First, *can* Harawira pull it off; and second … what are the likely effects going to be if he does, in fact, win Te Tai Tokerau once again.
The answers – particularly to the second question – may be surprising.
Nothing sums up the denial of our homelessness crisis quite like the panel on The Nation last weekend. Political Editor of the terribly elitist Spinoff blog Toby Manhire and some Rich Prick from the Rich Prick association sat next to Sue Bradford debating homelessness.
For them, it was all about enabling their privilege as employers, their right to sack anyone they like who doesn’t fit in, who is a bit too lippy, who isn’t a trembling broken frightened worker who will do everything they are told.
The fear Hone has caused by just announcing he is back is a reminder of how terrified the establishment are that the poor could gain genuine political representation. It’s a reminder of just how damaged our current political system is.
The case manager looks her straight in the face and says “you don’t look blind to me” then pulls out a piece of paper from her drawer and asks my aunty to read it, as proof that she’s visually impaired. About to explode with rage I sit there allowing my dear Samoan aunty to handle this despicable situation, with the case manager sitting behind her desk, arms folded with that ‘well, go on prove me wrong look’.
Big ups for New Plymouth mayor Andrew Judd who last week led a hikoi from New Plymouth to Parihaka to help local Pakeha get a better understanding of Te Ao Maori.
The US labour movement and US politics more generally are undergoing a profound transformation. Titanic battles are brewing, between the working class majority and the one percent, and between radicalising political forces on the right and left. The future of life on the planet may well hang on how this battle is resolved.
Tip line is running hot with intense power struggles occurring behind the scenes within National.
We are seeing a complete break down of our crucial social services. The spiteful harvest of National’s draconian welfare reforms are coming home to roost and NZers should feel ashamed of what it says about us as a country.
…our capacity to deny the realities of our environment and the social injustice the current status quo is creating is as bewildering as the mainstream media’s blindspot when it comes to discussing these pressing issues.