Search Results

  1. Guest Post – What is wrong with the left?

    Written By:  Guest post -  Date published: 8:24 am, January 10th, 2020 -  168 comments
    Categories: education, health, Left, Media, Unions, workers' rights
    Tags: ,

    Guest post from old maaaaate cans about recent Stuff guest columns attacking the left for not civilised enough and wondering if it is because of right wing insecurity.

     

  2. T’was the day of Christmas

    Written By:  mickysavage -  Date published: 10:37 am, December 26th, 2019 -  13 comments
    Categories: internet, jacinda ardern, Media, national, same old national, social media lolz, twitter
    Tags:

    National’s social media team spent Christmas day deleting tweets suggesting there was any link between its MPs and members of the #turnardern campaign.

  3. The British Election result 2019

    Written By:  nickkelly -  Date published: 11:05 am, December 20th, 2019 -  21 comments
    Categories: boris johnson, democratic participation, electoral systems, International, Jeremy Corbyn, MMP, Politics, uk politics
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    Democracy is a precious thing, and not something that can be taken for granted. Having an electoral system where every vote matters is crucial to creating a decent society. It is time that the UK started seriously debating electoral reform and how to improve its democratic systems.

  4. How to counter angry boomer campaigns

    Written By:  mickysavage -  Date published: 8:15 am, December 17th, 2019 -  154 comments
    Categories: australian politics, boris johnson, democratic participation, Dirty Politics, Donald Trump, election 2020, elections, jacinda ardern, Jeremy Corbyn, Politics, uk politics, uncategorized
    Tags:

    The UK election was won not by Russian bots but by older voters with limited technical skills circulating poorly designed ads.  What can be done in New Zealand to counter what is clearly a right wing campaign tactic?

  5. Listening to left wing dissent

    Written By:  weka -  Date published: 7:10 am, December 16th, 2019 -  178 comments
    Categories: Brexit, community democracy, democratic participation, Left, uk politics
    Tags: , ,

    What stands out for me are the voices of the people who are saying actually, there were solid reasons for abandoning Labour, this is why I did. There’s something important here about really listening to dissent and being willing to engage with views that don’t make sense in the context of our own personal ideologies.

  6. Pop Media Bullshit – another example.

    Written By:  Bill -  Date published: 9:24 am, December 11th, 2019 -  10 comments
    Categories: Bernie Sanders, elections, Jeremy Corbyn, journalism, making shit up, Media, Propaganda, uk politics, us politics
    Tags: , , ,

    It’s said that in times of war, the first casualty is truth. Well, since truth is taking such a pummeling these days, it follows that we are at war, no?

  7. Right wing lies

    Written By:  mickysavage -  Date published: 8:29 am, December 6th, 2019 -  110 comments
    Categories: making shit up, Media, national, same old national, spin, the praiseworthy and the pitiful, uk politics, you couldn't make this shit up
    Tags: ,

    New Zealand and the United Kingdom are both cursed with the right wing parties having the same advisors and similar means of campaigning

  8. Time to become a republic

    Written By:  mickysavage -  Date published: 8:09 am, December 5th, 2019 -  85 comments
    Categories: Donald Trump, Parliament, uk politics, uncategorized
    Tags:

    There are indications that Elizabeth the UK Queen may stand down from her office in the next two years. That may be the perfect time for Aotearoa New Zealand to cast aside constitutional provisions based on heredity and become constitutionally independent of the old country.

  9. Labour Conference

    Written By:  advantage -  Date published: 7:10 am, November 30th, 2019 -  97 comments
    Categories: election 2020, housing, jacinda ardern, labour, poverty
    Tags:

    It’s a weird moment for the Labour Party at Conference this weekend.

  10. Just another typical week in US politics

    Written By:  mickysavage -  Date published: 9:50 am, November 17th, 2019 -  38 comments
    Categories: Donald Trump, Media, Russia, spin, uncategorized, us politics, you couldn't make this shit up
    Tags:

    The last week in US politics has seen the Trump Impeachment Hearing go public, Trump confidant Roger Stone convicted of lying to Congress, Alex Jones ask for the Presidential pardon to be used to free him, and details revealed of multiple meetings between Trump and Igor Fruman and Lev Parnas who are charged with campaign rule violations. Trump says he does not know them. Just another week in the Trump Presidency …

  11. Learning to win fast

    Written By:  mickysavage -  Date published: 7:45 am, November 12th, 2019 -  53 comments
    Categories: australian politics, climate change, Environment, science, the praiseworthy and the pitiful, uncategorized
    Tags: , , ,

    While Australia burns its conservative politicians still refuse to accept the enormity of the climate crisis and are acting to hinder and prevent measures that need to be taken to address what is a clear threat to the country’s future.

