Russia is the second largest arms exporter in the world. Every permanent member of the UN Security Council is in the top 10. As far as international law can ban warfare, it has already. Sadly, that’s not enough.
I heard some chap rabbiting on nat radio last week about the legal parameters of war. It was sickening, and it takes a lot to turn mine stomach.. He was going on as if it is acceptable to wipe out large swathes of humanity in certain circumstances using certain means. It was so way up in the clouds it was bizarre. It got me to thinking that war is absolutely the lowest form of human conduct, which everybody knows but for some reason most people accept.
People seem to accept state murder of other state’s citizens – code for killing being acceptable.
It leaves me sick.
New Zealand should stand up and lead the world in banning all forms of warfare, like it did by going nuclear-free.
Particularly liked the reference to Andorra – “Despite not ever having a true organized military, the tiny country of Andorra was bold enough to declare war on Germany in 1914 and join the so called Great War. With a 10-man strong army, the country did not do much and was not taken seriously.
What is worse is that most of the recent conflicts that New Zealand has been involved with have not been legally declared wars. Vietnam was not a declared war for instance which if I remember correctly caused problems with servicemen that were active in that conflict getting disability allowances etc when they returned because under the war pension act they had technically not been to war. Long tine ago now but there was a lot of angry service people trying to get benefits and being given the run around by the Government of the day.
Today, no where. But the military always has to prepare 10 years ahead, and I am guessing that the Pacific is going to be a pretty tense place down the track.
Not if we ban warfare now. It might help. Nothing to lose.
Why don’t you want to do such a thing? Do you support the ban on chemical warfare? Where do you draw the line? Why bother going nuclear free? Why is it so hard to stick a flower in the barrel of a tank? Eh?
@CV…so you would agree with the American gun lobby that it is a citazen’s right to have a gun….just to be prepared 10 years ahead …. in case…. 10 years down the track….when it could be a pretty tense place
…just arguing here and I probably agree with you ….but in theory while these arguments are convincing … in practice people/politicians make mistakes and it can make a situation worse
Thanks Pop, appreciate your effort (I know I get on your goat sometimes..).
But the reason outlined in your post is a rehash of the arguments up and around this already. The how of such a ban is the secondary question, not the primary one. We need to answer the primary one first, before assessing the how, the when, the what-ifs, etc etc.
Just like it is with banning nuclear in NZ.
Just like it is with banning homicide.
Just like it is with banning chemical warfare.
Surely you can see the potential in such a ban. Whether it is workable or not is not the issue, just as is so with all other bans. It is a head space, an aim, a lofty high humanitarian goal. Something we can aspire to. And when humans do this sort of thing humanity gets towed along behind to an extent.
And in the alternative,,, to not so ban is to impliedly condone and employ warfare, in the same manner than debanning homicide or chemical warfare would be such.
I don’t understand why this is so hard.
It has been done with chemical. We did it with nuclear. Lets go the whole hog.
edit: and I do recall that pact now, from dim distant studies…
I’d say it’s worth trying. I’m not sure how it could be done in the immediate future, but wars aren’t good for anything. We’d all be better off without them.
Terrific Leadership Contest meeting in Whangarei last night. All three potential Leaders in good spirits and talking good policy ideas. Over 200 people in audience – heaps of new members signed up.
This is a good sign for resurgence in Labour Party.
It was painful to watch Key bleating about the $68 million he said it would cost the government to implement Labour’s “Living Wage” policy for public employees.
So that’s 0.07% of the annual government budget to give New Zealanders a living wage. Not a very high price to pay to help improve the conditions of the working poor.
That’s if you believe Key’s figures, which I don’t, as opposed to Cunliffe’s $25 million which makes it 0.025%.
For comparison, Key’s just spent $100 million of our money flogging off a decent asset that most of us don’t want sold.
It is exactly like Key and Brownlee refusing to top up the red zoners $12.5million in Christchurch while going about spending $300million on a stadium for rich rugby players to run around on a few times a month.
This shows this government’s priorities.
Rugby is prioritised over people’s homes
Sharebrokers commissions are prioritised over paying above a slave wage for cleaners.
“It was painful to watch Key bleating about the $68 million he said it would cost the government to implement Labour’s “Living Wage” policy for public employees.”
The $68m is for extending it to direct government employees only, it doesn’t include contractors such as cleaners in hospitals.
I would think that there aren’t all that many directly-employed government workers earning less tahn $18.40, which is why the wage figure is only $68m.
Well said Steve. As well as getting their figures wrong sometimes, they make a huge noise about costs that are trivial in the big picture (your example above)that would benefit society, but brush big bad unnecessary costs (ditto your comparison)under the carpet. It’s a very lumpy carpet they’ve got there.
And yes, it is painful. I wish there was some way for Key to vanish, to be forced to resign for some reason, so all this pain could end. (not just the bleating sounds)It would have to happen after the new Labour Leader has been elected though.
Cunliffe, and the Membership at large, are too nice to Grant Robertson.
Grant Robertson is a core part of what has been wrong with the Labour Party for the past five years. Robertson is a core member of the narrow group that created division in the party to protect their own careers. Robertson shaped the shambles that has been Shearer’s Leader’s office for the past 18 months. Shearer/King/Mallard/Robertson attacked the membership and Cunliffe for DARING to vote in favour of more democracy at the Ellerslie Conference.
Robertson has not changed his spots. He is still a natural hoarder of power in the bank office. His instincts are to pay lip service only to the members.
To elect Robertson is to ask for a continuation of the mis-rule of the past five years.
Cunliffe has nothing to apologise for. Robertson is the one that should be called to account.
BS he’s a pathetic human being. I know him personally. He’s a decent guy and deeply committed to justice and fairness for all. Personal attacks like this are just stupid.
@ Tigger ….no matter what you think of Robertson…..if Labour wants to win next year against Key ……Robertson as Leader will not cut the mustard with the average New Zealand voter!!!!….and that is that!
….anyone who says otherwise is self-deluded or mischievous….and is laying Labour and New Zealand out for another Key and Nact win.
Cunliffe is the only Leadership option…. and luckily he is the best option by a long way
@ Alanz….well if Robertson has been a mover and shaker in the ABC club…IMO I think he should be able to take ‘personal attacks’….because that is what has been concertedly dealt to Cunliffe over along period of time ….and quite unwarrantedly and one could be kind in saying they were “pathetic”…certainly pathetic for the Labour Party.
Calling someone a pathetic human being is not a personal attack, in this instance, it is a statement of fact.
I Have first hand interactions with many pathetic human beings who trawl the halls of parliament, with Robertson, being one them. I also have daily interactions with pathetic human beings, but the conversation was not about anyone else.
Your experience, and opinion is fine tigger, and my experience and opinion, different from yours, that’s fine, just don’t pretend it was a personal attack, it is my personal opinion, based on my experiences, and based on what is patently obvious about the feeble personality that man has, you can apply the same to Jones, equally pathetic!
