Public Address | Cafe | Polity: Custard

andin

Sun, 26 Jun 2016 10:07:14 +1200

“what is the EU?”

There is a lot of words written about everything round this, I see very few/none about Rebstock/Rennie's screw up Hmmm

andin

Sat, 25 Jun 2016 10:18:26 +1200

the Beehive’s sewerage failed, meaning it is quite literally full of shit.
Seems they have been shovelling shit down it for quite some time

andin

Mon, 20 Jun 2016 17:30:32 +1200

No probs
I was just lamenting that even when the opposition is right they still get flack
And you have to ask yourself who is doing it and why,(If they can give a valid reason).
Now more than ever the voters have to give a shit, because many commentators and…

Kumara Republic

Mon, 20 Jun 2016 16:43:29 +1200

sorry went away for a few days. let me be clear I think he opposition is right to hold Bennett to the fire and Soper is a dick I was just lamenting that even when the opposition is right they still get flack

I'm wondering if Soper, Watkins, Trevett, Gower…

Tristan

Mon, 20 Jun 2016 08:53:39 +1200

Rob Salmond

Sun, 19 Jun 2016 14:58:10 +1200

If the point is meant to be that a Labour-led alternative would be better, then I wish there were more in here about what Labour would be doing, why Labour’s people are superior, would make highly competent and better Ministers who are less prone to screwing up, and how it’d…

Ian Pattison

Sun, 19 Jun 2016 14:25:00 +1200

But this may only result in a one term government, unless they can then offer competency and real solutions.

Without Key, National are gonners and in the case of a National Party defeat, he won't even be in the country when the final tally comes in. He will be in…

Marc C

Sun, 19 Jun 2016 14:14:04 +1200

In this instance I was not so much thinking of the die hard Nat voters, they will rather vote ACT or NZ First when unhappy, perhaps earlier on also have considered the Conservatives. But there appear to have been a fair few former Labour voters, who changed their vote in…

BenWilson

Sun, 19 Jun 2016 13:33:25 +1200

Isn’t that how National got into power last time? Saying nothing, and relying on the population to vote National …. because they’re not Labour.

Sort of. And at the end of the day, that’s actually the main real power of a democratic system. It’s not really that great at selecting…

Alfie

Sun, 19 Jun 2016 13:25:38 +1200

Those diehard Nact voters arent really engaged in the political process which requires they pay attention to what is happening around them in a wider sense, and making an informed decision based what they read and what they observe.

I'm with Andin. There's a large middle ground in the electorate…

andin

Sun, 19 Jun 2016 12:06:15 +1200

disillusioned National voters will in some numbers go and vote Labour
I think your mistaken even thinking that let alone writing it.
Those diehard Nact voters arent really engaged in the political process which requires they pay attention to what is happening around them in a wider sense, and making…

Sacha

Sun, 19 Jun 2016 10:35:11 +1200

My understanding is that Labour is sitting on policies to announce closer to the election. Only hope they do not wait too late.

Marc C

Sun, 19 Jun 2016 10:25:45 +1200

I am under the impression that is the only "strategy" Labour does presently have and follow, simply hoping the government will stuff up enough and in time for the next general election, so the tired, disillusioned National voters will in some numbers go and vote Labour, simply to have a…

oga

Sun, 19 Jun 2016 06:32:05 +1200

The slogan “Vote Labour… because we’re not National” will never be a vote winner.

Isn't that how National got into power last time? Saying nothing, and relying on the population to vote National .... because they're not Labour.

Joe Wylie

Sun, 19 Jun 2016 02:36:03 +1200

...If taking up too progressive ideas, the Shearers, Goffs and Nashs will growl...
If Goff's current plans work out, come the next election his relationship to Labour will likely be Lianne Dalziel writ large, i.e. don't ask, don't tell.

izogi

Sun, 19 Jun 2016 00:11:20 +1200

I hope so. Even if Labour can get a positive Party Vote Labour message out this election, which its candidates comprehensively and altruistically get behind ahead of their own local ambitions, it'll be an improvement.

I still can't shake that dreadful 2008 re-election campaign from my head, which was largely…

Marc C

Sat, 18 Jun 2016 23:55:40 +1200

National's divisive politics promoting inequality and extreme greed should be an easy target for a modern party of the left. But only if that party embraces genuine left-wing values. There's never been a better time for Labour to offer New Zealanders a real alternative instead of a watered down more…

Marc C

Sat, 18 Jun 2016 23:43:00 +1200

__"I more or less agree with everything Rob's said, but pointing to deficiencies and incompetence in the government is such an easy thing in recent times. It all gets reported, and then the next day comes. I routinely run into people who are sick of the government, but they're sick…

Sacha

Sat, 18 Jun 2016 19:32:53 +1200

Fortunately the Greens are smart enough to overcome this residual Labour stupidity given a chance in coalition negotiations.

Sacha

Sat, 18 Jun 2016 19:26:42 +1200

One of the main reasons the Nats are enjoying such a run of unfettered power is the lack of a credible opposition.

The last few weeks has given me some hope we are past this at last. (Touch wood) no Lab MPs leaking or sticking feet in mouths to distract…

Sacha

Sat, 18 Jun 2016 19:23:01 +1200

Is there a reason then, apart from electoral timidity, for Labour to retain anything of National's 90 day legislation?

Because – exactly like the PM – they prefer anecdata from employers they've met over actual research which shows the policy does not help anybody other than bad employers who can…

Keir Leslie

Sat, 18 Jun 2016 15:16:33 +1200

How about the accelerating degradation of our waterways from overfarming? The undemocratic takeover of Ecan?

