He was born in Guangzhou, a city in southern China, to a wealthy family that lost everything when the communists took power in 1949. He was 12 years old when he fled his village in mainland China, arriving in Hong Kong as a stowaway on a fishing boat.
Like a number of the city’s famed tycoons, he went from a menial role, toiling in a Hong Kong sweatshop, to founding a multi-million dollar empire. From working odd jobs and knitting in a small clothing shop he taught himself English, eventually founding the international clothing brand Giordano. The chain was a huge success.
But when in 1989 China sent in tanks to crush pro-democracy protests in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square, Mr Lai began a new journey as a vocal democracy activist as well as an entrepreneur. He started writing columns criticising the massacre that followed the demonstrations in Beijing and established a publishing house that went on to become one of Hong Kong's most influential.
In recent years masked attackers have firebombed Mr Lai’s house and company headquarters. The 71-year-old has also been the target of an assassination plot. His arrest on Monday is the highest-profile use of the national security law imposed on the territory by Beijing in June.
So we await the regime's decision of whether to take him to China for trial or leave prosecution to the HK govt. If they make the latter choice we may still get some media exposure of the court case – but it may be censored.
China is not communist. We know this because it is not democratic.
Democracy is an essential part of communism. Workers controlling businesses can only be done through democracy and it goes upwards from there to the city and nation state.
China is, presently, anti-democratic.
But, then, so is capitalism – the boss doesn't want the workers telling him what to do but is certainly of the opinion that the workers should do what he tells them.
But his political opponents are, and the regime requires total control of the people.
Lai also wrote an op-ed in the New York Times in May stating that China was repressing Hong Kong with the legislation. “I have always thought I might one day be sent to jail for my publications or for my calls for democracy in Hong Kong,” Lai wrote. “But for a few tweets, and because they are said to threaten the national security of mighty China?
Yes, because the regime is threatened by exercise of the right of free speech. Communists have always been big on using state control to eliminate human rights.
Hmm. You seem to be using communism as if it were an ideal rather than a state practice. Stuart likewise. Viewed as a belief system, that's valid.
In realpolitik though, people apply the label on the basis of practical utility (if it walks like a duck etc). So my usage reflects standard political practice.
Reminds me when I was at uni the Trots, Leninists, Stalinists & Maoists were engaged in four-way sectarian competition over which group were the real communists…
The ideal is the measuring stick. If standard practice doesn't meet the measure in any way, shape or form but calls itself communist then it is obviously misrepresenting itself.
Your usage is empowering people to misrepresent themselves.
People actually empower themselves via misrepresentation: that's the human condition. Why women wear lipstick. Why Labour folk describe themselves as progressive.
The root of this behaviour lies deep within nature itself. Biologists have documented deceit strategies and tactics in many species.
I didn't write that. Both deceit and misrepresentation derive from the same behavioural root, obviously. Think of it as a survival strategy. Haven't you kept up with evolutionary psychology? Since Robert Wright authored The Moral Animal there's been about a quarter-century of follow-through by many contributors.
We realise Dennis, that you reject the content of Communism en bloc, so of course the distinction between states that practiced it to any degree, and those who only pretended to do so is not important to you. But that is as valid as including the DPRK in a discussion of democracy simply because they use the name in the title of their state.
Tbh, Stuart, I'm unaware that any states ever actualised the ideal of communism. Which inclines me to view the ideal as unattainable in practice due to being contrary to human nature. I agree that the ideal seems appealing, in a nebulous way, since I was born an extreme idealist and had to grow a pragmatic side to my character so as to become successful in this society.
I'm far less sanguine Dennis; communists are every bit as 'out of bounds' as are fascists in my book. In the 20th century there were at least six major attempts to implement communist states and each one was a genocidal failure.
People who say that the 'wrong people were in charge' are really just saying that if they had been running the show it would have all turned out good. Which is an delusional conceit, a wet mess of naive idealism, deep intellectual dishonesty and obdurate denial.
The left needs to draw a line under this horribly failed idea called marxism and commit to never doing it again.
To the extent that Communism might have been achievable, much of that had to do with the states claiming to be pursuing it, without putting much effort into doing so. As such it is part of a long tradition of similar attempts at improving government virtue, from Confucianism through Christianity, and Gandhi’s reforms, to the current attempts to form an Islamic state.
Throughout his later life Confucius was pursued by leaders of states for his imprimatur, but had to abandon them as they failed to live up to the ideals they had signed up for. The unprincipled behaviour of these rulers did not invalidate the principles that Confucius had derived, and, but for a certain inconsistency in his writings, the same is true of Marx.
Where communism fails is in its inability to deal with internal failures. In a democracy, the individual is sovereign, and anything that affects them is a legitimate ground to access the representative process (though of course in practice NZ MPs will simply ignore anything that might conceivably reflect badly upon them or their party or require them to get off their spotty bottoms and do anything).
Communism, by contrast, reposes sovereignty in the Party, which promptly claims to be ineffable. When a problem occurs therefore, like an oil light coming on in one's car, democracy in principle fixes it, while communism accuses the oil light of political unreliability, being a refusenik or a saboteur or whatever, until the whole system suffers a catastrophic failure and seizes up.
One should not lay the determination of the Kim dynasty to be God kings entirely on the dark side of communism's ledger however. Their existence has as much or more to do with the retreat of Japan and the geopolitical interests of neighbouring states as anything Marx or his successors wrote.
Washington, a thin-skinned chief executive, only decided to stay on for a second term to prevent his lieutenants from, as he feared, splitting the country into two parties. To him, political parties spelled disunion.
and
To suppress the challenge of a second party, Washington’s successor, Federalist John Adams, signed into law the Alien and Sedition Acts, making it a federal crime to criticize the president or his administration’s policies.
and
In his turn, when Jefferson became president he instituted what later became known as the spoils system. With his idea of even-handedness, he dismantled the Federalist Party. He fired half of all federal officeholders, the top half. He kept Federalists only in low-level clerical, postal and customs service jobs. Jefferson effectively deprived the Federalists of any chance of rebuilding a power base by excluding them not only from the federal payroll but from political and administrative experience. The Federalists never won another election. Their party died.
Over time the US realised that they couldn't get rid of political parties but their system is such that they can only have two. This is a problem in that most voices aren't heard.
Perhaps what we need is everyone belonging to a political party where they have a say on the policies that that party puts forward. But then we'd need a system which allowed for each party to be able to have at least one representative in parliament.
Both communism and capitalism are idealistic and both operate with a fundamental misunderstanding of human nature….communism could operate in a world entirely populated by cooperative individuals and capitalism in a world of competitors…neither world exists…we live in a world of degrees and compromise.
I'm not especially keen on trials of communism per se, I just don't like to see it blamed for flaws that arise from other causes. Marx's solution wasn't particularly good, and the likes of Marcuse did not improve it. But Marx did elucidate the issues of unfairness that come with unregulated capital.
The acceptability of capitalism is a function of how well regulated it is. NZ's housing crisis is an instance of failure to regulate, and it has unhomed and impoverished a substantial proportion of our population. This must necessarily concern any party or parties that pretend to govern it or us.
Completely agree. I would be inclined to support a pro workers Democracy movement in China/Hong Kong, but certainly not a rightwing privaliged student/ rightwing media based one like the current HK protests. This is Capitalist infighting, certainly nothing to do with the working class.
I know of the "QC" who is acting on behalf of David Wong-Tung.
My family had a brief experience of her some years ago. She also wrote a letter on behalf of an estranged relative which contained falsehoods and threatening language if her client didn't get his way. She came across to me as one of those lawyers who uses professional bullying tactics in order to win her cases. Truth and fair play seem not to be part of her playbook.
Looks like back stabbings and leaks about the internal turmoil are still coming out of the National Party. The hopes they had of putting the crusher in charge to stem the leaks has not worked for them. The news around the selection of its candidate for the Auckland Central seat point to a party still at war within itself. I hope this helps some current blue seats turn red.
