Alan (not ekshully a B'Stard)
LightNews LightNews
banner
alans-world.bsky.social
Alan (not ekshully a B'Stard)
@alans-world.bsky.social
1.2K followers 1.3K following 5.6K posts
James Baldwin —'I can't believe what you say, because I see what you do.'

Reckons own, Facts immutable.
Irish/Scots/Filipino Aotearoan Socialist in Te Whanganui-a-Tara/Wellington.

POLITICAL BLOG (so we're clear AF where I stand!)
http://tiny.cc/ncwf001
Posts Replies Media Videos
alans-world.bsky.social
#NZpol

"Bringing COP to the Pacific, with a Pacific view of the world and the issues we see in the region, would have been really important," he [LUXON] said.

It could've been, if YOU were actually interested in doing anything about it, which you clearly AREN'T.

I suspect this had a part to play.
A picture of Dr Hannibal Lecter from Silence of the Lambs uttering the words "I have followed with enthusiasm the course of your disgrace and public shaming", probably at the NZ Government (yes, again).
November 20, 2025 at 8:05 AM
alans-world.bsky.social
She also made wild claims of people denying the housing they were given, inflating figures regularly for this, all to pump up her stature as "effective!" and the ideology of her Party: the "ungrateful poors" rhetoric.

Particularly disgusting from a fmr beneficiary herself, but she had ZERO shame.
A picture of Paula Bennett in the House inflating the actual figures of people rejecting housing vs her claims in Parliament. "Remember that our now-Deputy PM has a habit of "alternative facts" On taking up State Housing: "Bennett had told delegates that 12 per cent turned down houses three or four times, but figures provided by her office showed the correct figure was about 6 per cent" and many did have very good reasons for doing so such as kids in school, state of housing stock etc. Can't this Minister stop continually LYING for their votes?"
November 19, 2025 at 8:01 AM
alans-world.bsky.social
#NZpol

Setting aside any particular feelings about gambling itself per se, don't lose sight of the through-line: an *unrelenting* dismantling of Aotearoa.

ACT may get the lions share of attention here, but *National never gave this project up*.

The overall ideology was *always* a package deal.
A headline from the NBR (National Business Review) showing then-PM John Key huddled with microphones thrust in his face. The headline reads: "PM puts New Zealand up for sale" and the lead below reads: John Key says New Zealand would be a great buy for someone who wants a country."
November 19, 2025 at 12:02 AM
alans-world.bsky.social
On the last point, probably too late to extract ourselves from this part now.

PLUS we've got Collins really, REALLY keen on amplifying our investments in a range of technologies that, I have no doubt, through tracing backwards through global supply chains, we can find were "field tested" in Gaza 🤮
Extract from Post article discussing NZ Foreign Affairs officials and their recommendations to the Government regarding formal recognition of Palestine: "The proposal contained in the paper was: “That New Zealand recognise the existence of the State of Palestine.” “The tide of international thinking on Palestinian statehood has shifted markedly ... Israel’s actions are rapidly extinguishing any prospect of realising a two-state solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict,” the draft paper read. “This leaves recognition of Palestine as the only viable option to maintain New Zealand’s long-standard support for a two-state solution. “New Zealand deciding not to join those recognising Palestine risks being seen as tacitly endorsing Israel’s illegal acts.” Original article ref: https://www.thepress.co.nz/politics/360886317/foreign-affairs-officials-advised-recognition-palestine
November 15, 2025 at 6:22 AM
alans-world.bsky.social
Luxon and his Corp BS Generator again!

"It's simply privatisation rebranded with a new name - selling off existing public infrastructure to pay for new infrastructure... asset recycling schemes have amounted to expensive loans with long-term concession contracts that have had problematic features."
A 2017 Article on Asset Recycling "Lessons to be learned from the Australia "asset recycling" program As debate over over President Donald Trump's proposed $1 trillion infrastructure plan continues in Congress and the media, some are proposing that the US look to Australia - specifically, that country's "asset recycling" program - for a model of how to support a long-term program of badly needed infrastructure investment. While asset recycling may sound like a new invention, it's simply privatisation rebranded with a new name - selling off existing public infrastructure to pay for new infrastructure. "In Australia, asset recycling schemes have amounted to expensive loans with long-term concession contracts that have had problematic features."
November 10, 2025 at 4:02 AM
alans-world.bsky.social
#NZpol

Look man, it's Saturday, the weather is quite passable, and we're all just at various stages of trying to stop it going totally feral before the Mug of Destiny clocks us all over our collective heads... can we deal with some of this on Monday at least?
A picture that claims to be a mug with the words "The Future is" and a sticker placed over the cup, which reads in a continuation of the line above): "Reduced for Quick Sale $2" but is actually one of those rare finds in antique shops or similar which turn out to be a looking glass into the future of humanity...
November 8, 2025 at 4:43 AM
alans-world.bsky.social
Is it?

