"Labour leftwingers have been frustrated at the party’s refusal to seize on the crisis as a moment to propose a radical overhaul of the economy and society. Jon Trickett, now relegated to the backbenches from his position of shadow cabinet office minister, says: “The country’s crying out for a longer-term vision. We need to map out a great vision for the kind of new normal that can exist after this pandemic."" https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2020/may/01/labour-keir-starmer-coronavirus-covid-19-new-era
I agree with the UK leftists. Which hardly ever happens. I get that the new Labour leader prefers a cautious approach, and it is indeed understandable that in these fraught times Sir Keir would rather not hit the ground running. Problem is, the opposition is there to provide a viable alternative to the govt. There's a real danger the public will get irritated by the lack thereof. Timidity is a prescription for failure.
"These meetings, and polling seen by Labour strategists, are telling them the public don’t want to hear knee-jerk criticism of the government. “The approach we’re getting from the public is, ‘All of us need to be together, getting through this,’” said a party source."
Yeah, folks hate partisans. Being reasonable is the right way to go, but there are better ways to do that. You can actually be respectful and helpful while signalling the path to the future. I'm puzzled UK Labour is failing to comprehend this. Seems elementary.
I get that the new Labour leader prefers a cautious approach….
???? Caving in to ceaseless bullying by the most brutal and implacable pressure group on earth is not "cautious". There are other "c" words to describe such a person: careerist, cynical, compromised….
So he's a zionist, eh? Well, that does change my view of him for the worse. A lot. But I presume Trump will thump the table with glee when he discovers it, and acclaim him as a sensible leftist.
The idea that the Israel lobby slaughtered Corbyn is a joke. He got done by the electorate in the usual Shakespearean fashion (character flaws). His own worst enemy. Like Sanders, his inner narcissist prevailed over his political acumen. How many times did I express my wish here that they would realise socialism will only fly with younger generations if it is reframed to suit the new millennium? I lost count. Their intellectual laziness doomed them.
No, he's a supporter—however reluctantly, under a horrendous amount of pressure—of the state of Israel. The distinction is important.
The idea that the Israel lobby slaughtered Corbyn is a joke.
???? Your assessment is at odds with the facts. The initial attempts to ridicule and marginalize Corbyn—"Traingate", the sneering at his riding a bicycle, the scoffing his dress sense, and the attempts to portray him as a "traitor"—all failed to gain any traction.
Then the fantastical denunciations really started. Jamie Stern-Weiner sums it up:
Throughout the “Labour antisemitism” controversy, mainstream Jewish organizations demanded deference on issues of antisemitism, on the basis that they represented the affected constituency. These bodies in fact lack substantial democratic legitimacy: the JLC is unelected; BOD elections are largely uncontested, and do not engage either ultra-Orthodox Haredi Jews or most Jews who do not attend synagogue. But even if they did speak for a majority of British Jews in what they said about Corbyn, Labour, and antisemitism, that did not change the fact that it was wrong — just as British Hindu groups were also wrong to ascribe Labour’s support for human rights in Kashmir to anti-Hindu racism.
One of the ugliest aspects of this entire affair has been the scorn and contempt heaped by Britain’s Jewish establishment on Jewish Labour supporters, who have been marginalized and dismissed as “fake Jews” or collaborators. Corbyn’s association with left-wing Jewshas itself been cited as evidence of his malice, while the BOD’s pledges includes the demand that Labour “engage with the Jewish community via its main representative groups, and not through fringe organizations.”
No ground should be given to such authoritarian blackmail. ….
… The main objective of the “Labour antisemitism” campaign was never to reduce antisemitism, but rather to bog Labour down in a time-consuming, soul-destroying internecine conflict. It succeeded because, for honorable as well as cynical reasons, Labour leaders allowed it to.
Yeah, I did read Finkelstein's analysis a while back and found no reason to dispute it. However while the Israel lobby played the divide within Labour effectively, I don't agree that they defeated Corbyn in the public mind. I do agree he was not sufficiently adept to control the narrative. I just see it as a side-issue in the minds of most voters.
It wasn't a side issue, it was a non-issue. The charges were ludicrous, fantastical from the beginning. I agree with you about Corbyn's ineptness: would you or anyone else here try to placate people accusing you of imaginary crimes the way Corbyn tried to placate his accusers? His passivity in the face of those mobs astonished Max Blumenthal when he visited Britain in 2015.
"The idea that the Israel lobby slaughtered Corbyn is a joke".
No it's not Dennis. I suggest you take a look at some of the investigative journalism thecanary.co has done on this issue. Accepting that this site has a left wing bias (how terrible) it has demonstrated that there is a mass of proof that Israel has lobbied long and hard against Corbyn.
But much worse, and probably much more damaging to Corbyn, is spelt out in the Labour Party report recently leaked. This shows that there were high-up Labour Party members who were willing to sabotage Corbyn winning the last election because they hated him and his somewhat radical left-wing policies.
They were willing to put an extreme right-wing idiot into power for 5 years and sabotage the (majority) anti-Brexit campaign simply to satisfy this Corbyn hatred.
Starmer's reaction-trying to shoot the messenger (the leaker(s))-rather than listen to the message says it all about him.
Corbyn and Sanders had heart. The right idea about the people when everyone else had lost themselves. They are heroes and will be looked to as such for ever.
They are also object lessons for any of us here who're ever tempted to imagine the task of a serious political leader is either easy or one that any of us could do better.
These meetings, and polling seen by Labour strategists, are telling them the public don’t want to hear knee-jerk criticism of the government.
And that precludes promoting vision and ideas that would contribute to "a radical overhaul of the economy and society"….how?
No need to debate the merits and demerits of the play being acted out by government – change the script in a way that captures the moment. Maybe that's a 'step beyond' for myopic tribalists who are lacking in imagination and only concerned with 'getting a turn' at playing boss?
Yeah, you put your finger on the problem alright. Those who get to have a political career as servants of the status quo while pretending to be progressive. Democracy keeps promoting the pretenders – because most voters are easily suckered.
Yeah, folks hate partisans. Being reasonable is the right way to go, but there are better ways to do that. You can actually be respectful and helpful while signalling the path to the future. I'm puzzled UK Labour is failing to comprehend this. Seems elementary.
Everything you are saying on this theme resonates with me strongly. In the current atmosphere reasonableness seems an quixotic, suicidal ask, but that will only make the small victories along the way, all the sweeter.
Do you have a link for that? I downloaded the app on to my Telstra only phone the other day. Telstra is Austalia's biggest network. The only problem is that I didn't have a working SIM on it and my older Samsung smartphone won't accept the app. Just over 3 million Aussies have downloaded the app so far, but no idea how many actually use it. Seems a bit fiddly and annoying. Can imagine that many won't bother or may give up if there are technological problems. Seems easier just keeping away from everybody and remembering who you have been close to. Rules are 1.5m distancing here, not 2 m like NZ. Wonder if Aussie coronaviruses can't jump as far?
"Behavioural economics looks at how people make decisions in the real world – warts, irrational biases and all – and applies this to public policy. Its signature policy is set out in the 2008 book Nudge, by Cass Sunstein and Richard Thaler. The central insight is that changing the way choices are presented to people can have a huge impact."
Haven't read it but I suspect nudges work via framing. The frame you create can focus the attention of others on whatever you want.
"Coming just as the financial crisis hit, Nudge was perfectly timed to achieve maximum traction by offering politicians the chance to reap savings through low-cost policy. Sunstein was quickly appointed to a senior job in the Obama administration, while David Cameron set up the behavioural insights team, dubbed the “nudge unit”, led by psychologist turned policy wonk David Halpern."
"The nudge unit has since had a mixed track record: there have been some real successes on pensions and tax payments but in other areas it’s been a bit of a damp squib. So I was surprised when Halpern popped up to talk about the government’s pandemic strategy in the press in early March. It was he who first publicly mentioned the idea of “herd immunity” as part of an effective response to Covid-19 (the government has since denied this was ever the strategy)." https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/apr/26/nudge-theory-is-a-poor-substitute-for-science-in-matters-of-life-or-death-coronavirus
"Halpern is reportedly on Sage, the government’s scientific advisory committee for emergencies, and he is also the government’s What Works national adviser, responsible for helping it apply evidence to public policy. So one might expect there to be something substantial behind the idea of behavioural fatigue."
Well, yes. Obviously the hundreds of breaches of the lockdown here, and consequent prosecutions, suggest there's behavioural fatigue out there in Aotearoa. "Goddam, I've been doing this isolation shit too long already, I'm tired of it."
"But evidence presented to government by the Sage behavioural subcommittee on 4 March, representing the views of a wider group of experts, was non-committal on the behavioural impact of a lockdown, noting that the empirical evidence on behavioural interventions in a pandemic is limited. Shortly after Halpern’s interviews, more than 600 behavioural economists wrote a letter questioning the evidence base for behavioural fatigue."
Clever buggers. The evidence is out there, but if nobody collects & collates it, then you can dismiss it as anecdotal. Social science 1.01 – and who wants to pay for the research? No govt would do that while mired in lockdown admin.
"“Behavioural fatigue is a nebulous concept,” the review’s authors later concluded in the Irish Times." Ah, smart move. Nobody does nebulous better than the Irish. Readers would resonate with the critique big-time.
The writer suggests "you understand that the Behavioural Insights Team is a multimillion-pound profitable company, which pays Halpern, who owns 7.5% of its shares, a bigger salary than the prime minister." You should. Psychologists with that much leverage in commerce and politics are extremely rare.
"The Washington Post, citing two people with knowledge of internal discussions, reported on Thursday that some officials had discussed the idea of canceling some of the massive U.S. debt held by China as a way to strike at Beijing for perceived shortfalls in its candidness on the COVID-19 pandemic."
Is self-testing even legitimate? If it's the same test used here I can't imagine people are going to do that to themselves with any degree of accuracy.
"Bridges has also drawn attention for repeatedly saying the confusing phrase “the medicine is worse than the cure”.
Advertising works if you keep repeating the message. He gets that part. The part he doesn't get is that the message is meant to sell something. The Leader of the Opposition is expected to sell the idea that the Opposition would make a better govt than the current one to the public. I don't see how telling them that the medicine is worse than the cure is gonna achieve that.
Kids learn that you endure the medicine to get the cure. Adults are supposed to have moved on from that phase. Wrestle with more complex problems. Politicians are meant to solve the difficult commonly-experienced problems. Perhaps his minders forgot to take off his training wheels?
Starmer cameunder criticism for not disclosing all his donors during the campaign itself, when Labour members were deciding who should replace Jeremy Corbyn.
The donation from Chinn was not registered until five days after Starmer won the election, although it was received in February.
Although there is no suggestion of illegality, Labour members may consider this a violation of their trust.
In 2018, Chinn co-hosted a high-profile celebration of the life of late Israeli president Chaim Herzog, attended by Israeli ambassador Mark Regev. Published photos show that Tony Blair also attended.
