Open mike 31/03/2019

Written By: - Date published: 7:00 am, March 31st, 2019 - 165 comments
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Open mike is your post.

For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose.

The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy).

Step up to the mike …

165 comments on “Open mike 31/03/2019”

  1. Jenny - How to get there? 1
    31 March 2019 at 7:41 am

    You could hardly describe the Republican Party as being soft on crime. Unless of course it is a war crime.

    https://www.foxnews.com/politics/trump-says-navy-seal-accused-of-war-crimes-to-be-moved-to-less-restrictive-confinement?cmpid=prn_msn

    Trump says Navy SEAL accused of war crimes will be moved to ‘less restrictive confinement’

    “We have received reports that Chief Gallagher’s access to counsel and access to food and medical care may have been restricted,” they added. “As a result, we respectfully request that you review the Navy policies governing pretrial confinement for Chief Gallagher and other service members to ensure compliance with the Uniform Code of Military Justice.”

    Now I am the last to say that Eddie Gallagher should be treated unfairly or denied proper access to his legal defence team

    Justice is supposed to be blind

    Compare the case of Eddie Gallagher to another veteran who served their country, who also languishes in prison.

    https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/mar/23/chelsea-manning-jail-solitary-confinement-wikileaks

    Chelsea Manning: supporters demand release from solitary confinement

    Supporters of Chelsea Manning have demanded her release from effective solitary confinement, in which she has been held for more than two weeks since being jailed for contempt of court.

    “We condemn the solitary confinement that Chelsea Manning has been subjected to during her incarceration at William G Truesdale adult detention center,” a committee of supporters said in a statement on Saturday.

    Manning has been held in administrative segregation, or “adseg”, with up to 22 hours each day spent in isolation, for the duration of her detention….

    …Extended periods of solitary confinement “amount to torture”, according to the United Nations special rapporteur Juan Méndez, who has argued that “solitary confinement should be banned by states as a punishment or extortion technique”.

    Manning’s supporters said: “Chelsea is a principled person, and she has made clear that while this kind of treatment will harm her, and will almost certainly leave lasting scars, it will never make her change her mind about cooperating with the grand jury”.

  2. marty mars 2
    31 March 2019 at 8:00 am

    An interesting read and very true – when racists think no one is watching they say and do stuff they would normally, shamefully, hide. But imo it’s not the hiding that is the problem it is the attitudes in the first place – hidden or not hidden the attitudes hurt EVERYONE including the racists.

    It wasn’t until I started studying the experiences of Māori English teachers working in secondary schools, for my PhD, that I began to think about how my students would have carried that information about colour into their everyday lives.

    The Māori teachers who took part in my research gave me insights into the role that skin colour plays in state schooling, and cause to think about how I’m positioned by my brownness. Interestingly, although perhaps not surprisingly, it was the fair-skinned teachers who talked about experiencing interpersonal racism. Not one visibly Māori English teacher gave an example of direct racism.

    One fair-skinned Māori teacher recalled how a fellow trainee at teacher’s training college, a Pākehā, confided in her that, everyone thinks “I would vote for Labour, but I vote for National because I am sick of all this Māori shit”.

    Another fair-skinned teacher spoke of going home and crying after hearing a Pākehā colleague commenting that if Māori students “were able to answer their exams using bro language, then perhaps they would have more of a chance of passing”.

    https://e-tangata.co.nz/reflections/the-pros-and-cons-of-not-looking-maori/

    • Jenny - How to get there? 2.1
      31 March 2019 at 10:43 am

      I attended Chelsea Mannings address in the Auckland Town Hall last year. In answer to a questions from the floor, about her experience in prison, Manning said, ‘To survive the prisoners had to band together to protect themselves from the violence of the prison guards.’

      So I can understand Chelsea Mannings special anxiety about being confined in solitary.

  3. Dennis Frank 3
    31 March 2019 at 8:17 am

    Gordon Campbell on the potential for Ardern’s representation of human rights to Xi: “It is also difficult to imagine that even a moral lecture by a New Zealand PM would do much to improve the lot of the persecuted, or make the tyrants mend their ways.”

    A moral lecture would be exactly the wrong thing to deliver! Guaranteed to offend! No, she would have to be diplomatic to induce progress. Start with this question: “What will have to change in China before it becomes possible to allow Chinese citizens civil rights?”

    Xi then has the option of choosing to evade or answer the question. He may say “We are communists, so we will never allow civil rights here. The hive mind must always prevail over individual free-will. Our people will continue to do as they are told.”

    He may say “We have a five-year plan for that. We have many five-year plans! So many are in the pipeline at any one time that I really cannot tell you which one will emerge from the end of the pipe first, let alone second, third, fourth, or etc.”
    http://werewolf.co.nz/2019/03/gordon-campbell-on-the-human-rights-dimension-of-jacinda-arderns-visit-to-china/

    • Ad 3.1
      31 March 2019 at 9:07 am

      If Prime Minister Ardern can stand up for Muslim human rights here, she should have the courage to stand up for Muslim human rights in China, or anywhere.

      If she doesn’t she is a fraud.

      • Dennis Frank 3.1.1
        31 March 2019 at 9:21 am

        Big call, Ad! I predict that there will be no media report of her doing so. That may not mean she did not do so, of course. It may just mean that nobody in the media thought she would be so bold as to advocate civil rights for muslims to Xi – so they would be unlikely to think of asking her if she did that.

      • Mark 3.1.2
        31 March 2019 at 9:36 am

        As I posted elsewhere, the international Muslim community largely supports China’s efforts in Xinjiang. It is Muslims themselves who understand best the horrors unleashed by religious extremism.

        • Peter Christchurh nz 3.1.2.1
          31 March 2019 at 9:52 am

          I think Muslim countries elsewhere remain quiet on the plight of the Uighurs in Xinjiang from self interest, not because they agree with them.

          Many of these leaders are the recipients of Chinese bribes as part of the Silk Road initiative. Many of these countries are almost totally dependent on China for trade and aid.

          Anyway, who cares what other Muslim countries think of this? Mass detention and forced ‘re-education’ is just plain evil.

        • Psycho Milt 3.1.2.2
          31 March 2019 at 10:45 am

          … the international Muslim community largely supports China’s efforts in Xinjiang. [citation needed]

      • Ankerrawshark 3.1.3
        31 March 2019 at 10:06 am

        Actually ad, I disagree with you. I believe Ardern is absolutely genuine. She is also a pragmatist, which I greatly admire in her. I am sure she will mention human rights, but let’s face it, as was the case with the Australian detention centers there was nothing she could do or say that would shift them. She has led by example. I believe that has the biggest power to influence

      • Shadrach 3.1.4
        31 March 2019 at 1:33 pm

        You mean in the same way the deputy PM stood up to Erdogan? By taking a nap?

      • patricia bremner 3.1.5
        31 March 2019 at 2:09 pm

        You are very black and white Ad. Remember, NZ generally does not interfere in another country’s internal affairs. However, the attack in NZ may give her an opening in her 10 hour widow. I think we have to stop asking for miracles though, and settle for a mortal woman doing her best.

    • Gabby 3.2
      31 March 2019 at 9:46 am

      He may say, ‘human rights in socialist paradise are best praxis in world, in WORLD,’ franky. What you say then?

    • millsy 3.3
      31 March 2019 at 11:20 am

      The thing is, most Chinese are fine with having no civil rights.

  4. Stuart Munro. 4
    31 March 2019 at 8:24 am

    If you are struck by the oddness of contemporary life, Strange Planet, a series of cartoons by Nathan Pyle, is worth a look. https://www.instagram.com/nathanwpyle/

    • Rosemary McDonald 4.1
      31 March 2019 at 6:21 pm

      “Do you want to trap carbon dioxide in ephemeral spheres?”

      “For what purpose?”

      “Enjoyment.”

      Thank you Stuart Munro…just what was needed at towards the end of one of those days.

  5. James 5
    31 March 2019 at 9:05 am

    https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12217785

    Given that gangs are involved in the most gun crime and they are saying they won’t give up their guns – what’s going to be the reaction from Jacinda ?