….Rhinocrates …who is in Robertson’s Wellington Central electorate is very disparaging and cutting of Robertson ….and it rings true to me …I met a few of the Robertson machaevellian ‘types’ myself while in the Public Service in Wellington( generally in the wannabe upper echelons, that is how they got there…But this is not to disparage the PS in general)…..and I personally think Louise Wall would be better as Deputy, more attractive to the NZ 50% woman vote and more loyal to Cunliffe
….and Robertson would make a very good Minister of Something…well out of the way
Lolz @ Chris Trotter, the final words of that piece on today’s daily blog are a grand tribute to the use of the English language in all its complexity,
Indeed, when exhausted from talking sense and providing evidence to the Neo-liberal orthodoxy which has shafted the lower end of the economic demographic for the past 30 years in the final analysis as Chris Trotter suggests, we should simply resort to telling them all, go f**k yourself”…
“The Blogosphere will play a significant part in the next election…it’s the Wild West of Journalism…blah, blah,…”- Brian Edwards, looking very sharp on te tele. hee hee.
meanwhile, back in ‘Nam, Charlie’s cutting the wires, no more plagiarizing the press down the paddies.
Have a great day! 🙂
Heh. face is in the book ; learn a lot of interesting stuff there at times, if managed well. Man, do they have some persistent algorithms to ‘hook’ users in to being online if they are unaware of the seduction at play. “Said the spider to the fly…”
So, Seamus Heaney has texted The final Given Note.
Re that Jones’ boy,
22:1 Be tactful and you remain whole; bend and you remain straight. The hollow is filled, the old is renewed. Economy is gain, Excess is confusion..
22:5 Is it empty talk, the old saying that tact keeps you whole? When truthfulness is complete, it still resorts to this.
If one applies at a WINZ interview for assistance with C.V preparation, they can approve a ‘grant’ that pays a ‘consultant to do so. (the charge was $135 for C.V, comes with a data stick in addition to hard-copy and $67 for a ‘cover letter’). Very Helpful!
Mr Jones has got past a corruption allegation and that porn issue.
“Around Aotearoa, I’ve always found that I’ve been very popular with women. I’ve never been at the top of the hit parade with feminists. But the woman I want to appeal to are the women that read the Women’s Weekly, not Germaine Greer,”
He wants to create jobs with more drilling and mining.
“Let’s cut to the chase – I’d rather have the young people of the North with a shovel in their hand [rather than] running around picking locks.”
“I’m not the greatest person for political correctness. But the politically correct thing to do is win power,”
Ew. Just ew.
Paddy Gower ends his glowing ‘the underdog is on fire’ piece with “Jones is the only one who looks real.” Are you joking? I had to wipe myself down after watching the video.
Shane Jones please go join the NAct party where you obviously belong.
Chris Trotter says;
“The Old Guard of Labour’s caucus (Phil Goff, Annette King, Trevor Mallard) realising how much the new Electoral College was likely to undermine their ability to control the direction of the party, did nothing to discourage the media’s misperception of Cunliffe’s intentions. They were desperate to keep David Shearer in place until the reins of government were securely in his (their?) hands.
They were right to be worried. The new system is revolutionary. To grasp just how revolutionary, consider how effectively it would have prevented the takeover of the Labour Party by Roger Douglas and his cronies.”
Read more reason NEVER to let Grant Robertson near the levers of power.
Listening to JIm on RNZ yesterday afternoon and the Swedish road safety dude said there were far too many road signs????
There only used to be one: KEEP LEFT but the chumps in the national party could not handle that and now there is a whole industry telling people what to do and they never do it!
Aye aye, Cap’n. But the worst bloody thing of all is driving thru the night, vision in sync with the conditions, you head for a corner to be stupifyingly blinded by your own lights being reflected back double from the hightech fucking sign pointing to the direction that you should be taking that you haven’t got a hope in hell of making as you need a seeing eye dog for the next 50ks.
“YOU said that.”
Can this train-wreck of a programme get any worse? The Panel, Radio NZ National, Tuesday 3 September 2013
Jim Mora, Mai Chen, Steve McCabe
Often the most interesting part of Jim Mora’s Panel is the fifteen-minute pre-show segment, when the guests are asked to comment on various articles plucked off the internet, grandly billed as “What the World’s Talking About”. Since they don’t have the time to think at length about many of these items, they often don’t say much of any value. They do, however, occasionally reveal a lot about themselves. Regular Panelist Stephen Franks, for instance, a legal counsel for and supporter of those bloodthirsty knife-killing enthusiasts the S.S. Trust, is fond of pontificating about the “wicked” behavior of lower class criminals. Someone else who used to guest regularly was Dr. Michael Bassett, who over the years has degenerated into a muttering, scowling old jackal; on one infamous occasion he crazily snarled that Nicky Hager was a “holocaust-denier”. Another curmudgeonly old fool who used to appear regularly on the Panel is Garth “Gaga” George, who one day learnedly opined that the Australians in the RAMSI task force were “the very worst kind of Australian”. It was on the Panel pre-show that Chris Trotter delivered his windy admonition against those who dared to question the wisdom or morality of the Florida jury that acquitted the killer of Trayvon Martin, where Rosemary McLeod sniffed contemptuously that “those people [Egyptians] don’t WANT democracy”, and dear old Gordon MacLauchlan declared in all seriousness: “Python is brilliant! It leaves Cheers for dead.”
So it’s not unusual to hear stuff on the Panel that’s pompous, silly, stupid, unintentionally funny or (in the case of Bassett and Franks) downright depraved. But when it comes to sheer bloody hypocrisy, mealy-mouthedness and cowardice, it’s hard to go past Jim Mora himself. Look how he behaved during today’s pre-show segment…..
NOELLE McCARTHY: John Kerry says there is definite proof because there are chemical residues in the hair and clothing of the victims, but that’s not good enough for Russia and China! JIM MORA: People are asking how is it so different from killing entire wedding parties with drone strikes. NOELLE McCARTHY: Hmmmm. STEVE McCABE: Personally I can’t see why chemical weapons are so much worse than those other weapons. MORA:[mocking tone] Well it’s a RED LINE that was crossed! STEVE McCABE: It’s a pity the United States did not draw a red line in Vietnam.
A couple of seconds of awkward silence…..
MORA: You mean with Agent Orange?
Further awkward silence….
NOELLE McCARTHY: Hmmmm. MORA: A couple of e-mailers have said what about when Saddam gassed the Kurds in 1988? STEVE McCABE: That was back when Saddam was still our mate. So it was okay.
More Depravity on Radio NZ: On the Radio NZ sports news at 5:30 p.m., Stephen Hewson read out an item about a St. Kilda footballer setting fire to a dwarf entertainer at a “Mad Monday” booze-up. The item included a voice grab of the dwarf, known as “Mr. Big”, describing the footballer’s actions as “just criminal.” At the end of the item, Hewson snickered, snorted and guffawed and said “Back to you Mary”.
i think mccabe might get dropped from the panel-guest-list for that saddam-one..(tho’ it is hardly a controversial observation..nor was the agent orange one..)
