Open Mike 07/01/2017

122 comments on “Open Mike 07/01/2017 ”

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1. Colonial Viper 1

   6 January 2017 at 10:12 pm

   with some capabilities to ensure increased NZ self sufficiency in a deglobalising world.

   [I”ve asked you to stay out of commenting on my posts, please don’t do it again – weka]

   [TheStandard: A moderator moved this comment to Open Mike as being off topic or irrelevant in the post it was made in. Be more careful in future.]
   
   • greywarshark 1.1

     7 January 2017 at 2:58 pm

     Colonial Viper
     Don’t know what that’s about CV and don’t want to know but I agree with your comment.
     It is a practical and necessary path to follow.
     • Colonial Viper 1.1.1

       7 January 2017 at 10:53 pm

       Cheers GWS.
   • reason 1.2

     7 January 2017 at 3:34 pm

     Some links to docos you might enjoy CV ….. although you may have seen them before …….. others could enjoy or learn from them …..

     When I’m reading an article on the net and a name or operation I know nothing about is mentioned …. I ‘right click’ and search to see where the information leads and how it ties into things … it can end up very informative sometimes. …

     It was while watching a doco about Kissinger and his huge crimes against humanity https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BLMf-E9VRxc
     http://www.globalresearch.ca/reliving-agent-orange-rethinking-the-cost-of-vietnam-war/5566106 …. that lead
     me to Douglas Valentine …. http://www.douglasvalentine.com/bio.htm

     Doug Valentine is a investigative journalist who after 4 years of research and interviews with C.I.A agents wrote a book “The Phoenix Program ” which ran during the Vietnam war …. “,…. it’s described as “A shocking exposé of
     the covert CIA program of widespread torture, rape, and murder of civilians during America’s war in Vietnam,” …..

     In this radio interview Doug Valentine describes his upbringing with a WWII vet father and how he got onto the phoenix program which was unknown to the public and had been a secret for 20 odd years https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QkPUqUAhBg8 ……..

     A lot of the doco explains specific propaganda and manipulation used to gain support for mass murder ( war )…………… He also gives a review of how he thinks Trump will operate… which is both critical and hopeful … Its a pack of murderers Trump will have to deal with and they certainly will not want to stop their sadistic blood democracy

     But of course Vietnam and The Phoenix Program was just a continuation of using the worst psychopathic killers to suppress real democracy , murder political rivals, start wars, starve innocent civilians ….. and misinform us about it the whole time ….

     “Operation Gladio” involved the C.I.As predecessor O.S.S and was specifically about the recruitment of Nazis,ultra-fascists and extreme right wingers after WWII was over………….. they were hidden militias/terrorist

     Put in place to fight, kill and suppress democratic movements or governments …calling them socialists/communists …. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=trGfQREzScY …

     The Govt sponsered nazis Killed many many innocent people …. which was then most often blamed on communists/socialist … using the resulting public outrage to kill or persecute them.

     Which all leads me to ask ……. why do we …. as in New Zealand ….have a trade embargo against Russia for protecting ethnic russians and others from a proto fascist govt installed after destabilization and a violent coup ????….

     http://nsnbc.me/2014/05/10/odessa-massacre-detail-investigation/

     These nazi fascist scum are what the russians lost over 20 million citizens fighting against in WWII ………

     Its mainly our farmers who are paying for NZs support of fascism at the moment .. ….. good to see National party supporters paying for their fascist support policy http://www.lgbtqnation.com/2016/11/united-states-votes-anti-nazi-un-resolution/

     “The International Criminal Court prosecutes individuals who have committed genocide and other major war crimes. Over 120 countries support it, but the United States is not one of them ……. ”

     It all seems very disrespectful to WWII vets …. democracy u.s.a style ……….supporting Nazis

     At least by not having a real air-force we did not become part of the ISIS aerial fighting wing like the Aussies and yanks did ….
     • Psycho Milt 1.2.1

       7 January 2017 at 4:08 pm

       Which all leads me to ask ……. why do we …. as in New Zealand ….have a trade embargo against Russia for protecting ethnic russians and others from a proto fascist govt installed after destabilization and a violent coup ????….

       It certainly would be highly questionable, if the situation you describe reflected reality rather than fiction.
       • garibaldi 1.2.1.1

         7 January 2017 at 4:38 pm

         Thank you reason. The USA utterly destroyed its credibility with its actions in Vietnam, and has never come to terms with how appalling they really are(still).
         • reason 1.2.1.1.1

           7 January 2017 at 6:51 pm

           Cheers garibaldi ………. one of the truly evil deeds done at the end of WWII was when the Brits reinstated the Fascist Nazi collaborators as police and Government in Greece ….. while waging war on the anti Nazi Greek partisan fighters who had liberated their country shortly before the Brits arrived …

           ….” as the December Battle of Athens had begun – known in Greece as the Dekemvriana – fought not between the British and the Nazis, but the British alongside supporters of the Nazis against the partisans. ” ……

           “And thereafter Greece’s descent into catastrophic civil war: a cruel and bloody episode in British as well as Greek history which every Greek knows to their core”

           ” In France or Italy, if you fought the Nazis, you were respected in society after the war, regardless of ideology; they were heroes. In Greece, you found yourself fighting – or imprisoned and tortured by – the people who had collaborated with the Nazis, on British orders. There has never been a reckoning with that crime,” …. https://libcom.org/history/british-perfidy-greece-story-worth-remembering-ed-vulliamy-helena-smith

           True Heroes and decent people were killed and slaughtered and its quite bloody tragic ………. “Greek politician, physician, track and field athlete, pacifist……. ” …….. http://2013.100daysproject.co.nz/project/day/80/2013/118

           Those other Docos I posted up for Puckish were probably a bit long for Puckish …….. Here’s a 6 minute music one which has a simple message for him https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y5yYjcxnpCs

           He might learn a new language …………..:)

           https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_casualties_in_World_War_II
           • Colonial Viper 1.2.1.1.1.1

             7 January 2017 at 11:03 pm

             thank you reason. It seems that we have to educate some privileged citizens of the US-Anglo empire what their own recent history is. I bet some still think that the Contras were the “popularly supported freedom fighters”
2. JanM 2

   7 January 2017 at 6:58 am

   My sister made some purchases in Briscoes yesterday. The salesman produced a plastic bag which she said she didn’t want. We were told they had to either give us a bag or put a ‘sold’ sticker on every item. Grrr!!
   • Ffloyd 2.1

