THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT’S unprecedented run in the polls rolls on. Eight years in office and still the level of support for John Key’s ministry in the New Zealand electorate continues to fluctuate between an unassailable 45 and 55 percent.
These would be outstanding numbers even under the old First-Past-The-Post electoral regime. Under a proportional, multi-party system they are outstanding. In fact, given all the things Key and his colleagues have done, or failed to do, they should be impossible.
And yet, like Dorian Grey’s, National’s sins have left not the slightest blemish upon its public face. No doubt, in some upper room, safe from prying eyes, a cursed canvass portrays it’s true hideousness. So long as it stays there, securely hidden, National’s supporters simply do not care.
This state of not caring – evinced by close to half the population – is something new and disturbing in New Zealand politics. It speaks of hardened attitudes and even harder hearts; of an electoral bloc that has simply shut its eyes and ears to the plight of less fortunate and hard-pressed citizens. That they have remained faithful to the Key Government for eight years is because in all sorts of subtle and not-so-subtle ways it has told them that they are right not to care. Not caring is the new black: National’s new blue.
It’s important to grasp the fact that this ingrained lack of compassion is in no way reflective of simple bigotry or ignorance. The new National supporter is not the sort of know-nothing backwoodsman from the provinces who hated queers and backed Springbok Tours. Confronted by the Left for their apparent lack of compassion, these new National supporters will round on their accusers and charge them with constructing a soft and dependent society critically lacking in grit and resilience. Their refusal to mollycoddle the poor and work-shy may look like cruelty, they will say, but in the long term it will be revealed for what it is – the most socially productive manifestation of true kindness.
That this hard-nosed approach entrenches inequality and widens the social divide is fine by them. People have always needed incentives. Big sticks for the poor. Juicy carrots for the rich. “You don’t make a poor man rich”, they insist, “by making a rich man poor.” A healthy society is one in which the poor person’s burning desire to escape his or her poverty is only equalled by the well-off person’s fear of falling into it. Those who make it into the winners’ circle need to know how hard it is to get there – and stay there.
This is the gospel according to John Key’s new National Party, and its capacity to attract and hold close to half the electorate is unprecedented. The professional middle-class, hitherto susceptible to the Left’s appeals for them to join it in the struggle for equality and social justice, must now be counted among the new National Party gospel’s most enthusiastic converts. The better angels to which Labour once appealed have long since been made redundant and let go.
Those poll numbers ain’t going to change anytime soon.
Perhaps it’s slightly off topic, but this article by George Monbiot explains very clearly how the present economic, (and therefore social,) situation arose in our recent history. I think it helpful to spread this understanding.
http://www.theguardian.com/books/2016/apr/15/neoliberalism-ideology-problem-george-monbiot
Also either read or watch the documentary “The Shock Doctrine.” You can view it online.
The Shock Doctrine
“In THE SHOCK DOCTRINE, Naomi Klein explodes the myth that the global free market triumphed democratically. Exposing the thinking, the money trail and the puppet strings behind the world-changing crises and wars of the last four decades, The Shock Doctrine is the gripping story of how America’s “free market” policies have come to dominate the world– through the exploitation of disaster-shocked people and countries.”
Also,
“The 1% hide their money offshore – then use it to corrupt our democracy”
Aditya Chakrabortty://gu.com/p/4t8t8/sbl
Key is off to China – to fight for his political existence I suspect. The Chinese have told the US no more credit – our rules reign – the Khazarian Mafia fiat dollar bites the dust and like its proxy navy – floats on the water like Donald Duck.
Yes, he’s relying on wealthy immigrant Chinese for votes. He’s been riding on those for quite some time now.
Or, he’s part of a governmental trade delegation to China to try and increase access for NZ exporters. And to put a good word in for Helen’s SG bid.
That’s not in disputed. What is in dispute is that new trade theory has failed as a policy to grow jobs and wages have failed for the last 30 years.
There is no more money to keep doubling down on neolibe
Anyone who thinks the US does not and will not continue to rule the world for the rest of this century is deluded. The Chinese population will always hold China back and the local government debts in China dwarf the US debt. The Chinese Government needs the US way more than vice versa – the US can A – refuse to pay anytime it likes and B – conquer them militarily and that is the end of China.
The USA & the Vatican, wins over Russia, Cuba, the western world on most policies, a lurch to the right is bound to happen again soon.
You reckon. I for one don’t think so.:
http://www.ascensionwithearth.com/2016/04/intel-update-from-john-of-one-world-of.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+ascensionwithearth%2FVcrr+%28Ascension+with+Mother+Earth+and+Current+State+of+Affairs%29
I wouldn’t be so confident about that Mark. China has a pretty impressive military itself, furthermore, it’s thought to have now surpassed the U.S to be the biggest economy in the world, depending on the source.
Then there’s the massive amount of U.S treasury bonds, (U.S debt), that China owns, which it could dump at any time it likes. The main thing it’s really got going for it is that the USD is the world’s reserve currency, but that could change if enough countries boycott it – financial warfare.
Nope, you are wrong. The Chinese government has over 3 trillion in surplus cash reserves, not to mention the assets it owns around the world and the trillions governments like the US owes. Its the US govt that needs China that has a huge military force at it’s disposal, not the other way round. Even the war mongering profiteering US wouldnt even dare risk getting into a conflict with China.
Mark;
I think you’ve been watching a few too many ‘Rambo’ movies.
“Those poll numbers ain’t going to change anytime soon.”
Disagree. The poll numbers will turn on a dime the moment the Auckland property bubble bursts and the New Zealand economy lurches into recession as a result. This is almost certainly a matter of “when” not “if” and that could as easily be “soon” as “later”.
Agreed. The economy is tanking. NZ is already in a recession, but the property bubble hasn’t burst YET.
Words
How can the economy be ‘in recession’ when it is growing at between 2 -3% annually and is predicted to keep on growing at this rate well into and probably beyond 2017.
A manifestation of this economic growth is our relatively low unemployment rate.
The question, Ocon, is how the economy is growing. Thus far it appears to reside mostly in population immigration; ballooning house prices; and the Christchurch re-build. The dairy sector used to be one of those factors, but is well and truly kicked to the curb at the moment.
However, population immigration; ballooning house prices; and the Christchurch re-build are not sustainable developments and anyone who believes otherwise is deluding themselves.
As for unemployment – we’ll see what the next figure is. Because the last 5.3% doesn’t seem feasible.
And even if 5.3% is reflected in the next unemployment stats, it is still a far cry from 2007, when unemployment stood at around 3.4% under Labour. And economic growth averaged around the 3-point-something-percent mark.
To put it into another perspective, there were 78,000 people unemployed at at January 2008. The last NZ Stats showed unemployment at 133,000 as at January 2016. http://www.tradingeconomics.com/new-zealand/unemployed-persons
Not exactly a glowing achievement.
Nothing is as it seems. 5% unemployment is considered full employment, according to the ACT party guid to a bitching jobs market, with so little people available for work, wages is meant to rise.
The reserve bank can’t have it both ways.
That wasn’t the question I was addressing Frank – I was addressing the question of how ‘economic recession’ is defined.
But to your question, economic growth is made up of a range of different factors as you’ll know. You have identified a few. I notice that you’ve left out tourism (currently the largest contributor to NZ’s economic growth), horticulture, professional services (including education) et al. Sure dairy farming is not a strong contributor at present, but its shortfall is being compensated for by other growth areas (see above).
