Bruce Logan in the Herald promotes the “dangerous fantasy” of Israeli Zionist exceptionalism. Which holds that the calculated, systematic dehumanisation of Palestinians is of course quite the right approach. A curse on your apartheid Logan.
Because (to Logan) all Muslims (Palestinians, people of West bank/Gaza) are murderous terrorists – too much time wasted trying to “appease the unappeasable” Palestinians.
trying to “appease the unappeasable” Palestinians. Zionists.
Maybe Logan is with the ‘Flaxmere Christian Fellowship’ whom are marching on Parliament today, calling on the outgoing government to reject Muzzas decision.
I guess they all forgot about the genocide of thousands of Palestinians by Israel, the control of any building supplies, food, medicine, water etc going into Gaza. Effectively starving the citizens and preventing them from rebuilding their lives after Israel bombed their hospitals, schools, homes etc in the conflict a few years back.
Sounds like the 70 people marching today are just fine with murder, selective Christians they are, obviously ignorant of the ten commandments that they claim to live by. Do not murder, but it’s just fine to support Israel murdering Palestinians.
It’s simply incredible how much death religion has caused, and even more concerning that some cannot see through the facade.
That’s Israeli Zionist exceptionalism for you Cinny. It can paint a blowfly as a butterfly. Who the hell is Apartheid Logan anyway ? This person ? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bruce_Logan
If so, why does the Herald conceal the Old Testament credentials of its writer ? Just so that, you know, the reader might ‘understand’.
Dang, Bruce Logan is almost 80, and appears to be a writer of religious opinionated propaganda.
It should be law to disclose the political, religious views etc on any opinion article, maybe a link to the authors bio as well. But in this case there is nothing, nada and the Herald does not allow comment, that creates concealed censorship.
“It should be law to disclose the political, religious views etc on any opinion article, maybe a link to the authors bio as well”.
Do you really mean this?
If so why should it apply only to articles in a newspaper? The better read blogs get nearly as many views as some of the newspapers and could be nearly as influential.
After all, it is an opinion you are expressing there isn’t it?
Do you plan to start putting your full name, and a disclaimer giving details of your beliefs when you put any comments on this blog?
If this was required I suspect that 99% of the comments on this, and most other blogs would vanish instantly. Most commenters appear to value their anonymity.
Yup, if there is no way to comment, then a disclaimer would be appropriate. Many news agencies do so already, such as bio’s on their reporters, or a sentence about the reporter by their name on the article.
For example so and so is a Professor at Massey etc etc
By in this instance, it’s just simply
By Bruce Logan.
Alwyn I’m not talking about disclosure of comment makers on blogs, such as you and I.
I’m talking about disclosure of authors of opinion pieces loosely disguised as articles published in nation wide news papers especially if comments are disabled, some call that transparency.
Mmm – does describing yourself as a Christian mean you hold a certain set of beliefs about God, etc., or does it imply that you try to live an ethical life? As the daughter of a Methodist minister I used to get quite exercised about this. In my teenage years I used to tell my parents that I knew more ‘Christians’ at school who had never darkened the doors of a church than I ever found in the church congregation
I feel that if you are willing to label oneself one should walk the talk as well, otherwise it really is just superficial to satisfy someone elses ideals.
Such as calling oneself a Muslim, Buddist, Christian etc but not living the life of one. It’s interesting how many people say what others want to hear to simply avoid any drama. And then again there is much wisdom in choosing ones battles. Everyone is different as are their ideals and ideas, knowledge and such.
Personally we just live by one rule at ours… simple and ancient it is.. Ye harm none do what ye will (that includes harming oneself)
Yuck. Coincidentally a friend started spouting anti Islamic rethoric to me yesterday. Of the Dr bill Warner type – so I watched warners video and most of brigette gabriel vid too.
Hate speech is so off especially when facts are used to bolster the narrative not as the narrative. Bigotry is just so yuck.
But it is important to know what they think to counter it – the lies, the hated, and their real motivation – FEAR.
Apartheid Logan’s motivation is good – ‘Maxim Institute’s mission statement is “to foster ideas and leadership that enable freedom, justice and compassion to flourish in New Zealand” ‘
Noam Chomsky: Israel’s Response to the United
Nations Resolution on Palestine Is ‘Hysterical’
A victory for the boycott, divestment and sanctions movement.
By Ken Klippenstein / AlterNet December 28, 2016
The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) passed a resolution 14-0 condemning all Israeli settlements on Palestinian land as having “no legal validity” and amounting to “a flagrant violation under international law.” The resolution goes on to note that Israeli settlements pose “a major obstacle to the vision of two States living side-by-side in peace and security.”
This represents the first UNSC resolution in almost eight years concerning Israel and Palestine, and the first in over 35 years regarding the issue of Israeli settlements. Typically the U.S. would veto resolutions critical of Israel, but in this case, the Obama administration opted to abstain, in effect allowing the resolution to pass.
For comment, AlterNet contacted Noam Chomsky, famed linguist, dissident and professor emeritus of MIT. Chomsky said of the resolution, “The UNSC resolution is essentially the same as UNSC 446, March 1979, passed 12-0-3. The main difference is that then two countries joined the U.S. in abstaining. Now the U.S. stands against the world; and under Trump, in even more splendid isolation, on much more crucial matters as well.”
Following the UNSC resolution, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu quickly responded by announcing a halt to his government’s funding contributions to numerous U.N. institutions. Netanyahu called the resolution “a disgraceful anti-Israel maneuver” and blamed it on an “old-world bias against Israel.” Furthermore, he vowed to exact a “diplomatic and economic price” from the countries that supported it.
Shortly thereafter, Netanyahu made good on his threats by personally refusing to meet with the foreign ministers of the 12 UNSC members that voted for the resolution and ordering his Foreign Ministry to limit all working ties with the embassies of those 12 nations. He also summoned the ambassadors to the Foreign Ministry for a personal reprimand over the vote—including, in a highly unusual move, the U.S. ambassador.
Asked about Netanyahu’s response, Chomsky told AlterNet, “The hysterical reaction in Israel and in Congress (bipartisan) reflects their sharp shift to the right in the years since, and the whole incident illustrates quite interesting shifts in world order.”
Palestinian rights advocates have quipped that Israel’s suspension of relations with the UNSC member nations that voted for the resolution—powerful countries including the U.K. and France—has effectively realized a goal of the boycott, divestment and sanctions movement. AlterNet contacted Omar Barghouti, one of the founders of the BDS movement, to see what he thought of this assessment. Barghouti replied, “This unanimous resolution, despite its many flaws in addressing basic Palestinian rights, has dealt Israel’s colonial designs a serious blow that will inadvertently, yet significantly, enhance the impact of the BDS movement in isolating Israel academically, culturally, economically and otherwise.”
“Israel’s delusional hubris and surreal threats to punish the U.N. and the world indicate above everything else how deeply alarmed it is at fast becoming an international pariah, as apartheid South Africa once was.”
Ali Abunimah, the Palestinian-American founder of the Electronic Intifada, told AlterNet that Israel’s use of diplomatic sanctions against the UNSC member states contradicted its vocal opposition to sanctions advocated by the BDS movement. Abunimah said, “It’s sort of amusing to Israel try to impose sanctions and punish the whole world for this decision…Israel claims that sanctions are illegitimate as a tool except of course when Israel is the one wielding them, whether it’s against Iran or whether against the countries that displeased it.”
…keep Trump too busy with international disputes for him to unleash on the domestic front…
Sounds like an eminently sensible idea.
Btw, the story goes… it was the UK who encouraged NZ to sponser the UN resolution just passed. Looks like UK/US/Aussie/Canada/various European countries and maybe others are collaborating on the vexed question of the two recalcitrant leaders, Putin and Trump.
CV…..Kia Ora Koe !
Yes and it’s a powerful lobby. Golda Meir went to the US either near the end of WW2 or not long
after. Raised $US39 mill’
in around a month. Apartheid Logan’s Loon Tune is grist for its mill.
Is it a surprise? The Australian government’s attitude to Australia’s indigenous population is not a lot different than that of the Israeli government’s attitude to its indigenous population.
“The Australian government’s attitude to Australia’s indigenous population” (or any one else for that matter) ” is not a lot different than that of the Israeli government’s attitude to its indigenous population.”
FIFY
🙂
My ‘ooops’ was related to the fact I had included Aussie as part of the conspiracy, and then included Netanyahu on the undesirable list of leaders. Aussie clearly were not part of the conspiratorial UN/Israel affair.
Apart from that yes, their track record concerning their own indigenous race is appalling. Perhaps that is one of the reasons why they’re keeping out of the argument.
keep Trump too busy with international disputes for him to unleash on the domestic front perhaps
Trump will have a Republican Congress to take care of domestic matters for him. Actually I would say it is more likely that Trump will permit Congress quite a lot of rope to do what they like as long as they don’t encroach on things he values, or things he wants personally to oversee or to harm his re-election.
The danger of Obama’s moves in these areas is that it cuts both ways – at some stage in the future there will be a Democrat again about to enter the White House and as Obama appears to have ignored the unspoken conventions around the transition between US administrations then I’m sure Trump (& the Republicans) will now not feel obligated in their turn (not that I think Trump will be feel particularly bound by conventions anyway).
I doubt Obama fears the GOP controlled Congress in the same way he (and the establishment) fear what Trump may attempt….they are after all the same players he has been dealing with for the past 8 years and they understand the rules of the game….unlike Trump, as he has already amply demonstrated.
And why would I want to be a racist bigot?
However, I reserve the right to call a fool, a fool, when I see one.
I can assure your most esteemed personage, that when drafting papers for Cabinet, I somehow managed to write in a suitably mature and respectful manner.
Trump’s not a “fool.” You may not like his personality, you may not like his manners, you may not like his style, you may not like his politics, but none of that makes him a “fool.”
He’s forced the CEOs of Lockheed Martin and Boeing to publicly announce that they will slash the cost of major procurement projects (the F-35 and Air Force One projects).
He’s lined up foreign investors and CEOs to say that they will create, protect or bring back thousands of jobs to the USA.
And now, US consumer confidence has hit its highest level in fifteen years.
So as I said, I understand that you may not like his manners, style or politics, but Trump is no “fool.”
🙄
Gezz! You really have swallowed the magic juice. CV – I’m sorry for you.
So Business confidence is up – whoop de doo!
But what of the appointment of a fool to his cabinet who wants to see even the most crappy wage they now get in the states go even lower? No body will be able to buy anything anyway. Yeah I guess the businesses will all be rubbing their hands waiting to drop wages to slave levels – but it will come back to bite them very hard on the bum.
If he thinks that he can run the most powerful country in the world by twitter at 3 am in the morning, (without advice from more experienced and knowledgeable people) and not cause a war or serious diplomatic muddle in the process, then he is a stupid idiot.
As for his appointed cabinet – the less said about that bunch of cronies and non-science dull brains the better.
He surrounds himself with ignorance and incompetence in public governance – (running a company – however successfully or not – is not the same as running a country).
If he had any sense, or intelligence, he would not have chosen the pack of incompetents he has.
Nothing is going to end well out of the Chump “presidency”
The Democratic Party will under estimate Trump at their own peril.
It already cost them the election.
If he thinks that he can run the most powerful country in the world by twitter at 3 am in the morning, (without advice from more experienced and knowledgeable people) and not cause a war or serious diplomatic muddle in the process, then he is a stupid idiot.
Unless you understand *why* he is tweeting how can you possibly understand the implications of *what* he is tweeting?
You don’t seem to understand that the states chose change.
That by definition, means doing things differently. Get up to speed. Russia, China and Iran are. I believe they will work it out fine.
Unless you understand *why* he is tweeting how can you possibly understand the implications of *what* he is tweeting?
Oh I know why he is tweeting.. and I fully understand the implications. – And so do his “advisors”. The problem is – he doesn’t understand the implications!.
We have a situation brewing at the moment where China is just biding its time until after the 20th Jan.
Instead of spending all your time reading RT – I suggest you read some of the editorials in China’s “Global Times”. The central Govt sponsored newspaper.
China has so far practiced restraint at Trump’s provocations as he’s yet to enter the White House…. But this attitude won’t last too long after he officially becomes the U.S. president, were he still to treat China in the manner he tweeted today.
and
We shall harbor no illusions, and get ready to wrist-fight with Trump.
and
Foreign Minister Wang Yi, without mentioning Trump’s name, said that whoever tries to destroy China’s core interests would shoot themselves in the foot.
I don’t see that is all pally wally and the snubbing his of nose at the One China policy has certainly angered Beijing. They may well decide that Taiwan is to be annexed forthwith. I don’t see that as a peaceful outcome.