..and aside from all the war-mongering lies/pieties from america..
..the hypocrisies are fucken eyewatering..
..america poisoned whole fucken countries..
..and either themselves or thru their sattelite-states (like nz) america continues to rain death down on innocent-civilians worldwide..
..they and their mercenary-states/acolytes are the war-criminals of our times..
@ phillip Ure …even better set up the kids with the $7.2 million trust ….and bring the bodies out…..using unwanted Kapiti Coast Motorway kitty money…..ie ditch the Motorway and bring the bodies out
Key wants nothing to do with The Marshall Islands nuclear testing debacle but is trigger happy with North Korea and Syria.
The muppet is just a puppet!
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Something I especially like about you all, you loyal and much-appreciated readers of More Than A Feilding, is that you are so very widely experienced and knowledgeable. Not just saying that. You really are.So I'm mindful as I write today that at least one of you has been captain of an ...
On Friday, Luxon and Reti were at Ormiston Private Hospital to talk up the benefits of private money in public health. [And defend Casey Costello - that’s a given for now by our National Party Ministers - including the medical doctor Shane Reti.]Luxon and Reti said we were going to ...
Hi,If you are unfortunate like me, you will have seen this image over the weekend.Donald Trump returned to the site of his near-assassination in Butler, Pennsylvania — except this time he brought Elon Musk with him. It’s difficult to keep up with Trump’s brain, but he seems to have dropped ...
Last week finally saw the first major release of detailed data from last year’s Census. There are a huge number of stories to be told from this data. Over the next few weeks we’ll be illuminating a few of them – starting today with an initial look at how New ...
The Government finance hand brake that stalled construction momentum in early 2024 remains firmly on. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāKia ora. Long stories short, here’s my top six things to note in Aotearoa’s political economy around housing, climate and poverty on Monday, October 7:Infrastructure and Housing Minister Chris Bishop ...
Change is coming to America. Next month’s elections are likely to pave the way for an overhaul of US foreign policy– regardless of whether Donald Trump or Kamala Harris wins the presidency. Decisions made in Washington will also have a direct impact on Wellington. While the Biden administration started its ...
Those business leaders who were calling last week for some indication of an economic plan from the Government got their answer yesterday. In what amounted to the first substantial pointer to the future rather than the past from a Government Minister, Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop set out the reasons for ...
A listing of 30 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, September 29, 2024 thru Sat, October 5, 2024. Story of the week We're all made of standard human fabric so it's nobody's particular fault but while "other" parts of the world ...
The National Government has sneakily reneged on protecting the Hauraki Gulf, reducing the protected area of the marine park and inviting commercial fishing in the depleted seascape. ...
Labour welcomes the release of the Government’s response to the report into the North Island weather events but urges it to push forward with legislative change this term. ...
The Green Party echoes a call for banks to divest from entities linked to Israel’s illegal settlements in Palestine, and says Crown Financial Institutions should follow suit. ...
Te Whatu Ora’s finances have deteriorated under the National Government, turning a surplus into a deficit, and breaking promises made to New Zealanders to pay for it. ...
The Prime Minister’s decision to back his firearms minister on gun law changes despite multiple warnings shows his political judgement has failed him yet again. ...
Yesterday the government announced the list of 149 projects selected for fast-tracking across Aotearoa. Trans-Tasman Resources’ plan to mine the seabed off the coast of Taranaki was one of these projects. “We are disgusted but not surprised with the government’s decision to fast-track the decimation of our seabed,” said Te ...
At Labour’s insistence, Te Whatu Ora financial documents have been released by the Health Select Committee today showing more cuts are on the way for our health system. ...
Fresh questions have been raised about the conduct of the Firearms Minister after revelations she misled New Zealanders about her role in stopping gun reforms prior to the mosque shootings. ...
Education Minister Erica Stanford still can’t confirm when the Government will deliver the $2 billion worth school upgrades she cut earlier this year. ...
Labour acknowledges the hundreds of workers today losing their jobs as the Winstone Pulp mill closes and what it will mean for their families and community. ...
In Budget '24, the National Government put aside $216 million to pay for a tax cut which mainly benefitted one company: global tobacco giant Philip Morris. Instead of giving hundreds of millions to big tobacco, National could have spent the money sensibly, on New Zealand. ...
Te Whatu Ora’s financials from the last year show the Government has manufactured a financial crisis to justify making cuts that are already affecting patient care. ...
Over 41,000 Palestinian’s have been murdered by Israel in the last 12 months. At the same time, Israel have launched attacks against at least four other countries in the Middle East including Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, and Iran. “You cannot play the aggressor and the victim at the same time,” said ...
Associate health minister Casey Costello has made a fool of the Prime Minister, because the product she’s been fighting to get a tax cut for and he’s been backing her on is now illegal – and he doesn’t seem to know it. ...
The Finance and Expenditure Committee’s inquiry into climate adaptation is something that must be built on for an enduring framework to manage climate risk. ...
The Government is taking tertiary education down a worrying path with new reporting finding that fourteen of the country’s sixteen polytechnics couldn’t survive on their own,” Labour’s tertiary education spokesperson Dr Deborah Russell says. ...
Today the government announced a $30m cut to Te Ahu o Te Reo Māori- a programme that develops te reo Māori among our kaiako. “This announcement is just the latest in an onslaught of attacks on te iwi Māori,” said Te Pāti Māori Co-Leader Rawiri Waititi. ...
The Government has shown its true intentions for the public service and economy – it’s not to get more public servants back to the office, it’s more job losses. ...
The National Government is hiding the gaps in the health workforce from New Zealanders, by not producing a full workforce plan nearly a year into their tenure. ...
Today, the Crown Mineral Amendment Bill was read for the first time, reversing the ban on oil exploration off the coast of Taranaki. It was no accident that this proposed law change was read directly after the Government started to unravel the ability of iwi and hapū Māori to have ...
Te Pāti Māori spokesperson for Justice, Tākuta Ferris, has hit out at the Government, demanding the Crown prove its rights to the foreshore, following the Marine and Coastal Area Amendment Bill, passing its first reading. "Māori rights to the foreshore pre-exist the Declaration of Independence, Te Tiriti o Waitangi, and ...
The one-stop-shop Fast-track Approvals Bill, and the 149 projects listed in the Bill, will help rebuild our struggling economy and kick-start economic growth across the country, Minister for Infrastructure Chris Bishop says. “Since 2022, New Zealand has battled anaemic levels of economic growth. If we want Kiwi kids to stop ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon today announced the appointment of Sir Brian Roche as the next Public Service Commissioner. “I am delighted to appoint Sir Brian to this crucial leadership position,” Mr Luxon says. “Sir Brian is a highly respected New Zealander who has held significant roles across the public and ...
Forestry Minister Todd McClay today announced the establishment of a Forestry Sector Reference Group to drive better outcomes from the Forestry Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) Registry. “We are committed to working with the forestry sector to provide greater transparency and engagement on the forestry ETS registry as we work to ...