As markets change, so will our exports and so will the factors that contribute to our economic growth.
Ocon, basing economic policies on wishful thinking doesn’t seem a sound basis – especially when National is doing very little to achieve it.
My comments are based on reality Frank. With respect, you’re probably in denial about what drives economic growth.
Essentially economic growth is driven by how companies respond to market signals; hence my comment above. For example the dairy industry will/is responding to the market signals its now getting; look for a switch in its product mix, new product offerings, new growth and marketing strategies/organisational structures (the Board restructured itself this week by reducing the number of its personnel) etc.
Governments are not equipped to do this (how would they know what Fonterra’s best product mix is?) because its not their job to, nor do the have the competency to do so.
Where governments have gotten involved in this way (command economies), the results have been little short of disasterous
ROFL you are not basing it on reality.
You are an idiot. You need to go back to school and pay attention in class
Icon – Go tell this to the farming community. they can see the reality first hand.
Maama
My comments would not be a surprise to the farming community. They’re consistent with their own take on the situation.
Further, as per my comment above, dairy farmers are obviously picking up the market signals; note a report out today saying that dairy farmers are switching from Fonterra to other milk processing companies because they believe they’ll get better deals.
They are not waiting for the government to tell them what to do, or how to do it; they are just doing it based on their own initiative.
‘Titanic’ NZ is going down somewhat more slowly that most other nations, so the stampede of migrants to Auckland is likely to increase rather than diminish.
It will be when Auckland has morphed into a squalid hellhole that the property bubble will burst. The politicians are working hard to bring it about.
It is immigration that keeps feeding the “growth” now, and tourism and more students being allowed in from overseas to buy education services. Without this we would not only be stagnant, we would be heading into another recession.
Hence the Nats and Key will continue to allow more immigrants in to compete with local workers, simply to grow the population to stimulate demand. Tourism runs in itself, as more and more people overseas see the writing on the wall where they live, they may come here to see a less polluted and destroyed country, some with the thought, whether it may be possible to immigrate here.
We know that many foreign students will also try to stay, they are a minority, but a sizeable one, at least around 20 percent.
And New Zealanders keep selling their country and themselves, e.g. homes to new migrants and speculators and investors, they also sell farms, shares in companies, and gradually become tenants in their own land, that is those that will stay here.
totally agree we are in some kind of weird fucked up economy where income no longer matters we have found the keys to Alchemy through infinite credit expansion the world of plant key where a house is an ATM machine that can only ever rise .sadly that is not true i really fear the future NZ house hold debt is so high a soft landing or even a hard landing is no longer possible.every rise allows the banks to extend ever larger amounts of credit its a racket that threatens the whole economy and just like you state its not case of if, its a case of when its bad now its going to get a lot worse .
How can people vote responsibly when the media fails to report the truth? I really think our polls are no better than the US vote counting – very artistic.
Exactly, if the media told the truth, John key and his partners in crime would have been history long ago.
Everything key and National have said has turned out to be lies and an endless stream of deceit. Everything Labour and opposition parties have said has turned out to be true. But honesty, transparency, accountability, integrity and good governance not tainted by corruption doesn’t mean anything to the unprincipled National supporters and the wealthy, particularly new immigrant National Party backers that National rely on for votes. Look at who John key used and who were happy to be used to game the flag referendum. And the media and National and their supporters had the cheek to tear Labour apart from using Chinese sounding names, when Labour tried to highlight foreign speculators fueling the housing market and National wanted to shut it down pretty quick or else they would have lost a major chunk of its supporter base in tax haven NZ.
I read that National had targeted Chinese names for the pro-change flag vote.
Don’t do as I do, do as I say – that is the National way.
Exactly, and National and the media had no problem with John key using Chinese sounding names to game the flag referendum did they? So not one word on the blatant hypocrisy.
Well, that was depressing. Thanks, Chris.
“National’s sins have left not the slightest blemish upon its public face.”
Nah, you trip over your assumptions while ignoring the elephant in the room sadly Chris.
1/Without a MSM to put the blame where it belongs squarely on National for the failing economy, pride and respect for our global standing as an honest country, and selling everything we owned to foreigner’s, while we all are rapidly “becoming tenants in our own land” the elephant we must point the finger at as to why the above is happening is your own profession sunshine as your companions you worked with as Journalist’s that remain in employment, are now coward’s complicit talking heads who appear to be in support of this evil carpetbagger regime also and that is the elephant I the room here that is causing so much damage.
Answer; – All opposition parties for ther salvation of the country and the half of its inhabitant’s must on our behalf NOW COMBINE TO PLACE A COURT INJUNCTION TO SEIZE HALF THE PUBLIC MEDIA ASSETS NAMELY THE TVNZ AND RNZ MEDIA SYSTEMS FOR PROVIDING A “BALANCED” PROGRAMMING THAT WE HAVE THE RIGHT TO BE PROVIDED WITH TO INFORM US AS TO THE “REAL OTHER SIDE OF THE STORY”
2/ The polls and media are both corrupted as anywhere else is as our polls are now being overseen by foreign poll counting companies who will tailor any result the purchaser of their service requests USING VOTING ELECTRONIC PROGRAMS FOR ONLINE POLLS AND ELECTERAL VOTING for instance he operates the “Smartmatic Group” electronic manipulation and many other techniques.
3rd richest man Soros runs George Soros’s Open Society Foundation.
http://www.thenewamerican.com/usnews/item/16724-soros-connected-vote-counting-firm-expands-in-u-s
http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2016/03/20/soros-board-member-chairs-firm-running-online-balloting-for-tuesdays-utah-caucuses/
George Soros has taken over the Global election counting from most Countries now and operates an elaborate operation in Spain for the counting of elections around the globe due thanks to the digital era, just read the document here.
http://www.thenewamerican.com/usnews/item/16724-soros-connected-vote-counting-firm-expands-in-u-s
Well said Cleangreen. And despite 3 elections, 2 of which were rigged, National still couldn’t 50% even with the votes of their wealthy immigrate support that national rely on, and could not “govern alone” either like the opinion polls are falsely saying.
The opinion polls with its outdated polling methods that haven’t kept up with technology are rigged, there are no doubts about that.
National use them as a political tool to hoodwink people into thinking everything is ok when it is not. As I have said preciously, you know the con has worked when you hear people say “Oh but National is high in the polls, so it must be alright then.” Its a con that National supporters use, particularly on online forums, its their first line of defense to shut down any dissent against National.
Since practically every aspect of the Key government is phony, and since the mainstream media are corrupt, bought-and-paid-for shills for destruction of NZ, the thought arises that published poll results are just as phony as everything else.
The long-term damage done by the gangs of liars and thieves that have inhabited NZ parliament and other similar institutions for decades is now way past the tipping point beyond which absolute catastrophe is the only possible outcome, i.e.
1. there is no way planetary overheating can be held to less than 2oC above baseline. Atmospheric CO2 is at an all time high and is increasing at an accelerating annual rate; without rapid collapse of industrial civilisation 450ppm (the supposed safe upper limit) will be exceeded in less than 13 years.
