democratic participation

Categories under democratic participation

FPP: A man’s world

Written By: - Date published: 10:31 am, September 19th, 2011 - 32 comments

The Campaign for MMP has a series of vids that we’ll be running. This one looks at how MMP has lifted the representation of women in Parliament. Makes you wonder about the people who want to send us backwards. By the by, due the paucity of women on National and ACT’s lists, the next Parliament is likely be to be first since 1978 to see the number of women decrease.

Disengaged

Written By: - Date published: 8:09 am, September 18th, 2011 - 114 comments

Why are the young so disengaged from the political process?  2011 is shaping up to be even worse than last election.

Diverse hypocrites

Written By: - Date published: 7:22 am, September 7th, 2011 - 69 comments

National is the party of middle aged white guys, but according to their chief spinster we shouldn’t care…

Interesting elections #3 – recall in Wisconsin

Written By: - Date published: 8:15 pm, August 22nd, 2011 - 2 comments

The recall elections in Wisconsin over Governor Walker’s attempt to remove collective bargaining for public servants had it all – Republicans running fake Democrats in primaries, massive spending by faceless outside bodies, and two Republican senators losing their seats in the subsequent ballot. Democrats did not succeed in overturning the Wisconsin Senate majority for  Walker’s Republicans, but it is down to one and there is one Republican who voted against the anti-union law.

No debate for Hampden

Written By: - Date published: 9:35 am, August 5th, 2011 - 42 comments

National pollster David Farrar wants scientists to debate a fake Lord climate change denier saying “Why should anyone listen to people unwilling to debate?”. Well, David, next time you’re giving your polling report to the Kitchen Cabinet, tell them that. Because National is refusing to participate in coming debate on their asset sales policy.

All the World’s A Square

Written By: - Date published: 5:38 pm, July 31st, 2011 - 40 comments

Some inspiration as Monday morning looms.

Epsom & marginal deals

Written By: - Date published: 7:25 am, July 22nd, 2011 - 65 comments

What to make of Epsom? I haven’t so far had a strong opinion on the topic, but I’m starting to come down on the side of “if you can’t beat them, join them”.

Big Push Reminder

Written By: - Date published: 5:40 pm, July 8th, 2011 - 3 comments

Tomorrow, Rain or Shine (indoor alternate venue ready for rain…), Queen St, Auckland: 10.30am Gather, 11am March, 11.30 sausage sizzle and kids entertainment…

Vote for change ad competition

Written By: - Date published: 9:33 am, July 8th, 2011 - 19 comments

Vote for Change, Peter Shirtcliffe’s anti-MMP vehicle a grassroots movement discussing the need for change in the electoral system, has launched an ad competition for their movement. There’s $10,000 in prizes. I guess they raised the money from cake stalls. We encourage to submit your entries to VfC, and send them to us too!

Vote for Change stumbles at the startline

Written By: - Date published: 9:00 am, July 5th, 2011 - 10 comments

Peter Shirtcliffe’s Vote for Change is reeling. On Sunday, they had to boot out Alex Fogerty after the Young Nat’s neo-Nazi affiliations were made public. Yesterday, they lost their token Leftie, Bob Harvey, when he realised that being used by a collection of capitalist elitists and white supremacists wasn’t the legacy he wanted.

Vote for Change’s heart of darkness

Written By: - Date published: 12:06 pm, July 4th, 2011 - 52 comments

Peter Shirtcliffe’s Anti-MMP Vote For Change group has just 16 members and one of them has turned out to be a neo-Nazi. Is it a case of being so short of mates they’ll accept anyone who turns up, or does this give us a truer picture of who really wants to get rid of MMP? The latter, I think.

Bait and Switch – to SM

Written By: - Date published: 8:27 pm, June 29th, 2011 - 69 comments

Good piece in today’s Herald by John Armstrong focussing on Vote for Change declaring that they are not in favour of any particular form of electoral system at this stage. He doesn’t find it believable, and nor do I. His take is that “Vote for Change looks very much like the National Party Preservation Society in drag.” I agree. I think they have a classic bait and switch strategy, it involves Key, and we should not take it lightly.

MMP rules, FPP/SM drools

Written By: - Date published: 12:32 pm, June 29th, 2011 - 49 comments

Times that the Government had the support of the majority of voters under FPP from formation of Reform (beginning on multi-party system) in 1911: 7 out of 27 (26%)

Times that the Government has had the support of the majority of voters under MMP: 4 out of 5 (80%)

Vote for Change Incorporated

Written By: - Date published: 9:32 pm, June 28th, 2011 - 25 comments

By its own admission, Vote for Change is anti MMP. Its website homepage has “More Accountability” as its first principle. It is also an Incorporated Society. So I had a look at its rules – you can find them on the Societies website. It seems more like the Politburo to me. Not a good look for a group supposedly promoting better democracy.

Shirtcliffe’s anti-MMP campaign launches

Written By: - Date published: 9:30 am, June 28th, 2011 - 112 comments

Peter Shirtcliffe’s latest attempt to destroy MMP has finally launched. The man who spent a million dollars in 1993 is a shadow of his former self. Now, he and his cronies are so despised he can’t front the organisation himself, he’s got some kid doing it. And FPP/SM is so despised they won’t actually campaign for it overtly.