     7 January 2017 at 9:00 am

     I would have thought that a till receipt gives you all the proof of purchase you need.
     • JanM 2.1.1

       7 January 2017 at 9:09 am

       Exactly – and when every other company is ( or says it is) trying to cut back on plastic waste, what does this Australian company think it’s up to?
       • One Anonymous Bloke 2.1.1.1

         7 January 2017 at 9:46 am

         Once they’re paid for they belong to you and you can do whatever you like with them, including deciding you don’t want extra stickers. Plus what Ffloyd said.
         • weka 2.1.1.1.1

           7 January 2017 at 11:28 am

           They’d probably then insist on stickering or bagging them before the transaction was completed. There’s probably something politically creative to do with the bag or stickers at that point 😈
           • JanM 2.1.1.1.1.1

             7 January 2017 at 12:05 pm

             Indeed that was what happened.
           • gsays 2.1.1.1.1.2

             8 January 2017 at 8:44 am

             Hi weka, I would cynically suggest, insisting on a bag is no more than an advertising initiative.
       • Sabine 2.1.1.2

         7 January 2017 at 3:06 pm

         when this happen, accept the bag, go to the next rubbish bin outside of the shop and put any surplus packaging, plastic bags, plastic wrappings etc in said rubbish bin.
         If someone from the Mall asks why you do that you simply state that you did not want the plastic bag/packaging/plastic wrapping and thus you leave it behind to let the store deal with the rubbish.

         IF/when enough people do that and the shops/mall have ot empty their rubbish containers several times more a day some businesses will stop using any extra packaging.

         I do that often at the Supermarket/Paknslave with plastic wrappers around boxes around bottles and the likes. Not gonna schlepp that stuff home.
         • JanM 2.1.1.2.1

           7 January 2017 at 10:49 pm

           Not a bad idea, but if this is a company policy I think I need to kick up a public fuss as well
           • Sabine 2.1.1.2.1.1

             8 January 2017 at 12:52 pm

             it will be a company policy. Their bags are branded and while you walk around with your briscoes bag, your pak n slave bags etc etc you are a walking talking advertisement for the company and in many cases you have to pay 10 cents for the privelege.

             Kick a fuss with the company and then start leaving all the surpluss packaging behind in the shops and let them deal with the rubbish.
             Why would you a. schlepp that stuff home and b. pay for having it removed as rubbish?
3. AsleepWhileWalking 3

   7 January 2017 at 7:30 am

   Thank you Polly.

   Predatory health professionals should be put in prison IMHO. Instead the system continues protects them.

   http://www.nzherald.co.nz/lifestyle/news/article.cfm?c_id=6&objectid=11694042
   • reason 3.1

     7 January 2017 at 3:28 pm

     When I’m reading an article on the net and a name or operation I know nothing about is mentioned I ‘right click’ and search to see where
     the information leads and how it ties into things …

     It was while watching a doco about Kissinger and his huge crimes against humanity https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BLMf-E9VRxc
     http://www.globalresearch.ca/reliving-agent-orange-rethinking-the-cost-of-vietnam-war/5566106 …. that lead
     me to Douglas Valentine …. http://www.douglasvalentine.com/bio.htm

     Doug Valentine is a investigative journalist who after 4 years of research and interviews with C.I.A agents wrote a book “The Phoenix Program ” which ran during the Vietnam war …. “,…. it’s described as “A shocking exposé of
     the covert CIA program of widespread torture, rape, and murder of civilians during America’s war in Vietnam,” …..

     In this radio interview he describes his upbringing with a WWII vet father and how he got onto the phoenix program which was unknown to the public and had been a secret for 20 odd years https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QkPUqUAhBg8 ……..

     A lot of the doco explains specific propaganda and manipulation used to gain support for mass murder ( war )…………… He also gives a review of how he thinks Trump will operate… which is both critical and hopeful … Its a pack of murderers Trump will have to deal with and they certainly will not want to stop.

     But of course Vietnam and The Phoenix Program was just a continuation of using the worst psychopathic killers to suppress real democracy , murder political rivals, start wars, starve innocent civilians ….. and misinform us about it the whole time ….

     “Operation Gladio” involved the C.I.As predecessor O.S.S and was specifically about the recruitment of Nazis,ultra-fascists and extreme right wingers after WWII was over………….. they were hidden militias/terrorist

     Put in place to fight, kill and suppress democratic movements or governments …calling them socialists/communists …. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=trGfQREzScY …

     The Govt sponsered nazis Killed many many innocent people …. which was then most often blamed on communists/socialist … using the resulting public outrage to kill or persecute them.

     Which all leads me to ask ……. why do we …. as in New Zealand ….have a trade embargo against Russia for protecting ethnic russians and others from a proto fascist govt installed after destabilization and a violent coup ????….

     http://nsnbc.me/2014/05/10/odessa-massacre-detail-investigation/

     These nazi fascist scum are what the russians lost over 20 million citizens fighting against in WWII ………

     Yet here we are ……http://www.lgbtqnation.com/2016/11/united-states-votes-anti-nazi-un-resolution/

     “The International Criminal Court prosecutes individuals who have committed genocide and other major war crimes. Over 120 countries support it, but the United States is not one of them ……. ”

     Its mainly our farmers who are paying for NZs support of fascism at the moment .. ….. good to see National party supporters paying for their policy

     At least by not having a real air-force we did not become part of the ISIS aerial fighting wing like the Aussies and yanks did ….
4. Macro 4

   7 January 2017 at 7:59 am

   A wealthy Nigerian Prince has died and left his entire £12 million fortune to his cat.

   He was quoted as saying, “I’ve tried to give it away on numerous occasions over the years but no one ever responded to my e-mails”
   • greywarshark 4.1

     7 January 2017 at 2:56 pm

     Haha Macro.
5. saveNZ 5

   7 January 2017 at 8:10 am

   From national park to overseas: Plan to export billions of litres of West Coast water

   http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/88099749/from-national-park-to-overseas-plan-to-export-billions-of-litres-of-west-coast-water

   – Great to see that we just give our natural resources away to anyone who puts in a resource consent. sarc.
   • One Anonymous Bloke 5.1

     7 January 2017 at 8:14 am

     It comes in two flavours: norovirus and campylobacter.
     • Andre 5.1.1

       7 January 2017 at 8:24 am

       Wot? They’ve dropped giardia from the lineup?
       • wek a 5.1.1.1

         7 January 2017 at 8:53 am

         Silly billies, the buggy water is saved for Kiwis.
         • saveNZ 5.1.1.1.1

           7 January 2017 at 11:10 am

           Like our building industry where we sell raw materials for peanuts to buy back for a fortune, we can now give our water away to buy back in plastic bottles for $3. Bad for the environment, bad for the economy, but obviously a great profit for those getting the resource consents being dished out like lollies.
   • Colonial Viper 5.2

     7 January 2017 at 8:54 am

     Some political party should revoke all these fucking water exporting rights. Labour, get on to it
     • saveNZ 5.2.1

       7 January 2017 at 9:33 am

       Yup, water should only be free if you harvest it off your roof or your own ponds, if you start taking from National parks, lakes, aquifers then you should have to pay per cubic meter for the water to the government and a levy to the local community and ONLY if it will have a minimal environmental effects.

