The World Of Jadeey

I'm off to Parliament tonight since it is Helen Clark's last week. Other than that it's just an ordinary day of work and sleep. (Hopefully lots of the sleep. I'm tired)

I know I should be hoping that the rain keeps away so we can finish the cricket off properly today and get a result... But that goes against every fibre in my body. I can't help it - I'm crossing my fingers for rain to wash out the rest of the test and force a draw. I'd rather draw thanks to rain than lose.

Labels: cricket, Helen Clark, lame blogs

Well, Holly is not happy because Labour lost the election last night. Not only that, but Helen Clark and Michael Cullen both stepped down. I'd been expecting Helen Clark to step down before the next election, but I didn't expect it to be so quickly. My dad pointed out that it's actually very good leadership - giving the new leader the maximum possible time to be in the role before the next election.

I read a comment on Stuff.co.nz today that I made me laugh. And then made me worried because it's so damn accurate so not really all that funny afterall. The comment was on this article.

The comment says:

Employer: "Hey I think we'll take you on, but only if you agree to the minimum wage for three months and work whenever I want you to without notice for 14hrs a day without breaks. And if you don't agree to keep doing that after the 90 days are up then I might have to find a reason to sack you, Ok? Oh no wait, I don't have to find a reason to sack you any more, I can just do it for no reason at all, wow all too easy!"

Trial employee: "But I have rent to pay and I have to save for private health care and for my private retirement fund, and my family likes to eat a meal at least once a day, and I like to see my children occasionally. I'm a human being and over millions of years my body was designed to function during daylight after having several hours sleep each day. That's a real crap offer, Sir."

Employer: "Oh well, bugger off then, I'll employee someone else since there are so many unemployed to choose from".

Trial Employee "That's OK, I hope I haven't offended you with my presence. I am very grateful for my high broadband speeds. Since I have no home I can park my cardboard box house right next to the local telecom exchange and plug straight in. It makes it all worth it."


I'll be interested to see how many people regret their National vote in 6-12 months time. My guess is it will be a lot.

I'm very ashamed of, and scared for, my country right now.

Labels: election 08, Helen Clark, humorous, politics

Tomorrow is election day in New Zealand.

Please, please, please go and vote. If you don't vote you are giving up your right to have a voice in this country. Even if you don't like John Key OR Helen Clark, you should still vote. Vote for a minor party, that way you are lessening the chance of one party governing alone. The beauty of MMP is that it allows the minor parties to reign the major parties in a bit. It keeps them honest, or as honest as politicians can be.

If you don't want to vote for a minor party then decide who you think is the lesser of two evils out of John Key and Helen Clark and vote for them. No matter what you do, one of the two of them is going to be the Prime Minister of our country from tomorrow. Not voting doesn't stop that. But voting means that you are at least having an influence on the outcome. And if the party you vote for doesn't win? Well at least you tried.

I see absolutely no logical reason to not vote. If you have one, then by all means tell me in the comments. Otherwise, go and vote!!!!!

Labels: election 08, Helen Clark, politics

Today just felt like a great day to be alive. The sun was shining, the birds were singing and nothing could dampen my mood. Do you know why? Because America elected a President to be proud of yesterday.

I know he's not going to save the world. He's not going to right every wrong ever committed. But Obama become the President-elect yesterday showed that America, and hopefully that means the world, is beginning to move in the right direction. Equality is not there yet, the passing of Prop 8 (anti gay marriage) proved that, but we are one step closer. Obama didn't just win, he won overwhelmingly. Even forgetting all his policies for a moment, I think we just have to celebrate the fact that Americans voted an African American President in. That is huge.

And I just want to say, McCain's concession speech proved that he is a decent guy. I hope that his supporters take on-board his words about Obama. If McCain - who desperately wanted to be President and has tried and failed many times only to get tantalisingly close this time and yet fail again - can admit that Obama will be a great President and will do good things for America, then I hope McCain supporters will at least give Obama a chance.

AND I hope New Zealander's will see Obama's win as the world voting left-wing. Labour is the New Zealand equivalent of Obama, people. NOT National, despite John Key's claims. This has not been a good campaign by either of our major parties, but think about what is at stake. Do we really want a right-wing government? A government that will take away money and services from our poorest people - the ones who need that help most?

