Open Mike 03/02/2017

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, February 3rd, 2017 - 96 comments
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96 comments on “Open Mike 03/02/2017 ”

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  1. Paul 1
    3 February 2017 at 6:33 am

    Dairy farmers claim that recent criticisms are unfair and that they love their animals.

    Watch this video from 4:30 to 10:30 and decide for yourself whether dairy farmers really care for animals.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MrlfkxvJNj0

    [link fix – weka]

    • Morrissey 1.1
      3 February 2017 at 9:32 am

      Paul, did you hear Rachel Stewart on Mora’s chat show yesterday? It was her first guest appearance on the Panel, and she spoke clearly and without any blather about the destruction of the environment being wrought by Dirty Dairy.

      Interestingly, right at the end of the show, as Mora thanked his guests in the normal fashion, he seemed quite put out: she had walked away without waiting for pleasantries. I think she was upset by his crass and ignorant comments that technology was going to save us, and therefore her worries about pollution were unnecessary.

      It will be intriguing to see if she is invited back on.

    • Jimmy 1.2
      3 February 2017 at 7:45 pm

      Gawd sounds horrendous eh.
      Well I’m a dairy farmer so already the hairs on Pauls neck are standing on end, relax Paul.
      I did watch this emotive stuff 4min through 10ish.
      1st point On video,
      Farmers require a constant supply of pregnant cows, this is achieved by repeatedly rapeing a cow on a rape rack.

      Holy smoke, sounds terrible.
      Reality on my farm is, we closely look out for “bulling” cows, this means we are looking for a group of cows hanging out together who are obviously sexually active (riding each other), the next day they are artificially inseminated, which is a 30secound encounter with the technician, no rape rack involved, whatever that is.
      Or if they are late ovulating they will meet the bull.

      2nd point on video
      Baby’s taken away so we can steal mothers milk.
      True calves are taken away almost immediately, we let new calves have one feed off mother cow.
      However the reason for this is not so we can steal the calfs milk, the cow will produce enough milk for 20 calves.
      Most cows but not all, will not call out or miss there calves at all, most wonder what the hell just happened (birth) and get on with eating grass.

      3rd point on video, cows bond intensely with calves.
      Not in my experience, cows are more interested in feeding/grazing than there own calf. Might not suit your world view, but it’s true.

      4th point on video
      Cows are regarded as spent at 4 or 5 years old
      Not true a cow is regarded at her prime at 6 years old and is likely to be in the herd up to 12 years old

      5th point on video
      Cows are culled when they are pregnant,
      In most cases not true a pregnant cow is valuable, and would not be culled.

      6th point on video
      Cows are pumped full of antibiotics and hormones
      Not true in NZ, hormones to increase milk production are banned totally in NZ, antibiotics are used sparingly for cows that are suffering an injury or illness.

      Please this anti farming vegan extremism is not true and not fair.
      Have a great evening from the Naki

  2. Sanctuary 2
    3 February 2017 at 6:52 am

    Since when did teh Standard suddenly get infested by enthusiastic, pasty looking and probably anaemic people who tire easily?

    • red-blooded 2.1
      3 February 2017 at 7:13 am

      Hey mate, I’ve been vegan for more than 30 years and am fit and active. Take your preconceptions and shove them into the orifice you’re currently talking out of.

    • Sacha 2.2
      3 February 2017 at 7:36 am

      Trump just needs a nap, ok.

    • Psycho Milt 2.3
      3 February 2017 at 7:55 am

      Take a more conciliatory approach, Sanctuary. At the low cost of just spending the rest of your life closely monitoring your food intake to ensure that you get sufficient nutrition to maintain your health, you could become the moral superior of most people on the planet and lecture them from that lofty perch. How can you resist?

      • Sanctuary 2.3.1
        3 February 2017 at 12:05 pm

        I’m sure much can be done in the modern kitchen to ameliorate the boring tryanny of pulses and vegetables. But just as trying to camouflage a red bus in a paddock by putting some green branches on it would simply result in what looked like a camouflaged red bus, the basic beast remains, observable by all those disconsolate “guests” at vegan cafes as they lugubriously munch on their lentil porridge “enlivened” by curry powder and some rather glum cranberries. Still, I would imagine the cereals would positively dance, the green leafy things would twinkle like stars on frosty night with crunch, compared to the dire conversation of an earnest, fervent, engaged, concerned, and monumentally boring vegan host.