He can call himself Keir as much as he likes but this is the end for me. Just describing yourself as a Zionist, which is the same as being in favour of the conquest of India, is too much.
Apparently this is the Best the Democratic party can offer the world…although I guess it does illustrate just how shallow their pool of talent has become…what a joke.
I'm curious what you think you'll achieve by spamming the site with the same March 26 clip over and over again after others had also spammed us multiple previous times with it.
Nevertheless, if anyone's curious about the bigger picture but not enough to actually go looking, here's a piece that looks into the background of the allegations.
The author of your link is a shameless Democratic Party careerist and, not surprisingly, a Russiagate truther. He recently praised that empty bag of wind Pete Buttigieg: "Pete's intellect, empathy and ability to articulate his sound policies place him a cut above decades of politicians on both sides of the aisle."
No doubt this smear against Tara Reade will advance his own career.
Even if that were a fair assessment of the author, how does that affect the facts he's pointed to that raise red flags around the credibility of Reade's allegations?
Also, what purpose do you think is achieved by spamming this site over and over again with the same month-old clip?
He doesn't raise any red flags. All he does is try to smear her. I guess you have to admire his dogged persistence, given that he wrote his hit piece after the tape of her mother ringing up Larry King came to light.
Where have I "fulminated", Baggers? The only fulmination in this discussion, other than that by our friend Andre, is by Michael Stern, that former prosecutor-cum-Democratic Party careerist and conspiracy theorist.
Christ Andre! The guy starts off with a false sub-header. (Only rabid idiots have ever said we must blindly accept every allegation of sexual assault)
And in case you missed it, the #metoo movement has hardly covered itself in glory when it's come to Tara Reade. For example, see this piece on Time's Up.
The NYT took weeks to report on the story at all even though there is far more corroborating evidence for her allegation that there was for Christine Blasey Ford – and allowed the Biden team to edit their piece when they finally did run something.
Biden could put the entire thing to rest by having the seal broken on the University of Delaware files of his senatorial papers. (He has publicly refused to do that)
Trotting out nonsense about Russia in an attempt to discredit her is straight up fucking woeful.
It's not as if there are have not been other concerns raised about Biden's behaviour around women, right? And it's not as if the only time women claiming sexual harassment are to be taken seriously is when the allegation is against a perceived 'bad guy', right?
Anyway. I'm not a US voter, but the idea that a nation gets to choose between two alleged sexual predators for their president is …actually, I'm at a loss for words.
I think that anyone who is actually serious in examining these allegations ( unlike our Biden or bust boy here Andre) would do themselves more a service in reading the links provided below from from some serious jurno's instead of the Dem hack that speaks to and confirms Andres well known bias…
Of course what is really the problem here is Andre, just like many of his centrerist cohorts on this site are just to dishonest and spinless to come out and say what we all know they are thinking, yeah Biden could well be a rapist, but I still think he's is better than Trump…but then again after the way they all lost their shit over the kavanaugh rape allegations or the way they went feral on Assange allegations I guess they can't..LOL!!!…man talk about the chickens coming home to roost…it's fucking hilarious.
Ryan Grim: Dems Will Back Biden As Long As They Think He’ll Beat Trump
The allegations against Kavanaugh, Trump, Biden, and Clinton were all backed up with credible evidence. The ludicrous "allegations" against Assange were concocted by British and U.S. black ops.
Yes I agree with you (Assange was probably the wrong example) what I was getting at is that liberal MSM and their supporters like Andre have, and without even the slightest hint of embarrassment or even a blush, used one set of standards in reporting on the allegations against Kavanaugh, Trump etc than they have with these allegations against Biden, the blatant hypocrisy is just jaw dropping..
Na, the allegations against Assange were genuine enough – but the prosecution side of it in Sweden became political. The claim that requiring a guy to use a condom each time, or get consent each time, was part of a political entrapment is conspiracy theory and based on nothing more than the now ironic and embarrasing word association of wiki leak to lack of use of a condom.
In the real world, as opposed to the world of “Never Trump” Republican factionalists, Russiagate conspiracy theorists and Twitter trolls that you inhabit, WikiLeaks refers to the site that angered the U.S. and many other rogue states by revealing their crimes to the public.
RIP wikileaks the site for holding shitty governments to account. Such a promising youth with massive potential for brilliance, brought low by narcissism and power intoxication. Now a mere empty husk of what could have been.
Wikileaks hasn't faded because of any personal defects Assange may or may not have. Wikileaks has faded because corporate/liberal outlets and their journalists jumped on board with states and went all out to discredit and marginalise it as a credible source for news.
The idea that Assange is solely responsible for his own downfall, and the 'husking' of WikiLeaks, is convenient, but feeble.
'Narcissism' and 'power intoxication' descriptors are better directed at the leader of the country seeking to extradite Assange for his 'crimes'.
It is very much to Melzer’s credit that he admits that he was himself initially taken in by the propaganda campaign. He reveals that, in December 2018, he was asked by Assange’s lawyers to intervene. He declined:
"I was overloaded with other petitions and wasn’t really familiar with the case. My impression, largely influenced by the media, was also colored by the prejudice that Julian Assange was somehow guilty and that he wanted to manipulate me."
'Narcissism' and 'power intoxication' descriptors are better directed at the leader of the country seeking to extradite Assange for his 'crimes'.
Also directed. Not necessarily better directed. Which just adds to the irony of his actions to help boost the Douche ex Machina into the Oval Office.
Since Hillary and whomever she appointed to Attorney General would have been much more likely to agree with Holder and Obama's 2013 conclusion that the "New York Times problem" meant it would be against the interests of the US as a whole to go after him.
The U.S. authorities say he is wanted not because he embarrassed them but because he endangered informants, dissidents and rights activists in several countries, including Iraq, Iran and Afghanistan by illegal actions.
I'm sure if they all whinge just a few more days, Biden will pull out and only Sanders will reactivate his campaign and walk into the convention upon a path of rosepetals as the sole candidate for the dem nom. It is destiny.
@ McFlock, what the fuck are you talking about? what has this got to do with Sanders?…look if you think it's OK voting for an alleged rapist because he is a better sort of alleged rapist than the guy from the other party then just say so and stop beating round the damn bush..and don't blame us that your people are usually seriously dodgy in some way shape or form…it is just the natural result of selling out your principles and values for power…in case you hadn't noticed.
I've said repeatedly that it's not okay. Even less than 24hrs ago. But it is the situation: vote for Biden, or do nothing to get rid of Trump. Clear enough for you?
What you guys have never answered is "what do you you expect a US voter to do?" They have three options: vote Biden, vote Trump, or abstain/3rdparty (same diff: only helps the incumbent). No option is ideal, or even "okay". But whatever they do in November will be one of those three.
So please do me the courtesy of answering me as clearly as I answered you.
Amazing how easily some were convinced of the allegations of rape against Assange, yet find the allegations of known creep Biden so difficult to believe
Are these the same people who cried rape apologist! Women dont lie?
How depressingly partisan the whole thing is, no real underlying empathy, just point scoring
… some were convinced of the allegations of rape against Assange …
They weren't convinced of the allegations, francesca. Nobody who looks at that shameful business believes a word of those fantasies. As you rightly point out, it’s partisanship, and involves as much regard for the truth as supporting a sports team.
So, pointing to an article that discusses some relevant facts that were conveniently ignored in the one-sided story-making by hard-core Berners, and asking for clarification on the status of an unsourced assertion makes me a "camp guard"?
Cool bananas.
I'm still curious what you think will be achieved by spamming us with the same month-old clip over and over again.
I'm use to right wing trolls attempts at wit falling flat, but man that was sad.
My point was simple – argue the point, which is a case of sexual assault has been leveled at Biden. A pretty serious case, which you have been hell bent to undermine at every turn. Mostly with slurs and personal attacks, I'll give you it's a normal response for this sort of thing.
Rich McHugh (one of the journalists who has reported on Tara Reade's allegations) claims he has spoken to the National Archive, and they say they would not hold any such record.
Add that to the fact others have previously pointed out (before Biden's little diversion tactic), that the University of Delaware has Biden's congressional papers under seal, and that is where a filed report of sexual harassment would be held.
Biden or the University of Delaware could unseal the records, but seem hell bent on keeping them sealed until two years after Biden exits public life or some such.
So, a second-hand assertion that they would not be in the National Archives, one of the three places suggested so far where such a record, if one existed, might be stored. Not a refutation of the possibility that it might be stored within the Senate's own administrative system, as suggested by the letter Macro posted.
All journalism is second hand assertion now is it?
And when the National Archives say they have no such record, are you going to argue the University of Delaware lift the seal on their records, or run around forums like this one proclaiming Biden's innocence and Tara Reade's malevolence?
Well we shall await the advice back from the Secretary of the Senate with interest wont we.
Even if she was an intern, the employing authority would still be the Senate, and the immediate office for reporting such an occurrence would be the The Office of Fair Employment Practices
I've added the bold for those who are experiencing problems digesting pretty basic info….
And @UDelaware — which houses the collection of Joe Biden's senatorial papers — just confirmed to me that the papers "will remain closed to the public until two years after Mr. Biden retires from public life."
I've never worked for the US Senate, but everywhere I have worked in the US, personnel records have been kept very distinct from the records generated by my actual work.
To the extent that when the division I worked for was sold off to another company, my personnel records stayed with the original parent company, while all my engineering calc sheets, drawings, test reports etc went to the new owner.
So it's entirely plausible, probable even, that the personnel records for the staff in Biden's office are stored separately to the intellectual information generated by his work duties as a senator.
Which sounds plausible, until one considers whether the only copy of his senatorial paycheques are in his papers at Delaware. Is it more likely that HR stuff will kept by the senate, too? Including complaints?
Maybe parents are right to fear sending their children back to school or early learning centres. In the US a small number of children and other under 20s have died from C-19. There are also a minority of children with serious symptoms linked to C-19.
The problem is complicated because those under 20yrs in the US are not being tested. Some of the children with serious conditions are maybe being misdiagnosed with other conditions that have similar symptoms. Latino children are a significant proportion of children diagnosed with C-19.
80% or C-19 recorded deaths in the US are for people over 65yrs. At least 20 people under 20 yrs have died from C-19. In New York state by end April 30 C-19 positive children died and 56 were admitted to pediatric ICUs.
Doctors in several countries are reporting inflammatory syndromes in children linked to C-19. Symptoms include diarrhea, cough, fever, sore throats, vomiting, and can look like aseptic meningitis or Kawasaki disease.
The Guardian have picked up on this story as well.
In an article entitled 'European schools get ready to reopen despite concern about pupils spreading Covid-19, the writer points to Christian Drosten, 'a virologist and Germany’s leading coronavirus expert', has conducted research which 'found that the viral loads in children differed little from those in adults.'
'Drosten’s study, which was released this week, examined the viral loads in the throats of 3,721 people, including more than 100 children, who tested positive for coronavirus in Berlin between January and April.'
