The Party list shows an urgent attempt to inject new blood into Labour. Many forget that when Jacinda took over, Labour was pretty lean on talent and wasn’t attracting any either.
It wasn’t so much a talent pool as a talent puddle.
With Labour polling stratospherically, anyone getting on the Party list this year has a chance to be in Parliament so Labour has been on an enormous recruitment drive with Jacinda overlooking the selections.
The reason Muller’s 17 empty chairs Hootonism works is because there’s some truth to it. Labour have suffered from easily led Ministers being utterly owned by their Ministries which is why Labour can only save us from dystopia, they can’t rebuild utopia.
They are spending so much energy just keeping the country’s collective head above pandemic waters they don’t have the time to think about the big vision stuff that will ultimately be the sustainable solution to our current neoliberal late capitalism cycle woes.
The need for that new talent was highlighted by the jaw dropping decision to start a civil war with Māori media and yesterdays pathetic list of ‘shovel ready’ jobs.
The boys in the back room have had some time to work on what happens next, so one would be hoping for some huge ideas, what we’ve been given is a scrawny list of reasons why the current gridlock around Auckland will soon occur in 11 other locations.
It isn’t just the bland ideas, it’s the pathetic number of jobs, all up we are looking at 1200 jobs, well, that’s neat, BUT WE LOST 8300 JOBS!
And that’s the 8300 we know of through the media, the true number could be closer to 40 000 and we are looking at 80 000 by years end.
Soooooo, ‘shovel ready job schemes’ that barely employ 1200 people isn’t really a fucking response to the enormity of the problem is it?
Don’t tell me it’s a good first step because that’s all this Party has been for 3 years, a good first step – the people who are imploding in this marathon need more than a first good step.
This announcement is a threadbare bandage on a haemorrhaging laceration.
The Progressive Left have got to come up with the visions and policy platform that the Government are unable to focus on due to the enormity of the pandemic. To this end, there is a Left wing hui in July that will be live streamed on TDB bringing together the best minds from Greenpeace, Better Futures Forum, Child Poverty Action Group, State Housing Action, School Strike for Climate, Extinction Rebellion, Unite Union, Council of Trade Unions, Migrant Workers Association, Just Speak, Quality Public Education Coalition, Action Station, Auckland Action Against Poverty and People Against Prisons Aotearoa to thrash out what that progressive left policy platform can be.
Labour have announced 1200 jobs, now we just need to help them find the 7100 others.
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The list is a rehash of 2017’s never delivered promises. The big promise glaringly absent from the list is light rail, not a single inch laid. And somehow the still not delivered promise walkway attached to the harbour bridge has blown out budget wise beyond anyone’s wildest imagination.
And who was the Minister who behind that and so many other broken promises? Phil Twyford. My hope was voters would relieve us of his uselessness and kick him out of his marginal seat, do the job the PM should have done but couldn’t. But stone me, she put this liability and testament to failure at number 4 on the list to carry on doing more damage.
Why?
Boy you are going to one disappointed individual in 2-3 years. I had similar feelings towards the end of Key’s second term. No point blaming the team if the captain can’t direct them, this is unfortunately all on Jacinda and her inner circle. Simply put, career politicians will make decisions based off political NOT economic or social considerations. You cannot argue the Ardern is anything but a career politician especially given her Tony Blair pedigree.
These aren’t shovel ready also. Its a safe bet that the majority of these aren’t commenced before 2021. This is all smoke and mirrors for an adoring media that haven’t the skill nor the desire to analyse and assess this announcement for what it actually is.
Like the States our political environment has become a battle of personality cults. Clark, as much as I despised her government was the last true leader we had and are likely to see for a while yet. Key, much like Ardern is becoming, was a media darling. Sure he had his pet projects off to the side however to the main he, and his sidekick Bill were hands off, much like the current mob and made decisions on political rather than economic and social reasons. Exhibit 1 – the flag.
I hope, both on the left and my right that we begin to stop getting so focused on the cult of personality and more interested in the policies and their effects. Otherwise the status quo remains and we all know the problems with this. Now that is something to protest and march about.
I suspect the government will get caught on the backfoot within a matter of weeks as the Covid-19 pandemic ‘takes out’ numerous major nations and demolishes business-as-usual throughout most of the world.
Doing very badly:
The US.
Brazil
India
Pakistan
Bangladesh
Doing badly
UK
Canada
France
Germany
Italy
Spain
Sweden
Russia
Iran
Mexico
Argentina
Chile
Ecuador
South Africa
Not doing particularly well
Australia
China
Japan
Most of Africa
Pardon me if I’ve missed any significant portions of the Earth.
And on top of that there is the Fed ‘buying everything’ to prop things up because the market is broken.