        • marty mars 2.3.1.1
          3 February 2017 at 1:16 pm

          I wonder if any vegans voted for trump – can’t imagine it. I bet statistically most of the brainboxes that voted for him ate much meat, copious flesh, lovely blood and offal. I might see if any studies have been made…

          • McFlock 2.3.1.1.1
            3 February 2017 at 1:20 pm

            I suspect there’re two major dietary schools amongst his voters:
            those people who eat only processed foods and are surprised that “mince” comes from living furry animals; and
            cannibals who enjoy fava beans and a nice chianti.

            • David C 2.3.1.1.1.1
              3 February 2017 at 4:37 pm

              I suspect there would be a very large group among Trump voters who only eat organic free range meat.

              Otherwise known as “hunters”

            • DoublePlusGood 2.3.1.1.1.2
              3 February 2017 at 5:26 pm

              Cheese Whizz is a dietary staple over there, so fava beans and mince are probably too fancy.

        • Robert Guyton 2.3.1.2
          3 February 2017 at 6:42 pm

          Cranberries, glum ???
          U jest, shorely.

          • greywarshark 2.3.1.2.1
            3 February 2017 at 7:01 pm

            Robet Guyton
            I have a scheme you might like. We are having a book reading over a month of E F Schumacher Small is Beautiful then we are going to have a post and discuss the best and worst bits and have a thinkfest, I hope. We are starting on Sunday 12th and will put up a post with more details and different ways to obtain the book simply.

            Interested? Your brain ticks over pretty fast. And there is time over the month to get through it without bursting a foofoo valve. So what do you say?
            Can you reply to this comment and let me know.

          • Sanctuary 2.3.1.2.2
            3 February 2017 at 10:54 pm

            I know, right???? #sadcranberries #damnyouvegans

  3. red-blooded 3
    3 February 2017 at 7:20 am

    I hear on RNZ that US commentators expect Trump’s paternal attitude towards the poor, struggling pharmaceutical companies to cost countries like NZ a lot more than the deal that would have been included in the TPPA (which would already have put pressure on Pharmac). What a victory for all those who argued voting for the bully boy was the only way to stop the deal(which it wasn’t) & it would be worth it (which it won’t)!

    • Tiger Mountain 3.1
      3 February 2017 at 7:54 am

      no credible TPPA opponent in NZ that I am aware of ever advocated voting for Trump

      it is a right wing meme doing the rounds that any position you hold that may coincide with all or part of one of Trumps means you are thereby a Trump supporter

      • red-blooded 3.1.1
        3 February 2017 at 4:59 pm

        Actually plenty of people on this site made just that argument, CV being the most prominent/repetitive/enthusiastic.

        • McFlock 3.1.1.1
          3 February 2017 at 5:10 pm

          nonononononononono

          I’m not sure CV ever explicitly said people should vote for Trump.

          CV just obsessively slandered Trump’s opponents and incessantly praised trump’s intelligence and abilities bigly. But he was too slimy to actually endorse voting for trump.

        • weka 3.1.1.2
          3 February 2017 at 5:38 pm

          “Actually plenty of people on this site made just that argument, CV being the most prominent/repetitive/enthusiastic.”

          +1 Even at the level of Tr*mp being the lesser of evils compared to Clinton. And yes there were enthusiastic supporters of Tr*mp who also opposed the TPPA. I have also talked to people in real life who oppose the TPPA and who would have voted Tr*mp if they were US voters. Like those on TS, they are people that would otherwise vote on the left or for Peters.

        • swordfish 3.1.1.3
          3 February 2017 at 8:25 pm

          Actually plenty of people on this site made just that argument, CV being the most prominent/repetitive/enthusiastic.

          Well, if there were “plenty” then name them and link to their comments advocating a vote for Trump on the basis of his position on the TPPA (or, indeed, on any basis whatsoever). I’d be surprised if you come up with any more than 2 or 3 Lefties.

          Even CV explicitly qualified his support … with a particular emphasis on averting WWIII with Russia and Hillary’s murderous foreign adventures (and an acknowledgement that Trump’s domestic policies would be less than pleasant).

          Sure you’re not confusing principled criticism of Clinton’s abysmal record with explicit support for Trump ?

          Or are you one of those dishonest little Clintonista McCarthyites who cheerfully conflate those two things ? (while, at the same time, claiming to be “liberal” and “progressive”).