       The resource consents should be able to be modified or nulled if there are any negative effects and the consents should only be for 5 – 10 year periods not forever, so that if there is a drought or what have you – the consents can be modified.

       It is crazy how the council and government are just giving away our public resources. Wonder who the company is and who they know in government and council?
       • BM 5.2.1.1

         7 January 2017 at 10:02 am

         So, water meters for all residential properties.?

         Not really too excited about that one.
         • saveNZ 5.2.1.1.1

           7 January 2017 at 11:04 am

           Not sure where you live BM but many of us on town water seemed to be already charged for water, therefore why should a small group of people be able to take out millions of litres of water for their business from NZer’s without also paying for their useage?

           If you want to avoid water charges collect from your roof or ponds for farms. Not some individuals diverting and taking water from everyone for their own benefit and selling if off shore while many locals are forced to pay for it.
           • BM 5.2.1.1.1.1

             7 January 2017 at 11:21 am

             Water meters are the first step in privatisation.

             I don’t want our water supply sold off to a multinational, I’d prefer the city and rate payers stay in control of the water supply.
             • Andre …

               7 January 2017 at 11:36 am

               Wow, BM. That’s very socialist of you.
             • Draco T Bastard …

               7 January 2017 at 11:36 am

               That seems to be a major disconnect from what’s actually happening.

               The private companies are getting hold of our water and are exporting it with minimal controls and they’re not paying for it either.
             • Graeme …

               7 January 2017 at 1:48 pm

               Na mate, they are the first step in sorting out wasteful, entitled bludgers who think they can use as much water as they like and not have to pay for it. Bonus effect in allowing reticulation managers to get a handle on location and quantity of losses from their reticulation. So the result of metering is lower costs to most water users, apart from the wasteful entitled bludgers, who get to pay for their usage.

               It’s the political clout of the wasteful entitled bludgers that keeps our water supplies un-metered, and uncontrolled.
               • Draco T Bastard …

                 7 January 2017 at 6:04 pm

                 +111
             • saveNZ …

               7 January 2017 at 3:14 pm

               The councils seem to be giving away the rate payers water that’s what I am objecting to, by giving private companies resource consent to harvest water for nothing.
             • millsy …

               7 January 2017 at 4:59 pm

               Traitor to the right!
         • Draco T Bastard 5.2.1.1.2

           7 January 2017 at 11:34 am

           Auckland has had them for at least 40 years.

           It’s one of those things about economics that most people simply do not understand: We need to measure how much of a resource we have, how much of it can be used sustainably per year and how much and where is actually being used.

           For some strange reason we’ve developed this idea that we can just take it all without worrying about it.

           So, yes, every house, farm and business needs to have a water metre. And if we keep a market system then everyone needs to be charged for each unit that they use.
     • Cinny 5.2.2

       7 January 2017 at 4:45 pm

       Strongly agree.
     • Wayne 5.2.3

       7 January 2017 at 6:55 pm

       CV,

       Like water is so scarce on the West Coast that there is not nearly enough to export.

       Seriously, get real here. Why wouldn’t you export water from the West Coast? Standardnistas are always going on about the lack of jobs, especially in the regions, but obviously when they are created you are against them. Go figure.

       Go and ask Damian O’Connor what he thinks.
       • Clump_AKA Sam 5.2.3.1

         7 January 2017 at 7:12 pm

         That’s not a good argument for tax evasion, Wayne!
       • The Chairman 5.2.3.2

         7 January 2017 at 8:34 pm

         One of the problems many have with this issue Wayne is the resource belongs to all New Zealanders, yet it will be a privately owned venture that is going to directly profit from this.

         If we are going to bulk export water it should be done through Government and for the benefit of all New Zealanders.
       • Draco T Bastard 5.2.3.3

         7 January 2017 at 9:52 pm

         Like water is so scarce on the West Coast that there is not nearly enough to export.

         Yes, correct.

         Why do you RWNJs always think that resources are unlimited?
   • Draco T Bastard 5.3

     7 January 2017 at 11:29 am

     How to make a country poor: Export all its resources for money
     • saveNZ 5.3.1

       7 January 2017 at 3:17 pm

       I think that if you harvest from your own roof for residential use it should be free or if you irrigate stock from your own pond it should be free. What I object to, is that some locals paying a fortune for water, while other councils are giving it away for export (probably to cronies). Where is the fairness in that?
       • Draco T Bastard 5.3.1.1

         7 January 2017 at 6:03 pm

         The point is that our present economic system mistakes money for wealth. Exporting resources actually makes us poorer even though a few people will have more money in the bank.
6. Andre 6

   7 January 2017 at 8:13 am

   The Chump says he’s saving jobs in the US. A few hundred at a time. By individually bullying companies (into doing things they were going to do anyway, but the Chump and the company both get good press from bullshitting about it). But he’s promised to trash clean energy, which is one of the fastest growing and high value segments of the US economy. Meanwhile China is creating millions of jobs by getting serious about clean energy.

   https://thinkprogress.org/trump-to-abandon-millions-of-high-wage-jobs-to-china-3554a04796b1#.qyh3a1owu
   • Colonial Viper 6.1

     7 January 2017 at 9:13 am

     Trump is into good business and good deals. If “clean energy” can demonstrate its place in the US economy, it’ll have a very good run under Trump.

     Meanwhile China is creating millions of jobs by getting serious about clean energy.

     NB China is still opening up new thermal plants every month.

     The Chump says he’s saving jobs in the US. A few hundred at a time. By individually bullying companies

     It’s good to see that we finally have a US President who understands how business makes decisions and doesn’t believe in the free market mumbo jumbo of the Clintons and the Obamas.