New Zealand’s fuel resilience is being strengthened to ensure people and goods keep moving and connected to the world in case of disruptions, Associate Energy Minister Shane Jones says. “Fuel security is a priority for the Coalition Government. We are acutely aware of how important engine fuels are to our ...
The Government will reform New Zealand’s Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) system to provide significant regulatory relief for businesses, Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee says. “Cabinet has approved an AML/CFT reform work programme which will ensure streamlined, workable, and effective regulations for businesses, law enforcement, and ...
Significant reforms are underway in the building and construction portfolio to help enable more affordable homes and a stronger economy, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “If we want to grow the economy, lift incomes, create jobs and build more affordable, quality homes we need a construction sector that ...
Minister Responsible for the GCSB and Minister of Defence Judith Collins will travel to Singapore and Brussels for Singapore International Cyber Week and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Defence Ministers’ Meeting. New Zealand has been invited to attend the NATO meeting alongside representatives from the European Union and the ...
Toitū ngā pōito o te kupenga a Toitehuatahi! A Government commitment to restoring the health and mauri of the Hauraki Gulf/Tīkapa Moana will enhance the area for generations to come, Minister of Conservation Tama Potaka says. Cabinet recently agreed to pass the Hauraki Gulf/Tīkapa Moana Marine Protection Bill into law, ...
Associate Finance Minister David Seymour says the Government has committed to action on overseas investment, where the country’s policy settings are the worst in the developed world and holding back wage growth. “Cabinet has agreed to the principles for reforming our overseas investment law. At the core of these principles ...
The annual East Asia Summit (EAS) held in Laos this week underscored the critical role that the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) plays in ensuring a peaceful, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says. "My first participation in an EAS has been a valuable opportunity to engage ...
Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden says the feedback from the health and safety roadshow will help shape the future of health and safety in New Zealand and grow the economy. “New Zealand’s poorly performing health and safety system could be costing this country billions,” says Ms van ...
The Government has released the independent Advisory Group’s report on the 384 projects which applied to be listed in the Fast-track Approvals Bill, and further detail about the careful management of Ministers’ conflicts of interest, Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop says. Independent Advisory Group Report The full report has now been ...
The Government Policy Statement (GPS) on electricity clearly sets out the Government’s role in delivering affordable and secure electricity at internationally competitive prices, Energy Minister Simeon Brown says.“New Zealand’s economic growth and prosperity relies on Kiwi households and businesses having access to affordable and secure electricity at internationally competitive prices. ...
The Government has broadly accepted the findings of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care whilst continuing to consider and respond to its recommendations. “It is clear the Crown utterly failed thousands of brave New Zealanders. As a society and as the State we should have done better. ...
The brakes have been put on contractor and consultant spending and growth in the public service workforce, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. “Workforce data released today shows spending on contractors and consultants fell by $274 million, or 13 per cent, across the public sector in the year to June 30. ...
The Crown accounts for the 2023/24 year underscore the need for the Government’s ongoing efforts to restore discipline to public spending, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The Financial Statements of the Government for the year ended 30 June 2024 were released today. They show net core Crown net debt at ...
Climate Change Minister Simon Watts will chair negotiations on carbon markets at this year’s United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP29) alongside Singapore’s Minister for Sustainability and Environment, Grace Fu. “Climate change is a global challenge, and it’s important for countries to be enabled to work together and support each other ...
A new confirmation of payments system in the banking sector will make it safer for Kiwis making bank transactions, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly says. “In my open letter to the banks in February, I outlined several of my expectations of the sector, including the introduction of a ...
Associate Health Minister with responsibility for Pharmac David Seymour is pleased to see Pharmac continue to increase availability of medicines for Kiwis with the Government’s largest ever investment in Pharmac. “Pharmac operates independently, but it must work within the budget constraints set by the Government,” says Mr Seymour. “When our ...
The Government has released its long-term vision to strengthen New Zealand’s disaster resilience and emergency management, Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell announced today. “It’s clear from the North Island Severe Weather Events (NISWE) Inquiry, that our emergency management system was not fit-for-purpose,” Mr Mitchell says. “We’ve seen first-hand ...
Today’s cut in the Official Cash Rate (OCR) to 4.75 per cent is welcome news for families and businesses, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. “Lower interest rates will provide much-needed relief for households and businesses, allowing families to keep more of their hard-earned money and increasing the opportunities for businesses ...
Sport & Recreation Minister Chris Bishop has asked Sport NZ to review and update its Guiding Principles for the Inclusion of Transgender People in Community Sport. “The Guiding Principles, published in 2022, were intended to be a helpful guide for sporting bodies grappling with a tricky issue. They are intended ...
The Coalition Government is restoring confidence to the rural sector by pausing the rollout of freshwater farm plans while changes are made to ensure the system is affordable and more practical for farmers and growers, Associate Environment Minister Andrew Hoggard and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced today. “Freshwater farm plans ...
The latest report from the Ministry for the Environment (MfE) and Stats NZ, Our air 2024, reveals that overall air quality in New Zealand is improving, Environment Minister Penny Simmonds and Statistics Minister Andrew Bayly say. “Air pollution levels have decreased in many parts of the country. New Zealand is ...
Climate Change Minister Simon Watts has announced the appointment of Stuart Horne as New Zealand’s Climate Change Ambassador. “I am pleased to welcome someone of Stuart’s calibre to this important role, given his expertise in foreign policy, trade, and economics, along with strong business connections,” Mr Watts says. “Stuart’s understanding ...
Health Minister Dr Shane Reti and Associate Health Minister Casey Costello have announced a pilot to increase childhood immunisations, by training the Whānau Āwhina Plunket workforce as vaccinators in locations where vaccine coverage is particularly low. The Government is investing up to $1 million for Health New Zealand to partner ...
The Government is looking at strengthening requirements for building professionals, including penalties, to ensure Kiwis have confidence in their biggest asset, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says “The Government is taking decisive action to make building easier and more affordable. If we want to tackle our chronic undersupply of houses ...
The Government is taking further action to tackle the unacceptable wait times facing people trying to sit their driver licence test by temporarily extending the amount of time people can drive on overseas licences from 12 months to 18 months, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The previous government removed fees for ...
The Government has reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring New Zealand is a safe and secure place to do business with the launch of new cyber security resources, Small Business and Manufacturing Minister Andrew Bayly says. “Cyber security is crucial for businesses, but it’s often discounted for more immediate business concerns. ...
Investment in Apprenticeship Boost will prioritise critical industries and targeted occupations that are essential to addressing New Zealand’s skills shortages and rebuilding the economy, Tertiary Education and Skills Minister Penny Simmonds and Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston say. “By focusing Apprenticeship Boost on first-year apprentices in targeted occupations, ...
