Oliver Stone backs Sanders; attacks pro-war Clinton

Written By: - Date published: 9:19 pm, April 1st, 2016 - 84 comments
Categories: capitalism, class war, democracy under attack, political alternatives, us politics - Tags:

Oliver Stone is the co-creator of the outstanding Untold History of the United States documentary series. No one understands the true history of the Imperial United States better than he.

Zero Hedge relays Oliver Stone’s support of Bernie Sanders:

We’re going to war — either hybrid in nature to break the Russian state back to its 1990s subordination, or a hot war (which will destroy our country). Our citizens should know this, but they don’t because our media is dumbed down in its “Pravda”-like support for our “respectable,” highly aggressive government. We are being led, as C. Wright Mills said in the 1950s, by a government full of “crackpot realists: in the name of realism they’ve constructed a paranoid reality all their own.” Our media has credited Hillary Clinton with wonderful foreign policy experience, unlike Trump, without really noting the results of her power-mongering. She’s comparable to Bill Clinton’s choice of Cold War crackpot Madeleine Albright as one of the worst Secretary of States we’ve had since … Condi Rice? Albright boasted, “If we have to use force it is because we are America; we are the indispensable nation. We stand tall and we see further than other countries into the future.”

Hillary’s record includes supporting the barbaric “contras” against the Nicaraguan people in the 1980s, supporting the NATO bombing of the former Yugoslavia, supporting the ongoing Bush-Iraq War, the ongoing Afghan mess, and as Secretary of State the destruction of the secular state of Libya, the military coup in Honduras, and the present attempt at “regime change” in Syria. Every one of these situations has resulted in more extremism, more chaos in the world, and more danger to our country. Next will be the borders of Russia, China, and Iran. Look at the viciousness of her recent AIPAC speech (don’t say you haven’t been warned). Can we really bear to watch as Clinton “takes our alliance [with Israel] to the next level”? Where is our sense of proportion? Cannot the media, at the least, call her out on this extremism? The problem, I think, is this political miasma of “correctness” that dominates American thinking (i.e. Trump is extreme, therefore Hillary is not).

This is why I’m praying still for Bernie Sanders, because he’s the only one willing, at least in the name of fiscal sanity, to cut back on our foreign interventions, bring the troops home, and with these trillions of dollars no longer wasted on malice, try to protect the “homeland” by actually rebuilding it and putting money into its people, schools, and infrastructure…

I believe Fascism is still our greatest enemy and its face is everywhere in our so-called “democracies.” It was always about the moneyed interests that had the power. That is what Fascism is and that is the danger we are in now. Sanders talks about money, listen to him. He talks cogently about money and its power to distort. He’s the only one who has raised his voice against the corruption in our politics. Clinton has embraced this corruption.

Oliver Stone’s full piece is here at the Huffington Post. Under Clinton, he says that the world will be marching to war: either multifaceted “hybrid war” or full on hot wars. Or I suppose, both.

And he quotes from a Buddhist Monk exhorting those who perceive the truth to stand forth:

When fear becomes collective, when anger becomes collective, it’s extremely dangerous. It is overwhelming… The mass media and the military-industrial complex create a prison for us, so we continue to think, see, and act in the same way… We need the courage to express ourselves even when the majority is going in the opposite direction… because a change of direction can happen only when there is a collective awakening… Therefore, it is very important to say, ‘I am here!’ to those who share the same kind of insight.

— Thich Nhat Hanh, Buddhist Monk, The Art of Power

 

84 comments on “Oliver Stone backs Sanders; attacks pro-war Clinton ”

  1. Chooky 1

    +100 CV…excellent Post

    …but doesnt Andrew Little and the New Zealand Labour Party back Hillary Clinton?….scary!

    • Colonial Viper 1.1

      Just like they backed Anyone But Corbyn for the UK Labour Leadership.

      • the pigman 1.1.1

        How ridiculous of both of you. Link to Andrew Little or the Labour Party endorsing Clinton, please Chooky.

        I know CV does it out of spite, but really Chooky..

        1 or 2 MPs (and if I remember, it was only Mumblefuck) made some barbed comments about Corbyn on facebook, I think after the British LP had already made their choice. It’s possible that Nash might made some similar anti-Corbyn barbs here while on the piss.

        • Colonial Viper 1.1.1.1

          As far as I know, Little never released a public statement congratulating Jeremy Corbyn for winning the Labour leadership in the UK. Which was a deliebrate snub, in my view.

          • Kiwiri 1.1.1.1.1

            On the NZ Labour Party website, there was no press release congratulating Corbyn that I have been able to find.

            • miravox 1.1.1.1.1.1

              Didn’t have to look too far….

              Labour leader Andrew Little is welcoming the news that Jeremy Corbyn is his new British counterpart, after a stunning win in the UK Labour leadership race.
              The veteran backbencher started out as a 200-to-one outsider, but scored a convincing outright majority in the first round of voting.
              Mr Little says Mr Corbyn spoke directly about issues that mattered to voters, and Labour members responded to that refreshing style.
              “His challenge now is to convert that into a campaign that’s going to enlist the support of the majority of British voters,” says Mr Little. “He’s got five years to do that. He’s set himself up well.”

