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Today’s Daily Blog Watch Round-Up of matters that have attracted the attention, assessments, and articulations of this country’s leading bloggers and on-line satirists…
NZ Left Blogosphere
Phillip on Whoar gives us “..6 Mind-Blowing Stats on How 1 Percent of the 1 Percent Now Dominate Our Elections..” Thankfully this will be changing in the years to come…
The 1 percenters don’t like riff-raff in their “back yard”, writes Phillip, and an “..App shows you the way to the illegally hidden public beaches of Malibu..”
But this will really blow your mind, sez Phillip; because “..This Really is Big Brother: The Leak Nobody’s Noticed..”
Just remind me that Obama is a Democrat, not a Republican??
Morgan Godfery on Maui Street gives us his rundown on the Native Affairs Review of the Ikaroa-Rawhiti debate. Good to see our Marama doing well. (As a fellow blogger, she’s one of us – the Walking Read).
Scott on Imperator Fish sez of Aaron Gilmore, I am risen. So unlikely, that at first I thought it was a real Guest Post by our little Christchuch ex-MP Munchkin. Ouch!
QoT offers some Ideologically Impure Random recommended reading on various issues.
On his Media blog, Brian Edwards expresses his disgust at prayers for Mandela’s life, and explains why he sees it as ghoulish selfishness.
Andrew Geddish writes with ginormous self-deprecating humour on The Pundit, refering to Schrödinger’s Parliament as the Speaker of the House (David Carter) today confirmed that Peter Dunne is no longer a Leader, as his Party no longer exists in Official Real Space (kind of like Pluto is no longer a real “planet” – it’s a Dwarf Planet). He scores himself, 1, and Graeme Edgeler, nil. Have a read and a giggle/chortle/guffaw.
Andrew finishes by asking,
“There we go. What possibly could go wrong now?“
Um…
Political blogging at it’s bestest and funniest.
Talking about things funny, Julie on The Hand Mirror isn’t sure if a suggestion from Monarchy NZ is real – or a spoof from The Civilian. It’s evident that she isn’t much in favour For Queen and country – or colour-coding babies. (What next – bar-coding?)
Watchblog Aotearoa relates this story from the Huffington Post. Even our American mates are starting to react negatively to the secretive nature of the TPPA, and it’s “assault on democracy”. Read the Huffington story here; Alan Grayson On Trans-Pacific Partnership: Obama Secrecy Hides ‘Assault On Democratic Government’
More good people are speaking out.
The Moral Shepherd of the Left, Chris Trotter writes on Bowalley Road about The Right To Say – “No.“ Quite simply, as Chris sez,
“ALL OUR HUMAN RIGHTS derive from the power to say just one word: “No.” If we cannot speak that one word – and be heeded – then we have no rights? ”
Chris looks at Jami-Lee Ross’s Employment Relations (Continuity of Labour) Amendment bill and it’s impact on the relationship between employees and employers. He comes to an inevitable conclusion: blood will spill.
No wonder the Employers & Manufacturing Association is nervous and call it a step to far.
Speaking of industrial relations, Fightback announces a McStrike Thursday June 26th – National day of action against McDonalds. Support the workers if there’s a McD near you (and there probably is.)
Pablo on Kiwipolitico asks if Withdrawal from Echelon: a realistic watershed moment in intelligence reform or Left political posturing? Pablo writes,
“ As the Kitteridge Report noted with regard to the GCSB and what the Zaoui case demonstrated in the case of the SIS, there were or are serious deficiencies in both agencies. These are as much if not more managerial than operational, but the truth is that a review of the entire intelligence community is overdue in light of the changing realities of intelligence gathering in the 21st century.”
Pablo then presents a question about New Zealand withdrawing from the Echelon/5 Eyes arrangement and finds that the consequences might not be in our interests. Read and decide for yourself – but at least Pablo has raised an issue that warrants our attention.
One thing is for certain – 4 Eyes doesn’t sound as cool as 5 Eyes. In fact… it’s bound to raise a few sniggers. Say it out loud; “Four Eyes“…
Another brilliant and to-the-point blogpost by The Jackal, who takes David Farrar to task for making stoopid comments. Jackal goes straight to the point; Farrar is a fool. Read and find out why. Hint; Farrar has been a naughty boy, indulging in spinning BS. The Sultan of Sleaze would be proud of our little lumpenleprechaun.
On The Civilian,
And on The Standard,
>>> Why enhanced spying powers are bad – Bunji writes,
“ If one needs any more reason to worry about the government’s GCSB bill, here is the latest news from the UK: police there seemed to spend more time investigating the murder of innocent school boy Stephen Lawrence’s family to undermine their anti-racism campaign than they did his murder.
