Following Sue Bradford's latest post, which indicates the Green's latest decision clearly signals they will align themselves with the right, it's difficult to restrain myself from saying 'I told you so'. But that there be dragons
Read MorePolitics
Greens step to the right
The Green Party political positioning statement this weekend is a significant move to the right despite attempts to paint it otherwise, and a culmination of long internal party debate. The risk is that they may just be outwitting themselves
Read MoreTalking about process and dismissal
Labour has happened across a pretty nifty little parliamentary trick. But it's time to put it away, I think.
Read MoreDeepwater protection - too little, too late
Environment Minister Nick Smith has finally confirmed that
Who needs a business case for Auckland rail?
After the 'battle of the business cases' this week over plans for an inner city rail loop in Auckland, the words of Sam Morgan offer some wisdom to luddite politicians
Read MoreLosing Sarah--meet the new Palin prototype, Michele Bachmann
Is it time to bid a fond farewell to Sarah Palin? We wish it wasn't so, but it seems there is a new wackadoo political force about to take centre stage in the US--Michele Bachmann.
Read MoreJohn Key's heart of darkness
Key announces ministerial group to advance welfare reform – welfare to form key part of National's 2011 election campaign – beneficiary bashing to the fore, again
Read MoreAn economical economy
Ideas on how to restructure an ‘economy’ that means what it says: an economical, ecological economy that manages resources sustainably, and allocates them fairly
Read MoreThe Standard & Poor's Budget
Bill English's third Budget has laid foundations. For a couple of short-term goals, in particular. But what's the point if those foundations are being undermined even as they are laid?
Read MoreIt's the end of the world, and I feel fine
So, a record deficit huh? The scene is being painted for a chop-chop Budget, but is our public debt really that bad? Let's take a look at our history...
Read MoreDear Don – An Open Letter
The world has changed dramatically since 2005. The Don Brash prescription for change has not. But his venom is now directed at National under Key and English instead of Labour under Clark and Cullen
Read MoreWhy Politics needs Science
What if those in politics could get past what's right and what's left to what's right and what's wrong? That's naive, of course, but it doesn't mean that science couldn't improve the way we decide those big policy questions
Read MorePeter Dunne gets his claws out and his cunning on
It's that time again, when Peter Dunne goes prowling for enough votes to survive another term. Except this time he's thinking bigger. Could it be 2002 all over again for the Centrist Saviour?
Read MoreChart of the day: Say something already! edition
On the stump, for a happy planet
If I were a politician, I’d campaign on four social, economic, and environmental issues — not necessarily in that order
Read MoreWhat Hone could have said instead
Hone Harawira's comments on Bin Laden's death were dumb. But they could have been smart.
Read MoreAfghanistan: Our Self-inflicted Wounds
Defence Minister Wayne Mapp and his Chief of Defence Force Rhys Jones stepped up their efforts this week to keep the gloss on New Zealand’s military involvement in Afghanistan. So far, they have succeeded in raising more questions than they have answered.
The price of milk
The true price of milk is its cost, in distracting us from the bigger issue: what policy and regulation is needed, to secure quality food for ordinary — all — New Zealanders
Read MoreHow much democracy is "enough" democracy?
Is Hone Harawira's decision to force a by election a cynical abuse of public money or a noble commitment to accountability? Yes.
Read MoreTurning the political landscape Green
The seismic shifts round Parliament this week present both risks and an opportunity for the Greens
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