    She’s busy making normal law abiding citizens hand in theirs – she should come down on the gangs like a ton of bricks – but dollars to donuts she won’t.

    That would be too hard.

    • Ad 5.1
      31 March 2019 at 9:11 am

      Are you aware of Police operations in your area to make that kind of claim?
      You need to back up what you are claiming.

      Also, it would make sense for the Police to follow their stated police of enabling a gun amnesty, then awaiting the actual change of the law that they enforce before going in too much harder on semiautomatic gun owners who are gang members.

      Or, as you expect, maybe the Police are now expected to enforce what a future law that isn’t even drafted is supposed to intend.

      Remember that thing called the law?
      It’s what the Police enforce.

    • Dennis Frank 5.2
      31 March 2019 at 9:25 am

      Premature, James. Let the cops do their job, eh? If they fail, then the police minister would have to hold the commisioner accountable. It would only be appropriate for the PM to get involved if the normal processes of governance fail.

    • Gabby 5.3
      31 March 2019 at 10:03 am

      You reckon she should go round and grab them jimbo?

    • Ankerrawshark 5.4
      31 March 2019 at 10:09 am

      James there will be fines and even imprisonment for people who don’t hand in their guns……..I am not even sure of why you raised this other than to do a “but Jacinda …..”

      Is this the approach agreed on in your trolling supervision session?

    • Skunk Weed 5.5
      31 March 2019 at 5:27 pm

      Successive Governments both Labour & National have done nothing to combat organized crime and the gangs here in NZ, to the point now, where the gangs in NZ are now heavily armed and control the drug trade here in NZ ?

      They probably have the best lawyers and accountants advising them how to invest the proceeds from their business activities ie cleansing the proceeds of crime ?

      The average New Zealand taxpayer picks up the costs of these gang activities, police time, judiciary time, prison time, mental health problems and the other associated social problems associated with drug dealing & distribution ?

    • Skunk Weed 5.6
      31 March 2019 at 7:44 pm

      James all the gangs in NZ are armed to the teeth they need the weapons to protect themselves from the other gangs, weapons and drugs are mutually inclusive if you are involved in the narcotics trade which most NZ gangs are ?

  6. Rosemary McDonald 6
    31 March 2019 at 9:08 am

    Natrad this morning….Insight feature on our appalling Rheumatic Fever rates…a disease that almost exclusively blights Maori and Pacifica peoples.

    https://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/insight/audio/2018686731/nz-s-heart-breaker-rheumatic-fever-rates-on-the-rise

  7. Kevin 7
    31 March 2019 at 9:09 am

    Probably the closest Alex Jones has come to telling the truth in quite a while:

    Infowars host blamed his mental state on the ‘trauma of the media and the corporations lying’, according to a deposition

    https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/mar/30/alex-jones-sandy-hook-claims-psychosis?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

    • Ad 7.1
      31 March 2019 at 9:13 am

      So Alex Jones blamed his own psychosis on himself because he is a liar who runs his own powerful media corporation.

      Guilty as charged your honour.

    • Another View 7.2
      31 March 2019 at 9:19 am

      Alex Jones also believes that the US Givernment is involved in the Oklahoma City Bombing, 9/11 and Vaccines are deadly. Over the years there have been more than enough commentators on this site expressing the same sentiment. While the left like to class him as “alt right” (yawn…) the reality is he has views that fit all extremes of the political spectrum.

      • Dennis Frank 7.2.1
        31 March 2019 at 9:33 am

        You mean he’s a populist? Next move then: establish the Alt-Right Party, run for president. Those alienated by the left & right were over 40% in a US poll I saw several months ago. Hoover them up & he can sail through the middle, side-lining the establishment no problem.

        President Jones would be an exemplary demonstration of just how clever the policy of allowing mentally-ill folk to live in the community just like everyone else actually is. I anticipate a highly-entertaining presidency! Bring it on… 😎

        • Andre 7.2.1.1
          31 March 2019 at 9:44 am

          Calling themselves the Alt-Right Party might offend the self-image of some of the voters that might otherwise go for them. Convergence Party might be a better name.

          https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BCtXQt2CYAA1wLA.jpg

          • Dennis Frank 7.2.1.1.1
            31 March 2019 at 10:17 am

            Good point. Might have to do a `nudge nudge, wink wink’ routine to suck in the alt-right. Nice graphic you got there!

            Moonbat/Wingnut has a certain je ne c’est quoi to it, eh? From a branding perspective it could be the best bet! People go for wacky stuff big-time…

      • Skunk Weed 7.2.2
        31 March 2019 at 5:29 pm

        Probably right on 9/11 ?

    • joe90 7.3
      31 March 2019 at 4:52 pm

      Poor Alex.

      • The Al1en 7.3.1
        31 March 2019 at 4:56 pm

        “you’re all pissed because you got one extra chromosome”

        😆 And you’re an angry old white dude because you got one less 😆

  9. Rosemary McDonald 9
    31 March 2019 at 9:26 am

    I’m a little confused.

    The farmer/Imam interviewed here…https://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/countrylife/audio/2018688779/farming-and-faith-southland-dairy-farmer-and-spiritual-leader-reza-abdul-jabbar stated quite categorically the 51 people were murdered by the terrorist on the 15th. We received an email from an organization in Christchurch the other day also stating quite categorically that 51 people were murdered.

    Yet all other reports say 50 people were murdered.

    Which is correct?

  10. Dennis Frank 10
    31 March 2019 at 9:42 am

    I didn’t notice the Amnesty scandal featuring onsite here, so I’ll post a follow-up report: “Following the suicide of a staff member, Amnesty commissioned an independent review of its company culture, which found that some of its staff have been victims of bullying, public humiliation, discrimination, and abuses of power, and that these issues threaten the organisation’s credibility.”

    “The report surveyed hundreds of employees as part of its investigation and found widespread mismanagement and a “toxic” work environment. According to the report, 39 percent of staff had developed mental or physical health issues because of working there, and 65 percent didn’t believe their well-being was a priority for Amnesty.”
    https://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/talktojazeera/2019/03/amnesty-international-fix-toxic-work-culture-190328163244025.html

    Amnesty head Kumi Naidoo began his role in August last year, and is looking to address these issues quickly. “Our organisation, set up in 1961, has added one layer of complexity after the other as it’s evolved, and to be honest we need a complete reorganising because, in fact, the very structure of Amnesty right now is a source of certain conflicts and tensions that we need to fix urgently,” he said.

    He pointed out that Amnesty chose to make the report public, and that all seven members of its senior leadership team have accepted responsibility and offered to resign. To him, this transparency is a good first step.

    “I am not saying it’s going to be easy for us to recalibrate and move forward with a healing approach, if you want, but the commitment is there from myself, the board, and all parts of the organisation and we are focused on acting on it,” he said. “One year won’t sort everything out. But the term ‘toxic’ is quite a loaded word. I think within a year, I want that word off the table.”

    • Andre 10.1
      31 March 2019 at 10:04 am

      Gotta say, I’ve viewed Amnesty International as a deeply flawed organisation ever since they adopted Mumia Abu-Jamal as one of their poster-boys. Really, of the vast selection of people treated unjustly by justice systems, that’s one they chose to highlight?

  11. Peter Christchurh nz 11
    31 March 2019 at 10:00 am

    There are a lot of very disturbing things happening since the ChCh massacre. This is one.

    https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12217805

    Our very own Guantanamo prisoner. What happened to the rule of law and innocent to proven guilty? Make an exception in this case, and it will be the thin edge of the wedge. We can never pick and choose when the rule of law may or may not apply, no matter how appalling the crime maybe.

    Come on TS! An article on this is important

    • Ad 11.1
      31 March 2019 at 10:10 am

      What entitlement under law is he being denied?

      Right to a fair trial?

      Right to represent himself?

      Right to evidence?

      Right to an unbiased judge?

      Right not to be shot while praying?

      Thought not.

