thedailyblog--2020-11-02--Conservative capitalism, befitting our country’s constituency

Mile ’ s Law says where you stand , depends on where you sit .
And Buddhist teachings tell us that unhappiness comes from the difference between the way the world is , and how you want it to be .
So the outcome of the election , the referenda ( pending special votes ) and the Green Party co-operation agreement with the Labour Party , will either sit well , seen as successful , mature and balanced , moderately conservative incrementalism ; or sit like a disappointment at lost opportunities , depending on where you stand .
Roughly half @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and maybe half optimistic and happy about the nation ’ s path after the weekend in politics .
Despite the new co-operation agreement between Labour and the Greens , those who wanted to see Labour decisively govern alone , shouldn ’ t be too upset .
There is not so much concession to the Green Party that any radicalism is likely to enter mainstream Cabinet decisions .
The new Ministerial positions give the Greens magnanimous recognition of electoral status but put them in their subservient place .
At the same time , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Party middle class concerns that the agreement with Labour is acceptable to supporters .
They can have their cake with Ministerial roles , and by being able to disagree and retain a distinct voice and position to critique the Government they ’ re part of -without much power to do anything about areas of concern outside their ambit- , they can eat their cake too .
In reality , the Green Party didn ’ t have much choice .
Their current relationship with Jacinda Ardern is conciliatory and civil .
There ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and consensus .
Refusing to negotiate and agree would have seemed unprofessional , immature and churlish .
The outcome that sees the Green Party co-leaders with Ministerial roles outside Cabinet delivers a win-win .
But it also co-opts and subsumes the Party to a moderate Labour agenda , so it ’ s a disappointing trade-off of independence for token baubles of office , depending on where you sit .
The new Green roles , and other Cabinet arrangements show that this government aims to ameliorate and mitigate the negative effects of capitalism @ @ @ @ @ @ @ causes .
The ‘ wins ’ that are new Green Ministerial positions outside Cabinet have sidelined climate change and biodiversity management while creating impressions of genuine conciliation and power sharing .
Rather than being integrated to the decisions regarding activities that fundamentally drive greenhouse gas emissions up , and biodiversity down –agriculture and transport , the Green Party will help shore up the nation ’ s business settings without threatening them .
Similarly , the position of Minister ( outside Cabinet ) for family and sexual violence , and Associate Minister for Housing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just an ambulance at the bottom of the cliff .
Where violence and homelessness are the creation of poverty , hardship and colonisation , unless the settings that cause that deprivation change , the violence and homelessness are unlikely to .
Cultural settings that celebrate violence – on tv and other media , and in international affairs , make judicial punishments ineffective .
High imprisonment rates are a form of institutionalised violence that create and support networks of violence , intergenerational violence and incarceration .
Without capital gains or wealth taxes or other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Associate Minister role for housing / homelessness amounts to little .
Similarly , Phil Twyford ’ s demotion to Minister for Disarmament outside Cabinet , is a token position for a token role when the world still has enough nuclear weapons for mutually assured destruction .
That position would have been more meaningful if it was coupled with the Foreign Affairs role , after all , we still need to sustain a ‘ nuclear-free moment ’ , but that would have been way too Corbanesque .
We saw with Corban over the weekend @ @ @ @ @ @ @ far from the ‘ radical centre ’ .
The agreement between Labour and the Green Party should also be viewed in terms of who holds the structural power within the new Government .
Animal-based industries have been positioned as economic heroes generating much needed foreign exchange earnings after Covid-19 .
Extinctions of species like Maui and Hector ’ s dolphins , and albatrosses , and international consumer perceptions of low animal welfare standards are threats to trade .
So appointing steady pragmatist David Parker to Oceans and Fishing , and farmer-friendly Damien O @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , make it clear that economic risks from ocean depletion and poor animal welfare , and post-Brexit / EU trade negotiations will be managed in the best interests of the industry and trade rather than because of the intrinsic value of the environment and animals themselves .
Conservationists might be pleased there ’ s now a Ministerial position that covers oceans concerns .
But the whole oceans responsibility is on equal footing with fishing under the new Minister for both , – so we can expect little of the urgent reform of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rather ocean ‘ stewardship ’ to support the interests of fishing , under David Parker .
Equally , the significant and frustrated animal justice movement will be pleased that the role of Associate Minister for Agriculture with responsibility for Animal Welfare , previously occupied by Meka Whaitiri , but vacant for the past two years , is revived .
However , the potential of the role is diminished somewhat when compared to the maintenance of a Minister dedicated to Racing .
The Government has declared its priorities – dealing with the Covid-19 health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ root and branch reform of the country ’ s planning strictures , getting rid of the Resource Management Act , and fast-tracking shovel-based infrastructure , means it ’ s more about building back , and less about the better .
Even the tentative Lake Onslow dry weather hydro storage scheme is from the build side of the solution rather than the demand-management side of the energy equation and while argued as renewable , fails to address the climate change and biodiversity crises .
The outcome of the cannabis referendum is frustrating , heartening @ @ @ @ @ @ @ supporters .
To get so close to passing the 50 % threshold trigger required for Parliament to consider the Cannabis Legalisation and Control Bill was the successful result of decades of advocacy and campaigning .
But to be just short of that threshold is disappointing – and makes New Zealand less progressive than many other nations , and even states of America .
And it will do nothing to reduce the prevalence or any problems with weed in our society .
Some perceive a failure of leadership especially from Jacinda Ardern – who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ declaring her vote before the election on euthanasia , but not on cannabis .
Others commend her for voting in support even though she didn ’ t have the public ‘ courage of her convictions ’ .
Some critics blame the cannabis lobby for what is a failure of society and state .
That more New Zealanders voted to be able to kill themselves than to be able to consume cannabis in moderate strength in the privacy of their own homes is confused and inexplicable .
But obviously more than half the people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that result .
Jacinda Ardern and Grant Robertson are lining themselves up as the Clark and Cullen of the current Parliamentary generation .
Smart , technocratic , competent , convincing and reassuring , they ’ ll not rock the boat , but will keep it afloat on stormy global waters .
Under Ardern and Robertson ’ s leadership , the horizon for transformation is a long way distant .
They have set their speed and direction of travel to the glacial- incremental reformist model of their most recent Labour forebears and mentors , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , aspirations and ambitions of the country .
In a world of uncertainty , in New Zealand , investors , house owners , consumers and voters for Labour will all mostly be happy .
For most people , that ’ s a successful democracy .
But above all , it ’ s a capitalist democracy after all .

Mile’s Law says where you stand, depends on where you sit. And Buddhist teachings tell us that unhappiness comes from the difference between the way the world is, and how you want it to be. So the outcome of the election, the referenda (pending special votes) and the Green Party co-operation agreement with the Labour Party, will either sit well, seen as successful, mature and balanced, moderately conservative incrementalism; or sit like a disappointment at lost opportunities, depending on where you stand. Roughly half the population will be pessimistic, defeatist, and maybe half optimistic and happy about the nation’s path after the weekend in politics.
Despite the new co-operation agreement between Labour and the Greens, those who wanted to see Labour decisively govern alone, shouldn’t be too upset. There is not so much concession to the Green Party that any radicalism is likely to enter mainstream Cabinet decisions. The new Ministerial positions give the Greens magnanimous recognition of electoral status but put them in their subservient place.
At the same time, there are sufficient concessions to core Green Party middle class concerns that the agreement with Labour is acceptable to supporters. They can have their cake with Ministerial roles, and by being able to disagree and retain a distinct voice and position to critique the Government they’re part of -without much power to do anything about areas of concern outside their ambit-, they can eat their cake too. In reality, the Green Party didn’t have much choice. Their current relationship with Jacinda Ardern is conciliatory and civil. There’s a preference on both sides for co-operation, and consensus. Refusing to negotiate and agree would have seemed unprofessional, immature and churlish. The outcome that sees the Green Party co-leaders with Ministerial roles outside Cabinet delivers a win-win. But it also co-opts and subsumes the Party to a moderate Labour agenda, so it’s a disappointing trade-off of independence for token baubles of office, depending on where you sit.
The new Green roles, and other Cabinet arrangements show that this government aims to ameliorate and mitigate the negative effects of capitalism, rather than to address their fundamental causes. The ‘wins’ that are new Green Ministerial positions outside Cabinet have sidelined climate change and biodiversity management while creating impressions of genuine conciliation and power sharing. Rather than being integrated to the decisions regarding activities that fundamentally drive greenhouse gas emissions up, and biodiversity down –agriculture and transport, the Green Party will help shore up the nation’s business settings without threatening them.
Similarly, the position of Minister (outside Cabinet) for family and sexual violence, and Associate Minister for Housing, given to Marama Davidson, are just an ambulance at the bottom of the cliff. Where violence and homelessness are the creation of poverty, hardship and colonisation, unless the settings that cause that deprivation change, the violence and homelessness are unlikely to. Cultural settings that celebrate violence – on tv and other media, and in international affairs, make judicial punishments ineffective. High imprisonment rates are a form of institutionalised violence that create and support networks of violence, intergenerational violence and incarceration. Without capital gains or wealth taxes or other disincentives to house price escalation, an Associate Minister role for housing / homelessness amounts to little.
Similarly, Phil Twyford’s demotion to Minister for Disarmament outside Cabinet, is a token position for a token role when the world still has enough nuclear weapons for mutually assured destruction. That position would have been more meaningful if it was coupled with the Foreign Affairs role, after all, we still need to sustain a ‘nuclear-free moment’, but that would have been way too Corbanesque. We saw with Corban over the weekend what happens to leaders who stray too far from the ‘radical centre’.
The agreement between Labour and the Green Party should also be viewed in terms of who holds the structural power within the new Government. Animal-based industries have been positioned as economic heroes generating much needed foreign exchange earnings after Covid-19. Extinctions of species like Maui and Hector’s dolphins, and albatrosses, and international consumer perceptions of low animal welfare standards are threats to trade. So appointing steady pragmatist David Parker to Oceans and Fishing, and farmer-friendly Damien O’Connor, to Agriculture and Trade, make it clear that economic risks from ocean depletion and poor animal welfare, and post-Brexit / EU trade negotiations will be managed in the best interests of the industry and trade rather than because of the intrinsic value of the environment and animals themselves.
Conservationists might be pleased there’s now a Ministerial position that covers oceans concerns. But the whole oceans responsibility is on equal footing with fishing under the new Minister for both, – so we can expect little of the urgent reform of the latter to support the former, but rather ocean ‘stewardship’ to support the interests of fishing, under David Parker. Equally, the significant and frustrated animal justice movement will be pleased that the role of Associate Minister for Agriculture with responsibility for Animal Welfare, previously occupied by Meka Whaitiri, but vacant for the past two years, is revived. However, the potential of the role is diminished somewhat when compared to the maintenance of a Minister dedicated to Racing.
The Government has declared its priorities – dealing with the Covid-19 health and economic recovery. The emphasis on root and branch reform of the country’s planning strictures, getting rid of the Resource Management Act, and fast-tracking shovel-based infrastructure, means it’s more about building back, and less about the better. Even the tentative Lake Onslow dry weather hydro storage scheme is from the build side of the solution rather than the demand-management side of the energy equation and while argued as renewable, fails to address the climate change and biodiversity crises.
The outcome of the cannabis referendum is frustrating, heartening and ridiculous at the same time for supporters. To get so close to passing the 50% threshold trigger required for Parliament to consider the Cannabis Legalisation and Control Bill was the successful result of decades of advocacy and campaigning. But to be just short of that threshold is disappointing – and makes New Zealand less progressive than many other nations, and even states of America. And it will do nothing to reduce the prevalence or any problems with weed in our society. Some perceive a failure of leadership especially from Jacinda Ardern – who maintained an inconsistent and illogical position in declaring her vote before the election on euthanasia, but not on cannabis. Others commend her for voting in support even though she didn’t have the public ‘courage of her convictions’. Some critics blame the cannabis lobby for what is a failure of society and state. That more New Zealanders voted to be able to kill themselves than to be able to consume cannabis in moderate strength in the privacy of their own homes is confused and inexplicable. But obviously more than half the people of the country will be happy with that result.
Jacinda Ardern and Grant Robertson are lining themselves up as the Clark and Cullen of the current Parliamentary generation. Smart, technocratic, competent, convincing and reassuring, they’ll not rock the boat, but will keep it afloat on stormy global waters. Under Ardern and Robertson’s leadership, the horizon for transformation is a long way distant. They have set their speed and direction of travel to the glacial- incremental reformist model of their most recent Labour forebears and mentors, and according to the modest, conservative, aspirations and ambitions of the country. In a world of uncertainty, in New Zealand, investors, house owners, consumers and voters for Labour will all mostly be happy. For most people, that’s a successful democracy. But above all, it’s a capitalist democracy after all.


