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Key signals coalition with Labour

Written By: susannact - Date published: 11:42 am, January 31st, 2014 - 9 comments

John Key revealed that he was not ruling out going into coalition with Labour after the next election. He is rather bored and this party may make life a bit less boring. Besides this way he can take credit for having made the Best Start.

Media bias

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 10:41 am, January 31st, 2014 - 168 comments

Media bias has been a topic of discussion this week and such simple things as the choice of photos can be evidence of this. The Herald has been publishing very unflattering photos of David Cunliffe. You would think that with all of their resources they would have slightly more natural photos than the ones they are running …

Media Watch: infotainment & “balance” – inequality

Written By: karol - Date published: 10:01 am, January 30th, 2014 - 56 comments

The ratings/sales driven ethos of the corporate MSM skews the coverage of the election campaigns of parties of the “left” and the “right”. Focus on individuals, implying they represent large sections of the population. The left are leading the agenda on inequality.

Poto Williams’ maiden speech

Written By: notices and features - Date published: 8:39 am, January 30th, 2014 - 3 comments

Video of Poto Williams’ maiden speech given yesterday in Parliament. Congratulations Poto.

Note to Media – check your facts.

Written By: Zetetic - Date published: 12:55 pm, January 29th, 2014 - 202 comments

Sometimes I despair for our media. I mean, the latest parroting of Key’s line on Best Start is the stuff of black comedy. Apparently Key’s claiming David Cunliffe misled people about eligibility because they don’t get the payment while they also get paid parental leave. And the media are trumpeting it all over the place. […]

Opposing the PM’s statement

Written By: karol - Date published: 8:49 pm, January 28th, 2014 - 18 comments

The PMs’ statement todaywas a bit of a fizzer: lacking ideas, a lot of waffle. Some opposition speeches were more inspiring, & laid out some real alternatives: like the speeches from Cunliffe (on fire), Norman (inspiring), Ardern (animated) & Harawira (real people; real struggles).

“A Nation of Opportunity” – Cunliffe’s speech

Written By: notices and features - Date published: 1:16 pm, January 27th, 2014 - 527 comments

The text of David Cunliffe’s state of the nation speech from today’s meeting in Kelston.

Update: youtube of speech added

Isolating change: the poverty of education

Written By: karol - Date published: 11:24 am, January 24th, 2014 - 60 comments

John Key presented one great idea in isolation instead of a full election agenda: a desperate attempt to stop the growing discontents with his government. He failed to address underlying problems. Cunliffe will outline a broader political agenda. Turei addresses poverty & income inequalities.

A little exploration?

Written By: Bill - Date published: 12:22 pm, January 23rd, 2014 - 23 comments

On the pipers, the dancers and the great unwashed.

Spot the difference! Stating the nation

Written By: karol - Date published: 10:19 am, January 23rd, 2014 - 97 comments

[Updated] Speeches: Key (today ZB Transcript). PM’s speech – untruths, misdirections & corporatisation of education – comment added. Cunliffe on Monday, on greater opportunities for all Kiwis. Metiria Turei’s speech, Sunday – will talk education, environment. Peters responds to Key. Greens response – education. Cunliffe’s Stand-up – audio.

David Cunliffe on the State of the Nation

Written By: notices and features - Date published: 4:11 pm, January 22nd, 2014 - 185 comments

Following your great response to Micky’s recent post David Cunliffe has got in touch about your comments, his policy, and his big speech on Monday.

National coalition with NZ First?

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 5:00 pm, January 21st, 2014 - 126 comments

Key has refused to rule out the possibility of a National coalition with NZ First after this year’s election. How desperate is that?

A matter of “confidence”

Written By: karol - Date published: 11:43 am, January 21st, 2014 - 41 comments

Some say the economy often responds positively to “confidence”, while lack of it can result in some financial nose dives. But whose confidence is being highlighted in reports of NZ’ “rock star” economy? Not that of workers, beneficiaries – the precariat, say Labour, Greens.

What should David Cunliffe say in his state of the nation speech?

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 8:42 am, January 19th, 2014 - 426 comments

David Cunliffe’s state of the nation speech is to be given on January 27 at Kelston in Auckland. As a crowd sourcing exercise what are the things that he should be talking about and what are the issues that will change hearts and minds?

David Cunliffe plans State of the Nation speech

Written By: notices and features - Date published: 11:34 am, January 16th, 2014 - 188 comments

David Cunliffe is planning to give a state of the nation speech in Kelston on Monday Janury 27.

Its not easy being Green

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 12:39 pm, January 11th, 2014 - 175 comments

There is an important debate for both Labour and the Greens to have about the level of cooperation they should display this year. Some commentators have suggested that the Greens will be sidelined and that the battle will be between Labour and National but this is MMP and every vote counts. The goal for progressives has to be to increase the overall left vote.