All very well complaining about the most extreme members of *your Party* "corrupting the right's understanding of both economics and morality" and "cutting off all the legs of the stool" when he himself was busy holding some saws and pretty obviously "corrupting" a few ideas, COUGH.
A tweet exchange between Ashley Shelby and Erick Erickson (who "cuts through the noise of today with moral and religious conviction" on his weekday radio show, apparently), in response to a tweet by Father James Martin, SJ. It reads James Martin: "I will never understand how politicians who call themselves Christian can read the Gospels and then treat the poor and the sick like dirt." Ashley Shelby: I doubt they are well read re: Bible @ErickErickson claims Christ only meant "fellow Christians" when he asked us to care 4 poor. ErickErrickson replies: Actually not what I claimed. I was talking about Matthew 25: The Bible insists Christians care for the poor. Ashley Shelby responds to this with: Maybe it was a bad tweet but it's pretty hard to misinterpret what you said here: Quoted below this response is a tweet from Erick Erickson himself, which reads: "In Matt 25, when Jesus talks about caring for "the least of these," he isn't talking about the poor in general, but fellow Christians"
November 8, 2025 at 4:24 AM
alans-world.bsky.social
Once again, we'll have to tap the sign...
A quote from Chris Hedges set next to a photo of him: "We've been saturated with cultural images and a kind of cultural deification of wealth and those who have wealth... they present people of immense wealth as somehow leaders - oracles even. And we don't grasp internally what it is an oligarchic class is finally about or how venal and morally bankrupt they are."
November 7, 2025 at 8:54 AM
alans-world.bsky.social
#NZpol

Maaaaaaybe we need to remind ourselves about what 'trusted' operators like Serco and their supposed "best international practice" rep brought us last time a National led government favoured them for contracts here...?

Posts from the then-Key era and it's insane we have to revisit it again?!
Serco's general policy internationally, especially the last time they bid for NZ's infrastructure services... "Company insiders say Serco had a policy of undercutting rivals to win more contracts. Richard Johnson, a former Serco executive who big for government deals - although not the asylum contract - says 'the pressure came down from on-high [at Serco] to grow and win more contracts at almost any cost while the government customer was, and is, awarding the contracts to the cheapest bidder, without adequate consideration of which corners that would mean cutting" Reported originally in the Financial Times Judith Collins on the appointment of Serco to run NZ private prison in the then-John Key led National government "The appointment of Serco as the contract manager for Mt Eden/ACRP will bring in new ideas and international best practice" Well here's some of the "best practice", Serco-style, to date... Overcharged the British government for tagging criminals Issued Breach Notices in relation to Perth sterliisation services Manipulated data 252 times in Reports to British NHS Barred from public sector work and referred to City of London police after manipulating figures on a prison van escorting contract So precisely WHAT new ideas and best practice was Judith talking about?!? What they actually brought to NZ.... violent prisons resulting in prisoner death. And that is the tip of the iceberg from the Serco-paths... a lot more where that came from.
November 7, 2025 at 4:52 AM
alans-world.bsky.social
#NZpol

This is to be expected from a government that has really just copied the homework of all the *worst* RW governments of the last 40 years, and concluded the only way to make it all work is to double-down harder... on everything didn't work - and simply just scream "IT'S WORKING!" even louder.
A picture of General Sir Anthony Cecil Hogmanay Melchett, VC, KCB, DSO (born 1870), loud-mouthed, childish, unintelligent, incompetent British Army General serving in the First World War who commands Captain Blackadder 's unit. His aide is Captain Darling, and quite possibly Nicola Willis, the current Finance Minister of New Zealand. Historians are working this out right now. Next to his Very Spiffing Portrait, a quote from the documentary series (that many think is a comedy, but actually...) "Black Adder Goes Forth", appears: "If nothing else works, a total pig-headed unwillingness to look facts in the face will see us through."
November 5, 2025 at 2:37 AM
alans-world.bsky.social
Yep, Aotearoa NZ has "Section 16 of the Land Transport (Drug Driving) Amendment Act 2022"...