    • Spikeyboy 3.2
      3 February 2017 at 7:57 am

      Theres always the option of not accepting any deal offered.

    • greywarshark 3.3
      3 February 2017 at 6:57 pm

      red-blooded
      Life is just too complicated complex and constantly changing for you to understand.
      It certainly is hard for you when you have just made up your mind to have to alter it to meet differing circumstances. Why don’t you give up and let other people do the worrying.

  4. Penny Bright 4
    3 February 2017 at 8:43 am

    Looking forward to a reply (on NBR – subscriber only) from Gareth Morgan to my following question:

    “Gareth – do you and your Opportunities Party support transparency in the spending of public monies on private consultants and contractors (at both local and central government level)?

    Do you agree that the following information on awarded contracts should be made available for public scrutiny?

    * The unique contract number.

    * The name of the consultant or contractor.

    * A brief description of the scope of the contract.

    * The contract start and finish dates.

    * The exact dollar value of every contract, including those sub-contracted.

    * How the contract was awarded – by direct appointment or public tender.

    Kind regards

    Penny Bright

    ‘Fair’, fiery and ferociously Independent future MP for Mt Albert 🙂 “

  6. adam 6
    3 February 2017 at 9:30 am

    It would appear we have to wait till Sunday to get the truth from Willie Jackson.

    http://www.maoritelevision.com/news/regional/conflicts-interest-may-arise-if-willie-jackson-stands-labour

  7. halfcrown 7
    3 February 2017 at 9:48 am

    Might be of interest to all the Trumpeters, It appears he is keeping up the good work started by Mr Obama.

    https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/feb/02/trump-approved-yemen-raid-five-days-after-inauguration

  8. Morrissey 8
    3 February 2017 at 9:55 am

    The Labour Party needs Willie Jackson like it needs a hole in the head

    One day on the Willie and J.T. show, RadioLive, about seven years ago….

    WILLIE JACKSON: If I found out that my missus was fooling around on me I’d put a knife through her heart.

    ….Shocked silence for several seconds…..

    DEAN LONERGAN: I think that’s going a bit far, mate.

    WILLIE JACKSON: Nah, nah, nah—don’t give me THAT. I would. I would put a knife through her heart. I WOULD.

    JOHN TAMIHERE: You’re a mongrel, Willie, a mongrel.

    https://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-08062013/#comment-645516

    • tc 8.1
      3 February 2017 at 10:08 am

      Like it needed Shane jones…..

    • Nick 8.2
      3 February 2017 at 10:10 am

      Yes a stupid flippant comment from WJ.
      As for Labour……Willie always watches to see which side his bread is buttered (Brown or White bread) ….. Example, he’s against a lot of Natz policies, but happy to have Shonkey around to his place for a BBQ.

    • Psycho Milt 8.3
      3 February 2017 at 1:35 pm

      Yeah, but I expect for lesser offences he’d just give her the bash.

      He had some pretty awesome contributions to rape culture following the Roastbusters case, as well. From what I remember he and Tamihere got sacked from Radio Live after that one, in which their considered opinion was that boys will be boys and girls only have themselves to blame if they get drunk at parties.

      • Morrissey 8.3.1
        3 February 2017 at 2:58 pm

        Indeed, Milt. If you and I can remember these incidents, it’s easy to imagine how the Whaleoil-run National Party would use them.

  9. joe90 9
    3 February 2017 at 10:01 am

    Can you select this idiot, National. Please.

    Whanganui barrister Harete Hipango is seeking the National Party nomination to become its next Whanganui electorate candidate.

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/wanganui-chronicle/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503426&objectid=11793256

  10. Ed 10
    3 February 2017 at 10:05 am

    Does anyone know what happened to Dim-Post? It was at dim-post.wordpress.com, but has apparently been marked private

    • ianmac 10.1
      3 February 2017 at 10:54 am

      Ed-The explanation I got was that Danyl was taking a time out so his site is in neutral. He will return – I hope.

  11. marty mars 11
    3 February 2017 at 10:15 am

    science geekery

    https://qz.com/296941/interactive-graphic-every-active-satellite-orbiting-earth/

    so many of the wee buggers and that was as at a year or so ago

    • ianmac 11.1
      3 February 2017 at 10:57 am

      Staggering marty!

      • greywarshark 11.1.1
        3 February 2017 at 11:39 am

        Hi ianmac and marty mars
        This idea came to me as we have to think hard about ways to go for the future, first the election and beyond. We could spark new ideas and old ones reworked with some new perspectives gained from a reading group where we all read the same book and had a great post on it at the end. The suggestion is a month to read the first book which would be E F Schumacher Small is Beautiful.