‘Printing Until the Cows Come Home…
It started out with Jay Powell planting a happy little money tree in 2019 to keep the repo market from suffering a terminal seizure. This essentially led to a restoration of the status quo ante “QT” (the mythical beast known as “quantitative tightening” that was briefly glimpsed in 2018/19). Thus the roach motel theory of QE was confirmed: once a central bank resorts to QE, a return to “standard monetary policy” becomes impossible. You can check in, but you can never leave.’….
https://acting-man.com/?p=55271
FFS!
So now Muller and Hooton are on the money. Make up your fucking mind.
In case you haven’t noticed, “Jacinda” has been just a bit busy lately but hey, if it makes you feel better to throw turds at her….
Here’s one reason why Labour needs to NOW take the reins of their dysfunctional agencies like Kiwi Rail and NZTA as they have been steamrollered over by Steven Joyce to become impudent and lack any “common sense policies. – ‘HEAVY Rail all around our country’ will produce many jobs all around our country and save our environment and futures as well.
Find more from Citizens Environmental Advocacy Centre on InfoPages.
press release. Citizens Environmental Advocacy Centre. 15/6/20.
CEAC – Agrees With NZF Policy “for Heavy Rail Around This Country”
https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO2006/S00128/ceac-agrees-with-nzf-policy-for-heavy-rail-around-this-country.htm
Politics
CEAC – Agrees With NZF Policy “for Heavy Rail Around This Country”
Monday, 15 June 2020, 9:19 am
Press Release: Citizens Environmental Advocacy Centre
Light rail is only for passengers; – and not as cost effective as heavy rail is with a multi-functional capacity, so KiwiRail must now expand heavy rail around NZ along with concentrating on electric locomotives that is the new smart transport that emit virtually no climate change carbon emissions, in line with global trends.
Regulatory agreement made by Government;
NZ is a signatory of the Paris climate change agreement since 2017; – when the ruling National Party then signed onto the ‘lowered climate change emissions target’, – promising to moving to low emissions transport motivation; – so KiwiRail’s CEO Greg Miller made fatal serious errors in his judgement last week when he announced he supported buying more troublesome and unreliable Chinese diesel locomotives – and this does not stack up.
Logic;
As to spending massive Billions of public funds only on light rail also ‘does not stack up‘ as rail needs to be multi-functional in future to take freight and passenger services when required; – and that is smart transport.
Twyford last year conceded there would be no “spades in the ground in 2020”, but said he remained confident the “multi-billion-dollar project… to transform Auckland” would get off the ground.
There are two proposals for consideration: One from the New Zealand Transport Agency and the other from NZ Infra – a joint venture by the NZ Super Fund and CDPQ.
In late May, Twyford told reporters a proposal would go before ministers “soon” following “extensive and ongoing conversations” with NZ First.
That same day, Peters told reporters light rail was “not an issue” as it was “not going to happen in the immediate term”.
“Costs have blown out massively. We’ve always been for heavy rail around this country… and light rail has been suspended,” Peters told reporters.
“I’ve made my views very clear, a long way back.”
Twyford last week told Parliament it was his intention to take a proposal to Cabinet by 19 June, the date at which the government shifts into pre-election mode.
Both Peters and Twyford refused to comment to RNZ except to say the Cabinet process was underway.
Green Party transport spokesperson and associate minister for transport, Julie Anne Genter, also declined an interview.
Genter told Stuff last week the Green Party would campaign on light rail if the coalition government was unable to get it across the line.
She said the party wanted “better public transport and rapid transit for Auckland”, and that specifically included light rail.
CEAC are supporting smart multi-purpose rail and NZF has heavy rail their preference here – “very clear, a long way back.”
Kiwi Rail; Make our rail funding the most effective, efficient, low emission climate friendly transport mode for the money spent by NZ taxpayers.
END.
I think you mean impotent rather than impudent.
Rosie – The words all describe ‘Steven Joyce’ correctly; – so impudent was the correct word Rosie.
Definition of impudent
1: marked by contemptuous or cocky boldness or disregard of others : INSOLENT
2obsolete : lacking modesty
Well said Jacindafan. She’s being a leader.I thought I’d stumbled across whatsisname Farrar’s? website. But just the usual bunch of keyboard warriors from ACT and Nat-Toddlers’ minders gearing up for the campaign trying to support their sooo inspiring muddler (sarc). Yawn! Wake me when they get a real leader.