...though this Govt, who are not only particularly dim, but are anti-science in gen and don't seem to have worked out "presence" does not inherently imply "impairment", may move to repeal it I suppose?
Extract from article referenced in post "NSW Greens upper house MP Cate Faehrmann in May introduced the Road Transport Amendment (Medical Cannabis-Exemptions from Offences) Bill to give medical cannabis users a legal defence for driving with THC in their system. Legalise Cannabis Party MP Jeremy Buckingham, a former member of the Greens, had introduced a similar bill in 2023, arguing Tasmania, the UK, New Zealand, Norway, Germany and Ireland had a legal and medical defence for drivers testing positive to THC."
November 4, 2025 at 9:41 AM
alans-world.bsky.social
Don't let these things disappear down the memory hole, these same shitty arguments can be found everywhere (whether in this country, or the same examples used overseas, they're ALL using the same, turgid, *highly emotive* but completely *fact free* Chris Rufo / Dave Rubin / PragerU crap arguments).
An extract from the article "Changes made after criticism of Free Speech Union report" by Bill Hickman on RNZ in May 2024, and reads: "In a media release this week, Ayling said that a "climate of fear" in the country's universities meant "50 percent of academics at some universities do not feel free to raise differing perspectives on key issues", citing the research carried out on behalf of the FSU by Curia Market Research. But University of Otago's Associate Professor Ben Gray said last year FSU and Curia Market Research had failed to divulge issues affecting the validity of the research. Gray said the report into the FSU's Academic Freedom Survey 2023 did not disclose the response rate to the survey. "It claimed to have been done in accordance with the code of practice of the Research Association of New Zealand (RANZ), I lodged a complaint with RANZ and they upheld my view because as it turned out the response rate was only 2.8 percent. "So in fact an accurate statement from Free Speech Union would be that 50 percent of 2.8 percent of academics held that view," Gray said." Responding to criticism of problems surrounding the Survey, Ayling said: "I think an interesting question is why did we have no trouble getting 1250 academics [in 2022] and then the next year far fewer respondents. Why are people hesitant to engage on this?" Ayling said." A quite possible answer to Ayling would be: "Many academics realise this is a complete waste of their time when they'd rather be... teaching?"
November 4, 2025 at 2:50 AM
alans-world.bsky.social
#NZpol

"Why does this curriculum bear no relationship to their words? The students know. One said afterwards that this curriculum shows the system doesn’t care about them."
An Extract from Bevan Holloway's blogpost "Children Know: This Curriculum is Devoid of Care" "This curriculum Stanford has developed shrinks the possibilities for belonging, defines teacher-student relationships as a command-obey dynamic, and tries to fool us into believing that curiosity is earned. It is a curriculum developed by fools happy to mistake a mirage for the moon. It is a curriculum that will fail most of our kids, just as its versions around the world have. It is #notourcurriculum because it does not see our kids. Say no." LIKE and FOLLOW BEVAN via his Blog https://aecnz.substack.com/p/children-know-this-curriculum-is?r=5ts3js
November 3, 2025 at 8:42 AM
alans-world.bsky.social
#NZpol

It's predictable for ACT to be the ugly lot they are. But on top of this, It's really a *global war* with the R on these issues too 😖

So, this from the US, *could read the same for Aotearoa* right now (from a site reporting on how the FR are undermining ed there, link in ALT) 🤮
An excerpt from the website American Oversight, discussing Right-wing led attacks on education in the US, and a Report on their findings. This following extract is a summary of 3 key ways the Right have progressively undermined education: "Distortion of Educational Content: Public records reveal ideologically motivated censorship of educational materials that privileges politics over truth. This includes removing references to race, gender, and sexual orientation; excising certain words or lessons; altering and whitewashing discussions of history; or banning certain books. Harm to Educators and Students: Targeting certain content through vaguely defined terms like “divisive concepts” has a chilling effect on educators, who are left confused, uncertain, and fearful of adverse employment consequences — and more inclined to excise content related to race, gender, or sexuality. Consequently, students are denied the opportunity to learn about the full range of human experiences and ideas. Undermining Public Education and Democracy: Politically motivated censorship of educational content has been embraced by those seeking to weaken public education, and threatens to leave students with an inaccurate, incomplete, or biased understanding of U.S. history and current social issues, thus undermining the foundation of a healthy democracy: an informed electorate. " https://americanoversight.org/resource/the-far-right-attack-on-education-how-curriculum-and-classroom-censorship-stifles-educators-harms-students-and-threatens-our-democracy/
October 28, 2025 at 12:11 PM
alans-world.bsky.social
Some of the problems are not that hard to spot...

IS what you're hearing, reading, listening to based around actual "news" you really should know...

