Comments for Red Alert

Comment on Topsy turvy world by the pigman

the pigman — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 13:29:10 +0000

“Kiwi workers deserve to be liberated from the medieval oppression of the Trades Union.”

I know that labour relations history will be of very little interest to you lot, but you’re several hundred years off.. those in medieval times literally died for lack of a union movement.

Comment on Cartoons irresponsible and racist by peterquixotesbrother

peterquixotesbrother — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 07:35:29 +0000

always good to have a foreigner tell us about our racism

Comment on Topsy turvy world by edd

edd — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 07:32:01 +0000

@ John W

We need a three party negotiation system where the government participates as well as the workers groups and the employers. Not unlike the German system… Half the time the needed solution can only come from the government, so why aren’t they involved in big industrial disputes?

It’s for this reason that the old two party, Workers vs Bosses, system is always going to create a splintered society….

Comment on The Grass and the Elephants by Fatu Tauafiafi

Fatu Tauafiafi — Sat, 15 Jun 2013 22:49:37 +0000

Thanks Mea’ole. Many of the grass and ants themselves never realised it was the elephants “love and war making” that was causing their misery. Many of them always thought it was their fault and that they were being punished for the whatever sins they think they’ve committed. A very “Pacific” way of telling the truth and hopefully more members of the grass and ants community will come forward and tell of the situation.

Malo Tuifaasisina.

Comment on Topsy turvy world by John W

John W — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 23:43:17 +0000

Trade Unions were formed to counter gross exploitation of workers including children.

“Liberation” so more exploitation can be implemented by organised multinationals and business groups is nonsensical.

Our society is already unbalanced with inequity increasing and the wealth stripped out for the harvesting by a tiny group who are controlling business and politics along with money creation using the banks.

Productivity has steadily increased from the work force but their share of wealth has steadily diminished. Meanwhile the unproductive finance sector has grown very rich both in NZ and globally.

We need unions more than ever and a restructure of the wealth distribution.

Comment on Charter schools have no future by Kelvin W.

Kelvin W. — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 21:56:36 +0000

Having read all of the comments posted so far it is amazing the ignorance of some comments made.
Charter schools have been a well proven failure overseas. That is well beyond dispute. At best only 17% performed better than state schools. 37% perform worse!! Add to that that exclusion rates of 40% for afro-american boys (Nationals supposed corresponding NZ target group) and the performance rate is far worse. Exclusion rates can be as high as 60%.
Oh and don’t think necessarily that you will ever know what the true exclusion rates are because there are all manner of ways to avoid enrolling or maintaining an enrolment if you really don’t want the students in the school.
Anyone – yes anyone – who says that we need charter schools is either blind or ignorant.
Our schools perform at the top of the world. Well above USA, UK and Australian schools. Those countries have pursued this charter school line and national testing route and their performance is sliding further down the achievement tables. FACT.
Add to that the FACT that we have the highest performing multicultural education system in the world and you have to say that to follow these polices is just plain daft.
We should be following Finland. No question.

Comment on Charter schools have no future by Kelvin

Kelvin — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 21:20:10 +0000

It is amazing the ignorance of some comments made here.
Charter schools have been a well proven failure overseas. That is well beyond dispute. At best only 17% performed better than state schools. 37% perform worse!! Add to that that exclusion rates of 40% for afro-american boys (Nationals supposed corresponding NZ target group) and the performance rate is far worse. Exclusion rates can be as high as 60%.
Oh and don’t think necessarily that you will ever know what the true exclusion rates are because there are all manner of ways to avoid enrolling or maintaining an enrolment if you really don’t want the students in the school.
Anyone – yes anyone – who says that we need charter schools is either blind or ignorant.
Our schools perform at the top of the world. Well above USA, UK and Australian schools. Those countries have pursued this charter school line and national testing route and their performance is sliding further down the achievement tables. FACT.
Add to that the FACT that we have the highest performing multicultural education system in the world and you have to say that to follow these polices is just plain daft.
We should be following Finland. No question.

Comment on Topsy turvy world by Doug

Doug — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 20:42:37 +0000

Unions are not for the workers they are for the Executive of the Unions and the Labour Party.

Comment on Topsy turvy world by Roger Goodfellow

Roger Goodfellow — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 18:12:10 +0000

Trade Unionism is a form of treason.

Kiwi workers deserve to be liberated from the medieval oppression of the Trades Union.

Comment on True Blue cartoon by Louise

Louise — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 10:20:32 +0000

Wow that is sexist. Lazy stereotypes. This kind of personal attack puts women off entering politics.