Post truth politics – White man behind a desk
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1:59 pm, September 23rd, 2016 - 12 comments
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The economy shrank 1% this quarter and New Zealand has tumbled into the depths of a recession of Nicola Willisâ making. ...3 days ago
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Working people are going backwards while company directors are being given huge pay hikes. ...4 days ago
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A Bill to modernise the role of Justices of the Peace (JP), ensuring they remain active in their communities and connected with other JPs, has been put into the ballot. ...4 days ago
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Labour will continue to fight unsustainable and destructive projects that are able to leap-frog environment protection under Nationalâs Fast-track Approvals Bill. ...5 days ago
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The Green Party has warned that a Green Government will revoke the consents of companies who override environmental protections as part of Fast-Track legislation being passed today. ...5 days ago
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The Green Party says the Half Year Economic and Fiscal Update shows how the Government is failing to address the massive social and infrastructure deficits our country faces. ...5 days ago
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The Governmentâs latest move to reduce the earnings of migrant workers will not only hurt migrants but it will drive down the wages of Kiwi workers. ...5 days ago
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With more debt and a larger deficit, Nicola Willisâ reputation is in tatters after her failure to return the Governmentâs books to surplus. ...5 days ago
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For the second year running, the government has effectively cut wages for the lowest paid workers in New Zealand. ...5 days ago
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The Governmentâs announcement today of a 1.5 per cent increase to minimum wage is another blow for workers, with inflation projected to exceed the increase, meaning itâs a real terms pay reduction for many. ...5 days ago
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All the Government has achieved from its announcement today is to continue to push responsibility back on councils for its own lack of action to help bring down skyrocketing rates. ...6 days ago
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The Government has failed to keep its promise to âsuper chargeâ the EV network, delivering just 292 chargers - less than half of the 670 chargers needed to meet its target. ...6 days ago
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The loss of 27 kaimahi at Whakaata MÄori and the end of its daily news bulletin is a sad day for MÄori media and another step backwards for Te Tiriti o Waitangi justice. ...1 week ago
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Yesterday the Government passed cruel legislation through first reading to establish a new beneficiary sanction regime that will ultimately mean more households cannot afford the basic essentials. ...1 week ago
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Today's passing of the Government's Residential Tenancies Amendment Billâwhich allows landlords to end tenancies with no reasonâignores the voice of the people and leaves renters in limbo ahead of the festive season. ...1 week ago
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Labour is urging the Prime Minister to walk the talk and support legislation combating modern slavery. ...2 weeks ago
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Todayâs announcement from the Government on its plan for new ferries throws more uncertainty on the future of the countryâs rail network. ...2 weeks ago
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Welcome back indeed.
Kittens was good đ
A few resources:
The Grauniad, “How Technology Disrupted The Truth”
https://www.theguardian.com/media/2016/jul/12/how-technology-disrupted-the-truth
The Economist, “Yes, I’d Lie to You”
http://www.economist.com/node/21706498/print
Vladislav Surkov (who Hooton wants to be if he was as smart as he thinks he is and twice as smart as he really is):
http://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2014/11/hidden-author-putinism-russia-vladislav-surkov/382489/
http://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2014/08/the-kremlins-troll-army/375932/
How interesting that you post this today. I’ve had some of my Facebook posts concerning worker’s rights removed. I’ve noticed lately, several ads for accomodation in lieu of wages in Queenstown. Some people are paying well under minimum wage. They go in the local papers and mostly on various groups on Facebook. I’ve worked there without a contract and have also been bullied during a trial period. When you have been through all that it just makes you want to leave town. On the surface it all looks good but there is a percentage of workers being exploited there and no one looks out for them. The same employers do this year after year. It occurs all over the country but it is so blatant in a small town. The media only reports from an employer’s perspective.
Join a fucking union
Unions can make a difference but leaving town or becoming self employed is easier. It’s just frustrating to have several bad employers in a row and to watch others treated the same way.
FYI, you spoonerised the acronym in the description, it should be WMBAD, not WBMAD.
I just thought I’d come back and post a reference since I wouldn’t want to hurt any kittens:
https://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/migrant-workers-exploitation-fears
Given that there are only about 2 labour inspectorates covering the lower south island (none in Queenstown?) and that they are slightly freaked out about confronting bad employers, it dawned on me that the only way to deal with this situation is to report the employers, but that would make me a squealer. I might just let the market sort this one out in the meantime, get over the learned helplessness and go self employed.
I’m so impressed with this. WMBAD and his co-creators – some very smart women – are very talented and there’s a lot of research behind what they do – presented very lightly. More More!
I’ve recently done a much more earnest thing – an article to cover the same topic of truth and truthiness by way of reference to John Strachey who was one of the founders of the UK Left Book Club which was publishing in the 1930’s and 40s in the UK. He wrote during the Blitz of ‘ a faith to fight for ‘ which for him consisted of a commitment to the truth to be an essential part of any life worth living.
http://www.publicgood.org.nz/2016/08/30/a-new-ethics-for-the-public-realm-lessons-from-the-second-world-war/
love that truth and truthiness, sort like having teeth and not having any teeth ,or will, or brains to see thru the Crosby Textor 6 guns deception of actually how powerful and effective a one party majority can be with the right lies and and ability to keep its leader in everyones face without him actually doing anything to reduce the burden he has placed on its citizens to keep working to pay for his fuckups and then go and ego bolster himself and stand on the head of the former PM at the UN supposedly adding much needed support for her bid at the job
But we cant get him to reduce the national debt that his sort owe
And we have to PAY FOR IT
Truthiness defined
Yes, but also the positive side. I can’t help thinking the growing cynicism is starting to formulate itself into something much more useful. Informed, immune to spin and exploratory – people keen to discover on their own terms what will be good for themselves, the environment, the country and the world and its not what we have had for the last many years. The excitement and exploration at events like the recent OS//OS or Festival for the Future and the creativity of WMBAD and others are examples of this.
When White Man Behind A Desk makes an appearance, you know the day can only get better ~ more clarity & less subterfuge! XOXOXXX