        Would you both like to be in and get the first book group going? I have been talking about it, getting some good feedback and am now looking for a core group of committed people to ensure that we get enough good thinking. I have asked a few regular commenters who could be interested and put this blurb below about it. Could you let me know by replying to this comment today. Thanks.

        You always bring good political ideas and vision to the problems facing us.
        We need new approaches to get through this maze we wander in. I had the idea that new ideas and thoughts could spring from studying books on the important subjects relating to our politics. Could you find the time to be in this – over a month first reading and noting about E F Schumaker and his Small is Beautiful and then having a great discussion on a Sunday post at end of month? It would be great if you could be in. Could you reply to this comment today if poss. Thanks.

        I am writing similarly to other regular commenters who I feel would be interested, but of course it is a matter of time available. Regards.

  12. greywarshark 12
    3 February 2017 at 10:50 am

    What do we know about the McGuinness Institute? that did a survey relating to social engineering that National is interested in?

    Mentioned on Radionz this morning I think when they did a peice on the Three Mayors – Far North (National John Carter), Rotorua (Labour Steve Chadwick) and – can’t remember. They are going to sort out their pockets of social problems from cradle to grave, babes to grandparents. I hope in a caring and co-operative way with a community leader in charge to co-ordinate. Sort of like these unaccountable czars that get appointed in neo Lib society.

    Could be good, but being given authority to look at every aspect of life. Sounds too top-down to me.

    • Jenny Kirk 12.1
      3 February 2017 at 3:06 pm

      You can find out about the McGuinness Institute by googling it, greywarshark.

      It sounds like its full of heavyweight intellectuals all with good intentions providing a great many reports on essential subjects like poverty, public policy etc.
      But what results from all those reports and workshops they undertake ?

      • Jenny Kirk 12.1.1
        3 February 2017 at 3:21 pm

        I’ve just had a quick look at the McGuiness website, greywarshark – and I’m thinking like you – a bit too top-down to the bottom, and perhaps also a bit unrealistic.

        For instance, a workshop on poverty in the Far North had a comment about how local business couldn’t compete with BIG business rolling into town. But absolutely no sign that Big business would have been wooing, and been welcomed, by the local council to the detriment of the local start-up enterprises such as CBEC which developed over 20 years – with local people – a business of waste management, only to have the whole lot transferred to incoming Big business by the Far North Council a few years ago.
        No wonder people leave their towns when their councils remove their livelihoods.

        An interesting, if naive, comment from the summary of that report –

        When big businesses arrived in provincial towns without a local mandate, some local independent businesses could not compete and were forced to shut down. Money spent at these big businesses has simply left town, leaving behind empty high streets. Both Kaitaia and Kaikohe have recently seen waning populations…..

        http://www.mcguinnessinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/20170202-TPNZ-Far-North-Discussion-paper.pdf

      • greywarshark 12.1.2
        3 February 2017 at 3:58 pm

        Exactly Jenny – when you’ve got a report being brooded on then you’ve got something hatching. Or so everyone expects. Only everyone’s eggs are addled if
        they assume that. Thanks for info. When thinking of something else on here it pays to ask while one remembers and someone will know. And if that goes on the post then everyone knows. So that’s an advantage of asking one of the gurus? here. Collectively the site is a near-complete guru anyway.

        And I think, why not get universities who study up that sort of thing to do it? Trouble might be, they might come up with the wrong sort of statistics. So, best idea is shut down the Humanities and let the private sector find out the necessary information to match the planned policies (one of which is to do nothing at all.)

    • aom 12.2
      3 February 2017 at 3:33 pm

      greywarshark – the McGuinness Institute was set up by Mark and Wendy McGuinness (Willis Bond & Co.) who are property speculators whose projects are significantly financed by ACC and the Superannuation Fund. You might want to draw your own conclusions.

  13. joe90 13
    3 February 2017 at 11:36 am

    Spoiling for a fight?.

    Houthi rebels from Yemen attacked a Saudi frigate; White House spokesman Sean Spicer falsely claimed that this was Iranian forces attacking a US Naval ship and thus an act of war; no one from the White House press corps corrected him or followed up.

