Yeah like many, I think of Fox News and NewstalkZB as some sort of a joke. As well to be reminded that many take such stations/websites dead seriously!
I saw a clip of the right wing commentators like Hooton calling him dumb. I didn't take it down because I thought it was a little cruel, but have to admit, my opinion is he's not the brightest by far.
When you combine that with exuberance and a lust for power and money, it looks like Luxon.
Nah, he's an empty Suit, wannabe Leader in a very tight spot with nothing to show for his Wages. He thinks too much of himself to show up to face the Music on Te Tiriti from his perceived Entitled position. He wants to be a Corporate Heavy Weight Boss, but has no visible Charisma to carry that off.
The Board of Trustee's usually take a vote to oust people when their costing the Firm Money. The Board of Trustee's are We The People, that have entrusted Parties in Opposition to remove such poor Leadership to act on the Board's Behalf to remove this Leader and his coalition Partners Parties from our Parliament with all due haste following a Vote of No confidence lodged with the Speaker & Clerk of the house & meet immediately following the Vote of the People to call a Snap Election Date.
Honestly, Enough is enough and these guys gotta go! It's time we give Peace & Social Equity a chance and continue to Educate our kids, so they don't have to fight the same battles during their future lifetime's...This whole Enchilada is taking it's toll on all of us!
We took our eyes off the Ball for far too long, trusting in People in Bad Faith to lead us down this dark path. Much of this is on US for getting lazy and too trusting that we were in good hands.
That hasn't worked out. I hope everyone that has thinking and writing skills will lend a hand in the rebuild of Aotearoa / NZ to what we can truly achieve as a United and Progressive People's. It's time we call for a Constitutional Convention to settle this long standing issue Once and for All Kiwi's to rest easier knowing their are Laws and Rights for all of us, not just the Landlord's, Power Companies, Bankers, Insurance Salesmen & Government Insiders on the take.
"He thinks too much of himself to show up to face the Music on Te Tiriti from his perceived Entitled position. He wants to be a Corporate Heavy Weight Boss, but has no visible Charisma to carry that off."
I believe it is from watching him in interviews. The guys a Classic Carnegie Cartoon Character who flunked out of Management Principles 101 and doesn't know what to do with himself to endear himself to the Country because he's a Hollow Suit with nothing of personal Fortitude other than Sound bites he begrudgingly does in front of the public Media Camera's.
I've seen his type and once had to work for one for a short while. That was enough to get a good education on this personality type. Empty Suit leading us nowhere fast!
Thank you for another excellent piece, I would also like to thank your subscribers for their comments. At the moment, we have had a win, but with all the vile things I have seen and heard over the past months, and longer, I really feel that we are going to need writers like yourself to really see through the ‘smoke and mirrors’ that this Government are trying to fool us with, and keep us informed. I fear it’s going to be a very long and ugly eighteen months till the next election, we are going to need you your fellow writers.
And yes I feel the same way about comments and subscribers here - it elevates the space.
One of the not-at-all-reported features from yesterday's speeches is how Paul Goldsmith effectively said, "although we won't use the Treaty Principles Bill, we can achieve the same effect without it".
Yes I watched the speakers, his concerned me and I felt Casey Costello’s was of concern too, her links to the HP group make me wonder if as this Bill is a Government Bill it may surface with future National/Act government’s if they get substantially more voters, they may try again. Seymour is a man that doesn’t give up. I really hope this bill is to contentious for any future government to touch, but when you look at how many years he has worked to get it to this point, it does gives me sleepless nights.
“Massive poverty and obscene inequality are such terrible scourges of our times — times in which the world boasts breathtaking advances in science, technology, industry, and wealth accumulation — that they have to rank alongside slavery and apartheid as social evils.” Nelson Mandela.
I was thinking this morning a little about materialism. Our whole world evolves around economy, GDP, material accumulation. Goods are designed to be "obsolete" so we can buy more. Clothes are designed to be fast fashion - try it once and dump it to some poor country who can deal with the ruins. While millions and billions feel insecurity, we still have Kings and Queens and the True Elites (oligarchs and the corrupt) who run the world through political donations and favourable tax laws.
