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Tag Archives: John Key
Wafer-thin socialism in nouvelle cuisine budget
It was obviously a budget for political foodies. As pointed out by Christ Trotter, Liam Dann predicted (or advised Bill English to deliver) a ‘cheese and toast‘ budget – comfort food, Kiwi-style. Gordon Campbell, by contrast, hitched his analysis to a … Continue reading
Posted in Democracy, Earthquakes, New Zealand Politics, Political Psychology
Tagged Brownlee, Christchurch, Elections, John Key, National, political psychology, Voting
7 Comments
‘What they see is what they get’
“Part of it is, I think, is, I suspect … I’m a pretty laid back, sort of down-to-earth hopefully approachable guy, and, … and, I think kind of again, what they see is what they get and they like that … Continue reading
Foxes, hens, the ‘hard left’ and the myth of the ‘time warp’.
It’s easy to feel a bit giddy – even queasy – after reading and hearing the reaction of politicians and commentators to the appointment of Matt McCarten as David Cunliffe’s Chief of Staff. John Armstrong has invited a picture of … Continue reading
Posted in Democracy, Labour, New Zealand Politics, Political Polls, Political Psychology, Uncategorized
Tagged Elections, John Key, National, political psychology, Voting
2 Comments
Flagging interest in ‘folly’ of vexillology
John Key seems like an unlikely vexillologist – or should that be vexillographer?. That aside, what was John Key ‘flagging’ when he proposed a referendum on New Zealand’s national flag to coincide with this year’s election – without having already … Continue reading
John Key and the serious business of “mucking around”
I did my best to resist the temptation to blog about this. But, in the end, the temptation was too great. Partly that was because of the absurdity of it all – I even thought up a provisional title: “Key goes … Continue reading
Key’s approach won’t work “over time”
It is often said that those who “Live by the sword, die by the sword“. It might also be said that those politicians who, less excitingly, live by portraying themselves as ‘pragmatic’ and ‘non-ideological’ will, in the fullness of time, … Continue reading
ECan, the government and the ‘Picture of Dorian Gray’
It is hard to understand why it appears to have received so little attention or commentary nationwide (with some honourable exceptions). The extension of the rule of the ECAN Commissioners announced by David Carter (Local Government Minister) and Amy Adams … Continue reading
Posted in Democracy, Earthquakes, Economics, Fascism, New Zealand Politics
Tagged Christchurch, disaster, Elections, fascism, John Key, Local Government, National
11 Comments
A rainy Christmas Day in Christchurch
Monday night last week was like Christmas Eve in Christchurch. As the evening darkened, the presents – carefully wrapped and prettily presented by the best PR Christmas wrappers CERA could buy – were lain beneath the brightly lit Christmas Tree … Continue reading
Posted in Democracy, Earthquakes, Economics, Fascism, Freedom, New Zealand Politics
Tagged Brownlee, Christchurch, cities, community, disaster, Freedom, John Key, Local Government, National, private sector, wealth
25 Comments
Underneath the ‘underclass’
Joe Bageant died on the 26th of March last year. Apparently, he was sometimes referred to as an American ‘leftneck’ – which is not a bad label for him. Bageant’s book (and, more generally, his literary life) has been devoted to laying … Continue reading
Posted in Democracy, Economics, Education, Free Market, Human Wellbeing, New Zealand Politics, Welfare
Tagged capitalism, community, economic history, John Key, markets, self-interest, unity, urbanisation, welfare, wellbeing
13 Comments
Water, Waitangi, ownership and power
There’s a reason why we talk about property rights. Owning property without having any rights to it makes as much sense as having rights to something without owning it in some way. ‘Water rights’ and ‘water ownership’ are, in all … Continue reading
Posted in Democracy, Economics, Free Market, Freedom, Maori, National Identity, New Zealand Politics
Tagged capitalism, Freedom, John Key, Maori, markets, New Zealand Identity, Treaty of Waitangi
Comments Off on Water, Waitangi, ownership and power