thedailyblog--2020-11-02--Dr Liz Gordon: I’d rather be here

Dr Liz Gordon: I’d rather be here

I moved to New Zealand as a sixteen year old in the 1970s , with my then boyfriend , who became my first husband and the father of my child .
Then , I was escaping an unhappy family and scraping by in low-paid jobs that saw us with only enough for a pint of beer on a Thursday night after work and a lack of a bright future .
Here , we were immediately stable financially , putting money aside to purchase our first house ( I was 18 when we did that ) .
After hippy London , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ very safe .
Over the years , New Zealand has given to me bounteously .
In particular , at the age of 24 I started university , which transformed my life , my outlook and who I am as a person .
I have spent my whole working life here .
I became a citizen in 1983 ( you might ask how I just sauntered into NZ on my UK passport – the answer is that there were no immigration restrictions on people from the UK in those days ) .
I am @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that I am happier to be here than this week .
With half a million cases of Covid a day around the world , there are none here in the community .
England is about to go into lockdown for four weeks , and everyone knows four weeks will not be enough to quell the raging beast for long – perhaps just long enough to allow for a good Christmas , but perhaps not even that .
At the beginning of this week I am also poised between hope and fear about the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ get another term ?
How could a nation elect him after what he has been revealed to be ?
The hope is that those millions of early voters signal a huge surge of change .
Some say it is better to travel hopefully than to arrive .
That ’ s a bit how I feel today .
I both dread and anticipate the US election results .
The only sensible outcome is a Biden win and the loss of the Senate by the Republicans .
One of my favourite book series is the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ historians who travel in time to view events as they happened ( author , Jodi Taylor , for those who are interested ) .
In those books , set in the future , the USA is ‘ closed ’ – completely shut off from the rest of the world , with no news or information about what is happening therein .
Under current settings , one could imagine a USA with closed borders and a civil war raging .
I hope it will not come to that .
The other hope I am @ @ @ @ @ @ @ effective Labour Government .
If Labour does well this term , then the Greens are wise to have hitched their wagon , even though the prize they have been given is modest .
They have been given scraps , but done in a constructive and relatively respectful way .
Jacinda has a grace about her , even as an overwhelming winner .
She has shown character and compassion .
So the hope is for three years of a government that continues to unpick neo-liberalism and promotes alternatives .
We know already this is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ much less ambitious than many of us on this blogsite want .
There has definitely been a campaign of dampening down expectations because of Covid .
But hope springs eternal , and today I feel optimistic .
The various quiverings in my stomach region are primarily about what is happening in the rest of the world , not our domestic situation .
The new cabinet is a good one : diverse , interesting and with plenty of new talent .
I am hopleful for good change here .
Have a really good week @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a researcher and a barrister , with interests in destroying neo-liberalism in all its forms and moving towards a socially just society .
She usually blogs on justice , social welfare and education topics .

I moved to New Zealand as a sixteen year old in the 1970s, with my then boyfriend, who became my first husband and the father of my child. Then, I was escaping an unhappy family and scraping by in low-paid jobs that saw us with only enough for a pint of beer on a Thursday night after work and a lack of a bright future.
Here, we were immediately stable financially, putting money aside to purchase our first house (I was 18 when we did that). After hippy London, Palmerston North was low on action but very safe. Over the years, New Zealand has given to me bounteously. In particular, at the age of 24 I started university, which transformed my life, my outlook and who I am as a person.
I have spent my whole working life here. I became a citizen in 1983 (you might ask how I just sauntered into NZ on my UK passport – the answer is that there were no immigration restrictions on people from the UK in those days). I am a kiwi.
There is no time that I am happier to be here than this week. With half a million cases of Covid a day around the world, there are none here in the community. England is about to go into lockdown for four weeks, and everyone knows four weeks will not be enough to quell the raging beast for long – perhaps just long enough to allow for a good Christmas, but perhaps not even that.
At the beginning of this week I am also poised between hope and fear about the US elections. Will that vandal Trump get another term? How could a nation elect him after what he has been revealed to be? The hope is that those millions of early voters signal a huge surge of change. Some say it is better to travel hopefully than to arrive. That’s a bit how I feel today. I both dread and anticipate the US election results. The only sensible outcome is a Biden win and the loss of the Senate by the Republicans.
One of my favourite book series is the St Mary’s chronicles, about historians who travel in time to view events as they happened (author, Jodi Taylor, for those who are interested). In those books, set in the future, the USA is ‘closed’ – completely shut off from the rest of the world, with no news or information about what is happening therein. Under current settings, one could imagine a USA with closed borders and a civil war raging. I hope it will not come to that.
The other hope I am currently holding is for an engaged and effective Labour Government. If Labour does well this term, then the Greens are wise to have hitched their wagon, even though the prize they have been given is modest. They have been given scraps, but done in a constructive and relatively respectful way. Jacinda has a grace about her, even as an overwhelming winner. She has shown character and compassion.
So the hope is for three years of a government that continues to unpick neo-liberalism and promotes alternatives. We know already this is likely to be slow, and probably much less ambitious than many of us on this blogsite want. There has definitely been a campaign of dampening down expectations because of Covid. But hope springs eternal, and today I feel optimistic. The various quiverings in my stomach region are primarily about what is happening in the rest of the world, not our domestic situation.
TDB Recommends NewzEngine.com
The new cabinet is a good one: diverse, interesting and with plenty of new talent. I am hopleful for good change here.
Have a really good week, everyone!
Dr Liz Gordon is a researcher and a barrister, with interests in destroying neo-liberalism in all its forms and moving towards a socially just society. She usually blogs on justice, social welfare and education topics.


thedailyblog--2020-11-02--A Curate’s Egg Cabinet: Much of it is bad, parts of it are excellent.