Still what I said to Ryan before was these are all just manifestations of the human ego state. I genuinely believe that there are many who, if they were given the chance, might act the same way. A person's true sense of self and worth is not in what we say or believe - but in what we do and what we choose - big and small.
Individuals like Nelson Mandela give me hope. Here are the words of another fantastic human. His words are the forward to the publication, 'Limits-to-Growth'.
U Thant was Burmese. He attended Rangoon University and positioned himself politically between the British loyalists and fervent nationalists. He was appointed Secretary General of the United Nations in 1961. In 1969, he put out the following statement.
"I do not wish to seem overdramatic, but
I can only conclude from the Information
that Is available to me as Secretary-
General, that the Members of the United
Nations have perhaps ten years left In
which to subordinate their ancient
quarrels and launch a global partnership
to curb the arms race, to improve the
human environment, to defuse the popu-
lation explosion, and to supply the
required momentum to development
efforts. If such a global partnership Is
not forged within the next decade, then
I very much fear that the problems I
have mentioned will have reached such
staggering proportions that they will be
beyond our capacity to control."
And here we are fifty-six years later. You could very easily just rinse and repeat U Thant's words. Nothing it appears of any real substance or consequence has changed in favour of building a more cohesive global humanity. That's crazy when you think about it because flies in the face of evolution, which has provided human beings with incredibly innovative minds. Rather than cooperating and sharing our incredible resources, we have decided to try and out-compete each other into oblivion. Maybe we're not that smart after all?
U Thant passed away in 1974 but before he died he spent the last years of his life writing and advocating for a true global community. Good humans are out there, we just have to find them a way to make them heard. That's the movement we need.
Yes but even they may get indoctrinated. I wore a merino cardigan, it was a classic piece I could wash and dry flat. I had it for nearly 30 years, and it finally wore through on the elbows!! I went to Spotlight and bought two leather pieces to strengthen the sleeves. A good friend arrived round as I was doing the repair. "She said "Don't you think it is time you had a change?" She looked surprised when I said "Once we went for quality. When was that changed?' After a bit she grinned and said "Touche' Fast Fashion I guess." So our perception can be altered by constant advertising propaganda or plain repetition. People like Seymour know this, and he will just go on repeat. We have to make him a pariah. (outcaste... put outside the village as dangerous) Like meercats with a snake.
👍 I often get teased by family about the collection of shoes I own - until I point out many of them are decades old & because I don't go for "fashion" they still look good because they were good quality when I parted with my hard earned $$ & haven't aged out.
Spot on MT. I liked this point of view from Austin Woods on systems: “Chernobyl mattered because it proved systems die when they lose the capacity to correct themselves and their contradictions. The Soviet image crumbled not from external pressure, but from their refusal to admit reactor flaws. America now faces its own reckoning. The tariffs imposed by President Trump aren’t the crisis, they’re the flashing warning light. The real emergency is the continued erosion of everything that once restrained capitalism’s worst impulses. This specifically pertains to labor rights, antitrust enforcement, and public investment and has been an ongoing disaster for America for decades.” Extrapolate to NZ. In my view, the political system in this country (and many others) has lost the capacity to correct. Stepping right back, we currently require two planets worth of resources to maintain current lifestyles. Of course, with only one planet that creates a problem. Instead of cooperating and sharing we have as a race decided to compete with ourselves. Not very smart. Eh, what a mess, time to head the Sprinter van into the sunset. 😁
Does an economy serve society or dominate it? I am heartened by the upsurge in the number of people here and elsewhere that are looking at other ways to "do" an economy. Do we really need millionaires? Can we set limits on wealth accumulation? Can we be satisfied with enoughness? Do we need to do more to promote goals other than accumulating wealth to indicate "success"? What can we learn from social groups who are more communally minded?
One thing Liz I have noticed is that the values of indigenous cultures around the world often married with respect for nature, taking only what is needed, a belief in more than materialism etc.