So forgive me if I don’t wear your rose coloured glasses when it comes to viewing the “brilliance” of D Trump.
You didn’t note the multiple confrontations between US and Chinese military forces under Obama?
And the rising rhetoric China has been using against Obama’s actions?
Trump hasn’t been sending bombers and destroyers to harass what China sees as its own territory. Obama has though.
Why so nervous now?
Oh I know why he is tweeting.. and I fully understand the implications. – And so do his “advisors”. The problem is – he doesn’t understand the implications!.
Trump believes he is the big “I Am”.
He is nothing but a spoilt brat, who loves to shoot his mouth off, and show he is “The Boss”. Just look at the way he behaved to those on “The Apprentice” and how he loved to say “You’re Fired!” Throwing his weight about, is what he loves best. Hence his ill conceived tweets whenever something is not to his liking – he reacts without thinking, and seldom rationally. I’m not the only one to notice this – there are the reports of psychiatrists who also note this inconsistent and reactionary behaviour and are concerned enough to go public on the matter.
And yes I fully understand what the implications of some of these tweets may be. I doubt that he does. Bullies seldom have any idea of the damage they do to others lives. Even his own advisors are having difficulty trying to keep up and rationalise his behaviour. As for the the down stream consequences we shall just have to wait and see. He has not shown any appreciation to date, that the task of being responsible for the lives of 320 million people is a somewhat different to running a fleet of Hotels.
As for the growing tension in the South China Sea – the acts of aggression are not of the US but from China, and they are becoming more blatant in their show of force by the day. The US on the other hand, has in fact withdrawn bases from the area.
As for the growing tension in the South China Sea – the acts of aggression are not of the US but from China, and they are becoming more blatant in their show of force by the day. The US on the other hand, has in fact withdrawn bases from the area.
If you are correct in your perspective then the Obama/Clinton “pivot to Asia” has proven to be a failure and Trump inherits the emboldened China and foreign policy mess that the Obama White House created.
Trump believes he is the big “I Am”.
He is nothing but a spoilt brat, who loves to shoot his mouth off, and show he is “The Boss”.
Your analysis is not far short of two dimensional amateur armchair psychotherapy.
As for having a big ego and a big mouth. That’s what the electorate wanted and that’s what they have got. And they are common politicians’ traits, after all.
I have said elsewhere – you may not like his style, his manners or his politics, but don’t let that fool you into thinking he is not highly capable in many different dimensions.
The president-elect oompah-loompah who used a presidential primary debate to reassure voters that his penis size was acceptable was merely being “highly capable” when he reversed 40-odd years of delicate prc-us-taiwan diplomatic waltzes by accepting a single phone call.
The South China Sea dance has been going on for decades: China pushes its boundaries out into international sea and air corridors, someone pushes back with a flight or a ship. China then sends planes or ships out to push back against the pushback. Sometimes there’s a collision, but that’s expected and handled. Fuck, they even make each other’s airfields available for emergency landings. And if things get too hot, they plug a trade discount or whatever and everybody acts a bit casual, because nobody wants a war.
But challenging the one china policy in regards to Taiwan is like trying to touch China’s balls. It’s a really sensitive area, and well outside the regular diplomatic shoving match. That’s why only idiots do it. Or multi-dimensional capables, of course.
I predict that there will be a political landslide next year. The social justice principles of a Bill English led government will resonate in South Auckland and far beyond. Trying to demonise the PM did not work for the last eight years and certainly will not work next year. National are aiming for 60% at the election but may have to settle for less this time. Already there is talk about what Bill would offer the few sensible Greens. Winston is deteriorating even more rapidly and he and both his likely possible successors could comfortably unite with a Bill English led National. Winston may reach election 2017 but has no chance of reaching 2020.
This could lead to to a major realignment of politics and my pick is a Multi-Party Government comprising National (above50%), NZF, Greens, MP, UF and ACT comprising 75% of cast votes.
I predict that fisiani’s comment, having the depth of a cigarette paper, the substance of halitosis and interest value of belly button lint, will fade from the consciousness of any reader unfortunate enough to have looked at it, even before that reader can produce a sigh of resignation at the thought that fisiani feels driven to publish vacuous comments like this, even during the holiday season, when most others let rest their particular disfunctions. Give it a rest, fis.
You hear a lot about this so called social investment approach by Bill English as if it is an item marketed to the public by the National Party. This is a strategy to paint Bill as soft and caring. In reality English has presided over some alarming increases of statistics around social harm since the mid 1990s. His social investment approach nothing but a further redistribution of increasingly scarce resources earmarked for public spending. There’s certainly no evidence to show it is working on any other level.
I think the people of South Auckland see that, and with the withdrawal of National from campaigning in Auckland, their dumping of the housing portfolio, the appointment of Bennett as Auckland issues minister, and their admission of defeat in tackling the problems faced by Aucklanders, I predict the city will fall to Labour in a big way in 2017.
This re-branding of Bill English is interesting and certainly seems to have taken a few people in like yourself, and Jarrod Gilbert who seems to be enthralled by Bill English even though more of his mates are locked up than ever before.
Gilbert’s latest puff piece on Bill’s approach (can’t be bothered finding it) admits but skirts around the huge increase in the prison muster under this government and the equally huge spend on new prisons. Quite how incarcerating more and more disadvantaged people equates to social investment I do not know, and it seems the media doesn’t care to ask.
NZ has a staggering welfare dependency problem, and our entire approach towards welfare has to change. Too many NZ’ers are trapped in long term welfare dependency, and social spending has to be directed towards addressing that.
Lots of people assert that it exists, otherwise there’d be nothing on the spoon that feeds you.
What they have failed to do is demonstrate that it exists, and is not yet another racist rear-guard action that attempts to resuscitate the notion of the “undeserving” poor. Or yet another artifact of right wing hate speech. As the reference I provided finds: ‘the welfare rolls are not filled with the chronically dependent”.
In the NZ context, Gordon Campbell points out that:
Looking across all forms of benefits, 61.4 % of recipients are benefit dependent for four years or less. Only 14.3 % are on benefits for more than ten years – and since those figures include people with chronic physical and mental disabilities, the ratio of those staying on benefits because it is a “lifetime, lifestyle choice’ is lower again.
In short, it exists to divert attention from the causes of poverty and inequality, so that right wingers don’t ever have to face their personal responsibility for the victims of your racism and bigotry.
I think you are racist scum with no original thoughts of your own. Let’s agree to disagree.
Zero is lower than 14.3. You have no basis other than hate-speech for your assertion that the number is mounting.
You are a racist lying parrot with nothing of value or originality to say. If I wanted to read National Party lies I’d go to their website. Let’s agree to disagree.
In your mind: Campbell provides no statistics for the alleged dependents. Lower than 14.3 can be anything from zero to 14.2. It is not evidence, no matter how hard you want it to be.
“Lower than 14.3 can be anything from zero to 14.2.”
You making shit up again. If it was zero, he would have said zero, or not even mentioned the category. Instead he said ‘lower again’. Even your own references make you look like an idiot.
If he couldn’t measure it because there aren’t any figures he’d say “lower than”. If he could measure it he’d give the figure.
You’re the one asserting that welfare dependency exists. It’s up to you to prove it does. The fact that various people also think it does is evidence of nothing.
Personally, I think you fixate on it and the other right wing lies Gordon Campbell lists because you can’t handle your personal responsibility for the effects of your witless beliefs.
Not necessarily. But if the figure was zero, it is most likely he wouldn’t have even mentioned it, or would have said it was ‘zero’. Personally I think you posted something that you thought supported your argument without understanding what it actually said.
“There’s a big clue in the fact that Campbell describes them as “myths”. ”
Now you’re evading. That’s not what Campbell says in the point we’re discussing, and it’s not what Campbell says in his commentary. You’re clearly struggling to keep up.
If you ‘click’ (that’s something you can do with your ‘mouse’) on the word in blue – “myths” – in my comment it will take you to the article. Then ‘read’ the ‘headline’.
Oh, and don’t forget that reading is a skill you struggle with. Read it a few times.
I’m going to reset, Bloke, because you’re being slippery.
In your first reference in this discussion, you quoted this:
“Looking across all forms of benefits, 61.4 % of recipients are benefit dependent for four years or less. Only 14.3 % are on benefits for more than ten years – and since those figures include people with chronic physical and mental disabilities, the ratio of those staying on benefits because it is a “lifetime, lifestyle choice’ is lower again.”
I note you gave no link. Leaving that side, you quoted this in support of your denial of welfare dependency. Yet your own quote states that 14.3% are on benefits for more than 10 years, and that there is a further group who are on benefits as a “lifetime, lifestyle choice”.
Those comments directly contradict you seeming ignorance of welfare dependency.
“They mean the author thinks they (the alleged dependents that you can provide no evidence of) might be apocryphal. Myths, even.”
Perhaps, perhaps not. Perhaps the author is using phrases commonly used without actually passing judgement. It’s irrelevant to your evasion. The author acknowledges there is welfare dependency. Your own reference.
The Social Investment strategy has gone too far when they are put severe pressure on people with mental health issues into employment. Even the most ordinary job will put extraordinary strain on these people and they will end up with worse health issues than ever before. Who is going to help them when they are either sacked or have to quit. Blinglish only ever sees money when he quantifies human beings, everybody has a price tag, his strategy to dig deep into the the well of people who are on benefits is poor judgment and ill advised. We will end up with very ill people out of work and without money and support. Shame on Blinglish for his disgraceful attitude towards the unwell.
Absolutely typical – an 18 page double spaced booklet with more pictures than words to solve all the nation’s social problems – get real- this is a pile of rubbish with discernible internal faults. (quite apart from the external ones) The time line shows only Nact governments giving this any space but the text implies that Labour wanted this too…
And it is essentially rubbish. Nact governments and their policies have caused a great number of these problems,
getting rid of unions dumbed wages down,
only funding rent support payments to private landlords instead of mixing this with state owned housing
etc etc
The real dependency problem is corporations that depend on governments to collect taxes and throw them at lousy private sector schemes “to replace government”
There was sod all to read but there were pictures as well – to simplify the issues for the right of centre individuals no doubt.
Still the point is – the dire circumstances of many individuals is the result of Right Wing policy settings not individual failure.
But with so many corporates and right wing individuals trapped by government dependency (whether it’s a high paying government appointment or a favourable contract for public services) we could use the social investment approach to assess their level of social harm and charge them accordingly.
The evidence for Redbaron’s claim is obvious once you understand what the self-attribution fallacy is. I know you cannot understand how or why, so pretend it doesn’t exist or doesn’t count.
“The evidence for Redbaron’s claim is obvious once you understand what the self-attribution fallacy is.”
No, that’s not good enough. The claim ” the dire circumstances of many individuals is the result of Right Wing policy settings not individual failure” is not my claim, and it is very specific. I would expect there be some evidence. The SAF is not evidence; it is a theory which has it’s own limitations.
The doubling of child poverty between 1984 and today, for example. Wayne Mapp tells us that the 1990s National Party he was a member of increased inequality deliberately.
Whereas you wail your ignorance and denial on a blog.
“The doubling of child poverty between 1984 and today, for example. ”
Setting side the validity of the data you have to use to justify that claim, that isn’t evidence. Child poverty has, for example, increased in Sweden, which is the sort of social democratic country I have seen you and others praise.
“The reason I ask is Mapp’s confession that it was done deliberately by the National Party he was a member of.”
Even you’re telling the truth (which is always questionable), even if Mapp is telling the truth, how do you explain the fact that Mapp was only in government for 6 of the last 32 years?
The official unemployment statistic fell earlier this year as a result of the way it is measured. This is well-documented. It’s sad that you believe that changes anything on the ground.
Unemployment has been dropping for some time. That is based on official data. If all you have left is arguing over the data, you’ve lost. With unemployment falling, and employment rising, the population growth argument you’ve put up is bollocks.
If all you have is claiming credit for a change from inches to millimetres it’s no wonder you vote for incompetence and cruelty. I disagree with the lies you were spoon-fed.
USA is leading here:
ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — It will be a happy New Year indeed for millions of the lowest-paid U.S. workers. Nineteen states, including New York and California, will ring in the year with an increase in the minimum wage.
Massachusetts and Washington state will have the highest new minimum wages in the country, at $11 per hour.
California will raise its wage to $10.50 for businesses with 26 or more employees. New York state is taking a regional approach, with the wage rising to $11 in New York City, to $10.50 for small businesses in the city, $10 in its downstate suburbs and $9.70 elsewhere. Some specific businesses — fast-food restaurants and the smallest New York City businesses — will have slightly different wage requirements.