That's the thing, Collins isn't in charge, as well as saying "I'm not the leader of the National Party" (wtf???), a few weeks back when asked had she forced everyone in the party to stop leaking, she said no, she just told them if they want to win, stop leaking. She's a pathetic & weak boss.
When the dust finally settles on the COVID crisis, I think one of the aspects that will stand out will be that nations with health systems that are properly integrated with a unified governance model, and have strong medical leadership, will generally do better than those that don't.
In other words, for all the daily briefings and public health orders, the Victorian government simply had no apparatus to actually handle the crisis. The cogs were not connected. It is like a mechanic giving a long and impassioned speech about how your car ought to run only for you to pop the bonnet and discover it has no engine.
A close friend of ours has worked in the health system there all her life. She daily tells us of the contradictions and disconnects she constantly encounters. Poorly implemented procedures and PPE are her biggest gripe. To the extent that from Queensland we are posting down to her N95 masks we can buy off the shelf in Bunnings here, but she cannot access through her employer. All a bit weird really.
Yet at the same time it will be researchers and innovators who will eventually break the back of this crisis, people working with data and evidence who will unlock the secrets and change our thinking.
As an engineer I'm struck by this pandemic as a good example of how our systems need to strike a balance between sufficiently integrated and unified to deal effectively with a crisis, while at the same time the components of it need to adapt and evolve to deal with novel challenges in the environment. This constant tug of war between the need for stability and adaptability is a fundamental feature of our existence, and lies at the heart of our political systems. We might do well to keep this essential frame in mind more often.
If you were watching the AM show this morning around 8.20am, you would have seen the Justice Minister concluding his interview on the cannabis referendum by responding to a question about his personal experience.
"Well, it pretty much always fell off the back of a truck for me." "Actually, the last time was when I'd just qualified as a lawyer. There were lawyers, QCs and a judge all there and they were passing around a joint."
Duncan quickly moved on. The notion that pillars of the legal establishment might be that enlightened must have spooked him, though he covered it well. Amanda & Mark likewise avoided the implication. Vital to keep up false pretences.
The dominance of National party news and images in Stuff and the Herald leaves you wondering if these outfits are unbiased or actually are Natz alternate facebook.
Trite shite-
"National leader Judith Collins has been speaking to about 200 people at the Lake Taupo Yacht Club. Journalist Matt Bowen has sent through some of the main points:
The RMA would go of if National get in power. “We made a critical mistake of embracing a piece of legislation that is all about stopping people doing things rather than getting them done.”
NZ would not be awash with methamphetamine and gangs if National get in power. “We need to take it seriously and we are.”
On light rail in Auckland. “It’s very light. It will never happen. It’s a mirage.”
On if Labour teams up with the greens following the election: “The greens say tax is love, well I have had too much love over the years.”
I don't think that we should be pandering to marginalised people, I think we should do it because there's something that they can't do in the market place.
[I don’t know which marginalised people you mean, but some of your comments aren’t making a lot of sense and you’re now on my radar as a mod. If you are new here, please read the Policy, and have a think about what you are doing before you comment again. I’m not going to let people troll my posts – 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.]
"He now seems to think that he can return here from his self-imposed exile with a blatant troll comment.
Sam is wrong about that.
Banned for a year so that we can all recover from the pandemic and prepare for the election without having to endure his inane troll comments that create more work for Moderators – Incognito]"
I don't have time to check if it's the same Sam, But his comments are close enough to trolling that I’m dropping him into the blacklist until I have time to look at what is going on (later in the day).
Reads the same to me. Different ip and/or email – going by the avatart change, but there's certainly a very similar style and post habit going on. Should be an easy deduction going on from here if it is the same person.
I'm sure it won't, and it wouldn't be the first time the banned Sam posted after an enforced time out with a different gravitar. I recall you extending the one from April for another six months at the beginning of May.
What’s wrong with opposing views and free speech? Why does Sam scare you so much? If you don’t agree with him can’t you just ignore him?
[lprent: I’d point out that speech isn’t free here – nor anywhere else. It costs money and time to provide a venue like this.
Speech here is controlled by our policy, the legal structure we’re in and our moderators who are trying to maintain a robust debate within those bounds.
A first comment simply attacking another commenter with a pigfucker question doesn’t help robust debate. It just raises question about how much of a troll you are. I’d suggest reading the policy. ]
A lot of Radionz texts this morning in favour of charging people coming back to NZ pointing out the often disregarded fact that they want to come back here because it is the best place to be in the world during Covid-19 even though we are reasonably poor country.
But they had the money and opportunity to leave which has costed for travel etc. and now there is another cost that has to be covered. Life does not unroll with roses spread in your way and everything you wish arriving on a tray – for most of us. Sometimes things will not be just as you wish. That is all!
Another right-wing group on Facebook! Calling themselves The Team of Six Million is lobbying for the Me Generation. People like this want to turn us into a copy of those countries with fabulously rich top and a large middle class, but a large group of people in grinding poverty and stuck there as an eternally indentured class.
They haven't heard those forecasts about the disappearance of the middle class going on in the world. We are in a new millenium, toddling forward uneasily, dragging our teddies behind us. We haven't the money, so we have to think is the idea from a famous New Zealander who helped science along, but was it good for us in the long run? Now we have to think harder.
National party's shite on the big issues vs the Others published.
Election 2020 – SMC science Q&A with political parties
National can't focus on answering the questions and keeps poking at that useless Labour lot as their solution.
*Smash gangs
* punish youth ( standing in a yacht club)
* our mental health programs really worked
* provide analysis on how we reduce emissions ( because we haven't read the plethora already there)
* don't know- concept black out on support ethnic and gender diversity in the research sector
* address Matauranga Maori…um.. through our partnership schools. didn't read yesterday's news on achievement in private schools.
* cannabis no
*Fresh water – Auckland Auckland the .No shit sherlock..duh..response
"Auckland needs considerable investment in properly separating stormwater and sewage to clean up streams " .
* Pests- We know about science.. we might try some now.
* Biosecurity- vigilence is needed to stop decimating agricultural industries. Yeah we were so vigilant in July 2017 with our action on m.bovis. And Labour is f#king up the Covid border plan again.Probably going to utilise Chris Penks book, Labour’s particular form of lockdown lunacy”, arguing it was too harsh and was unnecessarily extended.
* smoking and vaping.. Labour's dawdling. Perhaps we need an associate minister of health like Dunne to ' speed' them up.
According to preliminary results announced by Belarus' Central Election Commission, Lukashenko took 80% of the vote, with Tikhanovskaya coming in second with 10%. But Tikhanovskaya disputed those figures. She said that her campaign staff had seen results from more than 50 polling stations and that her share of the vote exceeded Lukashenko's by many times.
Stopped when I read "Nationwide House Arrest" in the first paragraph. Anything with such a cartoonish understanding of the notions of freedom, consent and collective action isn't worth the time.
AB agree I limit the number of daft things I read. The future is a serious matter, freedom is something to conserve and it comes in different modes to be narrowed or widened as appropriate.
OK – sorry for being unnecessarily rude. But if sticking one's tongue in one's cheek means un-ironically using the language of libertarian nutters, it might be worth reconsidering.
Its a conversation thats rather pointless when it relies on an imaginary situation….when (or if) there is a vaccine and its efficacy is known then an informed discussion can take place.
Compared to the 250,000+ motorcycle dickheads converging on South Dakota. What is it with Americans and their absolutely massive social distancing! I was just waiting in line at the bank, I think NZrs naturally socially distance, no one wants to be in anyone elses space.
Some Sun Tzu quotes on how to approach Australian politicians.
Strategy without tactics is the slowest route to victory. Tactics without strategy is the noise before defeat.
Pretend inferiority and encourage his arrogance.
The art of war is of vital importance to the state. It is a matter of life and death, a road either to safety or to ruin. Hence it is a subject of inquiry which can on no account be neglected.
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A listing of 29 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, April 14, 2024 thru Sat, April 20, 2024. Story of the week Our story of the week hinges on these words from the abstract of a fresh academic ...
