Dame Anne Salmond’s final, brief election thought
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12:36 pm, September 21st, 2017 - 39 comments
Categories: election 2017, jacinda ardern, labour, leadership -
Tags: #ChangeTheGovt, Dame Anne Salmond, election 2017, let's do this
Newsroom has a short, powerful piece by Dame Anne Salmond. It’s hard to abridge because it’s so compact. You should read the whole piece on Newsroom, but this is how it ends:
Dame Anne Salmond: A final, brief election thought
…
Jacindamania isn’t about personality at all – it’s a collective sigh of relief that we might finally have a kind of leadership that reflects our core values as New Zealanders. A chance for a country that’s truly ‘clean and green;’ for honesty, decency and kindness in our public as well as our private lives.National have run a classically neo-liberal campaign, based on cynical self-interest. It was sad watching Bill English in the last leader’s debate – a fundamentally decent man lying through his teeth to try and win the election.
We deserve better from our leaders than this kind of Faustian bargain.
The choice in this election is stark. Neo-liberalism has failed. It’s time to hand over the reins to a new generation, and let them shape the future.
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Nicola Willis has set up the public service to fail to pay for reckless tax cuts for landlords and the tobacco industry. ...2 weeks ago
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National continues to dismantle environmental protections in the interests of rushing through unsustainable development that will ultimately cost communities. ...2 weeks ago
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There are 104 fewer police officers now than there were when National came into Government. ...2 weeks ago
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The National Government’s decisions have hindered, not helped the economy. ...2 weeks ago
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Introduction Good morning! What a pleasure to be back in the stunning West Coast at one of my favourite events in the calendar. Every time I come back here, I’m reminded of the Coast’s natural beauty, valuable resources, and great people. Yet, every time I come back here, I’m also ...3 days ago
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Health Minister Dr Shane Reti today opened the refurbished Children’s Unit at Rotorua Hospital, which will provide young patients and their families in the Lakes District with a safe, comfortable and private space to receive care. “The opening of this unit is a significant milestone in our commitment to improving ...5 days ago
- Minor variations no longer major problem
It is now easier to make small changes to building plans without having to apply for a building consent amendment, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Previously builders who wanted to make a minor change, for example substituting one type of product for another, or changing the layout of ...5 days ago
- New diplomatic appointments
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Associate Health Minister with responsibility for Pharmac David Seymour has welcomed the increased availability of medicines for Kiwis resulting from the Government’s increased investment in Pharmac. “Pharmac operates independently, but it must work within the budget constraints set by the Government,” says Mr Seymour. “When our Government assumed office, New ...5 days ago
- Foreign Minister completes successful week of international engagements
Foreign Minister Winston Peters today wrapped up a week of high-level engagements at the United Nations in New York and in Papeete, French Polynesia. “Our visit to New York was about demonstrating New Zealand’s unwavering support for an international system based on rules and respect for the UN Charter, as ...6 days ago
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- Four new laws to tackle crime passed in Q3
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- Government partnership boosting vineyard productivity
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- Strong support for NZ minerals strategy
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- Reforming the building consent system
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- Cost-benefit analysis for potential third medical school completed
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- Government delivers sensible approach to speed limits
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- Minister to meet with Pacific Island climate leaders
Climate Change Minister Simon Watts is travelling to Fiji on Monday to attend a Ministerial Meeting (Talanoa) with Pacific Island Countries, Australia, and New Zealand. “Attending the Talanoa will reinforce New Zealand’s commitment to supporting climate resilience in the Pacific and advancing action in the areas of climate change,” Mr ...1 week ago
- Human rights recommendations accepted
The Government is accepting the majority of human rights recommendations received at the fourth Universal Period Review in Geneva, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “We have considered all 259 recommendations from the United Nations. We are supporting 168 and partially supporting 12 of these recommendations. “Recommendations related to women’s rights, ...1 week ago
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The Government is continuing to move at pace on the Northland Expressway, with significant geotechnical investigations now underway for phase one from Warkworth to Te Hana, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “With thousands of motorists and freight travelling through Northland, we’re focused on delivering for this region to grow our economy. ...1 week ago
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Temporary SetbackLord Kenyon and Lady Charlotte walk down the rampOf their magenta and lime green hot air balloon Hubris,In matching Polar Bear fur coats, wraparound shadesEncrusted with diamonds, and a hundredweightOf subtle and discreet chunky gold accessories.At the bottom of the ramp, a squad of burly Bailiffs wait.“What ho, good ...6 hours ago - Health NZ deputy commissioners being paid $200k a year in fees
The three deputy commissioners are trying to turn the public health system around. ...7 hours ago - What’s next for Lebanon and the Middle East?