“This $1.50 increase, I cannot even comprehend or tell you how important this will be,” said Alvin Major, a New York City fast-food worker. The 51-year-old father of four helped lead the fight for the increase in his state, one of several successful efforts by fast-food workers and other low wage workers around the country. “The price of food has gone up. Rent has gone up. Everything has gone up. … This will make a difference for so many people.”
New Zealand has a higher minimum wage than any of these US states. In fact as a percentage of average wages NZ is one the highest in the OECD.
Since 2008 the minimum wage has gone up at nearly three times the inflation rate.
However as a gesture in election year it could go from $15.25 to $16.00, rather than say $15.75.
Presumably Labour is going to go for at least $18.00 as part of their campaign strategy. Or if they want a different number at the front, $20.00. That would certainly have people taking notice. But it has risks. A 30% increase in the minimum wage might be seen as economically reckless. But since Standardnistas want a more left wing Labour Party, surely $20.00 for the minimum wage would be proof of that.
There is another ‘fish-hook’ with the minimum wage in the US. I was recently in the US, and I was told by service workers (restaurant waiters) that their minimum wage was actually under $3, but was topped up by tips. The employee had to pay any shortfall between their hourly wage + tip and the MW, but this meant they didn’t effectively earn the MW + tips. When I first heard this I couldn;t believe it, so I checked with several staff and they all confirmed this was the case.
Since when did you prostrate yourself at the feet of Treasury? And did you see in your own link that the Department of Labour point out that an increase DOES cost jobs. Second time today your own link has contradicted your own opinion, Bloke. Well done.
“Thank you for confirming that you cannot understand the point.”
I’ll leave that to others. Frankly it seems clear to me you over reached, and then didn’t have the intelligence to realise it, or the grace to admit it.
A flaccid response that utterly fails to address the point. You need to do more homework, Go read National’s website and regurgitate it all over yourself some more.
I chose $20.000 because it is close to the “living wage” (very slightly higher) but with the advantage that it is a memorable figure.
Just campaigning on the “living wage” will not get cut through. Voters have to ask the question, what does it mean? As a general rule if you have to explain the policy, you have lost much of your audience. If the slogan was “$20, the living wage” then in four words the policy is fully explained. Whats not to like about simplicity?
If Labour wants to campaign on the “living wage” as the minimum, then they should go for it. The voters will judge.
Be prepared to have the Paula Bennett solo -mum sob story to be mentioned at every possible chance.Also get ready for Sir John in the new years honors list.
It’s election year.
Dependable Southlander, Solo mother, Not Sir John but more likely Saint John, Refreshed Cabinet, Housing boom, homelessness cured, poverty abolished, rising prosperity and all conquering all Blacks.
Then there’s Angry Andy lumbered with the nutty Greens. Could be a landslide.
“fund the National party in secret”
You have any evidence at all for this wild claim?
Something in the last 5 years will do.
Thought not. Just wild accusations with nothing at all to back them up.
Unions endorse the political parties that best support the workers rights. They are a voice for working people and their families. http://www.union.org.nz/
If ACT or National are upset about that, maybe they should support our workers a bit better?
There sure are a few corporates on the outgoing governments party donation lists, so much more becomes clear as one reads certain names.
dependable southlander or westie chick in cheap leopard print
solo mother – or in Mike hoskins speak silly women who could not keep that aspirin between her legs with useless parents resulting in her having a child she could not afford – thus domestic purpose benefit dole bludger
student – or domestic purpose benefit dole bludger studying some liberal social degree on some tax payer funded trinket to keep her welfed.
home owner – or doestic purpose benefit dole bludger studying some liberal social degree who buys a home with a taxpayer funded goverment hand out
Minister – who did nothing ever other then help dismantle the widowers benefit (the one that kept John Keys mother in bread and butter), dismantle the domestic purpose benefit into something called the solo parent benefit (now with work requirements at age 3 of the child – something no one ever asked of the dole bludger), dismantle the study aid that she received to study a social liberal degree, dismantle any government aid to buy a house, dismantle state housing one house at a time, dismantle the sick benefit – now people who used to be on the widowers benefit or the sick benefit must be on a job seekers benefit.
yeah, she is gonna be loved, and her story as a single mother who made herself without the help of anyone is gonna wash down lovely with the masses.
the best that women can do is stay in wellington and collect some more tax payer funded largesse while she can.
Quote” A Mormon who said his “heart sank” when he heard that the church’s beloved Tabernacle Choir will perform at Donald Trump’s inauguration has launched a petition to urge the group not to go to Washington, D.C.
“I love the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. The thought of this choir and Mormonism being forever associated with a man who disparages minorities, brags about his sexual control of women, encourages intolerance and traffics in hate speech and bullying, was unacceptable,” Randall Thacker said in a statement. “I immediately knew there were probably thousands of people who felt the same way, so I created the space on Change.org for like-minded Mormons and their friends to share their feelings.”
About 215 of the choir’s 360 members are expected to perform at the inauguration, church officials have told The Salt Lake City Tribune.
By Thursday evening, nearly 19,000 people had signed the petition, which is seeking 25,000 signatures. The petition urges the Mormon Tabernacle Choir not to perform for an “incoming president who has demonstrated sexist, racist, misogynistic, and xenophobic behavior that does not align with the principles and teachings of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.”
Most of the signatures are from LDS members around the world, according to Thacker, a lifelong member of the church.
The petition also encourages people to call and write the church to give their reasons for signing. Several mention that Trump’s values are incompatible with Mormonism or that the church should never become associated with politics. One quips: Conservative rocker “Ted Nugent and the choir? I don’t think so!” Another writes: “Horrible values. Separation of church and state. Pay your taxes.” Quote End.
Graham Adams writes about the $55m media fund — When Patrick Gower was asked by Mike Hosking last week what he would say to the many Newstalk ZB callers who allege the Labour government bribed media with $55 million of taxpayers’ money via the Public Interest Journalism Fund — and ...
Note: this blog post has been put together over the course of the week I followed the happenings at the conference virtually. Should recordings of the Great Debates and possibly Union Symposia mentioned below, be released sometime after the conference ends, I'll include links to the ones I participated in. ...
The following was my submission made on the “Fast Track Approvals Bill”. This potential law will give three Ministers unchecked powers, un-paralled since the days of Robert Muldoon’s “Think Big” projects.The submission is written a bit tongue-in-cheek. But it’s irreverent because the FTAB is in itself not worthy of respect. ...
One Could Reduce Child Poverty At No Fiscal CostFollowing the Richardson/Shipley 1990 ‘redesign of the welfare state’ – which eliminated the universal Family Benefit and doubled the rate of child poverty – various income supplements for families have been added, the best known being ‘Working for Families’, introduced in 2005. ...
Buzz from the Beehive A few days ago, Point of Order suggested the media must be musing “on why Melissa is mute”. Our article reported that people working in the beleaguered media industry have cause to yearn for a minister as busy as Melissa Lee’s ministerial colleagues and we drew ...
1. What was The Curse of Jim Bolger?a. Winston Peters b. Soon after shaking his hand, world leaders would mysteriously lose office or shuffle off this mortal coilc. Could never shake off the Mother of All Budgetsd. Dandruff2. True or false? The Chairman of a Kiwi export business has asked the ...
Jack Vowles writes – New Zealand is said to be suffering from ‘serious populist discontent’. An IPSOS MORI survey has reported that we have an increasing preference for strong leaders, think that the economy is rigged toward the rich and powerful, and political elites are ignoring ‘hard-working people’. ...
Chris Trotter writes – MELISSA LEE should be deprived of her ministerial warrant. Her handling – or non-handling – of the crisis engulfing the New Zealand news media has been woeful. The fate of New Zealand’s two linear television networks, a question which the Minister of Broadcasting, Communications ...
TL;DR: The podcast above features co-hosts and , along with regular guests Robert Patman on Gaza and AUKUS II, and on climate change.The six things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the ...
Policymakers rarely wish to make plain or visible their desire to dismantle environmental policy, least of all to the young. Photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: Here’s the top five news items of note in climate news for Aotearoa-NZ this week, and a discussion above between Bernard Hickey and The Kākā’s climate correspondent ...
I like to keep an eye on what’s happening in places like the UK, the US, and over the ditch with our good mates the Aussies. Let’s call them AUKUS, for want of a better collective term. More on that in a bit.It used to be, not long ago, that ...
TL;DR: The global economy will be one fifth smaller than it would have otherwise been in 2050 as a result of climate damage, according to a new study by the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) and published in the journal Nature. (See more detail and analysis below, and ...
New Zealand is said to be suffering from ‘serious populist discontent’. An IPSOS MORI survey has reported that we have an increasing preference for strong leaders, think that the economy is rigged toward the rich and powerful, and political elites are ignoring ‘hard-working people’. The data is from February this ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters is understood to be planning a major speech within the next fortnight to clear up the confusion over whether or not New Zealand might join the AUKUS submarine project. So far, there have been conflicting signals from the Government. RNZ reported the Prime Minister yesterday in ...
Life throws curveballs, and sometimes, those curveballs necessitate wiping your iPhone clean and starting anew. Whether you’re facing persistent software glitches, preparing to sell your device, or simply wanting a fresh start, knowing how to factory reset iPhone without a computer is a valuable skill. While using a computer with ...
Gone are the days when communication was limited to landline phones and physical proximity. Today, computers have become powerful tools for connecting with people across the globe through voice and video calls. But with a plethora of applications and methods available, how to call someone on a computer might seem ...
Open access notables Glacial isostatic adjustment reduces past and future Arctic subsea permafrost, Creel et al., Nature Communications:Sea-level rise submerges terrestrial permafrost in the Arctic, turning it into subsea permafrost. Subsea permafrost underlies ~ 1.8 million km2 of Arctic continental shelf, with thicknesses in places exceeding 700 m. Sea-level variations over glacial-interglacial cycles control ...
The operating system (OS) is the heart and soul of a computer, orchestrating every action and interaction between hardware and software. But have you ever wondered where on a computer is the operating system generally stored? The answer lies in the intricate dance between hardware and software components, particularly within ...
Laptops have become essential tools for work, entertainment, and communication, offering portability and functionality. However, with rising energy costs and growing environmental concerns, understanding a laptop’s power consumption is more important than ever. So, how many watts does a laptop use? The answer, unfortunately, isn’t straightforward. It depends on several ...
Screen recording has become an essential tool for various purposes, such as creating tutorials, capturing gameplay footage, recording online meetings, or sharing information with others. Fortunately, Dell laptops offer several built-in and external options for screen recording, catering to different needs and preferences. This guide will explore various methods on ...
A cracked or damaged laptop screen can be a frustrating experience, impacting productivity and enjoyment. Fortunately, laptop screen repair is a common service offered by various repair shops and technicians. However, the cost of fixing a laptop screen can vary significantly depending on several factors. This article delves into the ...
Gaming laptops represent a significant investment for passionate gamers, offering portability and powerful performance for immersive gaming experiences. However, a common concern among potential buyers is their lifespan. Unlike desktop PCs, which allow for easier component upgrades, gaming laptops have inherent limitations due to their compact and integrated design. This ...
The annual inventory report of New Zealand's greenhouse gas emissions has been released, showing that gross emissions have dropped for the third year in a row, to 78.4 million tons: All-told gross emissions have decreased by over 6 million tons since the Zero Carbon Act was passed in 2019. ...
Experiencing a locked computer can be frustrating, especially when you need access to your files and applications urgently. The methods to unlock your computer will vary depending on the specific situation and the type of lock you encounter. This guide will explore various scenarios and provide step-by-step instructions on how ...
While the world has largely transitioned to digital communication, faxing still holds relevance in certain industries and situations. Fortunately, gone are the days of bulky fax machines and dedicated phone lines. Today, you can easily send and receive faxes directly from your computer, offering a convenient and efficient way to ...
In our increasingly digital world, home computers have become essential tools for work, communication, entertainment, and more. However, this increased reliance on technology also exposes us to various cyber threats. Understanding these threats and taking proactive steps to protect your home computer is crucial for safeguarding your personal information, finances, ...
In the ever-evolving world of technology, server-based computing has emerged as a cornerstone of modern digital infrastructure. This article delves into the concept of server-based computing, exploring its various forms, benefits, challenges, and its impact on the way we work and interact with technology. Understanding Server-Based Computing: At its core, ...
The absolute brass neck of this guy.We want more medical doctors, not more spin doctors, Luxon was saying a couple of weeks ago, and now we’re told the guy has seven salaried adults on TikTok duty. Sorry, doing social media. The absolute brass neck of it. The irony that the ...