‘Highest-ever daily average CO2 at MLO: 409.44 ppm on April 9, 2016 (Scripps)’
https://www.co2.earth/daily-co2
2. massive (multi-metre) sea level will occur before mid-century, wiping out numerous cities and inundating huge areas of currently productive land.
http://www.insurancejournal.com/news/national/2016/04/12/405089.htm
3. collapse of the industrial food system is inevitable over the next decade or so as a consequence of resource depletion, planetary meltdown and acidification of the oceans.
http://www.nature.com/news/coral-crisis-great-barrier-reef-bleaching-is-the-worst-we-ve-ever-seen-1.19747
4. collapse of the global, Ponzi, fiat monetary system could come at any time.
None of these ‘issues’ will be addressed by the gangs of criminals in parliament.
May the farce be with you.
Excellent work, I love your last lines. We are headed for big trouble.
P.s The latest Dark Mountain book #9 The Humbling is out I have art work published in it. Awesome book! http://Www.dark-mountain.net my hero Derrick Jensen has an essay in it.
Chris is right and the more the left criticise those on the right as uncaring – add a long list of pejoratives here – the stronger Key and Co get. A recent example was the Labour fail when English called some of the young “useless” as an employment prospect. Instead of admitting it is absolutely true they launched in ad hominin attacks as usual. The voting public know it is true including many blue collar workers who have had experience of them and take the insults as being directed at them as well – big vote getter!
The reality is undeniable – not requiring those on benefits to develop a work ethic for the tax payer assistance has been a catastrophic failure and condemns the poor to a persistent poverty. Yes I know there are not enough jobs but everyone should have to work for the public good in some way to receive a benefit.
There are no work schemes, Mark as in previous depressions, so where the fuck is a work ethic going to come from???There are no available tax incentives for small business to create jobs. no government funding that is effective in any way, there is no R and D of any merit that creates large number of jobs, apprenticeships have been underfunded mentoring is non existent there are skill shortages everywhere because of the lack of training. education funding has been slashed and you blame the young people of this country for this situation? It is entirely of the governments making. It is that simple. Lose sight of that fact and you have lost the argument forever.
Of course you are right – winning 4 elections, in a row come next year, no question that is the Right “losing the argument”.
Mark, Muldoon won three elections in a row.
Remind us what state he left the economy in?
Yeah, exactly Frank, and Muldoon was supposedly an ECONOMIST by profession !!!!
Indeed, Words, and National is/was the party that was a “natural economic manager”…
And New Zealand is back to being $60 billion in debt. Some things just never change.
Frank we are tanking at almost 100 Billion now according to treasury
and it would be much larger if Government stopped lying and hiding losses with slippage of other asset losses and sales of other assets,
“Any excess cash proceeds raised from the bond programme will be invested in financial assets and used to meet future debt maturities.”
Question is; What has happened since the market slump occurred and now the approaching crash in the Global economy.
Here they are,
http://www.treasury.govt.nz/budget/forecasts/befu2015/021.htm
Net core Crown debt peaks as a share of GDP in 2014/15…
Gross debt is expected to peak at $93.6 billion in 2016/17 after which forecast maturities are expected to exceed new debt being issued, so gross debt begins to decline. Gross debt is forecast to be $83.7 billion in 2018/19 which is equivalent to 29.3% of nominal GDP.
Figure 2.14 – Gross debtFigure 2.14 – Gross debt. Source: The Treasury
The bond programme is expected to raise funds of $36.5 billion over the forecast period, while $34.8 billion of existing debt will be repaid, providing net cash proceeds of $1.7 billion (Table 2.11). Any excess cash proceeds raised from the bond programme will be invested in financial assets and used to meet future debt maturities.
The total bond programme is broadly in line with total repayment of market bonds over the forecast period. The issuance profile is relatively flat in order to reduce year-to-year volatility of bond programmes and ensure consistency of supply over this time.
Expand the Table Below
Table 2.11 – Net increase in government bonds
Year ending 30 June
$billions
2015
Forecast
2016
Forecast
2017
Forecast
2018
Forecast
2019
Forecast
5-year
Total
Face value of government bonds issued (market)
8.0 8.0 7.0 7.0 7.0 37.0
Cash proceeds from government bond issue
Cash proceeds from issue of market bonds
8.2 8.5 6.9 6.5 6.4 36.5
Repayment of market bonds
(8.7) (1.8) – (11.3) (11.5) (33.3)
Net proceeds from market bonds
(0.5) 6.7 6.9 (4.8) (5.1) 3.2
Repayment of non-market bonds
(1.2) (0.3) – – – (1.5)
Net repayment of non-market bonds
(1.2) (0.3) – – – (1.5)
Net cash proceeds from bond issuance
(1.7 ) 6.4 6.9 (4.8) (5.1) 1.7
Source: The Treasury
no he wasn’t! He was a common every day small town accountant. No vision unworldly, and although possessing some decent values a very small minded alcoholic bully. Easily duped.Vindictive and a puppet.
Spend time working with some young people ( under 25 year olds) And get a friggin reality check !But as a deluded rightie you won’t have the time to volunteer and share . That’s for old farts right? Mark you are a fool if you think NZ is a good place for the young . That’s the argument.
Muldoon won three elections in a row, and if it hadn’t been for Bob Jones’ New Zealand Party splitting the right-wing vote, he most likely would’ve won a fourth term.
Would you care to remind us, Mark, the state of the economy when Muldoon was voted out?
Would you say National ended up “losing the argument” in 1984?
Take your time… apologists sometimes need to collect their thoughts before parroting the next cliche.
Utter rubbish Mark. key and his National government are trending downwards even with the trumped up fudged polls. They no longer command the unrealistic heady highs like they used to.
BTW Labour didn’t fail, neither did others that took English to task. That’s the opposition doing its job as they should. Double dipper Bill English used that as an excuse as justification for farming/businesses hiring cheap foreign slave labour instead of Kiwis. Its all about reaping in those profits, it’s about the fat cats at the top making a lot of money at the expense of the worker.
My husband does Colmarbrunton polls (he loves flybuys points) for a while now and it seems to him that they have politically leading questions embedded in them eg, who do you like Paul Henry or John Campbell? He has never been asked to do a political poll since then. He likes John Campbell easy way to know which way he leans, left. Easy way to discriminate in future polls.
Thank you Kate !!!
Mark, how many people on benefits do not have a “work ethic”? Do you have the stats?
Of those without a “work ethic”, how many have been looking for work; have not found work; and are de-moralised? Do you know?
After the 2007/08 GFC and resulting Recession, approximately 90,000 New Zealanders lost their jobs. Others lost their jobs as work has been transferred to low-wage societies like Pakistan, China, Fiji, Vietnam, etc. How do you reconcile loss of jobs to those countries with a supposed lack of “work ethic”?
Solo-parents who look after their families at home – do they have a lack of “work ethic”? If so, how many?
It’s easy to parrot cliches of “lazy beneficiaries”. It’s much harder to come up with real solutions, which National is guilty of.
As you pointed out in a belated attempt to sound reasonable, “there are not enough jobs”.
Suggesting that “everyone should have to work for the public good in some way to receive a benefit” is simply code for demanding work for free (or near-free).
If “work for the public good” exists, it should be paid for.
The idea that there is a huge amount of bludgers out there is absolute bullshit. I looked up the actual amount of long-term unemployed before the recession (December 2007).
Out of a workforce of 2.1 million people in New Zealand, only 9,900 had been unemployed for more than 6 months. That’s right. Less than half a percent. Less than 1 in 200.