“The end result is as clear as glass,” Drosten said “Children do not have significantly different concentrations of the virus in their respiratory passages compared to adults.”
I wonder if our health experts are investigating this.
The research report referred to in Ed's Guardian article doesn't break it down by age specifically, but uses the term Kindergarten age youngest age group. It seems to be a German-based research, and in Germany, the kindergarten age is 3-6 years.
In that age group, 1749 children were tested, with 37 testing positive ie 2.10% of the group. This compares with 2.25% of 1-10 year olds. Compares with 6-11% approx of over 60s.
The Intercept article I linked to above, refers to the Covid research project in the US. It breaks the 1-10 ages down to 0-2 & 2-11yrs.
They have a chart showing the estimated numbers of under 2s positive for C-19 (83,333), and the numbers in a critical condition in ICUs (35); 2-11 year olds = estimated 11667 positive & 49 in ICUs
Whereas the attack rate in children seems to correspond to that in adults (2), it is obvious that children are under-represented in clinical studies and less frequently diagnosed due to mild or absent symptoms.
And
An estimate based on the number of symptomatic admissions in a specialist pediatric hospital assumes that thousands of pediatric cases were missed during the early phase of the Wuhan outbreak, at a time at which only ca. 10,0000 adult patients were registered (13). Because they are mostly asymptomatic, children may not be presented at testing centers even if they belong to households with a confirmed index case.
This
There are many other factors that complicate the determination of infection rates in, and transmission rates from children. For instance, the age profile during the early phase of the outbreak in many European countries makes it difficult to derive transmission rates from household contact studies. Early transmission clusters were started by travellers of adult age, making children less likely to be index cases in households (4). Another circumstance making children less likely to carry the virus into households is that kindergartens and schools were closed early in the outbreak in Germany.
So
These combined effects will cause children to be more likely to receive rather than spread infections in households for purely circumstantial reasons. This observation may be misunderstood as an indication of children being less infectious.
Which should lead to younger teachers overseeing the primary school age children during the on-line phase and pre schools using younger teachers only while the numbers are still small.
Maybe parents are right to fear sending their children back to school or early learning centres.
My fear with kids is somewhat more basic. This is an almost unknown disease that we're just starting to get information on. Like all unknown diseases or for that matter unknown drug or any unknown environmental change, it isn't just the obvious effects that you need to worry about. It is also the ones that haven't been picked up yet.
For instance blood clots with covid-19. In the hospitals on lifer supports. In the lungs. In young adults. And even in 'covid toes' of children.
These are all relatively immediate symptoms. But as a species we have no idea of where this disease is getting to or its full range of behaviours – especially over the longer term. After all we’ve only known about it for (at most) 4 and half months.
I was reading about an autopsy reports of residual covid-19 RNA in the lungs of a recovered patient (who died of something else). There wasn't anything about if it was active or not.
One of the things I've been worried about is if covid-19 is one of the stealth viruses. After all this damn thing has 30,000 base pairs – which for a virus is one hell of a lot of code, and presumably very little of it is unused because virus evolution tends to be ruthless about ‘junk’.. The host species, bats, are well known for how ferocious their immune systems are. As they'd have to be given their communal nesting habits.
You have to wonder about what the longer-term effects of having the virus are, and especially in a child that has 60+ years of life ahead of them.
Thank you lprent. I am but a simple teacher of languages, yet (or maybe because of that) I find your comment above most compelling evidence as to why we should wait, and not follow the short-sighted advice of those concerned mainly with commerce – eg, dear young Simon Bridges and his supporting cortège…. (Not sure whether I got the right French word there. Time will tell.)
So if schools remain closed when we move to the next level – what do those families who have all adults working do ?
Unfortunately when we reach level 2 – a consequence will be schools and ECE centres opening – due to necessity. An unfortunate consequence of our economic system that requires multi incomes to sustain a family.
Extend lock down and Labour replicates the 2013 team NZ sailing: losing what is "Not Losable".
Barfly he would complain if the Coalition put forward such a Stupid Policy.Goldsmith would be saying why should viable non subsidized businesses tax be going to failing businesses.
I don't quite get this one – does anybody know anything more? Is the NZ government subsidising overseas airlines ( some state owned with no profit incentives)? Are these markets that Airnz is unable to fly to for some reason? Yes we need to get the goods home and away but use our own carrier first?
For those who are interested, here is a list of some countries and their Covid-19 tests per one million population. New Zealand's testing rate is quite impressive.
Israel 42,108
Italy 33,962
Spain 32,699
Ireland 31,179
Germany 30,400
New Zealand 30,191
Russia 25,354
Singapore 24,600
Australia 23,770
Canada 22,050
USA 20,241
UK 15,082
South Korea 12,153
Sweden 11,833
Saudi Arabia 9,392
Iran 5,656
South Africa 3,668
Taiwan 2,659
Pakistan 878
India 708
The complete list of countries and their stats are on the worldometer website.
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Two-thirds of the country think that “New Zealand’s economy is rigged to advantage the rich and powerful”. They also believe that “New Zealand needs a strong leader to take the country back from the rich and powerful”. These are just two of a handful of stunning new survey results released ...
In today’s digital world, screenshots have become an indispensable tool for communication and documentation. Whether you need to capture an important email, preserve a website page, or share an error message, screenshots allow you to quickly and easily preserve digital information. If you’re an Asus laptop user, there are several ...
A factory reset restores your Gateway laptop to its original factory settings, erasing all data, apps, and personalizations. This can be necessary to resolve software issues, remove viruses, or prepare your laptop for sale or transfer. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to factory reset your Gateway laptop: Method 1: ...
“You talking about me?”The neoliberal denigration of the past was nowhere more unrelenting than in its depiction of the public service. The Post Office and the Railways were held up as being both irremediably inefficient and scandalously over-manned. Playwright Roger Hall’s “Glide Time” caricatures were presented as accurate depictions of ...
Roger Partridge writes – When the Coalition Government took office last October, it inherited a country on a precipice. With persistent inflation, decades of insipid productivity growth and crises in healthcare, education, housing and law and order, it is no exaggeration to suggest New Zealand’s first-world status was ...
Rob MacCulloch writes – In 2022, the Curriculum Centre at the Ministry of Education employed 308 staff, according to an Official Information Request. Earlier this week it was announced 202 of those staff were being cut. When you look up “The New Zealand Curriculum” on the Ministry of ...
Chris Bishop’s bill has stirred up a hornets nest of opposition. Photo: Lynn Grieveson for The KākāTL;DR: The six things that stood out to me in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, poverty and climate from the last day included:A crescendo of opposition to the Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill is ...
Monday left me brokenTuesday, I was through with hopingWednesday, my empty arms were openThursday, waiting for love, waiting for loveThe end of another week that left many of us asking WTF? What on earth has NZ gotten itself into and how on earth could people have voluntarily signed up for ...
Hello! Here comes the Saturday edition of More Than A Feilding, catching you up on the past week’s editions.State of humanity, 20242024, it feels, keeps presenting us with ever more challenges, ever more dismay.Do you give up yet? It seems to ask.No? How about this? Or this?How about this?Full story Share ...
Determining the hardest sport in the world is a subjective matter, as the difficulty level can vary depending on individual abilities, physical attributes, and experience. However, based on various factors including physical demands, technical skills, mental fortitude, and overall accomplishment, here is an exploration of some of the most challenging ...
The allure of sport transcends age, culture, and geographical boundaries. It captivates hearts, ignites passions, and provides unparalleled entertainment. Behind the spectacle, however, lies a fascinating world of financial investment and expenditure. Among the vast array of competitive pursuits, one question looms large: which sport carries the hefty title of ...
Introduction Pickleball, a rapidly growing paddle sport, has captured the hearts and imaginations of millions around the world. Its blend of tennis, badminton, and table tennis elements has made it a favorite among players of all ages and skill levels. As the sport’s popularity continues to surge, the question on ...
Abstract: Soccer, the global phenomenon captivating millions worldwide, has a rich history that spans centuries. Its origins trace back to ancient civilizations, but the modern version we know and love emerged through a complex interplay of cultural influences and innovations. This article delves into the fascinating journey of soccer’s evolution, ...
Tinting car windows offers numerous benefits, including enhanced privacy, reduced glare, UV protection, and a more stylish look for your vehicle. However, the cost of window tinting can vary significantly depending on several factors. This article provides a comprehensive guide to help you understand how much you can expect to ...
The pungent smell of gasoline in your car can be an alarming and potentially dangerous problem. Not only is the odor unpleasant, but it can also indicate a serious issue with your vehicle’s fuel system. In this article, we will explore the various reasons why your car may smell like ...
Tree sap can be a sticky, unsightly mess on your car’s exterior. It can be difficult to remove, but with the right techniques and products, you can restore your car to its former glory. Understanding Tree Sap Tree sap is a thick, viscous liquid produced by trees to seal wounds ...
The amount of paint needed to paint a car depends on a number of factors, including the size of the car, the number of coats you plan to apply, and the type of paint you are using. In general, you will need between 1 and 2 gallons of paint for ...
Jump-starting a car is a common task that can be performed even in adverse weather conditions like rain. However, safety precautions and proper techniques are crucial to avoid potential hazards. This comprehensive guide will provide detailed instructions on how to safely jump a car in the rain, ensuring both your ...
Graham Adams writes about the $55m media fund — When Patrick Gower was asked by Mike Hosking last week what he would say to the many Newstalk ZB callers who allege the Labour government bribed media with $55 million of taxpayers’ money via the Public Interest Journalism Fund — and ...
Note: this blog post has been put together over the course of the week I followed the happenings at the conference virtually. Should recordings of the Great Debates and possibly Union Symposia mentioned below, be released sometime after the conference ends, I'll include links to the ones I participated in. ...
The following was my submission made on the “Fast Track Approvals Bill”. This potential law will give three Ministers unchecked powers, un-paralled since the days of Robert Muldoon’s “Think Big” projects.The submission is written a bit tongue-in-cheek. But it’s irreverent because the FTAB is in itself not worthy of respect. ...
One Could Reduce Child Poverty At No Fiscal CostFollowing the Richardson/Shipley 1990 ‘redesign of the welfare state’ – which eliminated the universal Family Benefit and doubled the rate of child poverty – various income supplements for families have been added, the best known being ‘Working for Families’, introduced in 2005. ...
Buzz from the Beehive A few days ago, Point of Order suggested the media must be musing “on why Melissa is mute”. Our article reported that people working in the beleaguered media industry have cause to yearn for a minister as busy as Melissa Lee’s ministerial colleagues and we drew ...
1. What was The Curse of Jim Bolger?a. Winston Peters b. Soon after shaking his hand, world leaders would mysteriously lose office or shuffle off this mortal coilc. Could never shake off the Mother of All Budgetsd. Dandruff2. True or false? The Chairman of a Kiwi export business has asked the ...
Jack Vowles writes – New Zealand is said to be suffering from ‘serious populist discontent’. An IPSOS MORI survey has reported that we have an increasing preference for strong leaders, think that the economy is rigged toward the rich and powerful, and political elites are ignoring ‘hard-working people’. ...
