Devastating critique of the Free Speech Union on Newsroom…
Who Benefits: The rise and rise of the Free Speech Union
The union’s critics say its veneer of reasonableness hides a darker mission of knocking institutions, sowing the seeds of racial division, and importing culture wars on issues like transgender rights.
Some, like University of Auckland academics Sereana Naepi and Peter Davis, say a free speech “crisis” at universities has been manufactured – and amplified by like-minded groups, like the NZ Initiative.
…I have always felt that Free Speech Union was a Zionist front group that weaponised free speech for right wing purposes.
It is part of the Taxpayers’ Union stable of clients and is an important mouthpiece for the wealthy and powerful.
The irony is that it would never have come about if woke middle class identity politics acolytes hadn’t decided to start a culture war on free speech.
Good one wokies.
The reality is that the astroturf constellation of Taxpayers’ Union, Free Speech Union, The Campaign Company, Groundswell, Federated Farmers, The NZ Initiative, The Atlas Network, Business NZ etc etc etc are all having enormous success at pushing for corporate interests while distracting with culture war talking points.
Kiwis are having their petty bigotries manipulated by these astroturf organisations to advance corporate interests.
Take the recent local elections, Dr Bryce Edwards makes the following point…
…the issue isn’t that the right are using dark money to run influence campaigns and winning, the issue is why the hell can’t the Left counter that influence?
How does NZ Left beat influence of astroturf Taxpayers’ Union/NZ Initiative stable of clients?
The problem is that while the right all hate each other, they put that aside to work for their masters.
On the Left, we are far too focused on attacking each other.
On the Right they search for recruits, on the Left we search for traitors.
This has become a real issue for the Left because the next generation don”t see themselves as a class or as citizens, they see themselves as hashtag identities and the woke infiltration of many Left wing groups (as seen most tragically in 2021 when Auckland Students Against Climate Change cancelled themselves for being too racist) has ended up with a brittle dispirit group of Wellington based groups that are still on talking terms with each other.
The current ‘unity’ on the Left is like a threesome that goes bad.
Hilariously when you speak with Left Wing Generals in private, they all acknowledge that the woke cancel culture of 2016-2020 has left us decimated to the extremes of the reactionary anti-woke right.
I believe there is infrastructure within the NZ Left that could be harnessed in time for the election to act as a counter weight to the Right’s astroturf influencers, it is finding the will to make then Left work together.
We need to build a group of think tanks and support their work through amplification that goes beyond Action Stations list of approved Wellington friend group.
THINK TANKS
In this area, we desperately require real intellectual weight to argue for Left Universalism and capitalist critiques.
The Helen Clark Foundation – The amazing work Helen’s Foundation does and the issues they raise mark her Foundation as one of the best think tanks we have.
Dr Bryce Edwards – Bryce has probably had the best insights into the influence of the right wing astro turf organisations.
Greenpeace – Continue to be the best critic of the Government’s denial of climate change.
NZCTU – They have the money to fund research and step up as leaders.
AMPLIFIERS:
There has to be an acknowledgment that if we are to win the next election, it has to go beyond Action Stations rainbow of the approved Wellington friend group association.
Against the Current, Nick Rockell, Gerard Otto + BHN – All important voices on the Left that need to be patched into this flow of info from the think tanks for distribution online.
Māori Media – Waatea has built their Facebook page to 110 000, Māori media are doing better at building influence than most of the mainstream media.
Political Party social media – They need to step in here as well and promote wider content that isn’t just party based.
Spinoff – Scoop is dead, which is a problem because their press release section once mattered. The Spinoff has social media muscle and they should become the new place for all press releases for the Left.
WHO SHOULD LEAD THIS LEFT INFLUENCE INFRASTRUCTURE:
Max Harris is the obvious candidate to act as the bridge between all these groups.
If the Left doesn’t work to build a counter weight to the right wing astroturf organisations, we can’t win hearts and minds.
Increasingly having independent opinion in a mainstream media environment which mostly echo one another has become more important than ever, so if you value having an independent voice – please donate here.
Clear schematic of the Neoliberal set up by the 1% and its 9% enablers to stop genuine reform for the betterment of all to happen. We have massive inequality, child poverty, homelessness and other ills.
Interesting vital piece. But can you clarify thus – …ended up with a brittle dispirit group of Wellington based groups that are still on talking terms with each other.
It seems that the word ‘not’ could be included here but has been left out. So a question? Are the Wellington based groups still on talking terms with each other – or are they still NOT, on talking terms with each other. I would think that the latter could be the case but I would like confirmation on which.
