The World Of Jadeey

Hahaha I am so not a National supporter. And I definitely did not vote National on election day.

April fools. :)

Labels: I'm great, I'm silly, politics

I have a confession to make....

For so long I have been a Labour supporter. I don't need to tell anyone here that. I was very vocal before the election that Labour was the party to vote for and I fully believed that. I believed it leading up to voting day, I believed it on voting day and I believed it in the car on the way to the polling booth...

While standing in the polling booth I suddenly realised that I had been wrong all this time. With sudden clarity I understood that Labour had gotten us into the mess we now find ourselves in and they certainly couldn't be the ones to get us out of it.

I voted National. And swore to myself I'd keep it a secret. But I can't keep hiding it. I can't keep bagging National when I voted for them and I fully support them.

So I am now confessing. I'm a National supporter. Not a Labour supporter.

National forever!

Labels: politics

Next week I'm going to be on early shift which means starting at 7am every morning. I have a feeling I'm going to be very, very tired! It'll be nice to be finished early each day though.

John Key has decided to bring back Knighthoods. I don't particularly know how I feel about this. I don't really think it's a bad idea, I more think it's a nothing idea. I just don't particularly see the need for it and I don't know why he bothered. It's not like they provide any use that the current honour system ignores. Ah well.

Time to go do the dishes and then I'm going to see The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas.

Labels: politics, work

Each Sunday I read Postsecret and every day I read LJ Secret. I like reading these websites. Some of the secrets make me cry, some make me relieved that I'm not living that pain, some I totally relate to and some just hit me in some unexpected way. Often I find myself needing to save a secret, sometimes to remind myself I'm not alone in my secrets and other times because something about the secret makes me sit up and take notice. As a result of this I have 320 secrets currently saved on my computer.

I have decided that every Thursday, for as long as I feel like it, I will post one of these secrets. Some might reflect my own secrets, others will have had a deep impact on me for one reason or another and still others will have been chosen because something small about them was enough to make me want to save it. I'm not going to tell you my reasons.

Don't read into them, don't think i'm trying to confess something. Because I'm not. I just want to share some of them.

And, if I have posted a secret that you made and you don't want it up there then please send me a message and I'll take it straight down.

Labels: politics, secrets

My interview went well today. I should be hearing about the job in the next couple of days. I think it's pretty much mine, there are just a couple of things the HR person needs to work out. So that's awesome.

I went to Parliament again today. After waiting in a queue for what felt like forever, we finally got in half an hour after question time started. It was really busy today cos a school group had come to watch and snuck in before us. Nothing particularly exciting happened (other than some mistakes with names - someone addressed Michael Cullen as minister even though he no longer is and Lockward Smith called Phil Goff, Prime Minister.) Labour was awesome as always. They really seem good at their job.

I was a little disappointed in the Greens. They did ask some important questions, but kept quiet during Labour's questions on the ETS - I would have thought they would have had something to add. It disappointed me that they didn't add any supplimentary questions to such an important topic. Labour certainly got on board with helping the Greens out while their questions were being asked.

National, as usual, didn't impress at all. I think John Key said he was going to take a balanced, but urgent, approach to 8 different things in a row. Come on, Prime Minister come up with a slightly different answer!

Labels: politics, unemployed

Geek that I am, I really wanted to go and watch Parliament sitting today. It's not often you'd get to see them sitting on a Saturday! Instead I had to work... It wasn't so bad.

I just realised today that I haven't played my xbox360 since before I left for Hamilton. It has been over a week! See - to anyone who claimed I was addicted, clearly I'm not.

Not a lot else to say really. I think it's bedtime.

Labels: lame blogs, politics, video games

Derek and I decided to go and watch Parliament debating, this evening. It's something i've been meaning to do all year and with them in urgency this week it seemed like a good time. It was fascinating. I could definitely see myself down there sometime in the future. On Labour's side of course.

They were discussing the tax reform bill and kiwisaver tonight. Hardly any of National's MPs were there and even the ones that were barely spoke. Labour were brilliant though. There were plenty of them there and they were cheerful and well-spoken throughout. Unfortunately the Greens didn't really turn out - which I was very disappointed about - so Labour was it for the left.