Chris Trotter writes – MELISSA LEE should be deprived of her ministerial warrant. Her handling – or non-handling – of the crisis engulfing the New Zealand news media has been woeful. The fate of New Zealand’s two linear television networks, a question which the Minister of Broadcasting, Communications ...
TL;DR: The podcast above features co-hosts and , along with regular guests Robert Patman on Gaza and AUKUS II, and on climate change.The six things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the ...
Policymakers rarely wish to make plain or visible their desire to dismantle environmental policy, least of all to the young. Photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: Here’s the top five news items of note in climate news for Aotearoa-NZ this week, and a discussion above between Bernard Hickey and The Kākā’s climate correspondent ...
I like to keep an eye on what’s happening in places like the UK, the US, and over the ditch with our good mates the Aussies. Let’s call them AUKUS, for want of a better collective term. More on that in a bit.It used to be, not long ago, that ...
TL;DR: The global economy will be one fifth smaller than it would have otherwise been in 2050 as a result of climate damage, according to a new study by the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) and published in the journal Nature. (See more detail and analysis below, and ...
New Zealand is said to be suffering from ‘serious populist discontent’. An IPSOS MORI survey has reported that we have an increasing preference for strong leaders, think that the economy is rigged toward the rich and powerful, and political elites are ignoring ‘hard-working people’. The data is from February this ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters is understood to be planning a major speech within the next fortnight to clear up the confusion over whether or not New Zealand might join the AUKUS submarine project. So far, there have been conflicting signals from the Government. RNZ reported the Prime Minister yesterday in ...
Life throws curveballs, and sometimes, those curveballs necessitate wiping your iPhone clean and starting anew. Whether you’re facing persistent software glitches, preparing to sell your device, or simply wanting a fresh start, knowing how to factory reset iPhone without a computer is a valuable skill. While using a computer with ...
Gone are the days when communication was limited to landline phones and physical proximity. Today, computers have become powerful tools for connecting with people across the globe through voice and video calls. But with a plethora of applications and methods available, how to call someone on a computer might seem ...
Open access notables Glacial isostatic adjustment reduces past and future Arctic subsea permafrost, Creel et al., Nature Communications:Sea-level rise submerges terrestrial permafrost in the Arctic, turning it into subsea permafrost. Subsea permafrost underlies ~ 1.8 million km2 of Arctic continental shelf, with thicknesses in places exceeding 700 m. Sea-level variations over glacial-interglacial cycles control ...
The operating system (OS) is the heart and soul of a computer, orchestrating every action and interaction between hardware and software. But have you ever wondered where on a computer is the operating system generally stored? The answer lies in the intricate dance between hardware and software components, particularly within ...
Laptops have become essential tools for work, entertainment, and communication, offering portability and functionality. However, with rising energy costs and growing environmental concerns, understanding a laptop’s power consumption is more important than ever. So, how many watts does a laptop use? The answer, unfortunately, isn’t straightforward. It depends on several ...
Screen recording has become an essential tool for various purposes, such as creating tutorials, capturing gameplay footage, recording online meetings, or sharing information with others. Fortunately, Dell laptops offer several built-in and external options for screen recording, catering to different needs and preferences. This guide will explore various methods on ...
A cracked or damaged laptop screen can be a frustrating experience, impacting productivity and enjoyment. Fortunately, laptop screen repair is a common service offered by various repair shops and technicians. However, the cost of fixing a laptop screen can vary significantly depending on several factors. This article delves into the ...
Gaming laptops represent a significant investment for passionate gamers, offering portability and powerful performance for immersive gaming experiences. However, a common concern among potential buyers is their lifespan. Unlike desktop PCs, which allow for easier component upgrades, gaming laptops have inherent limitations due to their compact and integrated design. This ...
The annual inventory report of New Zealand's greenhouse gas emissions has been released, showing that gross emissions have dropped for the third year in a row, to 78.4 million tons: All-told gross emissions have decreased by over 6 million tons since the Zero Carbon Act was passed in 2019. ...
Experiencing a locked computer can be frustrating, especially when you need access to your files and applications urgently. The methods to unlock your computer will vary depending on the specific situation and the type of lock you encounter. This guide will explore various scenarios and provide step-by-step instructions on how ...
While the world has largely transitioned to digital communication, faxing still holds relevance in certain industries and situations. Fortunately, gone are the days of bulky fax machines and dedicated phone lines. Today, you can easily send and receive faxes directly from your computer, offering a convenient and efficient way to ...
In our increasingly digital world, home computers have become essential tools for work, communication, entertainment, and more. However, this increased reliance on technology also exposes us to various cyber threats. Understanding these threats and taking proactive steps to protect your home computer is crucial for safeguarding your personal information, finances, ...
In the ever-evolving world of technology, server-based computing has emerged as a cornerstone of modern digital infrastructure. This article delves into the concept of server-based computing, exploring its various forms, benefits, challenges, and its impact on the way we work and interact with technology. Understanding Server-Based Computing: At its core, ...
The absolute brass neck of this guy.We want more medical doctors, not more spin doctors, Luxon was saying a couple of weeks ago, and now we’re told the guy has seven salaried adults on TikTok duty. Sorry, doing social media. The absolute brass neck of it. The irony that the ...
Buzz from the Beehive Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones relishes spatting and eagerly takes issue with environmentalists who criticise his enthusiasm for resource development. He relishes helping the fishing industry too. And so today, while the media are making much of the latest culling in the public service to ...
Having written, taught and worked for the US government on issues involving unconventional warfare and terrorism for 30-odd years, two things irritate me the most when the subject is discussed in public. The first is the Johnny-come-lately academics-turned-media commentators who … Continue reading → ...
Eric Crampton writes – Kainga Ora is the government’s house building agency. It’s been building a lot of social housing. Kainga Ora has its own (but independent) consenting authority, Consentium. It’s a neat idea. Rather than have to deal with building consents across each different territorial authority, Kainga Ora ...
Muriel Newman writes – The Coalition Government says it is moving with speed to deliver campaign promises and reverse the damage done by Labour. One of their key commitments is to “defend the principle that New Zealanders are equal before the law.” To achieve this, they have pledged they “will not advance ...
Chris Trotter writes – The absence of anything resembling a fightback from the public servants currently losing their jobs is interesting. State-sector workers’ collective fatalism in the face of Coalition cutbacks indicates a surprisingly broad acceptance of impermanence in the workplace. Fifty years ago, lay-offs in the thousands ...
Mariupol, on the Azov Sea coast, was one of the first cities to suffer almost complete destruction after the start of the Ukraine War started in late February 2022. We remember the scenes of absolute destruction of the houses and city structures. The deaths of innocent civilians – many of ...
Lindsay Mitchell writes – Ten years ago, I wrote the following in a Listener column: Every year around one in five new-born babies will be reliant on their caregivers benefit by Christmas. This pattern has persisted from at least 1993. For Maori the number jumps to over one in three. ...
Climate change is expected to generate more and more extreme events, delivering a sort of structural shock to inflation that central banks will have to react to as if they were short-term cyclical issues. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMy pick of the six newsey things to know from Aotearoa’s ...
It’s a simple deal. We pay taxes in order to finance the social services we want and need. The carnage now occurring across the public sector though, is breaking that contract. Over 3,000 jobs have been lost so far. Many are in crucial areas like Education where the impact of ...
Hi,A friend had their 40th over the weekend and decided to theme it after Curb Your Enthusiasm fashion icon Susie Greene. Captured in my tiny kitchen before I left the house, I ending up evoking a mix of old lesbian and Hillary Clinton — both unintentional.Me vs Hillary ClintonIf you’re ...
This is a re-post from Andrew Dessler at the Climate Brink blogIn 2023, the Earth reached temperature levels unprecedented in modern times. Given that, it’s reasonable to ask: What’s going on? There’s been lots of discussions by scientists about whether this is just the normal progression of global warming or if something ...
The schools are on holiday and the sun is shining in the seaside village and all day long I have been seeing bunches of bikes; Mums, Dads, teens and toddlers chattering, laughing, happy, having a bloody great time together. Cheers, AT, for the bits of lane you’ve added lately around the ...
Today in our National-led authoritarian nightmare: Shane Jones thinks Ministers should be above the law: New Zealand First MP Shane Jones is accusing the Waitangi Tribunal of over-stepping its mandate by subpoenaing a minister for its urgent hearing on the Oranga Tamariki claim. The tribunal is looking into the ...
Bryce Edwards writes – Politicians across the political spectrum are implicated in the New Zealand media’s failing health. Either through neglect or incompetent interventions, successive governments have failed to regulate, foster, and allow a healthy Fourth Estate that can adequately hold politicians and the powerful to account. ...
Citizen Science writes – Last week saw two significant developments in the debate over the treatment of trans-identifying children and young people – the release in Britain of the final report of Dr Hilary Cass’s review into gender healthcare, and here in New Zealand, the news that the ...
One night while sleeping in my bed I had a beautiful dreamThat all the people of the world got together on the same wavelengthAnd began helping one anotherNow in this dream, universal love was the theme of the dayPeace and understanding and it happened this wayAfter such an eventful day ...
The Green Party has joined the call for public submissions on the fast-track legislation to be extended after the Ombudsman forced the Government to release the list of organisations invited to apply just hours before submissions close. ...
New Zealand’s good work at reducing climate emissions for three years in a row will be undone by the National government’s lack of ambition and scrapping programmes that were making a difference, Labour Party climate spokesperson Megan Woods said today. ...
More essential jobs could be on the chopping block, this time Ministry of Education staff on the school lunches team are set to find out whether they're in line to lose their jobs. ...
The Government is trying to bring in a law that will allow Ministers to cut corners and kill off native species, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said. ...
Cancelling urgently needed new Cook Strait ferries and hiking the cost of public transport for many Kiwis so that National can announce the prospect of another tunnel for Wellington is not making good choices, Labour Transport Spokesperson Tangi Utikere said. ...
A laundry list of additional costs for Tāmaki Makarau Auckland shows the Minister for the city is not delivering for the people who live there, says Labour Auckland Issues spokesperson Shanan Halbert. ...
The Green Party has today launched a step-by-step guide to help New Zealanders make their voice heard on the Government’s democracy dodging and anti-environment fast track legislation. ...
The National Government’s proposed changes to the Residential Tenancies Act will mean tenants can be turfed from their homes by landlords with little notice, Labour housing spokesperson Kieran McAnulty said. ...
Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson is calling on all parties to support a common-sense change that’s great for the planet and great for consumers after her member’s bill was drawn from the ballot today. ...
A significant milestone has been reached in the fight to strike an anti-Pasifika and unfair law from the country’s books after Teanau Tuiono’s members’ bill passed its first reading. ...
New Zealand has today missed the opportunity to uphold the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment, says James Shaw after his member’s bill was voted down in its first reading. ...