JACINDA ARDERN has constructed a Curate ’ s Egg* Cabinet : parts of it are excellent .
Overall , however , this new Labour government is an unaccountably bad production .
People who deserved and should have been given/retained key portfolios didn ’ t get them .
Others , who should never have been allowed anywhere near such important jobs have been promoted well beyond their merits .
( And , one suspects , their competencies ! )
Clearly , the Prime Minister has been more concerned to keep the peace within her vastly expanded caucus , than she has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ right positions .
This is not a good start – and only promises to get worse .
Ardern ’ s key prime-ministerial decision was to appoint Grant Robertson her Deputy .
Could she have done anything else ?
Would Robertson and his closest allies have tolerated Kelvin Davis , as Deputy-Leader of the Labour Party , stepping into the No .
2 position formerly occupied by Winston Peters ?
It is certainly difficult to imagine Ardern being willing to test her closest political ally ’ s patience in such a fashion .
She @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lowly Davis ’ s colleagues rated him .
Nor would she have been minded to make the case that they were mistaken in their assessment .
Davis ’ s peculiar behaviour on Election Night more-or-less sealed his fate .
After that , it was simply a matter of smoothing the pillow of a dying career .
Not that Willie Jackson , the Labour Maori Caucus ’ consummate “ fixer ” , was slow to exploit the “ optics ” of a Pakeha replacing a Maori in the Deputy-PM slot .
Ardern would have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Davis out , if it was not to cause an embarrassing ruckus at the worst possible time , would have to be sweetened with the sugar of multiple ( let ’ s say five ) seats for Maori at ( or very near ) the Cabinet Table .
Ardern understood the message perfectly .
As Minister for Maori Development , Jackson will have far too much on his plate to contemplate “ ruckuses ” of any kind for quite a while .
The same , one suspects , goes for the new holder @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Peeni Henare .
Horse-trading is an old and honourable political tradition – but there are limits .
No amount of fluffing-up the elevation of Nanaia Mahuta to Minister of Foreign Affairs – “ the first woman in our nation ’ s history appointed to hold the portfolio ” – can disguise the sheer awfulness and irresponsibility of Ardern ’ s decision .
The job should have gone to David Parker : not only because he has earned it many times over , but also because , in the years between now and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ going to need a truly outstanding Foreign Minister .
Regardless of who wins the 3 November presidential election , the conflict between the USA and China is going to ramp-up into something with the potential to inflict huge damage on this country and its economy .
New Zealand needs a Foreign Minister of vision , courage , verbal felicity and real , on-the-ground , experience .
Mahuta , sadly , has not distinguished herself as a person over-endowed with any of these qualities .
Another portfolio requiring a person of proven sensitivity and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Little has been shunted aside from this portfolio to drive through Heather Simpson ’ s mad plans for the New Zealand health system , and replaced by the unremarkable and , frankly , under-qualified , Kris Faafoi , is , once again , a decision as irresponsible as it is awful .
Some very big and very thorny issues are raising their heads in Justice , not the least of which is a Human Rights Commission which clearly sees itself as being on a mission from God ( or is it Allah ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ from Aotearoa ’ s green and pleasant land .
Is Faafoi equal to the task of making – and selling – the arguments necessary to facilitate such a significant modification of New Zealanders ’ current understanding of what the Bill of Rights Act ’ s guarantee of Freedom of Expression vouchsafes to them ?
Nothing in his career to date suggests that he is capable of handling this portfolio successfully .
Labour ’ s greatest Justice Minister and Attorney-General , Dr Martyn Findlay ( 1972-75 ) would have struggled to prevent the Free @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Ardern ’ s government , and whatever else Kris Faafoi may be , he ain ’ t no Martyn Findlay !
If Ardern is serious about wanting to govern for “ all New Zealanders ” , then this Cabinet doesn ’ t offer much in the way of help .
Portfolios like Foreign Affairs and Justice are critical to explaining important changes in the level of security New Zealanders can expect to enjoy both at home and abroad .
The people she has made responsible for these crucial communications are simply not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she done it ?
Does she believe that neither Mahuta nor Faafoi need to be up to the job because , when it comes to selling Government policy , nobody does it better than the Prime Minister herself ?
It is to be hoped not .
“ Change that sticks ” requires more than rhetoric , it requires Ministers who not only know what they ’ re doing , but believe in it with all their hearts .
Wellington isn ’ t Versailles , Prime Minister .
L ’ Etat ce n ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the state belongs to anybody in these dying days of the neoliberal paradigm , it belongs to Treasury .
With the Finance portfolio still safely in his possession , and the crucial Infrastructure portfolio newly acquired , Grant Robertson has become the Lord of Paying-Out as well as the Lord of Gathering-In .
It is to him , more than any other , that the task of “ building back better ” has been entrusted .
But , build back better according to whose blueprint ?
That is the question .
Has Robertson @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it must do to fulfil Labour ’ s mission ?
Or , does he see his job as telling Ardern ’ s government what Treasury is prepared to let them spend ?
New Zealanders used their votes to get rid of Winston Peters ’ handbrake .
Eliminating Treasury ’ s handbrake will require a Finance Minister with a clear plan for rebuilding the New Zealand economy , and the courage to fund it .
Here ’ s hoping we have one .
What , then , are the good parts of this poor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has a good heart and a solid record of working alongside some of the poorest New Zealanders .
With the Internal Affairs and Women ’ s portfolios she has been given a chance to prove whether she is , on her own , equal to pushing on past the gains of her immediate predecessors , NZ First ’ s Tracey Martin , and the Greens ’ Julie Anne Genter .
The appointment of Ayesha Verrall to the portfolios of Food safety and Seniors , as well as to the Associate Health Minister position @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Ardern ’ s decisions .
Verrall is a prodigiously talented health scientist and Labour is very lucky to have persuaded her to join the team .
Talent like hers , however , tends to make enemies in politics .
Having raised her up so quickly , it is now the Prime Ministers ’ duty to watch her back .
Finally , there ’ s the elevation of Michael Wood to Minister of Workplace Relations and Safety .
This , the old Labour portfolio , will provide the most important test of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ live up to it name .
The legislation to introduce Fair Pay Agreements is already drafted and , with a minimum of 74 centre-left votes available to send it flying through the House , it could be law in less than six months .
There is little doubt that Woods would be happy to oblige the working-class New Zealanders who made him the Member of Parliament for Mt Roskill .
The question is : will his Prime Minister ; will his colleagues ; allow him to serve Labour ’ s most loyal voters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ alarming sensitivity to the prejudices of the former National Party voters who crowned her New Zealand ’ s Queen of Kindness and Stability , act as a handbrake on Wood ’ s Labour instincts ?
And , will that be the story of the next three years ?
* In 1895 , the satirical periodical Punch published a cartoon in which a timid Anglican Curate , having being told by his overbearing Bishop that he ’ s been served a bad egg for his breakfast , replies bravely : “ Oh no , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ parts of it are excellent .
”

JACINDA ARDERN has constructed a Curate’s Egg* Cabinet: parts of it are excellent. Overall, however, this new Labour government is an unaccountably bad production. People who deserved and should have been given/retained key portfolios didn’t get them. Others, who should never have been allowed anywhere near such important jobs have been promoted well beyond their merits. (And, one suspects, their competencies!) Clearly, the Prime Minister has been more concerned to keep the peace within her vastly expanded caucus, than she has to match the right people with the right positions. This is not a good start – and only promises to get worse.
Ardern’s key prime-ministerial decision was to appoint Grant Robertson her Deputy. Could she have done anything else? Would Robertson and his closest allies have tolerated Kelvin Davis, as Deputy-Leader of the Labour Party, stepping into the No. 2 position formerly occupied by Winston Peters?
It is certainly difficult to imagine Ardern being willing to test her closest political ally’s patience in such a fashion. She would have needed no instruction in how lowly Davis’s colleagues rated him. Nor would she have been minded to make the case that they were mistaken in their assessment. Davis’s peculiar behaviour on Election Night more-or-less sealed his fate. After that, it was simply a matter of smoothing the pillow of a dying career.
Not that Willie Jackson, the Labour Maori Caucus’ consummate “fixer”, was slow to exploit the “optics” of a Pakeha replacing a Maori in the Deputy-PM slot. Ardern would have been told that any decision to ease Davis out, if it was not to cause an embarrassing ruckus at the worst possible time, would have to be sweetened with the sugar of multiple (let’s say five) seats for Maori at (or very near) the Cabinet Table.
Ardern understood the message perfectly. As Minister for Maori Development, Jackson will have far too much on his plate to contemplate “ruckuses” of any kind for quite a while. The same, one suspects, goes for the new holder of the Defence and Whanau Ora portfolios, Peeni Henare.
Horse-trading is an old and honourable political tradition – but there are limits. No amount of fluffing-up the elevation of Nanaia Mahuta to Minister of Foreign Affairs – “the first woman in our nation’s history appointed to hold the portfolio” – can disguise the sheer awfulness and irresponsibility of Ardern’s decision.
The job should have gone to David Parker: not only because he has earned it many times over, but also because, in the years between now and the next election, New Zealand is going to need a truly outstanding Foreign Minister. Regardless of who wins the 3 November presidential election, the conflict between the USA and China is going to ramp-up into something with the potential to inflict huge damage on this country and its economy. New Zealand needs a Foreign Minister of vision, courage, verbal felicity and real, on-the-ground, experience. Mahuta, sadly, has not distinguished herself as a person over-endowed with any of these qualities.
Another portfolio requiring a person of proven sensitivity and professional experience is Justice. That Andrew Little has been shunted aside from this portfolio to drive through Heather Simpson’s mad plans for the New Zealand health system, and replaced by the unremarkable and, frankly, under-qualified, Kris Faafoi, is, once again, a decision as irresponsible as it is awful.
TDB Recommends NewzEngine.com
Some very big and very thorny issues are raising their heads in Justice, not the least of which is a Human Rights Commission which clearly sees itself as being on a mission from God (or is it Allah?) to extirpate “Hate Speech” from Aotearoa’s green and pleasant land. Is Faafoi equal to the task of making – and selling – the arguments necessary to facilitate such a significant modification of New Zealanders’ current understanding of what the Bill of Rights Act’s guarantee of Freedom of Expression vouchsafes to them?
Nothing in his career to date suggests that he is capable of handling this portfolio successfully. Labour’s greatest Justice Minister and Attorney-General, Dr Martyn Findlay (1972-75) would have struggled to prevent the Free Speech/Hate Speech issue from inflicting serious damage on Ardern’s government, and whatever else Kris Faafoi may be, he ain’t no Martyn Findlay!
If Ardern is serious about wanting to govern for “all New Zealanders”, then this Cabinet doesn’t offer much in the way of help. Portfolios like Foreign Affairs and Justice are critical to explaining important changes in the level of security New Zealanders can expect to enjoy both at home and abroad. The people she has made responsible for these crucial communications are simply not up to it.
Why then has she done it? Does she believe that neither Mahuta nor Faafoi need to be up to the job because, when it comes to selling Government policy, nobody does it better than the Prime Minister herself? It is to be hoped not. “Change that sticks” requires more than rhetoric, it requires Ministers who not only know what they’re doing, but believe in it with all their hearts. Wellington isn’t Versailles, Prime Minister. L’Etat ce n’est pas toi – Jacinda!
If the state belongs to anybody in these dying days of the neoliberal paradigm, it belongs to Treasury. With the Finance portfolio still safely in his possession, and the crucial Infrastructure portfolio newly acquired, Grant Robertson has become the Lord of Paying-Out as well as the Lord of Gathering-In. It is to him, more than any other, that the task of “building back better” has been entrusted.
But, build back better according to whose blueprint? That is the question. Has Robertson got the chops to tell Treasury what it must do to fulfil Labour’s mission? Or, does he see his job as telling Ardern’s government what Treasury is prepared to let them spend?
New Zealanders used their votes to get rid of Winston Peters’ handbrake. Eliminating Treasury’s handbrake will require a Finance Minister with a clear plan for rebuilding the New Zealand economy, and the courage to fund it. Here’s hoping we have one.
What, then, are the good parts of this poor Curate’s egg?
Jan Tinetti has a good heart and a solid record of working alongside some of the poorest New Zealanders. With the Internal Affairs and Women’s portfolios she has been given a chance to prove whether she is, on her own, equal to pushing on past the gains of her immediate predecessors, NZ First’s Tracey Martin, and the Greens’ Julie Anne Genter.
The appointment of Ayesha Verrall to the portfolios of Food safety and Seniors, as well as to the Associate Health Minister position, ranks as easily the most exciting of Ardern’s decisions. Verrall is a prodigiously talented health scientist and Labour is very lucky to have persuaded her to join the team. Talent like hers, however, tends to make enemies in politics. Having raised her up so quickly, it is now the Prime Ministers’ duty to watch her back.
Finally, there’s the elevation of Michael Wood to Minister of Workplace Relations and Safety. This, the old Labour portfolio, will provide the most important test of the Sixth Labour Government’s willingness to live up to it name.
The legislation to introduce Fair Pay Agreements is already drafted and, with a minimum of 74 centre-left votes available to send it flying through the House, it could be law in less than six months. There is little doubt that Woods would be happy to oblige the working-class New Zealanders who made him the Member of Parliament for Mt Roskill. The question is: will his Prime Minister; will his colleagues; allow him to serve Labour’s most loyal voters? Or, will Ardern’s alarming sensitivity to the prejudices of the former National Party voters who crowned her New Zealand’s Queen of Kindness and Stability, act as a handbrake on Wood’s Labour instincts?
And, will that be the story of the next three years?
* In 1895, the satirical periodical Punch published a cartoon in which a timid Anglican Curate, having being told by his overbearing Bishop that he’s been served a bad egg for his breakfast, replies bravely: “Oh no, My Lord, I assure you, parts of it are excellent.”