I'm not an anthropologist but what I'd wager is the values we - or at least I grew up in - and assimilated are uniquely Western, capitalist and borne of English colonialism.....
I don't mean that in a bad way. I've never had a problem with people being successful or wealthy - if they've worked hard or got lucky or invented something, that's how things are, and that's fine.
But it's this corruption now, this type of insiduosness where the snake is eating its own tail. The greed is overwhelming, and as the world moved towards caring about more than "me" and "materialism" we've seen a huge push back by some in that uber wealthy class.
Example fossil fuel billionaires like the Koch brother, Gina Rinehart etc. On a lesser wealth scale, people like Wayne Wright Junior and Jim Grenon who appear resentful of Maori and beneficiaries even while they appeared to avoid or minimise their own taxes and in the case of Best Start, took hundreds of millions of NZ taxpayers money?!
Typically one would hope that as one got wealthier, one would find it in their heart and soul to care about others, give back, but what we're seeing is in the inverse.
And thed greed and lies that are coming into view e.g. in America show us in full view - how little they care and how much their greed and selfishness apperas insatiable.
So yes we need to promote different goals and values. I think it has to happen in each person, and then each family, and then each community - because it sure as hell isn't coming from those who currently hold most of the purse strings and power.
PS We can learn from many cultures around the world...that's a good project actually...sharing lessons with them and from them
Yes, I think if you scratch the surface of many pakeha (me and others) you might find an unwitting and ungrounded belief that there isn't anything to learn from indigenous cultures. So wrong! I was first challenged when it was pointed out that although Australian Aborigines were pushed back from fertile coastal areas by colonists, they actually learned to survive - in conditions I doubt I could manage! Then closer to home we have Tupai who understood navigation better than the western sailors of his day. And just looking around where I now live - local Maōri have built a beautiful and also self sustaining tertiary complex which I am always keen to show off to visitors. I have also witnessed and been the recipient of a lot of kindness and generosity from Māori friends - and even strangers who have stopped to help with a broken down car, etc Yes, lots of positive stuff to learn alright.
I find across all people there are positives and there can be darkness. The human condition is common even if culture/customs/beliefs differ. And so in a way I guess we can all learn from each other - regardless of culture....but I do believe the materialistic way has fallen short, and hurt the planet in the process.
I must dig up some American Indian quotes found that are brilliant...
The happiness myths we sowed have been disproven I believe.
👍🫂The reason I have been quiet the last few days was a "back to nature" break - lots of bird song, native bush, babbling streams etc. Intermittent internet connection so mainly did "likes" & re-shares IF I could get reception 🤷 Not a REAL return to a more connected life, but no running water or flushing loos, cooking on a gas portable stove (or eating snacks!), reading books instead of watching TV/videos & doomscrolling news feeds, slothing about in comfy relaxed clothing, smiling at strangers on the track (including a group of 5 nuns in full regalia!) - never been one for the full capitalist immersion like high fashion or "latest" of anything, but after every nature break I realise how superficial & artificial a lot of the "stuff" people worry about is. Yes, I like my solid wall house after nearly getting my tent blown apart (!) but realising how little you actually NEED day to day is the best part of these experiences - but on the "material world" front, a roomy van instead of a flapping tent would be nice 😁
There’s a show on YouTube that follows people in alternate housing. I admit I like my solid walls too but nature is a beaut and always helps me - in every way. Glad to hear you had a good break Cindy 🌻
NZ First's speech on why it was voting against the Principles of the Treaty of Waitangi Bill was given by the Minister of Tobacco. She is a former director of Hobson's Pledge and a former CEO of the Taxpayers Onion. So her speech reeked of hypocrisy.