    The White House Press corps wanted to know what being put “on notice” entailed, and Spicer responded by claiming that Iran’s government took actions against a U.S. naval vessel, which would be an act of war. “I think General Flynn was really clear yesterday that Iran has violated the Joint Resolution that Iran’s additional hostile actions that it took against our navy vessel are ones that we are very clear are not going to sit by and take,” he said.

    Pentagon Spokesman Christopher Sherwood confirmed to The Intercept that the attack was in fact conducted against a Saudi warship, and that the Pentagon suspects Houthi rebels. “It was a Saudi ship – it was actually a frigate” said Sherwood. “It was [conducted by] suspected Houthi rebels off the coast of Yemen.”

    http://boingboing.net/2017/02/02/sean-spicer-claims-that-houthi.html

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

    • joe90 13.1
      3 February 2017 at 12:27 pm

      Back in business.

      Meet Gina Haspel, new deputy director of CIA, who ran the agency's first black site in Thailand where detainees were tortured. Background pic.twitter.com/XhAWZJXpXq— Jason Leopold (@JasonLeopold) February 2, 2017

      New Deputy CIA Director was officer who carried out order by Jose Rodriguez to destroy torture tapes https://t.co/qyDAtXdcGK— Mark Mazzetti (@MarkMazzettiNYT) February 2, 2017

      • greywarshark 13.1.1
        3 February 2017 at 1:35 pm

        Hi joe90

        I wondered if you would have time to be in the book reading that is being set up and starting on Sunday 12 February, all going well. A month to read and note stuff to comment on in a discussion on a special Sunday post. Starting off with E F Schumacher Small is Beautiful. Could get some interesting ideas to look at from today’s viewpoint. Would you indicate on reply to this today. Thanks

        This is the blurb explaining it in general.

        You always bring good political ideas and a breadth of vision to the problems facing us. We need new approaches to get through this maze we wander in. I had the idea that new ideas and thoughts could spring from studying books on the important subjects relating to our politics.

        Could you find the time to be in this – over a month first reading and noting about E F Schumaker and his Small is Beautiful: Economics as if people mattered – and then there will be a big discussion on a Sunday post at end of month? It would be great if you could be in. Could you reply to this comment today if poss.

        I am writing similarly to other regular commenters who I feel would be interested, but of course it is a matter of time available. Regards.

  14. Enough is Enough 14
    3 February 2017 at 11:45 am

    Has the search function that used to live on The Standard disappeared? Or is it just me

    • Bill 14.1
      3 February 2017 at 12:34 pm

      I hear a voice. But I see…I see nothing. Spooky.

    • lprent 14.2
      3 February 2017 at 12:42 pm

      It was a 2008/9 hacked version of a plug in. It didn’t survive a wordpress upgrade last year(?). Either the newer version of the plug in to sphinx needs hacking (bad idea – I have tried) or I need to write something maintainable on top of sphinx.

      Awaiting time to do it. Between work and their frequent demands to go offshore, and the rest of my life, I haven’t found the required block of free time.

    • weka 14.3
      3 February 2017 at 2:31 pm

      I use google’s advanced by site search. You get better control over key words, and the results are better too.

  15. Bill 15
    3 February 2017 at 12:32 pm

    What Orwell feared were those who would ban books. What Huxley feared was that there would be no reason to ban a book, for there would be no one who wanted to read one. Orwell feared those who would deprive us of information. Huxley feared those who would give us so much that we would be reduced to passivity and egoism. Orwell feared that the truth would be concealed from us. Huxley feared the truth would be drowned in a sea of irrelevance. Orwell feared we would become a captive culture. Huxley feared we would become a trivial culture.

    Quoted from Neil Postman’s book ‘Amusing Ourselves to Death’ in an article published in the Guardian by his son, Andrew.

    Well worth the read.

    https://www.theguardian.com/media/2017/feb/02/amusing-ourselves-to-death-neil-postman-trump-orwell-huxley

    • Carolyn_nth 15.1
      3 February 2017 at 1:22 pm

      That Huxley stuff, reminds me of a Walter Benjamin quote that came into my twitter feed this morning. I had a brief discussion about Benjamin and the Frankfurt School of Marxists a few days ago.

      Benjamin said that, underlying cultural activities (entertainment, art, movies, shopping arcade signages) was capitalism and material relationships (who owned property etc).

      He called the cultural expressions (art, popular culture) “aesthetics”. He talked about the aestheticisation of politics. ie. use of propaganda by the Third Reich where popular culture, art etc were used to influence the masses.