Health Minister Dr Shane Reti has announced a funding boost for Palmerston North ED to reduce wait times and improve patient safety and care, as well as new national standards for moving acute patients through hospitals. “Wait times in emergency departments have deteriorated over the past six years and Palmerston ...
Health Minister Dr Shane Reti has announced a funding boost for Palmerston North ED to reduce wait times and improve patient safety and care, as well as new national standards for moving acute patients through hospitals. “Wait times in emergency departments have deteriorated over the past six years and Palmerston ...
Mehemea he pai mō te tangata, mahia! If it’s good for the people, get on with it! A $35 million Government investment will enable the delivery of 100 affordable rental homes in partnership with Waikato-Tainui, Associate Minister of Housing Tama Potaka says. Investment for the partnership, signed and announced today ...
This week’s inaugural Ethnic Xchange Symposium will explore the role that ethnic communities and businesses can play in rebuilding New Zealand’s economy, Ethnic Communities Minister Melissa Lee says. “One of my top priorities as Minister is unlocking the economic potential of New Zealand’s ethnic businesses,” says Ms Lee. “Ethnic communities ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Winston Peters are renewing New Zealand’s calls for restraint and de-escalation, on the first anniversary of the 7 October terrorist attacks on Israel. “New Zealand was horrified by the monstrous actions of Hamas against Israel a year ago today,” Mr Luxon says. ...
Kia uru kahikatea te tū. Projects referred for Fast-Track approval will help supercharge the Māori economy and realise the huge potential of Iwi and Māori assets, Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka says. Following robust and independent review, the Government has today announced 149 projects that have significant regional or national ...
The Fast-track Approvals Bill will list 22 renewable electricity projects with a combined capacity of 3 Gigawatts, which will help secure a clean, reliable and affordable supply of electricity across New Zealand, Energy Minister Simeon Brown says. “The Government has a goal of doubling New Zealand’s renewable electricity generation. The 22 ...
The Government has enabled fast-track consenting for 29 critical road, rail, and port projects across New Zealand to deliver these priority projects faster and boost economic growth, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “New Zealand has an infrastructure deficit, and our Government is working to fix it. Delivering the transport infrastructure Kiwis ...
The 149 projects released today for inclusion in the Government’s one-stop-shop Fast Track Approvals Bill will help rebuild the economy and fix our housing crisis, improve energy security, and address our infrastructure deficit, Minister for Infrastructure Chris Bishop says. “The 149 projects selected by the Government have significant regional or ...
A new multi-purpose recreation centre will provide a valuable wellbeing hub for residents and visitors to Ruakākā in Northland, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. The Ruakākā Recreation Centre, officially opened today, includes separate areas for a gymnasium, a community health space and meeting rooms made possible with support of ...
The coalition would return to government, but both Christophers - Luxon and Hipkins - have lost popularity, according to the latest 1News-Verian poll. ...
The coalition would return to government, but both Christophers - Luxon and Hipkins - have lost popularity, according to the latest 1News-Verian poll. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Julia Powles, Associate Professor of Law and Technology; Director, UWA Tech & Policy Lab, Law School, The University of Western Australia Since 2019, the Australian Department for Industry, Science and Resources has been striving to make the nation a leader in “safe ...
A View from Afar – In this episode of A View From Afar political scientist Paul Buchanan and host Selwyn Manning analyse how the state of Israel has gone rogue, attacking United Nations peacekeepers in southern Lebanon. At this juncture it is clear this is an intentional attack. ...
Exclusive: New leadership hires at the Human Rights Commission were contrary to recommendations made by the independent panel tasked with leading the process, documents released under the Official Information Act reveal.On a quiet Friday afternoon in August, justice minister Paul Goldsmith announced the appointment of three leadership roles at ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Daniel Eldridge, Senior Lecturer in Chemistry, Swinburne University of Technology Dmitrii Pridannikov/Shutterstock Heat can do amazing things to change your hairstyle. Whether you’re using a curling wand to get ringlets, a flat iron to straighten or a hair dryer to style, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Clare Dix, Lecturer In Nutrition & Dietetics, University of the Sunshine Coast Queensland Premier Steven Miles has announced free school lunches if Labor is re-elected at the state’s upcoming election on October 26. The A$1.4 billion policy would cover primary students ...
By New Zealand Parliament failing to adequately address political corruption, Parliament fails to ensure a culture of integrity is led from the top. Human rights will always be better protected in countries that can demonstrate political integrity and transparency. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kellie Toohey, Associate Professor Clinical Exercise Physiology, Southern Cross University Ivan Samkov/Pexels When you think of lung cancer treatment, what comes to mind – chemotherapy, radiation, surgery? While these can be crucial, there’s another powerful tool that’s often overlooked: exercise. Our ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sasha Grishin, Adjunct Professor of Art History, Australian National University Installation view of OA_RR, 2016-2017 at The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia Photo Kate Shanasy Is Reko Rennie Australia’s equivalent of Keith Haring? Both Rennie, a Melbourne-based Aboriginal artist who celebrates ...
Alex Casey returns to a New Zealand classic on its 30th birthday. Just yesterday I walked a track through Christchurch’s Victoria Park and boy was it pleasant. The sunlight beamed through the canopy of trees, providing welcome warm zones in the cool forest air. Everyone grinned goofily as they passed ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adrian Beaumont, Election Analyst (Psephologist) at The Conversation; and Honorary Associate, School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Melbourne The United States presidential election will be held on November 5. In analyst Nate Silver’s aggregate of national polls, Democrat Kamala Harris ...
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Pete Douglas tunes in for Matt Heath’s first week in his new job on Newstalk ZB. There are two ways to view Newstalk ZB. One is that it is a boomer hellscape, full of ads for retirement care facilities, patronised by a pitchfork-wielding mob desperate to jump on the blower ...
The LIVE Recording of A View from Afar podcast will begin today, Monday at 12:45pm October 14, 2024 (NZST) which is Sunday evening, 7:45pm (USEST). In this episode of A View From Afar political scientist Paul Buchanan and host Selwyn Manning I will analyse how the state of ...
WWF-New Zealand’s CEO, Dr Kayla Kingdon-Bebb, says the news is a devastating blow for all those who’ve worked to revive the Hauraki Gulf/Tīkapa Moana and protect it for future generations. ...
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So who’s up for it?
Ban conventional and nuclear warfare in the same manner that chemical warfare is banned.
It is just an extension of the smacking ban after all.
‘
Can’t ban conventional warfare – the entire US economy would grind to a halt in less than a week.
and Russia’s
Russia will be fine. US, China and the UK, I’m not so sure.
Russia is the second largest arms exporter in the world. Every permanent member of the UN Security Council is in the top 10. As far as international law can ban warfare, it has already. Sadly, that’s not enough.
Thanks. Per capita it looks to me like Russia is way ahead of the US as an arms exporter.
I heard some chap rabbiting on nat radio last week about the legal parameters of war. It was sickening, and it takes a lot to turn mine stomach.. He was going on as if it is acceptable to wipe out large swathes of humanity in certain circumstances using certain means. It was so way up in the clouds it was bizarre. It got me to thinking that war is absolutely the lowest form of human conduct, which everybody knows but for some reason most people accept.