  12. National’s fundamentals

    Written By:  weka -  Date published: 7:15 am, November 6th, 2019 -  87 comments
    Categories: Christopher Luxon, election 2020, national
    Tags: ,

    Are National parachuting in a fundamentalist Christian as a Prime Minister hopeful?

  13. Small start to inflated bullshit.

    Written By:  lprent -  Date published: 11:05 am, October 29th, 2019 -  14 comments
    Categories: articles, blogs, Kelvin Davis, Media, Politics, uncategorized
    Tags: , , , , , , ,

    I was reading one of Chris Trotters reflections which looked at the Corrections Amendment Bill 2018, that just passed its 3rd reading. “Putting The Check In Right-Wing Prisoners’ Mail”. It sounded odd and oddly lacked detail. I came to the conclusion taking press releases at face value without thinking was a very bad idea.

  14. Farmers given a chance. I think National will screw it up for them.

    Written By:  lprent -  Date published: 8:11 am, October 24th, 2019 -  21 comments
    Categories: bill english, Economy, jacinda ardern, Judith Collins, nz first, politicans, Politics
    Tags: , , ,

    One of the less endearing traits of National is their ability to screw almost anything up for short-term advantage regardless how it impacts long-term. Usually this comes from the results of in-fighting within the party. The agricultural emissions deal is likely to get caught again.

  15. Burning down the house

    Written By:  mickysavage -  Date published: 5:03 pm, October 15th, 2019 -  28 comments
    Categories: australian politics, climate change, Donald Trump, national, Politics, same old national, science, uk politics, uncategorized, us politics
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    Why is it that conservative politicians throughout the world engage in rhetorical attacks on laws that in many situations actually serve important purposes?

  16. One News Colmar Brunton Poll Oct 2019

    Written By:  te reo putake -  Date published: 6:21 pm, October 14th, 2019 -  121 comments
    Categories: class war, economy, greens, jacinda ardern, labour, Media, national, nz first, political parties, Politics, Simon Bridges
    Tags: ,

    The October TV One/Colmar Brunton poll is out. Like yesterday’s devastating TV3 poll result showing National not waving, but drowning, today’s poll confirms that NZ is still heading toward an historic Labour/Green Government, despite the Tories flirting with numbers in the high fifties.

    UPDATE: Some weirdness with the numbers: they add up to 101% and 47% does not actually give National 60 seats, so the ‘Poll Says National Can Govern’ headlines are a wee bit optimistic.  TRP.

  17. John Key 2.0

    Written By:  mickysavage -  Date published: 7:00 am, October 11th, 2019 -  120 comments
    Categories: election 2020, elections, john key, national, same old national
    Tags: ,

    Chris Luxon has announced he will be seeking National’s nomination for the Botany seat next year.  john Key is pleased.  But Jami Lee-Ross is not … Update: Nor is Matthew Hooton …

  18. Fonterra, again

    Written By:  advantage -  Date published: 9:15 am, September 29th, 2019 -  24 comments
    Categories: climate change, Economy, Environment, farming, Free Trade, global warming, Globalisation, trade, uncategorized
    Tags:

    Why New Zealand – and its government – need to engage much harder about Fonterra.

  19. Battery power gets way more interesting

    Written By:  lprent -  Date published: 10:10 am, September 27th, 2019 -  35 comments
    Categories: Economy, tech industry
    Tags: , , , , , ,

    Anyone who has been around tech for the last couple of decades will be aware of the liberating and industry disruptive effect of batteries. This caught my attention – “Tesla May Have Invented a Million-Mile Electric Car Battery”. It was well worth the read.