Fabian seminar

Written By: - Date published: 6:50 pm, June 7th, 2011 - 2 comments

Another Fabian seminar in Auckland: Ian Pool & Natalie Jackson – Our Demographic Dividend Wasted. Thursday 9th June, 7.00pm, in the Ellen Melville Hall, Freyberg Place.

Broadcasting allocations

Written By: - Date published: 3:20 pm, June 1st, 2011 - 21 comments

No Right Turn asks an interesting set of questions about the state allocation of  broadcast media time.

“..if we think TV and radio broadcasting is so influential that it must be restricted to produce a level playing field between parties – which I agree with – why do we allocate it so it produces the opposite?”

Politics in the media – a Sideshow?

Written By: - Date published: 6:21 pm, May 31st, 2011 - 8 comments

Lindsay Tanner’s book “Sideshow” is described as laying “bare the relentless decline of political reporting and political behaviour that occurred during his career. Part memoir, part analysis, and part critique, Sideshow is a unique book that tackles the rot which has set in at the heart of Australian public life.” I found it disappointing. In my opinion politicians should not waste time complaining about the media, just concentrate on the best way to get their message across in a way that people will respond positively to.

The Right’s MMP conundrum

Written By: - Date published: 9:04 am, May 31st, 2011 - 12 comments

If there is one silver lining to the cloud of a National government, it is that the MMP referendum has come up on their watch.  It rather cripples their attack lines.

Anti-MMP cabal rumbled

Written By: - Date published: 10:16 am, May 29th, 2011 - 64 comments

National Party pollster David Farrar is to be campaign strategist for an anti-MMP campaign. He’s joined by Nat ‘campaign manager for hire’ Simon Lusk who did the work on the Brash coup, and Jordan Williams a former Young Nat also involved in the Brash coup. I assume the campaign material will have National Party logos on it.

Take control

Written By: - Date published: 11:59 am, May 20th, 2011 - 6 comments

It matters not who owns a thing, what really matters is “who controls it” . We have been watching our house being burgled for to long haven’t we? We seem to forget we are still in control of this country, and we the people need to get back that control, the control of our parliament, that belongs to us!

Budget Protest at Parliament today

Written By: - Date published: 11:26 am, May 19th, 2011 - 54 comments

Unions and community groups don’t need to wait till after the Budget is read to know they’ve been screwed.  They’re gathering today at Parliament at 12pm for a protest rally – come along if you’re in town. I was talking to a union organiser today who said that one of her main worksites – politically apathetic most […]

March against RWR’s racism

Written By: - Date published: 9:10 am, May 15th, 2011 - 45 comments

At midday on May 27, New Zealanders will take to Queen St to spit in the face of the pathetic, racist Rightwing Resistance. Actually, the march organisers say it’s to “express how we actually LOVE having diversity in our communities and we want to accommodate and be inclusive”. Be there.

Fabians lecture

Written By: - Date published: 3:18 pm, May 9th, 2011 - Comments Off on Fabians lecture

“Inequality in New Zealand” with David Craig Venue: St John’s Church Hall, 176 Willis St, Wellington Time: Wednedsay May 11th, 5:30 PM

Fabians lecture

Written By: - Date published: 3:21 pm, May 4th, 2011 - 1 comment

“Capital Gains Tax” with Craig Elliffe and Chye-ching Huang

Venue: Owen Glenn Building, University of Auckland

Time: May 5th, 6:30 PM

Fabians lecture

Written By: - Date published: 3:11 pm, April 26th, 2011 - 1 comment

“Reconstructing Christchurch” with Peter Harris and Hon Lianne Dalziel. Venue: St John’s Church Hall, 176 Willis St, Wellington When: April 27th, 5:30 PM

What is important to voters?

Written By: - Date published: 8:17 am, April 23rd, 2011 - 52 comments

DPF reckons “that issues of policy are less important to voters than issues of competence”.  What an impoverished view of democracy!  Perhaps he should look a little deeper than last week’s poll…

Fabians lecture

Written By: - Date published: 3:09 pm, April 20th, 2011 - 2 comments

Bernard Hickey speaks about “The Plan for the Productive Economy” Venue: Ellen Melville Hall, High Street, Auckland. Time: 6:30pm, Thursday 21 April.

Candidate Conference

Written By: - Date published: 6:16 pm, April 18th, 2011 - 59 comments

This weekend just gone there was a conference in Wellington for Labour candidates to get us all up to speed with the campaign.  We’re ready to go out there and make it happen.

Whambulance needed for P North Nats

Written By: - Date published: 12:30 pm, April 16th, 2011 - 23 comments

National’s Palmerston North candidate, Leonie Hapeta, is having a cry because the Labour MP, Iain Lees-Galloway, and supporters had an anti-asset sales demonstration that happened to be outside her hotel. It’s one thing for a n00b like Hapeta to cry about politics but surprising that Farwhaa and Wail-oil joined her.

Some are more equal than others

Written By: - Date published: 1:00 pm, April 14th, 2011 - 41 comments

Next time some righties are protesting in Queen St, will the government call out an army LAV to clear a path for my car so I can go about my lawful business without being blocked by protesters? Or do only foreign multinationals have this government at their beck and call?