Peter Thiel is one very strange Dude. He bought New Zealand citizenship at one point, what was that all about? He's been reported as in Argentina, they're welcome to him, stay there Mr Thiel and while you're at it, take Elon Musk with you. But the strangest thing of all is his vision for the future. He and a few of his billionaire mates see a future that is a techno feudal state. I laugh when I hear about this stuff as these people seem to think they'll prosper from such a thing. Err...no, they'd be disposable. What do these Peter Thiel types actually do? They're not useful, so all those who are useful would simply dispose of them.
Showing posts with label Democracy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Democracy. Show all posts
July 03, 2026
May 26, 2026
Random Guy Explains The Problem
Listen to this guy carefully. Asmongold reacts to someone in Britain being interviewed while canvassing for Restore Britain.
July 20, 2025
Oligarchs Rule Western World
Somewhere along the line, democracy died. Today, countries throughout the developed world are ruled by oligarchies, or plutocracies:
May 19, 2024
Threats to US Democracy
The quiet part is now being said out loud. Tell me again, who is currently running the US and if Trump wins in 2024, will he ever be sworn in?
March 02, 2023
Analysis of Media Coverage of Parliament Protest 2022
It's a year since the Labour government crushed peaceful dissent. A new report finds the media were heavily biased, becoming shills for tyranny:
Key findings are:
- 72% of media coverage made no attempt to report the concerns, and many of those articles which did mention their concerns reported them alongside critical commentary.
- around 20 stories (just 3% of the total 599 reviewed) featured quotes from protestors, many of whom were happy to be named. There were only a couple of stories that profiled protesters in any depth.
- the direct coverage of the protests focused on the more controversial and possibly fringe elements of the group. Little effort was made to report the impact mandates had had on the lives of the protestors or the validity of questioning the use of mandates.
- the media failed to do a true assessment of what kind of people made up the protest and their motivation to be there. Most protesters were motivated by opposition to mandates, support for freedom of choice, concerns about children being vaccinated, and the loss of jobs.
- just under half of all coverage of the protesters’ concerns was by those speaking about the protest rather than to the protestors directly. Nearly all the commentary was negative and critical, at times derisive and dismissive.
August 19, 2022
April 16, 2021
Did the Nazis Win The War?
I've said it many times; if an alien visited Earth in 1939, then came back now, they'd be convinced the Nazis had won the war. Especially right now, as we have global authoritarianism, lack of individual freedom, big corporates that are above the law and a media that is compliant and feeding the populous the official 'truth'. All are being subjected to medical experimentation. Facts are no longer facts, all facts are now checked and if they conflict with the mainstream narrative they are labelled false, or mostly false. We have sunk into the abyss.
January 09, 2021
Release the Kraken
Here's an idea for a movie: in a dystopian future where China and Russia control the political and social narrative, the US is nothing but a shadow of its former self. It clings to its past glories but its leadership is myopic, greedy and incompetent. The President sleeps most of the day and when awake he's kept alive through an intravenous drip applied several times a day. He doesn't think for himself, he's scripted, the country is run by Big Tech firms which take their orders from the new masters of the Earth, the aforementioned China and Russia.
There exists in the American sub-culture a rumour, some believe it a myth. This belief is that if the Kraken is released it will free the world from tyranny. Many think this Kraken is a book of words, while others believe it a virus. Many fundamentalists believe it to be a legal case and hold to the idea that this case once resolved will result in freedom. They're deluded of course as the courts are completely controlled by the new masters.
But the Kraken is none of these things. It is a man. This man, a former Naval officer (or Marine - same diff') dishonourably discharged for defying the rulers, leads a small band of resistance fighters. In time their numbers grow and they piece by piece put the US back together again. The movie ends with the Kraken seizing the Capitol Building and restoring democracy in America. The US Flag is hoisted again, replacing the existing one which is a form of communist flag, except with a server in place of the hammer and sickle.
Ends.