An former undercover officer has said he posed as an anti-racism campaigner in a hunt for “disinformation” to use against those criticising the police, with an aim to smear the family. ”
>>> GCSB Bill – for shame – Anthony R0bins writes,
“ The Law Society is not exactly a hotbed of leftie activism (more’s the pity!). So the supporters of this appallingly arrogant government should sit up and take notice when they speak out as clearly as this:
Law Society slams spy agency bill
“The Law Society has made a stinging attack on proposed law changes governing the GCSB spy agency, saying they effectively transform it from a foreign intelligence agency to a domestic one without any justification being give”…”
>>> Someone to blame – writes
“ One can’t help but feel that Steven Joyce, Hekia Parata and Craig Foss (& Bill English) of the Novopay debacle, Paula Bennett of various Work & Income privacy fiascos and Todd McClay and Chris Tremain of the impending IRD computer upgrade disaster have employed a scapegoat. ”
>>> Caregivers in equal pay spotlight – John Ryall writes,
“ An important legal case affecting thousands of low-paid women workers commenced on Monday morning in the Auckland Employment Court.
The case, taken by the Service and Food Workers Union supported by the Nurses Organisation, focuses on long-term caregiver Kristine Bartlett and whether her pay rate of $14.43 an hour is consistent with the Equal Pay Act 1972. ”
>>> Lying Bridges caught out – Zetetic writes,
“ I expect to see Labour slam lying minister Simon Bridges in the House. His employment changes – a bad employers’ charter – are built on lies like this… ”
>>> Who’s Tourism Minister again? – James Henderson writes,
“ Back in 2008, a bright new thing called John Key said that, if he became Prime Minister, he would take the Tourism portfolio. He said “it’s an industry that’s particularly important in maintaining and boosting this country’s employment levels and growth prospects” and “we can do an awful lot better”. International tourism revenue has fallen 20% since 2008, $2 billion a year from its peak. ”
>>> For Solar – Ben Clark writes,
“ There’s an issue for solar power about to hit: Standards NZ’s new proposed standard requires the use of a particular, untested, inverter which is not expected to even exist until July 2014. The current 2005 standard on solar power production allows electricity lines companies to enforce their own set of standards onto independent solar power installers. ”
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From the Daily Blog
Winston maneuvers to the Right by voting for GCSB legislation – By Martyn Bradbury
“ Winston’s need to initiate the witch hunt against Dunne is driven out of the desire to kill off United Future as a possible coalition partner, it’s not from any moral or ethical conviction on the behalf of Winston. ”
If Winston is thinking of a repeat of 1996, he’s in for another solid arse-kicking. Let’s hope he’s learned his lesson…
Plenty more fish in the sea? By Burnt Out Teacher , by Burnt out Teacher
“ People do want marine reserves once they genuinely understand what this will mean for them and their communities (and Department of Conservation will need to consult and hui with iwi, hapu, and community groups regarding location and size better than it has so far). It not only means more kai, more fish, and healthier seas, but more jobs, more tourism, more life in your life. ”
Another great piece by BoT, lamenting the state of our coastal waters (and further out to sea). Unless we want to live in a ‘Soylent Green‘ type world, we’d better heed the warnings of folk like BoT. Email Nick Smith now. (I did)
Snowden should fear the Espionage Act – Chris Trotter writes,
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Blogpost of the Day
I’m not much of a fan of the anti-flouro brigade and I find much of their arguments daft, inaccurate, and often downright dishonest.
On the other hand, there is The Jackal’s anti-flouro argument that Fluoridation is a waste of resources – a rational look at the issue with dispassionate coolness.
This is what debate amongst grown-ups should look like.
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Free Plug for the Day
Right. Time for you lot to start pulling your weight redux – Danyl on The Dim Post has just released his book. Check out the details of the launch party on 5 July, in Wellington.
This is your chance to mix it with a well known blogger; other bloggers who will be attending to drink Danyl’s booze present to support Danyl; and a lively evening to remember.
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Action of the Week#1
Tree planting day at Poets Park alongside the Hutt River / Hutt River Trail, 10am, Saturday 13 July until trees all planted. All welcome. Bring your gumboots and a spade if possible (but not essential as a few will be available). Trees and equipment provided. Planting for a couple of hours or so, followed by sausage sizzle, hot drink and mingle. For further information contact George Butters, 027 632 1220. Organised by Greater Wellington and Friends of the Hutt River. Poets Park is first left after crossing the Moonshine bridge, see Google Map: Poets Park
Pat van Berkel
Friends of the Hutt River
Action of the Week#2
From Frogblog, Holly Walker writes about Electoral reform in the constitutional review;
This week the deadline for submissions on the Constitutional Conversation was extended by a month, so now we’ve got until July 31st to submit.
This is a great chance for all of us to have a say on how we want our country to be run, as well as to share our values and aspirations for Aotearoa New Zealand.
We’ve got a submission guide to help you have your say, which includes Green Party policy on some of the specific areas included in the terms of reference.
Two of the official areas under review that I’m really interested in are electoral matters and Māori representation, which include some pretty important issues like:
- the size of parliament
- the size and number of electorates
- how long our parliamentary term should be
- whether we should have a fixed election date
- the Māori Electoral Option
- Māori seats
I think it’s worth thinking about these issues in the context of our MMP system. MMP has brought fairness, diversity and proportionality to our parliament, and it’s important that these principles are reflected in any further changes to the way parliament and elections work.
Read more here.
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Thought for the Day
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~ Joe Blogger,
“The Daily Blog Watch” Editor, Imbiber of Fine Sugary Drinks, & moa tail-docker
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~oo~