Today’s advice from the Climate Change Commission paints a sobering reality of the challenge we face in combating climate change, especially in light of recent Government policy announcements. ...
Minister for Disability Issues Penny Simmonds appears to have delayed a report back to Cabinet on the progress New Zealand is making against international obligations for disabled New Zealanders. ...
The Government’s newly announced review of methane emissions reduction targets hints at its desire to delay Aotearoa New Zealand’s urgent transition to a climate safe future, the Green Party said. ...
The Government must commit to the Maitai School building project for students with high and complex needs, to ensure disabled students from the top of the South Island have somewhere to learn. ...
Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey and his Government colleagues have made a meal of their mental health commitments, showing how flimsy their efforts to champion the issue truly are, says Labour Mental Health spokesperson Ingrid Leary. ...
Māori are yet to see anything from this Government except cuts, reversals and taking our people backwards, Māori Development spokesperson Willie Jackson said. ...
The Coalition Government’s refusal to commit to ongoing funding for social housing is seeing the sector pull back on developments and families watch their dreams of securing a home fade away, says Labour Housing spokesperson Kieran McAnulty. ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has completed a successful trip to Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines, deepening relationships and capitalising on opportunities. Mr Luxon was accompanied by a business delegation and says the choice of countries represents the priority the New Zealand Government places on South East Asia, and our relationships in ...
New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...
The Government is today releasing a list of organisations who received letters about the Fast-track applications process, says RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. “Recently Ministers and agencies have received a series of OIA requests for a list of organisations to whom I wrote with information on applying to have a ...
Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister David Jonathan Boldt as a Judge of the High Court, and the Honourable Justice Matthew Palmer as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Boldt graduated with an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 1990, and also holds ...
Education Minister Erica Stanford will lead the New Zealand delegation at the 2024 International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) held in Singapore. The delegation includes representatives from the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) Te Wehengarua and the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa. The summit is co-hosted ...
A stopbank upgrade project in Tairawhiti partly funded by the Government has increased flood resilience for around 7000ha of residential and horticultural land so far, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones today attended a dawn service in Gisborne to mark the end of the first stage of the ...
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters will represent the Government at Anzac Day commemorations on the Gallipoli Peninsula next week and engage with senior representatives of the Turkish government in Istanbul. “The Gallipoli campaign is a defining event in our history. It will be a privilege to share the occasion ...
Science, Innovation and Technology and Defence Minister Judith Collins will next week attend the OECD Science and Technology Ministerial conference in Paris and Anzac Day commemorations in Belgium. “Science, innovation and technology have a major role to play in rebuilding our economy and achieving better health, environmental and social outcomes ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...
The Government has announced that $20 million in funding will be made available to Westport to fund much needed flood protection around the town. This measure will significantly improve the resilience of the community, says Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. “The Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...
The Government is proud to support the first ever Repco Supercars Championship event in Taupō as up to 70,000 motorsport fans attend the Taupō International Motorsport Park this weekend, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. “Anticipation for the ITM Taupō Super400 is huge, with tickets and accommodation selling out weeks ...
Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced an increase to the Rates Rebate Scheme, putting money back into the pockets of low-income homeowners. “The coalition Government is committed to bringing down the cost of living for New Zealanders. That includes targeted support for those Kiwis who are doing things tough, such ...
The Coalition Government is investing in a project to boost survival rates of New Zealand mussels and grow the industry, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has announced. “This project seeks to increase the resilience of our mussels and significantly boost the sector’s productivity,” Mr Jones says. “The project - ...
Benefit figures released today underscore the importance of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “Benefit numbers are still significantly higher than when National was last in government, when there was about 70,000 fewer ...
The Government’s commitment to doubling New Zealand’s renewable energy capacity is backed by new data showing that clean energy has helped the country reach its lowest annual gross emissions since 1999, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand’s latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory (1990-2022) published today, shows gross emissions fell ...
The Government is bringing the earthquake-prone building review forward, with work to start immediately, and extending the deadline for remediations by four years, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Our Government is focused on rebuilding the economy. A key part of our plan is to cut red tape that ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his Thai counterpart, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, have today agreed that New Zealand and the Kingdom of Thailand will upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026. “New Zealand and Thailand have a lot to offer each other. We have a strong mutual desire to build ...
RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Transport Minister Simeon Brown have today announced the Coalition Government’s intention to extend port coastal permits for a further 20 years, providing port operators with certainty to continue their operations. “The introduction of the Resource Management Act in 1991 required ports to obtain coastal ...
Today’s announcement that inflation is down to 4 per cent is encouraging news for Kiwis, but there is more work to be done - underlining the importance of the Government’s plan to get the economy back on track, acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. “Inflation is now at 4 per ...
Refreshed health guidance released today will help parents and schools make informed decisions about whether their child needs to be in school, addressing one of the key issues affecting school attendance, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour. In recent years, consistently across all school terms, short-term illness or medical reasons ...
Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is streamlining high-level oceans management while maintaining a focus on supporting the sector’s role in the export-led recovery of the economy. “I am working to realise the untapped potential of our fishing and aquaculture sector. To achieve that we need to be smarter with ...
Associate Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson is speaking at the International Wool Textile Organisation Congress in Adelaide, promoting New Zealand wool, and outlining the coalition Government’s support for the revitalisation the sector. "New Zealand’s wool exports reached $400 million in the year to 30 June 2023, and the coalition Government ...
The Government is making legislative changes to make it easier for new early learning services to be established, and for existing services to operate, Associate Education Minister David Seymour says. The changes involve repealing the network approval provisions that apply when someone wants to establish a new early learning service, ...
Changes to the Resource Management Act will align consenting for coal mining to other forms of mining to reduce barriers that are holding back economic development, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “The inconsistent treatment of coal mining compared with other extractive activities is burdensome red tape that fails to acknowledge ...
Trade, Agriculture and Forestry Minister Todd McClay has concluded productive discussions with ministerial counterparts in Beijing today, in support of the New Zealand-China trade and economic relationship. “My meeting with Commerce Minister Wang Wentao reaffirmed the complementary nature of the bilateral trade relationship, with our Free Trade Agreement at its ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon today paid tribute to Singapore’s outgoing Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. Meeting in Singapore today immediately before Prime Minister Lee announced he was stepping down, Prime Minister Luxon warmly acknowledged his counterpart’s almost twenty years as leader, and the enduring legacy he has left for Singapore and South East ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. While in Singapore as part of his visit to South East Asia this week, Prime Minister Luxon also met with Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and will meet with Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has made further appointments to the Board of Antarctica New Zealand as part of a continued effort to ensure the Scott Base Redevelopment project is delivered in a cost-effective and efficient manner. The Minister has appointed Neville Harris as a new member of the Board. Mr ...
Finance Minister Nicola Willis will travel to the United States on Tuesday to attend a meeting of the Five Finance Ministers group, with counterparts from Australia, the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. “I am looking forward to meeting with our Five Finance partners on how we can work ...
The coalition Government has today announced purrfect and pawsitive changes to the Residential Tenancies Act to give tenants with pets greater choice when looking for a rental property, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “Pets are important members of many Kiwi families. It’s estimated that around 64 per cent of New ...
State Highway 1 (SH1) through Wellington City is heavily congested at peak times and while planning continues on the duplicate Mt Victoria Tunnel and Basin Reserve project, the Government has also asked NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) to consider and provide advice on a Long Tunnel option, Transport Minister Simeon Brown ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Foreign Minister Winston Peters have condemned Iran’s shocking and illegal strikes against Israel. “These attacks are a major challenge to peace and stability in a region already under enormous pressure," Mr Luxon says. "We are deeply concerned that miscalculation on any side could ...
Hundreds of people in little over a week have turned out in Northland to hear Regional Development Minister Shane Jones speak about plans for boosting the regional economy through infrastructure. About 200 people from the infrastructure and associated sectors attended an event headlined by Mr Jones in Whangarei today. Last ...
Health Minister Dr Shane Reti has today thanked outgoing Health New Zealand – Te Whatu Ora Chair Dame Karen Poutasi for her service on the Board. “Dame Karen tendered her resignation as Chair and as a member of the Board today,” says Dr Reti. “I have asked her to ...
The NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) has signalled their proposed delivery approach for the Government’s 15 Roads of National Significance (RoNS), with the release of the State Highway Investment Proposal (SHIP) today, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Boosting economic growth and productivity is a key part of the Government’s plan to ...
New Zealand is renewing its connections with a world facing urgent challenges by pursuing an active, energetic foreign policy, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. “Our country faces the most unstable global environment in decades,” Mr Peters says at the conclusion of two weeks of engagements in Egypt, Europe and the United States. “We cannot afford to sit back in splendid ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has announced the Australian Governor-General, His Excellency General The Honourable David Hurley and his wife Her Excellency Mrs Linda Hurley, will make a State visit to New Zealand from Tuesday 16 April to Thursday 18 April. The visit reciprocates the State visit of former Governor-General Dame Patsy Reddy ...
Associate Health Minister David Seymour has announced that Medsafe has approved 11 cold and flu medicines containing pseudoephedrine. Pharmaceutical suppliers have indicated they may be able to supply the first products in June. “This is much earlier than the original expectation of medicines being available by 2025. The Government recognised ...
New Zealand and the United States have recommitted to their strategic partnership in Washington DC today, pledging to work ever more closely together in support of shared values and interests, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. “The strategic environment that New Zealand and the United States face is considerably more ...
April 11, 2024 Joint Declaration by United States Secretary of State the Honorable Antony J. Blinken and New Zealand Minister of Foreign Affairs the Right Honourable Winston Peters We met today in Washington, D.C. to recommit to the historic partnership between our two countries and the principles that underpin it—rule ...
Headline: The moment of friction. – 36th Parallel Assessments In strategic studies “friction” is a term that it is used to describe the moment when military action encounters adversary resistance. “Friction” is one of four (along with an unofficial fifth) “F’s” in military strategy, which includes force (kinetic mass), ...
The Fast-track Bill, if passed, would allow three Ministers, unchallenged and unchecked, to approve the immediate extraction and exhaustion of one-off resources. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Stephen Duckett, Honorary Enterprise Professor, School of Population and Global Health, and Department of General Practice and Primary Care, The University of Melbourne iamharin/Shutterstock For many people, the term “bulk billed” refers to a GP visit they don’t have to pay ...
Emmas Hislop, Sidnam and Wehipeihana discuss what’s in a name. Emma Sidnam: Hello Emmas! Thank you so much for agreeing to do this with me. My first question for you is related to what’s been on my mind for a while. It’s very important. You see we’ve recently had some ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michael Sievers, Research Fellow, Global Wetlands Project, Australia Rivers Institute, Griffith University Chris Brown Humans love the coast. But we love it to death, so much so we’ve destroyed valuable coastal habitat – in the case of some types of habitat, ...
Josh Thomson on the 80s milk ad jingle he can’t stop singing, the beauty of The Simpsons, why Jersey Shore is as good as Shakespeare and more. For someone who spends a lot of time on our screens, popping up in everything from 7 Days to Taskmaster, Educators to Good ...