      • Ankerrawshark 11.1.1
        31 March 2019 at 10:20 am

        100% Ad

      • Peter Christchurch NZ 11.1.2
        31 March 2019 at 11:20 am

        He is in solitary isolation in a 3 x 4m concrete and stainless steel box, with no natural light, for 24 hours a day (half hour in a wire cage a day in the open). Indefinitely. As he is on suicide watch, the lights will also be on 24 hours a day. This is standard in NZ for ‘at risk’ prisoners, but that is usually short term, not open ended.

        Yes, this is for his own safety, but compounding his hell is that he is denied all visits, all outside media. This means no reading material, no opportunity to even hear another human voice except the three times a day he his fed his 1500 calories food per day. By the time of his trial (should he even receive one) his mental state will almost certainly be psychotic. We know this from other prisoners kept in solitary for extended periods.

        There have already been many calls that he should not even receive a fair trial (like Kate Hawksby to name but one). Right to evidence? When someone is on remand, they are totally dependent on a lawyer and the whims of the Police as to what evidence they receive. Unbiased judge? There will almost certainly be political pressure applied to the judge.

        Yeah. Guantanamo Bay. The crime was appalling. No question. But we do have a legal framework in NZ and it is fast being scrapped, like with the 16 year old kid in ChCh who was arrested on Thursday for sharing the killers video.

        We rightly condemn the US actions in Guantanamo Bay, but I guess they would use the same justification as is being used here in NZ.

        • Puckish Rogue 11.1.2.1
          31 March 2019 at 11:32 am

          Oh fuck right off.
          I can tell you that because of the extremely high profile of this guy everything will be done by the book because we all know that there’s plenty of wank stains out there just dying to put the boot into Corrections or sue Corrections or both just to make a name for themselves

        • Cinny 11.1.2.2
          31 March 2019 at 11:38 am

          Peter you did read the whole article from the herald?

          Did you catch my comment at 11.6?

        • Maggie 11.1.2.3
          1 April 2019 at 12:23 am

          What a load of shit. He gets outside for an hour and human company 3 times a day (albeit briefly). Not everyone falls to pieces without company. He was a recluse anyway so he’s just peachy keen.

    • Barfly 11.2
      31 March 2019 at 10:16 am

      Well I certainly wouldn’t want this chap feeling isolated and lonely …I d have no problem with him being in general population 🙂

      • Peter Christchurch NZ 11.2.1
        31 March 2019 at 11:23 am

        So you think it would be fine for the yet to be convicted, or the convicted, to receive violence and rape? Gee, I thought we had moved into more enlightened times. Obviously not.

        • Cinny 11.2.1.1
          31 March 2019 at 11:36 am

          You are the only one suggesting violence and rape Peter, no one else has mentioned it. JS

          • Peter Christchurch NZ 11.2.1.1.1
            31 March 2019 at 11:38 am

            The implications of Barfly post are pretty clear to me, even if not to you.

            • Cinny 11.2.1.1.1.1
              31 March 2019 at 11:40 am

              Am well versed with corrections and what happens in prison Peter. But that’s not the point.

              • Peter Christchurch NZ …
                31 March 2019 at 11:43 am

                Its Barflys point.

                • Cinny …
                  31 March 2019 at 11:46 am

                  So you think it’s cruel keeping him in the hole, but that it would be even crueler in general population?

                  Will check back later, trying to get my head around where you are coming from.

                  • Peter Christchurch NZ …
                    31 March 2019 at 11:50 am

                    His total isolation from people (visitors who individually must be approved by Corrections which many any sympathizers will be weeded out), isolation of reading material. Keeping in a hole is a given at this point. The rest is unprecedented.

                    If you have difficulty to ‘ get my head around’ that, then I would kindly suggest you learn the art of reading and thinking. It really is not that hard, although I guess it is Sunday and often ones head is fuzzy on a Sunday morning.

                    • Maggie …
                      1 April 2019 at 12:30 am

                      He hasn’t been denied reading material so before you go pointing the finger at others I suggest you read your own link.

                      A Corrections spokesperson confirmed today that the man has “no access to television, radio or newspapers and has no approved visitors”.

                      It says nothing about books. He may even have access to pen and paper to further his literary career, who knows, but there’s nothing to suggest he’s undergoing some sort of sensory deprivation. And FYI, his complaint is in regard to visitors and phone calls, nothing else.

    • te reo putake 11.3
      31 March 2019 at 10:18 am

      Breivik had a similar complaint:

      https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/anders-breivik-norway-mass-murderer-appeal-european-human-rights-court-oslo-strasbourg-a8409861.html

      It’s certainly a post worthy subject, Peter. As this seems to be a good weekend for new writers, how about to you have a crack and send it to me? I’ll edit it, find some links and put it up as a guest post.

      tereoputake@gmail.com

      And that’s an open invitation, folks. TS is always happy to look at publishing contributed posts.

      • Ankerrawshark 11.3.1
        31 March 2019 at 10:27 am

        Actually Te Reo Putake

        I am going to ask you to reconsider that offer of a post from peter of Chch re the gunmans human rights. See my comments below. I think the less airtime we give to the gunman the better. There are likely hundreds of others whose human rights are being violated. Better to do a post on them.

        The gunman will have access to legal redress. Let that happen outside the public gaze

        This is just my opinion but I would be extremely disappointed if the standard gave this guy any sort of oxygen. He is not worthy of such a post. Are human rights worthy of a post? Yes. Then cover someone else

        • te reo putake 11.3.1.1
          31 March 2019 at 10:40 am

          Fyodor Dostoyevsky wrote that the degree of civilisation in a society is revealed by entering its prisons. So I do think it’s relevant to discuss what the NZ minimum treatment of prisoners actually is (and that’s exactly what this guy deserves, the absolute minimum). My feeling is that at the moment, the authorities consider he remains a danger and communication with similar minded individuals in particular is putting others at risk. Again, guessing, but I would think they have looked at the Breivik trial and are learning lessons from that process.

          • Ankerrawshark 11.3.1.1.1
            31 March 2019 at 10:50 am

            Yes te reo. I am not saying punish the bastard etc etc. I just think let’s not give him any attention. The article is click bait. I choose to read the stories of the victims and the heroes.

            I am going to ask you again not to publish anything about the gunman and his human rights.

            If we need to do something on human rights in nz prisons, by all means. There has been the recent case of women and internal examinations . Maybe invite someone to take that up. Or get Arthur TAYLOR to do a guest post.

            I would find it extremely disappointing if the standard offered a post about the gunman, his human rights or anything about him at all……..

            • aj 11.3.1.1.1.1
              31 March 2019 at 11:03 am

              +100

            • Peter Christchurch NZ 11.3.1.1.1.2
              31 March 2019 at 11:31 am

              Arthur Taylor! Are you serious???? I get the very clear impression that your knowledge of prisons and prisoners is somewhat thin.

              • Ankerrawshark …
                31 March 2019 at 4:14 pm

                Ok trp. Since you are one of the editors here I accept and understand such decisions are in your control.

                I will have to see what Peter writes. I am not sure I agree with you that mine is a straw man’s arguement because Peter brought up the need for such an article in the context of a stuff article about his conditions and then further posted about the conditions themselves. I think it was reasonable for me to assume that an article by Peter would be abou/include the gunman. I do hope I am wrong about this.

                I do actually trust that the gunman is being attended to in prison as set out in ours laws. I do hope that if people have concerns they will take those to their MPs or the human rights commission if they care about it enough.

                The gunman has a very grim life ahead of him of that there is no doubt.

                I prioritize my empathy and compassion for the innocent victims of this terrible crime. I also think it is important that we do everything to stop it happening again and the evidence I have heard to date is to starve him of any publicly whatsoever

        • marty mars 11.3.1.2
          31 March 2019 at 10:46 am

          Yep that would be the final nail for me. Fighting all the white fright here is too much. The racism on TS is chronic and not a safe space for anyone interested in indigenous rights. Very toxic environment at the moment.

          • Ankerrawshark 11.3.1.2.1
            31 March 2019 at 10:55 am

            Marty Mars I was going to say that too. Giving the gunman and space on this site would be the last straw for me too.