              Monday 14 Sep 2015 5:00 a.m http://www.newshub.co.nz/nznews/andrew-little-corbyn-brings-refreshing-style-2015091320#ixzz44azBAdhW

              • Kiwiri

                “On the NZ Labour Party website” – my statement still stands

                • miravox

                  Lucky for me then that I didn’t say it didn’t stand.

                  I just showed where you and cv could find a version of it. Especially seeing the press releases on the Labour Party website seem to deal with domestic rather than international issues.

                  • Colonial Viper

                    OK, you found a quote in a piece. Cool. Regardless. Little ain’t no Corbyn; the current NZ Labour hierarchy are the same third way UK Labour establishment which fought against Corbyn tooth and nail.

                    • miravox

                      Derailing your own post.

                      That chip is showing again – imo.

                    • Colonial Viper

                      Chip? Never denied it wasn’t personal Miravox. Regardless I back my analysis: NZ Labour is run by the same globalist third way establishment that fought tooth and nail against the left wing Corbyn insurgency.

                      And that relates directly to the exercise of Anglo empire.

                    • miravox

                      Someone on this thread made an incorrect statement. I corrected it. End of.

                      Oliver Stone, backs Sanders. So do I.

                      It could have been a good comments thread. Instead its degenerating into a Labour hate-fest.

                    • Colonial Viper

                      Who was it who said that all politics is local? So it is.

                    • Colonial Viper

                      Labour hate-fest?

                      It’s just another symptom of people throughout the western world who are clearly over voting for the lesser of two evils.

                      And over those who keep telling them that they should.

                  • the pigman

                    Thank you for seeking that out Miravox. I loved the reaction you got too…

                    “But… but… the congratulations from Little has to be in a press release on the NZLP website to be official!”

                    Goodness me.

                    • weka

                      +1 Thanks Miravox.

                    • Colonial Viper

                      Don’t get smartass. Little and Robertson don’t support Corbyn, and don’t support a Corbyn-like change in the NZLP.

                      They represent the NZ faction of the middle class approval seeking third way Labour establishment who fought against Corbyn tooth and nail, who positioned Corbyn as an unelectable hard lefty.

              • Leftie

                Touche’ Miravox !! +100 on your posts.

        • Chooky 1.1.1.2

          @ pigman…re Andrew Little backing Clinton

          ‘Trump or Clinton – who would be better for New Zealand?’

          http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/political/298063/who-would-be-better-for-nz

          Andrew Little: “Hillary Clinton offers a safe, steady pair of hands in the presidency which is why I think she would be attractive to a lot more Americans.”

          • Chooky 1.1.1.2.1

            Personally I would prefer Trump over Clinton any day

            …but Bernie Sanders would be best of all

            …the NZ Labour Party should be endorsing Bernie Sanders!

            …why is Andrew Little behind Hillary Clinton and not Bernie Sanders?

            …why does Andrew Little think Hillary Clinton is a “safe, steady pair of hands”? ( is he stupid?)

            https://www.rt.com/shows/crosstalk/336868-clinton-trump-foreign-policy/

            • Colonial Viper 1.1.1.2.1.1

              That’s my ranking. 1) Sanders 2) Trump 3) (by a long way) Clinton.

            • happynz 1.1.1.2.1.2

              Trump? Really? Trump recently stated that women should receive punishment for having an abortion. You cool with that?

              • Leftie

                Obviously Chooky and CV are cool with that, and the rest of Trumps offensive views Happynz. Shocking really.

              • Phil

                I’m assuming CV is also, comparatively speaking, cool with Trump’s:

                direct advocation of war crimes to kill the families of terrorists;
                persecution of individuals for their religious beliefs;
                mexican wall;
                denigration of the handicapped and women, and;
                incitement of violence to shut down political discourse.

                It appears to be the case that as long as one’s against the TPP, then nothing else matters to CV…

            • Leftie 1.1.1.2.1.3

              @Chooky. “Labour leader Andrew Little says New Zealand will have no choice but to work with whoever is elected by the American people, but he would lean towards Mrs Clinton.”

              The article from RNZ was a skewered question to start with… “Trump or Clinton – who would be better for New Zealand?”
              Bernie Sanders wasn’t mentioned once, neither was any other candidate.

              No doubt Andrew Little was thinking, like most people do, if in the event it came down to just Trump and Clinton, better Clinton than Trump, and responded accordingly to the question he was asked.

            • the pigman 1.1.1.2.1.4

              Double thanks to Leftie and Miravox for unpacking Chooky’s fallacious argument.

              It’s like asking Andrew Little if he prefers Tui or Speights, and when he says Speights you say “ANDREW LITTLE’S FAVOURITE DRINK IS SPEIGHTS AND HE PREFERS SPEIGHTS OVER WINE (AND IF HE LIKED WINE, WHY DIDN’T HE PUT A PRESS RELEASE ON THE NZLP WEBSITE SAYING SO??!11?)”.

