spin

This is/is not democracy

Written By: karol - Date published: 1:05 pm, August 12th, 2013 - 106 comments

The Nats’ PR-managed conference stifled democratic debate & bright ideas, and diverted from significant issues.  Armstrong attempts to talk it up, while exposing Key’s win-at-all-costs ruthlessness. Meanwhile: speakers announced for democratic meeting to Kill the GCSB Bill [Updated – Hagar also speaking]. [Update: Gordon Campbell – ‘Nanny National‘]

World smells 100% pure bullshit

Written By: Eddie - Date published: 6:40 am, August 7th, 2013 - 223 comments

We’re living a lie in New Zealand. We tell ourselves and we tell the world that we’re this amazingly environmentally conscious and sustainable country when, in fact, we’ve turned most of it into a giant farm, most of the rivers are unsafe to swim due to the farm run-off, and it would be worse, we just haven’t had the time. The Fonterra scandal may be the final straw for the 100% Pure slogan.

On converting .pst, government style

Written By: lprent - Date published: 1:52 pm, August 4th, 2013 - 49 comments

Were David Henry and his staff the right people to pursue an inquiry? They were incapable of opening a Outlook .pst file. And this appears to have held them up for days. They had the files before they even requested permission from Peter Dunne and (apparently) only their incompetence prevented them from their intent of reading the emails. If they’d been capable of using google, then our political landscape might look quite different..

Andrea Vance’s phone records were handed to Henry by Parliamentary Services

Written By: mickysavage - Date published: 1:47 pm, July 30th, 2013 - 80 comments

David Henry did but didn’t get Andrea Vance’s phone records from Parliamentary Services and Speaker David Carter said that the information had not been disclosed but had been disclosed.  And they expect us to believe that Henry did not look at the phone records despite asking for them.

Confused?

A king is born: Long Live Inequality!

Written By: karol - Date published: 10:54 am, July 25th, 2013 - 87 comments

UK children born on the same day as the new prince will get a silver penny: but their lives will be vastly different.  Left foot Forward spells out the inequalities between these new born.  John Key gushes over the new prince, while his government slashes, burns and fuels inequalities.

John Key, Crosby & corporate lobbyists

Written By: karol - Date published: 10:26 am, July 16th, 2013 - 40 comments

Joining the dots: David Cameron is under fire for his links with lobbyists for big tobacco & big oil, via his link with Lynton Crosby.  John Key, with links to Crosby Textor, has also bowed to big tobacco. Networks of Influence.

A problem of “masculine” values

Written By: karol - Date published: 8:01 am, July 7th, 2013 - 121 comments

The MSM coverage of the Labour Party remit, led by right wing propagandists, is riddled with sexism and the same traditional masculinist values that marginalise the poor and those with least power. I repeat my post that critiques a speech on gender & politics at the 2012 Labour Party Conference.

Who benefits?

Written By: karol - Date published: 9:19 am, June 21st, 2013 - 42 comments

The leaderless uprising in Brazil exposes unbearable inequalities in a dysfunctional post-growth world.  Extravagant sports events and expensive stadium contrast with anti-public service austerity measures.  Home building lags in Christchurch, while Key looks to asset sales to fund a stadium.

Whistleblowers and services to journalism

Written By: karol - Date published: 10:00 am, June 10th, 2013 - 57 comments

Two leakers (one a true whistleblower), are in the news right now, both focused on the US-led surveillance society, operating in the interests of corporate power.  And today, in relation to this, 2 journalists show the importance of the fourth estate to democracy. Kim Hill & Glenn Greenwald take a bow.

Tory journalist of the year

Written By: Zetetic - Date published: 3:44 pm, June 8th, 2013 - 16 comments

And the winner is – Tracy Watkins.

The power of blogs

Written By: Anthony R0bins - Date published: 11:22 am, June 3rd, 2013 - 221 comments

One of the most bizarre aspects of the Collins / Lusk faction’s plans (as per the leaked Lusk paper) was their perception of and plans for blogs.

Back to the future: John Key’s Dickensian values

Written By: karol - Date published: 9:13 am, May 27th, 2013 - 161 comments

John Key has been shamed by Hone Harawira’s “feed the kids” private members Bill.  Key’s approach to child hunger is a sly use of Dickensian-type PPPs & charities to absolve the government of responsibility, while falsely presenting a caring face.

Opposites day

Written By: IrishBill - Date published: 9:52 am, May 20th, 2013 - 38 comments

I had heard that National’s internal polling was showing they were becoming vulnerable on social equity issues. For some reason New Zealanders are coming to think of them as a government that looks after its rich mates at the expense of everyone else

So. Very. Funny.

Written By: notices and features - Date published: 9:00 pm, May 16th, 2013 - 54 comments

Just in case you haven’t seen this work of genius by Danyl…

Caption Contest

Written By: IrishBill - Date published: 8:44 pm, May 8th, 2013 - 95 comments

Well Key’s cornerstone policy, the one that many commentators claimed was him showing his mettle, has come to fruition. And it’s such a poison chalice he didn’t even have the guts to show up for the big reveal in person (spoiler: less than half the number of people who signed up to oppose asset sales signed up to buy).