OR is it veering far more towards a bunch of the following things, just to confuse your understanding?

It's not only bad actors on SM that do it.
Some of these issues are not that hard to spot... here's an ABC list... Are what you're hearing, reading, listening to based around actual "news" you really should know, of is it veering far more towards... A/ Absolutism, Assumptions and completely Alternative realities. B/ Binary "Yes/No" reductionism to nuanced issues C/ Conflation of issues (that really have nothing to do with each other) D/ Deflection, diversion, derailing and disingenuous attacks? E/ Extrapolation largely based on Exceptional circumstances become "the rule" somehow F/ Feelings over any and all Facts G/ Simplistic "Gotcha" moments H/ Historically irrelevant absudities I/ Inverting meanings deliberately
October 27, 2025 at 5:35 AM
alans-world.bsky.social
See: ACT's innumerable, incessant, attention-seeking press release floods, Bannon's "Flood the Zone" tactics (not at all dissimilar to Karl Roves observations of how to "change the reality" in the previous Bush Admin), the race to get "Gotchas!" and "be first!", especially in the Social Media age...
For journalists, the 21st-century fetish appears to be with quotes. When powerful people say things, too many journalists simply convey them, acting not as critical interlocuters but convenient conduits. The fact that a politician has said something, apparently, makes it news. This is all too often conveyed neat - uncritiqued, unfiltered and unprocessed.
October 27, 2025 at 5:35 AM
alans-world.bsky.social
And of course, what can readers and consumers do?

That may depend on what you're even allowed to access to give your opinion, much less even see...
Sometimes it is easy to pick up how the message is massaged and what kind of narrative is the one they *want* you to hear. But sometimes it's as subtle as... ...stories you find you *cannot* comment on VS. ones you can. It can then show subtly who they are opening up to attack or otherwise by the public... or the trolls.
October 27, 2025 at 5:35 AM
alans-world.bsky.social
Always differentiate between good reporters vs institutional, systemic problems - there's many reporters and those who work "in media" after all that require work *just like everyone else does*, and individually, *many* who absolutely do commit to great work.

But there *are* systemic issues too...
A graph showing real world statistics on one of the more emotive issues that attract viewers to the news... terrorism, homicide... stories about death! Three graphs are lined up next to each other American Deaths (typical year) - Almost 18K per annum (Terrorism component - under 1K) World Deaths (typical year) - Almost 500K per annum (Terrorism component - around 10K NY Times coverage (2015-Aug 2016) Page coverage roughly 50/50 (All homicide deaths - around 350 stories filed, Terrorism - approx same) Despite both overall homicide deaths in America and globally far, far outnumbering terrorism (deaths *directly attributable* to distinct acts of terrorism) coverage by the NY times (the "paper of record" as it is known) was split roughly half-and-half between both - thus giving readers an undeniably skewed picture of *the actual reality*.
October 27, 2025 at 5:35 AM
alans-world.bsky.social
What can be done about it? News orgs *could* take more responsibility for their output: after all, this is NOT the sole problem of platforms we all know *focus* on rage. It's a much bigger one than *just* a Fox News in the US, GB News etc. in the UK, or the likes of a Newstalk ZB in Aotearoa, NZ...
An excerpt of text clipped from an Intercept article: "Telling the truth is generally not just unprofitable, it's also actively anti-profit. So in the end, the problem with Fox News is the problem of all for-profit news organizations. Fox may present it in an especially distilled, enraging, shameless form. But neither the advertisers not, unfortunately, most people want to hear things that conflict with their treasured illusions of the world."
October 27, 2025 at 5:35 AM
alans-world.bsky.social
See...

Bernie: "Sanders winning this primary is like the Nazis invading Poland" (Chris Matthews, MSNBC)

Corbyn: "An existential danger to the Europe!" (Fmr British Army Gen)

Mamdani: "All Jews must leave NY!"

Polanski: "A fantacist!" (The Telegraph)

Our NZ Greens: "Stalinists!" (NZ MSM, Govt)
A meme (drawn by @twisteddoodles) about how news is often presented with a completely false "binary" pretending to be "balance". It shows a newsreader reading off her script as she introduces some guests to a (fictional) chat she is conducting... In the picture on the left she begins: "Next up we will discuss the topic with someone whose job is to be a well researched and respected expert in the area" On the right, the newsreader continues the introduction... "And in the interests of balance we will also talk to an idiot"
October 27, 2025 at 5:35 AM
alans-world.bsky.social
#NZpol

Honestly, this should turn everyone's stomach and maybe, just f'n maybe, coming *on top of* Peters' "the Courts are undermining democracy" shit at the Oxford Union, *on top of* Seymours open assaults on Māori, etc GODDAMMIT ETC, f'n wake... people... up!

