Keeping Us Listening

WHEN MY DAUGHTER was in her tweens , the trip to school was considerably enlivened by “ Polly & Grant ” .
The often inane – but always entertaining – banter between Polly Gillespie and Grant Kereama taught me a lot about the skills required of a successful commercial broadcaster .
It didn ’ t really matter whether you were whip-smart or really dumb , so long as you kept your contributions inside the lines of your audience ’ s colouring-book .
I remember Polly discoursing with real passion on the situation in Iraq .
I also remember Grant waxing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ many varieties of toilet paper .
Sublime or ridiculous ?
Beside the point .
Polly and Grant kept us listening .
That ’ s why Jacinda Ardern should give heed to Gillespie ’ s latest foray into political commentary : “ Jacinda , I like you , but please shut up about the team of five million ” .
Far from being an unforgiveable betrayal , Gillespie ’ s light-hearted critique of the Prime Minister ’ s rhetorical style should be read as a gentle warning that her verbal crayon is beginning to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the public ’ s lines .
Not everybody ’ s , obviously , but of an appreciable number of the voters who used to hang on “ Jacinda ’ s ” every word .
( The column ’ s also a pretty good job application letter – but that ’ s another story ! )
Not that Jacinda is likely to be among those frothing with rage that Stuff dared to publish such an egregious example of lèse-majesté .
As a graduate in Communication Studies , the Prime Minister will undoubtedly take Gillespie @ @ @ @ @ @ @ She will understand that while the vast majority of her supporters are a long way from growing weary of her “ Team of Five Million ” rhetoric , people like Gillespie are akin to the proverbial canary in the coalmine .
What “ Polly ” is sick to death of today , there ’ s a better-than-even chance the rest of us will be sick to death of tomorrow .
“ It ’ s been a wee while coming , but I ’ ve finally had enough of the platitudes , and sentimental @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a great person , an incredible communicator , and could spin any spin doctor .
I like Jacinda and have a particular affection for Grant Robertson and Andrew Little , but I ’ m just finding it irritating being spoken to like I ’ m a slightly IQ-deprived child .
It ’ s starting to wear very thin .
If anyone says “ we ’ ve got this ” one more time I will squeal !
” There ’ s some real meat buried in all this over-sweetened pastry .
Translated into hard-core @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like this : “ At the beginning of Covid , Jacinda , we were all frightened and in need of reassurance .
We needed to know that your Government was taking a whole-of-country approach : no exceptions .
So , all that “ Team of Five Million ” stuff was perfectly pitched – exactly what we wanted to hear .
On this , the second time around , however , our mood has changed .
We ’ re pissed-off now .
Impatient .
We want this bloody nonsense to be over with , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ discovering that the things you told us were being done weren ’ t being done .
We ’ re looking for straight answers now , Prime Minister .
Grown-up answers .
We ’ re not your children , Jacinda .
You ’ re not our mum.
” Like a pack of hyenas with the scent of blood in their nostrils , the National Party , as they always do , have picked up on this new mood of frustration and impatience .
Their solutions may not be particularly credible , but they don @ @ @ @ @ @ @ really .
So long as National can convince people that they get the new normal : that their crayons are staying inside the new lines ; the electorate will respond .
What ’ s more , National now has someone whose demeanour is perfectly suited to this new mood of straight-talking seriousness .
Dr Shane Reti is really good at colouring-in the Covid-19 picture .
Regardless of whether Gillespie ’ s right-wing “ lover ” is real or imaginary , by introducing him to her narrative she is conveying another important message to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s the radio celebrity ’ s very own version of the despised “ Team of Five Million ” .
Gillespie ’ s salacious ménage is all about the reality of New Zealanders ’ common predicament .
Regardless of whether we hang to the right or to the left , our Covid experience can not help but be a shared one .
We all have an equal stake in the people in charge doing their jobs properly .
“ Look , Polly , ” he said affectionately ( not kindly ) , “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
We don ’ t have to like our leaders .
They don ’ t need to be saints or fairy godmothers .
We just need people who are doers not just communicators.
” Like it or loathe it , “ Polly ’ s ” commentary kept us listening .
If this afternoon ’ s little speech announcing the four day extension of Auckland ’ s Level 3 Lockdown is any guide , Jacinda was listening , too .
Her address was a clear and sober affair , which told us straight and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decided to do .
The expression “ Team of Five Million ” did not pass the Prime Minister ’ s lips .

