Social issues

Categories under Social issues

Diplomatic Values

Written By: - Date published: 5:39 pm, November 21st, 2022 - 4 comments

Trudeau got a 10-minute stand-up with Xi followed by a public shirt-fronting, Albanese a 32-minute sit-down, and Jacinda Ardern a 50-minute formal bilateral. In the carefully calibrated world of the diplomatic dance-card, that says something. New Zealand would be foolish not to take advantage of what is on offer from China.

National’s Boot Camps announcement is deeply cynical policy recycling

Written By: - Date published: 10:27 am, November 21st, 2022 - 28 comments

There should be a law against the cynical recycling of dog whistle policies that everyone knows will not work. Last week’s announcement by National of a boot camp policy is as good an example as you can imagine.

The power companies are rorting us

Written By: - Date published: 8:30 am, November 15th, 2022 - 25 comments

FIRST Union, NZCTU, and 350 Aotearoa have just released a joint report suggesting that the privatisation of our power companies by National were not only disastrous for the country’s finances but also disastrous for the planet.

Equality for the Black Ferns

Written By: - Date published: 10:39 am, November 13th, 2022 - 42 comments

After the epic Women’s World Cup result from last night’s final the question has to be asked, why aren’t the Black Ferns and the All Blacks paid the same amount?

The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse Pause With Map In Hand and Scratch Their Heads

Written By: - Date published: 7:00 am, November 13th, 2022 - 19 comments

If 2020 was the worst year in my lifetime how does 2022 compare?

The Year Skiing Died

Written By: - Date published: 4:47 pm, November 11th, 2022 - 13 comments

Climate change has ensured that this is the winter that broke skiing.

Red ripple in US

Written By: - Date published: 8:22 am, November 10th, 2022 - 29 comments

Except in Florida, where Ron DeSantis led a convincing set of Republican gains, the Republican party in the US have had a disappointing mid-term election. The Democrats expecting to face a mid-term vote against incumbents, will be pleasantly surprised. There are still a lot of votes to count. This being the US, lawyers will be trying to set court dates.

Why Is Labour Such a Hard Sell Now?

Written By: - Date published: 7:40 am, November 10th, 2022 - 140 comments

So why is Labour and Ardern struggling when the economy is so strong?

Comrade Chris and the politics of the warm inner glow

Written By: - Date published: 11:06 am, November 9th, 2022 - 127 comments

Left wing contrarian Chris Trotter has made some outlandish claims about Jacinda Ardern’s recent conference speech.

What happens if Twitter dies?

Written By: - Date published: 8:37 am, November 8th, 2022 - 95 comments

It seems strange to type this but Twitter may be terminal.  The social media site that has become the go to for many years for journalists, politicians and any one interested in news especially breaking news may be on its death bed.

Upcoming Conflict Between Justice and Politics in the United States

Written By: - Date published: 8:08 am, November 8th, 2022 - 12 comments

Unlike even Brazil’s election and transition of power, events are going to make the full restoration of functioning democracy in the United States very, very hard and starting soon.

Kelvin Davis – if not now then when?

Written By: - Date published: 7:52 am, November 7th, 2022 - 32 comments

The text of an excellent speech given by Kelvin Davis to the Labour Party conference on climate change.

Jacinda Ardern to National – Bring It On

Written By: - Date published: 3:46 pm, November 6th, 2022 - 157 comments

Text and video of Jacinda Ardern’s speech today to the Labour Party Annual Conference.

National’s relentless negativity

Written By: - Date published: 11:33 am, November 5th, 2022 - 86 comments

National’s recent press releases show that its approach to politics will be relentlessly negative, with no idea of what it will do as an alternative or how it will fund changes.

Sustainability and Economic Paradigms.

Written By: - Date published: 8:19 am, November 2nd, 2022 - 84 comments

Our economic system depends on infinite and exponential growth.

National has gone full woke

Written By: - Date published: 8:39 pm, November 1st, 2022 - 22 comments

Remember this scene from the Tauranga by election?  National has decided it will not be repeated by ensuring that it has no potential white male candidates for the Hamilton West by election.

