Open Mike 28/09/25
Open Mike 28/09/25
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6:00 am, September 28th, 2025 - 20 comments
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Today's Posts (updated through the day):
The Government wants to cheat the next election result
https://www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/360836161/corporate-new-zealand-has-written-administration
You know national are stuffed if grant, is supporting chippie
Damien Grant is who Treasury wrote their forecast for.
Those who lack expertise in economics.
The neo liberal budget crisis mode got us into a recession. More of it, is not better.
Growth is the way to go.
His support for C Hipkins is mere gaslighting of National for restraint on ACT.
The future big deficits and debt blowout is based on inaction.
Labour and National could agree on
A
1.increasing the age of super to 70 by 2050.
2035-2038 66 2038- 2041 67 etc.
2.paying those not working 65-70 super rate benefits (to reduce hardship)
B
a 1% tax surcharge dedicated to health care wealth fund to provide for future health care costs for those over age 65
C
a 1% mortgage surcharge on landlord mortgages (excluding new builds) and place the money into a fund for Kainga Ora – income related rent over 65, disability housing, emergency housing, transition housing, old age care villages etc.
Governance is not hard if the partisanship and catering to lobbying is removed.
Excellent ideas. I can see the majority being OK with a 1% tax surcharge if we have a full guarantee it will always go to the public health system. Even at the bottom of the heap, I would happily pay it. Workers already pay a surcharge for ACC.
Likewise, C. Although I would anticipate serious blowback.
We have been conditioned over 40 years to believe any and all tax is bad, and theft. And too many people have fallen for it, given the number of people who vote for tax cuts.
I disagree, governing NZ is terribly complex and difficult and a ‘wicked problem’ par excellence. Unfortunately, some mediocre middle-managers arrogantly believe that they can do a ‘decent’ job but inevitably make a hash of it. They’re products of a well-honed conditioning process (through upbringing & education) and therefore captured by might & money. Further, to get & stay in positions of power & influence they pander to party hierarchy, demonstrate preferential treatment of already-privileged groups & sectors in NZ society that can afford influential lobby firms in a pseudo-democratic way, and curry favour with elites (e.g., techno-oligarchs, royalty, celebrities, etc.).
As I said, if the partisanship and catering to lobbying is removed.
Some say why governance is so hard and so expect no better and some say why not have higher expectations.
If one was to call the status quo, system capture, then the people (the ones being governed) need liberation from it.
The perception there is a governing class, that is the problem, is widespread in nation state politics around the globe. It does not seem to be unique to New Zealand.
As per long term planning and systematic problems, there is a need to identify a problem that is beyond normal politics and create a bi-partisan process.
1.Economic – demographics.
2.Society – UNDRIP compliance.
Governing is hard and we must strive for better or else we go backwards. Expectations come from realistic alternatives that offer hope and a roadmap to a future that always will have a level of uncertainty – ignoring this fact is delusionary and irrational and accepting it is liberation.
Agree.
Our power system gets more concentrated every decade, wealth follows, and Parliament's scope for change ever narrower.
There's no fast reform road now, no possible revolution.
The argument for acceptance, which is why there is global discontent in political parties.
National and Ardern signed together on comprehensive housing reform.
Luxon tore it up.
It will be a long long time before cross-party agreements occur again.
The proposals above are not ones that would be walked away from easily.
That is one withering column.
In service to more neo-liberalism, not less.
It is an ACT libertarian disassociating himself from this governments failures.
This covers the economy better, simply by being honest.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/360836220/nicola-willis-talks-us-were-twits
Make America Gross Again:
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/sep/27/pga-silent-after-ryder-cup-mc-leads-foul-mouthed-chants-abusing-rory-mcilroy
The European team responded in the best way possible. Big lead.
Trump was their bad luck omen and brought out the worst in dechambeau. JT alone among usa showed some manners.
Just as well …. wasn't looking good for a time, but they did ultimately Make America Groan Again.
Given the PLO boss says they accept demilitarisation, as a condition for a two state peace, this seems unlikely.
The shift from because of Hamas, to even without Hamas.
The art of saying, if Palestinians are between “Valdimor” and his ambition, then Palestinians and their nationalism needs to be dehumanised/impugned.
One can also observe the Knesset vote to claim sovereignty over the West Bank in violation of international law.
And the constant taking of land for Jewish settlement in the occupied territory.
Posing any group organising any resistance to this, as reason why there should not be a Palestinian state is the practice of distortion.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/574386/israel-s-ambassador-to-nz-offers-winston-peters-praise-after-palestinian-state-announcement
Disclaimer
I once stated that leaving Gaza would be a trial for leaving the West Bank (disengagement).
Unfortunately Hamas took over Gaza, but not all Palestinians are Hamas.
Hamas did not recognise Israel and when it posed a half recognition – it was as a temporary one in which right of return would undermine the Jewish state (assisted by an armed Palestinian state).