Tag Archives: Noam Chomsky

The Cossacks are still dancing

Dancing Cossacks’ History “The National Party’s 1975 ‘dancing Cossacks’ advertisement is the most  infamous piece of election advertising in New Zealand’s political history. National was trying to turn voters against the Labour government by suggesting that the latter’s recently introduced compulsory … Continue reading

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Barbie & Ken – America’s Choice 2016

US Elections 2016 Anybody who does not live in a cave and has contact with any media at all cannot avoid being exposed to the circus of the US election campaign 2016. However this year’s spectacle is unlike any other we … Continue reading

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Neoliberalism: The Beast Thou shall not name

Neoliberalism – the ideology at the root of all our problems One of the most interesting pieces I read recently was by George Monbiot in The Guardian about Neoliberalism – the ideology at the root of all our problems It opened … Continue reading

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TPPA : Dining out on dead rats

TPPA – what we don’t know All governments involved in the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) have kept negotiations deliberately secret. This enables them to brush of any criticism from its sceptical citizens as uninformed scaremongering. They won’t release the full text for some … Continue reading

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Public bad Private good – A myth that won’t die

The Privatisation myth lives on One of the cornerstones of neoliberal dogma is privatisation of public assets and services. PRIVATISATION. Sell state-owned enterprises, goods and services to private investors. This includes banks, key industries, railroads, toll highways, electricity, schools, hospitals … Continue reading

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Yanis Varoufakis – What a man !

Since my last post the Greek tragedy has entered its next act. The referendum produced a surprisingly clear result on the bailout terms : NO  –  61% Yes  – 39% As the play will have a few more acts to go and … Continue reading

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Campbell Live vs Kardashian’s Arse

The reaction of the mainstream media to the axing of Campbell Live was predictably superficial. No deep analysis nor compassion. The analysis must include the almost constitutional – if only we had a constitution – role of independent media in a democracy. … Continue reading

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Corruption – its much more than that

Thanks to public radio I just  heard an almost hour long excellent Kim Hill interview on Radio New Zealand National. She spoke with Sarah Chayes reporter and author of Here is someone who actually knows what she is writing and talking about. After covering the fall of … Continue reading

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100 years after Gallipoli New Zealand’s ‘freedom and democracy’ will be decided in Northland

100 ago New Zealanders fought at Gallipoli for ‘freedom and democracy’ so we are told. Now our freedom and democracy hang in the balance depending on the result of the Northland by-election. Stuff reports that John Key is warning voters there is no “free … Continue reading

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Sky City / TPPA – A lesson in Capitalism

The Sky City Casino / Convention Centre government back-paddle  seems to get us back to the position of “no cost to the tax – or ratepayers”. Don’t bet on it ! For starters it was never and still is not … Continue reading

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