thedailyblog--2020-11-04--A Biden Victory Will Be Bad News For Kim Dotcom.

OH , THE IRONY !
The NZ Supreme Court has further cleared the path for Kim Dotcom ’ s extradition on the very same day Joe Biden is predicted to become the 46th President-elect of the United States .
Why is that ironic ?
Because it was Vice-President Joe Biden , bagman supreme for the Democratic Party ’ s big Hollywood donors , who made damn sure that Kim Dotcom found himself in the Justice Department ’ s cross-hairs .
Ironic , too , because our new ministers of Justice and Foreign Affairs , eager to curry favour with a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to deliver the big man like a porker to the slaughter .
Nobody hated Kim Dotcom and his Megaupload site more than the equally “ mega ” media giants whose movies , television shows and popular music offerings were being watched and listened to without authorisation – or payment – courtesy of Dotcom ’ s site .
The same people who monstered the New Zealand Government into changing this country ’ s laws to facilitate the more effective exploitation of workers in the movie industry , prevailed upon the Obama Administration to make @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dangerously unprotected ) Finnish-German media entrepreneur-cum-swashbuckler .
And who was their man in Washington ?
The man with President Barack Obama ’ s ear ?
Why , it was none other than Vice-President , Joe Biden .
Back in 2012 there was nothing remotely “ sleepy ” about Joe .
The former Senator for the State of Delaware was one of the longest-serving and best-connected of the Democratic Party ’ s heavy-hitters .
Hollywood , and all the other the happy liberal hunting-grounds of California – including the multi-billionaires of Silicon Valley – @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Hillary Clinton and Nancy Pelosi .
Biden knew ‘ em too – and they knew Biden .
In the immortal words of Hannibal Lecter : “ Quid pro quo , Clarice , quid pro quo.
” So , the word was passed backwards and forwards along the pumping arteries of global American power .
From the media and IT billionaires to Biden , from Biden to Obama , from Obama to his quirky Kiwi golfing partner , Prime Minister John Key .
Dotcom may have thought he was safe from his enemies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the world , but he could not have been more wrong .
Had Dotcom not had millions of dollars of his own to spend on some of the United States and New Zealand ’ s best lawyers , then we may never have discovered how the trap was set and sprung .
With the complexity of one of those spy-movie plots Megaupload made it so easy for the world to watch , the US Justice department , the FBI , the US National Security Agency , the NZ Police , the NZ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Security Intelligence Service all pitched in to bring the Coatesville millionaire to “ justice ” .
It ’ s easy to assume that deeds this dastardly are only ever set in motion by Republican baddies like George W. Bush and Donald Trump .
In the case of Kim Dotcom , however , the dirty-tricks and even dirtier politics had Democratic Party fingerprints all over them .
Be it drone strikes in Yemen , or armed extradition raids executed on Coatesville mansions , right here in little-old New Zealand , there have always been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ goodies ” busy .
Truth to tell , since that undoubted “ baddy ” , Donald Trump , took up residence in the White House , Dotcom ’ s life has become easier – not harder .
Maybe it takes one swashbuckler to recognise another ?
Which is why , almost certainly , Dotcom will be rooting for a Trump victory .
If it goes the other way , then his position here will become extremely precarious .
Just imagine how effusive Jacinda Ardern will be if the longed-for “ Blue Wave @ @ @ @ @ @ @ claims an easy , uncontested , victory .
“ Anything we can do to help , Mr President-elect , just ask !
” How long , do you suppose , it will take the new President ’ s Hollywood friends and donors to remind him .
“ Actually , there is something Jacinda Ardern could do for you , Mr President .
Remember that guy , Kim Dotcom ?
” And when the word comes down from the State Department to our own Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade , that the rapid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ assisted by expediting Kim Dotcom ’ s extradition , is it really likely that Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta won ’ t nod her head sagely and pass the message on dutifully to the PM , who will , in turn , have a quiet word with her new Justice Minister , Kris Faafoi .
Not an instruction , you understand , just a kindly suggestion .
In the meantime , the wheels of justice will grind up even more of Dotcom ’ s millions , and the people we ’ d like to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ readying a grey , windowless , federal cell for the man who dared to challenge the laws of copyright .
Because that ’ s just the way it works when you tweak the nose of Uncle Sam and his financial backers .
You spend 15 years serving as a warning to the rest of us .
And the moral of this tale ?
There have never been any morals in this tale .
Suffice to say : “ Be careful what you wish for – and who you piss off !
”

OH, THE IRONY! The NZ Supreme Court has further cleared the path for Kim Dotcom’s extradition on the very same day Joe Biden is predicted to become the 46th President-elect of the United States. Why is that ironic? Because it was Vice-President Joe Biden, bagman supreme for the Democratic Party’s big Hollywood donors, who made damn sure that Kim Dotcom found himself in the Justice Department’s cross-hairs. Ironic, too, because our new ministers of Justice and Foreign Affairs, eager to curry favour with a future Biden Administration, are highly likely to deliver the big man like a porker to the slaughter.
Nobody hated Kim Dotcom and his Megaupload site more than the equally “mega” media giants whose movies, television shows and popular music offerings were being watched and listened to without authorisation – or payment – courtesy of Dotcom’s site. The same people who monstered the New Zealand Government into changing this country’s laws to facilitate the more effective exploitation of workers in the movie industry, prevailed upon the Obama Administration to make an example of the highly-successful (but dangerously unprotected) Finnish-German media entrepreneur-cum-swashbuckler.
And who was their man in Washington? The man with President Barack Obama’s ear? Why, it was none other than Vice-President, Joe Biden. Back in 2012 there was nothing remotely “sleepy” about Joe. The former Senator for the State of Delaware was one of the longest-serving and best-connected of the Democratic Party’s heavy-hitters. Hollywood, and all the other the happy liberal hunting-grounds of California – including the multi-billionaires of Silicon Valley – weren’t just on the speed-dials of Hillary Clinton and Nancy Pelosi. Biden knew ‘em too – and they knew Biden. In the immortal words of Hannibal Lecter: “Quid pro quo, Clarice, quid pro quo.”
So, the word was passed backwards and forwards along the pumping arteries of global American power. From the media and IT billionaires to Biden, from Biden to Obama, from Obama to his quirky Kiwi golfing partner, Prime Minister John Key. Dotcom may have thought he was safe from his enemies in these faraway islands at the bottom of the world, but he could not have been more wrong.
Had Dotcom not had millions of dollars of his own to spend on some of the United States and New Zealand’s best lawyers, then we may never have discovered how the trap was set and sprung. With the complexity of one of those spy-movie plots Megaupload made it so easy for the world to watch, the US Justice department, the FBI, the US National Security Agency, the NZ Police, the NZ Government Communications Security Bureau and the NZ Security Intelligence Service all pitched in to bring the Coatesville millionaire to “justice”.
It’s easy to assume that deeds this dastardly are only ever set in motion by Republican baddies like George W. Bush and Donald Trump. In the case of Kim Dotcom, however, the dirty-tricks and even dirtier politics had Democratic Party fingerprints all over them. Be it drone strikes in Yemen, or armed extradition raids executed on Coatesville mansions, right here in little-old New Zealand, there have always been plenty of bad things to keep the “goodies” busy. Truth to tell, since that undoubted “baddy”, Donald Trump, took up residence in the White House, Dotcom’s life has become easier – not harder. Maybe it takes one swashbuckler to recognise another?
Which is why, almost certainly, Dotcom will be rooting for a Trump victory. If it goes the other way, then his position here will become extremely precarious. Just imagine how effusive Jacinda Ardern will be if the longed-for “Blue Wave” rolls over the USA and Biden claims an easy, uncontested, victory. “Anything we can do to help, Mr President-elect, just ask!” How long, do you suppose, it will take the new President’s Hollywood friends and donors to remind him. “Actually, there is something Jacinda Ardern could do for you, Mr President. Remember that guy, Kim Dotcom?”
And when the word comes down from the State Department to our own Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, that the rapid improvement of US-NZ relations would be greatly assisted by expediting Kim Dotcom’s extradition, is it really likely that Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta won’t nod her head sagely and pass the message on dutifully to the PM, who will, in turn, have a quiet word with her new Justice Minister, Kris Faafoi. Not an instruction, you understand, just a kindly suggestion.
TDB Recommends NewzEngine.com
In the meantime, the wheels of justice will grind up even more of Dotcom’s millions, and the people we’d like to cast as friends and heroes will be readying a grey, windowless, federal cell for the man who dared to challenge the laws of copyright. Because that’s just the way it works when you tweak the nose of Uncle Sam and his financial backers. You spend 15 years serving as a warning to the rest of us.
And the moral of this tale? There have never been any morals in this tale. Suffice to say: “Be careful what you wish for – and who you piss off!”