👏 On point as usual. I try to keep abreast of what is going on without getting drowned by it, & deliberately seek out "good people" re remind myself that, as the feedback to the horrible te Tiriti Bill showed, there are a lot more GOOD people out there than the Seymours, Peters, Luxons, Trumps et al would make us believe by their hogging of the airwaves thanks to their evil enablers with $$ or media platforms (or both!)
e.g. There is a Daily Show clip of Jon Stewart highlighting Chapter 9 of the Trump "Art of the Deal" book (written by someone else in reality!) which talks about his wonderful casino - then he shows a clip of when it was blown up recently to free up the land for something more useful 😁😂🤣🤣🤣 - cathartic 💜
And another Daily Show clip of an interview with a Dem political aspirant to the US Senate - Mallory McMorrow - who became a viral hit with her "we will not let hate win" speech, and now a book to help people cope & give them ideas on how to DO SOMETHING instead of sinking into despair about what is happening around them - inspirational & a little glimmer of hope & sanity.
But closer to home, we have to start with local body elections & do what we can to ensure that the sneaky ACT supported candidates are exposed & trounced, along with anyone else with a similar nasty agenda, and where there is a referendum on Maori Wards, do our bit there as well. Some Councils around Aotearoa have been quite staunch at resisting central govt interference where they can, plus things that affect us locally are just as important as what central govt does in the day-to-day lives of our communities 💪
Yeah like many, I think of Fox News and NewstalkZB as some sort of a joke. As well to be reminded that many take such stations/websites dead seriously!
Yep I admit I used to find Trump comical and farcical. Then he won twice.
Our PM is a disgrace to his Party and bad for the nation. He's Hawaiian based and bound.
Just like his mentor the bounder Key
Superficial is as superficial does.
I saw a clip of the right wing commentators like Hooton calling him dumb. I didn't take it down because I thought it was a little cruel, but have to admit, my opinion is he's not the brightest by far.
When you combine that with exuberance and a lust for power and money, it looks like Luxon.
Nah, he's an empty Suit, wannabe Leader in a very tight spot with nothing to show for his Wages. He thinks too much of himself to show up to face the Music on Te Tiriti from his perceived Entitled position. He wants to be a Corporate Heavy Weight Boss, but has no visible Charisma to carry that off.
The Board of Trustee's usually take a vote to oust people when their costing the Firm Money. The Board of Trustee's are We The People, that have entrusted Parties in Opposition to remove such poor Leadership to act on the Board's Behalf to remove this Leader and his coalition Partners Parties from our Parliament with all due haste following a Vote of No confidence lodged with the Speaker & Clerk of the house & meet immediately following the Vote of the People to call a Snap Election Date.
Honestly, Enough is enough and these guys gotta go! It's time we give Peace & Social Equity a chance and continue to Educate our kids, so they don't have to fight the same battles during their future lifetime's...This whole Enchilada is taking it's toll on all of us!
We took our eyes off the Ball for far too long, trusting in People in Bad Faith to lead us down this dark path. Much of this is on US for getting lazy and too trusting that we were in good hands.
That hasn't worked out. I hope everyone that has thinking and writing skills will lend a hand in the rebuild of Aotearoa / NZ to what we can truly achieve as a United and Progressive People's. It's time we call for a Constitutional Convention to settle this long standing issue Once and for All Kiwi's to rest easier knowing their are Laws and Rights for all of us, not just the Landlord's, Power Companies, Bankers, Insurance Salesmen & Government Insiders on the take.
Carpet Bagging Days are over!
Great comments.
"He thinks too much of himself to show up to face the Music on Te Tiriti from his perceived Entitled position. He wants to be a Corporate Heavy Weight Boss, but has no visible Charisma to carry that off."
This could be true.
I believe it is from watching him in interviews. The guys a Classic Carnegie Cartoon Character who flunked out of Management Principles 101 and doesn't know what to do with himself to endear himself to the Country because he's a Hollow Suit with nothing of personal Fortitude other than Sound bites he begrudgingly does in front of the public Media Camera's.
I've seen his type and once had to work for one for a short while. That was enough to get a good education on this personality type. Empty Suit leading us nowhere fast!
It is possible the power behind his throne is a woman cf Trump
Thanks MT, totally agree. The one good thing this awful bill did was make me much more politically aware.