     Mexican press already complaining that Trump has cost Mexico at least 3600 jobs which were due to move from the US to Mexico.
     • Adrian Thornton 6.1.1

       7 January 2017 at 10:16 am

       @ Colonial Viper, Are you seriously saying that you believe Trump ( himself in the1% class) will operate outside his own class ideology, and help workers achieve better more stable conditions/pay over other (1% ers) industrialists/corporatists profit motives, and that he doesn’t believe in a totally free market?
       What has he ever done in his own business ventures to have you believe those things?
       • Colonial Viper 6.1.1.1

         7 January 2017 at 10:21 am

         He’s already doing those things. And it’s not just about Mexico – he’s just fired shots at the Toyota Corporation telling them if they do not build their next plant in the USA, they will face a 35% tariff at the border.

         BTW you need to realise that the “elites” are not a monolithic block. History shows us that the “elites” often have conflicting or competing agendas. We can see this quite clearly with the deep state attempting to take the Trump Administration down before it even gets in.
         • One Anonymous Bloke 6.1.1.1.1

           7 January 2017 at 10:27 am

           Meanwhile, on Earth:

           Trump has expressed support for so-called right-to-work legislation, which allows workers to avoid paying union dues. Republican leaders in Congress have consistently sought such a change at the national level. Labor unions say such laws are aimed at undermining collective bargaining and workers’ rights.

           It’s ok though, because a shithead propagandist says water is dry.
           • Colonial Viper 6.1.1.1.1.1

             7 January 2017 at 10:37 am

             Trump is making the USA more attractive for business. He’ll threaten businesses who want to move jobs out of the USA. But he’ll also give them lower taxes and more compliant workforce conditions if they stay.

             It’s a classic business-like carrot and stick approach.

             Obama was just letting Detroit jobs walk away to Mexico – destroying US worker unions that way.
             • Morrissey …

               7 January 2017 at 11:40 am

               “…more compliant workforce conditions…”

               TRANSLATION: Few if any workers’ rights, no overtime pay, little or no safety regulations, instant dismissal at the whim of the boss….
               • Colonial Viper …

                 7 January 2017 at 11:57 pm

                 That’s the way of it. Trump can deliver some things, but given the political establishment he is up against, he won’t be able to deliver everything by himself.
               • HDCAFriendlyTroll …

                 8 January 2017 at 6:46 am

                 ” … less tax for the worker, more money in workers’ pockets, more spending power …”

                 You’re welcome.
                 • Muttonbird …

                   8 January 2017 at 10:20 am

                   “…dead at the bottom of a mineshaft…”

                   You’re welcome.
         • mickysavage 6.1.1.1.2

           7 January 2017 at 11:17 am

           Why do you not think that Trump is an elite?
           • Colonial Viper 6.1.1.1.2.1

             7 January 2017 at 11:29 am

             You’ll have to point out where I said that. Indeed, I said above that elites often have conflicting or competing interests and that can be seen in how the Deep State is attempting to take Trump and his Administration down. (Implicitly suggesting that Trump is indeed part of the elite).

             If anything, saying that Trump is part of the 1% is not wholly accurate. He is more correctly thought of as part of the 1% of the 1%.
             • millsy …

               7 January 2017 at 2:03 pm

               Trump’s fellow elitists have long known that they cannot control him like they could control Reagan, Bush, Clinton and (they were hoping), Rodham Clinton.
               • Colonial Viper …

                 7 January 2017 at 11:06 pm

                 BINGO – you got it, millsy.
         • Adrian Thornton 6.1.1.1.3

           7 January 2017 at 12:49 pm

           OK, so just to be clear, are you saying that you believe that American workers, American civil rights, and freedom of speech will all improve overall under a Trump Presidency?
           Also what historical episode are you alluding to where ‘elites’ ( a word I loath to use for the leeching class) have turned on their own class for the benefit of workers in a long term and substantive way?
           • Colonial Viper 6.1.1.1.3.1

             7 January 2017 at 11:08 pm

             OK, so just to be clear, are you saying that you believe that American workers, American civil rights, and freedom of speech will all improve overall under a Trump Presidency?

             They’ll deteriorate at an equal or slower rate than under President Obama’s time.

             I can almost guarantee that Trump will prosecute FEWER whistleblowers than the record breaking Orwellian Obama.
       • Andre 6.1.1.2

         7 January 2017 at 10:29 am

         @Adrian: Yes, CV really is that special kind of stupid.
     • Draco T Bastard 6.1.2

       7 January 2017 at 11:39 am

       NB China is still opening up new thermal plants every month.

       China Bans New Coal-fired Power Plants
       • Macro 6.1.2.1

         7 January 2017 at 11:57 am

         from the link

         Recently, two U.S. coal companies, Peabody Energy Corporation and Arch Coal, filed for bankruptcy amid tumbling coal prices. These companies had invested significantly to acquire coal mines and were particularly hurt by low consumption in China.

         No worries…
         The Chump will reopen the US mines and bring back heaps of jobs!
         http://www.nytimes.com/2016/08/20/world/americas/alienated-and-angry-coal-miners-see-donald-trump-as-their-only-choice.html?_r=0

         Oh Wait! That’s from the NY Times – purveyors of Fake News!

         Oh Wait! No matter what Trump says – Mining jobs are not returning to W Virginia

         CV response in … 1, 2, 3,….
       • Colonial Viper 6.1.2.2

         7 January 2017 at 11:15 pm

         A temporary ban/slow down on new thermal units due to overcapacity and falling profitability, not due to environmental concerns

         http://www.powermag.com/despite-policy-shifts-china-faces-huge-coal-fired-overcapacity/
         • Draco T Bastard 6.1.2.2.1

           7 January 2017 at 11:38 pm

           And yet they’re also pushing massive investment in renewable energy.
           • Colonial Viper 6.1.2.2.1.1

             7 January 2017 at 11:52 pm

             Let’s get down to brass tacks, Draco. Is China’s CO2 emissions in 2017 going to be higher or lower than in 2015 and 2016?

             Because if it’s higher then it doesn’t matter a rat’s arse if China adds a million square kilometres of solar panels.
             • Draco T Bastard …

               8 January 2017 at 11:39 am

               Indications are that it will be lower from coal fired generation. So that would indicate that it does matter that China is going to add even more gigawatts of renewable power generation.
   • Andre 6.2

     7 January 2017 at 9:27 am

     Krugman on the Chump’s phony jobs policy and how he’s playing the media with his “saving jobs” schtick.

