Search Results

  1. How low will they go?

    Written By:  James Henderson -  Date published: 11:53 am, February 20th, 2012 -  11 comments
    Categories: privatisation
    Tags:

    The Nats are looking to Queensland for lessons in privatisation. They want to see how incentives for locals to hold on to their shares work. But you don’t pay for incentives with magic beans. Any incentives for the few locals who can afford to buy shares just means a diminished return to the government, making the economic and fiscal rationale for selling even weaker.

  2. Don’t celebrate too soon

    Written By:  Zetetic -  Date published: 7:34 am, February 17th, 2012 -  63 comments
    Categories: brand key, election 2014, greens, labour, national
    Tags:

    National’s in retreat on every front. Its had to break its economic promises, again. Asset sales are a disaster. Ministers are exposed over the Crafar Farms, NZ on Air, and DJ Key affairs. The media’s gone off Key ever since he declared war on them. The bad stories that were getting nowhere a year ago now keep rolling. Even Mallard’s boorishness can’t halt National’s slide. But don’t celebrate too soon.

  3. VUW Post-election Conference

    Written By:  Mike Smith -  Date published: 9:37 pm, February 16th, 2012 -  9 comments
    Categories: uncategorized
    Tags:

    The best contribution by far IMHO at today’s VUW post-election conference in Legislative Chamber, held under Chatham House rules, came from Colin James.  True to Colin, his paper is public, with much food for thought. My comments here too.

  4. Disgusted by the Poor

    Written By:  Bunji -  Date published: 7:40 pm, February 16th, 2012 -  46 comments
    Categories: articles, uk politics
    Tags:

    “The idea that ultimately the poor must help themselves as social mobility grinds to a halt is illogical; it is based on a faith for which there is scant evidence. Yet it is the one thing that has genuinely ‘trickled down’ from the wealthy, so that many people without much themselves continue to despise those who are on a lower rung.”

  5. Tax-take bullshit

    Written By:  lprent -  Date published: 11:26 am, January 2nd, 2012 -  104 comments
    Categories: tax, welfare
    Tags:

    An earlier post by Mike Smith on inequality referred to a claim by Geoff Vincent that 12% of the taxpayers were paying 49% of the the taxes. Now this was patently a spinners interpolation on the tax data and shouldn’t be part of the debate.. A comment by DH has a look at that bullshit. […]

  6. Shearer’s Address in Reply

    Written By:  Eddie -  Date published: 11:59 am, December 18th, 2011 -  97 comments
    Categories: david shearer
    Tags:

    David Shearer’s brand is of a new kind of politician. Not burdened by the old rivalries, he is touted as the man that can move New Zealand forwards – a consensus-builder rather than a scarred old warrior. The weekend media coverage has been excellent. His Address in Reply this week will consolidate his brand. Here is what I would say if I were him.

  7. What we need more of is science

    Written By:  Ben Clark -  Date published: 6:42 pm, December 15th, 2011 -  22 comments
    Categories: climate change, radio, science
    Tags: , ,

    There was a very good science piece on Nine-to-Noon this morning, covering some of Kathryn Ryan’s trip to Antarctica. It got me thinking: we need a lot more science in our media – we’d get a better country out of it.

  8. Petty politics as usual on poverty

    Written By:  Anthony R0bins -  Date published: 2:33 pm, December 15th, 2011 -  37 comments
    Categories: class war, david shearer, john key, poverty
    Tags: ,

    Key is playing petty politics as usual on poverty. He should have accepted Shearer’s call for a cross party process and his offer of help on the new “ministerial poverty committee”.

  9. The big win

    Written By:  Eddie -  Date published: 11:22 am, December 12th, 2011 -  41 comments
    Categories: privatisation, united future
    Tags:

    The new government comprises the same parties as the previous one: National, ACT, United Future, and the Maori Party but with 64 votes, not 69. The governing parties’ total vote fell from 51.84% to 50.41%. Even the narrower Nat+ACT bloc fell. National’s ‘big win’ was just one more seat. And the most powerful man in the country now? Peter Dunne.

  10. Right-wing Herald element goes OTT

    Written By:  Mike Smith -  Date published: 8:29 pm, December 10th, 2011 -  61 comments
    Categories: national/act government, privatisation, schools
    Tags:

    John Armstrong’s column today – not yet on website – is extraordinary. “Elements on the left cried wolf about National having a secret agenda” Armstrong’s faux outrage is generated by the fact that National’s charter schools policy was not part of any election mandate, and some people have pointed this out. Funny how people on the left are always “elements” – couldn’t possibly have a mind of their own.