You mean other than promise to hold democratic elections for ECan, campaign on that, put Bills in the Ballot to achieve that, stand candidates for ECan with an explicit mandate to work towards the return…

Ian Pattison

Sat, 18 Jun 2016 13:23:01 +1200

Contrary to popular belief, employers are still required to tell the employee why they had been fired, and to communicate to them during the trial how they are doing – a concept that has big consequences.

The basis of this is the fact that the law only applies to the…

andin

Sat, 18 Jun 2016 13:08:16 +1200

The next fifteen months are going to be fascinating.
Maybe for you Rob, for me they’ll be excruciating. I take little joy from the screw ups on such a scale as this govt is screwing up. Because when those who are supposedly in charge are fucking up as monumentally as…

tony j ricketts

Sat, 18 Jun 2016 12:41:44 +1200

. It all gets reported, and then the next day comes. I routinely run into people who are sick of the government, but they're sick of all politicians because what Rob's described is, to them, what government is, no matter who's running things.
Sorry I'm late, just got back from…

Alfie

Sat, 18 Jun 2016 12:34:33 +1200

Joe Wylie

Sat, 18 Jun 2016 11:32:56 +1200

It's like we've internalized the right wing talking points.

When Rob Salmond offers nothing beyond passively spectating while National deliver a series of own goals, yes, you could be forgiven for thinking that.

BenWilson

Sat, 18 Jun 2016 08:46:47 +1200

I’m not a massive Labour fan (although I fully admit that they have significantly grown on me since Little took the helm), but seriously, it’s getting to the point where the very much lesser of two evils would be a very big step.

BenWilson

Sat, 18 Jun 2016 08:38:48 +1200

We don't even need right wing commentators, so rapidly can we turn a discussion of the major shortcomings of the government into about the much lesser shortcomings of the opposition. It's like we've internalized the right wing talking points.

izogi

Fri, 17 Jun 2016 19:27:54 +1200

I'm not sure of the detail of employers being required to have a rational reason, but the law seems to do a concise job of ensuring that employers don't have any obligation to provide that reason to the employee, nor be concerned about the employee taking action against them because…

Joe Wylie

Fri, 17 Jun 2016 18:02:44 +1200

The 90 day law still requires you have a legitimate reason for firing someone, but it also says that reason need not be communicated to the employee at any point. National never managed to pass their fire-at-will version.
My understanding is that, under the 90 day provision, National pretty much…

BenWilson

Fri, 17 Jun 2016 17:45:13 +1200

Right. There is recourse if the excuse is essentially unfair, discriminatory, untruthful, malicious, etc.

tussock

Fri, 17 Jun 2016 17:40:03 +1200

That's a big step, really, Joe. The 90 day law still requires you have a legitimate reason for firing someone, but it also says that reason need not be communicated to the employee at any point. National never managed to pass their fire-at-will version.

Changing it to needing a legitimate…

BenWilson

Fri, 17 Jun 2016 17:37:14 +1200

In signaling closer alliance with the Greens, Labour has, however, given you a way to vote for a change of government without having to actually vote for Labour.

But even so think it’s unfair to say that their “only change” is not significant. Forcing employers to give a reason for…

Joe Wylie

Fri, 17 Jun 2016 16:58:25 +1200

...I wish there were more in here about what Labour would be doing...

While Rob Salmond attempts to squeeze a little political capital from Treasury's finding that Key's "90 Day Trial policy is a complete flop", Labour's not exactly preparing to dance on its grave. The only change they seem…

izogi

Fri, 17 Jun 2016 16:41:36 +1200

I more or less agree with everything Rob's said, but pointing to deficiencies and incompetence in the government is such an easy thing in recent times. It all gets reported, and then the next day comes. I routinely run into people who are sick of the government, but they're sick…

Russell Brown

Fri, 17 Jun 2016 16:17:43 +1200

And homelessness is an absolute crisis but Labour did wrong in trying to highlight how bad it was?

It bears noting that Labour's South Auckland MPs had been working with homeless people in their electorates for a long time before the current wave of stories.

Soper's column (apart from being…

bob daktari

Fri, 17 Jun 2016 16:16:11 +1200

The next fifteen months are going to be fascinating

more like deeply depressing, given the toll the policies or lack of action is having on far too many

politics is a really stupid game sometimes/often

Hilary Stace

Fri, 17 Jun 2016 16:12:36 +1200

My daughter just got a speeding ticket. I told her she should have quoted the Police Minister to the cop in her defence. Judith Collins has said people should stop looking at their speedometers and not worry about speeding.

andin

Fri, 17 Jun 2016 16:06:12 +1200

an opposition so unlikable that people are happy to believe this crap

REALLY! So unlikeable? Do you believe any of these things? Do you believe Soper? Bennett?
Or are you somehow able to deduce this "Trouble" from the ether by...what...sniffing?

Im still thinking about a response to the post if…

Greg Presland

Fri, 17 Jun 2016 16:01:19 +1200

So it is all Labour's fault? Bennett's office is involved in a clear attempted smear and you try and blame Labour? And homelessness is an absolute crisis but Labour did wrong in trying to highlight how bad it was?

Tristan

Fri, 17 Jun 2016 15:19:44 +1200

Trouble is Labour for what ever reason as still so unlikable I wonder how much difference it will make. Example of this:

is Bennett new line about how leaking was all a labour smear even though she admited it was wrong

Soper say labour was grandstanding about homeless people by…

Public Address

Fri, 17 Jun 2016 15:19:44 +1200

Discussion from blog post.