     “In other words, it may have sounded as if Mr. Trump was doing something substantive by intervening with Carrier, but he wasn’t. This was fake policy — a show intended to impress the rubes, not to achieve real results.”

     http://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/06/opinion/the-age-of-fake-policy.html?ref=opinion&_r=0
     • Colonial Viper 6.2.1

       7 January 2017 at 9:44 am

       Clinton Camper Krugman is just pissed that he didn’t get the White House position Hillary promised him, and has been losing his mind for the last two months over it.
       • One Anonymous Bloke 6.2.1.1

         7 January 2017 at 10:29 am

         A bit like you and the Labour Party, eh.
         • Colonial Viper 6.2.1.1.1

           7 January 2017 at 10:34 am

           Explain? The Labour Party has no money to pay people with. It relies on free work done for it at no cost to keep functioning.
           • McFlock 6.2.1.1.1.1

             7 January 2017 at 5:44 pm

             lol now you’re parroting Pauline Hanson, but without the courtesy of a “please”.
             • Colonial Viper …

               7 January 2017 at 11:16 pm

               Perhaps you can explain then? Please?
               • McFlock …

                 7 January 2017 at 11:56 pm

                 Only if you clearly explain your obsession with pizza parlours. Maybe you should “self investigate”.
     • Nic the NZer 6.2.2

       7 January 2017 at 11:20 am

       If Krugman was really interested in policies which make a substantial difference to the US jobs market he should not have been dead-set against Gerald Friedmans estimates of the US economys future under Bernie Sanders economic policy.

       http://krugman.blogs.nytimes.com/2016/02/26/romer-and-romer-on-friedman/

       Friedman was discussing policies which might actually make a dent in the 75,000 odd churn of the jobs market each day in the US.

       The main point is, (as Krugman says), that “Friedman is implicitly assuming that the U.S. economy is (and will continue to be for a long time) dramatically below its productive capacity.” which he disputes. But given that Krugman is saying there that the US is actually much closer to full capacity utilization when dealing with Friedman (which means almost all of the 75,000 turnover will find other jobs quickly) why does he also claim some re-shoring is insignificant because many will languish without jobs for many many years, when dealing with Trump. Of course its because Krugman thinks he can have it both ways on this issue.

       Also, despite claiming its fake policy, Krugman does nothing to actually show that the policy doesn’t do exactly what it says it does. e.g the headline of Krugmans piece is based on a lie! (most probably by the editor).
       • Clump_AKA Sam 6.2.2.1

         7 January 2017 at 12:28 pm

         Indeed. Krugman is Killarys handbag, like Podesta, aka one job, all they had to do was say yes.
   • Andre 6.3

     7 January 2017 at 9:42 am

     Heh. More Chump job creation. Nervous companies hire more PR people for rapid response to 3am tweets.

     http://www.salon.com/2017/01/06/donald-trumps-early-morning-tweetstorms-are-creating-jobs-for-nervous-pr-people/
7. Andre 7

   7 January 2017 at 8:35 am

   Interesting science prediction. There will be a red nova sometime around 2022 from a binary star finally collapsing into itself.

   http://www.vox.com/science-and-health/2017/1/6/14184094/scientists-predict-stars-colliding

   Joke science prediction: society will collapse within 10 years! It’s real! It’s based on actual math and social science and stuff!

   http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/peter-turchin-cliodynamics-society-collapse_us_586f1e22e4b02b5f85882988?section=us_science

   (Sorry if this excites the “We’re doomed Dooooomed I tells ya” crowd)
   • Colonial Viper 7.1

     7 January 2017 at 8:56 am

     Society and civilisation is already collapsing for the bottom one to two billion in the world.

     The stuck up ignorant intellectual-yet-idiots in first class don’t think anything is wrong with the Titanic, but those in steerage have noticed that the water is up to their knees and rising fast.
     • mauī 7.1.1

       7 January 2017 at 9:32 am

       Even the wealthy locations around the world are experiencing weird, severe weather events year on year. But don’t worry we’re this close to self driving cars and drone courier deliveries which will of course solve all our problems.. not.
8. Colonial Viper 8

   7 January 2017 at 8:59 am

   Alex Jones and Max Keiser (mid Dec): the Trump effect, death of the MSM, the rise of alternative media, RT as “fake news”, creating jobs in America, Vladimir Putin

   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bUAadLdfShw
   • AsleepWhileWalking 8.1

     7 January 2017 at 11:10 am

     I’m putting this in the reply because you mentioned the magic words “fake news”.

     Check out this bizzare story of a dating site (yes really) attacking Assange.
     There is a link in the article that goes to another story where Wikileaks threatening to sue CNN (the king of all fake news sites IMHO) for labeling Assange as a pedocrim.

     http://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/politics-government/election/article110904727.html
     • Colonial Viper 8.1.1

       7 January 2017 at 12:15 pm

       thanks for the link. Mildly amazed it made it to mcclatchy as being newsworthy. US Gov has influence over tonnes of front people and front organisations to do this kind of nonsense with, not to mention offsiders like Soros etc funding NGOs who do similar under direction.
9. Andre 9

   7 January 2017 at 9:01 am

   I don’t think AI is quite ready to go Terminator on us. Bizarrely hilarious.

   http://www.gizmodo.com.au/2017/01/thousands-of-people-are-watching-two-google-homes-argue-with-each-other-on-twitch/
10. Sanctuary 10

    7 January 2017 at 9:09 am

    Cantabrians, is this an actual issue? Bubbling under the radar or out there in public? Or do people accept the destruction of public good for private profit as just capitalism NZ style in action?

    http://www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zealand/2017/01/the-selwyn-river-s-unbelievable-decline.html
11. Adrian Thornton 11

    7 January 2017 at 9:13 am

    Pretty good piece by Owen Jones here, maybe some on the left could actually now start expend some of their energy on T May, rather than bagging Corbyn for a change, you know divided we fall and all that….I know many free market liberals despise and fear a real socialist Left Wing voice..but maybe 2017 is time for them to wake up and understand that the neo liberal freemarket project as has been vigorously promoted by various ‘centre left’ western political parties is over, exposed as nothing more than a economic ponzi scheme.
    “Theresa May backing Donald Trump over Israel is a disgrace”
    
    • Morrissey 11.1

      7 January 2017 at 12:07 pm

      Thanks for that, Adrian. It’s worth remembering though, that not all Labour Party MPs are moral reprobates, cowards and chickenhawks like Hilary Benn, Tony Blair and Ed Miliband….
      • Adrian Thornton 11.1.1

        7 January 2017 at 1:02 pm

        I agree, just wish we could get back to having a real Left Labour in New Zealand, one that we could all really fight for, but no, just the same old centrist bullshit.
        Who wants to fight for that…nobody that’s who, the best Labour can hope for in 2017 is people voting for them because they are either sick of National, or don’t feel they have any other choice…but certainly not because they are passionate and inspired about Labour as a vehicle of real and needed economic/political change.
        Turn Labour Left.
12. Penny Bright 12

    7 January 2017 at 9:39 am

    Who wants our ‘clean, green’ New Zealand back?

