Open Mike 12/08/25
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6:00 am, August 12th, 2025 - 21 comments
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Today's Posts (updated through the day):
Ani O’Brien’s weird take on homelessness
Helen Clark on Palestine
New Post up:
Ani O’Brien’s weird take on homelessness
New Post up:
Helen Clark on Palestine
fascist Trump in control of Amerika
“Trump says he will take control of Washington DC police, deploy National Guard to US capital
President Donald Trump said he was putting Washington's police department under federal control and ordering the National Guard to deploy to the nation's capital to combat what he said was a wave of lawlessness, despite statistics showing that violent crime hit a 30-year low in 2024.
The Republican president has dismissed criticism that he is manufacturing a crisis to justify expanding presidential authority in a heavily Democratic city.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/world/569658/trump-says-he-will-take-control-of-washington-dc-police-deploy-national-guard-to-us-capital”
An earlier warning about fascist Trump..
“As Election Nears, Kelly Warns Trump Would Rule Like a Dictator”
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/10/22/us/politics/john-kelly-trump-fitness-character.html
I wonder what his NZ maga acolyte/fan base (Shame Jones, et al ) will make of this?
Quite likely they will cheer Mango Mussolini on.
Fascism is bubbling under here too, the “would be if they could be” Destiny bully boys, the Atlas Networks, Groundswell etc. and even a neo nazi running in local Govt. Elections.
IMO..some maybe not quite publicly supporting Trump fascism (yet), but I agree. I did see an RNZ article about a particular character..with his blackshirt supporters?
You might well have noted a very strange bunch raising their outstretched arms for current Council/Local body Elections..Seems its probably NZ wide
Also note mate, Murray Chong (confederate flag fan ?)
He's a rebel…
Yes, there is quite a motley crew around the country, they take their dress code and symbolism seriously this lot…including Chong and his slave flag–which even NASCAR finally fully banned in 2020.
https://www.espn.com/racing/nascar/story/_/id/29294475/the-confederate-flag-gone-nascar-races-miss-second
Convicted white supremacist standing for Chch Mayoralty…
https://www.odt.co.nz/star-news/star-christchurch/white-supremacist-philip-arps-makes-chch-mayoral-bid
Small government and going for growth in the private sector …
The citizen faces low MW rises, no support for the non working partner when they lose their job. No Fair Pay Agreement (Industry Awards), no pay equity. A near zero multi-year pay round for teachers and nurses.
Meanwhile water, insurance, power and rates costs go up.
It's as if no one understands the role of consumption in the economy.
It is as if extract as much profit from the economy to capital/shareholders (many foreign) and the local rentier support base is their guiding ideology.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/business/569680/one-in-five-businesses-reporting-losses
And despite it all stay healthy.
When Actoids and others witter on and continue to repeat the age old cliche "it's the economy stupid" I like to ask the question "what is the economy for anyway?"
My short answer, after they have fluffed about, is this:
"To provide the greatest good, to the greatest number, over the longest time". If it is not reaching those goals, then it is a failing economy.
To paraphrase Rod Carr, not exactly a socialist, “when thousands of willing workers are unable to find paid employment it is surely a failure of the market and our society”
Audrey avoiding talking about the government.
A puff piece on Mark Mitchell. Is she out of ideas, or flying a Mitchell flag?
https://archive.li/pRXIn
Unlikely shes out of promotional ideas for the family party.
Tick, tock, Luxton:
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/business/569680/one-in-five-businesses-reporting-losses
https://www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/360774495/new-zealander-lives-here-bob-sleeps-sitting-upright-his-single-cab-ute-hes-64
Suspect a few knives are on the sharpening stone. I hope simeon brown is elected national leader. Such an odious unlikeable little man. The more the public see of him the more reasons they have to dislike him. Stanford is the dark horse. Bishop would be the unpretentious caretaker leader. Willis not a likeable option, though probably more likeable than simeon
Farrar watch:
The kind face of expansionist Zionism in NZ, David Farrar, is pimping a New York Post (gawd) article about a New York Times article featuring malnourished Palestinian child Muhammad Zakariya Ayyoub al-Matouq.
Israeli supremacists like Farrar, and the monster responsible for 60,000+ deaths in Gaza (corrupt Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu), and their devoted followers, are using this boy's plight to distract from illegal and murderous Zionist policies.
Have they asked themselves why starving a sick child is somehow a defence of starving the rest of the population?
Someone made this.
🇳🇿 NZ RUC vs Fuel Excise Tax Calculator
See how the new RUC system affects petrol vehicle owners
[…]
https://what-will-rucs-cost-me.netlify.app/
What I think will be a strong vote winner for a left block coalition – policy to 'get a third supermarket chain into NZ, or if that isnt possible break up the existing 2 chains'. Maybe 18 months for a third chain to emerge and if not have legislation ready to go to break up 2 existing chains. Explain clearly to voters it may not be a smooth easy process, there will be opposition and squealing from some quarters. Innoculate voters from the get go so when things hit turbulence we have been warned about it.
Whether this is the best thing for nz or not is not my point. Political decisions and whats best can be seperate things, example Nicola Willis putting all the climate change money into her irresponsible tax cuts and buggering any moves to cut GHGs.
In regards to my statement on Chloe Swarbrick;
Here she once again demonstrates moral certitude:
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/569745/greens-co-leader-chloe-swarbrick-barred-from-parliament-for-rest-of-week-after-gaza-speech
Good on her.
Less about Swarbrick but more this whole political 'game'. I was watching 6 pm news on 3 and the item on UK, France, Aus recognising Palestine came up. There's PM Mr Thumb talking about independent foreign policy this, cabinet considering that etc.
There is nothing independent about or (in)actions over the horror in Palestine. Too meek, wanting to please Daddy US, waiting for big brother and cousins in Aus and UK to act, it's embarrassing.
While a referendum is probably overreach, it's depressing that, as a nation, this lot stare at their navels rather than be decisive. More galling that a margin of error party could have undue sway in whatever our mealy mouthed pollies come up with.
And in regards to my comments about political strategy and communications: that is how you do it.
Clear, calm, and cutting. No handwringing. No ambiguity. Just looking the gutless pricks in the eye and daring them to come for her.
No matter what the coalition or the Speaker say or do now, it’s either a hasty capitulation to the Greens, or a blatant doubling down on abusing Parliament’s rules to stop Chloe from doing her job of holding them to account.
And the “happily”? Chef’s kiss.
Different situation & audience. A good communicator adapts their message/messaging to the environment they’re in, as you pointed out today under the other Post.