WHEN MY DAUGHTER was in her tweens, the trip to school was considerably enlivened by “Polly & Grant”. The often inane – but always entertaining – banter between Polly Gillespie and Grant Kereama taught me a lot about the skills required of a successful commercial broadcaster. It didn’t really matter whether you were whip-smart or really dumb, so long as you kept your contributions inside the lines of your audience’s colouring-book. I remember Polly discoursing with real passion on the situation in Iraq. I also remember Grant waxing eloquent on the relative merits of the many varieties of toilet paper. Sublime or ridiculous? Beside the point. Polly and Grant kept us listening.
That’s why Jacinda Ardern should give heed to Gillespie’s latest foray into political commentary: “Jacinda, I like you, but please shut up about the team of five million”. Far from being an unforgiveable betrayal, Gillespie’s light-hearted critique of the Prime Minister’s rhetorical style should be read as a gentle warning that her verbal crayon is beginning to stray outside at least a slice of the public’s lines. Not everybody’s, obviously, but of an appreciable number of the voters who used to hang on “Jacinda’s” every word. (The column’s also a pretty good job application letter – but that’s another story!)
Not that Jacinda is likely to be among those frothing with rage that Stuff dared to publish such an egregious example of lèse-majesté. As a graduate in Communication Studies, the Prime Minister will undoubtedly take Gillespie’s professional feedback extremely seriously. She will understand that while the vast majority of her supporters are a long way from growing weary of her “Team of Five Million” rhetoric, people like Gillespie are akin to the proverbial canary in the coalmine. What “Polly” is sick to death of today, there’s a better-than-even chance the rest of us will be sick to death of tomorrow.
“It’s been a wee while coming, but I’ve finally had enough of the platitudes, and sentimental psycho-babble ….. Yes, she’s a great person, an incredible communicator, and could spin any spin doctor. I like Jacinda and have a particular affection for Grant Robertson and Andrew Little, but I’m just finding it irritating being spoken to like I’m a slightly IQ-deprived child. It’s starting to wear very thin. If anyone says “we’ve got this” one more time I will squeal!”
There’s some real meat buried in all this over-sweetened pastry. Translated into hard-core political-speak, Gillespie’s message reads like this:
“At the beginning of Covid, Jacinda, we were all frightened and in need of reassurance. We needed to know that your Government was taking a whole-of-country approach: no exceptions. So, all that “Team of Five Million” stuff was perfectly pitched – exactly what we wanted to hear. On this, the second time around, however, our mood has changed. We’re pissed-off now. Impatient. We want this bloody nonsense to be over with, and we really don’t appreciate discovering that the things you told us were being done weren’t being done. We’re looking for straight answers now, Prime Minister. Grown-up answers. We’re not your children, Jacinda. You’re not our mum.”
Like a pack of hyenas with the scent of blood in their nostrils, the National Party, as they always do, have picked up on this new mood of frustration and impatience. Their solutions may not be particularly credible, but they don’t have to be – not really. So long as National can convince people that they get the new normal: that their crayons are staying inside the new lines; the electorate will respond. What’s more, National now has someone whose demeanour is perfectly suited to this new mood of straight-talking seriousness. Dr Shane Reti is really good at colouring-in the Covid-19 picture.
Regardless of whether Gillespie’s right-wing “lover” is real or imaginary, by introducing him to her narrative she is conveying another important message to the Prime Minister. Ironically, it’s the radio celebrity’s very own version of the despised “Team of Five Million”. Gillespie’s salacious ménage is all about the reality of New Zealanders’ common predicament. Regardless of whether we hang to the right or to the left, our Covid experience cannot help but be a shared one. We all have an equal stake in the people in charge doing their jobs properly.
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Gillespie’s final sentences make the sale:
“Look, Polly,” he said affectionately (not kindly), “we just need to vote for balance. We don’t have to like our leaders. They don’t need to be saints or fairy godmothers. We just need people who are doers not just communicators.”
Like it or loathe it, “Polly’s” commentary kept us listening.
If this afternoon’s little speech announcing the four day extension of Auckland’s Level 3 Lockdown is any guide, Jacinda was listening, too. Her address was a clear and sober affair, which told us straight and without unnecessary embellishment what her government has decided to do.
The expression “Team of Five Million” did not pass the Prime Minister’s lips.


thedailyblog--2020-08-27--MUST READ: NZ First is a right-wing party. Always has been. Always will be.