The ability of the private sector to quickly establish major new projects making use of the urban and natural environment is to be supercharged by the new National-led Government. Yesterday it introduced to Parliament one of its most significant reforms, the Fast Track Approvals Bill. The Government says this will ...
This is a column to say thank you. So many of have been in touch since Mum died to say so many kind and thoughtful things. You’re wonderful, all of you. You’ve asked how we’re doing, how Dad’s doing. A little more realisation each day, of the irretrievable finality of ...
Identifying the engine type in your car is crucial for various reasons, including maintenance, repairs, and performance upgrades. Knowing the specific engine model allows you to access detailed technical information, locate compatible parts, and make informed decisions about modifications. This comprehensive guide will provide you with a step-by-step approach to ...
Introduction: The allure of racing is undeniable. The thrill of speed, the roar of engines, and the exhilaration of competition all contribute to the allure of this adrenaline-driven sport. For those who yearn to experience the pinnacle of racing, becoming a race car driver is the ultimate dream. However, the ...
Introduction Automobiles have become ubiquitous in modern society, serving as a primary mode of transportation and a symbol of economic growth and personal mobility. With countless vehicles traversing roads and highways worldwide, it begs the question: how many cars are there in the world? Determining the precise number is a ...
Maintaining a safe and reliable vehicle requires regular inspections. Whether it’s a routine maintenance checkup or a safety inspection, knowing how long the process will take can help you plan your day accordingly. This article delves into the factors that influence the duration of a car inspection and provides an ...
Mazda Motor Corporation, commonly known as Mazda, is a Japanese multinational automaker headquartered in Fuchu, Aki District, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan. The company was founded in 1920 as the Toyo Cork Kogyo Co., Ltd., and began producing vehicles in 1931. Mazda is primarily known for its production of passenger cars, but ...
Your car battery is an essential component that provides power to start your engine, operate your electrical systems, and store energy. Over time, batteries can weaken and lose their ability to hold a charge, which can lead to starting problems, power failures, and other issues. Replacing your battery before it ...
In most states, you cannot register a car without a valid driver’s license. However, there are a few exceptions to this rule. Exceptions to the RuleIf you are under 18 years old: In some states, you can register a car in your name even if you do not ...
Mazda, a Japanese automotive manufacturer with a rich history of innovation and engineering excellence, has emerged as a formidable player in the global car market. Known for its reputation of producing high-quality, fuel-efficient, and driver-oriented vehicles, Mazda has consistently garnered praise from industry experts and consumers alike. In this article, ...
Struts are an essential part of a car’s suspension system. They are responsible for supporting the weight of the car and damping the oscillations of the springs. Struts are typically made of steel or aluminum and are filled with hydraulic fluid. How Do Struts Work? Struts work by transferring the ...
Car registration is a mandatory process that all vehicle owners must complete annually. This process involves registering your car with the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and paying an associated fee. The registration process ensures that your vehicle is properly licensed and insured, and helps law enforcement and other authorities ...
Zoom is a video conferencing service that allows you to share your screen, webcam, and audio with other participants. In addition to sharing your own audio, you can also share the audio from your computer with other participants. This can be useful for playing music, sharing presentations with audio, or ...
Building your own computer can be a rewarding and cost-effective way to get a high-performance machine tailored to your specific needs. However, it also requires careful planning and execution, and one of the most important factors to consider is the time it will take. The exact time it takes to ...
Te Pāti Māori are demanding the New Zealand Government support an international independent investigation into mass graves that have been uncovered at two hospitals on the Gaza strip, following weeks of assault by Israeli troops. Among the 392 bodies that have been recovered, are children and elderly civilians. Many of ...
Our two-tiered system for veterans’ support is out of step with our closest partners, and all parties in Parliament should work together to fix it, Labour veterans’ affairs spokesperson Greg O’Connor said. ...
Stripping two Ministers of their portfolios just six months into the job shows Christopher Luxon’s management style is lacking, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said. ...
Tonight’s court decision to overturn the summons of the Children’s Minister has enabled the Crown to continue making decisions about Māori without evidence, says Te Pāti Māori spokesperson for Children, Mariameno Kapa-Kingi. “The judicial system has this evening told the nation that this government can do whatever they want when ...
It appears Nicola Willis is about to pull the rug out from under the feet of local communities still dealing with the aftermath of last year’s severe weather, and local councils relying on funding to build back from these disasters. ...
The Government is making short-sighted changes to the Resource Management Act (RMA) that will take away environmental protection in favour of short-term profits, Labour’s environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said today. ...
Labour welcomes the release of the report into the North Island weather events and looks forward to working with the Government to ensure that New Zealand is as prepared as it can be for the next natural disaster. ...
The Labour Party has called for the New Zealand Government to recognise Palestine, as a material step towards progressing the two-State solution needed to achieve a lasting peace in the region. ...
Some of our country’s most important work, stopping the sexual exploitation of children and violent extremism could go along with staff on the frontline at ports and airports. ...
The Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill will give projects such as new coal mines a ‘get out of jail free’ card to wreak havoc on the environment, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said today. ...
The government's decision to reintroduce Three Strikes is a destructive and ineffective piece of law-making that will only exacerbate an inherently biased and racist criminal justice system, said Te Pāti Māori Justice Spokesperson, Tākuta Ferris, today. During the time Three Strikes was in place in Aotearoa, Māori and Pasifika received ...
Cuts to frontline hospital staff are not only a broken election promise, it shows the reckless tax cuts have well and truly hit the frontline of the health system, says Labour Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall. ...
The Green Party has joined the call for public submissions on the fast-track legislation to be extended after the Ombudsman forced the Government to release the list of organisations invited to apply just hours before submissions close. ...
New Zealand’s good work at reducing climate emissions for three years in a row will be undone by the National government’s lack of ambition and scrapping programmes that were making a difference, Labour Party climate spokesperson Megan Woods said today. ...
More essential jobs could be on the chopping block, this time Ministry of Education staff on the school lunches team are set to find out whether they're in line to lose their jobs. ...
Te Pāti Māori is disgusted at the confirmation that hundreds are set to lose their jobs at Oranga Tamariki, and the disestablishment of the Treaty Response Unit. “This act of absolute carelessness and out of touch decision making is committing tamariki to state abuse.” Said Te Pāti Māori Oranga Tamariki ...
The Government is trying to bring in a law that will allow Ministers to cut corners and kill off native species, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said. ...
Cancelling urgently needed new Cook Strait ferries and hiking the cost of public transport for many Kiwis so that National can announce the prospect of another tunnel for Wellington is not making good choices, Labour Transport Spokesperson Tangi Utikere said. ...
A laundry list of additional costs for Tāmaki Makarau Auckland shows the Minister for the city is not delivering for the people who live there, says Labour Auckland Issues spokesperson Shanan Halbert. ...
Te Pāti Māori co-leader Rawiri Waititi, and Mema Paremata mō Tāmaki-Makaurau, Takutai Tarsh Kemp, will travel to the Gold Coast to strengthen ties with Māori in Australia next week (15-21 April). The visit, in the lead-up to the 9th Australian National Kapa haka Festival, will be an opportunity for both ...
The Green Party has today launched a step-by-step guide to help New Zealanders make their voice heard on the Government’s democracy dodging and anti-environment fast track legislation. ...
The National Government’s proposed changes to the Residential Tenancies Act will mean tenants can be turfed from their homes by landlords with little notice, Labour housing spokesperson Kieran McAnulty said. ...
Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson is calling on all parties to support a common-sense change that’s great for the planet and great for consumers after her member’s bill was drawn from the ballot today. ...
A significant milestone has been reached in the fight to strike an anti-Pasifika and unfair law from the country’s books after Teanau Tuiono’s members’ bill passed its first reading. ...
New Zealand has today missed the opportunity to uphold the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment, says James Shaw after his member’s bill was voted down in its first reading. ...
Today’s advice from the Climate Change Commission paints a sobering reality of the challenge we face in combating climate change, especially in light of recent Government policy announcements. ...