      Throughout the 2nd half of the twentieth century we got an increase in the aestheticisation of politics: ie the use of marketing techniques to manipulate voters. Trump, reality TV celebrity, become president, is the latest stop on this journey.

      Today’s Benjamin tweet:

      It’s basically about diverting people from the underlying power structure where those at the top of the property ownership hierarchy retain their power. Meanwhile, it’s all cultural distractions for the masses. But also, it allows people to express themselves through art (social media these days?), etc, but doesn’t allow them to change the property relationship of capitalism.

      The tweeted quoted is from Benjamin’s The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction

      The growing proletarianization of modern man and the increasing formation of masses are two aspects of the same process. Fascism attempts to organize the newly created proletarian masses without affecting the property structure which the masses strive to eliminate. Fascism sees its salvation in giving these masses not their right, but instead a chance to express themselves. The masses have a right to change property relations; Fascism seeks to give them an expression while preserving property. The logical result of Fascism is the introduction of aesthetics into political life.

      NB: Benjamin was a German Jew who tried to escape the Third Reich to Spain. When he believed he was going to be captured and returned to Germany, he killed himself.

    • greywarshark 15.2
      3 February 2017 at 1:27 pm

      Thanks Bill for recalling us to Orwell and Huxley.

      My notable memory is that Huxley wrote to Orwell after `1984′ I think, not Animal Farm, and said it conveyed the looming shadow of autocratic politics and control well, but in Huxley’s opinion it would be the continuing quest for efficiency that would dehumanise and strip us of our spirit and potential.

    • Ad 15.3
      3 February 2017 at 2:23 pm

      From the article:

      “Who can be appalled when the coin of the realm in public discourse is not experience, thoughtfulness or diplomacy but the ability to amuse – no matter how maddening or revolting the amusement?”

      It has been thusly for a couple of hundred years. The writer should sit back and reflect on the histories of political movements. They are run a different way now, and it’s not a bad thing.

      The stratification of different kinds of thinking from scholars and specialists, to television commentariat, to water-cooler and twitter chatter, seems to be the same as ever to me.

      You could also argue however far less pessimistically for the power of the relational networks that are only now possible. People complain about how Twitter surges and distorts public opinion – but as we can see even with Trump, we quickly get inured to different levels of outrage. The outrage instigators peak, burn out, fade away, like a 1990s boy band.

      The outrage instigators also get held to account far faster – usually on the same media. (The same old limits of what mass protest can do in realpolitik terms still apply however, even if they are more diverse).

      We do see the newer communicative technologies forming relational networks of shared interest and political activism as never before. Sure, old-style parties are dying, and the old-style centralised town hall of single civic dialogue is pretty much dead. But what has taken its place is a revolution in message distribution and connection.

      Sooner or later Critical Theory will catch up with the fact that we are beyond oligopolies of opinion from newspapers and television, and we are also well past the historical conditions for fascism. This era needs newer, fresher theorising.

      • Carolyn_nth 15.3.1
        3 February 2017 at 3:43 pm

        I’ve been hearing about this great Habermasian democratic space of new digital technologies, at least since the 1980s. But the corporate take over of digital technologies has increased. Ditto,the technologies of invasive surveillance.

        Sure we get some counter-resistance.

        But, in the last decades we have been delivered a deterioration in democratic political processes; an increase of all pervasive neoliberal values and politics; Tony Blair; the Bushes; John Key; David Cameron; Donald Trump; Theresa May; rise in the alt-right; increased wealth and income gaps between the top and bottom deciles; increased homelessness; wars; civilian “collateral damage”; widespread refugee displacements; etc, etc.

        And all the time we get first hand knowledge of it via digital technologies.

        Don’t think this great democratisation through new digital technologies has actually been happening. Just more celebrity culture, circuses, and digital technology diversions.

        Time for some on the ground collaborative engagement; a focus political direction, and ways to provide an alternative to the technologies of distraction.

      • Nic the NZer 15.3.2
        3 February 2017 at 7:33 pm

        “Sooner or later Critical Theory will catch up with the fact that we are beyond oligopolies of opinion from newspapers and television, and we are also well past the historical conditions for fascism. This era needs newer, fresher theorising.”

        Last i checked critical theorists were regularly appearing here, https://mobile.twitter.com/realpeerreview?lang=en

        Is that the kind of fresh new thinking we need to be on the lookout for?