              Sorry, but that doesn’t cut it.

          • miravox 1.1.1.2.2

            You seem to be misrepresenting what you’re reading here Chooky.

            In that interview he’s backing Clinton ahead of Trump. There is nothing at all about whether he backs Clinton ahead of Sanders.

            As a centre-left person, it’s no surprise at all that Little would back Clinton ahead of Trump.

            As a person who thinks through political issues, it’s no surprise at all that Little would back Clinton ahead of Trump.

          • Leftie 1.1.1.2.3

            To correct Chooky’s cherry picking…. You missed out the part that said prior to your quote “Labour leader Andrew Little says New Zealand will have no choice but to work with whoever is elected by the American people, but he would lean towards Mrs Clinton.”

            The article from RNZ was a skewered question to start with… “Trump or Clinton – who would be better for New Zealand?” Bernie Sanders wasn’t mentioned once, neither was any other candidate.

            No doubt Andrew Little was thinking, like most people do, if in the event it came down to just Trump and Clinton, better Clinton than Trump, and responded accordingly to the question he was asked.

  2. AmaKiwi 2

    + 1

    A wise woman I knew, who left Nazi Germany in 1938 and lived in the USA from 1945 to 1975, said, “Someday America will be like Nazi Germany.” She was correct.

  3. adam 3

    I never thought I’d say this… I think Hillary Clinton is starting to scare me as much as Donald Trump.

    A friend sent me this, It is a well researched piece that ever social democrat should read.

    http://www.thenation.com/article/hillary-clinton-does-not-deserve-black-peoples-votes/

  4. RedLogix 4

    And once that collective fear and anger takes hold it takes great courage and sacrifice to stand against it.

    I’ve often wondered how that day will go.

    • Lara 4.1

      Standing against it often sees the dissenters thrown in prison.

      I think, given the lessons of history, that’s how that day will go.

  5. One Two 6

    Trump is running interference for Clinton

    Clinton is a diabolical human being with the track record to prove it

    The ties which bind these people together, are what need to be broken

  6. Macro 7

    I would hate to have to live in the USA. It is the most powerful and most fearful country on Earth. The good people of the US are fed fear from the moment they wake by a scaremongering media that lives on fear. Their movies are full of it, there is no escape. For the MSM if there is nothing to fear they manufacture it, and having a story they tell it relentlessly. No wonder the people there want to carry guns with them. This of course just adds to the fear.
    Saunders is the only sane candidate. He alone sees through the scaremongering, and the sabre rattling, to see that if they could just break this cycle of being afraid they could begin to concentrate on the real issues that hold back the people.
    We have the same sabre rattling going on here in NZ people. Beware, we are about to commit $10 Billion to a defence buy of astronomical madness when our Health and Education systems are beginning to fall apart. There is little threat in the Pacific from submarines now, there wasn’t much before (was the USSR really going to make a pre-emptive strike in the 1980’s? when it was struggling to keep itself together?) Is China really going to blockade our shipping? Whatever for?
    But it seems we must spend all this money on something we will never need.
    And for the USA, because they are so afraid they must spend more and more on guns, and the more they spend, the more reason they will have to be afraid.

  7. Bill 8

    I believe Fascism is still our greatest enemy and its face is everywhere in our so-called “democracies.”

    Well, of course its face is everywhere.

    Our so-called democracies positioned themselves between what was claimed to be two implacable theoretical opposites. Thing is, in the real world, both those opposites were more or less the same thing. On one end of the supposed spectrum sat the Bolsheviks. On the other, Mussolini et al. The only difference the Bolsheviks made was to concentrate the ideas and institutions of fascism and fold it all (church, state and market) into one entity – the party.

    The early socialists, communists and anarchists pointed all of this out and were suppressed and persecuted by the social democrats of ‘our democracies’; by the Bolsheviks and their fellow travelers in the statist regimes; and in those fascist states commonly, popularly and acceptably identified as fascist.

    In short, our democracies have meandered the ground between two expressions of fascism. One (rarely acknowledged) is embodied in statism. The other is the political companion of a market economy ‘set free’.

    Our illusion of freedom and the only space we are allowed movement or expression, is that point where both market and state collide. In that narrow strip of contested ground, of state versus market, we get – not freedom – merely ‘choice’….vote ‘left’, vote ‘right’.

    God help you (us) if you (we) reject that ‘choice’ and make a serious bid for freedom instead.

    • adam 8.1

      But we have no choice but to make a bid for freedom Bill. Because freedom is more than ideology, it is essential for us to breath.

      Otherwise in full agreement, the suppression of the communist sailors at Kronstadt was the death kneel of the Russian revolution. Like the Cultural Revolution was for the Chinese. The only communist revolution which came close to being good was in Vietnam, they are now being destroyed by the “party”, who has fully embraced free markets.

      Having friends who grew up in Franco’s Spain and others who lived through the nightmare in Chile – those countries were no better. Actually listening to stories over beers from a mix of people – they both tell similar stories of societies where freedom is a word never spoken aloud.