I admit, Helen Clark isn't the orator that Obama (or even McCain) is. New Zealand's never had a Prime Minister who is a stunning orator because that's not one of the skills required to get the job of Prime Minister the way it is to get the job of President. But not being a stunning orator does not mean she is not a good leader. She IS a good leader. She is proven that time and again.

Every government makes mistakes - especially in a term of 9 years. Don't look at the mistakes, look at the good things Labour have done for this country.

- Cheaper healthcare
- Cheaper early childhood education
- Better benefit schemes
- Less unemployment
- More police on the streets (still not enough, but definitely more)
- Free public transport for the elderly
- Interest-free loans for tertiary students (this is HUGE)
- Better availability of student-allowance
- A real way of saving for our retirement (I know some people disagree with Kiwisaver. But have those people actually thought about what they are going to do when they retire? You sure as shit can't rely on a National-led government to look after you in your old age.)
- A New Zealand owned bank that has extremely competitive rates
- Getting back a state-owned railway system (which led to the free travel for elderly)

The list goes on. Those are just things I could think of off the top of my head. Don't be sucked in by National's tax cuts. In order to get them we will lose other important things. Not to mention they are changing the tax brackets so a lot of people won't be better off at all. (My mum for instance will get a higher tax refund from National but will also have been moved into a higher tax bracket meaning, in the end, she will lose money. A lot of people who are planning to vote for National solely based on wanting a tax cut will probably find themselves in the same situation.)

I know we are in a recession at the moment. (Believe me, I know!) But, no matter what he claims, John Key cannot save us from it. It's not just happening in New Zealand, it's happening in the whole world. Now more than ever we need a government who looks after the little people and not just the rich. We need a government who knows what they are doing, who is experienced and who will not privatise everything in sight right when we need state-owned enterprises.

Please. On Saturday think with your social conscience and not with your greed. Vote for Labour. Or, if you really can't stomach that, vote Green. Because what this country needs right now is a Labour/Green coalition government.

Labels: Helen Clark, john mccain, Labour, obama, politics

I think I'm probably the only one of my friends that actually likes Helen Clark. But I really do. I think she's extremely intelligent and a very good leader. I like her as Prime Minister and, in my opinion, she's done a really good job.

I saw this photo of her recently in a book by Sally Tag. The book was full of photographs of New Zealanders. It's called On Top Down Under. If you ever get a chance to find a copy then I'd recommend taking a look. It's awesome. Anyway, here is the photo of our Prime Minister. On first look I thought it must have been taken when she in her early 20s, but it was actually in 1997. I think a lot of people will find this photo surprising.




Aaron said I should have blogged about Scott Dixon yesterday. Since I enjoy fulfilling people's blog requests I thought I'd attempt to make up for my oversight of not blogging about him yesterday by doing it today instead.

Scott Dixon won yesterday. That makes it his 6th IndyCar win of the season! He is now tied for the record of the most wins of an IndyCar season. It was a close one - he caught the leader on the final corner. Impressive for the Kiwi boy.

With our Olympians being so uninspiring right now, it's nice to see at least one Kiwi doing great things on the sporting scene. (Ok that's a little harsh. Our Olympians have plenty of time. I'm just bitter that we haven't won a single medal yet. I'm very competitive.)

Labels: Helen Clark, Olympics, Scott Dixon

The big question at the moment is, when will the election be? As I've mentioned, we have a sweepstake going. Derek's picked November 1st, Ingrid's picked November 8th and I've picked November 15th. None of the 3 dates are perfect though.

November 1st is the same weekend as the Bledisloe Cup final. Having election night on the same night as the rugby isn't great. But it is a definite possibility.

November 8th is only 4 days after the American election. Labour will be very aware that National will be able to put a good spin for themselves on whichever American candidate wins. If McCain wins National will be talk about the fact that America is sticking with right-wing and that means New Zealand should go right-wing. If Obama wins they will spin the same 'change' message that America have gone for. So, for Labour, a date before the American election is probably preferable.

November 15th is the last possible Saturday Labour can choose. If they choose it then it looks like they are desperately trying to hold onto power as long as possible.

It's a tough call for Helen Clark. I'm glad I don't have to make the decision!

Labels: Helen Clark, politics