THOSE VOTERS PLANNING to vote for Winston Peters should know they ’ ll also be voting for a National-led Government .
NZ First ’ s recent actions make it very clear that the party will to do everything it can to secure a victory for the Right on 17 October .
If NZ First ’ s contract with the “ Bad Boys of Brexit ” hasn ’ t persuaded the doubters that its fractious sojourn with Labour is over , then Peters ’ threat ( backed by National and Act ) to precipitate a constitutional crisis if the election date @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been more than enough to convince them .
Peters has built his political career on NZ First ’ s political ambiguity .
Supposedly , his party is equally comfortable with the prospect of governing alongside either of the major parties .
The last three years have proved all such claims spurious .
NZ First is a right-wing party .
Always has been .
Always will be .
Why , then , did Peters throw in his lot with Labour and the Greens ?
The simple answer is , because he has been deeply @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mistreatment of him .
National ’ s bad behaviour goes all the way back to Jenny Shipley ’ s deliberate destruction of the National-NZ First Coalition in 1998 .
Ten years later there was the Right ’ s vicious campaign to drive Peters and his party out of Parliament .
John Key played a crucial role in the demolition-job of 2008 , but he had plenty of help .
Right-wing business leaders , publishers , editors , and journalists , all of them weary of Clark ’ s long reign , were determined @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Peters had to go – no ifs , no buts , no maybes .
Nine years later , in 2017 , there was the leaking of Peters ’ NZ Superannuation over-payments .
Although Peters failed to prove it in court , few doubt that National was , once again , responsible .
The other factor which weighed heavily in Peters ’ 2017 decision to throw in his lot with Labour , was the latter ’ s almost comical unreadiness for office .
The NZ First leader must have struggled to believe his luck @ @ @ @ @ @ @ young and very inexperienced politicians , who could easily become putty in his hands .
After all , Michael Cullen , Mike Munro and Heather Simpson could hardly sit beside Jacinda Ardern and Grant Robertson at the Cabinet Table – could they ?
For a man of Peters ’ shrewdness and political experience , a Labour-NZ First coalition promised to be a doddle .
And so it might have proved , had Brenton Tarrant and the Covid-19 virus not intervened .
It ’ s always the things politicians don ’ t see coming @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Massacres and the Covid-19 Pandemic thrust New Zealand ’ s young prime minister into dramas which the Spirit of History might have written especially for her !
If she had ever been anybody ’ s catspaw ( yes , I ’ m looking at you Grant ! )
she was nobody ’ s now .
Instead of looking like Jacinda Ardern ’ s wise old grandpa , Peters peevish interference , and his constant grabbing for the handbrake , cast him , disastrously , as her wicked uncle .
And then there was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ amalgam of Tory paternalism , right-wing racist bigotry and radical economic nationalism .
Like nitro-glycerine , NZ First is extremely volatile and hard to handle .
Shane Jones ’ love affair with his own verbosity .
Ron Mark ’ s love affair with the military .
Tracey Martin ’ s love affair with Oranga Tamariki .
Sometimes , miraculously , it all seemed to work .
More often than not , however , NZ First comes across as a shambolic and ever-so-slightly shady collection of political eccentrics .
That ’ s nothing new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ always been eccentric .
Except that , in the past , Peters ’ charisma and energy was there to steer his creation out of trouble .
It ’ s 2020 now , and the years have taken their toll .
The NZ First leader has had problems with his health , and , not to put too fine a point upon it , Peters is looking old .
In 2020 , steering NZ First out of trouble will not be so easy .
Hardly surprising , therefore , that the new breed of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ little difficulty in identifying the vulnerability of an ageing politician anxious to secure a respectable political legacy .
From the perspective of Donald Trump ’ s gangsterish administration , Peters ’ problem was easy to diagnose .
What they were looking at was a once unbeatable mob boss on the way out .
An old man surrounded by subordinates more interested in what ’ s going to happen when he ’ s gone than in what he wants them to do now .
Someone in dire need of a little extra muscle .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ one thing the United States isn ’ t short of – it ’ s muscle !
When the moment comes , Washington will not be slow to put in a good word for the man who has done more to bed-in the USA ’ s new “ Indo-Pacific Strategy ” for containing China than anyone else in Jacinda Ardern ’ s uncomfortably pinkish government .
From “ Foggy Bottom ” , Winston Peters and Judith Collins will look like a political match made in heaven .
Regardless of whether it ’ s Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , over the next decade the US State Department and the Pentagon have some very big plans for little New Zealand .
As legacies go , Peters could hardly hope for better than making Aotearoa safe for America .
The late Bruce Jesson , alongside whom I co-edited NZ Political Review back in the 1990s , was convinced that Peters and NZ First could be relied upon to take up arms against the neoliberal revolution unleashed by Labour ’ s Roger Douglas and carried forward by National ’ s Ruth Richardson .
While @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Terry Heffernan , was writing the party ’ s policies , Bruce ’ s optimism had some basis in reality .
I was never so sure .
It seemed to me that the true purpose of Peters ’ flashing white smile was to distract New Zealanders from the darkness it lit up .
Sure enough , as the 1996 election approached , Heffernan was replaced by the former National Party MP , Michael Laws .
By the time the voters started trekking to the polling booths , NZ First ’ s and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ compatible .
When Peters announced that he was throwing in his lot with Jim Bolger , Bruce was shocked .
I wasn ’ t .
Furious ?
You bet !
But not shocked .
NZ First is a right-wing party .
Always has been .
Always will be .