    • Stuart Munro 8.2

      I have often thought that more evolved political systems contain all previous models. For example the fascism of the Right in NZ is not a philosophical movement (however debased) but rather a feudalism, an attachment to perceived alpha leaders in the hope of protection and reward.

      Freedom died with the legal fiction that corporations are entitled to the same rights as people – this grants political rights to a pile of money and results in a corporate oligarchy.

      • Phil 8.2.1

        the legal fiction that corporations are entitled to the same rights as people

        That is not what legal personhood entails at all.

        https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corporate_personhood

        • Stuart Munro 8.2.1.1

          The issue is not whether the rights are identical, but whether they are excessive or inappropriate for corporate entities. Given the ease which which corporate structures insulate shareholders from consequences, corporations need to be restricted more than individuals – the general rule is that they are less regulated.

          • Phil 8.2.1.1.1

            … corporations need to be restricted more than individuals – the general rule is that they are less regulated.

            If i have read your comment correctly, you’re saying corporations have less regulation/law with which they must comply? That is a hilariously large pile of bullshit.

            I note the wikipedia page summarises the issue better than I can:
            Misconceptions
            In debates on this topic it is sometimes asserted that the notion of corporate personhood implies that corporations are entitled to all of the rights and privileges that apply to natural persons (i.e., human beings). However, the definition of corporate personhood includes some, but not all of said rights and privileges. Whether a corporation is a “person” possessing any one of those rights or privileges is properly decided by applying basic logic, common sense, and relevant and valid law to an examination of generally accepted reasons why the state grants existence to the legal fiction of the corporate form, so that on the one hand courts may hold that corporations must have the right to own property or enter into contracts, or to be subject to municipal zoning laws that apply to “persons” without necessarily having the same speech rights enjoyed by natural persons and without having the right to vote and without counting as a second “person” for the purpose of driving in a carpool lane.

            • Colonial Viper 8.2.1.1.1.1

              Seems like corporations will be given more rights, powers and influence under the TPP than ordinary NZ citizens have.

              I can’t get a dinner date with Andrew Little or John Key, but apparently big pharma executives can.

              • Phil

                … and that was different BEFORE the TPPA?
                No, no it wasn’t.

                Alternative hypothesis: Maybe it’s just that people don’t like having dinner with you?
                😛

  8. gnomic 9

    “We came, we saw, he died.”

    Hillary is unfit for power. Not to mention her close relationship to Slick Willie, another example of the species. And what is up with the hair? Does she think that anybody cares about the sculptured beehive thang? How does she find the time for the styling? Fire those advisors and quit with the dye.

    As for Trump, i could not possibly advise euthanasia but the removal from the gene pool of anyone who could vote for the hairpiece is tempting. Aside from the failed clown aspect. Has this nincompoop ever heard of the Great Wall of China? Although it worked for several hundred years in the main.

    Anyone else left as a real candidate in the free world’s greatest democracy? Cruz? One glance says not now, not ever. The Bern can hardly get enough votes from the bemused admass.

    Perhaps the only good news is that there will be no more Bush, at least for now.

    • Colonial Viper 9.1

      330M people to choose from and this is all the US elite can come up with. Bill is right. We’re going underwater.

      • tc 9.1.1

        No this is all the us elite want the people to choose from, a batshit crazy billionaire and a ‘radical’ socialist type who wants to scale back war who will lose to a proven warmonger.

        This satisfies the elite as it keeps the war machine fed and fear will continue to reign over the US people. Job done.

    • locus 9.2

      are you really writing off a politician because of their hairstyle?

      do you oppose hillary’s views on education, gun control, healthcare, immigration, abortion……?

      http://www.pbs.org/newshour/updates/hillary-clinton-believe-candidate-stands-10-issues/

      • gnomic 9.2.1

        Trump’s hair bespeaks falsity and conceit. It says he is a buffoon. Perhaps fit to run a coconut shy at a fair.

        Hillary’s coiffure says shallow, style over substance. Compare with a leader like Merkel for example. Same old pudding bowl cut year in and year out as far as I recall. Not that I am a huge Merkel fan as she is a rightist, but she clearly has staying power and some degree of wisdom.

        That’s my reading of the hair.

        Thanks for the link about Ms Clinton’s platform. Alas it is probably true she is the best of a bad lot who might actually be elected. But if she wins she is probably going to face the same problem as Obama, an obtuse Republican majority in Senate and Congress making it near impossible to get anything done. And she seems to have an itchy trigger finger.

        Moreover I feel her motivation is suspect. It seems to be more about having power (insofar as the US president actually has any) than for the betterment of mankind. Er, personkind, or humanity, the people of the world. Perhaps I am wrong.

        • Colonial Viper 9.2.1.1

          Alas it is probably true she is the best of a bad lot who might actually be elected. But if she wins she is probably going to face the same problem as Obama, an obtuse Republican majority in Senate and Congress making it near impossible to get anything done.

          Get serious, both sides of the House receive huge donations from Big Pharma, the Military Industrial Surveillance complex and Goldman Sachs.