Collins has the *worst* friends!!
A sign at a protest which exclaims: "Our expectations for you were low but HOLY FUCK"
October 24, 2025 at 4:36 AM
alans-world.bsky.social
#NZpol

This govt is so dangerously out of touch and aggressively mainlining straight into their toxic veins the most absurd, cooked and planet destroying shit of any govt we've had to date. Quasi-ChristoFascist, Project 2025 accelerationism, "Kiwi-style".

If *they* don't go down? WE ALL GO DOWN.
A picture of well-known raconteur Jonathan Pie, a creation of the UK's Tom Walker, adapted for a Aotearoa NZ-centric political meme. In this picture, "Pie" holds his head in his hands as he looks away from a monitor showing a former soap salesman called Christopher Luxon (known for his own deeply unfunny show "WTF, I'm the Prime Minister?" having a laugh at his own stupid jokes. According to recent audience reaction, the series so far has been terribly disappointing, annoying a lot of people and it's said viewers are agitating for it to be cancelled next year (sooner if possible some focus groups are heard to be saying). The caption reads: "The Public: "FFS, what's in store for this week?" His Media Hanlders: "Don't. Even. Start."
October 23, 2025 at 4:01 AM
alans-world.bsky.social
#NZpol

"Increase the thing"? YES.

FACT: More than a few times now Govt itself *couldn't be arsed even turning up to appear* to the very negotiations they then claimed, utterly disingenuously, *Unions* were "unreasonable" about 🤬 The f'n *arrogance* of it! Putting the N back in CUTS.

#Oct23Strike
A picture of former CTU President Helen Kelly, holding a megaphone (when she was helping workers protest outside a Talley's meat works). Below this sits a quote from Helen Kelly, may she rest in power... "Reciprocity, respect - they're all concepts that have to exist in the workplace... both parties wanting each other to succeed, not just one way you know, not seeing labour as a cost, but as a contribution, as a valuable asset. Families who are here to earn a living. WE DON'T GIVE UP, WE PUSH BACK!" Helen Kelly, b. 1964 d 2016, and President of the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions from 2007 to 2015. On the occasion of the Oct 23, 2025 MEGA STRIKE https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/576695/live-nurses-teachers-doctors-and-others-take-part-in-nationwide-mega-strike
October 23, 2025 at 3:01 AM
alans-world.bsky.social
GREAT WORK AOTEAROA ✊ KIA KAHA!

Everyone deserves A DECENT INCOME and A DECENT LIFE - and if that's not what's happening, *damn straight we need to talk about it*!

We demand *decent government* for *EVERYONE*, and you should accept *nothing less* than this.

#Oct23Strike ✊ #NZMegaStrike ✊ #NZpol
On the occasion of the Oct 23, 2025 MEGA STRIKE https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/576695/live-nurses-teachers-doctors-and-others-take-part-in-nationwide-mega-strike A picture of Helen Kelly alongside some quotes: "Money speaks for money, the Devil for his own Who comes to speak for the skin and the bone What a comfort to the widow, a light to the child There is power in a Union" - Billy Bragg, "There is Power in a Union" (Back to Basics) Below this sits a quote from Helen Kelly, may she rest in power... "I mean, the deal is: you go to work, you work, you earn a living, you have a decent life isn't it? If that's not the deal we need to talk about it..." WE DON'T GIVE UP, WE PUSH BACK!" Helen Kelly, b. 1964 d 2016, and President of the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions from 2007 to 2015.
October 23, 2025 at 12:34 AM
alans-world.bsky.social
"There is power in a factory, power in the land
Power in the hands of a worker
But it all amounts to nothing if together we don't stand
There is power in a Union"

This Govt WILL take your #WorkersRights away if you don't stand up.

You ARE worth it. So let them know, *VERY LOUDLY* ✊

#OneTermGovt
A photo of former President of the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions from 2007 to 2015, and basically all-round legend, Helen Kelly, outside the Tally's factory, talking through a megaphone and encouraging the workers... Next to her is one of her many legendary quotes... "That was the primary thing: that when you saw someone treated in a way that was unfair it was because they were not being treated as a juman being or as a citizen, you know, as an equal - that was the analysis that we were always taught... WE DON'T GIVE UP, WE PUSH BACK" RIP Helen Kelly 1964-2016 https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/77182217/obituary-union-leader-helen-kelly
October 22, 2025 at 10:15 PM