democracy under attack
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All the left wants is a clean contest of ideas
Written By: - Date published: 8:56 am, September 15th, 2015 - 153 comments
Josie Pagani yesterday chose as a left wing commentator to condemn Jeremy Corbyn’s politics as being based on narcissism where hard decisions never need to be made, and the unpopularity of a policy was evidence not of its failure but of its virtue. She should have analysed his history before making these claims. And in the interests of balance the media really needs to choose left wing commentators who will proudly stand up and support progressive ideals rather than repeat right wing attack lines.
Inside National’s spin machine
Written By: - Date published: 10:32 am, September 11th, 2015 - 81 comments
A very interesting post in The Herald yesterday by Grant McLachlan (former Parliamentary researcher and a Nat campaign director) detailing National’s well resourced and well organised spin machine.
Nats losing it on the TPP
Written By: - Date published: 7:02 am, August 27th, 2015 - 73 comments
National are trying to evade even the simplest questions on the TPP – because the truth is profoundly undemocratic. As usual Groser and Key turn to insults instead of engaging with people’s legitimate concerns.
National Ltd™’s Shane Reti Caught Out In Another Lie
Written By: - Date published: 7:12 am, August 26th, 2015 - 32 comments
Shane Reti lied about the process of ratifying the TPP. In a Press Release to the Northern Advocate, Reti states “. . . the agreement comes before parliament and opposition parties and select committees for debate and modifications . . .”
Most allegations against Julian Assange dropped
Written By: - Date published: 6:39 pm, August 18th, 2015 - 94 comments
Most of the allegations against Assange have been dropped but Swedish authorities still refuse to question him in London. And Assange still hasn’t been charged with a single crime.
#Talleyban. Standard Exclusive: MWU Blacklisted by Boss
Written By: - Date published: 10:07 am, August 10th, 2015 - 83 comments
Talleys has de-recognised the Meat Workers Union and refused to bargain with them. They have told the workers to set up a new, yellow union. Or else. Brighter Future? Not under National. This is what the recent changes in employment law were intended to achieve. It’s union busting in a brutal, thuggish form.
John Key – Snake Oil Salesman
Written By: - Date published: 12:33 pm, July 30th, 2015 - 42 comments
John Key has tried to suggest that we have nothing to worry about planned changes to Pharmac caused by TPP. But a recent further release by Wikileaks on the effects of the Trans Pacific Partnership on State Owned Enterprises makes you wonder if the implications of TPP on Pharmac are as limited as he says.
Then they came for the Health Boards
Written By: - Date published: 8:26 am, July 27th, 2015 - 79 comments
It appears that the Government has a radical proposal to undermine democratic participation in our Health Boards. Although the Minister claims not to know about it.
National’s law ruled a violation of human rights
Written By: - Date published: 7:48 am, July 25th, 2015 - 16 comments
The High Court has ruled that a law passed by National in 2010 is a violation of the Bill of Rights Act. This is a first for NZ, and another “proud” item to add to National’s legacy.
The Fighting Foreign Corporate Control Bill
Written By: - Date published: 8:16 am, July 22nd, 2015 - 49 comments
With support from Labour, the Greens and the Maori Party NZ First is promoting the Fighting Foreign Corporate Control Bill. The support of one more MP will be sufficient to sent the Bill to select committee for consideration.
Hager v Attorney General & Dirty Politics
Written By: - Date published: 11:02 am, July 13th, 2015 - 49 comments
Nicky Hager’s case against the Police is being heard in the Wellington High Court today. Jon Stephenson is live blogging (slightly delayed) proceedings and will tweet developments to #HagerCase.
NRT: No democracy for Canterbury
Written By: - Date published: 9:14 am, July 9th, 2015 - 8 comments
I/S at No Right Turn on the continued suspension of democracy in Canterbury, and the Nats’ dump of their proposed “transition plan” under cover of the ABvSamoa game yesterday.
Open letter on Nauru
Written By: - Date published: 2:03 pm, July 2nd, 2015 - 8 comments
Twenty eight legal academics have written an open letter to Murray McCully expressing their concern at the worsening rule of law situation in Nauru.
The Cyber bullying law and Dirty Politics
Written By: - Date published: 1:58 pm, July 1st, 2015 - 36 comments
The cyber bullying legislation is a cynical piece of law which allows National to claim that it has left dirty politics behind.
An open letter to Andrew Little
Written By: - Date published: 6:08 pm, June 26th, 2015 - 433 comments
A respectful open letter to Andrew Little with suggestions for how to win the next election!
Stewart’s brilliant account of the significance of Campbell Live
Written By: - Date published: 7:24 am, May 30th, 2015 - 47 comments
Rachel Stewart’s piece should be required reading for anyone who cares about New Zealand.