    Sorry to pop the hot air balloon – but in my considered opinion, New Zealand is a corrupt, polluted tax haven.

    The tip of the giant New Zealand corruption iceberg has been revealed in the ‘Reasons for the Verdict’ of Justice Sally Fitzgerald dated 9 December 2016.

    (International ‘Anti-Corruption Day’ – as it happens!)

    CRI-2015-044-001286
    [2016] NZHC 2970

    THE QUEEN v
    STEPHEN JAMES BORLASE
    MURRAY JOHN NOONE

    225 pages – which I have spent DAYS studying.)

    The bribes paid by just ONE corrupt private contractor to just ONE corrupt ‘public official’ totalled $1.2 million over 7 years.

    How many thousands of ‘public officials’ and thousands of private contractors are there in New Zealand, perceived’ for so many years to be ‘the least corrupt country in the world’ – (according to the, in my view, the effectively bogus and completely meaningless Transparency International ‘Corruption Perception Index’?)

    How is it either proper, or lawful, for ‘public officials’ to simultaneously be ‘private consultants’?

    (Which has been proven to be the mechanism for the corrupt payment of bribes in the above-mentioned Judgment.)

    How is it proper or lawful to have a policy of ‘collaboration’ and
    ‘co-operation’ between public officials and private consultants and contractors?

    In my view, this policy of ‘collaboration’ and ‘co-operation’ between public officials and private consultants/ contractors has now been proven to breed corruption.

    How widespread is this policy of ‘collaboration’ and ‘co-operation’ across local and central government?

    Anyone else asking – or checking?

    How much of this now proven to be fundamentally flawed, policy of ‘collaboration’ and ‘co-operation’ between public officials and private consultants/contractors has come about because of the, in my view, infestation of public official roles with private sector businesspeople?

    And the commercialisation of public services, locally, nationally and internationally?

    The NZ National Business Review (NBR) has led the charge and published two in-depth investigative articles revealing corruption in the NZ roading industry.

    (16 and 23 December 2016

    SPECIAL Investigation – Investigative journalist Karyn Scherer).

    As a proven anti-corruption campaigner, who has attended five international
    anti-corruption conferences, and ‘blown the whistle’ against corruption and the lack of transparency in the spending of public spending on private consultants and contractors for the last ten years – I now feel absolutely vindicated.

    I’m standing as an Independent ‘anti-corruption’ candidate in the upcoming Mt Albert by-Election, and look forward to being able to ask some stinking hard questions about corruption in the House under Parliamentary privilege.

    The strongest message, in my view, that can be given to this Government that decent New Zealanders want a STOP to corruption is to vote a proven anti-corruption ‘Public Watchdog’ into Parliament.

    THAT will send a message that cannot be ignored – locally, nationally and internationally.

    SEIZE THE MOMENT!

    Penny Bright.

    2017 Independent candidate in the Mt Albert by-election.

    Attendee: 2010 Transparency International Conference -Bangkok.

    Attendee: 2009, 2013, 2015 Australian Public Sector Anti-Corruption Conferences.

    Attendee: 2014 G20 Anti-Corruption Conference.
    • saveNZ 12.1

      7 January 2017 at 11:07 am

      I’m sure that is just the tip of the Iceberg, Penny.
      • Penny Bright 12.1.1

        7 January 2017 at 12:19 pm

        Indeed it is …..
    • Sacha 12.2

      7 January 2017 at 5:03 pm

      “How is it either proper, or lawful, for ‘public officials’ to simultaneously be ‘private consultants’?”

      It often isn’t. The public sector routinely uses Conflict of Interest processes to manage potentially competing interests including private business dealings.

      It is impossible to prevent immoral arseholes like the primary convict in this case from lying on official COI forms and to successive managers, as revealed in the judgement notes. Yet they were still caught because colleagues had the moral fibre to pursue matters and the public records and testimony convinced the judge to find guilt. Result.
13. Mad Plumber 13

    7 January 2017 at 10:51 am

    English Grammar
    The NZ Herald must be finding it hard to find reporters that have any idea of writing an article and obviously do not proof read.
    Refer Split in Trump’s Team.
    I always thought that a person’s name was in capital letters and also the name of a organisation. Apparently the US is us. Have also noticed the “word” if that is what you call gotten is creeping in with some.
14. Carolyn_nth 14

    7 January 2017 at 11:37 am

    From the Financial Times: in the UK inherited wealth reinforces/increases wealth inequalities – according to the report by the Institute for Fiscal Studies, an economic research organisation.

    Basically, it’s increasingly hard for younger generations to build up their own wealth, if they don’t have wealthy parents. The wealthiest among older generations are likely to leave a sizeable sum to their children.

    PM May says she aims to decrease inequalities, but her party’s promise to reduce inheritance taxes will work against this.

    The amount of wealth held by elderly households has increased rapidly during the past decade because of rising home ownership and higher house prices. The average wealth of households where all members are aged 80 or older rose from £160,000 in 2002 to £230,000 in 2012, the most recent year for which data are available. Owner-occupied housing made up 70 per cent of this in 2012.

    This rise has been accompanied by an increase in the share of elderly households expecting to leave a bequest.
    …
    But the wealth of elderly households is not equally distributed — the richest half hold 90 per cent of the wealth. “Hence a ‘lucky half’ of younger households look likely to get the vast majority of the inherited wealth,” said the authors of the report.

    That “lucky half” are likely to already be well-off in their own right. Among people born in the 1970s, nearly 87 per cent of those in the highest income fifth expect to receive some form of inheritance or have already received one. This compares with 58 per cent of those in the lowest income fifth.

    So, the housing bubble is feeding into growing wealth inequalities.
15. Morrissey 15

    7 January 2017 at 12:01 pm

    The hysterical anti-Russian lies being whipped up by the bitter and thoroughly discredited leadership of the Democratic Party have been mindlessly repeated in this country, with RNZ National and other major outlets leading every bulletin yesterday (Friday 6 January) with the (completely unsupported) allegations made by the notorious perjurer James Clapper….

