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notices and features - Date published:
5:30 pm, September 22nd, 2020 - 21 comments
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The current rise of populism challenges the way we think about people’s relationship to the economy.We seem to be entering an era of populism, in which leadership in a democracy is based on preferences of the population which do not seem entirely rational nor serving their longer interests. ...
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Did Goldie buy shares in Gough & Gough (National Party Supporters) CAT dealership for a long reach digger 😂
Irony example: Commercial TV promotes the short-term attention thing; presents news in 3-minute-bytes, gets the unthinking proles (not that we have any of them in NZ..sarc.) used to not having to concentrate or think seriously…
Then we get this endless 1½ hr political debate rigorously chaired by John Campbell, and I will bet you that the vast majority of Kiwi proles switched to another channel, and only a few of us are still seriously concentrating. I must admit that I am not seriously concentrating, because I am also writing this message.. This debate will not change anything in terms of votes – no Gotcha moment , no change to current ratings. Probably a good thing, but I despair at the damage that commercially controlled media have done. How many people have remained glued to the screen right to the end?
I would rather do something else simultaneously, by writing this despairing comment.
Yes – it was obvious from John's comments that he was quite cheesed off about the ad breaks. It really is a significant negative
We need to mount a huge campaign to remove commercialism in our media.
Commercialism is a greater enemy than Communism.
The only ones keen on the debates are those in the MSM trying to make money from the advertising while the bloody things are dragged out.
That was a pretty shit debate. Of course the pundits are calling it for Collins. Where’s the fun if it’s game over?
What I liked about the debate is that it showed everyone how hopeless both mainstream parties are. Both leaders began by advocating more economic growth and the quality descended from then on. Clever youngsters watching will either be driven to despair or coolly contemptuous of them as a result – but it is what they collectively do about it that is crucial!
Collins claiming a stark contrast between them when none exists was a sick joke. Both did the obligatory pretence of caring about poverty. Neither took ownership of having spent their political careers in support of the political prescription that produced the poverty, much less apologising to the victims for getting it so wrong.
Even worse than the sham was the panel of three that followed. Tacit exhibition of the clueless dork syndrome was the primary feature. The political scientist was the only one to get close to making a useful point in regard to Ardern's surprising lack of performance. I thought she seemed worried – a strange reaction to the poll – but perhaps it was due to tiredness.
Must be soul-destroying trying to present more neoliberalism when you know it's the wrong thing to do, eh? What if a Labour leader were allowed to be real rather than having to be fake? Is telling the truth really so problematic?
Could you perhaps explain how a Centrist position would not advocate for more economic growth?
The Greens did that 30 years ago by adopting the steady-state economy model in draft economic policy. The rationale remains appropriate: eliminating exponential growth to become sustainable. The thing is, the policy lies beyond left & right, so is seen as radical. That's why I use radical centrist framing.
To reduce inequality and provide equity while ensuring Green growth (via a sustainable economy) is a synthesis of left & right values & thinking. You can't use such integral political theory unless you are non-aligned.
The Greens are not nor have ever been a Centrist party. If something is "beyond" left and right it is not sitting in the middle between them. To say so is nonsense.
I just watched the debate. I think you need to lie down and have a cup of tea Dennis.
Someone should advise the PM not to do morning radio the same day as an evening TV debate.
In British Columbia NDP leader Horgan has pulled the pin on his minority government and called a snap provincial election for Oct 24. He’s been getting the same Covid bounce that Ardern has had here in NZ.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/bc-ndp-horgan-gambles-popularity-pandemic-election-analysis-1.5733348
The most absurd part of the debate was when Miss Collins (she has not taken her husbands surname), explained the reason for the proposed tax cut being those on the middle incomes (c $60,000) who were really struggling.
Talking of the Greens (which an earlier poster was): where's Marama?
Every time the party’s featured in a news item lately, it's Shaw who fronts up, gets quoted, etc. I thought they were supposed to have joint leaders. If so, let's have a bit more evidence of it. Or is Marama being kept out of sight in case she frightens the horses?
Must be someting wrong with my eyes, coz Marama was on TV tonight talking about the poll results, it sure looked like her. Anyway, you will see more of her as a Gvt partner after the election.
CWE, mate. (Can't Watch Everything.)
Could be. Racism is rife in NZ.
Not sure it's wise myself – Marama & Chloe may be the best the Greens have to offer – more so since Gareth's departure.