This site is degenerating into a negative moan fest ,quite frankly it deserves a National government to give the contributors something to really whinge about. I’m out of here to a happy place. Cheers
Perhaps a couple of weeks of cheesy grins and brain fades might jolt them back to reality
When the likes of Twyford and Le Galloway climb the list it shows the lack of talent Jacinda has to deal with. Calling the lockdown was correct but that was the easy part getting the economy up and running is going to be the hard part. There is the added hurdle to cross is that we cannot rebuild on the previous economic foundations as they were going to have to change at some time due to climate changel. Is the Labour Party up to it as after the election they could be in charge with no other parties to blame if things do not work out.
dle
We have all of the above included in the hui ,… and possibly a lil’ old book written by John Maynard Keynes, and another book all about Michael Joseph Savage…
Amazing, present day politicians want to be seen as TRYING to fix a problem and seemingly not even REMOTELY interested in actually fixing a problem.
I’m sure there are better plans than the following, that I can think of whilst having a cuppa:
1) ACTUALLY build council houses, 250,000. MAKE the land available (talking to Colin Craig for that solution, re: handling the land banking corruption) and put in the train and road links (infrastructure) etc. JUST DO IT. If it’s too hard get out of the way and let someone who can do it….and NO that’s not the people who helped make the problem infinitely worse than it needed to be or was; the Natz.
2) Build and fix hospitals, schools and build new (if needed) community halls in every town over a sensible size.
3) Build government run centers for the homeless
4) More doctors, dentists, mental health, drug councilors (especially in hospitals)
There’s enough work for more than will be unemployed and not a bad start. Free up skill training if needed for ‘nearly suitable’ people.
Again I’m sure a better plan can be made, but absent one.
How about nationalize the buses and make it free to use in small towns and an insignificant amount in larger ones or cities, by an automated card. This would save a fortune in new road builds, repair to roads etc etc and thus a major saving for the future.
A least all this debasement via money creation could build infrastructure, train the next generation etc rather than just GIVE IT to the rich and wait for ‘trickle down’………what a sick and cruel joke that policy still is
I am hoping our whanau on the Tamaki Makaurau Maori role vote for John Tamihere with Peeni high on the Labour list he should be safe that way we get in two Maori voices, or should I say one and half. Our people need to vote strategically like those in Epsom have done for many years. I hope they look at the listings and make a decision from that. Although Labour claim to be the best party for Maori here are some of the issues and policies that really get on my goat.
The smoking in cars with children legislation is punitive and can hurt the very people they say they are trying to help. Instead a better approach would be to fund health promotion work and public education.
Ihumatao has been put on the back burner, why is someone standing in there way?
Maori water rights has not been resolved, why? is this in the too hard basket. Many of us don’t want ownership we just want our rights.
Too many of Labours Maori politicians are low on their list, why? when others with no mandate are listed higher, its like a kick in the guts.
Oranga Tamarikis’ damning report has not been addressed, why? is it too hard to admit when something has not worked and never will. In the meantime further denying us our Tino Rangatiratanga and making a mockery of the word partnership.
A rhetorical question I take it–“how pathetic”?…
The left Hui in Wellington, with many streaming hopefully, will need to hand some plans directly to the Labour Caucus on a plate–and also work for a high turnout at the General Election and Cannabis and End of Life Referenda.
There are various takes and lists on “What needs to be done” from Revolution on down. In the world of Real Politik, where boomers will not be outnumbered at the polls till 2023 this means getting a high voter turnout and a good majority Labour/Green Govt.
Peoples movements as in the US are not a runner here–yet–heard of Morrinsville? Havelock North? Sheep shaggers and hundreds of thousands of self employed and SMEs?
So, priorities could be…
–a new MOW to cut out the PPP shit like that which has plagued “Transmission Gully” highway in Wellington.
–Nationwide upgrades of rail networks, Nationalisation of AirNZ, reboot of NZ owned coastal shipping and river shipping (i.e. Kaipara Harbour)
–A Basic Income for all administered by IRD, with a brand new back up Social Security Agency for those with special needs. WINZ/MSD–Gone, Sepuloni–Gone.
–Power Generation and Supply returned to full public ownership
–Oranga Tamariki and Immigration cleaned out of all management and rebooted.
–Massive State house and apartment build
–Free Tertiary and skills training for all etc etc.
I see Heather Simpsons’ recent report highlighted the many problems with our DHB’s namely there is too many for starters and money is being wasted on too many CEO in our health system when that money would be better of going directly into service delivery. MSD is another area that needs a complete overhaul i looked at some of their paper work for applying for a student allowance it needs immediate changes as parents who have to fill them out may not be together have all their personal income details revealed. Another problem with Winz letting people who lost their job due to covid get $490 per week while their partner can earn up to 2 thousand a week this policy is so unfair it is plain wrong.
WHY ISN’T PATIENTS VOICE AOTEAROA on the Hui invite list.
YOU HAVE NOT ONE SINGLE HEALTH ORIENTED INDIVIDUAL ORGANISATION INVITED I am severely pissed off.
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