Buzz from the Beehive Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones relishes spatting and eagerly takes issue with environmentalists who criticise his enthusiasm for resource development. He relishes helping the fishing industry too. And so today, while the media are making much of the latest culling in the public service to ...
Having written, taught and worked for the US government on issues involving unconventional warfare and terrorism for 30-odd years, two things irritate me the most when the subject is discussed in public. The first is the Johnny-come-lately academics-turned-media commentators who … Continue reading → ...
Eric Crampton writes – Kainga Ora is the government’s house building agency. It’s been building a lot of social housing. Kainga Ora has its own (but independent) consenting authority, Consentium. It’s a neat idea. Rather than have to deal with building consents across each different territorial authority, Kainga Ora ...
Muriel Newman writes – The Coalition Government says it is moving with speed to deliver campaign promises and reverse the damage done by Labour. One of their key commitments is to “defend the principle that New Zealanders are equal before the law.” To achieve this, they have pledged they “will not advance ...
Chris Trotter writes – The absence of anything resembling a fightback from the public servants currently losing their jobs is interesting. State-sector workers’ collective fatalism in the face of Coalition cutbacks indicates a surprisingly broad acceptance of impermanence in the workplace. Fifty years ago, lay-offs in the thousands ...
Mariupol, on the Azov Sea coast, was one of the first cities to suffer almost complete destruction after the start of the Ukraine War started in late February 2022. We remember the scenes of absolute destruction of the houses and city structures. The deaths of innocent civilians – many of ...
Lindsay Mitchell writes – Ten years ago, I wrote the following in a Listener column: Every year around one in five new-born babies will be reliant on their caregivers benefit by Christmas. This pattern has persisted from at least 1993. For Maori the number jumps to over one in three. ...
Climate change is expected to generate more and more extreme events, delivering a sort of structural shock to inflation that central banks will have to react to as if they were short-term cyclical issues. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMy pick of the six newsey things to know from Aotearoa’s ...
It’s a simple deal. We pay taxes in order to finance the social services we want and need. The carnage now occurring across the public sector though, is breaking that contract. Over 3,000 jobs have been lost so far. Many are in crucial areas like Education where the impact of ...
Hi,A friend had their 40th over the weekend and decided to theme it after Curb Your Enthusiasm fashion icon Susie Greene. Captured in my tiny kitchen before I left the house, I ending up evoking a mix of old lesbian and Hillary Clinton — both unintentional.Me vs Hillary ClintonIf you’re ...
This is a re-post from Andrew Dessler at the Climate Brink blogIn 2023, the Earth reached temperature levels unprecedented in modern times. Given that, it’s reasonable to ask: What’s going on? There’s been lots of discussions by scientists about whether this is just the normal progression of global warming or if something ...
The schools are on holiday and the sun is shining in the seaside village and all day long I have been seeing bunches of bikes; Mums, Dads, teens and toddlers chattering, laughing, happy, having a bloody great time together. Cheers, AT, for the bits of lane you’ve added lately around the ...
Today in our National-led authoritarian nightmare: Shane Jones thinks Ministers should be above the law: New Zealand First MP Shane Jones is accusing the Waitangi Tribunal of over-stepping its mandate by subpoenaing a minister for its urgent hearing on the Oranga Tamariki claim. The tribunal is looking into the ...
Bryce Edwards writes – Politicians across the political spectrum are implicated in the New Zealand media’s failing health. Either through neglect or incompetent interventions, successive governments have failed to regulate, foster, and allow a healthy Fourth Estate that can adequately hold politicians and the powerful to account. ...
Citizen Science writes – Last week saw two significant developments in the debate over the treatment of trans-identifying children and young people – the release in Britain of the final report of Dr Hilary Cass’s review into gender healthcare, and here in New Zealand, the news that the ...
One night while sleeping in my bed I had a beautiful dreamThat all the people of the world got together on the same wavelengthAnd began helping one anotherNow in this dream, universal love was the theme of the dayPeace and understanding and it happened this wayAfter such an eventful day ...
This is a guest post by Oscar Simms who is a housing activist, volunteer for the Coalition for More Homes, and was the Labour Party candidate for Auckland Central at the last election. ...
Turning what Labour called the “holiday highway” into a four-lane expressway from Auckland to Whangarei could bring at least an economic benefit of nearly two billion a year for Northland each year. And it could help bring an end to poverty in one of New Zealand’s most deprived regions. The ...
Tonight’s six-stack includes: launching his substack with a bunch of his previous documentaries, including this 1992 interview with Dame Whina Cooper. and here crew give climate activists plenty to do, including this call to submit against the Fast Track Approvals bill. writes brilliantly here on his substack ...
On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
You're in the mall when you hear it: some kind of popping sound in the distance, kids with fireworks, maybe. But then a moment of eerie stillness is followed by more of the fireworks sound and there’s also screaming and shrieking and now here come people running for their lives.Does ...
Karl du Fresne writes – There’s a crisis in the news media and the media are blaming it on everyone except themselves. Culpability is being deflected elsewhere – mainly to the hapless Minister of Communications, Melissa Lee, and the big social media platforms that are accused of hoovering ...
I don’t normally send out two newsletters in a day but I figured I’d say something about… the news. If two newsletters is a bit much then maybe just skip one, I don’t want to overload people. Alternatively if you’d be interested in sometimes receiving multiple, smaller updates from me, ...
Buzz from the Beehive David Seymour and Winston Peters today signalled that at least two ministers of the Crown might be in Wellington today. Seymour (as Associate Minister of Education) announced the removal of more red tape, this time to make it easier for new early learning services to be ...
Politicians across the political spectrum are implicated in the New Zealand media’s failing health. Either through neglect or incompetent interventions, successive governments have failed to regulate, foster, and allow a healthy Fourth Estate that can adequately hold politicians and the powerful to account. Our political system is suffering from the ...
David Farrar writes – The Broadcasting Standards Authority ruled: Comments by radio host Kate Hawkesby suggesting Māori and Pacific patients were being prioritised for surgery due to their ethnicity were misleading and discriminatory, the Broadcasting Standards Authority has found. It is a fact such patients are prioritised. ...
PRC and its proxies in Solomons have been preparing for these elections for a long time.A lot of money, effort and intelligence have gone into ensuring an outcome that won’t compromise Beijing’s plans. Cleo Paskall writes – On April 17th the Solomon Islands, a country of ...
Is speeding up the trip to and from Wellington airport by 12 minutes worth spending up more than $10 billion? Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The six news items that stood out to me in the last day to 8:26 am today are:The Lead: Transport Minister Simeon Brownannounced ...
You're a fraud, and you know itBut it's too good to throw it all awayAnyone would do the sameYou've got 'em goingAnd you're careful not to show itSometimes you even fool yourself a bitIt's like magicBut it's always been a smoke and mirrors gameAnyone would do the sameForty six billion ...
This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections The June general election in Mexico could mark a turning point in ensuring that the country’s climate policies better reflect the desire of its citizens to address the climate crisis, with both leading presidential candidates expressing support for renewable energy. Mexico is the ...
2024, it feels, keeps presenting us with ever more challenges, ever more dismay.Do you give up yet? It seems to ask.No? How about this? Or this?How about this?When I say 2024 I really mean the state of humanity in 2024.Saturday night, we watched Civil War because that is one terrifying cliff we've ...
Buzz from the Beehive A pet project and governmental tunnel vision jump out from the latest batch of ministerial announcements. The government is keen to assure us of its concern for the wellbeing of our pets. It will be introducing pet bonds in a change to the Residential Tenancies Act ...
A recent report generated from a Growing Up in New Zealand (GUiNZ) survey of 1,224 rangatahi Māori aged 11-12 found: Cultural connectedness was associated with fewer depression symptoms, anxiety symptoms and better quality of life. That sounds cut and dry. But further into the report the following appears: Cultural connectedness is ...
David Farrar writes – The Herald reports: From the gory details of job-cuts news, you’d think the public service was being eviscerated. While the media’s view of the cuts is incomplete, it’s also true that departments have been leaking the particulars faster than a Wellington ...
Remember the good old days, back when New Zealand had a PM who could think and speak calmly and intelligently in whole sentences without blustering? Even while Iran’s drones and missiles were still being launched, Helen Clark was live on TVNZ expertly summing up the latest crisis in the Middle ...
Costello did not pass on analysis of the benefits of the smokefree reforms to Cabinet, emphasising instead the extra tax revenues of repealing them. Photo: Hagen Hopkins, Getty Images TL;DR: The six news items that stood out to me at 7:26 am today are:The Lead: Casey Costello never passed on ...
True loveYou're the one I'm dreaming ofYour heart fits me like a gloveAnd I'm gonna be true blueBaby, I love youI’ve written about the job cuts in our news media last week. The impact on individuals, and the loss to Aotearoa of voices covering our news from different angles.That by ...
While commentators, including former Prime Minister Helen Clark, are noting a subtle shift in New Zealand’s foreign policy, which now places more emphasis on the United States, many have missed a key element of the shift. What National said before the election is not what the government is doing now. ...
The Green Party has joined the call for public submissions on the fast-track legislation to be extended after the Ombudsman forced the Government to release the list of organisations invited to apply just hours before submissions close. ...
New Zealand’s good work at reducing climate emissions for three years in a row will be undone by the National government’s lack of ambition and scrapping programmes that were making a difference, Labour Party climate spokesperson Megan Woods said today. ...
More essential jobs could be on the chopping block, this time Ministry of Education staff on the school lunches team are set to find out whether they're in line to lose their jobs. ...
The Government is trying to bring in a law that will allow Ministers to cut corners and kill off native species, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking said. ...
Cancelling urgently needed new Cook Strait ferries and hiking the cost of public transport for many Kiwis so that National can announce the prospect of another tunnel for Wellington is not making good choices, Labour Transport Spokesperson Tangi Utikere said. ...
A laundry list of additional costs for Tāmaki Makarau Auckland shows the Minister for the city is not delivering for the people who live there, says Labour Auckland Issues spokesperson Shanan Halbert. ...
The Green Party has today launched a step-by-step guide to help New Zealanders make their voice heard on the Government’s democracy dodging and anti-environment fast track legislation. ...
The National Government’s proposed changes to the Residential Tenancies Act will mean tenants can be turfed from their homes by landlords with little notice, Labour housing spokesperson Kieran McAnulty said. ...
Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson is calling on all parties to support a common-sense change that’s great for the planet and great for consumers after her member’s bill was drawn from the ballot today. ...
A significant milestone has been reached in the fight to strike an anti-Pasifika and unfair law from the country’s books after Teanau Tuiono’s members’ bill passed its first reading. ...
New Zealand has today missed the opportunity to uphold the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment, says James Shaw after his member’s bill was voted down in its first reading. ...
Today’s advice from the Climate Change Commission paints a sobering reality of the challenge we face in combating climate change, especially in light of recent Government policy announcements. ...
Minister for Disability Issues Penny Simmonds appears to have delayed a report back to Cabinet on the progress New Zealand is making against international obligations for disabled New Zealanders. ...
The Government’s newly announced review of methane emissions reduction targets hints at its desire to delay Aotearoa New Zealand’s urgent transition to a climate safe future, the Green Party said. ...
The Government must commit to the Maitai School building project for students with high and complex needs, to ensure disabled students from the top of the South Island have somewhere to learn. ...
Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey and his Government colleagues have made a meal of their mental health commitments, showing how flimsy their efforts to champion the issue truly are, says Labour Mental Health spokesperson Ingrid Leary. ...
Māori are yet to see anything from this Government except cuts, reversals and taking our people backwards, Māori Development spokesperson Willie Jackson said. ...
The Coalition Government’s refusal to commit to ongoing funding for social housing is seeing the sector pull back on developments and families watch their dreams of securing a home fade away, says Labour Housing spokesperson Kieran McAnulty. ...
Changes to minimum wage and benefit indexation means many New Zealanders will get less this year, as the Government gives a big tax break to landlords instead. ...
New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...
The Government is today releasing a list of organisations who received letters about the Fast-track applications process, says RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. “Recently Ministers and agencies have received a series of OIA requests for a list of organisations to whom I wrote with information on applying to have a ...
Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister David Jonathan Boldt as a Judge of the High Court, and the Honourable Justice Matthew Palmer as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Boldt graduated with an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 1990, and also holds ...
Education Minister Erica Stanford will lead the New Zealand delegation at the 2024 International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) held in Singapore. The delegation includes representatives from the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) Te Wehengarua and the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa. The summit is co-hosted ...
