I Have A Dream

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The late Paul Newman remains a great hero for me, on and off screen. I admired his acting, applauded his philanthropy and to this day, am inspired by his activism. Here he is at the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom (another hero, Martin Luther KIng is about to give his I Have Dream speech).

When I take to the streets on 4 February to exercise my right to peaceful protest, I too will be marching for Jobs and Freedom. I will be marching for our civil rights: that our vote counts, irrespective of our wealth or race or religion and that we are all subject to equal treatment under the law. I will be marching for our human rights: to find work that pays a living wage to support our families, to breath clean air, to drink clean water, and to have access to affordable healthcare and education.

The TPP’s impact on jobs and freedom in this country will be significant and irrevocable. Back in America in 1963, the issue was white Americans had rights and freedoms not available to black Americans because of the colour of their skin. Under the TPP, because of the content of their wallets, foreign investors will have rights and freedoms not available to ordinary New Zealanders.Then, as now, everyone’s vote should count and the rule of law should apply equally and to all. These are the foundation stones of our democracy.

So on 4 February, I look forward to participating in one of the greatest peaceful protests this country will have ever seen. Were he alive today, I like to think Paul would be doing the same.

37 COMMENTS

  1. “to find work that pays a living wage to support our families”

    Plenty of those about, but careful not to confuse a hobby with a job.

      • “Now is the time to ask for a pay rise as employers’ intent to hire hits a six-year high, a recruitment firm says.

        Figures released by recruitment company Hudson show a third of New Zealand employers were looking to increase headcount in the first half of 2016.

        Net intention to hire stands at 29 per cent – the highest since the beginning of 2010.”

        “Online job vacancies in New Zealand increased by 1.4% in December, with increased openings across all skill levels and most industries and regions, ”

        “New Zealand’s business confidence shifted out of the doldrums in the last quarter of 2015 as the economy picked up from its mid-year sluggishness and firms saw improvements in their own activity, according to a survey by the New Zealand Institute of Economic Research. Respondents were more upbeat about hiring, with a net 17% taking on more staff in the December quarter, and employment intentions steady at 14%. A net 32% said skilled labour was hard to find, and unskilled labour was also seen as being difficult to find.”

        Those who can’t find a job are likely looking in the wrong place. Protesting won’t do much to solve that problem. Looking in the right place, will.

          • It depends, doesn’t it.

            Some hobbies, like acting, don’t pay well. The reason is because many people will gladly do them for nothing because they derive value in many other ways i.e. the joy of make believe.

            Protesting won’t change that. Looking for demand and then supplying it with your labour, will. Filling that demand may require adaptation.

            That’s constructive, isn’t it?

                • For an extremist you seem to be demonstrating a complete lack of understanding about employers not wanting to give there employees a raise.

                  And I don’t half blame them because there is so much private sector debt in NZ. And when the labour force ask for to much, well business pull up stumps. And for city centres like Hamilton, that’s what has happened.

                  With out savings, you can’t have capital, with out capital, there can be no capitalism.

                  You seem to be educated to an OK degree. I hope your future comments and predictions will be better thought out and not so much of a religious prayer offering

                  • I just got a raise. Inflation is benign, so why should there be significant wage rounds beyond an increase in individual productivity ?

                    So, you would reduce taxes on savings to encourage more of it? You would make NZ relatively a low tax environment in order to prevent capital flight?

                    I am educated, yes. I don’t see why saying “look for demand and fill it” is “religious”. It’s a fundamental economic principle.

                    • so why should there be significant wage rounds beyond an increase in individual productivity ?

                      Why? So people can pay their bills and raise their families. That’s why.

                      New Zealand is a low-wage economy in case you’ve not been paying attention.

                      I just got a raise.

                      Oh?!?! You got a raise?

                      So you’re ok jack, but fuck everyone else? Is that your personal outlook on life?

                      Spoken like a true self-centered Rightie. Thankyou, Mr Pants for reinforcing the image of National supporters as a selfish bunch.

                    • So, if you raise all wages, isn’t that inflationary? That doesn’t increase buying power, only erodes savings – the thing you’ve highlighted as being a problem.

                      I said I got a raise which makes your claim false that employers aren’t giving raises. It was due to a personal increase in productivity, thus revenue, which the employer shares with me. My getting a raise does not prevent others doing likewise.

                      You claim me getting more money that is being selfish, when in the same post you demand people should have more money.

                      Can I suggest to you the pie is no a fixed size. If you increase productivity, the economy expands, meaning more people can get more.It does not follow that if one person gets more another gets less. That is a flawed Marxist interpretation of how an economy works.

                    • Because if you raise all wages then all prices increase. The only real way to increase purchasing power is to raise productivity and decrease supply costs.

                      If you don’t reward productivity, then what is the incentive to be more productive?

                      [Please provide a suitable email address if you wish to continue posting here. The address you have supplied is of dubious validity. – ScarletMod]

                    • Because if you raise all wages then all prices increase.

                      So in effect, you’re advocating for a low-wage economy?

                      You happily accepted your salary increase without a thought for prices increasing – especially increasing prices for goods produced by the firm you work for.

                      Next thing you know, Rightwinger like like are bleating on about low-paid workers having children “they can’t afford”. The poor and low-paid cannot win, according to selfish buggers like you, Hankypants. (And I wouldn’t put my real name to garbage like yours either.)

                      I believe the term here is hypocrisy.

                      The only real way to increase purchasing power is to raise productivity and decrease supply costs.