  11. I am going to miss the real Aaron Gilmore

    Written By:  lprent -  Date published: 3:06 pm, December 10th, 2011 -  6 comments
    Categories: parody, Satire
    Tags:

    The body of Aaron Gilmore will be leaving Parliament. However the divine rapture of the presence of “Aaron Gilmore for Prime Minister” will linger long after after that pretender to the name has gone.

    Read the wisdom that is Facebook on the blessed one.

  12. The Most Important Economic Speech of His Presidency

    Written By:  notices and features -  Date published: 9:20 am, December 10th, 2011 -  40 comments
    Categories: capitalism, class war, us politics
    Tags: ,

    Truth-Out content is licensed for redistribution, so I’m going to repost this excellent piece in its entirety. It’s long, but it’s worth it.  Is Obama going to grow a pair at last?

  13. Musings on Mana

    Written By:  Guest post -  Date published: 10:49 am, December 7th, 2011 -  22 comments
    Categories: greens, hone harawira, mana, maori party
    Tags: , , , , ,

    David Small offers his views on offers his views on the Mana party effects on left politics in NZ.

    Where to now for progressive electoral politics in Aotearoa?

  14. Charter schools

    Written By:  Anthony R0bins -  Date published: 2:30 pm, December 6th, 2011 -  112 comments
    Categories: act, education, national, schools
    Tags: ,

    Once again, under National, we get to repeat an experiment that failed 20 years ago.  All cooked up on the back of an envelope in a coalition deal.  Education deserves much better.

  15. In praise of David Cunliffe

    Written By:  James Henderson -  Date published: 11:25 am, December 5th, 2011 -  131 comments
    Categories: david cunliffe, david shearer, Economy, energy
    Tags:

    I enjoyed Jenny’s piece the other day on David Shearer’s leadership abilities. His skill at taking the ball and running with it, and doing what he thinks is right. I want to similarly praise David Cunliffe for his leadership in economic thinking. God knows we need someone who gets the problems and the solutions. Cunliffe brings that understanding in droves.

  16. A two horse race

    Written By:  Bunji -  Date published: 6:50 am, December 4th, 2011 -  194 comments
    Categories: david cunliffe, labour
    Tags:

    A tough decision for Labour looms – go for the gamble on the hero, or back the proven performer? (This post should have been on Friday night but got munched by Wordpress…)

  17. Labour should not rush to judgment

    Written By:  Mike Smith -  Date published: 12:36 pm, November 28th, 2011 -  171 comments
    Categories: Annette King, greens, labour, leadership, Left, nz first, phil goff, politicans
    Tags:

    One can understand why John Key is ‘speed dating” to form a one-seat majority in Parliament.  His honeymoon is likely to be a lot shorter in the next term of government. It is quite different for Labour. The caucus would be wise not to rush to decide  who leads Labour into the next election.

  18. Bugger the polls

    Written By:  Anthony R0bins -  Date published: 9:48 am, November 28th, 2011 -  141 comments
    Categories: election 2011, polls, spin
    Tags: , ,

    Pundit’s poll of polls tracked 57 individual polls this year, four of them appearing just a day or so before the election.  Every single poll predicted National with the seats to govern alone.  Didn’t happen.  The polls over estimate Nat support to the tune of about 4%.  They need to rethink their methods.

  19. Ombudspin

    Written By:  Mike Smith -  Date published: 11:17 am, November 27th, 2011 -  22 comments
    Categories: uncategorized
    Tags:

    I agree with Anthony Hubbard in today’s SST “Turning the spin around” – not yet on-line. The most outrageous piece of spin in the election was Chief Ombudsman Beverley Wakem’s justification for allowing the Treasury to refuse to release documents relating to asset sales as requested by TV1, the Greens and Labour. Hubbard calls it a cop-out and a cave-in – he’s right.

  20. How we got where we are

    Written By:  Anthony R0bins -  Date published: 7:35 am, November 24th, 2011 -  39 comments
    Categories: economy, employment, labour, national
    Tags: , ,

    Last election we had a choice between competent economic management and a bunch of hollow promises. We made a poor choice then, and the record shows that we have wasted three years as a result.  Coming up to this election we don’t need more tired Nat excuses, we need solutions. Bring back Labour!

  21. A police recruitment freeze?

    Written By:  IrishBill -  Date published: 9:54 pm, November 23rd, 2011 -  43 comments
    Categories: law
    Tags: , ,

    Phil Goff broke news of the Nat’s plan to freeze police recruitment but keep it quiet until after the election.

    That policy’s at odds with some fundamental Nat claims.

    Update: A freeze on replacement cops would see hundreds fewer on the job after just one year.