July 09, 2020
February 12, 2020
Complete Failure of NZ's Electoral System
Back in 1996 New Zealand ditched its traditional first-past-the-post electoral system, and put in its place mixed-member proportional (MMP). There can be no doubt; in a year when NZ has its eighth MMP general election, the system has been proven an outstanding failure.
How did this happen? Why did this happen? The answer to that can be found in the way MMP is structured. MMP is based on the system they have in Germany. It was used there to prevent one party coming to power. You may recall Germany's troubled past, and the rise there of a genocidal regime which resulted in the holocaust and WWII. But NZ doesn't have that kind of background, it didn't need a system to prevent what happened in Germany happening in Aotearoa.
It gets worse, given NZ's small size, the type of electoral and regional diversity Germany has, doesn't exist in NZ. Oh, I hear you say, yes it does. Err, I reply, no it doesn't, one region doesn't go to war with another and NZ doesn't have principalities. You get the idea.
So NZ embraces MMP and things...don't change that much. NZ was assured the advantage of MMP was it would deliver majority governments (where the government commands 50% or more of the popular vote). It didn't happen, what happened is NZ still received minority governments, except many of its representatives had never, could never win an electorate seat. That's the reality. And politicians who lose their electorate seat, come back in off the party list, they get to keep their jobs. It's like the cat came back, it wouldn't stay away.
Not only that, but voters never get what they voted for. The election is more like a beauty contest, you vote for whoever takes your fancy and trust them to deliver something in coalition negotiations. And what you do receive is likely to be nothing.
Then in 2017 things turned worse. The coalition between Labour and NZ First actually had fewer votes than the Opposition. Incredible but true, the coalition is propped up by the Greens, who get a pay-off in the form of ministerial positions, but avoid accountability by actually being in the government with their feet under the Cabinet table (putting a bob each way in effect).
Now the latest polling has the Greens on the precipice, just 20,000 votes away from failing to make the 5% threshold as they cannot win an electorate seat. NZ First are polling well under the 5% and they may fail to get a seat (they also have none at present). NZ has in a very short space of time, found itself right back where it was with first-past-the-post, in a close head-to-head contest, Labour vs National.
What may result, and is quite likely in fact, is one of the two will govern NZ alone, no need for a coalition agreement, and after receiving far fewer than 50% support. Where to after that? Over time I predict a splintering of political support after this period of consolidation.
To understand what I'm banging on about, consider the supermarket aisle and the soft drink selection (soda or pop for those in North America). In the early days selection may have been simple and purely price driven. That's where NZ is right now with MMP. Then as tastes change and competition heats up, new brands emerge to compete for shelf space. Now when you head down that aisle the consumer is barraged with choices. This is what I believe will happen under MMP in NZ after the price or value driven phase.
That final stage presents real dangers as we're not really talking about consumer choice. We're talking democracy, freedom Westminster-style and it could be lost. Here's how this could happen, admittedly this is more speculative, there are far too many permutations to be accurate, but read on:
1. Phase one; multiple brands with at least a seat or 5% support are far more valuable. It makes sense to segment the market, by region and political belief; town vs country, christian vs atheist, environmentalists vs industrialists - ripping the country apart - you get the idea.
2. Phase two; fifth columnists are more valuable than consensus builders. Wreckers trump builders. Reverse mergers can occur whereby party faithful from one party join the enemy and wreck the other party from within. (There is no law in NZ saying an individual cannot belong to more than one party, although most parties have their own rules preventing it. It's hard to stop spies, and in time will become impossible).
3. Phase three; secret coalition deals end up with the elite running everything. Voters will not know if a secret deal exists or not. Voters will choose a brand to their taste, but later find that party is loyal to another party altogether. Imagine buying cherry Coke only to find it turned into classic Coke. This is a distinct possibility in this MMP environment.