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Anna Rawhiti-Connell reflects on the week that was. As a teenager in the mid to late 90s, I vividly remember a statistical “urban legend” doing the rounds. “15% of the population is gay, so… [insert number based on how many people were in the classroom] must be gay.” I have ...1 day ago
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Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kerry Brown, Professor of Employment and Industry, School of Business and Law, Edith Cowan University NT_Studio/Shutterstock Should young people be paid less than their older counterparts, even if they’re working the same job? Whether you think it’s fair or not, it’s ...2 days ago - Rocky Road: The Rock In The Hill A Quarry Really, Really Wants To Get Out
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Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jeremy Day, PhD researcher, University of Newcastle Author provided Long-spined sea urchins have emerged as an environmental issue off Australia’s far south coast. Native to temperate waters around New South Wales, the urchins have expanded their range south as oceans warm. ...2 days ago
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His world view is famously built on centre-right common sense, with little time for losers and dreamers. Which makes his undying love for the Warriors all the more baffling to this fellow supporter. Hello, my name is Pete, and I am a New Zealand Warriors fan. Actually, it’s a bit ...2 days ago
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Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Timothy Graham, Associate Professor in Digital Media, Queensland University of Technology AlexandraPopova/Shutterstock For almost a decade, researchers have been gathering evidence that the social media platform Facebook disproportionately amplifies low-quality content and misinformation. So it was something of a surprise ...2 days ago
Latest UMR Poll: National 43 Labour 38 NZF 8 Green 7 TOP 2.7 « The …
https://thedailyblog.co.nz/…/latest-umr-poll-national-43-labour-38-nzf-8-green-7-top-…
And yes , – neo liberalism HAS failed , – it always has .
… ” Neo-liberalism has failed. It’s time to hand over the reins to a new generation, and let them shape the future ” …
Newsroom, no Newshub – nearly got me there!
Oops – fixed – ta!
Wise words from a wise woman. Thank you Anne.
a kind of leadership that reflects our core values as New Zealanders.
Dame Anne Salmond (a title that is well earned and meaningful for a great NZr) said the above. If enough New Zealanders can’t find enough courage, determination and principles to vote out National then we will know that we are rotten to the core.
A great article from a wise Lady who is assisting the fight in a return to OUR Kiwi Values and principle’s of respecting everyone and everything in OUR Environment.
True. Except that generation needs to take up the reins and engage. It’s right there guys… right in front of you for the taking.
If they don’t go and bloody well vote then they’ll get more of the same.
If Jacinda Ardern with all her youth and positivity can’t get them out to vote… I don’t know what can.
I agree with most of it except this:
“It was sad watching Bill English in the last leader’s debate – a fundamentally decent man lying through his teeth to try and win the election.”
What’s ‘fundamentally decent’ about lying about where you live in order to commit housing benefit fraud like English did in 2009?
Bill English has always painted as a decent honest fellow.
For political gain he has chosen to lie. Maybe he was always dishonest but now we know for sure. That is sad in a Prime Minister.
Rotten Bill
It is very sad that there is such a large number of voters prepared to elect that fraudster to the top office. It’s as if they don’t care. I know Labour has sat on the high ground in this election but somebody loudly needed to remind the public of that man’s history.
A wealthy man, didn’t need the money, lied about his residence because he could thought he could get away with it.
I have never thought that Bill was the worst of them. We can forgive him for his conservative views as a Catholic farmer from the deep South.
He has obviously spent too much time with Key and company where he has come to the decision that lying to the electorate to win is ok.
I really don’t know how people can not see through the lies about the financial hole and the taxes and how he can keep a straight face while talking about it. If they win on Saturday this will be another sad step of our proud democracy being moved towards the American way of doing things where there is a effective civil war between republicans and democrats because there is no trust between them.
I doubt anyone in the labour party could work effectively to advance mutual interests with their National counterparts when they have effectively gone along with the lies. Agreement by silence is still agreement. Or maybe they are the “everyone” that Bill talks about believing in the hole.
$64,000 question is whether NZ1st can work better with National or Labour…
Yep totally agree with her. Pity some didn’t understand the Jacinda effect and I have high hopes for Saturday no matter what the naysayers have said.
See me I’m a bit uncomfortable, we had a articulate Maori women – a few actually. But for this argument, one, in the form of Materia Turei make these points against an economic system that does not work, and she was hounded out of parliament.