Hopefully I'll be going back next Tuesday for question time. Sometimes being unemployed is a very good thing since it leaves me free for stuff like this!

Labels: Labour, politics

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

I'm sitting at home watching the election results roll in. I'm very scared, but trying to remain hopeful.

Expect either an extremely happy or extremely sulky blog from me tomorrow. No matter what, you can expect it to be about politics!

Labels: election 08, 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

McCain is old. But, once upon a time he wasn't. Amazingly, he used to be fairly good looking. He's still a dick though.




After discovering that picture, I thought I'd look to see what Obama, Biden and Palin used to look like when they were young and unsullied by politics. Here are the results.

Obama




Biden




Palin




So, that's four good-looking people right there. Of course, the McCain/Palin team are evil incarnate. Obama/Biden are awesome. What they used to look like makes absolutely no difference to how they will run America. But I find it interesting nonetheless. (Also, Biden looks a little like my future husband - John Krasinski)

Labels: biden, john mccain, obama, palin, politics

Thanks to Kat for finding this gem. And thanks to the guys who made it.




And here it is with just the Obama footage.

Labels: humorous, politics, youtube

A couple of days ago Kat directed me to a BRILLIANT youtube video that I will now share with you all. It's Tina Fey as Sarah Palin for SNL and it's possibly the funniest thing I've ever seen in my life.

Thanks Kat :)

Labels: humorous, politics, youtube

Kat and I are talking about Labour at the moment. (We seem to talk about politics a lot. She's a avid Greens supporter and I'm Labour all the way. It's good cos it leaves some room for debate without turning into a full-on brawl. The right-wing supporters are the brawlers.)

Anyway, Kat and I are talking about Labour. Kat is currently doing the next Edulection post. It's really hard doing the research for these posts sometimes because Labour don't have any of their current policies up on their website. It's all out-dated. So, unless they are using the exact same policy from 2005 - in which case they should at least update the dates, then it's hard to tell what their policies are going to be this time around.

Then Kat found that they don't have a youtube video up - well, they do, but it's old as well. Most of the other major parties do have youtube videos. Most of the other major parties do have current policy on their websites. Labour don't. Is anyone else seeing the problem here?

How is it that no-one in Labour knows how to market them? It's an election year! An election that they are going to have to work harder than ever to win! They need to start putting themselves out there.

If they're looking for a marketing advisor i'd be happy to help! I'd clearly do a better job than their current marketing people are!

Labels: Labour, politics

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

John McCain is a dick. We all know that. Here's a nice video to prove it (just in case anyone needed proof).



Someone should make one of these about National. They flip-flop on everything as well. It's definitely a right-wing habit.


I have the scariest meeting in the world tomorrow. Surprisingly I'm not nervous. Heh I probably will be by tomorrow morning though!

Labels: john mccain, politics, youtube

National announced their election pledges today. They made me REALLY angry. Bloody National!

There are of course the tax cuts. National have said that they don't need to borrow for the tax cuts. They've also said that they will need to borrow for some of the other things they want to do.... In other words - the tax cuts do mean that the country will be in debt.

Funnily enough they have pledged to take a more disciplined approach to Government spending... Hmmmm how do the tax cuts fit in with that Johnny boy? They also want to open up some government services to the public sector - it's this pledge that makes me the most angry I think. I don't want that to happen. I really, really don't.

There is actually one pledge I do like - they are going to set literacy and numeracy standards in primary schools. I think this is brilliant. I think the standards now are shocking and need to be improved. I'm glad people are finally starting to recognise this.

Anyway. Kat and I are setting up a blog to let people know what each party is pledging and what their policies are. So, if you want to educate yourself then visit the Edulection website from October 1st and you'll find all the information you need.

Labels: Edulection, politics

Anyone want to have a guess as to what date Labour will pick for the election? Derek and I are having a sweepstake. Derek's picked November 1st. When I picked my date I thought the latest date it could be was the end of November. So I picked November 15th. Then I found out that the 15th is actually the last possible moment. I know I should switch to November 8. But I'm going to be risky and stick with the 15th. Somehow it feels like bad luck to switch when my date is still valid.