                      Productivity has increased, according to Robert B. Reich, of University of California, in his work, “The State of Working America”.

                      https://www.nytimes.com/imagepages/2011/09/04/opinion/04reich-graphic.html?ref=sunday

                      The problem is that much of the profit is now remitted to shareholders, at the expense of workers. More profits for shareholders equates to low wages for staff.

                    • >>So in effect, you’re advocating for a low-wage economy?

                      No. Why don’t you read what I write rather than making things up? Where did I say I want a low wage economy?

                      >>You happily accepted your salary increase without a thought for prices increasing – especially increasing prices for goods produced by the firm you work for.

                      That is a flawed interpretation of value. It assumes economic growth is fixed.

                      >>>Next thing you know, Rightwinger like like are bleating on about low-paid workers having children “they can’t afford”. The poor and low-paid cannot win, according to selfish buggers like you, Hankypants. (And I wouldn’t put my real name to garbage like yours either.)
                      I believe the term here is hypocrisy.

                      Again, just making things up and debating with yourself.

                      If you’re not capable of a reasoned debate on basic economics, then so be it.

                      Tell me – would all those who want to be actors get paid “a living wage”? Where would it come from?

                      [Mr Hankypants, the new email address you have provided is a “disposable”, temporary account. Please use your ISP email address from now on, or your posting privileges will be rescinded. – ScarletMod]

                    • Tell me – would all those who want to be actors get paid “a living wage”? Where would it come from?

                      Ain’t it funny that people like you never ask the same question of highly paid CEOs, SOE executives, politicians, et al.

                      Or where money for Saudi businessmen to set up “farms” in the middle of the desert or subsidies to Charter Schools and aluminium smelters comes from?

                      But the moment there’s a suggestion that low-paid workers are remunerated sufficiently to live on, you get all frothy with parroted rhetoric such as “But Wheres the money coming from?”.

                      Yes, Mr Pants, you are advocating for a low-wage economy. That is precisely what you are pushing.

                    • After decades of failed policy. Why would you double down on tax cuts?

                      Wasn’t the idea of tax cuts meant to increase tax revenue?

                      That simply hasn’t happened

                    • [Mr Hankypants, the new email address you have provided is a “disposable”, temporary account. Please use your ISP email address from now on. Until then, your posting privileges are rescinded.– ScarletMod]

        • And yet, Mr Pants, unemployment is at 6% and forecast to rise.

          Under-employment is also a major problem.

          You left out those salient points – but I’m happy to complete the ‘rosy’ picture you’re attempting to paint.

          • I would like to debate this important issue with you, but my posts disappear, for some reason.

            If I am not adhering to the rules, it would be helpful if the moderator could point out the problem.

        • Those who can’t find a job are likely looking in the wrong place. Protesting won’t do much to solve that problem. Looking in the right place, will.

          Really, Mr Pants?

          Pray tell us, where is this mythical “right place” of plenty of jobs?

          Please tell me. I have a friend who got made redundant last year, and I’m sure he’d love to know.

          In fact, I’m sure 151,000 people (http://www.stats.govt.nz/browse_for_stats/income-and-work/employment_and_unemployment/LabourMarketStatistics_HOTPSep15qtr.aspx) would love to know where the “right place” is for these bountiful “jobs”…

          • The unemployment rate is relatively low compared to other countries.

            Employment can readily be found in any area specified in the skill shortage list checker provided by the department of immigration.

            • Ohhhh, so because “unemployment rate is relatively low compared to other countries”, they don’t factor into the reality that there are fewer and fewer jobs, leading to more and more unemployed?

              Is that how you work your analysis, Mr Pants – by selective cherry picking and dismissing inconvenient facts?

              Carry on. You’re establishing your “creds” very nicely.

              • Rather than be combative, what’s wrong with a discussion based on facts?

                The list I showed you demonstrated it is false to say there is no work and that a living wage isn’t achievable. it is.

                Is it achievable for everyone whatever area they live in and whatever skill or participation they offer? No. Actors, for example.

                Why? Supply greatly exceeds demand.

                [Please provide a suitable email address if you wish to continue posting here. The address you have supplied is of dubious validity. – ScarletMod]

                  • We have never had a situation where oil prices and interest rates are low. There are opposing forces like profit warnings and the three market boards of the NZX.

                    I can’t even remember the last time some one listed on NZX. It’s like small business are being herded away from low interest loans and investors.

                    And the rise of crypto currency is filling this gap in my nesting in small business.

                    The economy is being handled so poorly.

                  • @MrPants

                    The fact is. Auckalnd house prices are ten times the average Auckland income of 72k per year.

                    We have pulled every fiscal, monatary and interest leaver for the last thirty years.

                    The reality is, the reserve bank dosnt have a policy, the government dosnt have a policy, and treasury dosnt have a policy.

                    The situation almost makes me won’t Sir Michael Cullen to make a come back.

                    • I’ll debate these reasonable questions when the Moderator reflects on whether the Daily Blog truly believes in Internet Privacy Rights and – if so – is prepared to practice what it preaches.

                      What on earth is wrong with a disposable email address?

                    • The moderator is holding some posts and not others making it difficult to engage in debate.

                      It is clear to me the Daily Blogs posturing on internet privacy was just that – a pose. What is wrong with a disposable email address? What does it matter?

                      Goodbye.

                      [Accepted. – ScarletMod]

  2. There will be no peaceful protest, Key will have hired people to start something off in the way of violence, so he can attack the opposition along with msm

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