    Open Mike 06/01/2017

    One of the targets of the Clintonistas’ wrath has been Glenn Greenwald, the outstanding scholar and journalist who in 2014 was labeled “a loser” by our former prime minister John “Quitter” Key. He writes about it at the end of this typically excellent article….

    The Washington Post Is Richly Rewarded for False News
    About Russia Threat While Public Is Deceived
    by GLENN GREENWALD, The Intercept, January 5 2017

    ….That Russia is a Grave Menace attacking the U.S. has — for obvious reasons — become a critical narrative for Democrats and other Trump opponents who dominate elite media circles on social media and elsewhere. They reward and herald anyone who bolsters that narrative, while viciously attacking anyone who questions it.

    Indeed, in my 10-plus years of writing about politics on an endless number of polarizing issues — including the Snowden reporting — nothing remotely compares to the smear campaign that has been launched as a result of the work I’ve done questioning and challenging claims about Russian hacking and the threat posed by that country generally. This is being engineered not by random, fringe accounts, but by the most prominent Democratic pundits with the largest media followings.

    I’ve been transformed, overnight, into an early adherent of alt-right ideology, an avid fan of Breitbart, an enthusiastic Trump supporter, and — needless to say — a Kremlin operative. That’s literally the explicit script they’re now using, often with outright fabrications of what I say (see here for one particularly glaring example).

    They, of course, know all of this is false. A primary focus of the last 10 years of my journalism has been a defense of the civil liberties of Muslims. I wrote an entire book on the racism and inequality inherent in the U.S. justice system. My legal career involved numerous representations of victims of racial discrimination. I was one of the first journalists to condemn the misleadingly “neutral” approach to reporting on Trump and to call for more explicit condemnations of his extremism and lies. I was one of the few to defend Jorge Ramos from widespread media attacks when he challenged Trump’s immigration extremism. Along with many others, I tried to warn Democrats that nominating a candidate as unpopular as Hillary Clinton risked a Trump victory. And as someone who is very publicly in a same-sex, inter-racial marriage — with someone just elected to public office as a socialist — I make for a very unlikely alt-right leader, to put that mildly.

    The malice of this campaign is exceeded only by its blatant stupidity. Even having to dignify it with a defense is depressing, though once it becomes this widespread, one has little choice.

    But this is the climate Democrats have successfully cultivated — where anyone dissenting or even expressing skepticism about their deeply self-serving Russia narrative is the target of coordinated and potent smears; where, as The Nation’s James Carden documented yesterday, skepticism is literally equated with treason. And the converse is equally true: Those who disseminate claims and stories that bolster this narrative — no matter how divorced from reason and evidence they are — receive an array of benefits and rewards.

    That the story ends up being completely discredited matters little. The damage is done, and the benefits received. Fake News in the narrow sense of that term is certainly something worth worrying about. But whatever one wants to call this type of behavior from the Post, it is a much greater menace given how far the reach is of the institutions that engage in it.

    Read more….
    https://theintercept.com/2017/01/04/washpost-is-richly-rewarded-for-false-news-about-russia-threat-while-public-is-deceived/
    • garibaldi 15.1

      7 January 2017 at 2:07 pm

      Good one Morrissey.
      There are many on this site falling hook, line and sinker for the ‘Democrat’ propaganda maelstrom. It’s a pity the Democrats still can’t come to terms with the fact they ran a poor campaign with an unsuitable candidate.
      None of all this bullshit Presidency of Trump would have happened if the DNC hadn’t had their heads up their arses and had had enough nous to see the need for change.
      Their pathetic attempts to blame everyone else but themselves just shows what total disarray their Party is in. Shame on them.
      • saveNZ 15.1.1

        7 January 2017 at 3:19 pm

        +1 garibaldi
    • Adrian Thornton 15.2

      7 January 2017 at 3:27 pm

      @Morrissey +1
    • Psycho Milt 15.3

      7 January 2017 at 4:05 pm

      You do get that it’s possible for senior Democrats to be trashing Glenn Greenwald and for Russian intelligence services to have hacked the DNC emails, right? The two are not mutually exclusive.
      • Morrissey 15.3.1

        7 January 2017 at 7:42 pm

        Sure I do, Milt. There’s just the slight problem of credibility, however, when the source of these allegations is the world’s most notorious perjurer.
        • Psycho Milt 15.3.1.1

          7 January 2017 at 9:01 pm

          You don’t seem to understand how this stuff works. The source of the allegations isn’t Clapper, it’s the US intelligence services – which, however much we might not like them, do actually have a job to do and to some extent at least they actually do it. Your thoughts on the credibility of the results are no doubt of importance to you, but there’s no reason they should be important to anyone else. What counts is what US government officials think of it, and so far they’re taking it seriously.
          • Colonial Viper 15.3.1.1.1

            7 January 2017 at 11:24 pm

            The source of the allegations isn’t Clapper, it’s the US intelligence services

            Plenty of bullshit allegations and assertions, zero fucking proof. Bill Binney, Ray McGovern, John Kiriakou, Murray Craig, Julian Assange have all been very clear on this.

            On the other side of the equation the “intelligence services” keep releasing pointless shit reports like the recent FBI/DHS one and the declassified version of the ODNI report which don’t say a fucking thing except for providing more evidence-free assertions and conclusions.
            • Psycho Milt 15.3.1.1.1.1

              8 January 2017 at 6:13 am

              As usual, you declare claims you don’t like to be “bullshit” “evidence-free assertions,” while those you do like are accepted at face value as “very clear” self-evident truth. That can be funny in a sit-com character, but is simply irritating in a live human.
              • Bill …

                8 January 2017 at 8:43 am

                1. The reports have no credibility.
                2. Members of the US Congress and Senate take them seriously, meaning that…
                3. We have a problem. A fucking huge one given that it’s all revolving around cranking up tensions with Russia.
16. Penny Bright 16

    7 January 2017 at 12:22 pm

    STOP Niki’ eviction!

    The fight against the privatisation of State housing – for which there was never an electoral mandate.

    FYI.

    As an Independent candidate in the upcoming Mt Albert by-election, I absolutely support the brave stand by Niki Rauiti as a directly-affected State tenant who is fighting the privatisation of State housing by refusing to be evicted.

    I will be coming on the march to help defend Niki and State housing on 17 January 2017, and supporting the proceeding occupation.