Another unintended good deed from the libertarians 🙂
Thank you for another excellent piece, I would also like to thank your subscribers for their comments. At the moment, we have had a win, but with all the vile things I have seen and heard over the past months, and longer, I really feel that we are going to need writers like yourself to really see through the ‘smoke and mirrors’ that this Government are trying to fool us with, and keep us informed. I fear it’s going to be a very long and ugly eighteen months till the next election, we are going to need you your fellow writers.
Thank you Maree.
And yes I feel the same way about comments and subscribers here - it elevates the space.
One of the not-at-all-reported features from yesterday's speeches is how Paul Goldsmith effectively said, "although we won't use the Treaty Principles Bill, we can achieve the same effect without it".
I thought that was pretty huge.
Yes I watched the speakers, his concerned me and I felt Casey Costello’s was of concern too, her links to the HP group make me wonder if as this Bill is a Government Bill it may surface with future National/Act government’s if they get substantially more voters, they may try again. Seymour is a man that doesn’t give up. I really hope this bill is to contentious for any future government to touch, but when you look at how many years he has worked to get it to this point, it does gives me sleepless nights.
You speak much truth! I l like the photo from Auckland zoo, do you think the fourth meerkat doesn’t know about Substack?
😂
“Massive poverty and obscene inequality are such terrible scourges of our times — times in which the world boasts breathtaking advances in science, technology, industry, and wealth accumulation — that they have to rank alongside slavery and apartheid as social evils.” Nelson Mandela.
I was thinking this morning a little about materialism. Our whole world evolves around economy, GDP, material accumulation. Goods are designed to be "obsolete" so we can buy more. Clothes are designed to be fast fashion - try it once and dump it to some poor country who can deal with the ruins. While millions and billions feel insecurity, we still have Kings and Queens and the True Elites (oligarchs and the corrupt) who run the world through political donations and favourable tax laws.
Still what I said to Ryan before was these are all just manifestations of the human ego state. I genuinely believe that there are many who, if they were given the chance, might act the same way. A person's true sense of self and worth is not in what we say or believe - but in what we do and what we choose - big and small.
Mandela - a man with conviction and courage.
Individuals like Nelson Mandela give me hope. Here are the words of another fantastic human. His words are the forward to the publication, 'Limits-to-Growth'.
U Thant was Burmese. He attended Rangoon University and positioned himself politically between the British loyalists and fervent nationalists. He was appointed Secretary General of the United Nations in 1961. In 1969, he put out the following statement.
"I do not wish to seem overdramatic, but
I can only conclude from the Information
that Is available to me as Secretary-
General, that the Members of the United
Nations have perhaps ten years left In
which to subordinate their ancient
quarrels and launch a global partnership
to curb the arms race, to improve the
human environment, to defuse the popu-
lation explosion, and to supply the
required momentum to development
efforts. If such a global partnership Is
not forged within the next decade, then
I very much fear that the problems I
have mentioned will have reached such
staggering proportions that they will be
beyond our capacity to control."
And here we are fifty-six years later. You could very easily just rinse and repeat U Thant's words. Nothing it appears of any real substance or consequence has changed in favour of building a more cohesive global humanity. That's crazy when you think about it because flies in the face of evolution, which has provided human beings with incredibly innovative minds. Rather than cooperating and sharing our incredible resources, we have decided to try and out-compete each other into oblivion. Maybe we're not that smart after all?
U Thant passed away in 1974 but before he died he spent the last years of his life writing and advocating for a true global community. Good humans are out there, we just have to find them a way to make them heard. That's the movement we need.
YES! That is the movement we need!
And through history there have been many good people like U Thant.
On the environment - and a related topic:
I remember reading and hearing about Greta Thunberg many years ago.
She was calling out the politicians for their talk and blabber but no real action.
And I remember thinking, "Wow, this young girl gets it and look how courageous and plain spoken she is. i.e. straight talk"
Next thing I knew I heard grown men and women demonising her, mocking her, abusing her.
What?!
She's speaking up FOR YOU. For this. For us.
But no, of course, not. They had been taken by the right wing, fossil fuel mouthpieces where any climate activists are seen as Enemy Numero Uno.
Shameful how easily humans are manipulated.
