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Politics

Posts on government and governence at national and local level, political parties,politicians, and political participation

Categories under Politics

Upcoming Conflict Between Justice and Politics in the United States

Written By: - Date published: 8:08 am, November 8th, 2022 - 12 comments

Unlike even Brazil’s election and transition of power, events are going to make the full restoration of functioning democracy in the United States very, very hard and starting soon.

Kelvin Davis – if not now then when?

Written By: - Date published: 7:52 am, November 7th, 2022 - 32 comments

The text of an excellent speech given by Kelvin Davis to the Labour Party conference on climate change.

Democracy is on the Ballot – watershed US midterms this week.

Written By: - Date published: 1:46 am, November 7th, 2022 - 3 comments

At a campaign event last week President Biden said that in these mid-term elections “democracy is on the ballot”. This is absolutely true, and the outcome will be decided by those who show up to vote.

Jacinda Ardern to National – Bring It On

Written By: - Date published: 3:46 pm, November 6th, 2022 - 157 comments

Text and video of Jacinda Ardern’s speech today to the Labour Party Annual Conference.

National’s relentless negativity

Written By: - Date published: 11:33 am, November 5th, 2022 - 86 comments

National’s recent press releases show that its approach to politics will be relentlessly negative, with no idea of what it will do as an alternative or how it will fund changes.

In praise of Michael Hudson

Written By: - Date published: 3:32 pm, November 3rd, 2022 - 39 comments

82-year old polymath Michael Hudson is my favourite economist. He currently lectures in China to million-strong audiences. His latest book is The Destiny of Civilisation: Finance Capitalism, Industrial Capitalism or Socialism. His latest article is well worth a read.

Is it fair for the PM to get a weekly tax cut of $349 while a minimum wage worker would receive only $2.15?

Written By: - Date published: 11:46 am, November 2nd, 2022 - 148 comments

Chris Luxon has avoided answering this question so far but he needs to be asked continuously about it.  Is it fair that he as Prime Minister would receive under National’s proposed tax cuts a tax cut of $349 per week while a minimum wage worker would receive only $2.15 per week

National has gone full woke

Written By: - Date published: 8:39 pm, November 1st, 2022 - 22 comments

Remember this scene from the Tauranga by election?  National has decided it will not be repeated by ensuring that it has no potential white male candidates for the Hamilton West by election.

The use of rumour as a political weapon

Written By: - Date published: 8:59 am, November 1st, 2022 - 26 comments

US conservative figures are downplaying the right’s involvement in a hammer attack on Nancy Pelosi’s husband by spreading completely unfounded rumours.  And in Aotearoa rumours continue to be spread about Jacinda Ardern’s pending resignation despite her repeatedly ruling this out.  Clearly some see the use of rumours as a valid political weapon even if they are based on complete falsehoods.

The most important election in the world this year

Written By: - Date published: 8:40 am, October 31st, 2022 - 25 comments

With the future of the Amazon rain forest at stake the people of Brazil go to the polls today to vote on who will be their next President in an election that may profoundly affect the world’s future.

Greens: proposal to tax excess corporate profits

Written By: - Date published: 1:14 pm, October 30th, 2022 - 46 comments

“An excess profit tax would be a simple and effective way for large corporations to pay their fair share, unlocking the resources all of us need to live with dignity, put a roof over our heads and food on the table,” says Green Party Finance spokesperson, Julie Anne Genter.

“Today, we have released a discussion document exploring how an excess profit tax could be designed – and how the additional revenue should be spent. We are also considering the alternative of raising company tax rates so that all profits are taxed more.”

Male privilege is a fragile thing

Written By: - Date published: 8:15 am, October 28th, 2022 - 22 comments

Golriz Ghahraman wanted Parliament to condemn the Iranian Government’s oppression of women’s rights.  David Seymour moved to block the motion because Golriz had raised points of order against him during a previous speech.  Fancy putting your hurt feelings in front of making a statement of support and principle.

Fair Pay Agreements: Thank you Helen and thank you Michael

Written By: - Date published: 10:14 am, October 27th, 2022 - 43 comments

Yesterday was a big day for the Progressive movement in Aotearoa New Zealand as the Fair Pay Agreements Bill made its way through Parliament.  Many should be thanked but especially Michael Wood and Helen Kelly.

Bruce’s Reckons: The increased speculation about Chris Luxon quitting

Written By: - Date published: 8:45 pm, October 25th, 2022 - 109 comments

Leader of the Opposition Christopher Luxon turned up to Parliament today and his media spin doctors will be hoping for some good photo opportunities to lift his popularity. But they will be asking a lot.