          And they got plenty done, massive bailouts for Wall Street, hundreds of billions in funding for the F-35, increased powers for the NSA, and more.

          Who says Congress can’t get anything done.

          As for Clinton being the best of a bad bunch, I think that Oliver Stone clearly stated how seriously shite Clinton is.

          • locus 9.2.1.1.1

            rational or irrational hatred of hillary notwithstanding CV, let’s hear why you think trump is way ahead of her as a choice for US president……

            what do you think of his abhorent and aberrant utterances on moslems, mexicans, blacks, women,…..?

            • Colonial Viper 9.2.1.1.1.1

              Who the fuck cares about Trump soundbites about Muslims (sic) or Mexicans while he his on the primary campaign trail to try and win votes from Republican cray crays?

              Apart from dreamy headed privileged social liberals that is.

              Instead. Let’s talk about reality and real world actions for a second here.

              Bill Clinton passed trade deals which impoverished millions of Mexican farmers and farm workers causing a massive flood of illegal immigrants into the southern USA, undermining the negotiating power of US workers in those states.

              While both Clintons were directly involved in economic, sanctions and war on terror policies which were fundamental to killing 2M or more Muslims in the Middle East and Central Asia over the last 2 decades.

              So while Clinton can say all the nice things she wants about Mexicans and Muslims, you and I know her real life historical track record actually is.

              • locus

                Who the fuck cares about Trump soundbites………..Apart from dreamy headed privileged social liberals that is.

                well CV, yes i am a privileged social liberal….. but definitely not ‘dreamy headed’

                Despite your criticism of hillary (and bill, although we weren’t talking about him) you still haven’t said why you think Trump would be better, and it’s not good enough to ignore what Trump says and pass off his views as soundbites

  9. saveNZ 10

    Great post. +100
    The world needs Bernie Sanders to bring sense to the USA and therefore more sanity to the entire world!

  10. locus 11

    Hillary Clinton is the first prominent Democratic presidential candidate to openly run on a gun-control platform since Al Gore’s losing campaign in 2000. She supports holding gun manufacturers liable for deaths caused by their products, expanding background checks and prohibiting those on no-fly list from purchasing firearms. She has also supported reinstating the ban on semi-automatic “assault” rifles.

    Also, a few left-right comparisons of Hillary and Bernie:
    http://www.bbc.com/news/election-us-2016-35666347

  11. vto 12

    There is a huge amount of seemingly justified anti-US sentiment on here…. yet we never hear the contrary view from any Americans…

    Is it possible some of our commenters, who seem to be ex-US people (like Joe-90??), could provide whatever the alternative view is? What is the alternative view? That, you know, America really is great, that everybody should carry guns and bombs in their hip holsters, that America is really the most moral, that America must lead the world, etc etc…

    Nobody expounds that view.
    This alternative view canvas is barren
    Where are its supporters? They are not here, they are not in the paper, they are not on the streets …. I guess they are at Trump Rallies … I would like to hear a cogent view from them ….

    FFS, Putin steps in for his country and speaks and answers questions, literally for hours, on the wheres and whyfores in support of Russia. Not so the US.

    The lack of that alternative view is a telling gap so large that we can’t seem to see it .,…

    • locus 12.1

      I’m not a US watcher, but I can’t help thinking that there are some truths in this article: http://thedailybanter.com/2016/01/hillary-gop-smears/

      Hillary Clinton’s reputation is largely the result of a quarter century of visceral GOP hatred. With the exception of maybe Barack Obama, whom they’ve irrationally loathed with the fire of a thousands suns, it’s tough to name anyone conservatives have more vigorously derided throughout the years than Hillary Clinton

    • left for dead 12.2

      vto Did you hear Mr Moore been interviewed on Nat Rad this morning.

    • Andre 12.3

      vto, I’m US/NZ dual national. Born in the US, moved to NZ when I was 10, spent most of the 90s in the US (Philadelphia, Madison WI, San Diego), returned to NZ in 99 and been living here since then. On balance, I would actually prefer to go back to the US (to one of the islands of relative sanity west of the Rockies) but family reasons are keeping me here.

      Sure we hear about all the crazy stuff, and there’s plenty of it, because it makes for great-selling media. But we hear a lot less about the things that they are doing well at. Many of the things they’ve fucked up really badly at in the past, they’re actually moving in the right direction on. Much of the angry nutjobbery that gets a lot of press (guns, Trump, Republican obstruction…) looks to me like last-stand militancy from people feeling the pressure as “their way” is dying out. In much the same way as smokers got really militant in the 80s and early 90s.

      Whereas in New Zealand, we seem to be in a headlong rush to move our society into copying some of the worst bits of the US, while failing to protect the things that make New Zealand special.

      • Colonial Viper 12.3.1

        looks to me like last-stand militancy from people feeling the pressure as “their way” is dying out. In much the same way as smokers got really militant in the 80s and early 90s.

        But is it really just a matter of cultural wars and redneck-ism?