A stopbank upgrade project in Tairawhiti partly funded by the Government has increased flood resilience for around 7000ha of residential and horticultural land so far, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones today attended a dawn service in Gisborne to mark the end of the first stage of the ...
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters will represent the Government at Anzac Day commemorations on the Gallipoli Peninsula next week and engage with senior representatives of the Turkish government in Istanbul. “The Gallipoli campaign is a defining event in our history. It will be a privilege to share the occasion ...
Science, Innovation and Technology and Defence Minister Judith Collins will next week attend the OECD Science and Technology Ministerial conference in Paris and Anzac Day commemorations in Belgium. “Science, innovation and technology have a major role to play in rebuilding our economy and achieving better health, environmental and social outcomes ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...
The Government has announced that $20 million in funding will be made available to Westport to fund much needed flood protection around the town. This measure will significantly improve the resilience of the community, says Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. “The Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...
The Government is proud to support the first ever Repco Supercars Championship event in Taupō as up to 70,000 motorsport fans attend the Taupō International Motorsport Park this weekend, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. “Anticipation for the ITM Taupō Super400 is huge, with tickets and accommodation selling out weeks ...
Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced an increase to the Rates Rebate Scheme, putting money back into the pockets of low-income homeowners. “The coalition Government is committed to bringing down the cost of living for New Zealanders. That includes targeted support for those Kiwis who are doing things tough, such ...
The Coalition Government is investing in a project to boost survival rates of New Zealand mussels and grow the industry, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has announced. “This project seeks to increase the resilience of our mussels and significantly boost the sector’s productivity,” Mr Jones says. “The project - ...
Benefit figures released today underscore the importance of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “Benefit numbers are still significantly higher than when National was last in government, when there was about 70,000 fewer ...
The Government’s commitment to doubling New Zealand’s renewable energy capacity is backed by new data showing that clean energy has helped the country reach its lowest annual gross emissions since 1999, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand’s latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory (1990-2022) published today, shows gross emissions fell ...
The Government is bringing the earthquake-prone building review forward, with work to start immediately, and extending the deadline for remediations by four years, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Our Government is focused on rebuilding the economy. A key part of our plan is to cut red tape that ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his Thai counterpart, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, have today agreed that New Zealand and the Kingdom of Thailand will upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026. “New Zealand and Thailand have a lot to offer each other. We have a strong mutual desire to build ...
RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Transport Minister Simeon Brown have today announced the Coalition Government’s intention to extend port coastal permits for a further 20 years, providing port operators with certainty to continue their operations. “The introduction of the Resource Management Act in 1991 required ports to obtain coastal ...
Today’s announcement that inflation is down to 4 per cent is encouraging news for Kiwis, but there is more work to be done - underlining the importance of the Government’s plan to get the economy back on track, acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. “Inflation is now at 4 per ...
Refreshed health guidance released today will help parents and schools make informed decisions about whether their child needs to be in school, addressing one of the key issues affecting school attendance, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour. In recent years, consistently across all school terms, short-term illness or medical reasons ...
Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is streamlining high-level oceans management while maintaining a focus on supporting the sector’s role in the export-led recovery of the economy. “I am working to realise the untapped potential of our fishing and aquaculture sector. To achieve that we need to be smarter with ...
Associate Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson is speaking at the International Wool Textile Organisation Congress in Adelaide, promoting New Zealand wool, and outlining the coalition Government’s support for the revitalisation the sector. "New Zealand’s wool exports reached $400 million in the year to 30 June 2023, and the coalition Government ...
The Government is making legislative changes to make it easier for new early learning services to be established, and for existing services to operate, Associate Education Minister David Seymour says. The changes involve repealing the network approval provisions that apply when someone wants to establish a new early learning service, ...
Changes to the Resource Management Act will align consenting for coal mining to other forms of mining to reduce barriers that are holding back economic development, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “The inconsistent treatment of coal mining compared with other extractive activities is burdensome red tape that fails to acknowledge ...
Trade, Agriculture and Forestry Minister Todd McClay has concluded productive discussions with ministerial counterparts in Beijing today, in support of the New Zealand-China trade and economic relationship. “My meeting with Commerce Minister Wang Wentao reaffirmed the complementary nature of the bilateral trade relationship, with our Free Trade Agreement at its ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon today paid tribute to Singapore’s outgoing Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. Meeting in Singapore today immediately before Prime Minister Lee announced he was stepping down, Prime Minister Luxon warmly acknowledged his counterpart’s almost twenty years as leader, and the enduring legacy he has left for Singapore and South East ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. While in Singapore as part of his visit to South East Asia this week, Prime Minister Luxon also met with Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and will meet with Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has made further appointments to the Board of Antarctica New Zealand as part of a continued effort to ensure the Scott Base Redevelopment project is delivered in a cost-effective and efficient manner. The Minister has appointed Neville Harris as a new member of the Board. Mr ...
Finance Minister Nicola Willis will travel to the United States on Tuesday to attend a meeting of the Five Finance Ministers group, with counterparts from Australia, the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. “I am looking forward to meeting with our Five Finance partners on how we can work ...
The coalition Government has today announced purrfect and pawsitive changes to the Residential Tenancies Act to give tenants with pets greater choice when looking for a rental property, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “Pets are important members of many Kiwi families. It’s estimated that around 64 per cent of New ...
State Highway 1 (SH1) through Wellington City is heavily congested at peak times and while planning continues on the duplicate Mt Victoria Tunnel and Basin Reserve project, the Government has also asked NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) to consider and provide advice on a Long Tunnel option, Transport Minister Simeon Brown ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Foreign Minister Winston Peters have condemned Iran’s shocking and illegal strikes against Israel. “These attacks are a major challenge to peace and stability in a region already under enormous pressure," Mr Luxon says. "We are deeply concerned that miscalculation on any side could ...
Hundreds of people in little over a week have turned out in Northland to hear Regional Development Minister Shane Jones speak about plans for boosting the regional economy through infrastructure. About 200 people from the infrastructure and associated sectors attended an event headlined by Mr Jones in Whangarei today. Last ...
Health Minister Dr Shane Reti has today thanked outgoing Health New Zealand – Te Whatu Ora Chair Dame Karen Poutasi for her service on the Board. “Dame Karen tendered her resignation as Chair and as a member of the Board today,” says Dr Reti. “I have asked her to ...
The NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) has signalled their proposed delivery approach for the Government’s 15 Roads of National Significance (RoNS), with the release of the State Highway Investment Proposal (SHIP) today, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Boosting economic growth and productivity is a key part of the Government’s plan to ...
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http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11774448
Bruce Logan in the Herald promotes the “dangerous fantasy” of Israeli Zionist exceptionalism. Which holds that the calculated, systematic dehumanisation of Palestinians is of course quite the right approach. A curse on your apartheid Logan.
Because (to Logan) all Muslims (Palestinians, people of West bank/Gaza) are murderous terrorists – too much time wasted trying to “appease the unappeasable” Palestinians.
trying to “appease the unappeasable”
Palestinians.Zionists.FIFLogan
That opinion piece was crazy.
Maybe Logan is with the ‘Flaxmere Christian Fellowship’ whom are marching on Parliament today, calling on the outgoing government to reject Muzzas decision.
I guess they all forgot about the genocide of thousands of Palestinians by Israel, the control of any building supplies, food, medicine, water etc going into Gaza. Effectively starving the citizens and preventing them from rebuilding their lives after Israel bombed their hospitals, schools, homes etc in the conflict a few years back.
Sounds like the 70 people marching today are just fine with murder, selective Christians they are, obviously ignorant of the ten commandments that they claim to live by. Do not murder, but it’s just fine to support Israel murdering Palestinians.
It’s simply incredible how much death religion has caused, and even more concerning that some cannot see through the facade.
That’s Israeli Zionist exceptionalism for you Cinny. It can paint a blowfly as a butterfly. Who the hell is Apartheid Logan anyway ? This person ? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bruce_Logan
If so, why does the Herald conceal the Old Testament credentials of its writer ? Just so that, you know, the reader might ‘understand’.
Dang, Bruce Logan is almost 80, and appears to be a writer of religious opinionated propaganda.
It should be law to disclose the political, religious views etc on any opinion article, maybe a link to the authors bio as well. But in this case there is nothing, nada and the Herald does not allow comment, that creates concealed censorship.
“It should be law to disclose the political, religious views etc on any opinion article, maybe a link to the authors bio as well”.
Do you really mean this?
If so why should it apply only to articles in a newspaper? The better read blogs get nearly as many views as some of the newspapers and could be nearly as influential.
After all, it is an opinion you are expressing there isn’t it?
Do you plan to start putting your full name, and a disclaimer giving details of your beliefs when you put any comments on this blog?
If this was required I suspect that 99% of the comments on this, and most other blogs would vanish instantly. Most commenters appear to value their anonymity.
Yup, if there is no way to comment, then a disclaimer would be appropriate. Many news agencies do so already, such as bio’s on their reporters, or a sentence about the reporter by their name on the article.
For example so and so is a Professor at Massey etc etc
By in this instance, it’s just simply
By Bruce Logan.
Alwyn I’m not talking about disclosure of comment makers on blogs, such as you and I.
I’m talking about disclosure of authors of opinion pieces loosely disguised as articles published in nation wide news papers especially if comments are disabled, some call that transparency.
Transparency has a dark side too
http://www.sup.org/books/title/?id=25832
Byung-Chul Han seems to be confused about the difference between transparency, as in open and democratic government, and privacy.
We citizens have every right to inspect and criticise what governments are doing.
The reverse situation does not apply.
The reverse situation applies because government keeps an eye on citizens
http://www.nzsis.govt.nz/our-work/
And criticises what citizens do and say
https://www.hrc.co.nz/your-rights/race-relations-and-diversity/
https://www.dia.govt.nz/Censorship-in-New-Zealand
Mmm – does describing yourself as a Christian mean you hold a certain set of beliefs about God, etc., or does it imply that you try to live an ethical life? As the daughter of a Methodist minister I used to get quite exercised about this. In my teenage years I used to tell my parents that I knew more ‘Christians’ at school who had never darkened the doors of a church than I ever found in the church congregation
I feel that if you are willing to label oneself one should walk the talk as well, otherwise it really is just superficial to satisfy someone elses ideals.
Such as calling oneself a Muslim, Buddist, Christian etc but not living the life of one. It’s interesting how many people say what others want to hear to simply avoid any drama. And then again there is much wisdom in choosing ones battles. Everyone is different as are their ideals and ideas, knowledge and such.
Personally we just live by one rule at ours… simple and ancient it is..
Ye harm none do what ye will (that includes harming oneself)
In an earlier opinion piece on Israel in the Herald they printed a few words about the author;
• Hagai El-Ad is executive director for B’Tselem, an Israeli organisation for human rights in the occupied territories.
But in the piece by Bruce Logan, there is nothing but his name, I wonder why that is?
Yuck. Coincidentally a friend started spouting anti Islamic rethoric to me yesterday. Of the Dr bill Warner type – so I watched warners video and most of brigette gabriel vid too.
Hate speech is so off especially when facts are used to bolster the narrative not as the narrative. Bigotry is just so yuck.
But it is important to know what they think to counter it – the lies, the hated, and their real motivation – FEAR.
Logan is a right wing christian bigot. First director of the Maxim Institute.
Say no more.
In 1986, Bruce Logan tried to have the book The Color Purple by Alice Walker banned. He’s not simply a bigot, he’s a loon.
To make matters worse, he was actually working as an English teacher at the time.
Let’s be charitable Wyndham.
Apartheid Logan’s motivation is good – ‘Maxim Institute’s mission statement is “to foster ideas and leadership that enable freedom, justice and compassion to flourish in New Zealand” ‘
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maxim_Institute
Noam Chomsky: Israel’s Response to the United
Nations Resolution on Palestine Is ‘Hysterical’
A victory for the boycott, divestment and sanctions movement.
By Ken Klippenstein / AlterNet December 28, 2016
The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) passed a resolution 14-0 condemning all Israeli settlements on Palestinian land as having “no legal validity” and amounting to “a flagrant violation under international law.” The resolution goes on to note that Israeli settlements pose “a major obstacle to the vision of two States living side-by-side in peace and security.”
This represents the first UNSC resolution in almost eight years concerning Israel and Palestine, and the first in over 35 years regarding the issue of Israeli settlements. Typically the U.S. would veto resolutions critical of Israel, but in this case, the Obama administration opted to abstain, in effect allowing the resolution to pass.