            • marty mars 11.3.1.2.1.1
              31 March 2019 at 11:19 am

              Yep its times like these I really miss weka.

              Anyway this is our society, our world. For this country to truly embrace the wonderful change so needed, we need this group to lower themselves. Ha will they fuck. So the battle continues – we have change beginning – now time to build momentum!

          • One Two 11.3.1.2.2
            31 March 2019 at 11:26 am

            Marty, you’re chronically rude and abusive to others here…

            Abuse levels, are far above your claims of racism on this site…

            Perhaps if you stopped name calling and believing you’re ‘in a fight’…it could assist with your anger levels…

            And how you view/treat others at the blog…

            • marty mars 11.3.1.2.2.1
              31 March 2019 at 11:36 am

              Lol I am a shocker alright – and I’m not worried about you anymore am I? Maybe I’m not the big bad wolf after all – or maybe I am. I have exceptional intuition.

              • One Two …
                31 March 2019 at 11:53 am

                Marty, you’re also quite aware of yourself in various ways…and comfortable enough to call yourself out on it…and then apologise for it…

                I would say that your intuition levels will likely match self awareness levels…

                The more time we invest in self evaluating and seeking improvements in our own selves…is often matched with being able to interpret the world around us with deeper understanding…

                Have a great Sunday arvo…

        • Peter Christchurch NZ 11.3.1.3
          31 March 2019 at 11:26 am

          We are not giving HIM the airtime. It is about the legal rights we ALL are entitled to.

      • Sabine 11.3.2
        31 March 2019 at 11:20 am

        maybe the article should not so much be about the white supremacist killer but rather of our prison conditions in itself, and how ineffective prison is in terms of reducing crime overall.

        Did Andrew Little not speak about prison reform or has that been put on ice?

        • te reo putake 11.3.2.1
          31 March 2019 at 11:27 am

          That’s exactly the content I would be hoping for, Sabine.

          Here’s Andrew Little on things as they currently stand: https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2019/01/new-zealand-s-justice-system-is-broken-andrew-little-tells-united-nations.html

          • Peter Christchurch NZ 11.3.2.1.1
            31 March 2019 at 11:32 am

            Yep Sabine and Te Reo Putake, that is the issue. Not him per se.

          • Dennis Frank 11.3.2.1.2
            31 March 2019 at 11:43 am

            “New Zealand’s latest UN human rights review is being overseen by Brazil, Slovakia, and Saudi Arabia, despite the latter Arab kingdom being widely criticised over its human rights record, particularly in regards to women.”

            “The final report on New Zealand’s human rights record in 2019 will be prepared by those three nations, known as the ‘troika’, with assistance from the UNHCR.” Should be a humdinger, eh?

            The brilliance of the UN decision to include Saudi Arabia as critic must be acknowledged. Rarely do bureaucrats provide such exemplary instances of bureaucratic decision-making. You can imagine how mortified the eurocrats will be feeling, having been out-classed so easily.

            I look foreword to seeing the inclusion of the Saudi Arabia input in the final draft: “must enforce sharia law”. Frantic masking attempts by others may be evident, and wouldn’t surprise me if “not enough amputations” is deleted.

      • Peter Christchurch NZ 11.3.3
        31 March 2019 at 11:24 am

        Te Reo Putake, I am flat out this week work wise, but will do next week. This is something I feel very strongly about for personal and societal reasons.

    • Nick 11.4
      31 March 2019 at 10:23 am

      Solitary confinement sounds good. He’s guilty mate.

      • Sabine 11.4.1
        31 March 2019 at 11:35 am

        so you want to make him the ‘man in the mask’? An object of future folklore, myth and legend?

        if we don’t watch out, in ten years time when we commemorate the killed we will end up discussing with others if it happened, if the killer was white, a man, young, fairly rich etc etc and if that is not just something made up.

        that is the other side of throwing people in an oubliette to satisfy our base needs for revenge.

        • bwaghorn 11.4.1.1
          31 March 2019 at 12:59 pm

          Na erasing him personally from history is a deterrent to the next psycho gun nut seeking fame .

          • marty mars 11.4.1.1.1
            31 March 2019 at 3:01 pm

            I’m finding myself having a lot of sympathy for that view.

            • Muttonbird 11.4.1.1.1.1
              31 March 2019 at 3:08 pm

              Agreed. His legend won’t grow from being erased from history – it’ll be just that, erased.

              It certainly would grow if his followers were allowed access in order to distribute his white supremacist views though.

              That would legitimise his actions which is what we are all against unless I’m mistaken.

            • Ankerrawshark 11.4.1.1.1.2
              31 March 2019 at 3:46 pm

              Bwaghorn, Marty Mars in complete agreement

          • Incognito 11.4.1.1.2
            31 March 2019 at 4:48 pm

            Completely and utterly disagree!

            We must never try and erase this from our memories even though we may want to. We can never separate the act from the actor and no matter how painful, not matter how disgusted we are, we have to find a way to deal with in a humane way that defines us as people.

            A tendency to skip a fair trial process and deny the accused his basic human rights or do much worse (…) amounts to lowering us down to his level at which he butchered innocent people like animals with complete and utter disregard for their humanity. If we allow this to happen we will be a step closer to evil not a step away from it IMO.

            • Muttonbird 11.4.1.1.2.1
              31 March 2019 at 5:03 pm

              What are ‘his basic human rights’?

              He’s getting food, water, clothing and warm dry shelter. That’s more than many NZ citizens right now.

              • The Al1en …
                31 March 2019 at 5:14 pm

                He does have rights, the same we would all expect to get. However, if there are reasons, understandably due to the terrorist nature of his ‘alleged’ crimes, why he isn’t permitted phone calls and visitors, then that’s okay.

                The last thing the country needs is for justice not to be seen to be done and some smart lawyer using errors to get this bag o shite off.

                Fair arrest, fair trial, and hopefully whatever the NZ equivalent is of @ her majesty’s pleasure when it comes to a fair sentencing to ensure this murderer never walks amongst us again.

                • Muttonbird …
                  31 March 2019 at 5:32 pm

                  For sure. I’m a little confused when some commenters are saying his basic human rights are being abused when clearly they are not.

                  He’s well looked after. Better than many, many people in New Zealand right now.

                  As with many narcissistic psychopaths has chosen to represent himself and will have to apply for certain information in support of his defence. I guess he’ll have to be quite specific.

                  • The Al1en …
                    31 March 2019 at 5:36 pm

                    I agree, but to be honest, I don’t care if he gets above and beyond at this moment in time, just as long as it doesn’t affect the outcome of the trial.

              • joe90 …
                31 March 2019 at 5:20 pm

                Damnatio memoriae -and let the prick fade into obscurity.

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

              • Skunk Weed …
                31 March 2019 at 5:41 pm

                Many of those living on the streets are not being that well looked after, he should count himself lucky and it is FOC ?

                • Muttonbird …
                  31 March 2019 at 5:57 pm

                  Yeah, perhaps his punishment should be to live like the bottom end of NZ society. Pretty sure he’d be gagging to get back into solitary at Paremoremo.

            • bwaghorn 11.4.1.1.2.2
              31 March 2019 at 9:51 pm

              He should still stand trial but absolute black should be in place and then off to prison as a number for the rest of his life . No one will forget it happened

        • greywarshark 11.4.1.2
          31 March 2019 at 3:02 pm

          And all the talk in the future will be about whether he got his human rights and his victims, the dead and injured and distressed people will be given cursory thought.

          Peter Christchurch NZ
          You remind me of The Clockwork Orange – a right little pervert and psychpath (is it all right to use that word?) is caught and all are shocked at the depravity of his actions and mind. Then after giving him aversion therapy and letting him out again feeling vulnerable public opinion swings around and is all weepy on his side. In the end he is unaverted?

          If people can decide what is safe and reasonable control of this little shooter and sll of his ilk and keep him in prison till he is too old to shoot, if he isn’t going to have a death sentence, then we can stop worrying about him all and put that effort into whether some are in jail that could be worked with outside to turn their lives around, that would be good.

