Gordon Campbell on why Justin Trudeau’s fate matters to New Zealand
The scandal now engulfing Justin Trudeau and his Liberal Party is the kind of train wreck that confirms the public’s worst feelings about politicians and their back-room dealings.
Columns
Gordon Campbell on why this guy shouldn’t be allowed to buy nuclear weapons
At the initial prompting of Trump’s disgraced national security adviser Michael Flynn, the US has been enabling Saudi Arabia to pursue a nuclear capability.
Gordon Campbell on National’s extremely cosy relationship with China
Very positive messages have come from National Party politicians (past and present) about the desirability of increasing China’s trade and investment relationships with New Zealand
Gordon Campbell on Sir Michael Cullen’s timely and progressive final words on tax reform
To ordinary earners whose income is taxed via PAYE and who also pay GST, there’s something quite surreal about the centre-right’s anguish at the Tax Working Group’s final report.
Gordon Campbell on the anti-Corbyn split in British Labour
The resignation of seven UK Labour MPs in protest against the leadership of Jeremy Corbyn is another example of the centre-left’s readiness to sabotage its own cause…
Gordon Campbell on the alleged crisis over our relations with China
If New Zealand’s relations with China are ‘deteriorating’ then you still need a microscope to detect the signs.
Gordon Campbell on America’s ‘Green New Deal’…
Even in the US, there is polling evidence that modern Americans are inclined to treat socialism as meaning ‘equality’ rather than the ‘government ownership or control’
Gordon Campbell on Iran’s options, 40 years after its revolution
As it turns 40 years of age this week, Iran’s Islamic Revolution is experiencing a fullblown mid-life crisis.
Gordon Campbell on the Nelson fire and what it says about our response to climate change
The Nelson fire has been a warning of things to come.
Gordon Campbell on why we shouldn’t support the US-led coup in Venezuela
There’s a decidedly retro feel to the US-engineered coup now unfolding in Venezuela, which looks like a throwback to the 1950s, back when the US […]
Gordon Campbell on why the Aussie banks are bastards
Across the Tasman a Royal Commission has been barking very loudly indeed about the activities of the Australian banks that own the main NZ banks.
Gordon Campbell on why we should be listening to Ocasio-Cortez about tax
In its attitudes to tax, New Zealand has been the last colonial outpost of Thatcherism. Change, however, may be in the air.
Aloha, Medical Marijuana
How Hawai‘i is managing the therapeutic use of cannabis
Gordon Campbell on National’s tax handouts
Simon Bridges has unveiled a heavenly vision of a “Not Tax But Still Spend” government.
Gordon Campbell on National’s new, fledgling blue-green partner
Every year around about this time, National floats its own distinct vision of a different sort of Green Party…
Gordon Campbell on why we should care about the US exit from Afghanistan
The history of harm done by the US military is now tending to obscure the harm that’s being done by the polar opposite impulse: American isolationism.
Gordon Campbell on Ardern, Davos, and the wellbeing schtick
The ‘wellbeing budget’ sounds like a marketing slogan… It’s just as easy to forget that GDP – the common measure of how well an economy is performing – is also a marketing device
Gordon Campbell on why shipping is New Zealand’s big new trade problem
Brexit is not the only concern for New Zealand’s Shipping Trade.
Gordon Campbell on the Brexit Vote Aftermath
Normally when a major policy like this gets so crushingly rejected – by 230 votes – the PM would resign and/or a fresh election called.
Gordon Campbell on the ongoing carnage in Gaza
The past month has devoted a lot of space to the best music and films of 2018, and far less to the past year’s human rights violations.
Gordon Campbell on MBIE’s social media scam
Given the ambit of MBIE’s work, almost any form of social activity could qualify as being part of MBIE’s brief, so the privacy threats posed by this training programme are extensive.
Gordon Campbell on our history of selling out the Kurds
For the past 100 years, the West has sold out the Kurds over and over again.
Gordon Campbell on the reactionary politics of fear
Fear has become such a routine part of the political toolkit that it hardly gets noticed anymore, for what it is.
Gordon Campbell on why Thompson+ Clark are just the tip of the iceberg
It seems naive to bemoan how state agencies spy on ordinary citizens without addressing how those agencies came to be the hired hands of the policies of the government of the day.
Gordon Campbell on the best music tracks of 2018
Oliver Godji, who records as Octavian, is a French/British/Angolan rapper based in London. As someone born in Lille, France, he didn’t qualify for welfare in Britain…
Gordon Campbell on whether Trump is likely to be impeached
‘Tis the season to be jolly, and for wrapping a plea bargain under the Christmas tree for all ye formerly merry, Trump-connected gentlemen.
Gordon Campbell on the Brexit & Huawei clusterfudges
Come December 2019, the West’s social democracies could be gone through quite a few changes at the top.
Gordon Campbell on Judgment Day for Theresa May
Crunch time is looming on Tuesday night in Britain, amid every sign that May’s compromise deal for Brexit is headed for a heavy defeat.
Gordon Campbell on whether the Pope of Parliament can ever be anything other than a Catholic
’Tis the season of goodwill towards all humankind… except it would seem, towards the Speaker of Parliament.
Gordon Campbell on why we politely fake the obituaries for politicians
One unfortunate side effect of “personality politics” is that when prominent politicians die, the niceties we observe at the death of private individuals get extended to them as well.