    Let’s help make this a key Mt Albert by-election issue and put a HUGE spotlight on the housing issue that CANNOT be ignored!

    Who’s coming with us?

    Who else can help get this message out?

    THANKS!

    Penny Bright

    ‘Anti-privatisation / anti-corruption Public Watchdog.

    2017 Independent candidate
    Mt Albert by-election.
    ______________________________

    Tēnā koutou,

    We are writing requesting support for Ioela ‘Niki’ Rauti, a long-term tenant who is being evicted from her home at 14 Taniwha Road, Glen Innes.

    Niki is to be evicted so that private houses for the wealthy can be built on former Housing New Zealand land.

    Niki intends to resist this eviction but requires support in order to be successful.

    We will be holding two marches in support of Niki on the 17 January 2017, starting at 6:00pm.

    There will be two starting points, the first will be Glen Innes Library, and the second will be the corner of Line Road and West Tāmaki Drive.

    Both marches will meet at Niki’s home at 14 Taniwha.

    If either the government or the redevelopment company, the Tāmaki Redevelopment Company, have not by this stage halted the eviction, an occupation of the surrounding land will be set up to act as a barrier of defense for Niki.

    Niki is an elderly tenant who is also suffering from illness.

    Niki is making a stand for the elderly, sick, disabled and for all tenants facing discrimination and eviction due to housing reform and profit-driven redevelopment.

    We believe that the ‘housing crisis’ is not addressed through evictions, selling state housing and gentrifying communities.

    This eviction is part of nationwide reforms that have led to eviction, displacement, increased homelessness, and transiency.

    This fight for Niki is a fight for all tenants facing eviction and displacement.

    We are making a call out for support for Niki to try and keep her home, and to make a stand against the Government’s housing policy.

    A few suggestions are listed below:

    Joining the March on 17 January 2017 as well as the proceeding occupation.

    Public support for Niki on your Facebook, through a press release etc.

    Sending out details about the occupation to your email lists.

    Donating resources such as tents, full list available on the facebook page.

    Sending donations to the Tāmaki Housing Group 38-9014-0147012-00

    Most importantly we ask for your presence during Niki’s occupation of her home.

    Ngā mihi nui,

    Niki & the Tāmaki Housing Group

    Email: nikieviction@gmail.com
    Twitter: defend_Niki
    Instagram: tamaki_housing
    Facebook page: facebook.com/THISHOMEISOCCUPIED
17. Pat 17

    7 January 2017 at 12:50 pm

    Human beings (en masse) are stupid so perhaps as a species we will indeed cease to exist in the not too distant future. We repeat the same mistakes and patterns time after time.

    Consider ….diminishing resources+ resurgent eugenics+ Trump…. and be very afraid.
    • Andre 17.1

      7 January 2017 at 1:01 pm

      Just to add a bit of optimism and cheer, a return to wondering about mushroom clouds.

      http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2017/01/william-perry-nuclear-weapons-proliferation-214604
      • Clump_AKA Sam 17.1.1

        7 January 2017 at 2:00 pm

        His hypothesise is incorrect because the Soviet Union doesn’t exist anymore.

        Nukes aren’t a first strick option because your soldiers will assassinate you.
        • McFlock 17.1.1.1

          7 January 2017 at 6:06 pm

          That’s a hopeful scenario. Alternatively, you might have surrounded yourself with hawks who have never played the game of nuclear brinkmanship before.

          Because it’s not about “Soviets vs Yanks”, it’s about power blocs with nukes and expansionist territorial demands.
          • Clump_AKA Sam 17.1.1.1.1

            7 January 2017 at 6:18 pm

            Cold War rhetoric isnt worth repeating because it’s so transparent. Every American intervention from Greece in 1947 to Syria today features a mythical Russian threat.

            One thing has changed since 1947, the speed at which finance can travel the globe has increased dramatically transforming the great game from chess (Atrittion) to Go. Ask any Go master why they make a move, they reply, because it feels right.
            • McFlock 17.1.1.1.1.1

              7 January 2017 at 11:09 pm

              That’s nice.

              Does the world burn if they lose?
              • Colonial Viper …

                7 January 2017 at 11:28 pm

                Wrong game. You’re still playing checkers. Try and upgrade yourself to Connect Four before trying again.
                • McFlock …

                  8 January 2017 at 12:15 am

                  And you can go fish, you fascist troll.
18. HDCAFriendlyTroll 18

    7 January 2017 at 4:17 pm

    Donald Trump, greatest American president since Reagan, says 20th Jan will be a great show!

    Hopefully, all supporters, and those who want to MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN, will go to D.C. on January 20th. It will be a GREAT SHOW!

    — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 6, 2017

    Indeed it will, Mr Trump. Indeed it will.
19. rod 19

    7 January 2017 at 5:24 pm

    So The United States doesn”t like overseas interference in their elections. Get over it you guys. The UK and New Zealand have been getting it for years, it’s called, CrosbyTextor.
20. McFlock 20

    7 January 2017 at 5:56 pm

    Some of the arguments on TheStandard have been had before.

    Two smart home assistants hold a conversation than never sticks to the point and evades any evidence to support outrageous claims. It also includes allegations of lying, assertions of what was said and subsequent denials, and apparently at least one claim to be a god…
    • Andre 20.1

      7 January 2017 at 6:05 pm

      It got nasty while I was watching. One of them took offence at a “knock, knock” lead-in and tried Avada kedavra on the other…
21. Glenn 21

    7 January 2017 at 6:30 pm

    Bolivia proving that Socialism works and is profitable.

    “Since 2006, Bolivia has been run by socialists every bit as militant as Venezuela’s. The country has experienced a spectacular run of economic growth and poverty reduction with no hint of the chaos that has plagued Venezuela. While inflation spirals toward the 1000 per cent mark in Venezuela, in Bolivia it runs below 4 per cent a year. Shortages of basic consumption goods – rampant in Caracas – are unheard of in La Paz………..
    ……. Bolivia was running budget surpluses every year between 2006 and 2014. This allowed it to draw down the public sector’s debt, which fell from 83 per cent of GDP in 2003 to just 26 per cent in 2014, even as Bolivia built up its international reserves dramatically, from US$1.7b in 2005 to US$15.1b at the end of the boom in 2014.

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=11778233

    Ok Bolivia is resource rich but compared to Venezuela (and some other countries) The Washington Post is applauding the way Socialism and careful management is working there.
    • Muttonbird 21.1

      7 January 2017 at 11:23 pm

      The poster known as Gosman will hate this.

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