Minister for Disability Issues Penny Simmonds appears to have delayed a report back to Cabinet on the progress New Zealand is making against international obligations for disabled New Zealanders. ...
Hundreds of New Zealand families affected by Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) will benefit from a new Government focus on prevention and treatment, says Health Minister Dr Shane Reti. “We know FASD is a leading cause of preventable intellectual and neurodevelopmental disability in New Zealand,” Dr Reti says. “Every day, ...
Regional Development Minister Shane Jones today attended the official opening of Kaikohe’s new $14.7 million sports complex. “The completion of the Kaikohe Multi Sports Complex is a fantastic achievement for the Far North,” Mr Jones says. “This facility not only fulfils a long-held dream for local athletes, but also creates ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters’ engagements in Türkiye this week underlined the importance of diplomacy to meet growing global challenges. “Returning to the Gallipoli Peninsula to represent New Zealand at Anzac commemorations was a sombre reminder of the critical importance of diplomacy for de-escalating conflicts and easing tensions,” Mr Peters ...
Ambassador Millar, Burgemeester, Vandepitte, Excellencies, military representatives, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen – good morning and welcome to this sacred Anzac Day dawn service. It is an honour to be here on behalf of the Government and people of New Zealand at Buttes New British Cemetery, Polygon Wood – a deeply ...
Distinguished guests - It is an honour to return once again to this site which, as the resting place for so many of our war-dead, has become a sacred place for generations of New Zealanders. Our presence here and at the other special spaces of Gallipoli is made ...
Mai ia tawhiti pamamao, te moana nui a Kiwa, kua tae whakaiti mai matou, ki to koutou papa whenua. No koutou te tapuwae, no matou te tapuwae, kua honoa pumautia. Ko nga toa kua hinga nei, o te Waipounamu, o te Ika a Maui, he okioki tahi me o ...
Paul Goldsmith will take on responsibility for the Media and Communications portfolio, while Louise Upston will pick up the Disability Issues portfolio, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced today. “Our Government is relentlessly focused on getting New Zealand back on track. As issues change in prominence, I plan to adjust Ministerial ...
Recreational catch limits will be reduced in areas of Fiordland and the Chatham Islands to help keep those fisheries healthy and sustainable, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The lower recreational daily catch limits for a range of finfish and shellfish species caught in the Fiordland Marine Area and ...
Energy Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed an important milestone in New Zealand’s hydrogen future, with the opening of the country’s first network of hydrogen refuelling stations in Wiri. “I want to congratulate the team at Hiringa Energy and its partners K one W one (K1W1), Mitsui & Co New Zealand ...
The coalition Government is delivering on its commitment to improve resource management laws and give greater certainty to consent applicants, with a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) expected to be introduced to Parliament next month. RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop has today outlined the first RMA Amendment ...
Overseas models for regulating the oil and gas sector, including their decommissioning regimes, are being carefully scrutinised as a potential template for New Zealand’s own sector, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. The Coalition Government is focused on rebuilding investor confidence in New Zealand’s energy sector as it looks to strengthen ...
Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell has today released the Report of the Government Inquiry into the response to the North Island Severe Weather Events. “The report shows that New Zealand’s emergency management system is not fit-for-purpose and there are some significant gaps we need to address,” Mr Mitchell ...
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith is today travelling to Europe where he’ll update the United Nations Human Rights Council on the Government’s work to restore law and order. “Attending the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva provides us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while ...
Associate Agriculture Minister, Mark Patterson, formally reopened the world’s largest wool processing facility today in Awatoto, Napier, following a $50 million rebuild and refurbishment project. “The reopening of this facility will significantly lift the economic opportunities available to New Zealand’s wool sector, which already accounts for 20 per cent of ...
Hon Andrew Bayly, Minister for Small Business and Manufacturing At the Southland Otago Regional Engineering Collective (SOREC) Summit, 18 April, Dunedin Ngā mihi nui, Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Ko Whanganui aho Good Afternoon and thank you for inviting me to open your summit today. I am delighted ...
The Government is delivering on its commitment to bring back the Three Strikes legislation, Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee announced today. “Our Government is committed to restoring law and order and enforcing appropriate consequences on criminals. We are making it clear that repeat serious violent or sexual offending is not ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has today announced four new diplomatic appointments for New Zealand’s overseas missions. “Our diplomats have a vital role in maintaining and protecting New Zealand’s interests around the world,” Mr Peters says. “I am pleased to announce the appointment of these senior diplomats from the ...
New Zealand is contributing NZ$7 million to support communities affected by severe food insecurity and other urgent humanitarian needs in Ethiopia and Somalia, Foreign Minister Rt Hon Winston Peters announced today. “Over 21 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance across Ethiopia, with a further 6.9 million people ...
Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Paul Goldsmith is congratulating Mataaho Collective for winning the Golden Lion for best participant in the main exhibition at the Venice Biennale. "Congratulations to the Mataaho Collective for winning one of the world's most prestigious art prizes at the Venice Biennale. “It is good ...
The Government is reforming financial services to improve access to home loans and other lending, and strengthen customer protections, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly and Housing Minister Chris Bishop announced today. “Our coalition Government is committed to rebuilding the economy and making life simpler by cutting red tape. We are ...
“China remains a strong commercial opportunity for Kiwi exporters as Chinese businesses and consumers continue to value our high-quality safe produce,” Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says. Mr McClay has returned to New Zealand following visits to Beijing, Harbin and Shanghai where he met ministers, governors and mayors and engaged in trade and agricultural events with the New ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has completed a successful trip to Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines, deepening relationships and capitalising on opportunities. Mr Luxon was accompanied by a business delegation and says the choice of countries represents the priority the New Zealand Government places on South East Asia, and our relationships in ...
New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...
The Government is today releasing a list of organisations who received letters about the Fast-track applications process, says RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. “Recently Ministers and agencies have received a series of OIA requests for a list of organisations to whom I wrote with information on applying to have a ...
Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister David Jonathan Boldt as a Judge of the High Court, and the Honourable Justice Matthew Palmer as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Boldt graduated with an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 1990, and also holds ...
Education Minister Erica Stanford will lead the New Zealand delegation at the 2024 International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) held in Singapore. The delegation includes representatives from the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) Te Wehengarua and the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa. The summit is co-hosted ...
A stopbank upgrade project in Tairawhiti partly funded by the Government has increased flood resilience for around 7000ha of residential and horticultural land so far, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones today attended a dawn service in Gisborne to mark the end of the first stage of the ...
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters will represent the Government at Anzac Day commemorations on the Gallipoli Peninsula next week and engage with senior representatives of the Turkish government in Istanbul. “The Gallipoli campaign is a defining event in our history. It will be a privilege to share the occasion ...
Science, Innovation and Technology and Defence Minister Judith Collins will next week attend the OECD Science and Technology Ministerial conference in Paris and Anzac Day commemorations in Belgium. “Science, innovation and technology have a major role to play in rebuilding our economy and achieving better health, environmental and social outcomes ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...
The Government has announced that $20 million in funding will be made available to Westport to fund much needed flood protection around the town. This measure will significantly improve the resilience of the community, says Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. “The Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...
The Government is proud to support the first ever Repco Supercars Championship event in Taupō as up to 70,000 motorsport fans attend the Taupō International Motorsport Park this weekend, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. “Anticipation for the ITM Taupō Super400 is huge, with tickets and accommodation selling out weeks ...
Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced an increase to the Rates Rebate Scheme, putting money back into the pockets of low-income homeowners. “The coalition Government is committed to bringing down the cost of living for New Zealanders. That includes targeted support for those Kiwis who are doing things tough, such ...
The Coalition Government is investing in a project to boost survival rates of New Zealand mussels and grow the industry, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has announced. “This project seeks to increase the resilience of our mussels and significantly boost the sector’s productivity,” Mr Jones says. “The project - ...
Benefit figures released today underscore the importance of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “Benefit numbers are still significantly higher than when National was last in government, when there was about 70,000 fewer ...