In apparent defiance of the Biden administration, the Netanyahu government has now initiated missile strikes against Iran. Last Saturday night (Sunday morning in New Zealand) Iran launched more than 300 drones, cruise missiles and ballistic missiles against Israeli military targets. With the assistance of US, UK and possibly French forces, ...
Māori representation brings a perspective that encompasses not only the interests of Māori communities but also a broader, holistic approach to environmental stewardship and community well-being, principles deeply embedded in Te Ao Māori (the Māori ...
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"Labour leftwingers have been frustrated at the party’s refusal to seize on the crisis as a moment to propose a radical overhaul of the economy and society. Jon Trickett, now relegated to the backbenches from his position of shadow cabinet office minister, says: “The country’s crying out for a longer-term vision. We need to map out a great vision for the kind of new normal that can exist after this pandemic."" https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2020/may/01/labour-keir-starmer-coronavirus-covid-19-new-era
I agree with the UK leftists. Which hardly ever happens. I get that the new Labour leader prefers a cautious approach, and it is indeed understandable that in these fraught times Sir Keir would rather not hit the ground running. Problem is, the opposition is there to provide a viable alternative to the govt. There's a real danger the public will get irritated by the lack thereof. Timidity is a prescription for failure.
"These meetings, and polling seen by Labour strategists, are telling them the public don’t want to hear knee-jerk criticism of the government. “The approach we’re getting from the public is, ‘All of us need to be together, getting through this,’” said a party source."
Yeah, folks hate partisans. Being reasonable is the right way to go, but there are better ways to do that. You can actually be respectful and helpful while signalling the path to the future. I'm puzzled UK Labour is failing to comprehend this. Seems elementary.
I get that the new Labour leader prefers a cautious approach….
???? Caving in to ceaseless bullying by the most brutal and implacable pressure group on earth is not "cautious". There are other "c" words to describe such a person: careerist, cynical, compromised….
https://electronicintifada.net/blogs/asa-winstanley/keir-starmer-tilts-labour-sharply-towards-israel
https://www.politicshome.com/news/article/union-demands-keir-starmer-clamps-down-on-anticorbyn-wreckers-after-leaked-report-sparks-major-party-row-73838
https://twitter.com/Jackiew80333500/status/1256134369955188736
So he's a zionist, eh? Well, that does change my view of him for the worse. A lot. But I presume Trump will thump the table with glee when he discovers it, and acclaim him as a sensible leftist.
The idea that the Israel lobby slaughtered Corbyn is a joke. He got done by the electorate in the usual Shakespearean fashion (character flaws). His own worst enemy. Like Sanders, his inner narcissist prevailed over his political acumen. How many times did I express my wish here that they would realise socialism will only fly with younger generations if it is reframed to suit the new millennium? I lost count. Their intellectual laziness doomed them.
So he's a zionist, eh?
No, he's a supporter—however reluctantly, under a horrendous amount of pressure—of the state of Israel. The distinction is important.
The idea that the Israel lobby slaughtered Corbyn is a joke.
???? Your assessment is at odds with the facts. The initial attempts to ridicule and marginalize Corbyn—"Traingate", the sneering at his riding a bicycle, the scoffing his dress sense, and the attempts to portray him as a "traitor"—all failed to gain any traction.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P5keoT4PvPs
Then the fantastical denunciations really started. Jamie Stern-Weiner sums it up:
Yeah, I did read Finkelstein's analysis a while back and found no reason to dispute it. However while the Israel lobby played the divide within Labour effectively, I don't agree that they defeated Corbyn in the public mind. I do agree he was not sufficiently adept to control the narrative. I just see it as a side-issue in the minds of most voters.
It wasn't a side issue, it was a non-issue. The charges were ludicrous, fantastical from the beginning. I agree with you about Corbyn's ineptness: would you or anyone else here try to placate people accusing you of imaginary crimes the way Corbyn tried to placate his accusers? His passivity in the face of those mobs astonished Max Blumenthal when he visited Britain in 2015.
"The idea that the Israel lobby slaughtered Corbyn is a joke".
No it's not Dennis. I suggest you take a look at some of the investigative journalism thecanary.co has done on this issue. Accepting that this site has a left wing bias (how terrible) it has demonstrated that there is a mass of proof that Israel has lobbied long and hard against Corbyn.
But much worse, and probably much more damaging to Corbyn, is spelt out in the Labour Party report recently leaked. This shows that there were high-up Labour Party members who were willing to sabotage Corbyn winning the last election because they hated him and his somewhat radical left-wing policies.
They were willing to put an extreme right-wing idiot into power for 5 years and sabotage the (majority) anti-Brexit campaign simply to satisfy this Corbyn hatred.
Starmer's reaction-trying to shoot the messenger (the leaker(s))-rather than listen to the message says it all about him.
I tried but couldn't see any. Their front page features contained no current stuff. Strange. I did find this, which is a reasonable analysis: https://www.thecanary.co/opinion/2020/04/25/as-the-dust-settles-over-the-corbyn-and-sanders-era-we-must-remember-one-crucial-reality/
You have to look through their historical stuff.
Corbyn and Sanders had heart. The right idea about the people when everyone else had lost themselves. They are heroes and will be looked to as such for ever.
And character.
They are also object lessons for any of us here who're ever tempted to imagine the task of a serious political leader is either easy or one that any of us could do better.
These meetings, and polling seen by Labour strategists, are telling them the public don’t want to hear knee-jerk criticism of the government.
And that precludes promoting vision and ideas that would contribute to "a radical overhaul of the economy and society"….how?
No need to debate the merits and demerits of the play being acted out by government – change the script in a way that captures the moment. Maybe that's a 'step beyond' for myopic tribalists who are lacking in imagination and only concerned with 'getting a turn' at playing boss?
Yeah, you put your finger on the problem alright. Those who get to have a political career as servants of the status quo while pretending to be progressive. Democracy keeps promoting the pretenders – because most voters are easily suckered.
Yeah, folks hate partisans. Being reasonable is the right way to go, but there are better ways to do that. You can actually be respectful and helpful while signalling the path to the future. I'm puzzled UK Labour is failing to comprehend this. Seems elementary.
Everything you are saying on this theme resonates with me strongly. In the current atmosphere reasonableness seems an quixotic, suicidal ask, but that will only make the small victories along the way, all the sweeter.
Australias mobile tracing app doesn't work on Australias largest network plus other problems especially with I phones.
Do you have a link for that? I downloaded the app on to my Telstra only phone the other day. Telstra is Austalia's biggest network. The only problem is that I didn't have a working SIM on it and my older Samsung smartphone won't accept the app. Just over 3 million Aussies have downloaded the app so far, but no idea how many actually use it. Seems a bit fiddly and annoying. Can imagine that many won't bother or may give up if there are technological problems. Seems easier just keeping away from everybody and remembering who you have been close to. Rules are 1.5m distancing here, not 2 m like NZ. Wonder if Aussie coronaviruses can't jump as far?
The heat slows em down. 🙂
Horeskin will be demanding we adopt it immediately.
"Behavioural economics looks at how people make decisions in the real world – warts, irrational biases and all – and applies this to public policy. Its signature policy is set out in the 2008 book Nudge, by Cass Sunstein and Richard Thaler. The central insight is that changing the way choices are presented to people can have a huge impact."
Haven't read it but I suspect nudges work via framing. The frame you create can focus the attention of others on whatever you want.
"Coming just as the financial crisis hit, Nudge was perfectly timed to achieve maximum traction by offering politicians the chance to reap savings through low-cost policy. Sunstein was quickly appointed to a senior job in the Obama administration, while David Cameron set up the behavioural insights team, dubbed the “nudge unit”, led by psychologist turned policy wonk David Halpern."
"The nudge unit has since had a mixed track record: there have been some real successes on pensions and tax payments but in other areas it’s been a bit of a damp squib. So I was surprised when Halpern popped up to talk about the government’s pandemic strategy in the press in early March. It was he who first publicly mentioned the idea of “herd immunity” as part of an effective response to Covid-19 (the government has since denied this was ever the strategy)." https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/apr/26/nudge-theory-is-a-poor-substitute-for-science-in-matters-of-life-or-death-coronavirus
"Halpern is reportedly on Sage, the government’s scientific advisory committee for emergencies, and he is also the government’s What Works national adviser, responsible for helping it apply evidence to public policy. So one might expect there to be something substantial behind the idea of behavioural fatigue."
Well, yes. Obviously the hundreds of breaches of the lockdown here, and consequent prosecutions, suggest there's behavioural fatigue out there in Aotearoa. "Goddam, I've been doing this isolation shit too long already, I'm tired of it."
"But evidence presented to government by the Sage behavioural subcommittee on 4 March, representing the views of a wider group of experts, was non-committal on the behavioural impact of a lockdown, noting that the empirical evidence on behavioural interventions in a pandemic is limited. Shortly after Halpern’s interviews, more than 600 behavioural economists wrote a letter questioning the evidence base for behavioural fatigue."
Clever buggers. The evidence is out there, but if nobody collects & collates it, then you can dismiss it as anecdotal. Social science 1.01 – and who wants to pay for the research? No govt would do that while mired in lockdown admin.
"“Behavioural fatigue is a nebulous concept,” the review’s authors later concluded in the Irish Times." Ah, smart move. Nobody does nebulous better than the Irish. Readers would resonate with the critique big-time.
The writer suggests "you understand that the Behavioural Insights Team is a multimillion-pound profitable company, which pays Halpern, who owns 7.5% of its shares, a bigger salary than the prime minister." You should. Psychologists with that much leverage in commerce and politics are extremely rare.
Global reserve currency?
"The Washington Post, citing two people with knowledge of internal discussions, reported on Thursday that some officials had discussed the idea of canceling some of the massive U.S. debt held by China as a way to strike at Beijing for perceived shortfalls in its candidness on the COVID-19 pandemic."
https://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2020/05/01/business/01reuters-health-coronavirus-usa-china.html
the criminally insane running the asylum have stopped taking their medication.
That would involve risk of higher cost of debt when issuing future boinds – it also implies USA QE is open-ended.
would involve more risk than that….it would collapse all markets.
If the US decided to arbitrarily not honour its bonds they become worthless and consequently who would wish to hold them?
It implies (should they do so) that the US is going full autarky…no trade with outside world.
An alternative would eventually be found but the damage meantime would make covid look like a stroll in the park.
But possibly even more concerning is grand scale defaults such as that would be, precede and provoke wars.
It would appear that Boris Johnson and his motley crew are tinkering with the numbers again.
First, they did not count COVID deaths in rest homes and at home. Now they are creating magical figures for testing.
Donald Trump's U.S is the pits.
And Boris Johnson's U.K. is chasing it hard as a rogue nation.
Government counts mailouts to hit 100,000 testing target
Is self-testing even legitimate? If it's the same test used here I can't imagine people are going to do that to themselves with any degree of accuracy.