When I look at everything that's happening, it's simply manipulation and propaganda tactics leveraging human selfishness, fears, and negativity.
Yes good humans are out there...
Yes but even they may get indoctrinated. I wore a merino cardigan, it was a classic piece I could wash and dry flat. I had it for nearly 30 years, and it finally wore through on the elbows!! I went to Spotlight and bought two leather pieces to strengthen the sleeves. A good friend arrived round as I was doing the repair. "She said "Don't you think it is time you had a change?" She looked surprised when I said "Once we went for quality. When was that changed?' After a bit she grinned and said "Touche' Fast Fashion I guess." So our perception can be altered by constant advertising propaganda or plain repetition. People like Seymour know this, and he will just go on repeat. We have to make him a pariah. (outcaste... put outside the village as dangerous) Like meercats with a snake.
Yes and their slogans are short and effective!
People do remember them! They work.
They know what they are doing.
They are also smart - they are positioning themselves as the 'noble' individuals versus the ferals, those who don't want equality.
It's very much gaslighting from an abuser who puts their best face to the world......
It’s the machine behind the pariah that is the challenge Liz. They have unlimited capital paired with unlimited greed inside very ugly psychology.
👍 I often get teased by family about the collection of shoes I own - until I point out many of them are decades old & because I don't go for "fashion" they still look good because they were good quality when I parted with my hard earned $$ & haven't aged out.
Spot on MT. I liked this point of view from Austin Woods on systems: “Chernobyl mattered because it proved systems die when they lose the capacity to correct themselves and their contradictions. The Soviet image crumbled not from external pressure, but from their refusal to admit reactor flaws. America now faces its own reckoning. The tariffs imposed by President Trump aren’t the crisis, they’re the flashing warning light. The real emergency is the continued erosion of everything that once restrained capitalism’s worst impulses. This specifically pertains to labor rights, antitrust enforcement, and public investment and has been an ongoing disaster for America for decades.” Extrapolate to NZ. In my view, the political system in this country (and many others) has lost the capacity to correct. Stepping right back, we currently require two planets worth of resources to maintain current lifestyles. Of course, with only one planet that creates a problem. Instead of cooperating and sharing we have as a race decided to compete with ourselves. Not very smart. Eh, what a mess, time to head the Sprinter van into the sunset. 😁
Well said
Does an economy serve society or dominate it? I am heartened by the upsurge in the number of people here and elsewhere that are looking at other ways to "do" an economy. Do we really need millionaires? Can we set limits on wealth accumulation? Can we be satisfied with enoughness? Do we need to do more to promote goals other than accumulating wealth to indicate "success"? What can we learn from social groups who are more communally minded?
One thing Liz I have noticed is that the values of indigenous cultures around the world often married with respect for nature, taking only what is needed, a belief in more than materialism etc.
I'm not an anthropologist but what I'd wager is the values we - or at least I grew up in - and assimilated are uniquely Western, capitalist and borne of English colonialism.....
I don't mean that in a bad way. I've never had a problem with people being successful or wealthy - if they've worked hard or got lucky or invented something, that's how things are, and that's fine.
But it's this corruption now, this type of insiduosness where the snake is eating its own tail. The greed is overwhelming, and as the world moved towards caring about more than "me" and "materialism" we've seen a huge push back by some in that uber wealthy class.
Example fossil fuel billionaires like the Koch brother, Gina Rinehart etc. On a lesser wealth scale, people like Wayne Wright Junior and Jim Grenon who appear resentful of Maori and beneficiaries even while they appeared to avoid or minimise their own taxes and in the case of Best Start, took hundreds of millions of NZ taxpayers money?!
Typically one would hope that as one got wealthier, one would find it in their heart and soul to care about others, give back, but what we're seeing is in the inverse.
And thed greed and lies that are coming into view e.g. in America show us in full view - how little they care and how much their greed and selfishness apperas insatiable.
So yes we need to promote different goals and values. I think it has to happen in each person, and then each family, and then each community - because it sure as hell isn't coming from those who currently hold most of the purse strings and power.