Josie Pagani replies

Written By: Guest post - Date published: 2:20 pm, January 3rd, 2014 - 127 comments

Josie Pagani objected to mickysavage’s post objecting to her post at Pundit, and wanted to publish this as a right of reply. That is something that doesn’t exist on this or any blog. After all there is always another site to put content up on. However the ongoing debate going on here about how the left and the labour movement should operate and communicate (from many different angles) makes it of interest.

The Left Ulterior and other tendencies

Written By: lprent - Date published: 7:20 am, January 2nd, 2014 - 89 comments

Readers of this site are probably aware that I like reading science fiction. They’d also be aware that we run this site targeted at the general left labour movement of New Zealand. Of course many other people confuse this with the Labour party. In truth it can be distinguished as being more like the late great Iain M Bank’s view of his fictional Culture which he divided up into various Mind/ship behavioural segments. It kind of fits…
😈

The Standard’s ten most popular posts for 2013

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 8:53 am, December 27th, 2013 - 60 comments

A review of the Standard’s ten most popular posts for 2013.

In the shadow of Savage

Written By: karol - Date published: 8:33 am, December 26th, 2013 - 17 comments

25 December is a good day to visit historic sites. Yesterday I visited the Savage Memorial in Auckland. Political heritage in today’s environment. A memorial for workers? Remember the Savage government! Remember the Bastion Point protests! Lessons for today?

Thank you ….

Written By: karol - Date published: 8:57 am, December 25th, 2013 - 34 comments

To all those making a difference and working for a more inclusive, equal, fair and sustainable society. Special thanks to Lynn for all his work for The Standard.

Seasons greetings from David Cunliffe

Written By: notices and features - Date published: 7:40 pm, December 24th, 2013 - 89 comments

As we close the year I’d just like to wish you and your loved ones a happy, safe, and relaxing holiday season.

David Cunliffe’s first hundred days

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 7:22 am, December 23rd, 2013 - 159 comments

David Cunliffe has now been Labour leader for 100 days. This marks a good time for reflection on what has happened and how well he has done. And a chance to have a look into the future and predict what may happen in the next 12 months.

Not the brighter future….

Written By: karol - Date published: 8:46 am, December 22nd, 2013 - 32 comments

Articles in the Sunday papers online, showing John Key’s “brighter future” is only for the well off, while more people than ever are struggling to get by.

What happened to the working class?

Written By: karol - Date published: 8:36 am, December 15th, 2013 - 175 comments

In post WWII UK, working class people were gaining a stronger voice in public life. Then came Thatcher and middle class capture of politics & the media. Something similar happened in NZ. How can those on low incomes and/or from the working classes gain a stronger voice in NZ politics?

NZ Herald editorial smears the Referendum

Written By: karol - Date published: 10:42 am, November 30th, 2013 - 28 comments

NZ Herald editor/s selectively reports, omitting the full facts, in favour of the National government. It misrepresents the referendum on asset sales, ignoring significant facts – thereby also seeming to discredit the Green Party, the referendum, & democracy.

Axe the Copper Tax wins

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 6:49 pm, November 28th, 2013 - 32 comments

Every other political party has said an emphatic no to National’s proposal to override the Commerce Commission’s reduction in broadband charges. I suspect that Cabinet and Chorus’s board are not having a very good day …

Battle weary & marginalised: state housing

Written By: karol - Date published: 9:37 am, November 28th, 2013 - 61 comments

The National government is destroying NZ’s state housing system. Right of tenure removed, a shift towards private provision of “social housing”, housing campaigners marginalised, & Tracy Watkins crowing about the shift from the “welfare state”. Greens & Mana are for more state houses. And Labour? [Update] Picket of (Nat) Party for the Rich Dec 8 Akl. NZH article.

The Christchurch East by election gets weird

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 8:03 am, November 28th, 2013 - 60 comments

The Christchurch East by election is getting really weird. We have a National candidate who does not turn up to possibly the most important public meeting of the campaign, a spot of petty vandalism committed using a National MP’s van, a conservative party candidate who implies that legs on a billboard are his when they are not, a conservative party leader who does not rule out the possibility of chemtrails existing despite there being no supporting evidence while denying anthropogenic climate change when there is an abundance of evidence in support and Labour and the Greens contesting kindred votes when strategic voting could produce a positive result.

Confused?

Too close to call

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 5:46 pm, November 27th, 2013 - 111 comments

The latest Roy Morgan poll is out and things are neck and neck.

The Christchurch East by election

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 7:25 am, November 25th, 2013 - 45 comments

This Saturday the voters of Christchurch East vote for their next MP. Labour’s hopes are pinned on Poto Williams. But even though the seat has been Labour’s for a considerable period of time anything is possible. And turnout will be vital.