THOSE VOTERS PLANNING to vote for Winston Peters should know they’ll also be voting for a National-led Government. NZ First’s recent actions make it very clear that the party will to do everything it can to secure a victory for the Right on 17 October. If NZ First’s contract with the “Bad Boys of Brexit” hasn’t persuaded the doubters that its fractious sojourn with Labour is over, then Peters’ threat (backed by National and Act) to precipitate a constitutional crisis if the election date wasn’t advanced, should have been more than enough to convince them.
Peters has built his political career on NZ First’s political ambiguity. Supposedly, his party is equally comfortable with the prospect of governing alongside either of the major parties. The last three years have proved all such claims spurious. NZ First is a right-wing party. Always has been. Always will be.
Why, then, did Peters throw in his lot with Labour and the Greens?
The simple answer is, because he has been deeply and repeatedly wounded by National’s mistreatment of him.
National’s bad behaviour goes all the way back to Jenny Shipley’s deliberate destruction of the National-NZ First Coalition in 1998. Ten years later there was the Right’s vicious campaign to drive Peters and his party out of Parliament. John Key played a crucial role in the demolition-job of 2008, but he had plenty of help. Right-wing business leaders, publishers, editors, and journalists, all of them weary of Clark’s long reign, were determined to prevent a repeat of 2005. Peters had to go – no ifs, no buts, no maybes. Nine years later, in 2017, there was the leaking of Peters’ NZ Superannuation over-payments. Although Peters failed to prove it in court, few doubt that National was, once again, responsible.
That’s a lot of bad behaviour to forgive.
The other factor which weighed heavily in Peters’ 2017 decision to throw in his lot with Labour, was the latter’s almost comical unreadiness for office. The NZ First leader must have struggled to believe his luck. Here was a group of very young and very inexperienced politicians, who could easily become putty in his hands. After all, Michael Cullen, Mike Munro and Heather Simpson could hardly sit beside Jacinda Ardern and Grant Robertson at the Cabinet Table – could they? For a man of Peters’ shrewdness and political experience, a Labour-NZ First coalition promised to be a doddle.
And so it might have proved, had Brenton Tarrant and the Covid-19 virus not intervened. It’s always the things politicians don’t see coming that take them down. The Christchurch Massacres and the Covid-19 Pandemic thrust New Zealand’s young prime minister into dramas which the Spirit of History might have written especially for her! If she had ever been anybody’s catspaw (yes, I’m looking at you Grant!) she was nobody’s now. Instead of looking like Jacinda Ardern’s wise old grandpa, Peters peevish interference, and his constant grabbing for the handbrake, cast him, disastrously, as her wicked uncle.
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And then there was NZ First, itself. A strange amalgam of Tory paternalism, right-wing racist bigotry and radical economic nationalism. Like nitro-glycerine, NZ First is extremely volatile and hard to handle. Shane Jones’ love affair with his own verbosity. Ron Mark’s love affair with the military. Tracey Martin’s love affair with Oranga Tamariki. Sometimes, miraculously, it all seemed to work. More often than not, however, NZ First comes across as a shambolic and ever-so-slightly shady collection of political eccentrics.
That’s nothing new, of course, the party has always been eccentric. Except that, in the past, Peters’ charisma and energy was there to steer his creation out of trouble. It’s 2020 now, and the years have taken their toll. The NZ First leader has had problems with his health, and, not to put too fine a point upon it, Peters is looking old. In 2020, steering NZ First out of trouble will not be so easy.
Hardly surprising, therefore, that the new breed of diplomats populating the US State Department had little difficulty in identifying the vulnerability of an ageing politician anxious to secure a respectable political legacy. From the perspective of Donald Trump’s gangsterish administration, Peters’ problem was easy to diagnose. What they were looking at was a once unbeatable mob boss on the way out. An old man surrounded by subordinates more interested in what’s going to happen when he’s gone than in what he wants them to do now. Someone in dire need of a little extra muscle. No problem. If there’s one thing the United States isn’t short of – it’s muscle!
When the moment comes, Washington will not be slow to put in a good word for the man who has done more to bed-in the USA’s new “Indo-Pacific Strategy” for containing China than anyone else in Jacinda Ardern’s uncomfortably pinkish government. From “Foggy Bottom”, Winston Peters and Judith Collins will look like a political match made in heaven. Regardless of whether it’s Trump or Biden who wins the presidential election, over the next decade the US State Department and the Pentagon have some very big plans for little New Zealand. As legacies go, Peters could hardly hope for better than making Aotearoa safe for America.
The late Bruce Jesson, alongside whom I co-edited NZ Political Review back in the 1990s, was convinced that Peters and NZ First could be relied upon to take up arms against the neoliberal revolution unleashed by Labour’s Roger Douglas and carried forward by National’s Ruth Richardson. While the former Social-Creditor and staunch economic nationalist, Terry Heffernan, was writing the party’s policies, Bruce’s optimism had some basis in reality. I was never so sure. It seemed to me that the true purpose of Peters’ flashing white smile was to distract New Zealanders from the darkness it lit up.
Sure enough, as the 1996 election approached, Heffernan was replaced by the former National Party MP, Michael Laws. By the time the voters started trekking to the polling booths, NZ First’s and National’s policies had become eminently compatible. When Peters announced that he was throwing in his lot with Jim Bolger, Bruce was shocked. I wasn’t. Furious? You bet! But not shocked.
NZ First is a right-wing party. Always has been. Always will be.


thedailyblog--2020-08-27--MUST READ: The Great Displacement

MUST READ: The Great Displacement

Brenton Tarrant ’ s trial , including the searing testimonies of survivors , families and friends , received superficial coverage in the mainstream media .
Described as a “ terrorist ” , the ideological convictions which fuelled Tarrant ’ s atrocities were not considered .
At the Nuremburg trials after World War Two , the perpetrators of heinous crimes against humanity were referred to as Nazis , not agents of terror per se .
To depict Himmler , Göering and senior functionaries simply as terrorists would have insulted Jewish victims of the Holocaust .
The terror they experienced was inseparable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
This insight is vital .
Tarrant ’ s ideology and mindset closely resembles Nazism , yet daily news coverage displaced this reality .
His manifesto , “ The Great Replacement ” , claims that the white race is under attack and threatened with extinction .
This conviction reflects a common concern of certain European ( especially French ) fascist groups which shaped Tarrant ’ s indoctrination : overseas migrants are invading Western heartlands ; the general demographics of population growth are swamping white communities ; and multiculturalist propaganda is weakening white values @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mythology and the Crusades ) .
Of course , not all who share this worldview openly advocate the elimination of enemies ( Renaud Camus , the primary intellectual proponent of “ Great Replacement Theory ” never advocated the incitement of racial violence ) .
Crucially , though , violent expressions of “ Great Replacement ” thinking derive from Nazi race theory .
The only difference is that , today , Islamic rather than Semitic culture is the object of erasure .
With this caveat in mind , reflect upon the following observation from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Fascism The race theory is German fascism ` s theoretical axis .
In fascist ideology the economic program of the so-called 25 points figures solely as an expedient intended ‘ to improve the Germanic race genetically and to protect it against racial interbreeding ’ which , according to the National Socialists , always entails the decline of the ‘ higher race ’ .
Indeed , it is their contention that even the decline of a culture is to be traced back to miscegenation .
Hence , ‘ keeping the blood and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s noblest task , in the fulfilment of which one must be prepared to make any sacrifice .
In Germany and the German-occupied countries , no means were spared in putting this theory into practice in the form of the persecution of the Jews .
The quoted sections within this excerpt derive from Adolf Hitler ` s Mein Kampf—still the motherlode of fascist ideology today .
The Tarrant trial and its mainstream media coverage was a missed opportunity .
Public depiction of Tarrant ’ s ideology and its lineage would have raised disturbing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a society where people like Brenton Tarrant are in charge ; where genocide of a marginalised ‘ other ’ is official policy and where the un-persecuted live lives of banal normality and ignorance ?
The absence of such reflections in the mainstream media reminds us that the dangers of white supremacist ideology were ignored by most journalists , politicians and security intelligence agencies in the years preceding Tarrant ’ s atrocities .
After Anders Behring Breivnik ’ s bombing and murderous rampage in Norway , July 2011 , 4chan and 8chan internet sites @ @ @ @ @ @ @ same happened after Dylan Roof ’ s church shooting of Afro-American workshippers in Charleston , June 2015 .
In New Zealand , violent Islamophobic internet chatter in the months before March 2019 was ignored by authorities , despite protestations from Islamic communities themselves .
And , Tarrant ’ s internet activities and Tiki tour of European fascist enclaves raised no red flags .
These oversights are worth remembering now .