PS We can learn from many cultures around the world...that's a good project actually...sharing lessons with them and from them
Yes, I think if you scratch the surface of many pakeha (me and others) you might find an unwitting and ungrounded belief that there isn't anything to learn from indigenous cultures. So wrong! I was first challenged when it was pointed out that although Australian Aborigines were pushed back from fertile coastal areas by colonists, they actually learned to survive - in conditions I doubt I could manage! Then closer to home we have Tupai who understood navigation better than the western sailors of his day. And just looking around where I now live - local Maōri have built a beautiful and also self sustaining tertiary complex which I am always keen to show off to visitors. I have also witnessed and been the recipient of a lot of kindness and generosity from Māori friends - and even strangers who have stopped to help with a broken down car, etc Yes, lots of positive stuff to learn alright.
I find across all people there are positives and there can be darkness. The human condition is common even if culture/customs/beliefs differ. And so in a way I guess we can all learn from each other - regardless of culture....but I do believe the materialistic way has fallen short, and hurt the planet in the process.
I must dig up some American Indian quotes found that are brilliant...
The happiness myths we sowed have been disproven I believe.
👍🫂The reason I have been quiet the last few days was a "back to nature" break - lots of bird song, native bush, babbling streams etc. Intermittent internet connection so mainly did "likes" & re-shares IF I could get reception 🤷 Not a REAL return to a more connected life, but no running water or flushing loos, cooking on a gas portable stove (or eating snacks!), reading books instead of watching TV/videos & doomscrolling news feeds, slothing about in comfy relaxed clothing, smiling at strangers on the track (including a group of 5 nuns in full regalia!) - never been one for the full capitalist immersion like high fashion or "latest" of anything, but after every nature break I realise how superficial & artificial a lot of the "stuff" people worry about is. Yes, I like my solid wall house after nearly getting my tent blown apart (!) but realising how little you actually NEED day to day is the best part of these experiences - but on the "material world" front, a roomy van instead of a flapping tent would be nice 😁
There’s a show on YouTube that follows people in alternate housing. I admit I like my solid walls too but nature is a beaut and always helps me - in every way. Glad to hear you had a good break Cindy 🌻
NZ First's speech on why it was voting against the Principles of the Treaty of Waitangi Bill was given by the Minister of Tobacco. She is a former director of Hobson's Pledge and a former CEO of the Taxpayers Onion. So her speech reeked of hypocrisy.
NZ First has a stench of corruption a mile high unfortunately. She seems to have gotten away with that scott free.
👏 On point as usual. I try to keep abreast of what is going on without getting drowned by it, & deliberately seek out "good people" re remind myself that, as the feedback to the horrible te Tiriti Bill showed, there are a lot more GOOD people out there than the Seymours, Peters, Luxons, Trumps et al would make us believe by their hogging of the airwaves thanks to their evil enablers with $$ or media platforms (or both!)
e.g. There is a Daily Show clip of Jon Stewart highlighting Chapter 9 of the Trump "Art of the Deal" book (written by someone else in reality!) which talks about his wonderful casino - then he shows a clip of when it was blown up recently to free up the land for something more useful 😁😂🤣🤣🤣 - cathartic 💜
And another Daily Show clip of an interview with a Dem political aspirant to the US Senate - Mallory McMorrow - who became a viral hit with her "we will not let hate win" speech, and now a book to help people cope & give them ideas on how to DO SOMETHING instead of sinking into despair about what is happening around them - inspirational & a little glimmer of hope & sanity.
But closer to home, we have to start with local body elections & do what we can to ensure that the sneaky ACT supported candidates are exposed & trounced, along with anyone else with a similar nasty agenda, and where there is a referendum on Maori Wards, do our bit there as well. Some Councils around Aotearoa have been quite staunch at resisting central govt interference where they can, plus things that affect us locally are just as important as what central govt does in the day-to-day lives of our communities 💪
💯it’s enriching to realize we are the majority indeed and some humour and perspective goes a long way
Not for nothing I wrote last year, "The left has been stupid. The right has been busy"
At least awareness is heightened now, and yes, keep up the efforts!