        As far as I can tell the US working class was demolished in the 1980s and 1990s and for the last ten years it has been the (former) middle class that is being increasingly impoverished and insecure.

        And people are trying to find answers – or scapegoats – to what is going on.

        • Andre 12.3.1.1

          The format here on The Standard means things always get way over-simplified. So yes, it’s not just culture wars etc. My time in the US was all in pretty “liberal” areas, so I’m not going to pretend to a broad view of everything going on.

          That middle-class hollowing-out and insecurity is at least a 35 year thing, not just 10. But it’s really reaching bursting pressure now. Part of it appears in culture wars and redneckery. Part of it appears as genuine interest in trying something different to the 30 year political status quo.

          The good news is the push-back against the hollowing-out is starting to become a lot more visible and seems to be gaining traction. That we see people like Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, less public players like Nick Hanauer, really starting to get air-time is really encouraging. That kind of movement just wasn’t there in the 90s in the US, and I really don’t feel it here in New Zealand now (apart from here on The Standard).

          • Colonial Viper 12.3.1.1.1

            Much of NZ still seems to live close by that famous river in Egypt.

          • RedLogix 12.3.1.1.2

            Welcome your perspective Andre.

            One thing would suggest to CV, is not to make the mistake of generalising too much about the USA. It’s the most diverse nation in probably all of history; every value, every cultural outlook, every extreme of human grace and disgrace to be found inside it’s borders.

    • happynz 12.4

      You want someone to confirm your bias?

    • Ad 12.5

      Putin has also won the Syrian war. Without anyone’s help.

  12. Wayne 13

    When I know that Stone and Saradon are backing Sanders, it confirms that my choice should be Clinton.

    • One Anonymous Bloke 13.1

      Stick to your knitting Dr. Mapp: your endorsement of Clinton simply indicates that you’d make a crap Lefty.

      • Ad 13.1.1

        Being a crap lefty is a badge our entire Opposition shares, so I’m sure he’d wear it with pride.

      • Wayne 13.1.2

        It is not an endorsement, rather it is simply an expression of who I think is best for to be the US president.

        In any event it is well known that the New Zealand political spectrum is different to that of the US. The liberal part of the National Party maps quite well with the centre right of the Democrats. So I suspect a very large number of Nats would quite easily support the Clintons.

        Not surprisingly the activists in Labour will be more comfortable with Sanders.

  13. whatisis 14

    “”… The mass media and the military-industrial complex create a prison for us,
    Therefore, it is very important to say, ‘I am here!’ to those who share the same kind of insight.

    — Thich Nhat Hanh, Buddhist Monk, The Art of Power

    I think military-INTELLIGENCE complex more aptly now.
    All those willing to say “I am here” how much of the “intelligence” tracking is taking note of us and how much detriment could/will it cause? It’s beyond me…. but they own..
    The medias interpretation of the world as it is is also detestable. Saturated with americanistic fervor.

    So, bernie4pres.. otherwise it better be drumpf trump and implode so a rebuild might create a better system.. hellory hillary is exactly what is wrong. Better than a bush but only by a smidgeon…

    Good on ya oliver

  14. Ad 15

    Pretty delicious democratic comedy that the two candidates with highest spectacular polling negatives will face off against each other, and the US will be run by one of them.

    Stone and Sarandon should step out of their own America World Police parody and do a film on the election right now.