          • Skunk Weed 11.4.1.2.1
            31 March 2019 at 7:47 pm

            Victims do not count in this day and age it’s all about prisoner’s rights ?

          • Sabine 11.4.1.2.2
            31 March 2019 at 8:14 pm

            i doubt they will be forgotten. I really do. At least i don’t intend to forget them, and i would venture you don’t either.

            But we already have people here in NZ and elsewhere denying that he is the killer, that the killing happened and so on and so on. So really the onus is on us to be accurate in our reporting, not only of the victims but also of the killer. At the end of it the killer will be nothing more then a footnote, albeit a footnote that can be fact checked. And so it should be.

            He will be spending a lot of time in prison, but our society should also be measured how we treat the least among us. Unless really you suggest taht we do go back to the days hanging, drawing and quartering. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanged,_drawn_and_quartered

    • Graeme 11.5
      31 March 2019 at 10:47 am

      Correction’s motivations for putting him in this situation would be mostly for his own safety and the safety of other people in the institution.

      If he was put into the general prison population he’d be crying that corrections aren’t looking after his safety and security.

      • WeTheBleeple 11.5.1
        31 March 2019 at 11:49 am

        “If he was put into the general prison population he’d be [dead already]”

        FIFY.

    • Cinny 11.6
      31 March 2019 at 11:12 am

      Also from the same article Peter,

      “The Act also states that these entitlements can be withheld “if there is an emergency in the prison or the security of the prison is threatened or if the health or safety of any person is threatened”.

      A prison director may also deny a prisoner access to the minimum entitlements if they are in segregation “for purposes of security, good order, or safety; or for the purpose of protective custody”.”

      Edit… Personally I’m more concerned that he is representing himself, Ted Bundy springs to mind….

      • Peter Christchurch NZ 11.6.1
        31 March 2019 at 11:36 am

        Yes, that is the justification quite rightly used, but to deny all contact with other humans (visitors etc), and the outside world (TV – which can be and is restricted for some prisoners – for example exclusion of news channels which can now be done in prisons) (reading material etc), this is not justified. Mentally destroying him is not the punishment prescribed by our laws, particular for someone who is ‘innocent until proven guilty’.

        The main issue is this regime is open ended, which I would be surprised has ever before been applied in NZ.

        • Cinny 11.6.1.1
          31 March 2019 at 11:43 am

          I doubt that being chucked in the hole up at ‘pari’ is anything like Guantanamo Bay.

          Anyways, I’m outta here, got jobs to do, and have paid more than enough attention to said topic atm.

          Enjoy your day, the weather is stunning.

          • Peter Christchurch NZ 11.6.1.1.1
            31 March 2019 at 11:54 am

            Maybe you should talk to some people who have been there. They would differ in their views, and that is without the almost total sensory deprivation.

            • WeTheBleeple 11.6.1.1.1.1
              31 March 2019 at 3:41 pm

              Age 16 I spent a week in the hole for saying ‘fuck’ to an officer. I was not allowed in my bed unless sleeping time because army corners and folds and creases… so sit on edge no stool, or sit on toilet… had no writing materials no reading materials no contact except meals arriving and being taken to a yard (concrete room, wire roof) to peel potatoes for several hours a day.

              I do not think it was this experience that gave me concern for the system.

              Quite the contrary, I had good time to reflect on my own idiocy rather than being yelled at and bullied all day in the camp. I also became a dab hand at peeling potatoes, and was effective helping Mum cater for church camps when I got out, whereas before I’d agree to help and drift off to smoke dope.

              That loser in a cell overdosed on media. Thought he’d splash his horror to the world as a viral virus. He failed. He wants to see himself in print. He failed. May he be left to think about it for a very very long time.

          • Puckish Rogue 11.6.1.1.2
            31 March 2019 at 11:55 am

            Good call

  12. Ankerrawshark 12
    31 March 2019 at 10:19 am

    Peter of Chch

    Yeah I was going to read that article and then instead I read about the heroes of that day and the biographies of those who died. I had it in mind it would be good to launch a campaign for people to not click on anything to do with the gun man or the trial.
    And put it on the list of abuse of human rights if you like. Amesty or a human rights lawyer can take it up if they like…..imho the shooter would be on the bottom of the list of causes to take up. I would prioritize a million people ahead of him. And if people do want to, please do it behind closed doors

    • Peter Christchurch NZ 12.1
      31 March 2019 at 11:42 am

      Ank, I think a lot of the posters on here seem to be missing the point. It is in no way about HIM. As an individual, I really could not care too much. It is about the legal and moral rights of us all.

      I certainly hope I never again read another post on TS criticizing the US action in Gitmo, as clearly the posters here thoroughly approve, as the US used the same justifications

      • Ankerrawshark 12.1.1
        31 March 2019 at 12:06 pm

        Then don’t do an article on him. Do one on human rights abuses in nz prisons about others

        • Peter Christchurch NZ 12.1.1.1
          31 March 2019 at 12:09 pm

          I get where you are coming from, which is broadly the same as me. Only difference is as I keep saying, human rights are universal, even to those we despise, lest we become like those we despise.

          • Incognito 12.1.1.1.1
            31 March 2019 at 11:14 pm

            … human rights are universal, even to those we despise, lest we become like those we despise.

            QED

            Indeed, defending his or any prisoner’s rights is not defending him or his actions – Golriz Ghahraman or any (Human Rights) lawyer for that matter can tell you that and remember how much flak she copped. FWIIW, he’s been accused, not yet (!) convicted.

            At the same time, defending his rights, despite his alleged terrorist actions that killed 50 innocent people, is defending our humanity. People seem to overlook this aspect.

            We have fought for Human Rights, for fair trials and justice, and a rule-based society with a democratically elected government. It is not perfect, far from it and there’s a lot of work to do, but we cannot let the actions of one man undo the hard work of many good people over many years to allow an equally barbaric mob rule dictate how we deal with this. The next step on our descend into chaos would be to all arm ourselves with guns …

  13. Dennis Frank 13
    31 March 2019 at 10:39 am

    Posted to Ecosophia, this excellent point on socialist economic policy, well-worth recycling here: “people get up to all kinds of positive things when they’re not obliged to chase the next meal. In the UK, many of the biggest and most famous music bands the country produced between the 60s and the 80s were only able to get started because of very lax rules about unemployment benefits.”

    “Musicians would claim the dole and use that to live while they got up to speed with their skills. Sure, most bands that did that disappeared without trace, but the ones that made it big probably repaid the entire money spent in terms of soft power, taxes, etc. Similarly, one would expect to see more garage inventors hoping to be the next Apple or Microsoft. So, there are good arguments to hope that a UBI might pay for itself.”
    https://www.ecosophia.net/march-2019-open-post/

    • WeTheBleeple 13.1
      31 March 2019 at 12:02 pm

      In a local context Helen Clarke’s government early 2000’s had a scheme, I forget the name, but basically artists could have a go at being artists with a benefit available.

      There were hoops to jump through but not restrictive: workshop type places, at least in Auckland, where one could find assistance and encouragement, and be schooled in stuff like marketing, time management, and things collectively decided on.

      I did not like the workshops so much but the freedom to concentrate on the arts, rather than feel obliged to seek full time work, really took a lot of pressure off.

      In that climate I started touring comics. We had so much talent and so little work. I grabbed (some of) who I perceived to be promising and took them to small towns who loved hosting us. Many of those ‘long term unemployed’ given a bit of leeway from that period are now full time writing acting and performing comedy, satire, chat, other media…

      Some are a big deal, and have elevated NZ’s profile on the world stage.

      In the bigger picture, for this cohort, lending artists some rope worked. It stands to reason creatives in many fields would benefit from taking the pressure off aka UBI.

      • Dennis Frank 13.1.1
        31 March 2019 at 12:11 pm

        Good feedback, WTB. So it worked here too. Govt policies that have been proven to work are the best ones to recycle – or re-apply in different contexts.