For comment, AlterNet contacted Noam Chomsky, famed linguist, dissident and professor emeritus of MIT. Chomsky said of the resolution, “The UNSC resolution is essentially the same as UNSC 446, March 1979, passed 12-0-3. The main difference is that then two countries joined the U.S. in abstaining. Now the U.S. stands against the world; and under Trump, in even more splendid isolation, on much more crucial matters as well.”
Following the UNSC resolution, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu quickly responded by announcing a halt to his government’s funding contributions to numerous U.N. institutions. Netanyahu called the resolution “a disgraceful anti-Israel maneuver” and blamed it on an “old-world bias against Israel.” Furthermore, he vowed to exact a “diplomatic and economic price” from the countries that supported it.
Shortly thereafter, Netanyahu made good on his threats by personally refusing to meet with the foreign ministers of the 12 UNSC members that voted for the resolution and ordering his Foreign Ministry to limit all working ties with the embassies of those 12 nations. He also summoned the ambassadors to the Foreign Ministry for a personal reprimand over the vote—including, in a highly unusual move, the U.S. ambassador.
Asked about Netanyahu’s response, Chomsky told AlterNet, “The hysterical reaction in Israel and in Congress (bipartisan) reflects their sharp shift to the right in the years since, and the whole incident illustrates quite interesting shifts in world order.”
Palestinian rights advocates have quipped that Israel’s suspension of relations with the UNSC member nations that voted for the resolution—powerful countries including the U.K. and France—has effectively realized a goal of the boycott, divestment and sanctions movement. AlterNet contacted Omar Barghouti, one of the founders of the BDS movement, to see what he thought of this assessment. Barghouti replied, “This unanimous resolution, despite its many flaws in addressing basic Palestinian rights, has dealt Israel’s colonial designs a serious blow that will inadvertently, yet significantly, enhance the impact of the BDS movement in isolating Israel academically, culturally, economically and otherwise.”
“Israel’s delusional hubris and surreal threats to punish the U.N. and the world indicate above everything else how deeply alarmed it is at fast becoming an international pariah, as apartheid South Africa once was.”
Ali Abunimah, the Palestinian-American founder of the Electronic Intifada, told AlterNet that Israel’s use of diplomatic sanctions against the UNSC member states contradicted its vocal opposition to sanctions advocated by the BDS movement. Abunimah said, “It’s sort of amusing to Israel try to impose sanctions and punish the whole world for this decision…Israel claims that sanctions are illegitimate as a tool except of course when Israel is the one wielding them, whether it’s against Iran or whether against the countries that displeased it.”
…….
Read more…
http://www.alternet.org/world/chomsky-israels-response-unsc-hysterical
DANG ! BREAKING NEWS… it’s all on like Donkey Kong, Obama sure is making his exit known, once again this changes everything.
US expels Russian diplomats over cyber attacks
RT report for contrast
first the Israelis and now the Russians…….keep Trump too busy with international disputes for him to unleash on the domestic front perhaps
…keep Trump too busy with international disputes for him to unleash on the domestic front…
Sounds like an eminently sensible idea.
Btw, the story goes… it was the UK who encouraged NZ to sponser the UN resolution just passed. Looks like UK/US/Aussie/Canada/various European countries and maybe others are collaborating on the vexed question of the two recalcitrant leaders, Putin and Trump.
I wish them every success.
Edit: Add Netanyahu to the list.
Ooops… Australia has announced it does not support the UN resolution. That figures. They’ve elected the most right wing govt. in their history.
http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/world/321462/australia-doesn't-back-un's-israel-action
Typical. They want it both ways.
Both the Australian Coalition and Labor Parties have been thoroughly compromised by the pro-Zionist lobby.
CV…..Kia Ora Koe !
Yes and it’s a powerful lobby. Golda Meir went to the US either near the end of WW2 or not long
after. Raised $US39 mill’
in around a month. Apartheid Logan’s Loon Tune is grist for its mill.
Is it a surprise? The Australian government’s attitude to Australia’s indigenous population is not a lot different than that of the Israeli government’s attitude to its indigenous population.
“The Australian government’s attitude to Australia’s indigenous population” (or any one else for that matter) ” is not a lot different than that of the Israeli government’s attitude to its indigenous population.”
FIFY
🙂
My ‘ooops’ was related to the fact I had included Aussie as part of the conspiracy, and then included Netanyahu on the undesirable list of leaders. Aussie clearly were not part of the conspiratorial UN/Israel affair.
Apart from that yes, their track record concerning their own indigenous race is appalling. Perhaps that is one of the reasons why they’re keeping out of the argument.
Thanks, Macro. I hadn’t forgotten Australia’s shameful treatment of refugees, but had just restricted my focus for that one comment.
The UK you say? Must be on the verge of a big arms deal.
Trump will have a Republican Congress to take care of domestic matters for him. Actually I would say it is more likely that Trump will permit Congress quite a lot of rope to do what they like as long as they don’t encroach on things he values, or things he wants personally to oversee or to harm his re-election.
The danger of Obama’s moves in these areas is that it cuts both ways – at some stage in the future there will be a Democrat again about to enter the White House and as Obama appears to have ignored the unspoken conventions around the transition between US administrations then I’m sure Trump (& the Republicans) will now not feel obligated in their turn (not that I think Trump will be feel particularly bound by conventions anyway).
I doubt Obama fears the GOP controlled Congress in the same way he (and the establishment) fear what Trump may attempt….they are after all the same players he has been dealing with for the past 8 years and they understand the rules of the game….unlike Trump, as he has already amply demonstrated.
a loose political cannon.
Anyone willing to bet that there will be 35 US diplomats expelled from Russia by Monday?
I expect they have their bags packed already…
Why spoil a good relationship?
The Chump will overturn the expulsions in a few weeks so it’ll be all sweet.
Do you refer to Obama as ‘The Chimp’?
You’ve made claims of holding ‘senior positions’, yet write your thoughts in a juvenile manner
And why would I want to be a racist bigot?
However, I reserve the right to call a fool, a fool, when I see one.
I can assure your most esteemed personage, that when drafting papers for Cabinet, I somehow managed to write in a suitably mature and respectful manner.
Response !!!!! Macro. I take it that was the cabinet of ’36…….
Trump’s not a “fool.” You may not like his personality, you may not like his manners, you may not like his style, you may not like his politics, but none of that makes him a “fool.”
What he says and does, does remind quite a few that he is a fool imo.
He’s forced the CEOs of Lockheed Martin and Boeing to publicly announce that they will slash the cost of major procurement projects (the F-35 and Air Force One projects).
He’s lined up foreign investors and CEOs to say that they will create, protect or bring back thousands of jobs to the USA.
And now, US consumer confidence has hit its highest level in fifteen years.
So as I said, I understand that you may not like his manners, style or politics, but Trump is no “fool.”
🙄
Gezz! You really have swallowed the magic juice. CV – I’m sorry for you.
So Business confidence is up – whoop de doo!
But what of the appointment of a fool to his cabinet who wants to see even the most crappy wage they now get in the states go even lower? No body will be able to buy anything anyway. Yeah I guess the businesses will all be rubbing their hands waiting to drop wages to slave levels – but it will come back to bite them very hard on the bum.
Consumer confidence is up to the highest level in 15 years.
That’s what the Trump election has done.
(You seem to like the term “fool”.)
You have to ask yourself a very simple question. Will Trump’s appointees run their own typical corporatist Republican agenda?
Or will they do what they have been appointed for: run the populist Trump Agenda.
Yes, it is yet to be seen but I am betting that they will run the Trump Agenda. Or be fired.
If he thinks that he can run the most powerful country in the world by twitter at 3 am in the morning, (without advice from more experienced and knowledgeable people) and not cause a war or serious diplomatic muddle in the process, then he is a stupid idiot.
As for his appointed cabinet – the less said about that bunch of cronies and non-science dull brains the better.
He surrounds himself with ignorance and incompetence in public governance – (running a company – however successfully or not – is not the same as running a country).
If he had any sense, or intelligence, he would not have chosen the pack of incompetents he has.
Nothing is going to end well out of the Chump “presidency”
The Democratic Party will under estimate Trump at their own peril.
It already cost them the election.
Unless you understand *why* he is tweeting how can you possibly understand the implications of *what* he is tweeting?
You don’t seem to understand that the states chose change.
That by definition, means doing things differently. Get up to speed. Russia, China and Iran are. I believe they will work it out fine.
NZ will have to as well.
Unless you understand *why* he is tweeting how can you possibly understand the implications of *what* he is tweeting?
Oh I know why he is tweeting.. and I fully understand the implications. – And so do his “advisors”. The problem is – he doesn’t understand the implications!.
We have a situation brewing at the moment where China is just biding its time until after the 20th Jan.
Instead of spending all your time reading RT – I suggest you read some of the editorials in China’s “Global Times”. The central Govt sponsored newspaper.
and
and
Foreign Minister Wang Yi, without mentioning Trump’s name, said that whoever tries to destroy China’s core interests would shoot themselves in the foot.
I don’t see that is all pally wally and the snubbing his of nose at the One China policy has certainly angered Beijing. They may well decide that Taiwan is to be annexed forthwith. I don’t see that as a peaceful outcome.
So forgive me if I don’t wear your rose coloured glasses when it comes to viewing the “brilliance” of D Trump.
You didn’t note the multiple confrontations between US and Chinese military forces under Obama?
And the rising rhetoric China has been using against Obama’s actions?
Trump hasn’t been sending bombers and destroyers to harass what China sees as its own territory. Obama has though.
Why so nervous now?
How is it that you know any of this?
Trump believes he is the big “I Am”.
He is nothing but a spoilt brat, who loves to shoot his mouth off, and show he is “The Boss”. Just look at the way he behaved to those on “The Apprentice” and how he loved to say “You’re Fired!” Throwing his weight about, is what he loves best. Hence his ill conceived tweets whenever something is not to his liking – he reacts without thinking, and seldom rationally. I’m not the only one to notice this – there are the reports of psychiatrists who also note this inconsistent and reactionary behaviour and are concerned enough to go public on the matter.
And yes I fully understand what the implications of some of these tweets may be. I doubt that he does. Bullies seldom have any idea of the damage they do to others lives. Even his own advisors are having difficulty trying to keep up and rationalise his behaviour. As for the the down stream consequences we shall just have to wait and see. He has not shown any appreciation to date, that the task of being responsible for the lives of 320 million people is a somewhat different to running a fleet of Hotels.
As for the growing tension in the South China Sea – the acts of aggression are not of the US but from China, and they are becoming more blatant in their show of force by the day. The US on the other hand, has in fact withdrawn bases from the area.
If you are correct in your perspective then the Obama/Clinton “pivot to Asia” has proven to be a failure and Trump inherits the emboldened China and foreign policy mess that the Obama White House created.
Your analysis is not far short of two dimensional amateur armchair psychotherapy.
As for having a big ego and a big mouth. That’s what the electorate wanted and that’s what they have got. And they are common politicians’ traits, after all.
I have said elsewhere – you may not like his style, his manners or his politics, but don’t let that fool you into thinking he is not highly capable in many different dimensions.
That showed you, macro. 🙂
The president-elect oompah-loompah who used a presidential primary debate to reassure voters that his penis size was acceptable was merely being “highly capable” when he reversed 40-odd years of delicate prc-us-taiwan diplomatic waltzes by accepting a single phone call.
The South China Sea dance has been going on for decades: China pushes its boundaries out into international sea and air corridors, someone pushes back with a flight or a ship. China then sends planes or ships out to push back against the pushback. Sometimes there’s a collision, but that’s expected and handled. Fuck, they even make each other’s airfields available for emergency landings. And if things get too hot, they plug a trade discount or whatever and everybody acts a bit casual, because nobody wants a war.
But challenging the one china policy in regards to Taiwan is like trying to touch China’s balls. It’s a really sensitive area, and well outside the regular diplomatic shoving match. That’s why only idiots do it. Or multi-dimensional capables, of course.
Trump plays 7D chess. You’re not expected to keep up
Everyone else at the table is playing poker. And they’re all armed.
I’m glad no one offered to take me up on the bet.
Getting caught in moderation bummer – everything in moderation especially moderation.
Lionel Nation: how to be a truth warrior
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FCyccHjFvgI
The tenth day around Christmas – quotes about friendship.
I predict that there will be a political landslide next year. The social justice principles of a Bill English led government will resonate in South Auckland and far beyond. Trying to demonise the PM did not work for the last eight years and certainly will not work next year. National are aiming for 60% at the election but may have to settle for less this time. Already there is talk about what Bill would offer the few sensible Greens. Winston is deteriorating even more rapidly and he and both his likely possible successors could comfortably unite with a Bill English led National. Winston may reach election 2017 but has no chance of reaching 2020.