It's all very undemocratic and I predict it will spell the end of NZ. It will pull itself apart, critical infrastructure will be ignored in order to chase the latest fad, defence will be ignored as it offers no immediate pay-off. In the end NZ will be annexed by Australia as it can't afford to have such a weak southern neighbour.
And how soon will this happen. Originally I thought this would be in the lifetime of my grandchildren. But things are happening so fast now, I think it may be in my lifetime. Not that long then.
How did this happen? Why did this happen? The answer to that can be found in the way MMP is structured. MMP is based on the system they have in Germany. It was used there to prevent one party coming to power. You may recall Germany's troubled past, and the rise there of a genocidal regime which resulted in the holocaust and WWII. But NZ doesn't have that kind of background, it didn't need a system to prevent what happened in Germany happening in Aotearoa.
It gets worse, given NZ's small size, the type of electoral and regional diversity Germany has, doesn't exist in NZ. Oh, I hear you say, yes it does. Err, I reply, no it doesn't, one region doesn't go to war with another and NZ doesn't have principalities. You get the idea.
So NZ embraces MMP and things...don't change that much. NZ was assured the advantage of MMP was it would deliver majority governments (where the government commands 50% or more of the popular vote). It didn't happen, what happened is NZ still received minority governments, except many of its representatives had never, could never win an electorate seat. That's the reality. And politicians who lose their electorate seat, come back in off the party list, they get to keep their jobs. It's like the cat came back, it wouldn't stay away.
Not only that, but voters never get what they voted for. The election is more like a beauty contest, you vote for whoever takes your fancy and trust them to deliver something in coalition negotiations. And what you do receive is likely to be nothing.
Then in 2017 things turned worse. The coalition between Labour and NZ First actually had fewer votes than the Opposition. Incredible but true, the coalition is propped up by the Greens, who get a pay-off in the form of ministerial positions, but avoid accountability by actually being in the government with their feet under the Cabinet table (putting a bob each way in effect).
Now the latest polling has the Greens on the precipice, just 20,000 votes away from failing to make the 5% threshold as they cannot win an electorate seat. NZ First are polling well under the 5% and they may fail to get a seat (they also have none at present). NZ has in a very short space of time, found itself right back where it was with first-past-the-post, in a close head-to-head contest, Labour vs National.
What may result, and is quite likely in fact, is one of the two will govern NZ alone, no need for a coalition agreement, and after receiving far fewer than 50% support. Where to after that? Over time I predict a splintering of political support after this period of consolidation.
To understand what I'm banging on about, consider the supermarket aisle and the soft drink selection (soda or pop for those in North America). In the early days selection may have been simple and purely price driven. That's where NZ is right now with MMP. Then as tastes change and competition heats up, new brands emerge to compete for shelf space. Now when you head down that aisle the consumer is barraged with choices. This is what I believe will happen under MMP in NZ after the price or value driven phase.
That final stage presents real dangers as we're not really talking about consumer choice. We're talking democracy, freedom Westminster-style and it could be lost. Here's how this could happen, admittedly this is more speculative, there are far too many permutations to be accurate, but read on:
1. Phase one; multiple brands with at least a seat or 5% support are far more valuable. It makes sense to segment the market, by region and political belief; town vs country, christian vs atheist, environmentalists vs industrialists - ripping the country apart - you get the idea.
2. Phase two; fifth columnists are more valuable than consensus builders. Wreckers trump builders. Reverse mergers can occur whereby party faithful from one party join the enemy and wreck the other party from within. (There is no law in NZ saying an individual cannot belong to more than one party, although most parties have their own rules preventing it. It's hard to stop spies, and in time will become impossible).
3. Phase three; secret coalition deals end up with the elite running everything. Voters will not know if a secret deal exists or not. Voters will choose a brand to their taste, but later find that party is loyal to another party altogether. Imagine buying cherry Coke only to find it turned into classic Coke. This is a distinct possibility in this MMP environment.