The Government’s commitment to doubling New Zealand’s renewable energy capacity is backed by new data showing that clean energy has helped the country reach its lowest annual gross emissions since 1999, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand’s latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory (1990-2022) published today, shows gross emissions fell ...
The Government is bringing the earthquake-prone building review forward, with work to start immediately, and extending the deadline for remediations by four years, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Our Government is focused on rebuilding the economy. A key part of our plan is to cut red tape that ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his Thai counterpart, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, have today agreed that New Zealand and the Kingdom of Thailand will upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026. “New Zealand and Thailand have a lot to offer each other. We have a strong mutual desire to build ...
RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Transport Minister Simeon Brown have today announced the Coalition Government’s intention to extend port coastal permits for a further 20 years, providing port operators with certainty to continue their operations. “The introduction of the Resource Management Act in 1991 required ports to obtain coastal ...
Today’s announcement that inflation is down to 4 per cent is encouraging news for Kiwis, but there is more work to be done - underlining the importance of the Government’s plan to get the economy back on track, acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. “Inflation is now at 4 per ...
Asia Pacific Report From France to Australia, university pro-Palestine protests in the United States have now spread to several countries with students pitching on-campus camps. And students at Columbia and other US universities remain defiant as campuses have witnessed the biggest protests since the anti-Vietnam war and anti-apartheid eras in ...
Analysis by Dr Bryce Edwards, Democracy Project (https://democracyproject.nz)New Zealand Government’s Fast Track legislation. Many criticisms are being made of the Government’s Fast Track Approvals Bill, including by this writer. But as with everything in politics, every story has two sides, and both deserve attention. It’s important to understand what the Government ...
Tara Ward talks to presenter Naomi Toilalo about the new TV show that turns food waste into a three course feast. Naomi Toilalo is standing in the warehouse at Good Neighbour Tauranga, helping unpack the two-and-a-half tonnes of rejected food that will arrive at the community support hub that day. ...
Scout is our latest Dog of the Month. This feature was offered as a reward during our What’s Eating Aotearoa PledgeMe campaign. Thank you to Scout’s human, Avril, for her support. Dog name: Scout (named after the little girl in To Kill a Mockingbird – she inherited the independent spirit ...
Megan Alatini takes us through her life in TV, including ‘terrible’ daytime TV, the class of Carol Hirschfeld and her most embarrassing TrueBliss moment. When she responded to a vague newspaper ad asking “do you have what it takes to be a popstar?” 25 years ago, Megan Alatini never guessed ...
A new exhibition in Wellington showcases the faces behind your local goods and services. Back in 1977, when I was a fine arts student at the University of Canterbury, I took a series of photographs of Christchurch shopkeepers. The photos were for a calendar – a project for my end ...
Toomaj and his resistance to tyranny through his songs have become an icon for the youth of Iran, so his sentence has hit the nation hard. Toomaj Salehi is not the first artist to pay the price for standing with the people. ...
My cousin Dylan and I spotted these big eels under the bridge that summer. We watched them lounging under the dark weed, facing into the flow of water, their mouths frozen open. Dylan and I couldn’t stop thinking about those eels. The night we went down to the creek, we ...
Newsroom, home of satire. My long-running weekly satirical series The Secret Diary has moved to Newsroom and will appear every Saturday, with Victor Billot’s wildly popular satirical Odes continuing to appear every Sunday. Diaries, Odes – while serious political columnists toil at meaningful opinions and stroke their chins to an ...
Tara Ward unravels the many nuanced layers of a cartoon about talking dogs.This is an excerpt from our weekly pop culture newsletter Rec Room. Sign up here. It’s not often an episode of a children’s cartoon has adults sobbing into their sleeves, but that’s exactly what happened this week when ...
Working as a doctor in developing countries to help communities achieve better health outcomes is nothing short of a life goal for Jessica Tater. The University of Otago medical student has her sights firmly set on joining the international humanitarian organisation Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) when she qualifies ...
There’s an island in the far reaches of Auckland’s territory, sitting off the tip of the Coromandel Peninsula, 30 minutes by air from the city or four hours on the slow boat. Aotea Great Barrier is off-grid, it has a population of fewer than a thousand people … and most ...
Asia Pacific Report An Australian author and advocate, Jim Aubrey, today led a national symbolic one minute’s silence to mark the “blood debt” owed to Papuan allies during the Second World War indigenous resistance against the invading Japanese forces. “A promise to most people is a promise,” Aubrey said in ...
Asia Pacific Report The Freedom Flotilla is ready to sail to Gaza, reports Kia Ora Gaza. All the required paperwork has been submitted to the port authority, and the cargo has been loaded and prepared for the humanitarian trip to the besieged enclave. However, organisers received word of an “administrative ...
Pacific Media Watch Palestine solidarity protesters today demonstrated at the Auckland headquarters of Television New Zealand, accusing the country’s major TV network of broadcasting “propaganda” backing Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza. About 50 protesters targeted the main entrance to the TVNZ building near Sky Tower and also picketed a side ...
Opinion by Lynley Hood. Forty years on from my 1985 Fulbright Grant, my disquiet over the war in Gaza evoked some troubling questions. The answer to my first question – What is the primary purpose of the Fulbright Programme? – was on the Fulbright NZ website. It says: US Senator, ...
The ministers responsible for green-lighting major projects need to be open about potential conflicts of interest, says Transparency International. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Anastasia Powell, Professor, Family and Sexual Violence, RMIT University It has been a particularly distressing start to the year. There is little that can ease the current grief of individuals, families and communities who have needlessly lost a loved one to men’s ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Gregory Moore, Senior Research Associate, School of Ecosystem and Forest Sciences, The University of Melbourne Lichen, the first described example of symbiosis.AdeJ Artventure/Shutterstock Once known only to those studying biology, the word symbiosis is now widely used. Symbiosis is the intimate ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kim Hemsley, Head, Childhood Dementia Research Group, Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University Olena Ivanova/Shutterstock “Childhood” and “dementia” are two words we wish we didn’t have to use together. But sadly, around 1,400 ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Peter Whiteford, Professor, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University The government’s Economic Inclusion Advisory Committee has just published its second report. It was set up by Treasurer Jim Chalmers and Minister for Social Services Amanda Rishworth in 2022 to provide: ...
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 Queensland state election will be held in October. A YouGov poll for The Courier Mail, conducted April 9–17 from a sample ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Amin Naeni, PhD candidate at Alfred Deakin Institute for Citizenship and Globalisation, Deakin University There’s been much talk in recent months about what a possible second Donald Trump presidency in the United States could mean for Europe, Russia’s war in Ukraine, the ...
A brief round-up of submissions on the controversial proposed law. This is an excerpt from our weekly environmental newsletter Future Proof. Sign up here. Last week, submissions on the controversial Fast-track Approvals Bill closed just hours after the government released a list of stakeholder organisations who were sent letters advising how they could ...
A poem from Robin Peace’s new collection Detritus of Empire: feather / grass / rock. Cereal giving I see a woman’s hands, see her curious hands break a stalk as she walks through the tall prairie, the savannah, the steppe, wherever it was. See her idly bite the grass that ...
The only published and available best-selling indie book chart in New Zealand is the top 10 sales list recorded every week at Unity Books’ stores in High St, Auckland, and Willis St, Wellington.AUCKLAND1 Hemingway’s Goblet by Dermot Ross (Mary Egan Publishing, $38)A handsomely produced (debossed cover, lovely ...
The Commissioner's decision validates the longstanding efforts of the local community and ensures that Awataha Marae will be managed to serve the needs of the local community, particularly for hosting tangihanga. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tristan Salles, Associate professor, University of Sydney Examples of Australian landscapes.Unsplash Seventy thousand years ago, the sea level was much lower than today. Australia, along with New Guinea and Tasmania, formed a connected landmass known as Sahul. Around this time – ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Felicity Castagna, Lecturer, Creative Writing, Western Sydney University Day Day Market, ParramattaPhoto: Garry Trinh I live on the edge of Parramatta, Australia’s fastest-growing city, on the kind of old-fashioned suburban street that has 1950s fibros constructed in the post-war housing boom, ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michael Ryan, Teaching Fellow in Economics, University of Waikato GettyImagesfatido/Getty Images There is an ongoing global debate over whether the high inflation seen in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic can be lowered without a recession. New Zealand is not ...