There's been a lot of discussion in my flat about who we're going to vote for. I'm a Labour supporter through and through, but I'm no longer 100% certain I'm going to vote for them this time around. Derek and I like to discuss strategy a lot.

There are a few strategies that have been bandied about. (Yes, we are aware that we are only 2 people.)

One is to vote National so that we have a strong government. Winston Peters holding the government, and the country, to ransom is getting pretty damn old. I'm not keen on this strategy at all. I'm entirely morally opposed to voting National. Also, I don't want National to be allowed to govern alone.

The second is to vote for the Greens. I don't love the Greens, but I do like them. I can handle a government made up of them and National if I have to. It'd be weird to have a left-wing minor party in coalition with a right-wing major party. But that's what MMPs all about - making sure the major parties are kept honest (as honest as politicians can be anyway) by the smaller ones.

The third is to vote for Labour and hope that we are wrong about Labour not having a hope in hell of winning.

Ah decisions, decisions. The beauty of election year!

Labels: election 08, politics

I've always found politics a dangerous subject to discuss with friends. It's fine if you have similar political views, but if they're different? Watch out.

Unfortunately this morning I did not heed my own advice and had a discussion (argument) about politics with a friend of mine.

It started because of this whole Labour election spending debacle. My friend said that it proves Labour is a crap party and shouldn't be in government. I firmly disagreed and said I thought it was dumb but could see why it happened and it doesn't really change my opinion of them. Now, I knew he voted National in the last election so didn't really want to get into anything anyway as he's an argumentative fella at the best of times. Alas, avoidance wasn't working so I got dragged into it.

He asked why I supported Labour when i'm a business woman and a fairly high income earner so (technically) my loyalties should lie with National. This is something that gets asked of my father a lot as he is in the top 5% income bracket in the country but is still a staunch Labour supporter. I answered in pretty much the same way he always does.

I support them because if I support National then I am essentially saying I want to be treated well at the expense of those in this country who can't afford to be treated badly. I would much prefer paying a few extra percent in tax so that those who don't have as much money as me can have decent and cheap health care, schooling etc.

Where do National supporters think the money they save on taxes is going to come from? It certainly ain't gonna come from the politician's pockets. It's going to be taken from the places that are actually in need of the money.

Don't worry, I'm not a saint and I desperately hate seeing how much of my money is taken away in tax. But when it really comes down to it, I don't want other people to suffer just so I can have a few extra fancy meals out each year.

My friend did not agree. He said it is their problem they can't get a job, not his. To a certain extent I can see where he's coming from. Without doubt some people on the dole don't need to be there and could get a job if they wanted. My flatmate was on the dole for at least 6 years purely because he liked it and didn't want a job. Some of his friends still are on the dole for the same reason. I would love it if there were tighter controls but when the government tried to bring in the Work for the Dole scheme it went down in a pile of flames.

There will always be dole bludgers but there are a hell of a lot of people out there who need government support for genuine reasons and it is for them that I am willing to pay extra tax. It's just a damn shame that those who don't deserve it also get the benefit.

Anyway I won't go on since I'm sure no-one really cares all that much about my political opinions and I really could go on all day if you let me. I'm sure everyone is hating me right now for the fact that all I've written about recently is cricket and politics. But I don't care cos you are all useless commenters! I've received 3 comments ever. (Thank you Ruwan, Sam and SpaceMonkey - although SpaceMonkey's was very mean)

For those of you who are just here for the movies I have a New Zealand film and a Polish film for you today:

1/ In My Fathers Den This is a New Zealand/British film commission joint project. It's bloody brilliant, by far my favourite New Zealand film ever. The story is powerful and the acting is outstanding. Oh, and it was based on a Maurice Gee book.

2/ Dekalog This is actually ten one-hour films (or tv docos according to imdb). Each one is based on one of the ten commandments but they are not religious films. They are stunningly shot and the kid is Dekalog 10 is actually the cutest kid in the whole wide world. I wouldn't recommend watching them all since that's ten hours of watching right there. But you should watch number 10. It's the coolest.

Labels: Labour, movies, politics