Brenton Tarrant’s trial, including the searing testimonies of survivors, families and friends, received superficial coverage in the mainstream media.
Described as a “terrorist”, the ideological convictions which fuelled Tarrant’s atrocities were not considered. At the Nuremburg trials after World War Two, the perpetrators of heinous crimes against humanity were referred to as Nazis, not agents of terror per se. To depict Himmler, Göering and senior functionaries simply as terrorists would have insulted Jewish victims of the Holocaust.
The terror they experienced was inseparable from the governing doctrine of anti-semitic genocide.
This insight is vital. Tarrant’s ideology and mindset closely resembles Nazism, yet daily news coverage displaced this reality.
His manifesto, “The Great Replacement”, claims that the white race is under attack and threatened with extinction. This conviction reflects a common concern of certain European (especially French) fascist groups which shaped Tarrant’s indoctrination: overseas migrants are invading Western heartlands; the general demographics of population growth are swamping white communities; and multiculturalist propaganda is weakening white values and traditions (dating back to Scandinavian mythology and the Crusades).
Of course, not all who share this worldview openly advocate the elimination of enemies (Renaud Camus, the primary intellectual proponent of “Great Replacement Theory” never advocated the incitement of racial violence). Crucially, though, violent expressions of “Great Replacement” thinking derive from Nazi race theory. The only difference is that, today, Islamic rather than Semitic culture is the object of erasure. With this caveat in mind, reflect upon the following observation from Wilhelm Reich’s The Mass Psychology of Fascism
The race theory is German fascism`s theoretical axis. In fascist ideology the economic program of the so-called 25 points figures solely as an expedient intended ‘to improve the Germanic race genetically and to protect it against racial interbreeding’ which, according to the National Socialists, always entails the decline of the ‘higher race’. Indeed, it is their contention that even the decline of a culture is to be traced back to miscegenation. Hence, ‘keeping the blood and the race pure’ is a nation`s noblest task, in the fulfilment of which one must be prepared to make any sacrifice. In Germany and the German-occupied countries, no means were spared in putting this theory into practice in the form of the persecution of the Jews.
The quoted sections within this excerpt derive from Adolf Hitler`s Mein Kampf—still the motherlode of fascist ideology today. The Tarrant trial and its mainstream media coverage was a missed opportunity. Public depiction of Tarrant’s ideology and its lineage would have raised disturbing questions. Can you imagine living in a society where people like Brenton Tarrant are in charge; where genocide of a marginalised ‘other’ is official policy and where the un-persecuted live lives of banal normality and ignorance? The absence of such reflections in the mainstream media reminds us that the dangers of white supremacist ideology were ignored by most journalists, politicians and security intelligence agencies in the years preceding Tarrant’s atrocities. After Anders Behring Breivnik’s bombing and murderous rampage in Norway, July 2011, 4chan and 8chan internet sites were alight with supportive commentary. The same happened after Dylan Roof’s church shooting of Afro-American workshippers in Charleston, June 2015. In New Zealand, violent Islamophobic internet chatter in the months before March 2019 was ignored by authorities, despite protestations from Islamic communities themselves. And, Tarrant’s internet activities and Tiki tour of European fascist enclaves raised no red flags. These oversights are worth remembering now.
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A one-off terrorist monster? Think again.


