tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3753486518085091399.post1183640116319643204..comments2024-03-29T03:41:12.499+13:00Comments on Bowalley Road: Getting The MessageChris Trotterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09081613281183460899noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3753486518085091399.post-24715077137681562452010-11-28T13:40:31.330+13:002010-11-28T13:40:31.330+13:00This National government has fallen flat on aspira...This National government has fallen flat on aspiration. Labour needs to spell out a workable plan to restore New Zealand's place in the world. It looks like some in Labour are starting to get the message.<br /><br />But Labour has a long road to regain the public's trust on economic matters. The last Labour government ignored serious economic imbalances and talked up the "Knowledge Economy" then did nothing about it. Yet another Labour MP argued last week that increasing the mumimum wage would help us catch up to Australia. The minimum wage does have its role but it is little more a wealth creator than printing money.<br /><br />It was more than a bit surprising to see an article on Stuff.co.nz a few days ago saying Labour planned to partially privatise SOEs. Unlike some excited bloggers I went and looked up David Cunliffe's speech and what he actually said was: "We can unleash State Owned Enterprises to create and grow new subsidiaries with private partners and shareholders, without diluting the taxpayer's equity, or wholly or partially privatizing the SOE."<br /><br />That is, he was talking about creating entirely new SOEs and not privatising any existing holdings. Creating new state-private partnership export industries is an interesting idea.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3753486518085091399.post-18942724789139588272010-11-26T01:43:45.275+13:002010-11-26T01:43:45.275+13:00Fantastic article Chris! Sadly, Labour's reson...Fantastic article Chris! Sadly, Labour's resonse today has been David Cunliffe (he of the disarming sneer) announcing Labour's economic policy:<br />- more Public-Private Partnerships (like the Suercity pillaging of Auckland that Labour initiated)<br />- partial privatisation of SOE subsidiaries, (like KiwiBank)<br /><br />There can be no starker lesson - Labour is a liberal capitalist party to it's death. May that death be sharp and swift!<br /><br />We need democratic reform to let us elect - and de-elect - MP's and mayors and councillors who lie to us, or push policies they never mentioned on the hustings. <br /><br />- No 5% threshold for list MPs<br />- STV for all electorate or ward contests<br />- recall referenda for any electorate MP or mayor or councillor where 5% of the voters sign a recall petition!<br /><br />Then the Labour Party will be as irrelevant as they were in Mana. :)<br /><br />Mad MarxistAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3753486518085091399.post-8458876154304409952010-11-25T11:20:11.034+13:002010-11-25T11:20:11.034+13:00One of your best articles in a long time. Keep up ...One of your best articles in a long time. Keep up the good work! <br /><br />Will be interesting to see how the Unite conference goes this weekend:<br /><br />http://socialistaotearoa.blogspot.com/2010/11/another-aotearoa-is-possible.html<br /><br />STAND UP FIGHT BACK- ANOTHER AOTEAROA IS POSSIBLE<br /><br />Saturday 27 November · 08:00 - 23:30<br />Te Wananga Aotearoa, 15 Canning Crescent, Mangere.<br />Registration $20.<br />Hosted by Unite<br />...<br />8.30am: Registration, Tea/coffee<br /><br />9.00am: Welcome/Intros<br /><br />9.15am: “Confronting the economic crisis – what caused it and how it can be overcome”.<br /><br />The worldwide economic crisis over the past few years has seen a massive growth of unemployment and cutbacks in basic entitlements for working people. This session will discuss how this crisis came about and how we can fight its effects.<br /><br />Speakers: Jane Kelsey, professor of law at Auckland University and author of many books exposing the effects of neoliberal economic theory on NZ will focus on the international dimension of the crisis; Mike Treen, National Director of Unite Union will focus on the impact of the crisis on NZ and how working people can resist.<br /><br />11am: Activist Workshops<br /><br />This will be an opportunity for a number of workshops to be held on topics suggested by activists across the country. These include the following possible subjects (some confirmed, some possible) – Casualisation of labour, workers resistance in Europe (Joe Carolan - Unite Campaigns Organiser); Maori economic elites; Tax justice campaign (Vaughan Gunson, Socialist Worker); Migrant workers; Workers resistance in Australia (Jody Betzian AMWU organizer and Socialist Alliance activist; Climate Justice & Workers Rights (Gary Cranston, Climate Camp); The Right to Strike (Jared Phillips, Unite Waikato Organiser); Campaigns against poverty and beneficiary bashing<br /><br />12-1 Lunch<br /><br />1pm: Poverty and inequality – can it be ended?<br /><br />The growth of inequality and poverty in Aotearoa was the one unarguable effect of the neoliberal economic changes imposed over the last few decades. What happened here was mirrored around the globe. This reality barely changed under the last Labour led government and none of the major parties have a programme to seriously combat – let alone eliminate – the terrible social consequences of poverty and inequality. But can it be ended?<br /><br />Speakers: John Minto (Spokesperson for Global Peace and Justice Auckland and Unite Union organizer); second speaker to be announced.<br /><br />3pm: Activist Workshops<br /><br />This will be an opportunity for a number of workshops to be held on topics suggested by activists across the country. These include the following subjects (some confirmed, some possible) – Casualisation of labour, workers resistance in Europe (Joe Carolan - Unite Campaigns Organiser); Maori economic elites; Tax justice campaign (Vaughan Gunson, Socialist Worker); Migrant workers; Workers resistance in Australia (Jody Betzian AMWU organizer and Socialist Alliance activist; Climate Justice & Workers Rights (Gary Cranston, Climate Camp); The Right to Strike (Jared Phillips, Unite Waikato Organiser); Campaigns against poverty and beneficiary bashing.<br /><br />4pm – 6pm: “The Left and parliament – some lessons from the Alliance and Green Party experience”<br /><br />Matt McCarten (Unite General secretary, former Alliance Party president), Sue Bradford (community activist and former Green Party MP)<br /><br />7pm Drinks Dancing and Revolutionary Music!!!! @ Onehunga RSAAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com