If you consider that it’s likely that many of these people had reasons other than being lazy, the number of actual “bludgers” in New Zealand is far lower than 1 in 200.
We need to call this bullshit for what it is – simply an attempt to divide and conquer.
You are advocating for a population of mob like bullies, I note.
The fact remains that hopeless people exist within all groups of society, The National party is a prime example, not many of them would be of any use if you were stuck on a desert island, politicians in general are not a lot better. A study of the business world with its family/school connections will soon show that the management has no more ability than the general population.
There are individuals unemployed who for various reasons are unable to function fully so they should be on some sort of sickness benefit & given help with mental issues to assist them.
so what is the left doing wrong?
Everything. The left have continually fought amongst themselves. They are incoherent and divided because most follow the neo liberal creed and are therefore economically illiterate. Labour has a leader who utterly devoid of flair charisma humor and personality. The Greens have become Wellington centred ( there is no hope there) NZ First is rising in the polls due the few true kiwis who care from the both sides. Our young are completely fucked our environment is falling apart and we have no clear course for the future. The country is run by criminal scum for the the crims of the world and their bags of fuck you money. Look forward to violence, huge rises in living costs frightened people fucked up children and health problems on a huge scale unseen since the early 20th century.
For a start Labour, NZ First and the Greens are very much on the same page. Does honesty and being transparent not count? So John key whose personality is to ridicule and blame others, even the poor and the vulnerable, for his governments failures, and who is a treasonous lying deceiver and cheat that can throw out the odd contrived carefully scripted joke is ok because he is perceived as having “charisma” because basically that is what the media tells us?
What happened with Kiwis when integrity and honesty meant something? I know you and others on here are awake, but Kiwis really do need to wake up.
I’m heading for the hills, great post Shona.
The msm, CT included always bury what Key and National are doing wrong.
Humouring the Right. In the 1950s a useless turd like Key would’ve suffered a series of national strikes by now.
There’s nothing to his poll popularity except hot air – it can disappear in a matter of moments and the only thing left would be a farting noise.
I think the left keeps failing because they think Labour are left.
I’ve just copied and pasted from my comment on another post because I’m lazy:
Clark’s three terms cemented neoliberalism and Labour will struggle until they distance themselves from her failures.
This is why Corbyn is succeeding: he knows Blair’s ‘third way’ was a failure and he’s offering an alternative.
In contrast, NZ’s Labour appear unable to admit that Clark’s ‘third way’ was a failure. They’re unwilling to offer an alternative.
Andrew Little has an opportunity to shift Labour and therefore shift NZ’s ‘political centre’.
The ERA 2000 is a joke – Key didn’t create a new employment act for a reason.
Housing prices and affordability spiralled out of control under Clark. See graph here:
http://www.interest.co.nz/property/54470/nz-house-prices-down-11-april-2007-inflation-adjusted-terms-which-biggest-fall-real
Prisoner numbers climbed under Clark. See muster numbers here:
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jMOKiqo269I/U7DO-jYEGHI/AAAAAAAAAIM/I2zKH0gFBhE/s1600/Crime+rate+and+imprisonment+rate.jpg
I have no idea why Labour and their supporters continue to look at Clark’s era through rose tinted glasses. Until they change, Labour will struggle to get into power. And if they do get into power, not much will change.
Sure, Clark was better than Key and Little will be better than Key, but it’s not enough for many of us. Labour needs a major shift – like Corbyn is offering UK’s Labour and Sanders is offering USA’s Democrats.
Answer to my point 2/ earlier Chris is;
Because third most richest man George Soros has taken over a company called Scytl http://techcrunch.com/2014/08/05/scytl-funding/ as the Global election counting from most Countries now and operates an elaborate operation in Spain for the counting of elections around the globe due thanks to the digital era, we must move to protect our democracy from being high jacked by the Elitists such as George Soros just read the document here.
http://www.thenewamerican.com/usnews/item/16724-soros-connected-vote-counting-firm-expands-in-u-s
Answer ;- We must go back to manual counting of paper voting locally so we can recount anytime there are concerns of rigging any poll be they pre election or local issues or federal Political election results especially due to the rampant global corruption we now see evident in the Panama papers.
For there to be no opportunity of rigging it would be necessary to have all vote-casting, all counting, and all processing done on pieces of paper in full public view, say inside a glass-walled building (just to keep the wind and rain out), with members of the public rostered to watch every step of the process, and all tallies and the names of the persons who verified the tallies displayed for at least a month after the final results are announced. We need an election process which takes a week to complete because every step is carried out meticulously in full public view.
Clearly such a system would not suit those who wish to keep power in the hands of their bought-and-paid-for puppets and their partners in crime, and simply want to manufacture consent for yet more looting and polluting of the commons, whilst transferring yet more wealth from those who have little to those who already have far too much.
The downward trend end in voter participation indicates more people are realising it’s all a rigged game and that ‘if voting made any difference they’d ban it’.
Well said Cleangreen.
not only rigged elections in NZ imo, why is there no viable Opposition bloc in NZ? As far as I’m concerned the Labour Party is a lite version of Tory National Party neoliberalism and still ensconced in the old FPP model of ages ago, I mean wtf our electoral system is MMP, Labour has to start communicating and working with the NZGreens, NZFirst, Mana, and The Internet Party to put together a cohesive and credible alliance for the next election in 2017.
More than twenty years ago I was gushing out to anyone who would listen that there was something evil coming this way. At that time, I should add, I was a fresh faced country moron frankly. A luddite, fresh from the bleak social canvas of mid Canterbury’s high country where it was all “Gidday mate, how’reyagoin’? ” and God help anyone who replied with anything other than ” Yeah, nah, sweet-as” as one hitched ones testicles as though one were cursed with genitalia far too big for comfortable conversation as one rested one foot on a fence wire in that burly ” Watch out Mate ! I’m a loaded stud-gun and I could just go off at any moment! “.
Yeah, nah. Those were the days. Long gone. Thank fuck. ( Although stains of my past do still streak the white sheets of my enlightenment. So fuckin’ yeah, nah ! )
A patient fellow who became a friend and studied Psychology ( Whenever we talked, he took notes ???? ) was the first person I remember to mention ‘neo liberalism’. A dark phenomenon he discovered during his studies.
That was it ! It was a label I could stick to what I could see coming. And that was in the mid eighties and was during the rise of our very own stunted dictator; roger douglas.
If the polls are true and correct. ( Tuis / Yeah right ) then thirty years of neo liberal head tinkering has resulted in a mass psychosis. Like a cult or a religion, neo liberalism has unseated our humanity and replaced it with a fiscal ideology that’s given many a mental disorder.
I found these links to quite good explanations for that in The Guardian.
It’s my earnest opinion that all good people should strive to be debt free. Make do. Learn to fix things rather than simply buy a new one, set up alternative neighbourhood economies of trade and bater and learn how to grow, harvest and fish.
Where the dreaded neo liberal local governments try to force you to go? Go in the opposite direction. The bull shit building restrictions, the bull shit foods restrictions ( On trading in seeds and foods) the bull shit safe driving mania that’s killing country pubs and consequently killing conversations and socialising is, in fact , all bullshit. It’s all controlling, neo liberal bull shit.
http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/sep/29/neoliberalism-economic-system-ethics-personality-psychopathicsthic
http://www.theguardian.com/books/2016/apr/15/neoliberalism-ideology-problem-george-monbiot
Except all the things you are complaining about in your last paragraph would be much worse under a left wing government with Labour and horrendous under an ultra left government with the Greens.