The ‘Wicked Game’ heartthrob is in his late 60s now. That didn’t stop him putting on a lively, goofy and very sparkly show. Apart from ‘Wicked Game’, which graces a sultry playlist of mine simply called 💋, my last sustained Chris Isaak listening session took place when I was about ...
Analysis - Two ministers were stripped of portfolios in a warning to Cabinet, drama broke out at the Waitangi Tribunal, and the gang patch ban bill ran into opposition. ...
Tara Ward makes an impassioned plea for some vital pop culture merch. In April 1999, I became obsessed with a new reality television show called Popstars. Every Tuesday night, five strangers transformed into music royalty before my very eyes as Joe, Keri, Carly, Erika and Megan were chosen to form ...
PNG Post-Courier In the early hours of ANZAC Day, aerial photographs captured an impressive gathering of Australians and Papua New Guineans at Isurava in the Northern (Oro) Province. The solemn dawn service yesterday was held at a site steeped in history, where some of the fiercest battles of World War ...
The PSA is shocked that Oranga Tamariki has used the cost cutting drive to downgrade its commitment to Te Ao Māori and remove many specialist Māori roles. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ian Kemish, Adjunct Professor, School of Historical and Philosophical Inquiry, The University of Queensland There can be no more powerful symbol of the relationship between Australia and Papua New Guinea than the prime ministers of these neighbouring countries walking together on the ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sharon Robinson, Distinguished Professor and Deputy Director of ARC Securing Antarctica’s Environmental Future (SAEF), University of Wollongong, University of Wollongong Andrew Netherwood Over the last 25 years, the ozone hole which forming over Antarctica each spring has started to shrink. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Viktoria Kahui, Senior Lecturer in Environmental Economics, University of Otago Getty Images/Amy Toensing Biodiversity is declining at rates unprecedented in human history. This suggests the ways we currently use to manage our natural environment are failing. One emerging concept focuses on ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Timothy Colin Bednall, Associate Professor in Management, Swinburne University of Technology marvent/Shutterstock Finding the best person to fill a position can be tough, from drafting a job ad to producing a shortlist of top interview candidates. Employers typically consider information from ...
Wondering where to host your next BYO? Whether its a small gathering or a massive party, we’ve got some recommendations. I was first introduced to the concept of BYOs at Dunedin’s India Gardens, a legendary but sadly defunct establishment, which purveyed enormous quantities of mango chicken to Aotearoa’s drunkest future ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Julien Cooper, Honorary Lecturer, Department of History and Archaeology, Macquarie University Julien Cooper The hyper-arid desert of Eastern Sudan, the Atbai Desert, seems like an unlikely place to find evidence of ancient cattle herders. But in this dry environment, my new ...
The sector says it’s hopeful her replacement Paul Goldsmith will be able to throw it a lifeline, after six months with a minister deemed missing in action, writes Catherine McGregor in this excerpt from The Bulletin, The Spinoff’s morning news round-up. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign ...
The government can't just rely on axing public sector jobs and has to do more to cut spending, says the chief economist at a free market think tank. ...
Rock The Vote NZ, known for its advocacy for minor party unity and its role within the Freedoms NZ Coalition during the 2023 General Election, celebrates this merger as a strategic enhancement of its operational strength and outreach. ...
Nearly everyone has experienced the frustration of something you use breaking and being difficult or expensive to fix. Proposed legislation could change that. It’s been raining on and off all Sunday afternoon but people are lining up outside a building in a corner of Gribblehirst Park in Sandringham, Auckland. In ...
What does a forever relationship look like when you don’t believe in marriage? And how do you celebrate it? This essay is part of our Sunday Essay series, made possible thanks to the support of Creative New Zealand.I’m going to do it, right now. I’m going to say ...
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Communists vs capitalist: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-53718901
So we await the regime's decision of whether to take him to China for trial or leave prosecution to the HK govt. If they make the latter choice we may still get some media exposure of the court case – but it may be censored.
China is not communist. We know this because it is not democratic.
Democracy is an essential part of communism. Workers controlling businesses can only be done through democracy and it goes upwards from there to the city and nation state.
China is, presently, anti-democratic.
But, then, so is capitalism – the boss doesn't want the workers telling him what to do but is certainly of the opinion that the workers should do what he tells them.
China is not communist
But his political opponents are, and the regime requires total control of the people.
Yes, because the regime is threatened by exercise of the right of free speech. Communists have always been big on using state control to eliminate human rights.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/world/300079006/owner-of-a-hong-kong-newspaper-thats-often-critical-of-chinas-communist-party-government-arrested-under-new-security-law
No they haven't. People who called themselves communists have. There's a difference.
Democracy, human rights – these things are essential to communism. If a nation or a person denies them then they are not communist.
Quite right – totalitarian might be a better term – those states that like ancient Persia required submission of their subjects.
Hmm. You seem to be using communism as if it were an ideal rather than a state practice. Stuart likewise. Viewed as a belief system, that's valid.
In realpolitik though, people apply the label on the basis of practical utility (if it walks like a duck etc). So my usage reflects standard political practice.
Reminds me when I was at uni the Trots, Leninists, Stalinists & Maoists were engaged in four-way sectarian competition over which group were the real communists…
The ideal is the measuring stick. If standard practice doesn't meet the measure in any way, shape or form but calls itself communist then it is obviously misrepresenting itself.
Your usage is empowering people to misrepresent themselves.
People actually empower themselves via misrepresentation: that's the human condition. Why women wear lipstick. Why Labour folk describe themselves as progressive.
The root of this behaviour lies deep within nature itself. Biologists have documented deceit strategies and tactics in many species.
Women wearing lipstick is a deceit strategy!? What Wikipedia page did you get that from?
I didn't write that. Both deceit and misrepresentation derive from the same behavioural root, obviously. Think of it as a survival strategy. Haven't you kept up with evolutionary psychology? Since Robert Wright authored The Moral Animal there's been about a quarter-century of follow-through by many contributors.
O’kay, and Judith Collins is not the Leader of the National Party.
Of course, it was Pat McGrath who wrote it first.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Pat-McGrath-LiquiLUST-007-Duo/dp/B0784HN5XM
Beats Wikipedia hands down.
We realise Dennis, that you reject the content of Communism en bloc, so of course the distinction between states that practiced it to any degree, and those who only pretended to do so is not important to you. But that is as valid as including the DPRK in a discussion of democracy simply because they use the name in the title of their state.
Tbh, Stuart, I'm unaware that any states ever actualised the ideal of communism. Which inclines me to view the ideal as unattainable in practice due to being contrary to human nature. I agree that the ideal seems appealing, in a nebulous way, since I was born an extreme idealist and had to grow a pragmatic side to my character so as to become successful in this society.
I'm far less sanguine Dennis; communists are every bit as 'out of bounds' as are fascists in my book. In the 20th century there were at least six major attempts to implement communist states and each one was a genocidal failure.
People who say that the 'wrong people were in charge' are really just saying that if they had been running the show it would have all turned out good. Which is an delusional conceit, a wet mess of naive idealism, deep intellectual dishonesty and obdurate denial.
The left needs to draw a line under this horribly failed idea called marxism and commit to never doing it again.
To the extent that Communism might have been achievable, much of that had to do with the states claiming to be pursuing it, without putting much effort into doing so. As such it is part of a long tradition of similar attempts at improving government virtue, from Confucianism through Christianity, and Gandhi’s reforms, to the current attempts to form an Islamic state.
Throughout his later life Confucius was pursued by leaders of states for his imprimatur, but had to abandon them as they failed to live up to the ideals they had signed up for. The unprincipled behaviour of these rulers did not invalidate the principles that Confucius had derived, and, but for a certain inconsistency in his writings, the same is true of Marx.