Also if people are still wavering about how they should move on from where they are stuck, why not spend some time thinking about another approach – that of Prout which is running online sessions for a while. Cost $300 or what you can manage.
12pm Sunday, now today they were to start, goes for some time.
Kia ora
The starting date for this course, offering an in-depth understanding of Prout and Neo-Humanism, has been delayed a week.
It now starts at midday next Sunday, 9th November
Note that the price is (what you feel you can manage not fixed at $300.)
Hope you can join
Warmest regards
bdyer@ts.co.nz
Good people, achieved much. Get with it, I am too old, doing my own resurrection or reanimation of mind countering death before death! You can start earlier and get and give more benefit before your passing, think about the children is a catchcry. But does have meaning that is worthy! We need new approaches, have been trying for decades to cope, falling back getting worse, being, seeing meaner others, just open a tent flap in your mind and creep in or out and get some fresh ideas to pick over!
Course Description
Subject: PROUT course – offering an alternative model of socio-economic progress
Socio-economic alternatives to organize our economy and society based on principles of collective progress and care for the planet are imperative in the face of challenges posed by capitalism to humanity’s existence – wealth concentration, wealth inequality, climate catastrophes, and social injustices.
This course introduces students to an alternative model of socio-economic progress and development. Prout or Progressive Utilization Theory propounded by P.R. Sarkar is a holistic, systems-change alternative to the existing models of organizing the economy and society.
This course aims to develop an ideological and practical understanding of Prout, and explores Prout’s foundation in the values of Neohumanism. Over 12 weeks, with assigned readings, and class discussions, students will delve deeper into core Prout concepts such as Cosmic Inheritance, Social Cycles, Cardinal Human Values, Economic Democracy, Cooperatives, Ethical Leadership, and Political Systems in Prout.
Experience a completely unique learning journey! Students will:
· Learn the basic principles of Prout and understand Prout within the context of Neohumanism;
· Draw necessary connections between existing economic theories and Prout, and learn to discern the differences;
· Develop the ability to think about organizing the society and economy with a human-centered and planet-centered mindset;
· Appreciate Prout as a viable socio-economic alternative to the existing systems;
· Develop the ability to articulate the core concepts of Prout and Neohumanism.
Course start & end dates: November 9, 2025 – February 1, 2026
Duration: 1.5hr. Live online 12-week course on Sundays
Start times: Sunday 12.00 – 1.30pm (NZ time)
Price: (If you can’t afford $300 then confer with them.) contact – bdyer@ts.co.nz
email info@nhca.gurukul.edu with the amount you can pay and we will make a coupon for that amount.
Dada Maheshvarananda
Director of Prout Research Institute near Asheville
Co-author of Tools to Change the World: Study Guide Based on Prout.
Author of After Capitalism: Economic Democracy in Action
and Cooperative Games for a Cooperative World: Facilitating Trust, Communication, and Spiritual Connection
“It is a bigger thing to put one lesson into action than to hear many. You should put into action every lesson in your life” – Shrii Shrii Anandamurtii
“Cosmic Inheritance”
snort
Is Grey-fub Steve Hart?
There is no way on earth that NZ can take the risk of having this God-damn disasterous, corrupt and lying CoC back in power. The main obstacles are Atlas, TaxPayers’ Union, NZ Initative etc. who are pushing their own barrows but only for THEM definitely not for US/NZ! Why can’t the extremely STUPID out there see this? Is it beyond their brain sphere or again do they simply not care since they are ME – all about ME people? If the Left don’t amalgamate and work together cohesively they will chuck this one away and NZ will be dead and buried. Don’t for one moment think I’m being melodramatic – it’s staring you all in the face – it’s just some of you are too dumb to see it.
Bomber:
> a free speech “crisis” at universities has been manufactured – and amplified by like-minded groups, like the NZ Initiative
Maybe in NZ universities. In the US there’s definitely been a Culture War attack on academic freedom. Both from the militant crypto-conservatives who pass themselves off as “liberals” there, and from MAGA-aligned conservatives openly attacking the fundamentals of liberal arts education. Both sides have tried to ban or bowdlerise books, and limit the range of topics faculty can research and teach. Both have brigaded faculty and got people fired for ideological reasons.
If this illiberal toxicity hasn’t got into NZ universities, it won’t be for lack of trying. There’s never a bad time to defend academic freedom, for both faculty and students, that extends to invited speakers.