Incorrect, Onetrack. Unemployment was much lower under Labour, from 2000-08; sovereign debt was low; and home ownership highyer.
So your assertions are a fantasy.
I think you have missed Onetrack’s point, he was complaining about building restrictions, seeds & foods & anti drunk driving. You would think the evidence, Leaky homes, velvet grass, obesity & the road toll would show that the free market will not act for the good of all. Leaky homes & velvet grass along with other bio security scares can almost always be caused by greedy developers/traders who seek to make a quick profit while society bears the cost. We both agree that Onetrack is a dreamer though.
Evidence??? Examples??? @ ONETRACK
@ One Track.
Which version of Labour are you talking about though? The old school, Micky Savage version or the mutated and parasitised version laid waste by roger douglas and his cadre of traitors who, by stealth and deceit, colonised Old Labour then buckled it into a Zombie-esque post neo liberal, confederate, logical fallacy generating, bull shit machine to run in parallel with its Zombie cuzzies ACT and National to line the pockets of their Banker mates, insurers, the entire Lawyer/Prison Industry and God only knows how many shelf companies which are being found daily in the leaked Panama files fiasco. Not to mention the dodgy Post Asset sale off crop of fuckers who sold our shit to make their profits from our tax payer ancestors so as their kids ( Us ! ) could have an easier and more secure life in Paradise.
You’ve actually hit a Zombie Labour nail on one of its Methuselah heads.
“Onetrack” sounds like a one track mindset to me.
Onetrack is the perfect handle for a neoliberal ideologue. Says it all really.
“If the polls are true and correct. ( Tuis / Yeah right ) then thirty years of neo liberal head tinkering has resulted in a mass psychosis. Like a cult or a religion, neo liberalism has unseated our humanity and replaced it with a fiscal ideology that’s given many a mental disorder.”
Indeed, that is getting close to the truth, I fear. It is so in practice, the neoliberalism label is not needed, as some cults are beyond description, they just exist due to evil brainwashing and conditioning, and nobody dares step out, as they fear being attacked.
Well expressed Chris. Several generations have grown up post the Rogernomics/Thatcher/Reaganite reforms and know no different. Plus mass immigration from dog eat dog Asian nations who sadly are as racist if not more so than the the European rump that were already here. And all this despite the overwhelming evidence that deregulation and supposed free markets are nothing but a race to the bottom for most. I find it distressing that so many smug middle class who have made money from little more than luck, fortunate timing in the property market, are fine with sacrificing a growing percentage of their fellow citizens to get ahead themselves.
I always wonder just who the trolls are that immediately give the thumbs-down to any mention of truth or anything that smacks of common sense.
Agree with you Afewknowthetruth. Like others have been posting recently, there is an increasing presence of right wingers on this site. Obviously the TDB is doing something right, because the right wingers are feeling threatened and they are trying to undermine the discussion.
I’m finding that the majority of people I deal with are a pack of hard hearted bastards who don’t care a rats arse about the poor, sick or deprived.
Age makes no difference with this attitude being in place from the young adults to the old superannuitants.
I often think that our current government could be hanging opponents from the lampposts and only a minority would care.
What a nasty society we are being molded into.
Spot on Glenn and it’s only taken 30 years. Who wouldathunkit?
National use “Divide & Rule” and it is the dirtiest method of destruction they are using as criminals they should be arrested and jailed for treasonous activities, as Bilderberg Black opp’s does to take over small weak countries such as ours and others like Greece.
BBC News, “Bilderberg: The ultimate conspiracy theory”, 3 June 2004.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/3773019.stm
So true Glenn there are so many people I meet out there with the same hard hearts. Where did this develop from and why is it widespread? Our society is going to fall apart if it can’t look after its most vulnerable. Anyway that’s my two cents worth..
Agree whole heartedly Glenn and unfortunately that attitude is not reserved for the right as I also meet people who are definately left leaning and vote left who then come out with comments you would expect to hear ay a young nats convention.
Key holds the centre just as Bolger and Helen Clark with two differences that stand out
1 Unqualified media support
2 As pointed out in this post New Zealanders have lost their moral compass and high standards that used to be some of our better qualities for greed and selfishness
Its a result of post 1984 neo liberal policies working so well for 32 years
that and appalling tactics used to undermine our politics by the right wing in America that’s now become acceptable in NZ.
Even with MMP the the status quo we voted out with FPP still dominates 20 years later.
And still the left in NZ just don’t get it…
The Nats under Key are very much a steady as she goes don’t spook the horses do as little as possible government.
No one apart from the political tragics and tribal Nats is greatly wedded to them. the real issue is that the leadership, vision and tactics of the labour party are beyond woeful as evidenced by the central voting rump showing complete disdain for them and their utterings.
HS, you can stop with the National cheer-leading now. We get that you’re a fan-boi for our esteemed Dear Leader.
There is another explanation to National’s death grip on the electorate and it goes like this.
MSM is collapsing in NZ. The media industry is like the UK heavy industry (coal mines, steel, shipbuilding….) in the 70/80s. It is imploding. Readership and viewership numbers who pay for media services have fallen off a cliff. The result is journalists are under constant retrenchment of drop losses, higher workload, more superficial research and analysis, less support in editing and layout, whilst working in smaller teams.
This stress means traditional media is no longer providing a forum for national conversations -in particular moral conversations -such as Panama Papers/tax haven issue and affordable housing boil down to.
Moral questions like;
-do we want to be a tax haven?
-do we want to everyone to contribute their fair share towards the funding of public services?
-do we want to continue with being an egalitarian, fair-go, jack is as good as his master sort of country? Or do we want to entrench a system that gives legislative advantage and a sense of entitlement to some groups of kiwis and foreign elites?
The evidence for my explanation is the difference in coverage MSM has done on the Panama papers. Such as RadioLive’s Political Panel with Chris Trotter and Rodney Hide.
http://www.radiolive.co.nz/Political-Panel-with-Chris-Trotter-and-Rodney-Hide/tabid/506/articleID/118429/Default.aspx#.Vw-z7C86mB0.twitter (first half)
And alternative media -Waatea 5th Estate
https://thedailyblog.co.nz/2016/04/15/waatea-5th-estate-the-ongoing-housing-affordability-crisis/ (the end)
https://thedailyblog.co.nz/2016/04/16/waatea-5th-estate-friday-political-wrap-up/ (the beggining)
MSM completely missed the moral conversation whilst alternative media gave a forum for many from the Left
David Parker, Phil Twyford, Rachel Stewart, Tim Selwyn, Efeso Collins, Ricky Houghton, Dr Wayne Hope and other voices/conversation would have been completely missed if not for alternative media.
The Left need to support/promote alternative media to get more of NZ to engage in this conversation. Luckily now, unlike a few years ago -kiwis can hear directly the voices of those who most effectively communicate this conversation. This is the great hope.
The Chris Trotter explanation will just lead to further rounds of defeatism, progressives blaming each other for being ineffective communicators and political turmoil within progressive political parties. It is a recipe for continued success of conservative status quo parties.
