story on the Greens’ move to add Red Peak.
Folding on the TPP
Written By: - Date published: 7:02 am, September 23rd, 2015 - 39 comments
As last ditch efforts to pass the TPP continue, Key is softening us up to sign a bad deal. Coincidentally, two articles yesterday highlight the risks to NZ.
Is this what Key meant by investing in research?
Written By: - Date published: 8:56 am, September 22nd, 2015 - 32 comments
Yesterday Key listed, among the “achievements” of his government for this term: “investing in … research and development”. Was this an example of what he had in mind?
The flag poll
Written By: - Date published: 7:47 am, September 21st, 2015 - 90 comments
OK I confess I’m only writing this post because the chance to use that title tickled my fancy. But anyway – almost 70% of us oppose changing the flag.
Fact checking Key on government performance
Written By: - Date published: 7:01 am, September 21st, 2015 - 22 comments
A year after the last election John Key lists his government’s achievements. It’s a pretty desperate effort.
Briefing Papers (AUT)
Written By: - Date published: 12:09 pm, September 20th, 2015 - 5 comments
As our media becomes increasingly shallow, you might be looking for some solid content reading on a quiet Sunday. Check out Briefing Papers from AUT.
Economic doldrums
Written By: - Date published: 9:56 am, September 19th, 2015 - 16 comments
Two pieces this week on how National’s mismanagement of the economy has left us in the doldrums.
The Roy Morgan roundabout
Written By: - Date published: 7:26 am, September 19th, 2015 - 17 comments
The “Roy Morgan roundabout” poll has swung round to the left again, with National at 44.5% (down 6), Labour 31% (up 4) and Greens 15% (up 4).
More Herald journalists sacked
Written By: - Date published: 3:39 pm, September 18th, 2015 - 67 comments
Very bad news for all those losing their jobs, commiserations to you. It’s a pretty heartless economy out there, and pretty soon there won’t be anyone left to comment on it. Consumers of celebrity gossip will still have it good though, so I guess that’s something.
Nat insider condemns flag jack-up
Written By: - Date published: 7:04 am, September 18th, 2015 - 75 comments
Grant McLachlan (a former Parliamentary researcher and a Nat campaign director) calls National’s flag process “a jack up”, and says “Everything the National Party has done around the flag debate is dodgy”.
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