It's all very undemocratic and I predict it will spell the end of NZ. It will pull itself apart, critical infrastructure will be ignored in order to chase the latest fad, defence will be ignored as it offers no immediate pay-off. In the end NZ will be annexed by Australia as it can't afford to have such a weak southern neighbour.
And how soon will this happen. Originally I thought this would be in the lifetime of my grandchildren. But things are happening so fast now, I think it may be in my lifetime. Not that long then.
July 02, 2019
Hong Kong Crisis
Things are going downhill fast in Hong Kong. I hope these young demonstrators don't get too carried away as the Chinese government are not known to be restrained in how they retaliate against anyone challenging their power. Remember, China is not a democracy, it is a brutal dictatorship.
It was funny to see the old Hong Kong flag being unfurled by these protesters. Britain has a lot to answer for in its acquiescence to China back in the 90's, but it's touching the youngsters, who may not have been born when Hong Kong was handed back to China by the British, are still clinging to some semblance of freedom.
It was funny to see the old Hong Kong flag being unfurled by these protesters. Britain has a lot to answer for in its acquiescence to China back in the 90's, but it's touching the youngsters, who may not have been born when Hong Kong was handed back to China by the British, are still clinging to some semblance of freedom.
January 01, 2017
George Soros: Open Society Needs Defending
Interesting views from George Soros on where we are headed:
https://www.project-syndicate.org/onpoint/open-society-needs-defending-by-george-soros-2016-12\
After the Crash of 2008, the EU and the eurozone became increasingly dysfunctional. Prevailing conditions became far removed from those prescribed by the Maastricht Treaty, but treaty change became progressively more difficult, and eventually impossible, because it couldn’t be ratified. The eurozone became the victim of antiquated laws; much-needed reforms could be enacted only by finding loopholes in them. That is how institutions became increasingly complicated, and electorates became alienated.
The process is likely irreversible in my opinion. However, the challenges are probably a good thing. Europe and the rest of the first world have become burdened by bureaucracy and politicians who don't actually believe in anything. All they care about are their perks. The way I see it, democracy is likely to be strengthened by these changes (Brexit and the eventual collapse of the EU); at long last the voter is cracking the whip.
https://www.project-syndicate.org/onpoint/open-society-needs-defending-by-george-soros-2016-12\
After the Crash of 2008, the EU and the eurozone became increasingly dysfunctional. Prevailing conditions became far removed from those prescribed by the Maastricht Treaty, but treaty change became progressively more difficult, and eventually impossible, because it couldn’t be ratified. The eurozone became the victim of antiquated laws; much-needed reforms could be enacted only by finding loopholes in them. That is how institutions became increasingly complicated, and electorates became alienated.
The rise of anti-EU movements further impeded the functioning of institutions. And these forces of disintegration received a powerful boost in 2016, first from Brexit, then from the election of Trump in the US, and on December 4 from Italian voters’ rejection, by a wide margin, of constitutional reforms.
Democracy is now in crisis. Even the US, the world’s leading democracy, elected a con artist and would-be dictator as its president. Although Trump has toned down his rhetoric since he was elected, he has changed neither his behavior nor his advisers. His cabinet comprises incompetent extremists and retired generals.
(snip)
The same is likely to happen in the European election season in 2017 in the Netherlands, Germany, and Italy. In France, the two leading contenders are close to Putin and eager to appease him. If either wins, Putin’s dominance of Europe will become a fait accompli.
I hope that Europe’s leaders and citizens alike will realize that this endangers their way of life and the values on which the EU was founded. The trouble is that the method Putin has used to destabilize democracy cannot be used to restore respect for facts and a balanced view of reality.
The process is likely irreversible in my opinion. However, the challenges are probably a good thing. Europe and the rest of the first world have become burdened by bureaucracy and politicians who don't actually believe in anything. All they care about are their perks. The way I see it, democracy is likely to be strengthened by these changes (Brexit and the eventual collapse of the EU); at long last the voter is cracking the whip.