thedailyblog--2020-11-03--Dr Liz Gordon: Questions never asked about men

Isn ’ t it interesting how many column inches have been dedicated to telling the public that new women/ Māori / Rainbow ministers may not be fit for office .
As long as it is white and male , any slithy tove is assumed competent .
Those criticising Nanaia Mahuta , for example , have really got up themselves .
Nanaia may not set the world alight , shs is quite a quiet woman , but she is a competent pair of hands and brings the exotic style of the moko to the world stage .
More broadly , many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I am not sure it even had a name before ) for putting lots of the above diverse persons into cabinet , rather than promoting on ‘ skill ’ , a slithy concept if ever I heard one .
Whether this is everyday sexism / racism , unconscious or conscious bias , all of these commentators are guilty of a pro white male norm .
Because there have been plenty of disgusting , incompetent , alcoholic , even wife-beating male ministers over the years , and no-one has ever asked whether they are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pisses me off is that those concerned now start out on the back foot , and the media will be patrolling to test their competence in action .
Should they do something wrong , there will also undoubtedly be calls of ‘ we told you so ’ .
As a nation , and especially among the commentariat , we need to scrutinise ourselves for our presumptions and reactions .
Sexism and racism are alive throughout our society , and we need to stamp it out wherever we see it .
Dr Liz Gordon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with interests in destroying neo-liberalism in all its forms and moving towards a socially just society .
She usually blogs on justice , social welfare and education topics .

Isn’t it interesting how many column inches have been dedicated to telling the public that new women/ Māori / Rainbow ministers may not be fit for office. As long as it is white and male, any slithy tove is assumed competent. Those criticising Nanaia Mahuta, for example, have really got up themselves. Nanaia may not set the world alight, shs is quite a quiet woman, but she is a competent pair of hands and brings the exotic style of the moko to the world stage.
More broadly, many have accused Jacinda of that thing-now-known-as-virtue-signalling (I am not sure it even had a name before) for putting lots of the above diverse persons into cabinet, rather than promoting on ‘skill’, a slithy concept if ever I heard one.
Whether this is everyday sexism / racism, unconscious or conscious bias, all of these commentators are guilty of a pro white male norm. Because there have been plenty of disgusting, incompetent, alcoholic, even wife-beating male ministers over the years, and no-one has ever asked whether they are competent to do their job.
What pisses me off is that those concerned now start out on the back foot, and the media will be patrolling to test their competence in action. Should they do something wrong, there will also undoubtedly be calls of ‘we told you so’.
As a nation, and especially among the commentariat, we need to scrutinise ourselves for our presumptions and reactions. Sexism and racism are alive throughout our society, and we need to stamp it out wherever we see it.
Dr Liz Gordon is a researcher and a barrister, with interests in destroying neo-liberalism in all its forms and moving towards a socially just society. She usually blogs on justice, social welfare and education topics.


thedailyblog--2020-11-05--Cannabis referendum final result and opportunities for reform

New Zealand will today discover if the cannabis referendum passed or not .
But in either case , we should chart a new course that is more broadly supported .
The Government appears to have already decided cannabis will remain illegal while legalising pill testing for middle-class festival goers .
The preliminary results released last Friday had Hope trailing Nope by 53 to 47 per cent .
That was enough for Justice Minister Andrew Little , who oversaw the referendum and whose officials designed the Cannabis Legalisation and Control Bill , to call the whole thing off .
Little declared @ @ @ @ @ @ @ change , and the result was a mandate for not doing anything .
But a 50/50 close call is not a mandate to sit on your hands .
It ’ s a mandate to find a workable compromise , and keep trying .
Half of New Zealand just voted for full legalisation , while many Nopers now say they would support other reforms , such as decriminalisation .
And the final result of the cannabis referendum released today is expected to tip further towards Yes , because it counts special votes .
These @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enrolments , voting outside enrolled electorates , and prisoners .
All these demographics are expected to favour Yes over No .
It would need at least 67 % of the specials votes ticking Yes to tip the balance .
That ’ s certainly possible .
But whether Yes or No gets the most votes , it ’ s still going to be a very close , almost 50/50 , split vote .
It ’ s not enough for either side to just barely scrape by then proclaim victory .
Before the preliminary results @ @ @ @ @ @ @ compromise and consensus , even if Yes wins .
We need a cannabis policy that is broadly supported , not a country split down the middle .
This was always going to be a problem .
While I believe this is the best version of legalisation that ’ s ever been put forward , it wasn ’ t designed to win a referendum .
It was designed by Ministry of Justice officials who wanted a policy that would benefit all sectors of society , rectify the harms caused by prohibition , retain any @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people a second chance , while learning from the failures of alcohol , tobacco and gambling policies .
They weren ’ t concerned with tricky things called elections , referendums and politicians .
So the Bill is really long , detailed and complicated .
It flagged it ’ s own weak points and gave opponents plenty of angles of attack .
And the Minister in charge went missing from the campaign , reappearing only right at the end with a belated confession of voting Yes .
Andrew Little then managed to infuriate reformers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ result was in .
He then went further and ruled out any drug law reform .
Andrew Little is now the Minister of Health , officially in charge of the Misuse of Drugs Act .
That should ring alarm bells , but perhaps it ’ s all a cunning plan .
If so , the essence of this plan would be : • take the heat off Jacinda Ardern , who had also raised the ire of reformers by refusing to say which way she had voted ( and I think that could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) , and • outwardly ruling out legalisation to appease Labour ’ s new centre-right base , and • taking over Health to put through other reforms .
Mr Little ’ s boss , Jacinda Ardern , finally admitted she had voted Yes in the cannabis referendum , and then immediately pledged to legalise pill testing at festivals .
That seems like drug law reform to me , so it gives me hope Andrew Little was just sulking .
But legalising pill testing is drug law reform for the middle classes , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over summer .
But if the “ use of premises ” provision of the Misuse of Drugs Act is repealed to allow festival pill testing , it could also let cafes or social clubs tolerate cannabis consumption on the premises .
Combined with properly decriminalising possession and use , that would be a huge game-changer .
There are other opportunities for reform that could happen under both a Yes- or No-majority scenario , including : • formalising the failed decriminalisation that is predicated on police discretion they have failed to use , or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ medicinal access to make prescriptions easier and products more affordable , and letting patients grow their own ; • allowing the medicinal cannabis private member ’ s bill from National ’ s health spokesperson Dr Shane Reti , already drawn from the ballot , to have a first reading and go to select committee ; • implementing the Law Commission ’ s recommendation to repeal the Misuse of Drugs Act and replace it with a new law “ fit for purpose ” , or if not , then implement the Law Commission ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Misuse of Drugs Act ’ s reverse onus of proof ( that breaches NZ ’ s Bill of Rights ) which presumes the accused is guilty until proven innocent ; and • remove the presumption of supply that charges people as dealers if they possess over some arbitrary amounts ( 1 ounce , 10 plants , or 100 marijuana cigarettes ) ; and • legalising social dealing ( one friend sorting out another ) • reforming the ridiculous ban on pipes which while openly sold in many stores carry a punishment for possession @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a criminal record that states “ possession of a needle or syringe ” .
Additionally , with a more representative and diverse parliament there are a number of MPs who could table a private member ’ s bill to do any of these .
Even the Nopers are now saying they would support other reforms , including decriminalisation .
We must hold them to that .
Especially given every ballot put to American voters at this week ’ s election has passed .
Every .
Single .
One .
That means a full @ @ @ @ @ @ @ states where adult-use of cannabis is legally regulated and available .
Oregon went further and decriminalised all drugs , while Washington DC legalised psychedelics .
New Zealand ’ s cannabis referendum has confirmed that cannabis is here , we are here , and we are not going away .
Cannabis was not invented by voting Yes , and it won ’ t disappear by voting No .