        I’d like to see coalition + Greens advocating a UBI on this basis. Rarely do contributors to public discussion of socialism provide such examples of how it can work in practice, to serve our common interests & enhance the common good.

        Best way forward would be to signal a UBI stakeholder conference for their second term, with the intention of establishing a bipartisan consensus, and campaign on that basis next year.

        • KJT 13.1.1.1
          31 March 2019 at 6:57 pm

          Greens are looking at how a UBI, can work.
          Many practicalities to work through
          For one, the cost is immediate, but the benefits could take more than the normal political cycle.
          Especially as it means the wealthy would have to pay taxes. The CGT, shows how well that goes down.

          • Dennis Frank 13.1.1.1.1
            31 March 2019 at 7:09 pm

            Labour has been inept for years marketing the CGT. I expect the coalition to demonstrate more finesse. I hope James will take the lead in explaining how to create the essential centrist consensus to secure the public buy-in (only needs around 60% of voters to feel the overall design is unproblematic).

            The crucial thing to make the consensus happen is to get the mix right (I’d include ftt, pollution taxes). Bake a cake that most people like eating. So the design of the recipe is what they must focus on getting right first. Palatability will then hinge on reduction of income tax sufficiently to enable voters to see the mix as a fair deal…

            • KJT 13.1.1.1.1.1
              31 March 2019 at 7:14 pm

              Polls show the majority agree with a CGT.
              Anything which reversed the almost 50% tax cuts, the well off had had since the 80’s, was always going to get massive kick back and propaganda.

            • KJT 13.1.1.1.1.2
              1 April 2019 at 11:11 am

              Labour has been missing in action about the need for taxes, for decades.

              They had their chance recently of linking deteriorating hospitals, waiting lists, more expensive services to repeated tax cuts.
              But senior members of the Labour cabinet are still fixated on Neo-Liberal, trickle down.

  14. Sabine 14
    31 March 2019 at 10:54 am

    Mental illness and walls.

    https://www.newyorker.com/culture/annals-of-inquiry/do-walls-change-how-we-think?utm_social-type=owned&utm_medium=social&mbid=social_facebook&utm_brand=tny&utm_source=facebook&fbclid=IwAR1-8vk_B_MxEpJD7madycno18-c6RahlmIQ6ISrzpCO3dwlxpOQRMK7_uQ

    “During a recent trip to the southern Texas county of Hidalgo, where barriers are currently under construction, she was struck most by the numbness she encountered. “Nobody speaks about it,” she said, apart from anti-wall activists. In Brownsville, Texas, near a former Walmart where children are now detained, diners at a McDonald’s ignored the calamity next door; residents throughout the region had lost track of whether the monitoring towers above them, designed to track movements on the ground, were operative. At the same time, the sense of being watched was pervasive. Locals warned her not to speed because, they said, the area was crawling with law-enforcement officers. “The mental illness related to the wall is also related to the surveillance that goes with it,” Vallet told me. Such surveillance is part of the dystopian atmosphere that walls create.”

  15. Ankerrawshark 15
    31 March 2019 at 11:00 am

    http://shorthand.radionz.co.nz/remember-the-heroes/index.htmlI

    This is really worth reading. Heart breaking. And also inspirational stories of people’s bravery and courage.

  16. arkie 16
    31 March 2019 at 11:34 am

    Immanuel Kant was an influential German philosopher. In his view, the mind shapes and structures experience, with all human experience sharing certain structural features… …Kant’s views continue to have a major influence on contemporary philosophy, especially the fields of epistemology, ethics, political theory, and post-modern aesthetics.

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

    Philosophy Tube is a great channel with very informative videos about philosophy, it’s history and it’s ramifications. This video discusses the often-unmentioned history of racism and bigotry in the philosophy of Kant, one of the philosophers with the greatest impact on modern thought. It’s a long one (with a bad Australian accent in the cold open), but well worth it.

  17. Ankerrawshark 17
    31 March 2019 at 11:39 am

    I am going to put out the call for no articles to appear on the Standard about the gunman, his trial or his human rights. If people such as Peter are so very concerned about this take it to Andrew little or his local MP.

    In all honesty what is an article on the standard going to achieve. It is not going to get someone in the position of power to change the gunmans circumstances. We can “debate on the Standard all we like, but that doesn’t change anything in the real world.

    Peter you are entitled to be concerned about the gunman. But if your concern is genuine, take some action that might led to change. Don’t raise it here. Nothing will come of it. Nothing can come of it.

    [Yeah, nah. TS authors will write whatever they want to, whenever they want to. And you are putting words in Peter’s mouth. If he chooses to write a post, it should be addressed on its merits, not on your strawman positing of what he is going to write before he has even written it. Final point, the terrorist’s judicial rights are my rights and yours too. He will be treated according to NZ law, which is as it should be. TRP]

    • Ankerrawshark 17.1
      31 March 2019 at 4:12 pm

      Ok trp. Since you are one of the editors here I accept and understand such decisions are in your control.

      I will have to see what Peter writes. I am not sure I agree with you that mine is a straw man’s arguement because Peter brought up the need for such an article in the context of a stuff article about his conditions and then further posted about the conditions themselves. I think it was reasonable for me to assume that an article by Peter would be abou/include the gunman. I do hope I am wrong about this.

      I do actually trust that the gunman is being attended to in prison as set out in ours laws. I do hope that if people have concerns they will take those to their MPs or the human rights commission if they care about it enough.

      The gunman has a very grim life ahead of him of that there is no doubt.

      I prioritize my empathy and compassion for the innocent victims of this terrible crime. I also think it is important that we do everything to stop it happening again and the evidence I have heard to date is to starve him of any publicly whatsoever

      • Incognito 17.1.1
        31 March 2019 at 11:34 pm

        Ok trp. Since you are one of the editors here I accept and understand such decisions are in your control.

        I think you misunderstand how TS functions. Authors have almost full autonomy over their posts and don’t need ‘approval’ from Editors (I happen to be an Editor, whatever that means).

        It is a very sensitive issue that’ll require very careful wording and I’d highly recommend proofreading by others before publication to avoid chaos …

        Personally, I think it would be good to pry open some minds – please keep in mind that for every commenter here there are many more ‘silent’ readers (AKA lurkers) – but I think the risks are too high with uncertain benefits …

        • Ankerrawshark 17.1.1.1
          1 April 2019 at 7:36 am

          Thanks incognito.

          So do you have any suggestions.
          TRP has asked Peter to email an article to him/her. “The authors of The Standard will write whatever they want to whenever they want to”

          I have asked that we don’t write about the gunman, but it seems that trp doesn’t agree.

        • lprent 17.1.1.2
          1 April 2019 at 12:30 pm

          An editor compared to an author has an ability to edit posts and comments in names other than their own.

          Incognito has it mostly because of their service in making sure we get Open Mike each day. It means that “notices and features” can be set as the author rather than “Incognito”.

          Normally editor status is given to allow moderation of comments for other authors posts.

          I (as super-admin) get involved when editors start modifying or removing posts from other contributors / authors / editors / admins. It is a sure sign that we have a inter-personal problem. But it has been worth leaving in to make sure that if something really goes wrong, it can be dealt with fast.

          Authors have almost full autonomy over their posts and don’t need ‘approval’ from Editors

          Mike and I tend to be the “almost”. But TRP is correct about the

          TS authors will write whatever they want to, whenever they want to

          … that is the way that we have run the site for the last decade. I’ll get concerned about legal issues since I’m the one who gets that frame. Over the decade there have been a few issues that I have dealt with – rapidly and with extreme prejudice. But generally there have been bugger all of those. The authors want to publish here.

          Similarly there have been various ideological disagreements. Generally I tend to leave these to be dealt with robust discussions between authors or commentators and authors.

          But commentators can’t trash authors because the site needs them to provide well written and argued starter topics. Since the foremost reason for authors to stop doing that is getting stupidly abused by commentators (other authors know how damn hard it is – so tend not to), moderators are ruthless at discouraging author trashing.

