Strypey

Congratulations to Nicky Hagar ONZM for finally getting formal recognition (instead of police raids) for his years of excellent, independent journalism:

https://www.1news.co.nz/2023/06/05/nicky-hager-awarded-onzm-for-his-investigative-journalism/

Nicky has been a huge source of inspiration for my own independent media activism. Like Dr Mike Joy, Hagar is a national treasure, and we're lucky to have him.

#Aotearoa #NZ.#NickyHagar #IndependentMedia #InvestigativeJournalism #KingsBirthdayHonours

Nicky Hager awarded ONZM for his investigative journalism

While many journalists have received similar honours, he is the first to receive a citation that specifically references a contribution to investigative journalism.

1News
Jun 7, 2023 at 12:01amWeb
Show threadStrypeyJun 7, 2023
As for Jacinda Ardern getting made a Dame Commander of the British Empire, this seems strangely appropriate, but not in the ways her fans might be thinking...
Show threadMarky MarkJun 7, 2023

@strypey out of curiosity, why do you think that?

I do think it's deserved, to be sure, especially after all the major events she dealt with while she was in office (plus all the flack she received). Just curious as to your reasoning for that.

Show threadStrypeyJun 7, 2023

@Amon_Rudh
> Just curious as to your reasoning for that

It's not personal. I'm an old school radical lefty, to the degree that I barely see the current Greens as part of the left, and I count Labour (since 1984) as centre-right. I see Ardern's leadership as a triumph of style over substance. She promised us all a house and a Tesla and delivered a large cardboard box and a used bicycle (metaphorically speaking of course).

(1/2)

Show threadStrypeyJun 7, 2023

@Amon_Rudh
The best faint praise I can find for Ardern's government is that it was less worse than another 3 years of the corporate raiding NatACT regime would have been.

But she was certainly good at being female ("Dame"...), authoritarian (... "Commander"...), and serving the geopolitical interests of the anglophone military-industrial complex (... "of the British Empire"). So that's why I say this title is appropriate, but I don't say that as a compliment.

(2/2)

Show threadStrypeyJun 7, 2023
@Amon_Rudh
Oh and just in case there's any doubt, I'm as disgusted by the online biol spewed at Ardern online as are her fans. I'm a strong believer in kicking the ball not the player, all the more so because many of my own views (and personal quirks) are so far from the centre of the bell curve.
Show threadMarky MarkJun 7, 2023

@strypey that's fair. Unfortunately political parties that over-promise and under-deliver seems to be the norm nowadays. Though I'm not sure if that comes down to failings of the political system (at least in it's current form), or some sort of selfish desire on the part of those aspiring to power.

Jacindas' leadership could've had more substance for sure, though would that be down to the impotence of Labour & co, or the system being messed up? But that's a whole can of worms.

Show threadStrypeyJun 7, 2023

@Amon_Rudh
> I'm not sure if that comes down to failings of the political system (at least in it's current form), or some sort of selfish desire on the part of those aspiring to power

The latter exists in some cases, but the consistency of the results suggests structural problems with the way we've been doing democracy.