  22. The Goldsmith Gambit

    Written By:  Guest post -  Date published: 3:22 pm, November 21st, 2011 -  49 comments
    Categories: act, election 2011, national
    Tags: ,

    This will be one of the dirtiest political and anti-democratic tactics ever designed in NZ history. It has the potential of delivering a second John Key term, gifting Epsom to ACT and of discrediting MMP in one foul swoop: a true Tory Trifecta.

  23. Integrity or hocus pocus

    Written By:  Eddie -  Date published: 9:32 am, November 20th, 2011 -  59 comments
    Categories: climate change, john key
    Tags: , ,

    I have no sympathy for politicians complaining about their ‘private’ political conversations being made public. What politicians say on politics is inherently of public interest. Don’t say different things in private then in public, and you won’t get caught out. It’s a matter of integrity. We can now reveal what John Key really thinks about climate change.

  24. Key’s second credibility downgrade

    Written By:  Anthony R0bins -  Date published: 4:49 pm, November 15th, 2011 -  70 comments
    Categories: brand key, john key, Media
    Tags: , ,

    A lawyer representing victims of the News of the World phone hacking scandal says that Key’s comparing that event to the recorded conversation with Banks is a “cheap shot”, and the recording should be released.  (Good work from 3 News.) How’s Key going to justify gagging the media now?

  25. InvisiNats: Gerry Brownlee

    Written By:  notices and features -  Date published: 12:26 pm, November 15th, 2011 -  7 comments
    Categories: election 2011, Gerry Brownlee, national
    Tags: ,

    Key is avoiding the hard questions, but his photo-op face is everywhere. The rest of the Nats are working hard at being invisible. Let’s bring a little sunlight into that darkness!

    Today’s InvisiNat is Gerry Brownlee.

  26. Treasury on the minimum wage

    Written By:  Anthony R0bins -  Date published: 9:16 am, November 11th, 2011 -  35 comments
    Categories: class war, jobs, minimum wage, unemployment
    Tags: ,

    Labour want to raise the minimum wage to $15.  The Nats say that will cost jobs (they want to lower the minimum wage instead). Documents obtained by 3 News show that Treasury think the Nats are wrong.  A vote for increasing the minimum wage will not cost jobs.

  27. Was it a full moon?

    Written By:  lprent -  Date published: 1:02 pm, November 10th, 2011 -  61 comments
    Categories: don brash, humour, john banks, john key, Satire
    Tags: ,

    Oh hell. My worst fears have been realized. John Key is a wereperson. He is morphing into an incantation of the countries biggest ever political disaster. And talking of other story lines from True Blood. John Banks has been wandering around with the decapitated head of Don Brash.

  28. The greatest threat to Banks: Brash (& that story)

    Written By:  Eddie -  Date published: 10:50 am, November 10th, 2011 -  39 comments
    Categories: act, don brash, john banks, john key
    Tags:

    John Banks says the brand he is campaigning for in Epsom is ‘Brand Key’, not ACT. Epsomites don’t want three-time loser Don Brash but it’s unavoidably true that a vote for Banks is a vote for Brash. This is leading to a further unattractive debacle as Banks tries to distance himself from his leader, who he’s trying to get into parliament.

  29. The new hole in National’s budget

    Written By:  James Henderson -  Date published: 7:24 am, November 10th, 2011 -  99 comments
    Categories: debt / deficit, ETS
    Tags:

    National would get the books back into the black with a $1.5b surplus 2014/15. It’s on their ads, it’s in the PREFU. So, it’s gotta be true, eh? Well, we already know they’ve cooked the books by claiming both that they would have the revenue from asset sales and the dividends from those sold assets. Now, their ETS changes have opened a second great big hole in their budget.

  30. Key lied on health cuts

    Written By:  James Henderson -  Date published: 9:32 am, November 3rd, 2011 -  12 comments
    Categories: election 2011, health, john key
    Tags:

    In the TVNZ debate on Monday, John Key claimed that he had cut ‘back office’ jobs and increased health services.That wasn’t true. The fact is, funding cuts have reduced the capacity of many health services. ‘Front-line’ staff are doing ‘back office’ work as well and everything else is getting squeezed to put more money into ‘sexy’ elective surgery numbers.

  31. Key: tired & bereft of ideas

    Written By:  James Henderson -  Date published: 9:03 am, October 31st, 2011 -  32 comments
    Categories: election 2011, john key, national, privatisation
    Tags:

    So, that was National’s ‘big announcement’tm? Allocating money they’ve already banked into a fund which is just an accounting fiction for capital spending that was already budgeted for. A billion of it over five years to ‘transform’ schools? $80,000 a year per school … of already budgeted spending. Talk about tired and bereft of ideas.

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