Spot on Brendon !!! I don’t normally listen to Radiolive but that link was utterly shocking and shameful!! What a joke that was !! Putting down Corban in comparison to David Cameron was pretty bad, as was tearing Andrew Little apart for what most of us think, that the rich should pay their share of tax like the rest of us do.
John key was outed as using trusts to hide his wealth, CT never brought that up and tried to minimize the fact that Keys own lawyer/friend who handles his trusts is also involved in tax havens, incredulously, he said nothing has been proven about John key and defended him!! Hide when he said put key aside, meant he knows John key is a crook. CT was an apologist and lied for NZ’s part in tax evasion and John key and even David Cameron. And the glowing crap about John Key from the age 13 onwards was sickening and degusting made up spin. With shitty media crap like this, no wonder dirty John has gotten away with his crimes against this country and its people for so long.
Yeah Words I came across a Paul Henery interview with Key just before the 2011 election.
After grilling him on the subject about his finances where it was obvious he was lying Henery did an about turn and said to Key how he believed him to be an honest man !
Its that sort of opinionated crap that does nothing for un biased coverage we are entitled to in our country who do these people think they are !
If Fifth estate could just get National coverage we could get the real truth about what’s really happening and help with the right wing influence that dominates everything in NZ.
http://www.commondreams.org/views/2016/04/15/neoliberalism-zombie-doctrine-root-all-our-problems
Yep. Spot on Jay1. Also take a look at The Shock Doctrine.
‘MSM is collapsing in NZ.’
True, but the corporate media have been agents of their own demise via their censorship of truth, their severe butchering of letters to the editor (or refusal to publish at all) their continuous promotion of global corporate narratives, their unstinting support for political candidates known to be self-serving liars etc.
‘The Chris Trotter explanation will just lead to further rounds of defeatism’
Unfortunately, the working classes, along with scientists, environmentalists, sane-money folk, energy conservationists, progressive political parties etc. were pretty much defeated in the late 1980s and early 1990s, with the last gasps in the early 2000s; at this late stage in the game it’s only a matter of time before it ALL implodes.
Yep Agreed Afewknowthetruth.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-YsNC4ClRlY
This blog seems very similar to one CT wrote not that long ago.
I guess Chris won’t be coming to the ‘ John Key must go rally’ in Aotea Square, early May. Strange that with such a popular Government, that such a rally should even be held, or that 25,000 people should march down queen street and around the rest of the country to protest this Governments beloved TPPA. Have you seen Chris, by any chance, the huge number of social media sites that dislike this Government
For all its popularity, it’s not really that popular.
You hit the nail on the head Kim !! You have clearly and succinctly stated the obvious, that eludes the blind supporters of John key and his govt. Amongst the outstanding comments that have been posted thus far, for me, your comment is the comment of the day, week, month and year !!!
Quoted from above:
“This state of not caring – evinced by close to half the population – is something new and disturbing in New Zealand politics. It speaks of hardened attitudes and even harder hearts; of an electoral bloc that has simply shut its eyes and ears to the plight of less fortunate and hard-pressed citizens. That they have remained faithful to the Key Government for eight years is because in all sorts of subtle and not-so-subtle ways it has told them that they are right not to care. Not caring is the new black: National’s new blue.”
This is not a kind society anymore, I can attest to that living in New Zealand’s largest city, where this trend has been going for a while. It may not have reached all parts of New Zealand yet, but I fear it will. There has though also always been a strong redneck element among people living in the regions, that is not new.
The recent comments by Bill English, describing those young people on benefits allegedly turning down supposedly acceptable work like on farms and in horticulture and so, they show how audacious and totally arrogant this government has become, as they know, they can rely on a rather large block of support within this increasingly heartless society.
I see this every day, especially when going into Central Auckland, people like professional office workers, predominantly white, middle class, but also a growing migrant share of the same mindset, who have no scruples to walk past beggars and support those being banned and removed from the streets.
The number of homeless sleeping rough is shocking now, and nobody seems to care that much, apart from the dedicated advocates and social workers.
Since Key and Nats took over the government the numbers of shiny new SUVs and other flash cares, some very expensive BMWs, Mercs, Lexus and other makes, has increased in the better off parts of Auckland, there were never before so many in Remuera, Newmarket, Epsom, Kohimarama, St Heliers, and places on the North Shore and so forth.
Other parts of the city have not developed, accommodate people living in cramped, crowded, often damp and neglected homes in the south and west, and in pockets in other parts of Auckland.
Homes cost a million or more, on average that is, in many central suburbs now, not in material, simply for their location and land value. The average home price in the whole of Auckland is well over 800,000 or near 900,000 now, far out of reach of ordinary workers in blue collar or service jobs.
But even many hard workers, who maybe tradies or courier van drivers, or offering various other services, they are now self employed, not always by choice, have “invested” in their expensive vehicles, tools and machinery, and work long hours, to make ends meet. They have an artificial pride in their self dependence and look down on others who do not work as self employed or they frown on those at the very bottom, on benefits.
We have now a nicely structured class society and fractured society, that suits National, ACT and their supporters and financiers, as divide and rule is the old recipe to control society, people and the economic realities.
What helps them also is the fact the opposition is made up of more than three parties, three actually in Parliament, of whom Labour is the largest, struggling to stay above 30 percent in the polls, at times falling below. So people see the situation and think, oh, can be rely on such an opposition forming a functioning and united government? Ahem, probably not, most may think, and there we have it, they see divide and rule and stick to the ones in charge, who they know, no matter what.
A massive challenge for Labour, Greens and NZ First and parties not in Parliament to achieve change by gaining trust this is, and their resources are limited, while National usually has no problem getting their lobbyist business and wealthy supporters to throw them at least a good lifeline, and more, to afford the best advisors and experts, who they can buy for expensive money.
I despair at times, the only alternative for the opposition is to work yet harder, try all to get more support and funding, and get good advice, and above all work together, to beat this rotten government once and for all.
At the moment not even the Panama Papers seem to stick much on Key and consorts, as the also useless or in part complicit media simply move on without asking the really hard questions and doing more research.
One hope is perhaps the new Chief Ombudsman, who may put an end to the massive abuse also of the Official Information Act and other laws, who are supposed to provide legal means to get transparency. There must be so much exposed that it finally sticks in the faces of Key and his fellow ministers and MPs, so that even their present supporters can no longer deny the corruptness and meanness of what goes on.
Unless the polls are rigged (there’s a surprise!), I am gobsmacked at how stupid the average Kiwi is. Jonkey is the most oblivious bloody crook of a PM NZ has had ever, and people STILL think he’s the best thing since sliced bread!!!
I think you mean “obvious”, not “oblivious”…. because it is obvious. The mask has well and truly slipped. The big problem, as Trotter points out, is that it seems as if the majority of kiwis don’t actually mind.
Response to the Mike Ruppert link:
Maybe not extinction of the human species by 2030 -the thermal mass of the oceans is HUGE and there is still a lot of ice left to melt- but definitely extinction of the human species well before the end of this century as a direct consequence of the policies promoted by the maniacs in government here and elsewhere.
March 2016 was yet another record-breaking month (which is not the least surprising when atmospheric CO2 is at a record high and is rapidly increasing):
http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/apr/15/march-temperature-smashes-100-year-global-record
And we know that the Key government, along with most other banker-corporation-opportunist-serving governments, is firmly focused on ignoring the scientific evidence and pushing ahead with ever-greater dysfunction and an ever-earlier transition to utter mayhem, via the promotion of INCREASED CONSUMPTION of fossil fuels and INCREASED EMISSIONS.