It is not to much of a stretch to say Jacinda Ardern was not exactly supportive of her. A case can be put that knives were used by the same Jacinda Ardern. So me I’m uncomfortable, Jacinda Ardern came to power via a coup, then (in all probability) back-stabbed a well liked figure on the left. Pretty sure that’s not the values I support.
I know many here are comfortable with that, but I’m not. Nor am I so Machiavellian, nor am I so bloke orientated, to appreciate and support such things. Does beg the question, does the public need a white face to convey this message? If so, that’s a very sad indictment on this country.
Metiria was not hounded out by Jacinda – she threw herself under a bus by confessing to ‘criminal activity’, no matter how minor or how long ago. She was seriously naive not to realise that the hounds of hell would be baying immediately, and it would have done none of us any good if Jacinda had gone under after her, which is what would have happened had she overtly supported her. Metiria placed a lot of good people in a very precarious position, sadly. It was well intentioned, honest, and heartfelt, but not clever politics in a narrow-minded society like NZ
I did not say Materia Turei was hounded out Jacinda Ardern. I said the case can be made she was stabbed in the back by Jacinda Ardern, at worst, and at best she was not supportive. Either of the positions make me uncomfortable. Especially the former.
As for “in a narrow minded society like NZ” does that not contradict what Professor Salmond was trying to say?
that case is bullshit – she wasn’t stabbed in the back by anyone – what a load of rubbish.
So saying she would not get a cabinet position was not a stab in the back?
Do we need to talk about Jacinda Ardern helping feed the media frenzy?
no it wasn’t – it was smart politics – I love/laugh how you want to make Metiria fragile as if she can’t make her own decisions and stand by them
Nice twist, not buying it. Metiria is not fragile, but she was subject to a hit job, if you can’t see that, then sorry for you.
So smart politics is being as Machiavellian as possible.
You know the left had moral compass once, and saw that approach to politics as reprehensible and somthing they wanted to change. But as many are so unthinkingly in bed with liberalism, they have given up on the project of a better world for working people. I’m not surprised that Machiavellian, or macho politics is the winner on the day.
blah blah blah whatever…
Good example of Macho BS there marty mars, good example.
Adam, you appear to embellish events with a spin that suits your interpretation.
Jacinda did not take over through a coup.
Andrew Little asked her to.
Their hug on stage at the Auckland Rally is up on Andrew’s Facebook page.
Andrew was then made number 3 on the List.
Strange coup!!!
Metiria was ruled out because she broke the law.
In spite of Joyce’s beliefs you can’t be “pretty Legal”
So where was the labour patty membership in the vote for the new leader? Or indeed the unions, if I remember their rules correctly.
So feeding you kids is a capital offence now? Why don’t we just elect Judge Dredd and be done with it, if that is the attitude. You know we use to think owning slaves was ‘pretty legal’ as well.
Adam – why don’t you read the rules – they are on Labour’s web site – if you did you would understand that the timing of leadership change (in relation to the election) has a separate and distinct set of rules that don’t involve a full ‘membership’ vote.
Exactly and this is why Labour’s Constitution is better than the Greens one which does not give them an option in an emergency at election time.
Or as I said, opens the door for a coup.
there was no coup – that is just a gnat line
So a legitimate transfer of power in a democratic manor with the consent and inclusion of it’s members, no wait….
sure you don’t trust them when they say what happened – that is no big surprise
Yeah, track records and all that…
clean your lens it is clouding your bias
Broke the law 20 years ago, while not remotely in parliament.
That’s a pretty ridiculous absurd standard to hold elected officials to.
Thank you Dame Anne. I wonder whether the next generation does realise the neo-liberal connection as they have known nothing else. Student loans being a good example.
It’s all over bar the shouting and the New Zealand electorate decided in 2011 that it preferred corruption and deceit over everything else even sanity and common sense and this election campaign has been no different.
It is going to be a long three years but we have got Jacinda the Natz don’t even come close to her and she will be unstoppable and when the current regime falls she will be ready.
In light of Dame Anne Salmond’s excellent analysis and truthful words on neo liberalism , … and in particular under this National party after 9 long years , … I posted this song after listening to my 21 year old son play it….
This how so many young people genuinely feel about things currently and how disenchanted with the greed of this neo liberal ideology they have become …
Home Brew – ‘LISTEN TO US’ – YouTube
Bloody brilliant and pretty much sums everything up for the last 33 years.
Socialism for the rich and Capitalisim for the poor in Aotearoa.
Yes but why do people seem to think Labour are all that different? This to me is so reminiscent of what happened in the US. Two main parties that really look more like one. Lets remember people the Nats want the TPPA and Labour are not definitively saying no to it.
Want real change in my view steer well clear of them both come election day.