          But commentators can disagree with authors posts- they just have to be able to do it with rational arguments that largely avoid the personal attacks. Sometimes witty denigration about someone who could hold those ideas mixed in with arguments can get past that – but it is a matter of risk to those making the comments.

          But outside of those bounds we run either complete freedom for authors, or they don’t have author access.

          Ankerrawshark could ask if authors would like to not write about the gunman. It is up to authors if they want to.

      • RedLogix 17.1.2
        1 April 2019 at 1:00 pm

        It’s worth noting here that in a historic context there is good reason to think it was Islam itself which introduced the concept of ‘everyone as equals before the law’ into the West.

        For much of our prior history the underlying idea behind kingship (or the local equivalent) was broadly modeled as ‘God’s representative on earth’. It’s why monarchs held absolute power, placed themselves above it, and were able to exempt themselves from it. It’s why killing the king was a special category of crime, above and beyond the usual murder.

        By contrast Muhammad explicitly placed the idea of ‘the submission of all to God’ at the centre of his doctrine. And critically made the political rulers equally subject to the law as anyone else. This was one of the major innovations which made the early Muslim empire so successful and enlightened for the era.

        History strongly suggests that the West adopted this idea from the schools of Islamic jurisprudence, and over the course of the Renaissance extended it to embrace the modern legal system of rights and responsibilities, inalienable from the dignity and worth of every individual.

        In my view, the idea of universal human rights originate from Islam. It would a terribly irony if we were to now walk back from them, in the name of honouring this Muslim victims of this terror.

        • Ankerrawshark 17.1.2.1
          1 April 2019 at 4:01 pm

          Just an update, although others may have heard this sooner. The gunman has made a formal complaint. I trust it will be taken seriously and whatever the appropriate action (including nothing changes) , will be taken

  18. joe90 18
    31 March 2019 at 2:09 pm

    Swamping the drain.

    Stephen Moore, the economics commentator chosen by Donald Trump for a seat on the Federal Reserve board, was found in contempt of court after failing to pay his ex-wife hundreds of thousands of dollars in alimony, child support and other debts.

    Trump’s Federal Reserve pick owes $75,000 in taxes, US government alleges

    Court records in Virginia obtained by the Guardian show Moore, 59, was reprimanded by a judge in November 2012 for failing to pay Allison Moore more than $300,000 in spousal support, child support and money owed under their divorce settlement.

    https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/mar/30/trump-stephen-moore-federal-reserve-board?

    • Macro 18.1
      31 March 2019 at 2:26 pm

      I just wonder if there is actually anyone this “president” has picked for public service that hasn’t been before the courts for one crime or other.

  19. joe90 19
    31 March 2019 at 2:27 pm

    Divert attention from one crisis by exacerbating the problems driving another crisis.

    In a decision that may have the opposite effect of its intended impact, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has followed President Trump’s direction and ordered the State Department to cut off U.S. aid to El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras.

    Mr. Trump indicated on Friday he would be cutting aid to the countries as punishment for their inability to stem the flow of migrants heading to the southern U.S. border. The countries affected make up the so-called “Northern Triangle” and account for the majority of Central American migrants who are crossing the U.S.-Mexico border.

    https://www.cbsnews.com/news/state-department-cuts-off-aid-to-el-salvador-guatemala-and-honduras/?

    • Dennis Frank 20.1
      31 March 2019 at 7:20 pm

      Interesting. Notice how both Morgan & Simmons avoid the elephant in this room: why he resigned. Perusing the top 10 policies, I feel the mix is quite good, but not really good enough. Vernon Tava seems to have formed the same opinion, but it remains to be seen whether his effort to target the same market is any better.

      • RedLogix 20.1.1
        1 April 2019 at 4:24 pm

        Morgan made it clear right from the very early days that if TOP did not get over the 5% threshold in 2017 he would not hang about making a nuisance of himself. He put this in one of TOP’s early newsletters I used to get, long before the election.

        There’s no need to postulate some nefarious reason for his withdrawal, Morgan’s just following through on what he said he would do.

        • Dennis Frank 20.1.1.1
          1 April 2019 at 5:43 pm

          Okay, but it still seems like a repudiation of his creation! Does he not even comprehend the concept of political support?? Is he really `my way or the highway’ – a narcissist? Or have they adopted principles and policies he is opposed to? That would explain it better.

          That’s what I was getting at. It would be interesting to know. The impression he’s leaving in the public mind is that he lacks character – or sufficient judgment to realise that folks will wonder if he is merely a dilettante. Reputational risk…

          • RedLogix 20.1.1.1.1
            1 April 2019 at 6:35 pm

            I’ve never met Morgan, but I’m still donating to a UNICEF project he kickstarted back sometime in 2005 maybe, that was building water supply systems in third world countries.

            Back then the approach was the same, he’d match dollar for dollar donations up to a certain limit (several million IIRC) and then let his creation forge it’s own path with the initial momentum he had given it. And more than a decade later it’s still taking my money and sending the odd email telling me what it’s doing with it.

            Morgan’s relationship with TOP is entirely consistent with this. He’s definitely a non-standard character, and I get that many people don’t gell with him at all.

            It’s often said that we all stand on the shoulders of giants as we make progress; Morgan has more of knack of standing on their toes 🙂

    • Skunk Weed 20.2
      31 March 2019 at 7:49 pm

      The Cat Killer pulling the pin ?

  21. marty mars 21
    31 March 2019 at 3:46 pm

    Go away and take your stupid exploitation tools with you is my wish.

    “Offshore deep-water oil and gas exploration drilling in the Great South Basin is back on the cards, after Austrian-owned OMV applied for a marine consent to operate in the southern ocean.
    No final decision has been made on drilling in the Great South Basin, which lies to the east and far south of Dunedin, but a rig to be used for drilling in Taranaki could come south.”

    https://www.odt.co.nz/business/deep-water-prospecting-may-resume

  22. The Al1en 22
    31 March 2019 at 4:50 pm

    Well if you’re after the redneck, racist vote for political survival, who else to give it to apart from national or nz1st.

    “Christchurch crackdown could provide opening for ACT to increase meagre support”

    https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/christchurch-shooting/111646197/christchurch-crackdown-could-provide-opening-for-act-to-increase-meagre-support

  23. Eco Maori 23
    31 March 2019 at 6:28 pm

    Kia ora Newshub big fire at Hamilton dump Rotorua rubbish goes there to.
    I Say Winston is correct Bruni is going backwards with its human rights laws WTF.
    With China if you live in a glass house don’t throw stones Eco Maori says.
    Paddy the police force will never admit they are wrong stop chacing young children they will just flee. It’s a natural response for tamariki.
    Facebook any publicity is good publicity?????????????.
    Thanks to Jan for this law that Wahine will get 10 days pay for family violence some Wahine are trapped in bad relationship and need all the help they can get to break the violence cycle in some families Ka pai.
    That is cool a army NZ force with out guns in Bogenvile awesome.
    Ka kite ano. P.S some people think they can Pukana Eco Maori with no consequence

  24. Eco Maori 24
    31 March 2019 at 6:46 pm

    Kia ora Te ao Maori News
    Its a sad day when a Wahine has to sell her Whare to raise money for her childs health care hope they running a givealittle page as well.
    It good they are getting donations from Te tangata.
    I Back having more Maori at selected committees and other important discussion happing around the motu they don’t understand were we are coming from in a lot of OUR consenrns we will need big – – – – to educated the people who run NZ.
    Its cool that the announcement for Shearing are trying to get how Maori names are pronounced
    The minamim wage went up to ka pai Ka kite ano