I doubt it is Muttonbird, but just an easy way for the govt to do "something".
Justin Trudeau: "There is no use and no place for such weapons in Canada."
He was talking, slowly and solemnly and not in blackface on this occasion, about assault weapons. The place to use them is, of course, Venezuela.
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/article-canada-announces-53-million-in-aid-for-venezuela-and-refugees/
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-02-04/trudeau-backs-guaido-and-pledges-aid-for-venezuelan-transition
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YglFycmN5VA
I love that Stuff headline, "Simon Bridges wants lockdown to end now.", he comes across as an unreasonable toddler.
"Bridges has also drawn attention for repeatedly saying the confusing phrase “the medicine is worse than the cure”.
Advertising works if you keep repeating the message. He gets that part. The part he doesn't get is that the message is meant to sell something. The Leader of the Opposition is expected to sell the idea that the Opposition would make a better govt than the current one to the public. I don't see how telling them that the medicine is worse than the cure is gonna achieve that.
Kids learn that you endure the medicine to get the cure. Adults are supposed to have moved on from that phase. Wrestle with more complex problems. Politicians are meant to solve the difficult commonly-experienced problems. Perhaps his minders forgot to take off his training wheels?
He's just showing how ineffective he is by his shouting, "liberate Tauranga" & no one is listening.
Israel lobbyist funded Labour’s new leader
by ASA WINSTANLEY, 22 April 2020
A multi-millionaire pro-Israel lobbyist donated $62,000 to help Keir Starmer win the UK Labour Party’s leadership election, it was revealed last week.
The official register of lawmakers’ financial interests shows that Trevor Chinn donated the sum as part of Starmer’s leadership campaign.
During the campaign Starmer said “I support Zionism without qualification.” Since his election he hastilted the party sharply towards Israel.
Starmer came under criticism for not disclosing all his donors during the campaign itself, when Labour members were deciding who should replace Jeremy Corbyn.
The donation from Chinn was not registered until five days after Starmer won the election, although it was received in February.
Although there is no suggestion of illegality, Labour members may consider this a violation of their trust.
Trevor Chinn
A retired auto industry mogul, Chinn has in the past funded both Labour Friends of Israel andConservative Friends of Israel.
He also plays a leading role in the Israel lobby groups BICOM and the Jewish Leadership Council.
In 2018, Chinn co-hosted a high-profile celebration of the life of late Israeli president Chaim Herzog, attended by Israeli ambassador Mark Regev. Published photos show that Tony Blair also attended.
Read more….
https://electronicintifada.net/blogs/asa-winstanley/israel-lobbyist-funded-labours-new-leader
He can call himself Keir as much as he likes but this is the end for me. Just describing yourself as a Zionist, which is the same as being in favour of the conquest of India, is too much.
Kim Jong Un is up and about, apparently.
https://twitter.com/nytimes/status/1256347431240900611
North Korea is an easy source of shock horror stories to generate clickbate and feed gullible minds on junk
https://www.latimes.com/world-nation/story/2020-04-28/a-look-at-past-disappearances-of-nkorean-leaders-officials
North Korea, and (up until Mueller's disastrous showing at those farcical Congressional hearings) the Russiagate conspiracy.
Something for the Dear Leader to read as he recuperates. In fact, everyone should read this, or at least marvel at the beauty of the artwork….
https://archive.org/details/LittleNemo1905-1914ByWinsorMccay/page/n5/mode/2up
Apparently this is the Best the Democratic party can offer the world…although I guess it does illustrate just how shallow their pool of talent has become…what a joke.
Biden’s Touching Behavior
https://www.nationalreview.com/corner/joe-bidens-history-touching-women/
Here are all the times Joe Biden has been accused of acting inappropriately toward women and girls
https://www.businessinsider.com.au/joe-biden-allegations-women-2020-campaign-2019-6?r=US&IR=T
John Stewart Calls Out Joe Biden For Groping in 2015
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-uGBRDcJESQ
(Creepy) joe Biden accuser Tara Reade speaks out….
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZmVUQ7ii3_4
I'm curious what you think you'll achieve by spamming the site with the same March 26 clip over and over again after others had also spammed us multiple previous times with it.
Nevertheless, if anyone's curious about the bigger picture but not enough to actually go looking, here's a piece that looks into the background of the allegations.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2020/04/29/joe-biden-sexual-assault-allegation-tara-reade-column/3046962001/
The author of your link is a shameless Democratic Party careerist and, not surprisingly, a Russiagate truther. He recently praised that empty bag of wind Pete Buttigieg: "Pete's intellect, empathy and ability to articulate his sound policies place him a cut above decades of politicians on both sides of the aisle."
No doubt this smear against Tara Reade will advance his own career.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/voices/2020/03/02/pete-buttigieg-exits-presidential-race-lgbt-yes-you-can-column/4928399002/
So?
Even if that were a fair assessment of the author, how does that affect the facts he's pointed to that raise red flags around the credibility of Reade's allegations?
Also, what purpose do you think is achieved by spamming this site over and over again with the same month-old clip?
He doesn't raise any red flags. All he does is try to smear her. I guess you have to admire his dogged persistence, given that he wrote his hit piece after the tape of her mother ringing up Larry King came to light.
The yankers will end up with a bigmoney guy as prez no matter how much you fulminate.
Where have I "fulminated", Baggers? The only fulmination in this discussion, other than that by our friend Andre, is by Michael Stern, that former prosecutor-cum-Democratic Party careerist and conspiracy theorist.
Christ Andre! The guy starts off with a false sub-header. (Only rabid idiots have ever said we must blindly accept every allegation of sexual assault)
And in case you missed it, the #metoo movement has hardly covered itself in glory when it's come to Tara Reade. For example, see this piece on Time's Up.
The NYT took weeks to report on the story at all even though there is far more corroborating evidence for her allegation that there was for Christine Blasey Ford – and allowed the Biden team to edit their piece when they finally did run something.
Biden could put the entire thing to rest by having the seal broken on the University of Delaware files of his senatorial papers. (He has publicly refused to do that)
Trotting out nonsense about Russia in an attempt to discredit her is straight up fucking woeful.
It's not as if there are have not been other concerns raised about Biden's behaviour around women, right? And it's not as if the only time women claiming sexual harassment are to be taken seriously is when the allegation is against a perceived 'bad guy', right?
Anyway. I'm not a US voter, but the idea that a nation gets to choose between two alleged sexual predators for their president is …actually, I'm at a loss for words.
I think that anyone who is actually serious in examining these allegations ( unlike our Biden or bust boy here Andre) would do themselves more a service in reading the links provided below from from some serious jurno's instead of the Dem hack that speaks to and confirms Andres well known bias…
Ryan Grim
https://theintercept.com/2020/03/24/joe-biden-metoo-times-up/
https://theintercept.com/2020/04/24/new-evidence-tara-reade-joe-biden/
Rich McHugh
https://www.businessinsider.com.au/former-neighbor-corroborates-joe-bidens-accuser-2020-4?r=US&IR=T
Of course what is really the problem here is Andre, just like many of his centrerist cohorts on this site are just to dishonest and spinless to come out and say what we all know they are thinking, yeah Biden could well be a rapist, but I still think he's is better than Trump…but then again after the way they all lost their shit over the kavanaugh rape allegations or the way they went feral on Assange allegations I guess they can't..LOL!!!…man talk about the chickens coming home to roost…it's fucking hilarious.
Ryan Grim: Dems Will Back Biden As Long As They Think He’ll Beat Trump
https://therealnews.com/stories/ryan-grim-democrats-back-biden-trump-hillary-clinton-endorse
… the way they went feral on Assange allegations…
The allegations against Kavanaugh, Trump, Biden, and Clinton were all backed up with credible evidence. The ludicrous "allegations" against Assange were concocted by British and U.S. black ops.
https://www.commondreams.org/news/2020/01/22/brazils-greenwald-prosecution-evokes-assanges-continued-imprisonment-uk-say
Yes I agree with you (Assange was probably the wrong example) what I was getting at is that liberal MSM and their supporters like Andre have, and without even the slightest hint of embarrassment or even a blush, used one set of standards in reporting on the allegations against Kavanaugh, Trump etc than they have with these allegations against Biden, the blatant hypocrisy is just jaw dropping..
Na, the allegations against Assange were genuine enough – but the prosecution side of it in Sweden became political. The claim that requiring a guy to use a condom each time, or get consent each time, was part of a political entrapment is conspiracy theory and based on nothing more than the now ironic and embarrasing word association of wiki leak to lack of use of a condom.
You really need to do some reading, my friend. And thinking.
Just a few months ago, you were posting humane and thoughtful views on this outrage. Why the change?
https://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-28-11-2019/#comment-1669458
your first post
The claims against your hero are non existent but others are all credible – yeah sure. Right. Got it.
Your edited second post
And the old, we who are better read and who do more thinking are right – so there. An all time classic.
Your edited third post
My opine has not changed. My politiical support for Assange is not influenced by the events in Sweden.
No you haven't "got it", at all. Your representation of my views is as devoid of merit as your NewstalkZB level comments on the case.
A wikileak now refers to condom malfunction or absence?
*checks Urban Dictionary*
Well, waddaya know, indeed it does.
In the real world, as opposed to the world of “Never Trump” Republican factionalists, Russiagate conspiracy theorists and Twitter trolls that you inhabit, WikiLeaks refers to the site that angered the U.S. and many other rogue states by revealing their crimes to the public.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5rXPrfnU3G0
RIP wikileaks the site for holding shitty governments to account. Such a promising youth with massive potential for brilliance, brought low by narcissism and power intoxication. Now a mere empty husk of what could have been.
Wikileaks hasn't faded because of any personal defects Assange may or may not have. Wikileaks has faded because corporate/liberal outlets and their journalists jumped on board with states and went all out to discredit and marginalise it as a credible source for news.
The idea that Assange is solely responsible for his own downfall, and the 'husking' of WikiLeaks, is convenient, but feeble.
'Narcissism' and 'power intoxication' descriptors are better directed at the leader of the country seeking to extradite Assange for his 'crimes'.
'Narcissism' and 'power intoxication' descriptors are better directed at the leader of the country seeking to extradite Assange for his 'crimes'.
Also directed. Not necessarily better directed. Which just adds to the irony of his actions to help boost the Douche ex Machina into the Oval Office.
Since Hillary and whomever she appointed to Attorney General would have been much more likely to agree with Holder and Obama's 2013 conclusion that the "New York Times problem" meant it would be against the interests of the US as a whole to go after him.
The establishment would never forgive Assange for showing up the true nature of imperialism.
https://nypost.com/2020/05/01/julian-assanges-life-is-in-danger-in-london-prison-partner-says/
So their legal action was in the service of humanity – so there …
As to the consequences for women in Afghanistan (US support for the mujahadeen takeover) and Iraq (US invasion) since secular regimes were deposed ….
