Gordon Campbell on the politics of boredom
Last weekend’s Cabinet shuffle of the same old names around a few different chairs didn’t tell us much.
Columns
Gordon Campbell on the Murray McCully exit
Leaving has been his finest gift to caucus, and to the nation. Would that it had been done sooner, but welcome that it be done at all.
Gordon Campbell on the Fairfax/NZME merger
Elsewhere in the world, media cutbacks and consolidation haven’t exactly ushered in a bright new era of more diverse, more substantial news coverage.
Gordon Campbell on the National leadership “contest”
Key’s endorsement of English has turned this “contest” into a race for second place.
Gordon Campbell on the Key resignation
The resignation of John Key is one thing. The way that Key and his deputy Bill English have screwed the scrum on the leadership succession […]
Gordon Campbell on India’s huge socio-economic experiment
Without much coverage at all in the West, India has just been engaged for the past few weeks in one of the world’s biggest socio-economic […]
Gordon Campbell on Anne Tolley’s callous folly
Last week’s conflict between Social Development Minister Anne Tolley and District Court judge Carolyn Henwood illustrated quite a few of the flaws in the system.
Gordon Campbell on the death of Fidel Castro
New Zealand likes to think we played ourpart – via the 1981 Springbok tour – in bringing the apartheid regime in South Africa to an […]
Gordon Campbell on the media normalisation of Trump
We all supposedly agree that the media is going to hell in a tabloid handbasket, but the trends to the contrary can be a bit harder to spot.
Gordon Campbell on the transport options, post earthquake
The configuration of rail, road and shipping likely to emerge in the longer term, post earthquake, still remains opaque.
Gordon Campbell on the government’s tax cuts fixation
Long before the earthquake hit, the dodginess of the government tax cuts programnme was evident in the language of its packaging.
Gordon Campbell on the Gareth Morgan crusade
One significant factor Morgan does have going for him is that doesn’t appear to regard success or failure in ordinary political terms.
Gordon Campbell on the US election home stretch
Once again at the business end of a US election, the result will hinge on the same old bits of geography as always
Gordon Campbell on news from the US election eve
“The Cubs Have A Smaller Chance Of Winning Than Trump Does”
Yet as we now know…yesterday, the Chicago Cubs concluded their incredible World Series comeback run with an 8-7 victory
Gordon Campbell on the latest McCully fiasco
Well, as Auditor-General Lynn Provost has just found in her long-awaited report into the Saudi sheep deal: plenty.
Gordon Campbell on the Police (and MSD) abuses of power
Apparently, the Police have deliberately abused the powers of detention they possess under the Land Transport Act…
Gordon Campbell on plastic bag activism, and street harassment
What has aroused the ire of Act Leader David Seymour this time is the introduction of a Greens private members bill to the ballot process, “calling for a 15 cents levy on plastic bags to reduce pollution.”
Gordon Campbell on the Surplus, And Bob Dylan
To quote the distinguished Nobel laureate, “Something is happening here, and you don’t know what it is, do you Mr Jones?”
Gordon Campbell on how the political centre is a mirage
Since the GFC, the myth of the centre ground has been amply documented.
Gordon Campbell on dairy farming, the battle for Mosul and drugs in sport
Arguably, the last thing New Zealand needs is for the current levels of dairy production to return to profitability anytime soon.
Gordon Campbell on child poverty, and John Coltrane
John Key’s rationale for refusing to throw the state’s resources behind reducing child poverty is the lamest excuse since “The dog ate my homework.”
Gordon Campbell on privatising education, and the Amen Break
John Quiggin’s argument on market experiments seems especially relevant to this country at a time.
Gordon Campbell on the Key style of crisis management
At yesterday’s post Cabinet press conference Key was in his finest wide- eyed “Problem? What problem?” mode.
Gordon Campbell on Judith Collins’ efforts at self correction
Prisoners may be entitled to an earlier release than expected – and compensation – unless of course, the government buries its mistakes by changing the law.
Gordon Campbell on our posturing at the UN
New Zealand is currently chairing the 15 person Security Council for the last time during our two year term on the Council.
Gordon Campbell on welfare blackmail, and the therapeutic use of drugs in sport
Reportedly, beneficiary parents who refuse to disclose the intimate details of their child’s conception stand to have their benefits substantially docked.
Gordon Campbell on the government’s selective lethargy
It will take months before Cabinet gets a proposal on whether to re-classify 17 year old youthful offenders as juveniles, rather than as adults.
Gordon Campbell on The Rise of the Sewbots
Automation is starting to wipe out millions of the jobs in the footwear and garment sweatshops of Asia
Gordon Campbell on housing illusions, and libertarians for Trump
The truly irritating aspect of the government’s response to the Auckland housing crisis is its insistence merely cranking up the housing supply will bring prices down
Gordon Campbell on government complacency, and Mother Teresa
By now, we shouldn’t be surprised by the Beehive’s disinterest in the country’s social problems.