  25. Eco Maori 25
    1 April 2019 at 8:19 am

    Kia ora The AM Show The minamim pay rise of $1.17 a hour rise is needed the cost of living has gone through the roof business need to be innovative to get more income to pay for it.
    I SEE you and your ausse m8 having fun at my expense duncan Ma te wa Australia has some of the best conditions in the world for green solar and wind power but scotmo is OWNED by the oil barron he is backing carbon even when green energy is cheaper green energy does not use much water carbon use heaps on the dryest country in the world you think he would try and save water for the Australian environment. The people with familys get a child benefit the young and the old people with no children are struggling as they don’t get that subserdise state services the benefits system put these 2 groups of people at a disadvantage it mite be a bit hard for a ighty to grasp that reality. The Tauranga Street sleeper ban new law is kicking someone when they are down I sure its better to use the carrot and not the stick in most situations the Tauranga council should be helping there people not kicking them
    NO need to comment on simon I don’t kick a person when they are down. That a very interesting debate pizza when we have storms wreaking countries that is the issue you should be taking about GLOBAL WARMING CLIMATE CHANGE. The oil barron money must be sweet Sips is doing a crap job they need a total over haul and have more Maori tikanga . Ka kite ano

  26. Eco Maori 26
    1 April 2019 at 11:29 am

    Eco Maori agrees that climate change is going to have a major impact on MAORI and the rest of the common poor tangata
    Climate change to have ‘significant impact’ on Māori businesses
    Leaders in iwi and Māori fisheries are worried about climate change and how badly it may hit them. ka kite ano P.S did you see the pizza show

    https://www.radionz.co.nz/news/te-manu-korihi/385786/climate-change-to-have-significant-impact-on-maori-businesses

    • Eco Maori 26.1
      1 April 2019 at 5:03 pm

      Here you go Whanau another case that lets the common person know that the wealthy make our LAWS TO serve them first THEYnever admit LIABILITY CHEATS
      Who is paying for Monsanto’s crimes? We are A US court ordered Monsanto to pay $80m in damages because it hid cancer risks. That’s a small consolation for victims
      While Bayer may dole out a few billion dollars in damages, who is really being made to pay?’ Photograph: Josh Edelson/AFP/Getty Images
      The chickens are coming home to roost, as they say in farm country.
      For the second time in less than eight months a US jury has found that decades of scientific evidence demonstrates a clear cancer connection to Monsanto’s line of top-selling Roundup herbicides, which are used widely by consumers and farmers. Twice now jurors have additionally determined that the company’s own internal records show Monsanto has intentionally manipulated the public record to hide the cancer risks. Both juries found punitive damages were warranted because the company’s cover-up of cancer risks was so egregious. Ka kite ano links below.

      https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/mar/30/who-is-paying-for-monsantos-crimes-we-are

  27. Eco Maori 27
    1 April 2019 at 3:55 pm

    Some Eco Maori Music for the minute.

  28. Eco Maori 28
    1 April 2019 at 5:45 pm

    Some Eco Maori Music for the minute.

  29. Eco Maori 29
    1 April 2019 at 6:30 pm

    Kia ora Newshub
    I give my condolences to the whano who lost there love ones in those automobile accidents.
    I think it’s is good that OUR Prime minister is in China as for the Huawei I don’t see a problem with China tec I see trump is behind the propergander plan and simply.
    Who built a dump by Tangaroa even if they built it 30 years ago.
    Yes it sad about the environment desaster in The Solomon Islands.
    News Hub its cool you are telling the story about CMV virus it sounds like quite a bad virus that affects hupu Wahine that is not well published very much
    You see how the authorities treat Maori communities with the rail bridge deaths they class Maori as fools that’s their argument for not slowing the trains going over the bridge if it was a wealth part of town all the stops to lower the risk would be pulled out to save their tamariki. Ka kite ano

  30. Eco Maori 30
    1 April 2019 at 6:47 pm

    Kia ora Te ao Maori News
    Tangata whenua O Atoearoa have much in common with the Chinese tangata they open the biggest NZ embassy in China to. Meng Foon is retireing from the Gisborne mayor’s office thanks for all the years of service to Te tairawhiti.
    I just hope that the teachers are doing the correct thing.??????????????????.
    All the best to our sports Stars. Ka kite ano
    That’s cool that Disney on Ice is going to be using te reo I told you Whanau Maori culture is receiving Great recognition from the rest of Papatuanukue Ka kite ano

  31. Eco Maori 31
    2 April 2019 at 8:10 am

    Kia ora The AM Show.
    China has lifted hundreds of millions of there tangata out of poverty that speak a thousand words to Me.
    I will give te whanau good advice about secess NEVER GIVE UP.
    The $1000 Kiwi save is good but it need to be asset tested and capped as I know every wealth child’s is in Kiwi saver there parents accountant’s sign them up and they don’t need it I’m trying to get some people to put there tamariki savings into Kiwi saver I will keep trying there ears don’t work because of the Eco Maori effect.
    I Back the climate change streakers in the gallery glueing there hands to the building good move to highlight climate change.
    The crown is spending millions trying to keep a lid on Eco Maori. I have figured out that they are NOTHING TO in comparison ME. It’s going to be a good Autobiography lol.
    Winston yes you have to have trust one also has to have your EYES Wide OPEN to whats is happening around Te Papatuanukue when assessing and applying that trust.
    duncan you are prepositions the crown to break the human IGHTS Laws we need to make those laws stronger not weaker.
    The weather around Te Papatuanukue has been very extreme we have just had one of the hottest years on record that gives Tawhirirmate more Mana.
    All Aotearoa state vehicle fleet should be changed to electric vehicles they have the money to aim for the longterm fuel saving from electric and our Mokopunas environment needs to be saved. Good on the army involved in repairing the west coast bridge that Tawhirirmate broke it would be nice to see that kind of commitment to transport in Te tairawhiti and Te tai tokerou.?????????????????????Ka kite ano P.S Mokopuna dutys

  32. Eco Maori 32
    2 April 2019 at 10:14 am

    Some Eco Maori Music for the minute Whanau the cops used the christchurch desaster to get there boss to aloud them to Apply emence INTIMADATION Pressure on ECO MAORI but they got Jack as usual.

    PS I haven’t even Changed my simcard Eco Maori has nothing to hide

  33. Eco Maori 33
    2 April 2019 at 1:24 pm

    Whanau you know NZ is classified as the 2nd least courpt country in the world YEA RIGHT what about Maori.
    We die 10 to 20 years earlier than others we have the poorest people in the land we have the worst health Stats of any people in NZ OUR country Children are taken off family by the state In the highest numbers of any other people our children are abuse in large numbers by states people our education rates are low unemployment is the highest in the land We have the highest number of Women and men in jail in the WORLD. The rule classes try a blame this on Maori YEA RIGHT JUST A BIG LIE it’s instertutional racism at its best its that good the ruling classes LIE they have a lot of Maori covenced that if a Maori works hard head down ass up be good be nice to the neighbours you will be able to climb up to great heights on your LADDERs OF LIFE yea right not when you get tripped up at every corner by the cheating cops they will interfair in your work your personal life financially anyway they can stuff you up they will do it and not blink a EYE
    What’s Worst is that the cops are breaking my right they are shitting on my family that I have built over 32 years. All the pollies know all the people in the know do to all the media people know what the cops are doing there dirty tricks on me. It doesn’t matter they are just MAORI WHO CARES so much for HONESTY it Is instertutional racism at it BEST in honest little NZ

  34. Eco Maori 34
    2 April 2019 at 6:29 pm

    Kia ora Newshub.
    david seenothing star gazing
    His opinion on the automatic gun ban is just about vote grabbing.
    More roofing fraud the dirty buggers can’t help themselves robbing the innocent people.
    I have said what I wanted last night on China and Aotearoa.
    WTF someone using Maori to get publicity to promote their bait computer hack to get people to open the app and it gets to load it computer viruses Ka kite ano

  35. Eco Maori 35
    2 April 2019 at 6:40 pm

    Kia ora Maori television looks like you don’t want Eco Maori Tau toko because the cops are trying to brand Eco Maori like the shitty story about the people with ankle Bracelets on Ka kite ano. P.S the cop are breaking all the laws interviewing my whanau and playing with them as they don’t know the law they have no credible evidence to be able to get a warrant to investigate my whanau I’m going to SUE THERE ASSS OFF
    Nash the police give the gangs time on the news the police have their own controls on NZ media hows – – – – was it good I see all

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