Author Archives: Puddleglum

The real story in the Fairfax polls

Posted on 22nd Jun, 2014 by Puddleglum

There’s an aspect of the political polls that I suspect many people are unaware of. As percentage support for each party is reported, most people probably assume that more people are supporting the parties that show an increase in percent … Continue reading →

Posted in Democracy, Labour, New Zealand Politics, Political Polls | Tagged , , , | 24 Comments

Christchurch and the election

Posted on 18th Jun, 2014 by Puddleglum

[As an experiment, I’m testing the use of an ‘abstract’ for my posts. Those who don’t want to grind through the long version but would like to know if it might be worth the grind can have an overview of what … Continue reading →

Posted in Earthquakes, Education, Labour, New Zealand Politics, Political Polls, Political Psychology | Tagged , , , , , , , | 11 Comments

Selling rope

Posted on 29th May, 2014 by Puddleglum

There’s an anecdote, probably apocryphal, that in the early 1920s Lenin claimed that capitalism would provide the rope to hang itself. When some wag (reputedly Grigori Zinoviev, a close associate) responded by asking ‘Where will we get the rope?’ – at … Continue reading →

Posted in Democracy, Labour, Maori, Media, New Zealand Politics, Political Psychology, Poverty | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Wafer-thin socialism in nouvelle cuisine budget

Posted on 18th May, 2014 by Puddleglum

It was obviously a budget for political foodies. As pointed out by Christ Trotter, Liam Dann predicted (or advised Bill English to deliver) a ‘cheese and toast‘ budget – comfort food, Kiwi-style. Gordon Campbell, by contrast, hitched his analysis to a … Continue reading →

Posted in Democracy, Earthquakes, New Zealand Politics, Political Psychology | Tagged , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Six impossible things before breakfast

Posted on 4th May, 2014 by Puddleglum

“I’m just one hundred and one, five months and a day.” “I can’t believe that!” said Alice. “Can’t you?” the Queen said in a pitying tone. “Try again: draw a long breath, and shut your eyes.” Alice laughed. “There’s no … Continue reading →

Posted in Labour, Media, New Zealand Politics | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

‘What they see is what they get’

Posted on 21st Apr, 2014 by Puddleglum

“Part of it is, I think, is, I suspect … I’m a pretty laid back, sort of down-to-earth hopefully approachable guy, and, … and, I think kind of again, what they see is what they get and they like that … Continue reading →

Posted in New Zealand Politics, Political Psychology | Tagged , , , , | 20 Comments

Foxes, hens, the ‘hard left’ and the myth of the ‘time warp’.

Posted on 2nd Mar, 2014 by Puddleglum

It’s easy to feel a bit giddy – even queasy – after reading and hearing the reaction of politicians and commentators to the appointment of Matt McCarten as David Cunliffe’s Chief of Staff. John Armstrong has invited a picture of … Continue reading →

Posted in Democracy, Labour, New Zealand Politics, Political Polls, Political Psychology, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Adam Smith on the appeal of the iPhone

Posted on 15th Feb, 2014 by Puddleglum

“How many people ruin themselves by laying out money on trinkets of frivolous utility? What pleases these lovers of toys is not so much the utility, as the aptness of the machines which are fitted to promote it.” (Part IV, … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, Free Market, Freedom, Human Nature, Human Wellbeing, Philosophy, Political Psychology, Poverty, Welfare | 10 Comments

Flagging interest in ‘folly’ of vexillology

Posted on 2nd Feb, 2014 by Puddleglum

John Key seems like an unlikely vexillologist – or should that be vexillographer?. That aside, what was John Key ‘flagging’ when he proposed a referendum on New Zealand’s national flag to coincide with this year’s election – without having already … Continue reading →

Posted in Democracy, National Identity, New Zealand Politics, Political Psychology | Tagged , , , , , , | 10 Comments

Pennies from heaven – or, a ‘Corpse’ Flower by any other name …

Posted on 24th Jan, 2014 by Puddleglum

  The education proposals outlined by John Key in his State of the Nation speech have blossomed spectacularly today – like Auckland’s ‘Corpse Flower‘ – attracting a surprising band of over-awed onlookers. The intent of the education initiatives is clear … Continue reading →

Posted in Democracy, Education, New Zealand Politics, Poverty | 18 Comments