John Banks; Conviction Quashed
Written By: - Date published: 12:14 pm, May 19th, 2015 - 198 comments
John Banks has been acquitted of electoral fraud and his re-trial has been abandoned. Kim Dotcom has once again failed to follow through. Banks vs Goff in next year’s mayoralty race?
The unusual case of the disappearing blog
Written By: - Date published: 10:26 am, May 12th, 2015 - 308 comments
Giovanni Tiso has discovered that Cactus Kate’s blog is slowly disappearing from the Internet.
Hosking wants Auckland Council deposed
Written By: - Date published: 11:00 am, May 8th, 2015 - 45 comments
From the I kid you not files Mike Hosking believes that Auckland Council is to blame for the housing crisis, not immigration, not favourable tax conditions for landlords, not the global financial crisis and not the lack of restrictions on home ownership. And he believes that Nick Smith should step in and Roll Auckland Council.
A Bright Spark Burning…
Written By: - Date published: 1:39 pm, March 11th, 2015 - 40 comments
A further piece on the peoples’ revolution within Northern Syria.
A little case study of media misrepresentation
Written By: - Date published: 4:54 pm, March 9th, 2015 - 42 comments
A short case study of the kind of mainstream media reporting that drives me nuts!
National Ltd™ Battling Truth On Two Fronts
Written By: - Date published: 10:16 am, March 6th, 2015 - 13 comments
The lies and media pap being distributed for public consumption by the boys down at “The Club” are old and worn out now. Politicians, public commentators, and media heads who really think they can get away with this flimsy “rinse and repeat” justification of the indefensible are treated us with contempt.
Three speeches on going to war
Written By: - Date published: 8:42 am, February 25th, 2015 - 109 comments
The first three speeches from yesterdays session in Parliament on sending troops to Iraq – John Key, Andrew Little, Russel Norman. Little’s speech is cogent, Norman’s is brilliant.
Aussies & US mount opposition to TPPA – but in NZ we just keep nodding
Written By: - Date published: 2:56 pm, February 14th, 2015 - 47 comments
So much to sell, so little time… When this Government is finished selling, we will have sold our right to make laws for ourselves too. Be under no doubt, if the effect of bringing in a law for the health and well being of Kiwis will cost a corporate millions of dollars, part of their lobbying after the TPP, will be threatening to sue the taxpayers of NZ and watch such a Bill slip into obscurity. And those corporates wielding that power? Most will never pay a cent of tax into the coffers of NZ taxpayers.
Revolutionary Spain, Revolutionary Syria, and the Bastards We Vote For.
Written By: - Date published: 3:36 pm, February 11th, 2015 - 63 comments
It seems that just as the 30’s offered the chance to turn dreams into reality, Syria is offering that chance up to ‘the left’ today. Suddenly, for me, the recent travel bans and the passport confiscation laws etc make sense since we are potentially looking at an international influx of non-nutters and non- psychopaths as happened during the Spanish Revolution of the 30s.
Captain’s Call
Written By: - Date published: 7:32 pm, February 9th, 2015 - 53 comments
Leaving Mike Sabin in charge of the Law and Order Select Committee was certainly a captain’s call by John Key. Just like Tony Abbott’s award of a knighthood to the Duke (as if he needed more fruit salad), this was a judgment call. And it does call Key’s judgment into question. It’s not about when he knew what he knew, it’s about what he did when he knew.
Eleanor Catton responds
Written By: - Date published: 8:30 am, January 31st, 2015 - 293 comments
The final word in this week’s debate about freedom of expression should be left to Eleanor Catton.
Dame Anne Salmond: Erosion of democratic rights
Written By: - Date published: 9:06 am, January 14th, 2015 - 27 comments
An excellent piece by Dame Anne Salmond in the Dominion Post yesterday. Salmond reviews the government’s attacks on journalists, institutions and privacy.
“But he hasn’t got anything on!”
Written By: - Date published: 3:43 pm, January 13th, 2015 - 64 comments
The self righteousness of the leaders who marched in Paris was there for all to see, but few in the media decry and point out the hypocrisy. How smug the World leaders feel, marching for freedom of expression and the media which they largely control and use for their political purposes. So who will speak […]
The Hypocrisy of Hate
Written By: - Date published: 4:07 pm, January 11th, 2015 - 223 comments
You’d think that with all the WW1 commemorations going on at the moment it would make us more vigilant about our freedom and security, not sleep-walking towards another Holy Crusade (in the name of the God of Money and Father of Fossil Fuels), seduced by slick liars and the gods of commercialism and greed.
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