New Zealand will today discover if the cannabis referendum passed or not. But in either case, we should chart a new course that is more broadly supported.
The Government appears to have already decided cannabis will remain illegal while legalising pill testing for middle-class festival goers.
The preliminary results released last Friday had Hope trailing Nope by 53 to 47 per cent.
That was enough for Justice Minister Andrew Little, who oversaw the referendum and whose officials designed the Cannabis Legalisation and Control Bill, to call the whole thing off.
Little declared the preliminary result was not going to change, and the result was a mandate for not doing anything.
But a 50/50 close call is not a mandate to sit on your hands. It’s a mandate to find a workable compromise, and keep trying.
Half of New Zealand just voted for full legalisation, while many Nopers now say they would support other reforms, such as decriminalisation.
And the final result of the cannabis referendum released today is expected to tip further towards Yes, because it counts special votes.
TDB Recommends NewzEngine.com
These are from Kiwis living overseas, late enrolments, voting outside enrolled electorates, and prisoners. All these demographics are expected to favour Yes over No.
It would need at least 67% of the specials votes ticking Yes to tip the balance.
That’s certainly possible. But whether Yes or No gets the most votes, it’s still going to be a very close, almost 50/50, split vote.
It’s not enough for either side to just barely scrape by then proclaim victory. Before the preliminary results were announced, NORML had called for compromise and consensus, even if Yes wins.
We need a cannabis policy that is broadly supported, not a country split down the middle.
This was always going to be a problem. While I believe this is the best version of legalisation that’s ever been put forward, it wasn’t designed to win a referendum.
It was designed by Ministry of Justice officials who wanted a policy that would benefit all sectors of society, rectify the harms caused by prohibition, retain any economic benefits in local communities, give people a second chance, while learning from the failures of alcohol, tobacco and gambling policies.
They weren’t concerned with tricky things called elections, referendums and politicians.
So the Bill is really long, detailed and complicated. It flagged it’s own weak points and gave opponents plenty of angles of attack.
And the Minister in charge went missing from the campaign, reappearing only right at the end with a belated confession of voting Yes.
Andrew Little then managed to infuriate reformers by immediately proclaiming defeat before the final result was in. He then went further and ruled out any drug law reform.
Andrew Little is now the Minister of Health, officially in charge of the Misuse of Drugs Act.
That should ring alarm bells, but perhaps it’s all a cunning plan. If so, the essence of this plan would be:
take the heat off Jacinda Ardern, who had also raised the ire of reformers by refusing to say which way she had voted (and I think that could have bumped Yes by 5 per cent), and outwardly ruling out legalisation to appease Labour’s new centre-right base, and taking over Health to put through other reforms.
There are hopeful signs.
Mr Little’s boss, Jacinda Ardern, finally admitted she had voted Yes in the cannabis referendum, and then immediately pledged to legalise pill testing at festivals.
That seems like drug law reform to me, so it gives me hope Andrew Little was just sulking.
But legalising pill testing is drug law reform for the middle classes, and the parents of nice kids enjoying themselves over summer.
It’s drug law reform for a Labour party courting centre-right voters.
But if the “use of premises” provision of the Misuse of Drugs Act is repealed to allow festival pill testing, it could also let cafes or social clubs tolerate cannabis consumption on the premises.
Combined with properly decriminalising possession and use, that would be a huge game-changer.
There are other opportunities for reform that could happen under both a Yes- or No-majority scenario, including:
formalising the failed decriminalisation that is predicated on police discretion they have failed to use, or use in racist ways;
expanding medicinal access to make prescriptions easier and products more affordable, and letting patients grow their own;
allowing the medicinal cannabis private member’s bill from National’s health spokesperson Dr Shane Reti, already drawn from the ballot, to have a first reading and go to select committee;
implementing the Law Commission’s recommendation to repeal the Misuse of Drugs Act and replace it with a new law “fit for purpose”, or if not, then implement the Law Commission’s recommendation to: remove the Misuse of Drugs Act’s reverse onus of proof (that breaches NZ’s Bill of Rights) which presumes the accused is guilty until proven innocent; and remove the presumption of supply that charges people as dealers if they possess over some arbitrary amounts (1 ounce, 10 plants, or 100 marijuana cigarettes); and legalising social dealing (one friend sorting out another)
reforming the ridiculous ban on pipes which while openly sold in many stores carry a punishment for possession of up to 1 year imprisonment and a criminal record that states “possession of a needle or syringe”.
Additionally, with a more representative and diverse parliament there are a number of MPs who could table a private member’s bill to do any of these.
Even the Nopers are now saying they would support other reforms, including decriminalisation. We must hold them to that.
Especially given every ballot put to American voters at this week’s election has passed. Every. Single. One.
That means a full third of US citizens now live in states where adult-use of cannabis is legally regulated and available. Oregon went further and decriminalised all drugs, while Washington DC legalised psychedelics.
New Zealand’s cannabis referendum has confirmed that cannabis is here, we are here, and we are not going away.
Cannabis was not invented by voting Yes, and it won’t disappear by voting No.


thedailyblog--2020-11-05--Ethics and morality desperately needed in Foreign Affairs and Defence after New Zealand First’s amor

Ethics and morality desperately needed in Foreign Affairs and Defence after New Zealand First’s amorality

Appointing Nanaia Mahuta as Foreign Minister and Peeni Henare in Defence is a welcome relief and brings fresh pairs of eyes to long-neglected issues .
In the previous term of government several important foreign policy issues took a back seat after Labour contracted out Foreign Affairs and Defence to New Zealand First .
Winston Peters as Foreign Minister and Ron Mark as Defence Minister were left to run their portfolios unchallenged and Palestine was the biggest loser .
Winston Peters “ marked time ” on the Middle East .
He stayed silent when Israeli soldiers shot dead hundreds of unarmed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ – in the Great March of Return protests in Gaza .
He refused to speak out against Israel ’ s racist Nation State law and only managed some tepid opposition to US/Israel plans to annex vast areas of the Occupied Palestinian Territories earlier this year .
Meanwhile Peters ’ pushed through cabinet an Agreement on Cooperation in Technological Innovation , Research and Development with Israel which was signed by the government in March this year despite the annexation plans .
Ironically the previous National-led government had a stronger policy of support for Palestine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nations Security Council resolution 2334 which targeted illegal Israeli settlements on Palestinian land but National also delayed signing a New Zealand-Israel Film Co-production Agreement until 2015 , because it thought that signing the Agreement while Israel was attacking Gaza the previous year was ‘ not a good look.
’ Winston Peters had no such qualms despite Israel ’ s announcement of plans to blatantly breach international law through seizure of more Palestinian land .
In moving forward now Nanaia Mahuta has work to do .
In the first 100 days of the new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ State of Palestine .
The indigenous people of Palestine deserve nothing less .
Successive New Zealand governments have claimed to take an “ even-handed ” approach to the Middle East but this is untrue .
We have extensive bilateral arrangements with Israel but minimal interaction with Palestinians .
Joining the majority of countries in the world and recognising the State of Palestine ( 138 out of 193 countries already take this position ) would be an important step forward .
Secondly New Zealand should make its relations with Israel conditional on Israeli compliance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ particular the issues of ending the brutal military occupation of Palestinian territories , ending racist laws which discriminate against Palestinian Israelis and requiring the right of return for Palestinian refugees .
The Israeli occupation of the entire area of historic Palestine is probably the longest running military occupation in modern history .
There is no more time for pious words .
We must say to Israel that until it abides by international law New Zealand will suspend our range of bilateral agreements with Israel ; prohibit the importation of Israeli products , including @ @ @ @ @ @ @ instruct the Superannuation Fund and the Accident Compensation Corporation to disinvest in any company involved in the illegal settlements or land confiscation in the Occupied Palestinian Territories .
Earlier this year the United Nations Human Rights Council identified 112 companies which are thumbing their noses at international law .
New Zealand should withdraw its investments from these companies .
It ’ s gone on too long .
There is no more time for pious words .
The same applies in West Papua and Western Sahara .
West Papuans have also been betrayed by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are our close Pacific neighbours living under particularly cruel Indonesian military rule .
We have stood by , turning a blind eye , just as we previously betrayed the people of East Timor .
Nanaia Mahuta is well placed to work with other Pacific countries in bringing pressure to liberate West Papua .
Meanwhile the people of Western Sahara continue to be exploited by New Zealand .
The Saharawi people of the area live under Moroccan occupation while their phosphate deposits are mined for sale overseas .
And which is the last country @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stolen from the people of Western Sahara ?
– New Zealand !
A shameful embarrassment which should be ended in the first 100 days .
In Defence it has been a similar story under New Zealand First .
Minister of Defence Ron Mark visited Israel in January last year and the outcome was deeply embarrassing .
Not only did Mark meet with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and give an awful display of obsequiousness on New Zealand ’ s behalf but he visited the huge Israeli weapons manufacturer Elbit Systems to check out the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ battle-tested ” on Palestinians .
Ron Mark was apparently unaware that in 2012 the New Zealand Superfund withdrew its investments from Elbit Systems because the company was helping build the Israeli “ security ” wall ( widely dubbed the “ apartheid ” wall ) which the International Court of Justice declared illegal .
Not surprisingly , given the well-established lack of moral values in our Defence Force leadership , the organisation has continued to purchase military equipment from Elbit Systems .
Ron Mark and the Defence Force appear oblivious to any moral issues @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ niche ” military equipment from Elbit Systems overrode other concerns .
New Zealand defence and foreign policy must have an ethical basis which aligns with international law and United Nations resolutions .
Nanaia Mahuta and Peeni Henare have important work to do to bring New Zealand onto the right side of Human rights in Palestine and around the world .
We will be looking to our new ministers to do us proud where their predecessors failed .
There is an important role for the Prime Minister as well – using the politics @ @ @ @ @ @ @ military detention without trial of Palestinian activists , including children , by the Israeli Defence Force .
It is well documented that Palestinian children incarcerated in this way are frequently denied access to a lawyer or even their parents .
Speaking out for Palestinian children is the least our Prime Minister can do as the new government reorients towards Palestine .