This could lead to to a major realignment of politics and my pick is a Multi-Party Government comprising National (above50%), NZF, Greens, MP, UF and ACT comprising 75% of cast votes.
*YAWN*
I predict that fisiani’s comment, having the depth of a cigarette paper, the substance of halitosis and interest value of belly button lint, will fade from the consciousness of any reader unfortunate enough to have looked at it, even before that reader can produce a sigh of resignation at the thought that fisiani feels driven to publish vacuous comments like this, even during the holiday season, when most others let rest their particular disfunctions. Give it a rest, fis.
Stop the ad hominems that clearly breach policy and try to explain what is actually wrong with my sensible post.
“what is actually wrong with my sensible post” –
In such an event where is the mechanism to turf this cozy coalition out, at need? Which legislation applies?
Is this the start of yet another 1000 year reign?
Is NZ, so nostalgically in love with FPP, going to tolerate so fuzzy an arrangement?
The details, fisiani – are notably absent from your sensible post.
However, dreams are still free.
Please enjoy the coming year.
You hear a lot about this so called social investment approach by Bill English as if it is an item marketed to the public by the National Party. This is a strategy to paint Bill as soft and caring. In reality English has presided over some alarming increases of statistics around social harm since the mid 1990s. His social investment approach nothing but a further redistribution of increasingly scarce resources earmarked for public spending. There’s certainly no evidence to show it is working on any other level.
I think the people of South Auckland see that, and with the withdrawal of National from campaigning in Auckland, their dumping of the housing portfolio, the appointment of Bennett as Auckland issues minister, and their admission of defeat in tackling the problems faced by Aucklanders, I predict the city will fall to Labour in a big way in 2017.
This re-branding of Bill English is interesting and certainly seems to have taken a few people in like yourself, and Jarrod Gilbert who seems to be enthralled by Bill English even though more of his mates are locked up than ever before.
Gilbert’s latest puff piece on Bill’s approach (can’t be bothered finding it) admits but skirts around the huge increase in the prison muster under this government and the equally huge spend on new prisons. Quite how incarcerating more and more disadvantaged people equates to social investment I do not know, and it seems the media doesn’t care to ask.
If you want to understand the SI approach, this is an excellent resource https://www2.deloitte.com/content/dam/Deloitte/nz/Documents/public-sector/What-is-social-investment-nz.pdf. That material shows that the SI approach is a conversation this country has been having since 1997.
NZ has a staggering welfare dependency problem, and our entire approach towards welfare has to change. Too many NZ’ers are trapped in long term welfare dependency, and social spending has to be directed towards addressing that.
First you need to demonstrate that welfare dependency exists, because you are a racist parrot with zero credibility.
Stupid Racist denies welfare dependency.
http://igps.victoria.ac.nz/WelfareWorkingGroup/Downloads/Final%20Report/WWG-Final-Recommendations-Report-22-February-2011.pdf
http://www.nzcpr.com/understanding-welfare-dependency/
http://ips.ac.nz/publications/files/e3b5e3549a1.pdf
http://www.ssc.govt.nz/bps-reducing-dependence
Lots of people assert that it exists, otherwise there’d be nothing on the spoon that feeds you.
What they have failed to do is demonstrate that it exists, and is not yet another racist rear-guard action that attempts to resuscitate the notion of the “undeserving” poor. Or yet another artifact of right wing hate speech. As the reference I provided finds: ‘the welfare rolls are not filled with the chronically dependent”.
In the NZ context, Gordon Campbell points out that:
In short, it exists to divert attention from the causes of poverty and inequality, so that right wingers don’t ever have to face their personal responsibility for the victims of your racism and bigotry.
I think you are racist scum with no original thoughts of your own. Let’s agree to disagree.
” the ratio of those staying on benefits because it is a “lifetime, lifestyle choice’ is lower again.”
So even your own quote agrees that it exists. Well done Bloke. Another time you have been proven wrong. The number is mounting.
Zero is lower than 14.3. You have no basis other than hate-speech for your assertion that the number is mounting.
You are a racist lying parrot with nothing of value or originality to say. If I wanted to read National Party lies I’d go to their website. Let’s agree to disagree.
“Zero is lower than 14.3. You have no basis other than hate-speech for your assertion that the number is mounting.”
The number that is mounting is the number of times I’ve caught you out.
Here’s a summary of your latest gaffe:
“What they have failed to do is demonstrate that it exists, ”
“the ratio of those staying on benefits because it is a “lifetime, lifestyle choice’ is lower again.”
Talk about foot in mouth.
Yawn. I disagree with the propaganda you were spoon-fed.
” I disagree with the propaganda you were spoon-fed.”
There was no propaganda. Just you contradicting your self.
In your mind: Campbell provides no statistics for the alleged dependents. Lower than 14.3 can be anything from zero to 14.2. It is not evidence, no matter how hard you want it to be.
Maninthemiddle demonstrating basic innumeracy again.
“Lower than 14.3 can be anything from zero to 14.2.”
You making shit up again. If it was zero, he would have said zero, or not even mentioned the category. Instead he said ‘lower again’. Even your own references make you look like an idiot.
If he couldn’t measure it because there aren’t any figures he’d say “lower than”. If he could measure it he’d give the figure.
You’re the one asserting that welfare dependency exists. It’s up to you to prove it does. The fact that various people also think it does is evidence of nothing.
Personally, I think you fixate on it and the other right wing lies Gordon Campbell lists because you can’t handle your personal responsibility for the effects of your witless beliefs.
Everything you write here confirms that.
” If he could measure it he’d give the figure.”
Not necessarily. But if the figure was zero, it is most likely he wouldn’t have even mentioned it, or would have said it was ‘zero’. Personally I think you posted something that you thought supported your argument without understanding what it actually said.
There’s a big clue in the fact that Campbell describes them as “myths”. Do you know what a myth is? After all, your mind is crippled by them.
“There’s a big clue in the fact that Campbell describes them as “myths”. ”
Now you’re evading. That’s not what Campbell says in the point we’re discussing, and it’s not what Campbell says in his commentary. You’re clearly struggling to keep up.
It’s only the headline. I think you’re full of shit and hate, and everything you write confirms it.
Get over it.
“It’s only the headline.”
No it’s not. A few days ago you denied welfare dependency even existed. Your credibility is shot.
If you ‘click’ (that’s something you can do with your ‘mouse’) on the word in blue – “myths” – in my comment it will take you to the article. Then ‘read’ the ‘headline’.
Oh, and don’t forget that reading is a skill you struggle with. Read it a few times.
I’m going to reset, Bloke, because you’re being slippery.
In your first reference in this discussion, you quoted this:
“Looking across all forms of benefits, 61.4 % of recipients are benefit dependent for four years or less. Only 14.3 % are on benefits for more than ten years – and since those figures include people with chronic physical and mental disabilities, the ratio of those staying on benefits because it is a “lifetime, lifestyle choice’ is lower again.”
I note you gave no link. Leaving that side, you quoted this in support of your denial of welfare dependency. Yet your own quote states that 14.3% are on benefits for more than 10 years, and that there is a further group who are on benefits as a “lifetime, lifestyle choice”.
Those comments directly contradict you seeming ignorance of welfare dependency.
Notice the ” quote marks around the phrase “lifetime, lifestyle choice”.
Do you know what they mean? I doubt it. After all, English comprehension isn’t your strong-point.
They mean the author thinks they (the alleged dependents that you can provide no evidence of) might be apocryphal. Myths, even.
“They mean the author thinks they (the alleged dependents that you can provide no evidence of) might be apocryphal. Myths, even.”
Perhaps, perhaps not. Perhaps the author is using phrases commonly used without actually passing judgement. It’s irrelevant to your evasion. The author acknowledges there is welfare dependency. Your own reference.
The Social Investment strategy has gone too far when they are put severe pressure on people with mental health issues into employment. Even the most ordinary job will put extraordinary strain on these people and they will end up with worse health issues than ever before. Who is going to help them when they are either sacked or have to quit. Blinglish only ever sees money when he quantifies human beings, everybody has a price tag, his strategy to dig deep into the the well of people who are on benefits is poor judgment and ill advised. We will end up with very ill people out of work and without money and support. Shame on Blinglish for his disgraceful attitude towards the unwell.
I’m not sure what you describe would be part of a SI approach. Do you have an example?
Racists like you need government sponsored amygdalectomies. That would be a social investment that would return dividends galore.
Anti-Semites like you should get back on your meds.
🙄
Absolutely typical – an 18 page double spaced booklet with more pictures than words to solve all the nation’s social problems – get real- this is a pile of rubbish with discernible internal faults. (quite apart from the external ones) The time line shows only Nact governments giving this any space but the text implies that Labour wanted this too…
And it is essentially rubbish. Nact governments and their policies have caused a great number of these problems,
getting rid of unions dumbed wages down,
only funding rent support payments to private landlords instead of mixing this with state owned housing
etc etc
The real dependency problem is corporations that depend on governments to collect taxes and throw them at lousy private sector schemes “to replace government”
Obviously you didn’t even read it.
There was sod all to read but there were pictures as well – to simplify the issues for the right of centre individuals no doubt.
Still the point is – the dire circumstances of many individuals is the result of Right Wing policy settings not individual failure.
But with so many corporates and right wing individuals trapped by government dependency (whether it’s a high paying government appointment or a favourable contract for public services) we could use the social investment approach to assess their level of social harm and charge them accordingly.
” the dire circumstances of many individuals is the result of Right Wing policy settings not individual failure.”
Evidence?
The fact that all the right wing propaganda on the subject is based on the self-attribution fallacy.
May I suggest we don’t feed the rwnj trolls in 2017.
Evidence?
Evidence.
” the dire circumstances of many individuals is the result of Right Wing policy settings not individual failure.”
Evidence?
Yes: the self-attribution fallacy is a well-known phenomenon that accounts for the things right wingers believe about individual success and failure.
Read about it and discover the evidence for yourself.
“Read about it and discover the evidence for yourself.”
I’m really not interested in the inner workings of your imagination. I am asking for evidence for RedBaron’s claim.
The evidence for Redbaron’s claim is obvious once you understand what the self-attribution fallacy is. I know you cannot understand how or why, so pretend it doesn’t exist or doesn’t count.
You probably deny climate physics too.
“The evidence for Redbaron’s claim is obvious once you understand what the self-attribution fallacy is.”
No, that’s not good enough. The claim ” the dire circumstances of many individuals is the result of Right Wing policy settings not individual failure” is not my claim, and it is very specific. I would expect there be some evidence. The SAF is not evidence; it is a theory which has it’s own limitations.
The doubling of child poverty between 1984 and today, for example. Wayne Mapp tells us that the 1990s National Party he was a member of increased inequality deliberately.
Whereas you wail your ignorance and denial on a blog.
“The doubling of child poverty between 1984 and today, for example. ”
Setting side the validity of the data you have to use to justify that claim, that isn’t evidence. Child poverty has, for example, increased in Sweden, which is the sort of social democratic country I have seen you and others praise.
Did right wing scum in Sweden do it deliberately?
“Did right wing scum in Sweden do it deliberately?”
Now you’re just being silly.
The reason I ask is Mapp’s confession that it was done deliberately by the National Party he was a member of.
So I was thinking that Sweden probably has scum like you and him too.
“The reason I ask is Mapp’s confession that it was done deliberately by the National Party he was a member of.”
Even you’re telling the truth (which is always questionable), even if Mapp is telling the truth, how do you explain the fact that Mapp was only in government for 6 of the last 32 years?
He was a member of the 1996 government and is in a better position to know than you are.
“He was a member of the 1996 government and is in a better position to know than you are.”
He was in government for 6 of the last 32 years. Hardly significant.
Oh? I thought we had record low unemployment etc etc.
Record high employment.
The inevitable consequence of population growth.
Not if jobs aren’t being created. And with unemployment dropping, your petty little argument collapses.
The official unemployment statistic fell earlier this year as a result of the way it is measured. This is well-documented. It’s sad that you believe that changes anything on the ground.
Unemployment has been dropping for some time. That is based on official data. If all you have left is arguing over the data, you’ve lost. With unemployment falling, and employment rising, the population growth argument you’ve put up is bollocks.
If all you have is claiming credit for a change from inches to millimetres it’s no wonder you vote for incompetence and cruelty. I disagree with the lies you were spoon-fed.
Get over it.
It isn’t a change from inches to millimetres. The way we measure unemployment is based on an international standard. If you don;t like it, tough.
Yes, I know you believe that very very hard. I don’t: get over it.
I love it I love it ! FizzyUnis. Or as says a Saudi person I know ……….”I Lick It Alot!”