People seem to accept state murder of other state’s citizens – code for killing being acceptable.
It leaves me sick.
New Zealand should stand up and lead the world in banning all forms of warfare, like it did by going nuclear-free.
All forms.
+1.
Worthwhile reading for the interest value in the same vein: 10 countries without military forces.
Particularly liked the reference to Andorra – “Despite not ever having a true organized military, the tiny country of Andorra was bold enough to declare war on Germany in 1914 and join the so called Great War. With a 10-man strong army, the country did not do much and was not taken seriously.
What is worse is that most of the recent conflicts that New Zealand has been involved with have not been legally declared wars. Vietnam was not a declared war for instance which if I remember correctly caused problems with servicemen that were active in that conflict getting disability allowances etc when they returned because under the war pension act they had technically not been to war. Long tine ago now but there was a lot of angry service people trying to get benefits and being given the run around by the Government of the day.
And what would you do about those that would seek to attack us?
Draco, surely you realise that you should never answer the premier question with answers to the secondary questions.
First, ban all such warfare. Second, work out how to make that happen, among other things.
So, how about it? Are you in? Looks like you might be the only taker which leaves me pretty disappointed in Les Standardistas.
Like, Draco, I am a supporter of a strong multi-role NZDF, including both offensive and defensive warfighting capabilities.
Sure, me too (on my limited understanding), but you are ignoring the call to a full ban on its use….
@CV…where is NZDF offensive warfighting justified?
Today, no where. But the military always has to prepare 10 years ahead, and I am guessing that the Pacific is going to be a pretty tense place down the track.
Not if we ban warfare now. It might help. Nothing to lose.
Why don’t you want to do such a thing? Do you support the ban on chemical warfare? Where do you draw the line? Why bother going nuclear free? Why is it so hard to stick a flower in the barrel of a tank? Eh?
I think it’ll be as successful as banning homicide…
homicide is banned and it prevents more homicides.
chemical warfare is banned and it prevents more chemical warfare.
you keep avoiding the issue and sliding off it. I know you can see its clarity…. Why are you avoiding saying “I would support banning all warfare”?
@CV…so you would agree with the American gun lobby that it is a citazen’s right to have a gun….just to be prepared 10 years ahead …. in case…. 10 years down the track….when it could be a pretty tense place
…just arguing here and I probably agree with you ….but in theory while these arguments are convincing … in practice people/politicians make mistakes and it can make a situation worse
+1vto…those who attack us is a separate question…then we are defending
24 hours !
And this is sort of why I don’t think that would work:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Molotov%E2%80%93Ribbentrop_Pact
Thanks Pop, appreciate your effort (I know I get on your goat sometimes..).
But the reason outlined in your post is a rehash of the arguments up and around this already. The how of such a ban is the secondary question, not the primary one. We need to answer the primary one first, before assessing the how, the when, the what-ifs, etc etc.
Just like it is with banning nuclear in NZ.
Just like it is with banning homicide.
Just like it is with banning chemical warfare.
Surely you can see the potential in such a ban. Whether it is workable or not is not the issue, just as is so with all other bans. It is a head space, an aim, a lofty high humanitarian goal. Something we can aspire to. And when humans do this sort of thing humanity gets towed along behind to an extent.
And in the alternative,,, to not so ban is to impliedly condone and employ warfare, in the same manner than debanning homicide or chemical warfare would be such.
I don’t understand why this is so hard.
It has been done with chemical. We did it with nuclear. Lets go the whole hog.
edit: and I do recall that pact now, from dim distant studies…
I’d say it’s worth trying. I’m not sure how it could be done in the immediate future, but wars aren’t good for anything. We’d all be better off without them.
Terrific Leadership Contest meeting in Whangarei last night. All three potential Leaders in good spirits and talking good policy ideas. Over 200 people in audience – heaps of new members signed up.
This is a good sign for resurgence in Labour Party.
If new folks are signing up does that mean the meetings are open to non members?
If they sign up as members they are entitled to attend but only existing members or those renewing a fairly recent membership can vote.
(do we all know that john key is an acolyte of ayn rand..?..)
http://whoar.co.nz/2013/comment-john-key-follows-the-teachings-of-his-guru-defends-the-fact-that-the-person-who-cleans-his-office-earns-a-small-fraction-above-the-minimum-wage/
(excerpt..)
“..ed:..of course the building of this low-wage economy is a pillar of the teachings of keys’ guru..ayn rand..
..just about everything john key does/advocates..
..can be drawn back to the vile/poisonous teachings/prescriptions of rand..”
phillip ure..
It was painful to watch Key bleating about the $68 million he said it would cost the government to implement Labour’s “Living Wage” policy for public employees.
That’s right a whopping $68 million out of a annual government spend of 92.7 billion (annual government spending year ending June2012).
So that’s 0.07% of the annual government budget to give New Zealanders a living wage. Not a very high price to pay to help improve the conditions of the working poor.
That’s if you believe Key’s figures, which I don’t, as opposed to Cunliffe’s $25 million which makes it 0.025%.
For comparison, Key’s just spent $100 million of our money flogging off a decent asset that most of us don’t want sold.
The hypocrisy stinks
Agreed.
It is exactly like Key and Brownlee refusing to top up the red zoners $12.5million in Christchurch while going about spending $300million on a stadium for rich rugby players to run around on a few times a month.
This shows this government’s priorities.
Rugby is prioritised over people’s homes
Sharebrokers commissions are prioritised over paying above a slave wage for cleaners.
pitooey in their face. pigs.
“It was painful to watch Key bleating about the $68 million he said it would cost the government to implement Labour’s “Living Wage” policy for public employees.”
The $68m is for extending it to direct government employees only, it doesn’t include contractors such as cleaners in hospitals.
I would think that there aren’t all that many directly-employed government workers earning less tahn $18.40, which is why the wage figure is only $68m.
The other thing is….
It doesn’t cost the country anything. The money stays entirely within New Zealand and if anything spins a little faster..
It costs nothing.
And you my man, win the prize for today’s heterodox economics and monetary theory understanding.
Exactly, only $68 million, so why is Key bleating about it?
For the record I’d tend to believe Labour’s costing of $25m.
Well said Steve. As well as getting their figures wrong sometimes, they make a huge noise about costs that are trivial in the big picture (your example above)that would benefit society, but brush big bad unnecessary costs (ditto your comparison)under the carpet. It’s a very lumpy carpet they’ve got there.
And yes, it is painful. I wish there was some way for Key to vanish, to be forced to resign for some reason, so all this pain could end. (not just the bleating sounds)It would have to happen after the new Labour Leader has been elected though.
Just a fantasy that I’ve harboured since ’08.
I want to see the son-of-a-bitch lose the election.
Me too Linz, and I expect he will lose in a grand fashion. Out with a bang. But waiting another year is unbearable.