Labour day

Written By: - Date published: 12:34 pm, October 24th, 2022 - 13 comments

Enjoying your weekend? Thank a unionist!

What are National’s constituent tribes?

Written By: - Date published: 10:06 am, October 23rd, 2022 - 25 comments

Russ Jones has described the five tribes of the UK Conservative Party as including One Nation Conservatives, xenophobic English nationalists, wild-eyed libertarians, scatty populist bullshitters and machine politicians.

The lettuce won

Written By: - Date published: 8:19 am, October 21st, 2022 - 20 comments

Over in the UK Liz Truss has bowed to the inevitable and has announced her resignation as leader of the Conservative Party.

Wayne Brown’s letters

Written By: - Date published: 8:52 am, October 20th, 2022 - 50 comments

Wayne Brown (or is that Matthew Hooton) has over the past few days released a series of letters that are astonishing in their audacity.  His latest on transport proposes business as usual at a time when dramatic change is required.

 

Sharma Sharma Sharma Sharma Sharma Chameleon

Written By: - Date published: 8:31 am, October 19th, 2022 - 74 comments

Gaurav Sharma has announced his immediate resignation from Parliament and that he will contest the by election as leader of a new centrist party.  He also claims that the Government was going to waka jump him six months from the next election but unless National agrees this is impossible.

The Auckland Mayor’s powers

Written By: - Date published: 9:29 am, October 18th, 2022 - 72 comments

Wayne Brown has by Mayoral decree ordered Watercare to stop working on the Three Waters reform.  But he should take legal advice because his decree has absolutely no legal force.

What conflict of interest

Written By: - Date published: 9:58 am, October 16th, 2022 - 19 comments

National’s attacks on Nanaia Mahuta for conflicts of interest have suffered a major blow after National MP Barbara Kuriger was forced to resign her portfolios for using official letterhead to harass MPI officials.

Sunflower | Oil

Written By: - Date published: 6:05 am, October 16th, 2022 - 81 comments

Van Gogh and Picasso as climate action targets. Destroying beauty is an act of self harm. On one level it’s wrong, but when we are desperate, it’s also an act of power.

Minister Robertson, UK Pensions, and Risk

Written By: - Date published: 9:44 am, October 15th, 2022 - 19 comments

The political question is whether Kiwis currently losing money on paper can remember this: all investment involves risk and it’s entirely fair for our government to only manage so much of that risk and for the rest to fall on us the investor. Will irrational anxiety beat rational risk in our upcoming politics?

Too Old For Politics

Written By: - Date published: 12:00 pm, October 13th, 2022 - 37 comments

Can you be too old to represent your people? New Zealand’s oldest person to first get elected was William Cargill at 71. Australia’ s John Howard was 68 when he retired, and Robert Menzies was 72 when he retired as Prime Minister. The previous US president is now 76 and will likely run again in […]

Climate change: I think that we are f&*ked

Written By: - Date published: 11:02 am, October 13th, 2022 - 88 comments

This week the Government announced plans to bring in a scheme for pricing farming emissions in 2025.  National’s response suggests the prospects of political consensus are non existent.

We needed Wayne Brown

Written By: - Date published: 2:01 pm, October 11th, 2022 - 81 comments

The left and the Ardern government need to start appreciating the new Auckland mayor.

RNZ, Three Waters and partisan commentary

Written By: - Date published: 11:43 am, October 11th, 2022 - 55 comments

rnz logo

Yesterday on Radio New Zealand’s Political Commentator’s show Bridget Morten said that three waters is a toxic thing for the Government but then declared that her law firm represents a group currently taking the Government to Court over three waters.  Should such clearly partisan views be given expression by RNZ?

The people have spoken

Written By: - Date published: 8:21 am, October 10th, 2022 - 147 comments

The people have spoken and with appallingly low turnout levels grumpy campaigns have succeeded and Auckland and other areas have moved to the right.

Local Government election results

Written By: - Date published: 1:52 pm, October 8th, 2022 - 256 comments

Live updates and discussion post

Own our future

Written By: - Date published: 8:48 am, October 6th, 2022 - 43 comments

This year’s Local Government election is reaching a critical stage.  And it is vital to get the right people elected.  Please make sure that your families and friends vote for progressive candidates.  Your kids and your grandkids futures depend on it.

Sometimes in our quest for what is perfect we forget what has been achieved

Written By: - Date published: 11:40 am, October 3rd, 2022 - 36 comments

A list of improvements in workers’ rights that Labour has been able to achieve since gaining power in 2017.