Just how much longer they can keep up the pretence? At what point they will decide to stop being covertly fascistic and become overtly fascistic?
Response to the Shock Doctrine link.
Yes, Shock Doctrine was many years ago and everything has got much worse since.
I think some of us may be being a little reactionary on C T here,…
Among other things.. he is a political commentator… and perhaps hasn’t the luxury of an emotional outburst as some of us have on this forum,…also… he has declared that he describes himself as a ‘Democratic Socialist’ at one time.. and aligned with the left rather than the right…
That said… that doesn’t stop him from playing the devils advocate and getting the tongues wagging… which is exactly and precisely the desired effect. And in saying certain things, stimulates conversation..
And that serves to clarify a consensus among the left…and hopefully ,… to thrash out some solutions.
We all agree here that Key is… well its all been said…and the practical plan to depose National and its odious leader is?
Here are a few happy truths you can all hang your hats on. NO political tenure is permanent. NONE of them. The question is here …who is there in NATIONAL to replace Key when he is gone?
And why will Key go if not for a series of events that will finally bring down that rotting edifice?.. its already happening .. the Panama papers.. NZ being a ‘ tax haven ‘ in the worlds eye… let alone the multitude examples of lunacy and illegality that has occurred under this govt.
The tipping point will be a severe economic downturn – particularly with housing. We have already seen the derision at the Big Gay Out, at a rugby league match… everyday battlers disliking Nationals leader… even if Key does win a fourth term… it will be a slow crumbling ignominious curtain call for this National govt.
Listen to the Radiolive link above, he is no Democratic Socialist. He hasn’t been left in a long time.
IMHO the Left of the past were “the Left” largely for two simple reasons: people struggled, and also were part of their natural environments.
Based on that, social policy was fought and won, but that social policy combined with the on-going march of “development” has given rise to a different kind of New Zealander. The hard-working, get-stuck-in, put-on-your-gumboots, DIY, ANZAC generation of the past has given way to … afraid-to-get-your-hands-dirty, dress-shirt-silver-watch-wearing, latte-sipping, “lifestyle generation” Aucklanders.
And what used to be a nation of people heavily involved in their natural environment, gave way to city-dwellers with iPhones, afraid to get caught in the rain because it might mess up their “do”. At best the natural environment became an “add-on”, in the form of outdoor “adventure tourism” lifestyles, the kind that you drive past in your SUV – nothing like the livin’-it, fence-post-fixing, farmer-NZ of old. Even farming is only a place for “Managers” today, as we see in recent Fonterra news.
Like it or not, the new New Zealander _IS_ ponsy Aucklanders.
In other words, the previous Left’s policies allowed the Right of today, to flourish and grow. This is not a uniquely NZ problem, but we seem to have been amongst the last to fall. The spoiled-brat, rich-kid, heavily-groomed Right, perhaps best exemplified by Simon Bridges, of today, are paying the country back by exploiting every ounce of social fabric created, that gave them what they have. It’s the resource curse.
Furthermore, NZ’s global reputation for fairness, education, and social policy preceded itself: the rich from abroad wanted a piece of that pie. Who doesn’t want to live in a “clean green” utopia, a socially just utopia – ripe for the pickings? So those under-educated, Manager-class wretches with too much money from abroad moved in, and began waging their considerable violence against the poor. “Money money money it’s a rich man’s world”, they sing, all the while living in gated communities with Audi’s, isolated from the effects of their corruption, giving themselves a pat on the back, and complaining that the poor just aren’t working hard enough.
The questions are, how far, and for how long will NZ have to fall, before the pendulum shifts back to the Left again? How long until the centre begins to wake up? One more term? With our soggy-Weetbix Labour? It’s a frightening time to be a Kiwi.
Here’s something interesting – maybe. The New Zealander of today may be exactly as you describe, Lostrelic. But the people who are getting the shaft end of the silver spoon actually aspire to some version of the same vapid -to our eyes -thing. The can-do gumboot-wearing, number-eight wire brandishers may not exist any more. Poorer people may not be able to survive in 2016, but they will still have a smart phone a facebook and aspire to go viral. It is a New World with new myths.
The reason the traditional Left is struggling is because their audience has largely shrunk/transformed into urban dreamers and individualised reef-fish. People for whom the egalitarian instincts of the fifties, sixties, seventies… are dimly perceived or totally forgotten
However, I believe that the core values of New Zealand: to be a constructive contributing World citizen, to help those who need it at home and to leave the country better than we found it, are still out there, somewhere. The problem is in the psychological understanding of the new generations and in finding a leader who can market him or herself to the new reality. Andrew Little sounds like a 1980s-style union organiser: intelligent, educated but with his boots still deep in the politics of the post-war world. Many thought he was the best – even the only – pick that the party could make, given the choice presented. But that still doesn’t make him the right choice.
Personally, I am waiting for someone with the flair and the rhetorical skills to enthuse the faithful. We could certainly have done with a Russel Norman. Is there someone out there hiding among the drab but competent, the careful, the identity politicians, the longtime servers, the surely-it’s-our-turners. Is there? Maybe. I’m not hoping for some messiah, for Christ’s sake. Just an effective big-picture spokesperson for the frustrated legions. Someone who excites admiration, even just a bit of admiration. If Andrew Little can’t be that person, and only he knows if he even aspires to be such a person, then he should prepare to fall on his sword sooner rather than later.
If there is a right person out there – maybe even someone who is not obviously the wrong person – believe it or not there is plenty of time before the next election. On the other hand, there is never enough time for someone the country does not want.
If there isn’t anyone who is fully ready to fill the role yet then we may be better to start grooming now, Lucinda, Michael, Stuart or whoever we believe will eventually be able to do the job. Because if we settle for something we know will never work we still have to suck up another four years anyway.
Chris: “The National Government’s unprecedented run in the polls rolls on. Eight years in office and still the level of support for John Key’s ministry in the New Zealand electorate continues to fluctuate between an unassailable 45 and 55 percent.”
Mind you, the Nats haven’t been above 51% for almost a year now (and went as low as 43% in July). Bear in mind that they were regularly polling 54-55% during the Key Govt’s First Term in Office and, much more importantly, the Government Bloc as a whole was averaging 59-60%.
Support for both Colin Craig’s Conservatives (over the last year or so) and for the small Right parties of Govt (over the longer term) has collapsed and largely moved to National.
So, the fact that, despite this, the Nats are polling much lower than during their First Term and that the Government Bloc as a whole has often been polling just 48-49% over the last 12 months (10 points down on where they were in 2009-2011) militates against this regularly regurgitated notion (and implied in your argument) that the Tories are as popular as they ever were.
The new black is blue.
Is the new Josie Pagani Chris Trotter?
Yes, both are not left, and that’s not new.
No surprises here. That is the problem with those who still believe in the integrity of ‘labels’ these days. The Left The Right. The indistinguishable middle that is Nu Labour, National Lite
And exactly the same economic, immigration policies to dilute the voting core too. Exactly as was done in the UK under Thatcher. Just as bad under Blair..Just slower here to be felt and seen but they were always coming whether under Key or another after Clark.. He has just accelerated the Land of Fonterra and Manuka’s curdle and exascerbated the dogwhistle divide and rule politik aided by a very co-operative circle in the 4thEstate.