thedailyblog--2020-08-26--MUST READ: The Left’s Dilemma

MUST READ: The Left’s Dilemma

POLITICALLY SPEAKING , the Left is currently in a very awkward place .
It is clearly in the whole country ’ s interest for leftists to do whatever they can to prevent the election of a National-Act government .
A right-wing victory would not only place vulnerable New Zealanders at the mercy of the most reactionary elements of the political mainstream , but also embolden and empower the even more reactionary groups operating at the political fringes .
In a world ravaged by Covid-19 , such an outcome would be little short of catastrophic .
But if the Left has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ behind the Jacinda Ardern-led government , it is also obliged to maintain a watching brief on its non-Covid activities .
John Minto ’ s latest posting on The Daily Blog – “ Labour ’ s Shame !
” – provides a welcome reminder of the multiple policy failures attributable to the Labour-led coalition .
John ’ s piece alerts us to the fact that even if the virus could be wished away , and life return to its “ normal ” pre-pandemic state , then all would be far from well in New @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Canterbury District Health Board ( CDHB ) for example , is a classic case of how absolutely the neoliberal ideology still governs the provision of crucial social services in New Zealand .
While the crisis , which has seen 7 out of the 11-strong senior management team of the CDHB – including its CEO – tender their resignations , is mostly attributable to the built-in deficiencies of the DHBs ’ operational model , its immediate causes are entirely Labour-generated .
The former Minister of Health , David Clark , is responsible for setting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ demolishing the effectiveness of the CDHB .
Clark ’ s principal adviser , however , was the Chief Executive of the Ministry of Health , Dr Ashley Bloomfield .
Yes , Dr Ashley Bloomfield : the saintly Director-General of Health who , until recently , represented , alongside the Prime-Minister , the State ’ s highly successful response to the Covid-19 Pandemic .
Bloomfield ’ s critical role in both the CDHB debacle and the fight against Covid-19 epitomises the Left ’ s dilemma .
While the global pandemic has necessitated , in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ threat of Nazi Germany did during World War II , a temporary setting aside of ideological divisions ; the virus ’ s eventual defeat will , inevitably , see those divisions reassert themselves .
Just as Winston Churchill remained at heart an unreconstructed Tory , the New Zealand public service – and most of the ministers it advises – remain happily wedded to Neoliberalism .
The Left is obliged to face this dilemma squarely , with the same unflinching honesty as John Minto .
The difficulty , of course , is that having @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her Labour and Green comrades all the way up to 17 October , it is extremely jarring to then turn around and start piling on the criticism .
In the mind of the Labour apparatchik ( never a very spacious place ) that sort of behaviour will be taken as proof of the “ Far-Left ’ s ” irredeemable perfidy .
To the people surrounding Jacinda , victory is always the ultimate riposte .
“ If we were so bad , ’ , they will object , “ however did we win ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ : because their party was the lesser of two evils .
Not least because that conclusion requires of them the mental and moral clarity to recognise that though it may be the lesser , their party is , nonetheless , evil .
Driving this point home is the only effective strategy available to the Left .
Pointing out , as John does in his post , the all-too-real consequences of neoliberalism .
Labour , once safely re-elected , needs to be assailed with the brute facts of the poverty and marginalisation its policies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Almost as effective as rubbing the government ’ s nose in the misery it refuses to mitigate , is pointing out the naked class advantage which Labour ’ s policies confer upon people who look and sound uncomfortably like its own members of parliament .
It takes more steel than most Labour MPs possess to openly acknowledge that they are not , and , for the most part , never have been , “ leftists ” .
Most of them get a kick out of seeing themselves as part of working-class New Zealand @ @ @ @ @ @ @ economic equality .
Demonstrating to them , with irrefutable data , that they are actually responsible for measures guaranteed to halt the forward march of Labour , causes them genuine distress .
Nobody wearing a red rosette likes to be called a scab .
As the clock ticks down to polling day , the Left ’ s priorities are , therefore , clear .
Keep Labour in office ( hopefully with just the Greens for coalition company ) and inflict as much damage on the National Party and Act as possible .
Having @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will be necessary to calculate with all speed the co-ordinates of a whole new set of targets .
Covid or no Covid , all is not well in New Zealand .
Much remains to be done .
And the Left ’ s dilemma has always been that only the Labour Party can do it .

POLITICALLY SPEAKING, the Left is currently in a very awkward place. It is clearly in the whole country’s interest for leftists to do whatever they can to prevent the election of a National-Act government. A right-wing victory would not only place vulnerable New Zealanders at the mercy of the most reactionary elements of the political mainstream, but also embolden and empower the even more reactionary groups operating at the political fringes. In a world ravaged by Covid-19, such an outcome would be little short of catastrophic.
But if the Left has a strong moral obligation to swing in behind the Jacinda Ardern-led government, it is also obliged to maintain a watching brief on its non-Covid activities. John Minto’s latest posting on The Daily Blog – “Labour’s Shame!” – provides a welcome reminder of the multiple policy failures attributable to the Labour-led coalition. John’s piece alerts us to the fact that even if the virus could be wished away, and life return to its “normal” pre-pandemic state, then all would be far from well in New Zealand.
The crisis currently gripping the Canterbury District Health Board (CDHB) for example, is a classic case of how absolutely the neoliberal ideology still governs the provision of crucial social services in New Zealand. While the crisis, which has seen 7 out of the 11-strong senior management team of the CDHB – including its CEO – tender their resignations, is mostly attributable to the built-in deficiencies of the DHBs’ operational model, its immediate causes are entirely Labour-generated. The former Minister of Health, David Clark, is responsible for setting in motion the machinery that is steadily demolishing the effectiveness of the CDHB.
Clark’s principal adviser, however, was the Chief Executive of the Ministry of Health, Dr Ashley Bloomfield. Yes, that Dr Ashley Bloomfield: the saintly Director-General of Health who, until recently, represented, alongside the Prime-Minister, the State’s highly successful response to the Covid-19 Pandemic.
Bloomfield’s critical role in both the CDHB debacle and the fight against Covid-19 epitomises the Left’s dilemma. While the global pandemic has necessitated, in much the same way as the existential threat of Nazi Germany did during World War II, a temporary setting aside of ideological divisions; the virus’s eventual defeat will, inevitably, see those divisions reassert themselves. Just as Winston Churchill remained at heart an unreconstructed Tory, the New Zealand public service – and most of the ministers it advises – remain happily wedded to Neoliberalism. The Left is obliged to face this dilemma squarely, with the same unflinching honesty as John Minto.
The difficulty, of course, is that having sung the praises of Jacinda Ardern and her Labour and Green comrades all the way up to 17 October, it is extremely jarring to then turn around and start piling on the criticism. In the mind of the Labour apparatchik (never a very spacious place) that sort of behaviour will be taken as proof of the “Far-Left’s” irredeemable perfidy. To the people surrounding Jacinda, victory is always the ultimate riposte. “If we were so bad,’, they will object, “however did we win?” Labourites always resist the obvious answer: because their party was the lesser of two evils. Not least because that conclusion requires of them the mental and moral clarity to recognise that though it may be the lesser, their party is, nonetheless, evil.
Driving this point home is the only effective strategy available to the Left. Pointing out, as John does in his post, the all-too-real consequences of neoliberalism. Labour, once safely re-elected, needs to be assailed with the brute facts of the poverty and marginalisation its policies have done so little to alleviate.
Almost as effective as rubbing the government’s nose in the misery it refuses to mitigate, is pointing out the naked class advantage which Labour’s policies confer upon people who look and sound uncomfortably like its own members of parliament. It takes more steel than most Labour MPs possess to openly acknowledge that they are not, and, for the most part, never have been, “leftists”. Most of them get a kick out of seeing themselves as part of working-class New Zealand’s long march towards social and economic equality. Demonstrating to them, with irrefutable data, that they are actually responsible for measures guaranteed to halt the forward march of Labour, causes them genuine distress. Nobody wearing a red rosette likes to be called a scab.
TDB Recommends NewzEngine.com
As the clock ticks down to polling day, the Left’s priorities are, therefore, clear. Keep Labour in office (hopefully with just the Greens for coalition company) and inflict as much damage on the National Party and Act as possible. Having achieved those goals, however, it will be necessary to calculate with all speed the co-ordinates of a whole new set of targets. Covid or no Covid, all is not well in New Zealand. Much remains to be done. And the Left’s dilemma has always been that only the Labour Party can do it.


