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notices and features - Date published:
5:30 pm, November 27th, 2023 - 36 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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Congratulations to Jenna Lynch on Newshub TV3 this evening for an excoriating dismissal of Peters and his attack on the media and allegations of bribery. Next time Jenna ask him how much the tobacco industry paid him to drop the anti-smoking legislation.
While we are on the subject of Peter's and congratulations, it was heartening to see where there is government spending on floor coverings, it is preferred priority is given to wool choices.
It is exactly this kind of decision we need way more of, despite objections from the globalist free market types.
I've got synthetic carpeting. It is cheaper. more versatile, never wears out, colour doesn't fade and if you have pets…. less fleas. It is also easier to clean. I would recommend synthetic carpet, especially for those who are having financial struggles.
Awesome, your fossil fuel based floor covering is shedding micro plastics and earning a nice return for shareholders, possibly overseas.
The wool option puts money back into our own economy, into primary producer's pockets that often then gets spent locally.
The good old mean-fisted Kiwi attitude has really turbo charged the race to the bottom.
Finding out that carpet beetles have chomped a portion of your carpet – (behind the couch) is a pain in the bum as well
That is what caused me to change to synthetic carpet. It had reached the point where I had rugs spread haphazardly over the lounge floor.
It also releases a heap of microplastics as it wears, kids breathe em in and they end up in waterways etc. We need move away from plastic products wherever there is a viable natural alternate.
Agreed, Adrian.
I can only repeat what I said on here during the negotiations: we all know Winston's going to be the same Winston (that much is undeniable, whether you like him or not).
So Luxon had to choose between having a support party, where he could say "that's his personal view, or his party's view, but not mine or the government's" … or having a Deputy PM who the PM has to clean up after, a Deputy PM who will say what he wants, and the PM won't be able to silence.
Luxon made the wrong choice, and now we wait for him to finally work that out. He's a slow learner.
I'm no fan of the old tusker but had to acknowledge we are all slightly better off with him in there.
He has at least taken the edge of some of David Brent Britass's schemes and kicked the foreign buyer tax to touch. Forcing the financial mastermind Willis to seek tax from the next generation of nicotine addicts, showing what a vile bunch they are.
Edit; as I see you mentioned below.
Is it only me, but Winnie seems more . . . bitter, more irascible this time round?
He seems to be biting back at the media every time he's interviewed.
If he takes that attitude into cabinet meetings, one could almost (but not quite) begin to feel sorry for Luxy.
Yeah …kind of pointlessly attacking the media in a nasty way…..one election too many for Winston and Luxon is stuck with him.
He's going Full Trump, that's all.
The cock up that is the DPship shows how weak Luxon is. His first big decision, and he bottled it.
National opposed the plan to reduce tobacco outlets from 6000 to 600 – saying it would create a black market.
A reverse of the legislation would increase future tobacco tax revenue projections.
NZF is being used by National – price for opposing the foreign property buyers.
My God, look at them. I can't help but think those paintings in the background a very apt!
Are those 3 that couldn't make it to the photo-shoot?
Nick’s hitting his straps already and the Nat/ACT/NZF Government has barely found its seat!
“Anna wasn’t easily distracted by his non answer. Oh good grief, and now she was going to quote his own words back at him. He hated when that happened.”
“In 2019 you said that when one in four people in this country die from cancer associated with smoking, I think it’s something we should all be committed to addressing and doing something about. Why would you u-turn on that?” "
https://nickrockel.substack.com/p/luxons-breakfast
Quite apart from the immorality of it, the political stupidity is amazing.
A National/Right government can score cheap points by attacking the usual suspects (us woke lefties, with our Ponsonby lattes, blah blah).
They don't score any points by making enemies of pretty much everyone in the health sector. "Down with Woke Oncologists" doesn't sound like a vote-winner.
And … that's only Day 1.
I like it.
+100 Obs….very bad first day and it didn't need to be like this. Luxon has no antennae.
Yes Robert. Top interviewing from Anna Burns-Francis and perceptive commentary from Nick Rockel. Excellent read. Luxon is our PM? Fail!
Yes, Nick Rockel is a great voice for the left.
Thanks for the link. Dr Cigi Reti made my day.
Its even made the top BBC stories:
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-67540190
We are going to become a pariah among nations.
Something illogical about the smokefree business. This new lot want a smaller state, don't they? One which would then not cost so much to run? So why are they in such dire need of all those baccy-tax dollars?!
Luxon will "put his foot down" and stop this NZF/ACT nonsense about tobacco – and we, the ever pliable public, will rejoice at his almighty power!
Thanks for that link Robert
It's brilliant!
Juice Media play with an abacus to sharpen the brain and then run the ruler over legislative plans for electoral finance reform.
ouch
The Civilian Beehive can report that its long investigations into campaign finance, media ownership and the poultry industry has exposed a mysterious connection to a new deputy Prime Minister.
It appears that those with long pockets (in the past Whale Oil, Bishop junior and the Taxpayers Union) were directed to an undead political party. Because, if they were going to block the means of financing a tax cut plan, they would have to provide an alternative form of finance – from say tobacco tax, to earn their place in the anti-Labour coalition.
Saving the land from foreign takeover, but not so much poor Maori who wander into the proliferation of outlets catering to nicotine, alcohol and gambling addictions.
While some say the tax collected covers the cost of the welfare and health costs on the user, none of this takes account of the impact on the individuals well-being, the economic health of the nation, or the pressure on limited health resources.
It is not New Zealand, or New Zealanders first.
National opposed legislation to reduce the number of tobacco outlets from 6000 to 600 saying it would create a black market
It appears the real reason was they wanted to maintain the tax revenue. Rather than hand it over to the black market.
Have they considered legalising low THC marijuana and cannabis oil? The safer profile getting around the referendum result. Even the Americans now collect tax off it.
https://cannaflower.com/low-thc-cannabis-popular/
The Civilian Beehive has also googled wool and can report that not all wool comes from New Zealand sheep, because there are sheep in other countries.
Thus, if New Zealand legislation does not specifically say New Zealand wool, it can mean wool from sheep in other countries being sold here.
Something even a lawyer doing legal aid would know.
Forcing NZ wool carpet would likely break the odd FTA
Which would be why Winston Peters said the direction to buy wool would mean New Zealand wool, but would not specify that. The problem would be the legal requirement in procurement, as per FTA, to consider all tenders …
On the right's absolute capture of UK politics.
Arthur Snell
@SnellArthur
My latest episode of #BehindtheLines pod has just dropped. A real humdinger this week: @mrjamesob on How they Broke Britain. You won't want to miss this.
[…]
James O'Brien is often described as the voice of liberal England. With this regular radio slot on LBC and his huge online following, he is a reminder that popular doesn’t have to be populism. His patient, forensic but totally accessible unpicking of cynical political dishonsesty, particularly of the Brexist variety, has been a beacon of sanity for literally millions of people – at a time when so many other media outlets, including the BBC, no longer seem prepared to call out deliberately misleading public messaging. O’Brien sometimes feels like a lone voice of reason and that points to a profound change in our society. Politicians have always tried to avoid answering difficult questions and portray their own actions as virtuous and ingenious, but the kind of profound dishonesty characterised by Boris Johnson coupled with the refusal to take responsibility for your own failings, perhaps best epitomised by Liz Truss, feels like a newer phenomenon.
https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/behind-the-lines-with-arthur-snell/id1704344656?
https://twitter.com/SnellArthur/status/1728047185894244430
The chances of a hydrogen rush, crude "Texas H" at $5000 a barrel?
Low, imo.