Where communism fails is in its inability to deal with internal failures. In a democracy, the individual is sovereign, and anything that affects them is a legitimate ground to access the representative process (though of course in practice NZ MPs will simply ignore anything that might conceivably reflect badly upon them or their party or require them to get off their spotty bottoms and do anything).
Communism, by contrast, reposes sovereignty in the Party, which promptly claims to be ineffable. When a problem occurs therefore, like an oil light coming on in one's car, democracy in principle fixes it, while communism accuses the oil light of political unreliability, being a refusenik or a saboteur or whatever, until the whole system suffers a catastrophic failure and seizes up.
One should not lay the determination of the Kim dynasty to be God kings entirely on the dark side of communism's ledger however. Their existence has as much or more to do with the retreat of Japan and the geopolitical interests of neighbouring states as anything Marx or his successors wrote.
That sounds remarkably like the US:
and
and
Over time the US realised that they couldn't get rid of political parties but their system is such that they can only have two. This is a problem in that most voices aren't heard.
Perhaps what we need is everyone belonging to a political party where they have a say on the policies that that party puts forward. But then we'd need a system which allowed for each party to be able to have at least one representative in parliament.
The irony had not escaped me. But at least formally, the individual's franchise remains determinate in Trumpistan.
Both communism and capitalism are idealistic and both operate with a fundamental misunderstanding of human nature….communism could operate in a world entirely populated by cooperative individuals and capitalism in a world of competitors…neither world exists…we live in a world of degrees and compromise.
As long as it lasts
I'm not especially keen on trials of communism per se, I just don't like to see it blamed for flaws that arise from other causes. Marx's solution wasn't particularly good, and the likes of Marcuse did not improve it. But Marx did elucidate the issues of unfairness that come with unregulated capital.
The acceptability of capitalism is a function of how well regulated it is. NZ's housing crisis is an instance of failure to regulate, and it has unhomed and impoverished a substantial proportion of our population. This must necessarily concern any party or parties that pretend to govern it or us.
China is considered state-capitalism as far as I am aware
Completely agree. I would be inclined to support a pro workers Democracy movement in China/Hong Kong, but certainly not a rightwing privaliged student/ rightwing media based one like the current HK protests. This is Capitalist infighting, certainly nothing to do with the working class.
Communism is as much a failure as pure capitalism you can't fight Nature where greed is an inbuilt survival instinct where the Strongest survive .
Communism is just a word for utopic ideology where no one is supposed to compete .
Capitalism is the winner takes all monopoly
[Fixed typo in user name]
[Fixed typo in user name]
That's just it – greed isn't an inbuilt survival instinct.
In fact, it is greed that destroys societies and it is working together that brought us to the top of the food chain.
Do you really want to try and survive in the wilderness by yourself? No fangs, no teeth, no claws, weaker per body weight than any other animal?
If we were actually catering to our natural instincts we wouldn't have capitalism because our natural instincts tell us to work together.
Judith Collins’s husband, David Wong-Tung is threatening to sue Newsroom for defamation.
https://www.newsroom.co.nz/wong-tung-threatens-to-sue-newsroom
A shame judges can't order remedial reading lessons.
I know of the "QC" who is acting on behalf of David Wong-Tung.
My family had a brief experience of her some years ago. She also wrote a letter on behalf of an estranged relative which contained falsehoods and threatening language if her client didn't get his way. She came across to me as one of those lawyers who uses professional bullying tactics in order to win her cases. Truth and fair play seem not to be part of her playbook.
Not uncommon among some lawyers I know.
Looks like back stabbings and leaks about the internal turmoil are still coming out of the National Party. The hopes they had of putting the crusher in charge to stem the leaks has not worked for them. The news around the selection of its candidate for the Auckland Central seat point to a party still at war within itself. I hope this helps some current blue seats turn red.
https://www.msn.com/en-nz/news/national/out-of-controversy-a-candidate/ar-BB17N91z
That's the thing, Collins isn't in charge, as well as saying "I'm not the leader of the National Party" (wtf???), a few weeks back when asked had she forced everyone in the party to stop leaking, she said no, she just told them if they want to win, stop leaking. She's a pathetic & weak boss.
Another one of Codger's little jokes. She will have her little joke.
When the dust finally settles on the COVID crisis, I think one of the aspects that will stand out will be that nations with health systems that are properly integrated with a unified governance model, and have strong medical leadership, will generally do better than those that don't.
It seems that it is no accident that Victoria is the state which is struggling at the moment.
A close friend of ours has worked in the health system there all her life. She daily tells us of the contradictions and disconnects she constantly encounters. Poorly implemented procedures and PPE are her biggest gripe. To the extent that from Queensland we are posting down to her N95 masks we can buy off the shelf in Bunnings here, but she cannot access through her employer. All a bit weird really.
Yet at the same time it will be researchers and innovators who will eventually break the back of this crisis, people working with data and evidence who will unlock the secrets and change our thinking.
As an engineer I'm struck by this pandemic as a good example of how our systems need to strike a balance between sufficiently integrated and unified to deal effectively with a crisis, while at the same time the components of it need to adapt and evolve to deal with novel challenges in the environment. This constant tug of war between the need for stability and adaptability is a fundamental feature of our existence, and lies at the heart of our political systems. We might do well to keep this essential frame in mind more often.
If you were watching the AM show this morning around 8.20am, you would have seen the Justice Minister concluding his interview on the cannabis referendum by responding to a question about his personal experience.
"Well, it pretty much always fell off the back of a truck for me." "Actually, the last time was when I'd just qualified as a lawyer. There were lawyers, QCs and a judge all there and they were passing around a joint."
Duncan quickly moved on. The notion that pillars of the legal establishment might be that enlightened must have spooked him, though he covered it well. Amanda & Mark likewise avoided the implication. Vital to keep up false pretences.
Yep DF, that has always bugged me, the hypocrisy.
Like there were no gay judges before homosexual law reform.
The dominance of National party news and images in Stuff and the Herald leaves you wondering if these outfits are unbiased or actually are Natz alternate facebook.
Trite shite-
"National leader Judith Collins has been speaking to about 200 people at the Lake Taupo Yacht Club. Journalist Matt Bowen has sent through some of the main points:
The RMA would go of if National get in power. “We made a critical mistake of embracing a piece of legislation that is all about stopping people doing things rather than getting them done.”
NZ would not be awash with methamphetamine and gangs if National get in power. “We need to take it seriously and we are.”
On light rail in Auckland. “It’s very light. It will never happen. It’s a mirage.”
On if Labour teams up with the greens following the election: “The greens say tax is love, well I have had too much love over the years.”
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/300078917/live-jacinda-ardern-judith-collins-hit-the-election-trail?cid=app-android
I don't think that we should be pandering to marginalised people, I think we should do it because there's something that they can't do in the market place.
[I don’t know which marginalised people you mean, but some of your comments aren’t making a lot of sense and you’re now on my radar as a mod. If you are new here, please read the Policy, and have a think about what you are doing before you comment again. I’m not going to let people troll my posts – 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.]
mod note for you.
Is that censorship weka? Gabby doesn’t make a lot of sense often.
Nope
Woodhouse lying again can't front media Collins has to make excuses for her strong team.
Homeless man returning from Melbourne had to stay in quarantine.
Collins on the back foot trying to look tough .
How many cars did she crush
Tough on gangs when she was minister not. National cut police numbers by 800.
Key was going to wipe out the scourge of P. Not even.
Not new it would appear.
https://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-09-04-2020/#comment-1700202
"He now seems to think that he can return here from his self-imposed exile with a blatant troll comment.
Sam is wrong about that.
Banned for a year so that we can all recover from the pandemic and prepare for the election without having to endure his inane troll comments that create more work for Moderators – Incognito]"
I don't have time to check if it's the same Sam, But his comments are close enough to trolling that I’m dropping him into the blacklist until I have time to look at what is going on (later in the day).