thedailyblog--2020-08-26--UTU JUSTICE FOR WORKERS REPORT: Serial Exploiter Threatens Worker

A Hamilton business owner is accused of threatening to “ expose ” a former employee after One Union filed a claim against the employer for $ 26,000 in unpaid wages , and the return of $ 10,000 the worker was forced to pay to keep her job .
The employer is Ms Sejalben Patel ( aka Sejal Patel ) , the owner of Skin Delight Limited , that employed the worker between March and December 2018 .
Patel has owned several businesses over the years and has engaged in similar exploitation of her employees .
Attempts to get this worker @ @ @ @ @ @ @ months without success .
After Patel was advised last week that the case is now filed in the Employment Relations Authority , she unlawfully contacted the worker with a series of texts and calls , threatening blackmail to the worker on unspecified matters unless the worker withdrew her case and terminated the union as her representative .
The union ’ s claim alleges the worker was required by Patel to work for no wages for the first three months of employment .
Thereafter the worker was paid less than 30 hours weekly , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seems taxes were not passed to the Inland Revenue Department .
In addition , Patel pressured the worker to pay a $ 10,000 “ loan ” to keep her job .
When the worker requested this money back as promised , Patel threatened legal actions against her .
Disappointingly , when the Employment Authority arranged formal mediation last August , Patel was a no show .
Afterwards she did admit to the essential facts of the case and offered to enter into good faith negotiations to resolve the matter .
Yet despite Patel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this loan has ever been returned .
Nor has she made any offer to pay any of the unpaid wages or outstanding holiday pay she owes the worker .
Despite the union ’ s direct warnings to Patel , and the filing of a formal complaint with the police , Patel continues to harass this worker and another member of her family .
We have instructed the worker to block her calls and pass on any communications from Patel to us .
The emails and texts from Patel are damning evidence and will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We are aware of at least one other occasion where Patel has threatened another former employee with similar tactics .
As a consequence One Union has had to support a formal court non-molestation order against Patel .
We have also filed an urgent application to the Employment Authority requesting immediate actions for financial penalties against Patel for harassment , in addition to the repayment of the loan and unpaid wages .
It is critical that employers like Patel are held to account for their bullying and menacing behaviour .
Patel has engaged in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conduct against vulnerable workers .
We settled an earlier case with Patel for a former employee with an almost identical story .
At that time she gave a commitment to us she would stop her exploitative behaviour .
It is now clear she has not .
We are aware of another similar case underway against her .
In the last month we have been contacted by several other people who have passed on other disturbing information about Patel .
In the last month we understand Patel has made serious allegations against people she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people have strenuously denied her claims .
Given her track record I ’ d be sceptical of anything she says .
People like Patel must be stopped from owning a business or employing workers .
One Union is compiling a dossier on Patel for the MBIE Labour Inspectorate , Immigration NZ , and the Inland Revenue Department .
We will then request action from these enforcement entities against Patel .
If people have any information regarding Ms Sejalben ( Sejal ) Patel , Unique Cleaning Solutions Limited , Avondale Superette , Fruit & @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Delight Limited please contact us at support @ oneunion.org.nz Matt McCarten is the Secretary of One Union

