Grid of posts 2×3

  • Low productivity – situate the blame with the bosses

    Philip Ferguson The Spark December 2005 One of the big myths perpetrated by bosses is that big profits are needed in order for companies to reinvest in expanding production and therefore hiring more workers and increasing pay. More ‘freedom’ for employers was one of the big slogans of the ‘new right’ economic reforms of the Read more

  • Sack the bosses

    A dozen activists from Socialist Aotearoa, the Workers Party and the Greens protested outside John Key’s house today, against the passing of the 90-day bill. The new law which comes into force in March 2009 gives small employers the right to sack staff in the first 3 months without legal redress. The noisy protest ruffled Read more

  • Film review: Brokeback Mountain

    Brokeback Mountain, the film of the Annie Proulx novella about the love affair between two lonesome cowboys, has inevitably sparked a series of internet jokes about life on the range.  The film would probably have the likes of John Wayne spinning in his grave (then again, Wayne’s real name was Marion Morrison). Read more

  • Capitalism’s currency craziness

    Philip Ferguson The Spark August 2006 Every few months exchange rates feature as a point of discussion about the state of the New Zealand economy.  For many people it must seem odd that both a “high” and “low” New Zealand dollar are presented as problematic.  What is going on?  Does it really matter? Read more

  • Book review: How Mumbo-Jumbo Conquered the World by Francis Wheen

    (Harper Collins, London, 2004) Read more

  • Newtown public meeting

    Read more