Male privilege is a fragile thing

Written By: - Date published: 8:15 am, October 28th, 2022 - 22 comments

Golriz Ghahraman wanted Parliament to condemn the Iranian Government’s oppression of women’s rights.  David Seymour moved to block the motion because Golriz had raised points of order against him during a previous speech.  Fancy putting your hurt feelings in front of making a statement of support and principle.

Why won’t Labour help disabled people out of poverty?

Written By: - Date published: 9:02 am, October 26th, 2022 - 93 comments

The sheer waste of so many people’s talent, energy and lives is staggering. It doesn’t have to be that way. So why is it?

Labour day

Written By: - Date published: 12:34 pm, October 24th, 2022 - 13 comments

Enjoying your weekend? Thank a unionist!

The Auckland Mayor’s powers

Written By: - Date published: 9:29 am, October 18th, 2022 - 72 comments

Wayne Brown has by Mayoral decree ordered Watercare to stop working on the Three Waters reform.  But he should take legal advice because his decree has absolutely no legal force.

How Brexit Shanked Britain

Written By: - Date published: 8:05 am, October 17th, 2022 - 23 comments

The political and economic disasters now unfolding in Britain are the responsibility of the Conservative Party from their 2016 Brexit vote through to now.

Sunflower | Oil

Written By: - Date published: 6:05 am, October 16th, 2022 - 81 comments

Van Gogh and Picasso as climate action targets. Destroying beauty is an act of self harm. On one level it’s wrong, but when we are desperate, it’s also an act of power.

RNZ, Three Waters and partisan commentary

Written By: - Date published: 11:43 am, October 11th, 2022 - 55 comments

rnz logo

Yesterday on Radio New Zealand’s Political Commentator’s show Bridget Morten said that three waters is a toxic thing for the Government but then declared that her law firm represents a group currently taking the Government to Court over three waters.  Should such clearly partisan views be given expression by RNZ?

The difference between Simon Wilson and Mike Hosking

Written By: - Date published: 9:28 am, October 3rd, 2022 - 47 comments

Wayne Brown’s mayoral campaign hit a really big pothole on the weekend when he was caught bad mouthing Herald reporter Simon Wilson.  His comments received a lot of support from the right on social media who made comments about Wilson similar to the comments the left make about Mike Hosking. Are these examples of the same phenomenon, political bias against critical commentators?

Even more proof that Conservatives are not good economic managers

Written By: - Date published: 11:44 am, September 29th, 2022 - 61 comments

There has been this carefully crafted illusion that conservative politicians are somehow better with the finances than progressive politicians.  Recent events in the United Kingdom suggest that this illusion is terribly misplaced.

Caption contest

Written By: - Date published: 7:00 am, September 29th, 2022 - 55 comments

Keep it seemly.

Comrade Chris wants to solve Aotearoa’s housing crisis

Written By: - Date published: 9:05 am, September 28th, 2022 - 64 comments

Something unusual has happened.  Chris Bishop, or as we should now call him Comrade Chris, has come out fully in favour of a vast expansion of the provision of social housing for kiwis.

The Very Bad Slightly Good Things About the Russian Invasion

Written By: - Date published: 8:49 pm, September 25th, 2022 - 8 comments

The Russian invasion of the Ukraine has cost tens of thousands of people their lives, millions of people their homes, seriously disrupted billions of people,  and increased the threat of nuclear war but there are positive developments coming from it.

Russian roulette

Written By: - Date published: 8:53 am, September 23rd, 2022 - 277 comments

Vladimir Putin has effectively conceded that the Ukraine war is not going well for Russia by seeking to conscript 300,000 new soldiers, planning for referenda in Russian held areas and threatening the use of Nuclear weapons if Russia’s modified territorial integrity is threatened.

What is Paul Eagle doing?

Written By: - Date published: 12:33 pm, September 22nd, 2022 - 17 comments

Some concerning reports have emerged about Paul Eagle’s mayoral campaign. This week there have been reports that he snubbed a Labour Council candidate while endorsing a right wing candidate.  And that he has been working behind the scenes supporting a team of independents.

Tāme

Written By: - Date published: 10:29 am, September 22nd, 2022 - 18 comments

Tāme Iti’s pitch perfect, political performance art sets activist hearts aflutter.