You’re still licking it I see Fez.
Am current rating the chances of a National Government at the end of next year at 3:2. This is well down on my previous estimates.
However, if National play the shell game that I expect, Labour will have nothing to respond with and National’s odds will go up to 3:1 for.
Also, Greens to have near zero possibility of reaching 14%.
USA is leading here:
ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — It will be a happy New Year indeed for millions of the lowest-paid U.S. workers. Nineteen states, including New York and California, will ring in the year with an increase in the minimum wage.
Massachusetts and Washington state will have the highest new minimum wages in the country, at $11 per hour.
California will raise its wage to $10.50 for businesses with 26 or more employees. New York state is taking a regional approach, with the wage rising to $11 in New York City, to $10.50 for small businesses in the city, $10 in its downstate suburbs and $9.70 elsewhere. Some specific businesses — fast-food restaurants and the smallest New York City businesses — will have slightly different wage requirements.
“This $1.50 increase, I cannot even comprehend or tell you how important this will be,” said Alvin Major, a New York City fast-food worker. The 51-year-old father of four helped lead the fight for the increase in his state, one of several successful efforts by fast-food workers and other low wage workers around the country. “The price of food has gone up. Rent has gone up. Everything has gone up. … This will make a difference for so many people.”
http://www.chron.com/news/us/article/Pay-to-rise-for-millions-as-19-states-increase-10825088.php
Take note Bill….
New Zealand has a higher minimum wage than any of these US states. In fact as a percentage of average wages NZ is one the highest in the OECD.
Since 2008 the minimum wage has gone up at nearly three times the inflation rate.
However as a gesture in election year it could go from $15.25 to $16.00, rather than say $15.75.
Presumably Labour is going to go for at least $18.00 as part of their campaign strategy. Or if they want a different number at the front, $20.00. That would certainly have people taking notice. But it has risks. A 30% increase in the minimum wage might be seen as economically reckless. But since Standardnistas want a more left wing Labour Party, surely $20.00 for the minimum wage would be proof of that.
There is another ‘fish-hook’ with the minimum wage in the US. I was recently in the US, and I was told by service workers (restaurant waiters) that their minimum wage was actually under $3, but was topped up by tips. The employee had to pay any shortfall between their hourly wage + tip and the MW, but this meant they didn’t effectively earn the MW + tips. When I first heard this I couldn;t believe it, so I checked with several staff and they all confirmed this was the case.
A gradual increases in the MW, as NZ has been doing, is sensible, but the evidence linking increases in MW rates to job losses is powerful. http://www.wsj.com/articles/the-evidence-is-piling-up-that-higher-minimum-wages-kill-jobs-1450220824.
Powerful enough for Treasury to point out that it doesn’t exist.
The difference between you and them is that you are a racist Quisling wailing your denial on a blog.
Since when did you prostrate yourself at the feet of Treasury? And did you see in your own link that the Department of Labour point out that an increase DOES cost jobs. Second time today your own link has contradicted your own opinion, Bloke. Well done.
Oh, and here’s more:
http://www.forbes.com/sites/timworstall/2016/03/22/proof-perfect-that-the-minimum-wage-costs-jobs-from-new-york/#71f6eab816a0
http://www.forbes.com/sites/timworstall/2016/04/01/higher-minimum-wages-cost-jobs-shrink-the-economy-and-make-everyone-poorer/#2f879ad2694b
Yawn. Right wing lies aren’t evidence of anything. Treasury is but one of many sources saying the same thing.
You are a racist lying parrot with nothing of value or originality to contribute. If I wanted to read National Party lies I’d go to their website.
Let’s agree to disagree.
Treasury say no, DoL say yes. As do many other sources.
But the reason you believe it is that you uncritically swallow any right wing lie you’re spoon-fed.
The reason I believe what I believe is because I trust my sources. And I don’t contradict myself of make shit up, like you do.
In your mind.
Thanks for confirming my estimation of your critical faculties.
“In your mind.”
No, in writing. Here on this blog. You make shit up Bloke.
That would be you using “pwned” arguments in direct violation of site policy. It means nothing.
“That would be you using “pwned” arguments in direct violation of site policy. ”
Not at all. I can prove you make up shit. Your claim recently about Likud is one example.
The fact that you cannot understand why saying “if you do that it will be a declaration of war” is a threat is on you. Own it.
“The fact that you cannot understand why saying “if you do that it will be a declaration of war” is a threat is on you.”
The fact that you can’t understand that Netanyahu’s words referred to NZ’s actions, not Likud’s is on you.
😆
Thank you for confirming that you cannot understand the point.
“Thank you for confirming that you cannot understand the point.”
I’ll leave that to others. Frankly it seems clear to me you over reached, and then didn’t have the intelligence to realise it, or the grace to admit it.
You can’t compare us with the USA as their tax(es) regime is totally different.
If the minimum wage is that good, how come 40% of those in poverty are actuall WORKING? (These are called the “working poor”.)
Get e clue, Wayne, starting here:
http://www.inequality.org.nz/understand/
http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/307458/10-percent-richest-kiwis-own-60-percent-of-nz's-wealth
http://www.closingthegap.org.nz/
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/68600911/income-inequality-how-nz-is-one-of-the-worst-in-the-world
There is a good reason it’s called a “Living Wage”:
http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/money/77378686/New-Zealand-living-wage-rate-of-19-80-to-kick-in-July-1
Hell, try te Google… here ya go, fixed it for ya https://www.google.co.nz/?gws_rd=ssl#q=inequality+in+New+Zealand
What fairy-tale right wing conservative all white country do you live in?
You equate inequality with poverty. The two are not necessarily mutually entangled.
They are both caused by inadequate income. That close enough for you?
Wrong. Two people can have different incomes yet both be on adequate incomes. This is something that the left just cannot grasp.
A flaccid response that utterly fails to address the point. You need to do more homework, Go read National’s website and regurgitate it all over yourself some more.
Let’s get this straight. Are you suggesting the only acceptable society to you is one where everyone receives the same incomes?
No. What kind of complete fuckwit would think that.
So, which part of this statement do you no agree with:
” Two people can have different incomes yet both be on adequate incomes. “
There is a third category: those who don’t have adequate income. Homeless working families, for example.
That, and the obvious fact that you don’t understand how inequality works. No, I’m not going to do your homework for you. Google it.
That depends entirely on the level of the living wage, not some arbitrary increase to the minimum wage.
As soon as you let go of why we have a minimum wage, you get into the “why not make it a gazillion dollars” bullshit.
A left wing government would put the minimum wage at a living wage level, whatever that might be.
McFlock,
I chose $20.000 because it is close to the “living wage” (very slightly higher) but with the advantage that it is a memorable figure.
Just campaigning on the “living wage” will not get cut through. Voters have to ask the question, what does it mean? As a general rule if you have to explain the policy, you have lost much of your audience. If the slogan was “$20, the living wage” then in four words the policy is fully explained. Whats not to like about simplicity?
If Labour wants to campaign on the “living wage” as the minimum, then they should go for it. The voters will judge.
Thanks for your concern.
Australia’s Get Up Movement has been very effective this year. It’s a great model of mobilising ordinary citizens
https://www.getup.org.au/campaigns/core-member-2016/2016-reportback/2016-s-most-memorable-moments?t=XnYqZiw07&utm_content=16427&utm_campaign=Our_movement_in_action&utm_source=blast&utm_medium=email
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XanyPq5BcoA
Be prepared to have the Paula Bennett solo -mum sob story to be mentioned at every possible chance.Also get ready for Sir John in the new years honors list.
It’s election year.
Dependable Southlander, Solo mother, Not Sir John but more likely Saint John, Refreshed Cabinet, Housing boom, homelessness cured, poverty abolished, rising prosperity and all conquering all Blacks.
Then there’s Angry Andy lumbered with the nutty Greens. Could be a landslide.
…and you haven’t even mentioned our German friends latest noises about playing sugar daddy to anyone stupid enough to take his cash.
At least he gives openly rather than all the RWNJ who fund the National party in secret.
“fund the National party in secret”
You have any evidence at all for this wild claim?
Something in the last 5 years will do.
Thought not. Just wild accusations with nothing at all to back them up.
Ummm Alwyn here is the proof that some fund the National party in secret
There is such a thing as Donations Protected from Disclosure. Seems RWNJs love to do it with both ACT and the outgoing government. MPledger was correct.
http://www.elections.org.nz/sites/default/files/bulk-upload/documents/donations_protected_from_disclosure_-_general_election_2014.pdf
Donations Protected from Disclosure Paid Out
–
July 2012 to June 2015
ACT New Zealand
26 March 2014
$43,350
The New Zealand National Party
26 March 2014
$43,350
The New Zealand National Party
30 May 2014
$86,350
Conservative Party
30 May 2014
$10,000
ACT New Zealand
27 June 2014
$43,000
http://www.elections.org.nz/parties-candidates/registered-political-parties/party-donations/donations-protected-disclosure
Some more spreadsheets for you
Kisses Cinny xxx
Chump change compared with the massive sums spent by unions against the wishes of their members.
Try and spin it anyway you can Fisiani but ….
Unions endorse the political parties that best support the workers rights. They are a voice for working people and their families.
http://www.union.org.nz/
If ACT or National are upset about that, maybe they should support our workers a bit better?
There sure are a few corporates on the outgoing governments party donation lists, so much more becomes clear as one reads certain names.
http://www.elections.org.nz/sites/default/files/bulk-upload/documents/national_return_of_donations_and_loans_2014.pdf
That’s so wrong as to be utterly laughable. Much like most of what you post.
Oh I have no problem with him giving. It’s the ones who will prostitute themselves for the wealth of a rich criminal that I despise.
dependable southlander or westie chick in cheap leopard print
solo mother – or in Mike hoskins speak silly women who could not keep that aspirin between her legs with useless parents resulting in her having a child she could not afford – thus domestic purpose benefit dole bludger
student – or domestic purpose benefit dole bludger studying some liberal social degree on some tax payer funded trinket to keep her welfed.
home owner – or doestic purpose benefit dole bludger studying some liberal social degree who buys a home with a taxpayer funded goverment hand out
Minister – who did nothing ever other then help dismantle the widowers benefit (the one that kept John Keys mother in bread and butter), dismantle the domestic purpose benefit into something called the solo parent benefit (now with work requirements at age 3 of the child – something no one ever asked of the dole bludger), dismantle the study aid that she received to study a social liberal degree, dismantle any government aid to buy a house, dismantle state housing one house at a time, dismantle the sick benefit – now people who used to be on the widowers benefit or the sick benefit must be on a job seekers benefit.
yeah, she is gonna be loved, and her story as a single mother who made herself without the help of anyone is gonna wash down lovely with the masses.
the best that women can do is stay in wellington and collect some more tax payer funded largesse while she can.
Alex Jones finally snaps (who would have thought he’d last this long?). The Gloves Come Off: Media Tycoon Alex Jones to Sue Facebook and Wash Post
https://www.lewrockwell.com/2016/12/no_author/no-mr-nice-jones/
this is funny.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/petition-mormon-tabernacle-choir-trump-inauguration_us_5865b505e4b0de3a08f7ded4
Quote” A Mormon who said his “heart sank” when he heard that the church’s beloved Tabernacle Choir will perform at Donald Trump’s inauguration has launched a petition to urge the group not to go to Washington, D.C.
“I love the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. The thought of this choir and Mormonism being forever associated with a man who disparages minorities, brags about his sexual control of women, encourages intolerance and traffics in hate speech and bullying, was unacceptable,” Randall Thacker said in a statement. “I immediately knew there were probably thousands of people who felt the same way, so I created the space on Change.org for like-minded Mormons and their friends to share their feelings.”
About 215 of the choir’s 360 members are expected to perform at the inauguration, church officials have told The Salt Lake City Tribune.
By Thursday evening, nearly 19,000 people had signed the petition, which is seeking 25,000 signatures. The petition urges the Mormon Tabernacle Choir not to perform for an “incoming president who has demonstrated sexist, racist, misogynistic, and xenophobic behavior that does not align with the principles and teachings of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.”
Most of the signatures are from LDS members around the world, according to Thacker, a lifelong member of the church.
The petition also encourages people to call and write the church to give their reasons for signing. Several mention that Trump’s values are incompatible with Mormonism or that the church should never become associated with politics. One quips: Conservative rocker “Ted Nugent and the choir? I don’t think so!” Another writes: “Horrible values. Separation of church and state. Pay your taxes.” Quote End.
The rich just keep getting richer.
http://m.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11774884
Thats what happens when you have investments Paul.