I'm sure if they all whinge just a few more days, Biden will pull out and only Sanders will reactivate his campaign and walk into the convention upon a path of rosepetals as the sole candidate for the dem nom. It is destiny.
@ McFlock, what the fuck are you talking about? what has this got to do with Sanders?…look if you think it's OK voting for an alleged rapist because he is a better sort of alleged rapist than the guy from the other party then just say so and stop beating round the damn bush..and don't blame us that your people are usually seriously dodgy in some way shape or form…it is just the natural result of selling out your principles and values for power…in case you hadn't noticed.
I've said repeatedly that it's not okay. Even less than 24hrs ago. But it is the situation: vote for Biden, or do nothing to get rid of Trump. Clear enough for you?
What you guys have never answered is "what do you you expect a US voter to do?" They have three options: vote Biden, vote Trump, or abstain/3rdparty (same diff: only helps the incumbent). No option is ideal, or even "okay". But whatever they do in November will be one of those three.
So please do me the courtesy of answering me as clearly as I answered you.
Perhaps you should read this:
The filed allegation would be in the sealed files of the University of Delaware, not the National Archives.
Amazing how easily some were convinced of the allegations of rape against Assange, yet find the allegations of known creep Biden so difficult to believe
Are these the same people who cried rape apologist! Women dont lie?
How depressingly partisan the whole thing is, no real underlying empathy, just point scoring
… some were convinced of the allegations of rape against Assange …
They weren't convinced of the allegations, francesca. Nobody who looks at that shameful business believes a word of those fantasies. As you rightly point out, it’s partisanship, and involves as much regard for the truth as supporting a sports team.
How depressingly partisan the whole thing is, no real underlying empathy, just point scoring
I think that's about all that needs saying. Thank you.
Is that independently verifiable fact, opinion, unsubstantiated assertion, or something else?
Mate you would make the most awesome camp guard…no training needed for this guy, he's perfect right out of the box!.
So, pointing to an article that discusses some relevant facts that were conveniently ignored in the one-sided story-making by hard-core Berners, and asking for clarification on the status of an unsourced assertion makes me a "camp guard"?
Cool bananas.
I'm still curious what you think will be achieved by spamming us with the same month-old clip over and over again.
"hard-core berners" – that right wing smear again.
But have you actually got anything but your usual slurs?
If I was motivated, I could come up with a lot more slurs than just that. But you're not worth it.
I'm use to right wing trolls attempts at wit falling flat, but man that was sad.
My point was simple – argue the point, which is a case of sexual assault has been leveled at Biden. A pretty serious case, which you have been hell bent to undermine at every turn. Mostly with slurs and personal attacks, I'll give you it's a normal response for this sort of thing.
Rich McHugh (one of the journalists who has reported on Tara Reade's allegations) claims he has spoken to the National Archive, and they say they would not hold any such record.
That's at the 11min 20sec mark in this Democracy Now interview.
Add that to the fact others have previously pointed out (before Biden's little diversion tactic), that the University of Delaware has Biden's congressional papers under seal, and that is where a filed report of sexual harassment would be held.
Biden or the University of Delaware could unseal the records, but seem hell bent on keeping them sealed until two years after Biden exits public life or some such.
So, a second-hand assertion that they would not be in the National Archives, one of the three places suggested so far where such a record, if one existed, might be stored. Not a refutation of the possibility that it might be stored within the Senate's own administrative system, as suggested by the letter Macro posted.
All journalism is second hand assertion now is it?
And when the National Archives say they have no such record, are you going to argue the University of Delaware lift the seal on their records, or run around forums like this one proclaiming Biden's innocence and Tara Reade's malevolence?
Andre, the Left that requires the approval of the powerful, isn't.
Well we shall await the advice back from the Secretary of the Senate with interest wont we.
Even if she was an intern, the employing authority would still be the Senate, and the immediate office for reporting such an occurrence would be the The Office of Fair Employment Practices
I've added the bold for those who are experiencing problems digesting pretty basic info….
And @UDelaware — which houses the collection of Joe Biden's senatorial papers — just confirmed to me that the papers "will remain closed to the public until two years after Mr. Biden retires from public life."
I've never worked for the US Senate, but everywhere I have worked in the US, personnel records have been kept very distinct from the records generated by my actual work.
To the extent that when the division I worked for was sold off to another company, my personnel records stayed with the original parent company, while all my engineering calc sheets, drawings, test reports etc went to the new owner.
So it's entirely plausible, probable even, that the personnel records for the staff in Biden's office are stored separately to the intellectual information generated by his work duties as a senator.
Which sounds plausible, until one considers whether the only copy of his senatorial paycheques are in his papers at Delaware. Is it more likely that HR stuff will kept by the senate, too? Including complaints?
Maybe parents are right to fear sending their children back to school or early learning centres. In the US a small number of children and other under 20s have died from C-19. There are also a minority of children with serious symptoms linked to C-19.
The problem is complicated because those under 20yrs in the US are not being tested. Some of the children with serious conditions are maybe being misdiagnosed with other conditions that have similar symptoms. Latino children are a significant proportion of children diagnosed with C-19.
Intercept article:
80% or C-19 recorded deaths in the US are for people over 65yrs. At least 20 people under 20 yrs have died from C-19. In New York state by end April 30 C-19 positive children died and 56 were admitted to pediatric ICUs.
Doctors in several countries are reporting inflammatory syndromes in children linked to C-19. Symptoms include diarrhea, cough, fever, sore throats, vomiting, and can look like aseptic meningitis or Kawasaki disease.
The Guardian have picked up on this story as well.
In an article entitled 'European schools get ready to reopen despite concern about pupils spreading Covid-19, the writer points to Christian Drosten, 'a virologist and Germany’s leading coronavirus expert', has conducted research which 'found that the viral loads in children differed little from those in adults.'
'Drosten’s study, which was released this week, examined the viral loads in the throats of 3,721 people, including more than 100 children, who tested positive for coronavirus in Berlin between January and April.'
“The end result is as clear as glass,” Drosten said “Children do not have significantly different concentrations of the virus in their respiratory passages compared to adults.”
I wonder if our health experts are investigating this.
Link to Guardian article is here.
How many under 5?
The research report referred to in Ed's Guardian article doesn't break it down by age specifically, but uses the term Kindergarten age youngest age group. It seems to be a German-based research, and in Germany, the kindergarten age is 3-6 years.
In that age group, 1749 children were tested, with 37 testing positive ie 2.10% of the group. This compares with 2.25% of 1-10 year olds. Compares with 6-11% approx of over 60s.
The Intercept article I linked to above, refers to the Covid research project in the US. It breaks the 1-10 ages down to 0-2 & 2-11yrs.
They have a chart showing the estimated numbers of under 2s positive for C-19 (83,333), and the numbers in a critical condition in ICUs (35); 2-11 year olds = estimated 11667 positive & 49 in ICUs
From the account
And
This
So
Which should lead to younger teachers overseeing the primary school age children during the on-line phase and pre schools using younger teachers only while the numbers are still small.
My fear with kids is somewhat more basic. This is an almost unknown disease that we're just starting to get information on. Like all unknown diseases or for that matter unknown drug or any unknown environmental change, it isn't just the obvious effects that you need to worry about. It is also the ones that haven't been picked up yet.
For instance blood clots with covid-19. In the hospitals on lifer supports. In the lungs. In young adults. And even in 'covid toes' of children.
These are all relatively immediate symptoms. But as a species we have no idea of where this disease is getting to or its full range of behaviours – especially over the longer term. After all we’ve only known about it for (at most) 4 and half months.
I was reading about an autopsy reports of residual covid-19 RNA in the lungs of a recovered patient (who died of something else). There wasn't anything about if it was active or not.
One of the things I've been worried about is if covid-19 is one of the stealth viruses. After all this damn thing has 30,000 base pairs – which for a virus is one hell of a lot of code, and presumably very little of it is unused because virus evolution tends to be ruthless about ‘junk’.. The host species, bats, are well known for how ferocious their immune systems are. As they'd have to be given their communal nesting habits.
You have to wonder about what the longer-term effects of having the virus are, and especially in a child that has 60+ years of life ahead of them.
Thank you lprent. I am but a simple teacher of languages, yet (or maybe because of that) I find your comment above most compelling evidence as to why we should wait, and not follow the short-sighted advice of those concerned mainly with commerce – eg, dear young Simon Bridges and his supporting cortège…. (Not sure whether I got the right French word there. Time will tell.)
So if schools remain closed when we move to the next level – what do those families who have all adults working do ?
Unfortunately when we reach level 2 – a consequence will be schools and ECE centres opening – due to necessity. An unfortunate consequence of our economic system that requires multi incomes to sustain a family.
Extend lock down and Labour replicates the 2013 team NZ sailing: losing what is "Not Losable".
Paul Goldsmith now making a Dick of himself by saying cash should be given to failing businesses only
Since When have National ever supported this strategy.Canterbury Earthquakes No.Droughts No.GFC No.
Never before desperation setting in for National !
Perhaps Goldsmith is thinking the National Party is a"business"?
Barfly he would complain if the Coalition put forward such a Stupid Policy.Goldsmith would be saying why should viable non subsidized businesses tax be going to failing businesses.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/industries/121386102/coronavirus-cargo-flights-could-be-used-to-repatriate-kiwis-stuck-overseas
I don't quite get this one – does anybody know anything more? Is the NZ government subsidising overseas airlines ( some state owned with no profit incentives)? Are these markets that Airnz is unable to fly to for some reason? Yes we need to get the goods home and away but use our own carrier first?
Cargo orientated planes I would imagine are limited in number
This has been doing the rounds…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q5BZ09iNdvo
The headline doesn't really match the story. Looks like 380 complaints out of total of 991 are still active.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/business/415651/few-level-3-business-breaches-despite-almost-1000-complaints-this-week-association
Gotta say, Radio NZ is a national treasure. "Music 101" is such a cool programme. Today they're playing a Breaks Co-op concert from Leigh in 2007(ish)
https://www.rnz.co.nz/national
A comparison – German efficiency and the UK in Sars Cov2 testing.
https://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/magazine/germany-covid-19-masterclass-testing-tracing-uk
Pablo’s always an interesting read.
http://www.kiwipolitico.com/2020/05/thinking-of-a-post-pandemic-future/
Good read, it's encouraging how many people are rediscovering geopolitics.
Thanks for the link, I read a few of his essays.
Good food for thought.
For those who are interested, here is a list of some countries and their Covid-19 tests per one million population. New Zealand's testing rate is quite impressive.
Israel 42,108
Italy 33,962
Spain 32,699
Ireland 31,179
Germany 30,400
New Zealand 30,191
Russia 25,354
Singapore 24,600
Australia 23,770
Canada 22,050
USA 20,241
UK 15,082
South Korea 12,153
Sweden 11,833
Saudi Arabia 9,392
Iran 5,656
South Africa 3,668
Taiwan 2,659
Pakistan 878
India 708
The complete list of countries and their stats are on the worldometer website.