A Hamilton business owner is accused of threatening to “expose” a former employee after One Union filed a claim against the employer for $26,000 in unpaid wages, and the return of $10,000 the worker was forced to pay to keep her job.
The employer is Ms Sejalben Patel (aka Sejal Patel), the owner of Skin Delight Limited, that employed the worker between March and December 2018. Patel has owned several businesses over the years and has engaged in similar exploitation of her employees.
Attempts to get this worker justice has gone on for over 18 months without success. After Patel was advised last week that the case is now filed in the Employment Relations Authority, she unlawfully contacted the worker with a series of texts and calls, threatening blackmail to the worker on unspecified matters unless the worker withdrew her case and terminated the union as her representative.
The union’s claim alleges the worker was required by Patel to work for no wages for the first three months of employment. Thereafter the worker was paid less than 30 hours weekly, despite working for 50 hours. It seems taxes were not passed to the Inland Revenue Department. In addition, Patel pressured the worker to pay a $10,000 “loan” to keep her job. When the worker requested this money back as promised, Patel threatened legal actions against her.
Disappointingly, when the Employment Authority arranged formal mediation last August, Patel was a no show. Afterwards she did admit to the essential facts of the case and offered to enter into good faith negotiations to resolve the matter. Yet despite Patel’s many promises, none of this loan has ever been returned. Nor has she made any offer to pay any of the unpaid wages or outstanding holiday pay she owes the worker.
Despite the union’s direct warnings to Patel, and the filing of a formal complaint with the police, Patel continues to harass this worker and another member of her family. We have instructed the worker to block her calls and pass on any communications from Patel to us. The emails and texts from Patel are damning evidence and will be tabled in the appropriate forum.
We are aware of at least one other occasion where Patel has threatened another former employee with similar tactics. As a consequence One Union has had to support a formal court non-molestation order against Patel. We have also filed an urgent application to the Employment Authority requesting immediate actions for financial penalties against Patel for harassment, in addition to the repayment of the loan and unpaid wages.
TDB Recommends NewzEngine.com
It is critical that employers like Patel are held to account for their bullying and menacing behaviour. Patel has engaged in an ongoing pattern of abusive and exploitive conduct against vulnerable workers. We settled an earlier case with Patel for a former employee with an almost identical story. At that time she gave a commitment to us she would stop her exploitative behaviour. It is now clear she has not. We are aware of another similar case underway against her. In the last month we have been contacted by several other people who have passed on other disturbing information about Patel. In the last month we understand Patel has made serious allegations against people she has had a dispute with. These people have strenuously denied her claims. Given her track record I’d be sceptical of anything she says.
People like Patel must be stopped from owning a business or employing workers. One Union is compiling a dossier on Patel for the MBIE Labour Inspectorate, Immigration NZ, and the Inland Revenue Department. We will then request action from these enforcement entities against Patel.
If people have any information regarding Ms Sejalben (Sejal) Patel, Unique Cleaning Solutions Limited, Avondale Superette, Fruit & Vege Supermarket in Hamilton, or Skin Delight Limited please contact us at support@oneunion.org.nz
Matt McCarten is the Secretary of One Union


Labour’s Shame!

Labour ’ s shame – the government of kindness is protecting the incomes of middle-class landlords ahead of providing homes for those in desperate need .
When the Labour-led government came to power in 2017 there were 5844 people on the state house waiting list .
Three years later there are 18,520 and rising rapidly .
In numbers that ’ s a 218 % increase – on the ground that means an extra 12,676 families with severe housing needs – people cast aside by successive governments – people living in cars , vans , caravans , garages and rat-infested hovels @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its announcement in this year ’ s budget of the building of 8,000 new state houses ( actually only 6,000 will be state houses – the rest will come from community housing providers ) over the next five years .
Yes , you read that right .
Even if Labour remains in government over the next eight years there will still be 10,520 people in desperate housing need – almost double the waiting list they inherited .
Not to mention the extra families flooding onto the waiting list in the meantime .
There @ @ @ @ @ @ @ – it shouts INCOMPETENCE , UNKINDNESS and FAILURE writ large .
Labour is following National ’ s lead in keeping state house numbers low to force low-income families into private sector rentals and so maintain high rents for middle-class landlords .
The money is there to build the houses needed for those in desperate need but Labour is unmoved .
They won ’ t do it .
Their policy says they don ’ t care .
They are forcing Kainga Ora ( formerly Housing New Zealand ) to borrow the money – at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ borrow it – so it doesn ’ t show up as debt on the government ’ s books .
The graph above is Labour ’ s shame .
The party intends to coast to an election victory with no commitment to address the low-income housing crisis which has ballooned out of control under their ineptitude .
Instead of building state houses they are happy to provide massive subsidies to the nastiest of private landlords and property managers to keep homeless families off the TV news and keep middle-class landlords happy .

Labour’s shame – the government of kindness is protecting the incomes of middle-class landlords ahead of providing homes for those in desperate need.
When the Labour-led government came to power in 2017 there were 5844 people on the state house waiting list. Three years later there are 18,520 and rising rapidly.
In numbers that’s a 218% increase – on the ground that means an extra 12,676 families with severe housing needs – people cast aside by successive governments – people living in cars, vans, caravans, garages and rat-infested hovels.
The best Labour has offered was its announcement in this year’s budget of the building of 8,000 new state houses (actually only 6,000 will be state houses – the rest will come from community housing providers) over the next five years. Yes, you read that right. Even if Labour remains in government over the next eight years there will still be 10,520 people in desperate housing need – almost double the waiting list they inherited. Not to mention the extra families flooding onto the waiting list in the meantime.
There is no way Labour can spin this – it shouts INCOMPETENCE, UNKINDNESS and FAILURE writ large.
Why?
Labour is following National’s lead in keeping state house numbers low to force low-income families into private sector rentals and so maintain high rents for middle-class landlords.
The money is there to build the houses needed for those in desperate need but Labour is unmoved. They won’t do it. Their policy says they don’t care. They are forcing Kainga Ora (formerly Housing New Zealand) to borrow the money – at higher interest rates than the government could borrow it – so it doesn’t show up as debt on the government’s books.
TDB Recommends NewzEngine.com
The graph above is Labour’s shame. The party intends to coast to an election victory with no commitment to address the low-income housing crisis which has ballooned out of control under their ineptitude.
Instead of building state houses they are happy to provide massive subsidies to the nastiest of private landlords and property managers to keep homeless families off the TV news and keep middle-class landlords happy.