Cunliffe, and the Membership at large, are too nice to Grant Robertson.
Grant Robertson is a core part of what has been wrong with the Labour Party for the past five years. Robertson is a core member of the narrow group that created division in the party to protect their own careers. Robertson shaped the shambles that has been Shearer’s Leader’s office for the past 18 months. Shearer/King/Mallard/Robertson attacked the membership and Cunliffe for DARING to vote in favour of more democracy at the Ellerslie Conference.
Robertson has not changed his spots. He is still a natural hoarder of power in the bank office. His instincts are to pay lip service only to the members.
To elect Robertson is to ask for a continuation of the mis-rule of the past five years.
Cunliffe has nothing to apologise for. Robertson is the one that should be called to account.
+1
You are correct, Grant is a pathetic human being, his sold out soul hangs bare for all to see.
Adern, no better!
Yep!
Bang on!
BS he’s a pathetic human being. I know him personally. He’s a decent guy and deeply committed to justice and fairness for all. Personal attacks like this are just stupid.
@ Tigger ….no matter what you think of Robertson…..if Labour wants to win next year against Key ……Robertson as Leader will not cut the mustard with the average New Zealand voter!!!!….and that is that!
….anyone who says otherwise is self-deluded or mischievous….and is laying Labour and New Zealand out for another Key and Nact win.
Cunliffe is the only Leadership option…. and luckily he is the best option by a long way
@ Chooky
Tigger is discouraging personal attacks and is encouraging people to look at the merits of the candidates.
Fyi – Tigger’s choice has been stated:
http://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-30082013/#comment-688611
@ Alanz….well if Robertson has been a mover and shaker in the ABC club…IMO I think he should be able to take ‘personal attacks’….because that is what has been concertedly dealt to Cunliffe over along period of time ….and quite unwarrantedly and one could be kind in saying they were “pathetic”…certainly pathetic for the Labour Party.
Calling someone a pathetic human being is not a personal attack, in this instance, it is a statement of fact.
I Have first hand interactions with many pathetic human beings who trawl the halls of parliament, with Robertson, being one them. I also have daily interactions with pathetic human beings, but the conversation was not about anyone else.
Your experience, and opinion is fine tigger, and my experience and opinion, different from yours, that’s fine, just don’t pretend it was a personal attack, it is my personal opinion, based on my experiences, and based on what is patently obvious about the feeble personality that man has, you can apply the same to Jones, equally pathetic!
Not a PS Staffer…+100
….Rhinocrates …who is in Robertson’s Wellington Central electorate is very disparaging and cutting of Robertson ….and it rings true to me …I met a few of the Robertson machaevellian ‘types’ myself while in the Public Service in Wellington( generally in the wannabe upper echelons, that is how they got there…But this is not to disparage the PS in general)…..and I personally think Louise Wall would be better as Deputy, more attractive to the NZ 50% woman vote and more loyal to Cunliffe
….and Robertson would make a very good Minister of Something…well out of the way
As well as Trotters latest at TDB there is this by Wayne Hope, two excellent articles well worth checking out.
Lolz @ Chris Trotter, the final words of that piece on today’s daily blog are a grand tribute to the use of the English language in all its complexity,
Indeed, when exhausted from talking sense and providing evidence to the Neo-liberal orthodoxy which has shafted the lower end of the economic demographic for the past 30 years in the final analysis as Chris Trotter suggests, we should simply resort to telling them all, go f**k yourself”…
Chris Trotter suggests, we should simply resort to telling them all, go f**k yourself”…
Correct Chris is, and it is about f*k*n time we did so.
“The Blogosphere will play a significant part in the next election…it’s the Wild West of Journalism…blah, blah,…”- Brian Edwards, looking very sharp on te tele. hee hee.
meanwhile, back in ‘Nam, Charlie’s cutting the wires, no more plagiarizing the press down the paddies.
Have a great day! 🙂
and, from our man in the Middle East
The Armagideon Times
…and…a great way to save money.
yet, not as many lives in developing countries.
Why did Robertson outright lie on Seven Sharp last night regarding the whereabouts of his Partner Alf?
we reflected on his credibility perception ourselves; truth will out.
anyway, as, Zarathustra spoke, we should be grateful to the slippery adder that has afflicted us so.
(or, was that love )
Seven Sharp is so crap I can’t watch it. Could you outline the “lie”.
Is this the same Alf ?
gotta love that old time rock and roll!
electrify’s my soul
(just a little ‘Duet’ ; been travelin’ near and far).
All the best fenders do.
😉
Nice.., about time you showed your face again….you have been missed!
Heh. face is in the book ; learn a lot of interesting stuff there at times, if managed well. Man, do they have some persistent algorithms to ‘hook’ users in to being online if they are unaware of the seduction at play. “Said the spider to the fly…”
So, Seamus Heaney has texted The final Given Note.
Silly to lie about it, but I can understand why Alf would rather avoid having to become public “property”.
Fair enough. But he (Robertson) should just say so!
Agreed, a simple “Alf would rather not become a minor celebrity at this stage” would have been a better strategy.
I heard John Tamahere say on RNZ that if Shane Jones won the selection he would get more involved in the LP. There goes the women’s vote totally.
no doubt hordes of Waitakere Men will suddenly vote Labour. Provided they’ve learned tool use and fire-starting, first.
these are regressive times. 😀
My thoughts exactly: we’re front-bums and geldings according to those two dinosaurs.
A good reason to vote against Jones then.
Re that Jones’ boy,
22:1 Be tactful and you remain whole; bend and you remain straight. The hollow is filled, the old is renewed. Economy is gain, Excess is confusion..
22:5 Is it empty talk, the old saying that tact keeps you whole? When truthfulness is complete, it still resorts to this.
If one applies at a WINZ interview for assistance with C.V preparation, they can approve a ‘grant’ that pays a ‘consultant to do so. (the charge was $135 for C.V, comes with a data stick in addition to hard-copy and $67 for a ‘cover letter’). Very Helpful!
http://www.3news.co.nz/Shane-Jones-says-he-can-beat-John-Key/tabid/1607/articleID/311599/Default.aspx'
Shane Jones:
Mr Jones has got past a corruption allegation and that porn issue.
“Around Aotearoa, I’ve always found that I’ve been very popular with women. I’ve never been at the top of the hit parade with feminists. But the woman I want to appeal to are the women that read the Women’s Weekly, not Germaine Greer,”
He wants to create jobs with more drilling and mining.
“Let’s cut to the chase – I’d rather have the young people of the North with a shovel in their hand [rather than] running around picking locks.”
“I’m not the greatest person for political correctness. But the politically correct thing to do is win power,”
Ew. Just ew.
Paddy Gower ends his glowing ‘the underdog is on fire’ piece with “Jones is the only one who looks real.” Are you joking? I had to wipe myself down after watching the video.
Shane Jones please go join the NAct party where you obviously belong.