Nope, different Sam AFAIK. The other one is still commenting on the TDB and full of praise of TS. \sarc
The current Sam may want to read the TS Policy; it might save us all some time …
Reads the same to me. Different ip and/or email – going by the avatart change, but there's certainly a very similar style and post habit going on. Should be an easy deduction going on from here if it is the same person.
I have no evidence so I won’t take immediate action. If they’re indeed the same then it won’t take long …
I'm sure it won't, and it wouldn't be the first time the banned Sam posted after an enforced time out with a different gravitar. I recall you extending the one from April for another six months at the beginning of May.
What’s wrong with opposing views and free speech? Why does Sam scare you so much? If you don’t agree with him can’t you just ignore him?
[lprent: I’d point out that speech isn’t free here – nor anywhere else. It costs money and time to provide a venue like this.
Speech here is controlled by our policy, the legal structure we’re in and our moderators who are trying to maintain a robust debate within those bounds.
A first comment simply attacking another commenter with a pigfucker question doesn’t help robust debate. It just raises question about how much of a troll you are. I’d suggest reading the policy. ]
Ah, I see you’ve met the SYSOP 😀
I figured a holier than thou commenter deserved a holier than thou lecture…
There’s no baptism like baptism by fire.
A lot of Radionz texts this morning in favour of charging people coming back to NZ pointing out the often disregarded fact that they want to come back here because it is the best place to be in the world during Covid-19 even though we are reasonably poor country.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/423224/kiwis-overseas-unhappy-about-unfair-managed-isolation-charges
But they had the money and opportunity to leave which has costed for travel etc. and now there is another cost that has to be covered. Life does not unroll with roses spread in your way and everything you wish arriving on a tray – for most of us. Sometimes things will not be just as you wish. That is all!
Another right-wing group on Facebook! Calling themselves The Team of Six Million is lobbying for the Me Generation. People like this want to turn us into a copy of those countries with fabulously rich top and a large middle class, but a large group of people in grinding poverty and stuck there as an eternally indentured class.
They haven't heard those forecasts about the disappearance of the middle class going on in the world. We are in a new millenium, toddling forward uneasily, dragging our teddies behind us. We haven't the money, so we have to think is the idea from a famous New Zealander who helped science along, but was it good for us in the long run? Now we have to think harder.
They're a very mixed group – my cousin is in it. A lot of stranded folk, or those with disrupted travel alongside the entitled ones.
Agree grey. It's too much
https://twitter.com/AotearoanJames/status/1292736826461974528?s=20
I think the government should stop charging Tax to these people, if these returning citizens are currently non-resident tax payers.
Playing into the rights agenda.
Our people overseas are facing unemployment most likely homelessness.
To charge them to come home would be inhumane.
[Corrected a different typo in user name]
[Corrected a different typo in user name]
Yeah, there are research costs, this going to take time. What are you trying to do here? solve everything all in one go?
[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.]
I hear on the radio that National will "create a new group to tackle gangs"
A new "Red Squad?"
Strike Force Raptor?
Raids mentioned as the modus operandi.
No new ideas yet.. just churning out old failed divisive stuff.
National party's shite on the big issues vs the Others published.
Election 2020 – SMC science Q&A with political parties
National can't focus on answering the questions and keeps poking at that useless Labour lot as their solution.
*Smash gangs
* punish youth ( standing in a yacht club)
* our mental health programs really worked
* provide analysis on how we reduce emissions ( because we haven't read the plethora already there)
* don't know- concept black out on support ethnic and gender diversity in the research sector
* address Matauranga Maori…um.. through our partnership schools. didn't read yesterday's news on achievement in private schools.
* cannabis no
*Fresh water – Auckland Auckland the .No shit sherlock..duh..response
"Auckland needs considerable investment in properly separating stormwater and sewage to clean up streams " .
* Pests- We know about science.. we might try some now.
* Biosecurity- vigilence is needed to stop decimating agricultural industries. Yeah we were so vigilant in July 2017 with our action on m.bovis. And Labour is f#king up the Covid border plan again.Probably going to utilise Chris Penks book, Labour’s particular form of lockdown lunacy”, arguing it was too harsh and was unnecessarily extended.
* smoking and vaping.. Labour's dawdling. Perhaps we need an associate minister of health like Dunne to ' speed' them up.
https://www.sciencemediacentre.co.nz/2020/08/11/election-2020-qa/
Of course, a landslide.
/
https://twitter.com/AmichaiStein1/status/1292768831543414785
https://twitter.com/LinkeviciusL/status/1292898802928627712
According to preliminary results announced by Belarus' Central Election Commission, Lukashenko took 80% of the vote, with Tikhanovskaya coming in second with 10%. But Tikhanovskaya disputed those figures. She said that her campaign staff had seen results from more than 50 polling stations and that her share of the vote exceeded Lukashenko's by many times.
https://www.npr.org/2020/08/10/900903506/belarus-elections-end-with-landslide-winner-and-massive-protests
https://twitter.com/felix_light/status/1292937597262733314
https://twitter.com/ASLuhn/status/1292941515501768707
Masks – which are best.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-8611963/N95s-offer-best-protection-coronavirus-neck-fleeces-trap-infectious-particles.html
On what New Zealand might be facing a couple of years down the track:
https://phuulishfellow.wordpress.com/2020/08/11/after-the-virus-new-zealands-sticky-situation/
Stopped when I read "Nationwide House Arrest" in the first paragraph. Anything with such a cartoonish understanding of the notions of freedom, consent and collective action isn't worth the time.
thanks for parsing AB, indeed. "Freeeeeeeeedom!!!!"
AB agree I limit the number of daft things I read. The future is a serious matter, freedom is something to conserve and it comes in different modes to be narrowed or widened as appropriate.
FFS, it was a tongue-in-cheek exaggeration. The article is in favour of the Government measures.
OK – sorry for being unnecessarily rude. But if sticking one's tongue in one's cheek means un-ironically using the language of libertarian nutters, it might be worth reconsidering.
Its a conversation thats rather pointless when it relies on an imaginary situation….when (or if) there is a vaccine and its efficacy is known then an informed discussion can take place.
Anything prior is mere speculation
Just saw a report on NBC Night News about the Navajo Nation "Flattening the curve", how they're doing better because they are following science and experts, no big social gatherings,curfews, 100% mask compliance. Another angle https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/watch-how-the-navajo-nation-rallies-to-support-its-community-in-the-face-of-covid-19/ar-BB17NgR9?li=BBnbcA1
Compared to the 250,000+ motorcycle dickheads converging on South Dakota. What is it with Americans and their absolutely massive social distancing! I was just waiting in line at the bank, I think NZrs naturally socially distance, no one wants to be in anyone elses space.
Far out
I knew Sturgis was big, but never realised just how big.
From Wiki.
"Attendance highest: 739,000 (2015)[1]"
Check out the images Chris T, just insane (for us introverts anyway, hell!).
lemmings find cliff
https://twitter.com/mattesontv/status/1292699974782849026
Dr Bloomfield is the people's hero
https://twitter.com/Kiwi_things/status/1293030582474039299?s=20
Judith still on the campaign trail using we can do it better on border control.
Paul Henry says in Herald today
Henry said he was happy to be back in New Zealand and praised the workers managing the isolation facilities.
"New Zealand's lovely, just arriving back, the whole system is just a well-oiled machine. The people involved it in are spectacular."
The 60-year-old called the process "absolutely faultless".https://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/news/article.cfm?c_id=1501119&objectid=12355635
Yet another paywall on Labour info today.
Suck on that lemon !
I’m not sure slagging NZ off to the Aussie’s is ever a good move?
https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/judith-collins-tells-aussie-media-nz-government-useless-has-achieved-almost-nothing
Some Sun Tzu quotes on how to approach Australian politicians.
Strategy without tactics is the slowest route to victory. Tactics without strategy is the noise before defeat.
Pretend inferiority and encourage his arrogance.
The art of war is of vital importance to the state. It is a matter of life and death, a road either to safety or to ruin. Hence it is a subject of inquiry which can on no account be neglected.
https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/sun_tzu_717950