  20. An example Single Transferable Vote ballot

    How to vote in STV

    Written By:  Matthew Whitehead -  Date published: 12:15 pm, September 26th, 2019 -  21 comments
    Categories: local body elections
    Tags: ,

    It’s local voting time again, and more councils are using STV- while the Electoral Commission will tell you how to rank candidates, they won’t tell you how to vote effectively. Should you leave candidates off your list if you know what relative order they would go in?

  21. Climate choices

    Written By:  weka -  Date published: 7:15 am, September 24th, 2019 -  16 comments
    Categories: climate change
    Tags: , , ,

    There’s good news and there’s bad news in the landmark United in Science report.

  22. The Race to be the Democratic Party’s Presidential nominee

    Written By:  Bill -  Date published: 7:35 am, September 17th, 2019 -  38 comments
    Categories: elections, International, Left, liberalism, social democracy, the praiseworthy and the pitiful, us politics
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    Breaking it down.

  23. How This Government Can Still Win

    Written By:  advantage -  Date published: 8:13 am, September 16th, 2019 -  91 comments
    Categories: economy, education, election 2020, elections, grant robertson, jacinda ardern, labour, police, sport, tax, tertiary education, uncategorized
    Tags:

    Some suggestions on how Labour can retain power at the next election.

  24. The Far Right’s Winning Narrative Superiority

    Written By:  advantage -  Date published: 10:43 am, September 7th, 2019 -  132 comments
    Categories: australian politics, boris johnson, Donald Trump, Politics, uk politics, us politics
    Tags:

    Why is the right winning so many elections?

  25. China Becomes Fascist

    Written By:  advantage -  Date published: 12:52 pm, August 26th, 2019 -  42 comments
    Categories: China, democracy under attack, International
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    Those who see fascism emerging under Trump can observe the full modern version in action now in Hong Kong’s contest of protesters with the Chinese government.

  26. National still does not get MMP

    Written By:  mickysavage -  Date published: 8:23 am, August 14th, 2019 -  62 comments
    Categories: making shit up, national, same old national, Simon Bridges, spin, the praiseworthy and the pitiful, uncategorized, you couldn't make this shit up
    Tags: ,

    National has shown that it does not understand MMP by being overly concerned that some electorates may be slightly bigger or smaller than other electorates.

  27. Taking out the trash – Whaleoil site sold to Blomfield

    Written By:  lprent -  Date published: 2:29 pm, August 9th, 2019 -  67 comments
    Categories: blogs, books, crime, David Farrar, dpf, Media, police, Social issues, uncategorized
    Tags: , , , , , ,

    Matt Blomfield has brought the Whaleoil site from the official assignee. This fulfills a long held wish of, not only Matt, but a whole pile of people that this arsehole-run paid-for defamation lying site have damaged over the years. Chapter 27 of the Margie Thompson’s Whale Oil book is now available online…

  28. Arnhem Land and Ihumātao

    Written By:  advantage -  Date published: 8:28 am, August 5th, 2019 -  44 comments
    Categories: auckland supercity, australian politics, Maori Issues
    Tags:

    A Recent High Court decision in Australia suggests that protection of indigenous land rights may be better than we think.

  29. Simon – only good at the bottom of a cliff

    Written By:  lprent -  Date published: 8:03 am, July 31st, 2019 -  78 comments
    Categories: health, politicans, Politics, Simon Bridges, Social issues
    Tags: ,

    The interview between Jack Tame and  Simon Bridges was revealing. Circumlocutions and the wheedling of a conniving prosecutor around the National party hypocrisy over cancer drugs. Making a token amount towards funding super-expensive cancer drugs – but don’t want to deal with root causes or prevention of cancer? It beggars belief that this fool is a politician.

  30. Ihumātao

    Written By:  mickysavage -  Date published: 7:32 am, July 31st, 2019 -  119 comments
    Categories: auckland supercity, national, nick smith, uncategorized
    Tags:

    The background to the Ihumatao dispute is complex and problematic and resolving it may require the Government to review issues relating to privately held land and treaty claims.

  31. lumos helmet

    Watching the rain radar

    Written By:  lprent -  Date published: 8:46 am, July 16th, 2019 -  35 comments
    Categories: Environment, transport
    Tags: ,

    Of all of the inventions that currently make riding bikes safer and more convenient in urban environments, I’d have to say that the rain radar would be number four on my list.