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  • EV road user charges bill passes
    Transport Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed the passing of legislation to move light electric vehicles (EVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) into the road user charges system from 1 April.  “It was always intended that EVs and PHEVs would be exempt from road user charges until they reached two ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Bill targets illegal, unregulated fishing in international waters
    New Zealand is strengthening its ability to combat illegal fishing outside its domestic waters and beef up regulation for its own commercial fishers in international waters through a Bill which had its first reading in Parliament today. The Fisheries (International Fishing and Other Matters) Amendment Bill 2023 sets out stronger ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Reserve Bank appointments
    Economists Carl Hansen and Professor Prasanna Gai have been appointed to the Reserve Bank Monetary Policy Committee, Finance Minister Nicola Willis announced today. The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) is the independent decision-making body that sets the Official Cash Rate which determines interest rates.  Carl Hansen, the executive director of Capital ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Stronger protections for apartment owners
    Apartment owners and buyers will soon have greater protections as further changes to the law on unit titles come into effect, Housing Minister Chris Bishop says. “The Unit Titles (Strengthening Body Corporate Governance and Other Matters) Amendment Act had already introduced some changes in December 2022 and May 2023, and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Travel focused on traditional partners and Middle East
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters will travel to Egypt and Europe from this weekend.    “This travel will focus on a range of New Zealand’s traditional diplomatic and security partnerships while enabling broad engagement on the urgent situation in Gaza,” Mr Peters says.   Mr Peters will attend the NATO Foreign ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Keep safe on our roads this Easter
    Transport Minister Simeon Brown is encouraging all road users to stay safe, plan their journeys ahead of time, and be patient with other drivers while travelling around this Easter long weekend. “Road safety is a responsibility we all share, and with increased traffic on our roads expected this Easter we ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Cost of living support for over 1.4 million Kiwis
    About 1.4 million New Zealanders will receive cost of living relief through increased government assistance from April 1 909,000 pensioners get a boost to Superannuation, including 5000 veterans 371,000 working-age beneficiaries will get higher payments 45,000 students will see an increase in their allowance Over a quarter of New Zealanders ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Tenancy reviews for social housing restart
    Ensuring social housing is being provided to those with the greatest needs is front of mind as the Government restarts social housing tenancy reviews, Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka says. “Our relentless focus on building a strong economy is to ensure we can deliver better public services such as social ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary plan halted
    The Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary will not go ahead, with Cabinet deciding to stop work on the proposed reserve and remove the Bill that would have established it from Parliament’s order paper. “The Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary Bill would have created a 620,000 sq km economic no-go zone,” Oceans and Fisheries Minister ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Cutting all that dam red tape
    Dam safety regulations are being amended so that smaller dams won’t be subject to excessive compliance costs, Minister for Building and Construction Chris Penk says. “The coalition Government is focused on reducing costs and removing unnecessary red tape so we can get the economy back on track.  “Dam safety regulations ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Drought support extended to parts of North Island
    The coalition Government is expanding the medium-scale adverse event classification to parts of the North Island as dry weather conditions persist, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced today. “I have made the decision to expand the medium-scale adverse event classification already in place for parts of the South Island to also cover the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Passage of major tax bill welcomed
    The passing of legislation giving effect to coalition Government tax commitments has been welcomed by Finance Minister Nicola Willis.  “The Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill will help place New Zealand on a more secure economic footing, improve outcomes for New Zealanders, and make our tax system ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Lifting economy through science, tertiary sectors
    Science, Innovation and Technology Minister Judith Collins and Tertiary Education and Skills Minister Penny Simmonds today announced plans to transform our science and university sectors to boost the economy. Two advisory groups, chaired by Professor Sir Peter Gluckman, will advise the Government on how these sectors can play a greater ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Government announces Budget priorities
    The Budget will deliver urgently-needed tax relief to hard-working New Zealanders while putting the government’s finances back on a sustainable track, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says.  The Finance Minister made the comments at the release of the Budget Policy Statement setting out the Government’s Budget objectives. “The coalition Government intends ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Government to consider accommodation solution
    The coalition Government will look at options to address a zoning issue that limits how much financial support Queenstown residents can get for accommodation. Cabinet has agreed on a response to the Petitions Committee, which had recommended the geographic information MSD uses to determine how much accommodation supplement can be ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Government approves extension to Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care
    Cabinet has agreed to a short extension to the final reporting timeframe for the Royal Commission into Abuse in Care from 28 March 2024 to 26 June 2024, Internal Affairs Minister Brooke van Velden says.                                         “The Royal Commission wrote to me on 16 February 2024, requesting that I consider an ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • $18m boost for Kiwis travelling to health treatment
    The coalition Government is delivering an $18 million boost to New Zealanders needing to travel for specialist health treatment, Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says.   “These changes are long overdue – the National Travel Assistance (NTA) scheme saw its last increase to mileage and accommodation rates way back in 2009.  ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • PM’s Prizes for Space to showcase sector’s talent
    The Government is recognising the innovative and rising talent in New Zealand’s growing space sector, with the Prime Minister and Space Minister Judith Collins announcing the new Prime Minister’s Prizes for Space today. “New Zealand has a growing reputation as a high-value partner for space missions and research. I am ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Concerns conveyed to China over cyber activity
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has confirmed New Zealand’s concerns about cyber activity have been conveyed directly to the Chinese Government.     “The Prime Minister and Minister Collins have expressed concerns today about malicious cyber activity, attributed to groups sponsored by the Chinese Government, targeting democratic institutions in both New ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Independent Reviewers appointed for School Property Inquiry