Appointing Nanaia Mahuta as Foreign Minister and Peeni Henare in Defence is a welcome relief and brings fresh pairs of eyes to long-neglected issues.
In the previous term of government several important foreign policy issues took a back seat after Labour contracted out Foreign Affairs and Defence to New Zealand First. Winston Peters as Foreign Minister and Ron Mark as Defence Minister were left to run their portfolios unchallenged and Palestine was the biggest loser.
Winston Peters “marked time” on the Middle East. He stayed silent when Israeli soldiers shot dead hundreds of unarmed Palestinian protestors – many of them children – in the Great March of Return protests in Gaza. He refused to speak out against Israel’s racist Nation State law and only managed some tepid opposition to US/Israel plans to annex vast areas of the Occupied Palestinian Territories earlier this year.
Meanwhile Peters’ pushed through cabinet an Agreement on Cooperation in Technological Innovation, Research and Development with Israel which was signed by the government in March this year despite the annexation plans.
Ironically the previous National-led government had a stronger policy of support for Palestine. Not only did it co-sponsor United Nations Security Council resolution 2334 which targeted illegal Israeli settlements on Palestinian land but National also delayed signing a New Zealand-Israel Film Co-production Agreement until 2015, because it thought that signing the Agreement while Israel was attacking Gaza the previous year was ‘not a good look.’
Winston Peters had no such qualms despite Israel’s announcement of plans to blatantly breach international law through seizure of more Palestinian land.
In moving forward now Nanaia Mahuta has work to do.
In the first 100 days of the new government New Zealand should finally recognise the State of Palestine. The indigenous people of Palestine deserve nothing less.
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Successive New Zealand governments have claimed to take an “even-handed” approach to the Middle East but this is untrue. We have extensive bilateral arrangements with Israel but minimal interaction with Palestinians.
Joining the majority of countries in the world and recognising the State of Palestine (138 out of 193 countries already take this position) would be an important step forward.
Secondly New Zealand should make its relations with Israel conditional on Israeli compliance with its international law responsibilities, in particular the issues of ending the brutal military occupation of Palestinian territories, ending racist laws which discriminate against Palestinian Israelis and requiring the right of return for Palestinian refugees.
The Israeli occupation of the entire area of historic Palestine is probably the longest running military occupation in modern history. There is no more time for pious words.
We must say to Israel that until it abides by international law New Zealand will suspend our range of bilateral agreements with Israel; prohibit the importation of Israeli products, including those made in illegal settlements, and instruct the Superannuation Fund and the Accident Compensation Corporation to disinvest in any company involved in the illegal settlements or land confiscation in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
Earlier this year the United Nations Human Rights Council identified 112 companies which are thumbing their noses at international law. New Zealand should withdraw its investments from these companies.
It’s gone on too long. There is no more time for pious words.
The same applies in West Papua and Western Sahara.
West Papuans have also been betrayed by New Zealand under Winston Peters. These are our close Pacific neighbours living under particularly cruel Indonesian military rule. We have stood by, turning a blind eye, just as we previously betrayed the people of East Timor. Nanaia Mahuta is well placed to work with other Pacific countries in bringing pressure to liberate West Papua.
Meanwhile the people of Western Sahara continue to be exploited by New Zealand. The Saharawi people of the area live under Moroccan occupation while their phosphate deposits are mined for sale overseas. And which is the last country in the world to import phosphate fertiliser stolen from the people of Western Sahara? – New Zealand! A shameful embarrassment which should be ended in the first 100 days.
In Defence it has been a similar story under New Zealand First. Minister of Defence Ron Mark visited Israel in January last year and the outcome was deeply embarrassing.
Not only did Mark meet with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and give an awful display of obsequiousness on New Zealand’s behalf but he visited the huge Israeli weapons manufacturer Elbit Systems to check out the latest military equipment which has been “battle-tested” on Palestinians.
Ron Mark was apparently unaware that in 2012 the New Zealand Superfund withdrew its investments from Elbit Systems because the company was helping build the Israeli “security” wall (widely dubbed the “apartheid” wall) which the International Court of Justice declared illegal.
Not surprisingly, given the well-established lack of moral values in our Defence Force leadership, the organisation has continued to purchase military equipment from Elbit Systems.
Ron Mark and the Defence Force appear oblivious to any moral issues. Mark simply said the purchase of “niche” military equipment from Elbit Systems overrode other concerns.
New Zealand defence and foreign policy must have an ethical basis which aligns with international law and United Nations resolutions.
Nanaia Mahuta and Peeni Henare have important work to do to bring New Zealand onto the right side of Human rights in Palestine and around the world.
We will be looking to our new ministers to do us proud where their predecessors failed.
There is an important role for the Prime Minister as well – using the politics of kindness to speak out against the military detention without trial of Palestinian activists, including children, by the Israeli Defence Force.
It is well documented that Palestinian children incarcerated in this way are frequently denied access to a lawyer or even their parents.
Speaking out for Palestinian children is the least our Prime Minister can do as the new government reorients towards Palestine.


thedailyblog--2020-11-06--Trump’s “Stab In The Back”

Trump’s “Stab In The Back”

So here ’ s what ’ s going to happen .
Assuming there ’ s not some sudden eleventh hour reversal with the count … the Trumps and the Trump wing of the Republican Party are going to find themselves escalatingly high-and-dry with regard to the rest of their own party .
We ’ ve already seen quite a bit of this with even some of the President ’ s own previously pliant supporters refusing to echo his claims and stances over the past 36 hours – or outright distancing themselves therefrom .
Now , there are a few reasons @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the fact that some of those rhetorical flourishes on the part of the President are rather … fraught in their relationship with reality , during the high-sacred hallowed event of the American civic religion .
And also , I personally suspect , because various Republicans are in fact not entirely displeased with the way things have overarchingly turned out – more on that in a moment .
But what this is setting up is a “ Stab In The Back ” myth .
Much like the one prevalent in Germany following World War @ @ @ @ @ @ @ facts of the matter may or may not have been upon the ground – a festering belief takes hold that it was the President ’ s *own side* that let him down , rather than the President ’ s demands being overtly unfeasible or even outright illegal .
As you can see , we are already beginning to see this – with the President ’ s son expressing vocal frustration that the party is not seemingly doing its absolute utmost to stop counts , secure court challenges , start instructing Electoral College delegates @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thinks they should be posturing towards .
And it is interesting to note that he ’ s declared that the “ voters ” in question who ’ ll “ never forget ” this – are “ ours ” [ as in the Trump dynasty ’ s , the Trump wing of the Republican Party ’ s ] … which is probably not entirely incorrect .
This is also the reason why this is noteworthy rather than merely yet another flare-point of anger amidst the constellation of consternation emanating from the White House in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ really has won a place within the GOP over the past four years .
And while some for-now supporters like Lindsey Graham may turn out to be able to ‘ revert ’ to their pre-Trump selves with approximately the same level of velocity and spinelessness with which they became pro-Trump allies earlier in this term – I suspect that for a surprising swathe of the Republican Party , we ’ ll see the opposite .
A recognition that Trumpism actually DID ‘ deliver the goods ’ electorally – and that it should therefore @ @ @ @ @ @ @ doubled-down upon , in more comprehensive , perhaps even overtly ‘ competent ’ fashion .
Except with various of these voices within the Republican Party noting that they have now potentially acquired Trumpism without Trump .
Simultaneously that ethos ’ greatest strength and most notorious liability rolled into one .
For those sorts , this Election has delivered them almost everything on their wishlist .
They ’ ve got a strong position in both the Senate and House of Representatives , they ’ ve already got three Supreme Court appointments to deliver a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ organ ; and , as I have noted earlier , a lack of a Trump to periodically ‘ mess it all up ’ ( from their perspective ) for them via late-night social media shenaniganry etc .
So they will indeed quite likely be less than entirely enthusiastic about helping to support the President to intervene his way into inauguration for a second term .
For others , of the more ‘ true believer ’ variety – there can be no Trumpism without Trump .
And , in their again not entirely inaccurate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ line in this Election would have been difficult if not outright implausible sans Trump ’ s heavy hand upon the scale as well as the heart of the nation .
They may perceive that either their principles or their political appeal may go out the window in his large-looming absence from their party or the presumptive national stage .
So where is all of this going ?
Probably not in the conventional sense , for America itself .
But within the Republican Party .
The battle over its soul which had been effectively @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the past four and a half years not only coming to a sudden flashpoint – but acquiring entirely new fissure-lines within it into the bargain .
The “ Stab In The Back ” narrative is going to take hold and drive a wave of insurgent anger both from an array of ordinary Republican voters and activists and even candidates or office-holders against the leadership .
It may fizzle out within the span of a single congressional term – or it may produce a longer-lasting vituperative schism .
It may even fuel , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ primary challenging and oustering of perceived ‘ Betrayers ’ that changes the shape of some Republican races and districts for years to come .
Or , I suppose , we may just see the whole thing go back to a soft simmer if something DOES change in the ongoing electoral count and recount results .
An additional possibility in the unlikely event of the latter – would be Trump and Sons back in the position of power and proceeding to weed out Republicans who had been perceived as disloyal .
Which could even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ of portions of American politics as some ‘ moderate ’ Republicans end up attempting to soft ‘ patch over ’ to a center spectrum aligned more with the Democratic Party .
But to return to the more likely set of scenarios – wherein Trump either continues to lose outright in the count of votes , or loses later in some legal challenge of his own devising – the anger against those perceived to have ‘ failed ’ him in each of the legislative and judicial branches ( as well as in other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ News – and seriously , the tweets this week about how Fox News was attempting to rig the election for Biden were … wild ) : this anger may lead to an increased appetite for absolutism on the part of his supporters .
A feeling that if the Republicans of Senate and House aren ’ t going to ‘ do their bit ’ and fight tooth and claw for the Solar Presidency [ ‘ L ’ Etat , C ’ est Moi ’ ] of Trump ; and if the Republicans ’ Supreme @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ to the man who put them there … that both institutions are pointless and should be further undermined and constrained in the future .
Which does not , of course , mean that those demands could come to especially active fruition .
Although it does speak to another of these ‘ fault-lines ’ that is in the process of being opened up within both the Republican Party and the broader right wing of the American electorate .
That between the people who – rightly or wrongly and sincerely or not – hold @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) reverence for what they perceive to be the principles ( rather than the principality ) of the American civic edifice ; and those who are more keen only upon ‘ what those institutions can do for you ’ , perfectly happy to burn parts of it completely to the ground if it is not ‘ doing for you ’ at that particular prominent moment of time .
In ordinary times , the latter would be something of a fringe position in terms of public presentation if not necessarily in practice .
Yet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be said , not ‘ ordinary times ’ .
It is therefore not inconceivable that right-wing demands to hamstring the ‘ traitor ’ branches of government and their duly empowered/empaneled representatives thereupon – become a push to “ reform ” the system in a not entirely dissimilar manner to how the enthusiasm for Popular Vote and proportionality rather than the Electoral College has become a Cause Celebre in various more progressive enclaves over there .
Either way , it would appear that the upcoming spinoff show for 2020 – Republican Party 2021 – @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new season .

