STRAIGHT AND TRUE
Politics of mistrust
11/07/26
Here’s one for the sliver of the Venn diagram comprising readers of this column, English football fans and history buffs: the World Cup has the feel of ’66 about it. No, not 1966; 1066, when King Harry’s England scraped a win over Norway only to be thrashed by the French.
Sport is a branch of the entertainment business. Dastardly deeds push the plot along. The mixture of power-plays and corruption is a captivating subplot at the Fifa fiesta.
No one is surprised that Fifa is sleazy, so when it corruptly overturns a red card to pacify a sordid US presidency, many American fans shrug and think we may as well make the corrupt system work for us. They feel the same about the country. The economy is corrupt so I might as well get what I can out of it, like the wealthy and powerful do, instead of supporting principle and the greater good.
The reason for our consult-and-veto society is that checks help to restrain corrupt politicians. Giving us a stake in our community is meant to build trust.
That logic only works if the people who stop things happening are held to account when they are wrong, as much as those who promote development.
Josie's column in The Post is here.
Sport is a branch of the entertainment business. Dastardly deeds push the plot along. The mixture of power-plays and corruption is a captivating subplot at the Fifa fiesta.
No one is surprised that Fifa is sleazy, so when it corruptly overturns a red card to pacify a sordid US presidency, many American fans shrug and think we may as well make the corrupt system work for us. They feel the same about the country. The economy is corrupt so I might as well get what I can out of it, like the wealthy and powerful do, instead of supporting principle and the greater good.
The reason for our consult-and-veto society is that checks help to restrain corrupt politicians. Giving us a stake in our community is meant to build trust.
That logic only works if the people who stop things happening are held to account when they are wrong, as much as those who promote development.
Josie's column in The Post is here.
Josie on BYO with Lloyd Burr
09/07/26
The Huddle: Trade deals, voting and banning fertiliser
06/07/26
Josie joined Heather du Plessis-Allan and Trish Sherson on the Huddle to talk through National looking for new trade deals, Winston Peters says voting is a 'privilege' and only citizens should get to vote, and the Greens' plan to regulate water and phase out nitrogen fertiliser.
The Huddle: New election policies
29/06/26
Josie joined Heather du Plessis-Allan and Trish Sherson on Newstalk ZB’s The Huddle to discuss new election offerings from ACT and Labour, and Chlöe Swarbrick goes to the EU about climate outcomes breaching our trade obligations.
Spatchcocked politics in the UK
27/06/26
Seven UK Prime Ministers in 10 years is an expensive internship programme, or as one wit put it: welcome to 10 Downing Street, now sponsored by AirBnB.
There are lessons that apply here.
The first is that incumbent governments are in trouble because of the cost of living. The second, obvious, lesson is that management jargon doesn’t rouse crowds. Here is another lesson from the UK: Offer hope, not division.
Perhaps the biggest lesson from the UK is that people want disruption. They want meaningful change, not pocket money.
The lessons from the UK are that vague and limited promises can get you elected but they cannot keep you in office.
Josie’s Post column looks at lessons from Sir Keir Starmer’s resignation.
There are lessons that apply here.
The first is that incumbent governments are in trouble because of the cost of living. The second, obvious, lesson is that management jargon doesn’t rouse crowds. Here is another lesson from the UK: Offer hope, not division.
Perhaps the biggest lesson from the UK is that people want disruption. They want meaningful change, not pocket money.
The lessons from the UK are that vague and limited promises can get you elected but they cannot keep you in office.
Josie’s Post column looks at lessons from Sir Keir Starmer’s resignation.