    Independent Reviewers appointed for School Property Inquiry Education Minister Erica Stanford today announced the appointment of three independent reviewers to lead the Ministerial Inquiry into the Ministry of Education’s School Property Function.  The Inquiry will be led by former Minister of Foreign Affairs Murray McCully. “There is a clear need ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Brynderwyns open for Easter
    State Highway 1 across the Brynderwyns will be open for Easter weekend, with work currently underway to ensure the resilience of this critical route being paused for Easter Weekend to allow holiday makers to travel north, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Today I visited the Brynderwyn Hills construction site, where ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Speech to the Infrastructure Funding & Financing Conference
    Introduction Good morning to you all, and thanks for having me bright and early today. I am absolutely delighted to be the Minister for Infrastructure alongside the Minister of Housing and Resource Management Reform. I know the Prime Minister sees the three roles as closely connected and he wants me ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Parliamentary network breached by the PRC
    New Zealand stands with the United Kingdom in its condemnation of People’s Republic of China (PRC) state-backed malicious cyber activity impacting its Electoral Commission and targeting Members of the UK Parliament. “The use of cyber-enabled espionage operations to interfere with democratic institutions and processes anywhere is unacceptable,” Minister Responsible for ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • NZ to provide support for Solomon Islands election
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters and Defence Minister Judith Collins today announced New Zealand will provide logistics support for the upcoming Solomon Islands election. “We’re sending a team of New Zealand Defence Force personnel and two NH90 helicopters to provide logistics support for the election on 17 April, at the request ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • NZ-EU FTA gains Royal Assent for 1 May entry to force
    The European Union Free Trade Agreement Legislation Amendment Bill received Royal Assent today, completing the process for New Zealand’s ratification of its free trade agreement with the European Union.    “I am pleased to announce that today, in a small ceremony at the Beehive, New Zealand notified the European Union ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • COVID-19 inquiry attracts 11,000 submissions
    Public consultation on the terms of reference for the Royal Commission into COVID-19 Lessons has concluded, Internal Affairs Minister Hon Brooke van Velden says.  “I have been advised that there were over 11,000 submissions made through the Royal Commission’s online consultation portal.” Expanding the scope of the Royal Commission of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Families to receive up to $75 a week help with ECE fees
    Hardworking families are set to benefit from a new credit to help them meet their early childcare education (ECE) costs, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. From 1 July, parents and caregivers of young children will be supported to manage the rising cost of living with a partial reimbursement of their ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Unlocking a sustainable, low-emissions future
    A specialised Independent Technical Advisory Group (ITAG) tasked with preparing and publishing independent non-binding advice on the design of a "green" (sustainable finance) taxonomy rulebook is being established, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says.  “Comprising experts and market participants, the ITAG's primary goal is to deliver comprehensive recommendations to the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Chief of Army thanked for his service
    Defence Minister Judith Collins has thanked the Chief of Army, Major General John Boswell, DSD, for his service as he leaves the Army after 40 years. “I would like to thank Major General Boswell for his contribution to the Army and the wider New Zealand Defence Force, undertaking many different ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Minister to meet Australian counterparts and Manufacturing Industry Leaders
    25 March 2024 Minister to meet Australian counterparts and Manufacturing Industry Leaders Small Business, Manufacturing, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly will travel to Australia for a series of bi-lateral meetings and manufacturing visits. During the visit, Minister Bayly will meet with his Australian counterparts, Senator Tim Ayres, Ed ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Government commits nearly $3 million for period products in schools
    Government commits almost $3 million for period products in schools The Coalition Government has committed $2.9 million to ensure intermediate and secondary schools continue providing period products to those who need them, Minister of Education Erica Stanford announced today. “This is an issue of dignity and ensuring young women don’t ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Speech – Making it easier to build.
    Good morning, it’s great to be here.   First, I would like to acknowledge the New Zealand Institute of Building Surveyors and thank you for the opportunity to be here this morning.  I would like to use this opportunity to outline the Government’s ambitious plan and what we hope to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Pacific youth to shine from boost to Polyfest
    Minister for Pacific Peoples Dr Shane Reti has announced the Government’s commitment to the Auckland Secondary Schools Māori and Pacific Islands Cultural Festival, more commonly known as Polyfest. “The Ministry for Pacific Peoples is a longtime supporter of Polyfest and, as it celebrates 49 years in 2024, I’m proud to ...
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    1 week ago
  • 2024 Ngarimu VC and 28th (Māori) Battalion Memorial Scholarships announced
    ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Speech to Breast Cancer Foundation – Insights Conference
    Before moving onto the substance of today’s address, I want to recognise the very significant and ongoing contribution the Breast Cancer Foundation makes to support the lives of New Zealand women and their families living with breast cancer. I very much enjoy working with you. I also want to recognise ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Kiwi research soars to International Space Station
    New Zealand has notched up a first with the launch of University of Canterbury research to the International Space Station, Science, Innovation and Technology and Space Minister Judith Collins says. The hardware, developed by Dr Sarah Kessans, is designed to operate autonomously in orbit, allowing scientists on Earth to study ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Speech to the New Zealand Planning Institute
    Introduction Thank you for inviting me to speak with you today and I’m sorry I can’t be there in person. Yesterday I started in Wellington for Breakfast TV, spoke to a property conference in Auckland, and finished the day speaking to local government in Christchurch, so it would have been ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Support for Northland emergency response centre
    The Coalition Government is contributing more than $1 million to support the establishment of an emergency multi-agency coordination centre in Northland. Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell announced the contribution today during a visit of the Whangārei site where the facility will be constructed.  “Northland has faced a number ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Celebrating 20 years of Whakaata Māori
    New Zealanders have enjoyed a broader range of voices telling the story of Aotearoa thanks to the creation of Whakaata Māori 20 years ago, says Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka. The minister spoke at a celebration marking the national indigenous media organisation’s 20th anniversary at their studio in Auckland on ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Some commercial fishery catch limits increased
    Commercial catch limits for some fisheries have been increased following a review showing stocks are healthy and abundant, Ocean and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The changes, along with some other catch limit changes and management settings, begin coming into effect from 1 April 2024. "Regular biannual reviews of fish ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

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