So here’s what’s going to happen. Assuming there’s not some sudden eleventh hour reversal with the count … the Trumps and the Trump wing of the Republican Party are going to find themselves escalatingly high-and-dry with regard to the rest of their own party.
We’ve already seen quite a bit of this with even some of the President’s own previously pliant supporters refusing to echo his claims and stances over the past 36 hours – or outright distancing themselves therefrom.
Now, there are a few reasons for this, of course – including the fact that some of those rhetorical flourishes on the part of the President are rather … fraught in their relationship with reality, during the high-sacred hallowed event of the American civic religion.
And also, I personally suspect, because various Republicans are in fact not entirely displeased with the way things have overarchingly turned out – more on that in a moment.
But what this is setting up is a “Stab In The Back” myth. Much like the one prevalent in Germany following World War One. Wherein regardless of what the facts of the matter may or may not have been upon the ground – a festering belief takes hold that it was the President’s *own side* that let him down, rather than the President’s demands being overtly unfeasible or even outright illegal.
As you can see, we are already beginning to see this – with the President’s son expressing vocal frustration that the party is not seemingly doing its absolute utmost to stop counts, secure court challenges, start instructing Electoral College delegates, or whatever else it is he thinks they should be posturing towards.
And it is interesting to note that he’s declared that the “voters” in question who’ll “never forget” this – are “ours” [as in the Trump dynasty’s, the Trump wing of the Republican Party’s] … which is probably not entirely incorrect.
TDB Recommends NewzEngine.com
This is also the reason why this is noteworthy rather than merely yet another flare-point of anger amidst the constellation of consternation emanating from the White House in recent days.
Because the Trump ethos really has won a place within the GOP over the past four years. And while some for-now supporters like Lindsey Graham may turn out to be able to ‘revert’ to their pre-Trump selves with approximately the same level of velocity and spinelessness with which they became pro-Trump allies earlier in this term – I suspect that for a surprising swathe of the Republican Party , we’ll see the opposite.
A recognition that Trumpism actually DID ‘deliver the goods’ electorally – and that it should therefore be persisted with. Even enhanced and doubled-down upon, in more comprehensive, perhaps even overtly ‘competent’ fashion.
Except with various of these voices within the Republican Party noting that they have now potentially acquired Trumpism without Trump. Simultaneously that ethos’ greatest strength and most notorious liability rolled into one.
For those sorts, this Election has delivered them almost everything on their wishlist. They’ve got a strong position in both the Senate and House of Representatives, they’ve already got three Supreme Court appointments to deliver a moral majority for their side upon that organ; and, as I have noted earlier, a lack of a Trump to periodically ‘mess it all up’ (from their perspective) for them via late-night social media shenaniganry etc. So they will indeed quite likely be less than entirely enthusiastic about helping to support the President to intervene his way into inauguration for a second term.
For others, of the more ‘true believer’ variety – there can be no Trumpism without Trump. And, in their again not entirely inaccurate belief, the Republican holding of the line in this Election would have been difficult if not outright implausible sans Trump’s heavy hand upon the scale as well as the heart of the nation. They may perceive that either their principles or their political appeal may go out the window in his large-looming absence from their party or the presumptive national stage.
So where is all of this going?
Simple.
Civil War.
Probably not in the conventional sense, for America itself.
But within the Republican Party. The battle over its soul which had been effectively forestalled via the triumphs and the whipping of the past four and a half years not only coming to a sudden flashpoint – but acquiring entirely new fissure-lines within it into the bargain.
The “Stab In The Back” narrative is going to take hold and drive a wave of insurgent anger both from an array of ordinary Republican voters and activists and even candidates or office-holders against the leadership. It may fizzle out within the span of a single congressional term – or it may produce a longer-lasting vituperative schism. It may even fuel, Tea Party style, a push for primary challenging and oustering of perceived ‘Betrayers’ that changes the shape of some Republican races and districts for years to come.
Or, I suppose, we may just see the whole thing go back to a soft simmer if something DOES change in the ongoing electoral count and recount results.
An additional possibility in the unlikely event of the latter – would be Trump and Sons back in the position of power and proceeding to weed out Republicans who had been perceived as disloyal.
Which could even lead to one of those ‘realignments’ of portions of American politics as some ‘moderate’ Republicans end up attempting to soft ‘patch over’ to a center spectrum aligned more with the Democratic Party.
But to return to the more likely set of scenarios – wherein Trump either continues to lose outright in the count of votes , or loses later in some legal challenge of his own devising – the anger against those perceived to have ‘failed’ him in each of the legislative and judicial branches (as well as in other supposed regime forces, such as Fox News – and seriously, the tweets this week about how Fox News was attempting to rig the election for Biden were … wild) : this anger may lead to an increased appetite for absolutism on the part of his supporters.
A feeling that if the Republicans of Senate and House aren’t going to ‘do their bit’ and fight tooth and claw for the Solar Presidency [‘L’Etat, C’est Moi’] of Trump ; and if the Republicans’ Supreme Court appointments refuse to show ‘gratitude’ to the man who put them there … that both institutions are pointless and should be further undermined and constrained in the future.
Which does not, of course, mean that those demands could come to especially active fruition. Although it does speak to another of these ‘fault-lines’ that is in the process of being opened up within both the Republican Party and the broader right wing of the American electorate.
That between the people who – rightly or wrongly and sincerely or not – hold some degree of (at least public) reverence for what they perceive to be the principles (rather than the principality) of the American civic edifice; and those who are more keen only upon ‘what those institutions can do for you’, perfectly happy to burn parts of it completely to the ground if it is not ‘doing for you’ at that particular prominent moment of time.
In ordinary times, the latter would be something of a fringe position in terms of public presentation if not necessarily in practice.
Yet these are, as hardly needs to be said, not ‘ordinary times’.
It is therefore not inconceivable that right-wing demands to hamstring the ‘traitor’ branches of government and their duly empowered/empaneled representatives thereupon – become a push to “reform” the system in a not entirely dissimilar manner to how the enthusiasm for Popular Vote and proportionality rather than the Electoral College has become a Cause Celebre in various more progressive enclaves over there.
Either way , it would appear that the upcoming spinoff show for 2020 – Republican Party 2021 – is going to have quite the chaotic new season.


thedailyblog--2020-11-06--Unions launch a pathways to residency campaign for migrant workers

The campaign is supported by Unite Union , One Union and the Migrant Workers Association .
The Covid crisis has exposed the fact that New Zealand has become over-reliant on migrant workers on temporary visas .
Currently , there are over 250,000 workers here on temporary visas .
Many of them have been here for up to a decade and have made New Zealand their home .
Many have children born here who know of no other life .
Many were sold a promise of eventually being able to gain permanent residency but had the bar of eligibility lifted on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ visa numbers have been reduced whilst the number of people allowed in on temporary visas was increased before Covid hit .
This has pushed the points required for permanent residence above that for nurses and teachers , for example .
This is just nuts .
However , in the post-Covid world , New Zealand will not be able to re-establish a system involving the granting of a quarter of a million temporary visas each year to replace those who leave , as was what was being done pre-Covid .
It makes sense for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who have made New Zealand their home .
As a first step to repairing the broken system that currently exists the government should immediately : Many migrant workers and their employers desperately need the government to promise that they won ’ t be moving to deport people currently in work whose visas are going to expire over the next months .
This is especially so when the virus appears out of control in so many countries .
This is a once in a generation opportunity to fix a broken system .
We can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on false promises and changed the rules after they came .
We can use the “ Pathways to Residency Visas ” to encourage workers to go to areas of the economy that need workers .
This is a win-win for workers , employers , and the government .
It is a common-sense solution to a deep problem of our own making .
It is the humanitarian thing to do in the world we are now living in .
Everyone currently in New Zealand has been part of the “ Team of Five Million @ @ @ @ @ @ @ support .

The campaign is supported by Unite Union, One Union and the Migrant Workers Association.
The Covid crisis has exposed the fact that New Zealand has become over-reliant on migrant workers on temporary visas.
Currently, there are over 250,000 workers here on temporary visas. Many of them have been here for up to a decade and have made New Zealand their home. Many have children born here who know of no other life.
Many were sold a promise of eventually being able to gain permanent residency but had the bar of eligibility lifted on them after they arrived.
Permanent Residence visa numbers have been reduced whilst the number of people allowed in on temporary visas was increased before Covid hit. This has pushed the points required for permanent residence above that for nurses and teachers, for example. This is just nuts.
However, in the post-Covid world, New Zealand will not be able to re-establish a system involving the granting of a quarter of a million temporary visas each year to replace those who leave, as was what was being done pre-Covid.
It makes sense for us to offer permanent residency to those who have made New Zealand their home.
As a first step to repairing the broken system that currently exists the government should immediately:
Create a new “Pathway to Residency temporary visa” available to anyone currently on an essential skill or graduate job search visa who has been working and/or studying for five years or more.
Allow “normally resident” Kiwis stuck overseas to return to New Zealand on the same basis as citizens.
Offer migrants who may have overstayed their visas pathways to residency if they have made New Zealand their home and are without criminal convictions.
Provide an extension of the period for low-skilled visas (from the current 6 months to 12 months or longer).
Postpone the stand-down requirements which are coming into force in 2021 so a review can be held on long-term policy changes needed for this sector in the post-Covid world.
Many migrant workers and their employers desperately need the government to promise that they won’t be moving to deport people currently in work whose visas are going to expire over the next months. This is especially so when the virus appears out of control in so many countries.
This is a once in a generation opportunity to fix a broken system. We can give residency to those we lured here on false promises and changed the rules after they came. We can use the “Pathways to Residency Visas” to encourage workers to go to areas of the economy that need workers.
This is a win-win for workers, employers, and the government. It is a common-sense solution to a deep problem of our own making. It is the humanitarian thing to do in the world we are now living in.
Everyone currently in New Zealand has been part of the “Team of Five Million” and they deserve our solidarity and support.