Those bolt-holing here now from overseas whether the wealthiest highrollers gated on Waiheke, those newly moneyed , stiffing their own employees wherever they have a franchise or run the passport witheld serfworkers /students/ for whom even our worst standard of living is not as awful as the back ends of Mumbai or Manilla, are swelling the ranks of the new black blues Chris speaks of, and will do what suits them or what they are told to do voting-wise.
Anyone beyond ‘family’ expendable..
What is depressing as others have pointed out too is how hard it is to actually differentiate between the Hides and Trotters.. Henry’s and Garners these days, either cheerleading Key and his so called infallability on air or driving whichever demonisation bus de jour ..
The young, Maori, dog owners,state house tenants,Muslim brides
When that is so obviously another spun construct daily on Squawkback or the Infotaintment shows either end of the day, while jobs are shed, social services shredded and more and more struggle but they just pay lipservice to it.
For many listeners who have just turned over, tuned out or switched off the so called MSM altogether I also feel a turning point is very close and viable BUT..
only if the opposition parties cull their NeoLibs for once and for all, and understand that it’s still not too late to say they will pull out of the TPPa which as it stands would entrench every Neoliberal policy on us and future generations and work on alternatives from that.
We need trade but we need it to lift us all not limit all but the top 10% of us.
Didnt hear one word on the 5 day committee cut down on report-time fiasco from you Mr Trotter. Why was that?
No surprises here. That is the problem with those who still believe in the integrity of ‘labels’ these days. The Left The Right. The indistinguishable middle that is Nu Labour, National Lite
And exactly the same economic, immigration policies to dilute the voting core too. Exactly as was done in the UK under Thatcher. Just as bad under Blair..Just slower here to be felt and seen but they were always coming whether under Key or another after Clark.. He has just accelerated the Land of Fonterra and Manuka’s curdle and exascerbated the dogwhistle divide and rule politik aided by a very co-operative circle in the 4thEstate.
Those bolt-holing here now from overseas whether the wealthiest highrollers gated on Waiheke, those newly moneyed , stiffing their own employees wherever they have a franchise or run the passport witheld serfworkers /students/ for whom even our worst standard of living is not as awful as the back ends of Mumbai or Manilla, are swelling the ranks of the new black blues Chris speaks of, and will do what suits them or what they are told to do voting-wise.
Anyone beyond ‘family’ expendable..
What is depressing as others have pointed out too is how hard it is to actually differentiate between the Hides and Trotters.. Henry’s and Garners these days, either cheerleading Key and his so called infallability on air or driving whichever demonisation bus de jour ..
The young, Maori, dog owners,state house tenants,Muslim brides
When that is so obviously another spun construct daily on Squawkback or the Infotaintment shows either end of the day, while jobs are shed, social services shredded and more and more struggle but they just pay lipservice to it.
For many listeners who have just turned over, tuned out or switched off the so called MSM altogether I also feel a turning point is very close and viable BUT..
only if the opposition parties cull their NeoLibs for once and for all, and understand that it’s still not too late to say they will pull out of the TPPa which as it stands would entrench every Neoliberal policy on us and future generations and work on alternatives from that.
We need trade but we need it to lift us all not limit all but the top 10% of us.
DidNo surprises here. That is the problem with those who still believe in the integrity of ‘labels’ these days. The Left The Right. The indistinguishable middle that is Nu Labour, National Lite
And exactly the same economic, immigration policies to dilute the voting core too. Exactly as was done in the UK under Thatcher. Just as bad under Blair..Just slower here to be felt and seen but they were always coming whether under Key or another after Clark.. He has just accelerated the Land of Fonterra and Manuka’s curdle and exascerbated the dogwhistle divide and rule politik aided by a very co-operative circle in the 4thEstate.
Those bolt-holing here now from overseas whether the wealthiest highrollers gated on Waiheke, those newly moneyed , stiffing their own employees wherever they have a franchise or run the passport witheld serfworkers /students/ for whom even our worst standard of living is not as awful as the back ends of Mumbai or Manilla, are swelling the ranks of the new black blues Chris speaks of, and will do what suits them or what they are told to do voting-wise.
Anyone beyond ‘family’ expendable..
What is depressing as others have pointed out too is how hard it is to actually differentiate between the Hides and Trotters.. Henry’s and Garners these days, either cheerleading Key and his so called infallability on air or driving whichever demonisation bus de jour ..
The young, Maori, dog owners,state house tenants,Muslim brides
When that is so obviously another spun construct daily on Squawkback or the Infotaintment shows either end of the day, while jobs are shed, social services shredded and more and more struggle but they just pay lipservice to it.
For many listeners who have just turned over, tuned out or switched off the so called MSM altogether I also feel a turning point is very close and viable BUT..
only if the opposition parties cull their NeoLibs for once and for all, and understand that it’s still not too late to say they will pull out of the TPPa which as it stands would entrench every Neoliberal policy on us and future generations and work on alternatives from that.
We need trade but we need it to lift us all not limit all but the top 10% of us.
Didnt hear one word on the 5 day committee cut down on report-time fiasco from you Mr Trotter. Why was that?
Didnt hear one word on the 5 day committee cut down on report-time fiasco from you Mr Trotter. Why was that?
Martyn please delete the above.. My attempts at posts clearly merged somehow through my Samsung, making it semi-incomprehensible and cut off the pivotal last question ..
Thanks..
No surprises here. That is the problem with those who still believe in the integrity of ‘labels’ these days. The Left The Right. The indistinguishable middle that is Nu Labour, National Lite
And exactly the same economic, immigration policies to dilute the voting core too.
Exactly as was done in the UK under Thatcher. Just as bad under Blair..Just slower here to be felt and seen but they were always coming whether under Key or another after Clark. He has just accelerated the Land of Fonterra and Manuka’s curdle and exacerbated the dog-whistle divide and rule politik aided by a very co-operative circle in the 4th Estate.
Those bolt-holing here now from overseas whether the wealthiest high-rollers gated on Waiheke, those newly moneyed , stiffing their own employees wherever they have a franchise or run the passport with-held serf-workers /students/ for whom even our worst standard of living is not as awful as the back ends of Mumbai or Manilla, are swelling the ranks of the new black blues Chris speaks of, and will do what suits them or what they are told to do voting-wise.
Anyone beyond ‘family’ expendable..
What is depressing as others have pointed out too, is how hard it is to actually differentiate between the Hides and Trotters, Henry’s and Garners these days, either cheer-leading Key and his so called infallability on air or driving whichever demonisation bus de jour ..
The young, Maori, dog owners,state house tenants, Muslim brides
when that is so obviously another spun construct daily on Squawkback or the Infotaintment shows either end of the day, while jobs are shed, social services shredded and more and more struggle but they just pay lip-service to it.
For many listeners who have just turned over, tuned out or switched off the so called MSM altogether I also feel a turning point is very close and viable,
BUT..
only if the opposition parties cull their NeoLibs for once and for all, and understand that it’s still not too late to say they will pull out of the TPPa which as it stands would entrench every Neoliberal policy on us and future generations and work on alternatives from that.
We need trade but we need it to lift us all not limit all but the top 10% of us.
Didn’t hear one word on the 5 day committee cut down on report-time fiasco from you Mr Trotter. Why was that?
…
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