But the woman I want to appeal to are the women that read the Women’s Weekly, not Germaine Greer
Oddly enough, his use of the “I don’t hate bitches, I just hate uppity bitches” strategy has not endeared him to me.
I just watched that TV clip sthn.Jeff. I had to watch it twice to make sure I actually saw what I thought I did. How could he blatantly lie like that?
I realise it was just a meaningless piece of Fluff on a Crap TV programme, but just dumb dumb dumb!
almost as slippery with the truth as Mr Key i fear… 🙂
Chris Trotter says;
“The Old Guard of Labour’s caucus (Phil Goff, Annette King, Trevor Mallard) realising how much the new Electoral College was likely to undermine their ability to control the direction of the party, did nothing to discourage the media’s misperception of Cunliffe’s intentions. They were desperate to keep David Shearer in place until the reins of government were securely in his (their?) hands.
They were right to be worried. The new system is revolutionary. To grasp just how revolutionary, consider how effectively it would have prevented the takeover of the Labour Party by Roger Douglas and his cronies.”
Read more reason NEVER to let Grant Robertson near the levers of power.
http://thedailyblog.co.nz/2013/09/02/democratic-distempers-how-labours-leadership-election-is-unsettling-the-neoliberal-establishment/
Listening to JIm on RNZ yesterday afternoon and the Swedish road safety dude said there were far too many road signs????
There only used to be one: KEEP LEFT but the chumps in the national party could not handle that and now there is a whole industry telling people what to do and they never do it!
“..but the chumps in the national party could not handle that..”
heh..!
phillip ure..
Aye aye, Cap’n. But the worst bloody thing of all is driving thru the night, vision in sync with the conditions, you head for a corner to be stupifyingly blinded by your own lights being reflected back double from the hightech fucking sign pointing to the direction that you should be taking that you haven’t got a hope in hell of making as you need a seeing eye dog for the next 50ks.
Quotes from Slippery
http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/j/john_key_2.html
bob jones has mounted a rear-guard action against any idea/plans for a capital-gains tax..
..and in the process..has shot himself in both (tax)-feet..heh..!
http://whoar.co.nz/2013/bob-jones-mounts-a-rearguard-action-against-the-clamours-for-a-capital-gains-tax-from-the-mob-ed-i-think-he-really-wanted-to-say-peasants-eh-and-in-the-process-makes-a-wildwacky/
phillip ure..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7_qkG9gqhA8
I’m prepared to call it: Cunliffe will be the next leader of the opposition
What was Robertson thinking?
“YOU said that.”
Can this train-wreck of a programme get any worse?
The Panel, Radio NZ National, Tuesday 3 September 2013
Jim Mora, Mai Chen, Steve McCabe
Often the most interesting part of Jim Mora’s Panel is the fifteen-minute pre-show segment, when the guests are asked to comment on various articles plucked off the internet, grandly billed as “What the World’s Talking About”. Since they don’t have the time to think at length about many of these items, they often don’t say much of any value. They do, however, occasionally reveal a lot about themselves. Regular Panelist Stephen Franks, for instance, a legal counsel for and supporter of those bloodthirsty knife-killing enthusiasts the S.S. Trust, is fond of pontificating about the “wicked” behavior of lower class criminals. Someone else who used to guest regularly was Dr. Michael Bassett, who over the years has degenerated into a muttering, scowling old jackal; on one infamous occasion he crazily snarled that Nicky Hager was a “holocaust-denier”. Another curmudgeonly old fool who used to appear regularly on the Panel is Garth “Gaga” George, who one day learnedly opined that the Australians in the RAMSI task force were “the very worst kind of Australian”. It was on the Panel pre-show that Chris Trotter delivered his windy admonition against those who dared to question the wisdom or morality of the Florida jury that acquitted the killer of Trayvon Martin, where Rosemary McLeod sniffed contemptuously that “those people [Egyptians] don’t WANT democracy”, and dear old Gordon MacLauchlan declared in all seriousness: “Python is brilliant! It leaves Cheers for dead.”
So it’s not unusual to hear stuff on the Panel that’s pompous, silly, stupid, unintentionally funny or (in the case of Bassett and Franks) downright depraved. But when it comes to sheer bloody hypocrisy, mealy-mouthedness and cowardice, it’s hard to go past Jim Mora himself. Look how he behaved during today’s pre-show segment…..
NOELLE McCARTHY: John Kerry says there is definite proof because there are chemical residues in the hair and clothing of the victims, but that’s not good enough for Russia and China!
JIM MORA: People are asking how is it so different from killing entire wedding parties with drone strikes.
NOELLE McCARTHY: Hmmmm.
STEVE McCABE: Personally I can’t see why chemical weapons are so much worse than those other weapons.
MORA: [mocking tone] Well it’s a RED LINE that was crossed!
STEVE McCABE: It’s a pity the United States did not draw a red line in Vietnam.
A couple of seconds of awkward silence…..
MORA: You mean with Agent Orange?
Further awkward silence….
NOELLE McCARTHY: Hmmmm.
MORA: A couple of e-mailers have said what about when Saddam gassed the Kurds in 1988?
STEVE McCABE: That was back when Saddam was still our mate. So it was okay.
Brief, very tense silence….
MORA: [sighing] YOU said that.
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
More Depravity on Radio NZ: On the Radio NZ sports news at 5:30 p.m., Stephen Hewson read out an item about a St. Kilda footballer setting fire to a dwarf entertainer at a “Mad Monday” booze-up. The item included a voice grab of the dwarf, known as “Mr. Big”, describing the footballer’s actions as “just criminal.” At the end of the item, Hewson snickered, snorted and guffawed and said “Back to you Mary”.
i think mccabe might get dropped from the panel-guest-list for that saddam-one..(tho’ it is hardly a controversial observation..nor was the agent orange one..)
..and aside from all the war-mongering lies/pieties from america..
..the hypocrisies are fucken eyewatering..
..america poisoned whole fucken countries..
..and either themselves or thru their sattelite-states (like nz) america continues to rain death down on innocent-civilians worldwide..
..they and their mercenary-states/acolytes are the war-criminals of our times..
..phillip ure..
.re pike river..
i am as anti-pretty much everything this govt does..
..and there is no difference here..
..for the life of me..!..i can understand the emotions involved here..
..but this is bloody madness..!..$7.2 million pissed up against the wall..and for what..?
..were the body recoveries guaranteed..?..maybe..maybe..
..but when they aren’t..?
..f.f.s..!
..why not use that money to form a trust for the children of those killed..?
..i mean..surely this is what their dead parents would want..?
..to set their children up for education/w.h.y. costs taken care of..
..to possibly set them up for life..
..rather than this exercise in futility..?
phillip ure..
@ phillip Ure …even better set up the kids with the $7.2 million trust ….and bring the bodies out…..using unwanted Kapiti Coast Motorway kitty money…..ie ditch the Motorway and bring the bodies out
Key wants nothing to do with The Marshall Islands nuclear testing debacle but is trigger happy with North Korea and Syria.
The muppet is just a puppet!