  16. Cinny 16
    3 February 2017 at 1:58 pm

    Artist and activist Sam Mahon is raising funds to make a giant sculpture of Environment Minister Nick Smith doing a poo.

    Oh yeah… and check it out.. it’s a talking point that’s for sure

    Dear Sam Mahon, we would love to see your sculpture in Nelson, September is a wonderful time of year funnily enough it could coincide nicely with Nickoffs Street Corner evening meetings, which he likes to do during election time.

    THIS IS SOOOO GOOD… love ART, if it creates a talking point, then it’s art, no matter if it offends or flatters the person viewing it. 😀

  18. adam 18
    3 February 2017 at 3:15 pm

    Titles of video says it all, but wait for the guy at the end. Truly classic. 4:37 min video.

  19. Siobhan 19
    3 February 2017 at 4:38 pm

    “Winston Peters betrayed Maori – here’s the proof. The questions are (1) Why does he refuse to even answer questions on these facts? and (2) Why don’t Maori leaders call him out on his betrayal?”

    Just now, on facebook…from Gareth Morgan.

    Why Gareth?? Who cares?

    • Jenny Kirk 19.1
      3 February 2017 at 4:47 pm

      It gets Gareth some much-needed publicity, Siobhan – that’s the main thing he’s after.

      • weka 19.2.1
        3 February 2017 at 5:27 pm

        Wow. Ok, a few thoughts.

        One is, how will this go down with Māori? It’s a front on attack, and is basically a Pākehā man telling Māori what to do about another Māori. I don’t know what connections if any Morgan has within Māoridom, or where he gets his advice from on Māori issues, so I’ll be interested to see what the response is.

        Two, the video itself is smart and well thought through, and if taken separately from Morgan or TOP is a pretty interesting history of Peters’ politics around Māori and ethnicity in NZ. It’s easy to forget how radical he is, because he’s all grin, right?

        Three, he’s obviously timing this for Waitangi Weekend, but I’m not quite seeing the strategy. Do NZF get party votes from Māori that TOP wants?

        Four, I care. Both because TOP could end up being highly influential in this election, and because he’s addressing Māori and treaty issues strongly. I also think that Peters is a huge problem politically for NZ so am not unhappy with someone calling him on his integrity.

        • Carolyn_nth 19.2.1.1
          3 February 2017 at 5:30 pm

          Recently Morgan said something else controversial. On RNZ Morgan pretty much said it was basically calculated to get attention and start a conversation.

          I suspect Morgan is aiming to take a leaf from Trump’s campaign. Get attention by stirring up some race-based controversy.

          • weka 19.2.1.1.1
            3 February 2017 at 5:44 pm

            Attention from the media?

            • Carolyn_nth 19.2.1.1.1.1
              3 February 2017 at 5:59 pm

              Well, if it’s on facebook, then maybe attention from both mainstream media and social media, I guess?

              Ultimately, Morgan uses social media, plus mainstream media. The aim is surely to get attention of voters.

              • weka …
                3 February 2017 at 6:08 pm

                I guess, but I’m still trying to figure out how attacking Peters over his position on Māori is going to get TOP votes. I mean, I think what he says about Peters is useful, and I’m certainly in favour of Peters being called on those things, but I doubt he’s going after the white liberal greenie vote with this move. Not so sure about Morgan’s framing it as a challenge to Māori. Which votes is he after? NZF’s? Māori votes, from where? etc

                If it’s just noise to raise his profile, that’s a different thing.

                • Carolyn_nth …
                  3 February 2017 at 6:31 pm

                  I suspect he’s after any votes not committed to the bigger parties. And yes, to create noise and get some attention in the lead up to Waitangi Day

  20. Glenn 20
    3 February 2017 at 4:53 pm

    The Republican-led House of Representatives has voted to overturn an Obama-era regulation preventing people with severe mental illnesses from buying guns.

    The vote on Thursday (local time) was 235-180 – mostly along party lines.

    Under the Obama administration’s rule, people who receive disability benefits and have severe mental disorders would be reported by the Social Security Administration to the FBI’s National Instant Criminal Background Check System.

    This database is used to determine eligibility for buying a firearm.

    However it was strongly opposed by both the Republican Party and the National Rifle Association.
    http://www.newshub.co.nz/home/world/2017/02/republicans-allow-severely-mentally-ill-to-buy-guns.html

    It looks like any regulations the last administration passed are on the way out no matter how sensible they were.