Ayn really could have disclosed a lot on Freud’s couch…

The Ministry FOR Regulation David Seymour, Ayn Rand, and the question of who gets regulated.

Amusingly I wrote about Ayn Rand and Seymour today: open.substack.com/pub/andrewdi...

The Review That Reviews Itself Let's Learn why the government's Reserve Bank inquiry is a masterclass in saying nothing while looking busy

Because you really needed to read a detailed Lacanian analysis of the Government’s announcement of a review into the pandemic era covid response of the Reserve Bank. #nzpol

Bank reckonomists are making happy GDP predictions. No increase in real wages / employment in 2025 Q4 so any GDP bump will be from higher profits - thanks to businesses facing lower debt-servicing costs and mortgagors having a few extra dollars to give to shareholders. Great work everyone.

The November data might have just been a blip - but if the trend settles at this relatively depressed level, then we will be sliding sideways for some time. The reckonomists will celebrate near-meaningless changes in business survey results, but the real economy will be remain firmly meh. [Ends]

Hmmm. Little hint of a stall here. New bank lending is like fuel for our economy - banks create brand new shiny money, people spend it, stuff gets bought, wages get paid, profits get made etc. What's going on? [🧵 1/n]

Mutts

Some layered Central Otago sky as a brief distraction :-(

Tax revenue is sagging badly, and Govt is throwing money into mostly low value capital projects as it attempts to get the economy moving... while, you know, appearing to be frugal. Govt deficit spend is well above 2nd cvid lockdown levels. Funny that. [2/2]

RBNZ/Treasury still pulling $ out of the economy (net) as cvid era QE gets undone. See how bond sales (red) are way higher than needed to soak up Govt deficit spending (pink)? This is discussed quite a bit in countries with a functional economics commentariat. Worth a look at Govt deficits... [1/2]

Bookmark this, screen shot it, share it & air drop it to your drunk uncle this Xmas when you have him cornered around the dining table with sane people.

Another Monetary Policy Statement, another 'whoopsie we over-cooked the whole job crushing thingy'. Forecast GDP still falling away (bye). What else? [1/n]

Laser-focused on the cost of living crisis 😒😒😒 #nzpol

I'm writing a book at the moment, here's a beauty of a quote: “Phallic jouissance is the obstacle owing to which man does not come... to enjoy a woman’s body, precisely because what he enjoys is the jouissance of the organ.” — Jacques Lacan (making things awkward since 1901).

Wow.

The Govt's rationing speclialist (aka MSD) is overheating trying to constrain benefit spending, but the number of people on a working-age benefit continues to sail way above forecasts. We are watching a permanently scarring event here. Grim.

I wrote something on #ChatGPT 5.1 #weightloss and the Lacanian concept of lalangue. Intrigued? andrewdicksonnz.substack.com/p/chatgpt-51...

Why New Zealanders are leaving in record numbers and moving to Australia | The World | ABC News YouTube video by ABC News (Australia)

My colleague from Massey Distinguished Prof Paul Spoonley lays out the current government’s refusal to recognise the reasons why young kiwis are abandoning the country: youtube.com/watch?v=IsY0...

Protect Te Tiriti in Education Aotearoa should be a place where everyone, regardless of their background, is respected and part of a vibrant connected community. Where everyone feels a sense of belonging and knows their children wi...

The NZ School Boards Association has launched a petition calling on the Minister of Education Erica Stanford to reverse her ill-informed, hostile decision to remove the obligations of boards to give effect to Te Tiriti o Waitangi in NZ education.

Boost pls

our.actionstation.org.nz/petitions/pr...

OMG SPEECHLESS

#Aurora has erupted & gone coronal (directly up).

Now the entire southern sky

Patearoa!

Strong #Aurora tonight!

And now for the main show!

The 13yo pulled me away from tv to capture this tonight. Hoping for some #aurora action shortly :-)

Ardern and Shaw, willfully or no, were taken for a ride by National and Fed Farmers on climate change. Nats/Feds delayed climate action with false promise of seeking 'consensus'. As soon as they had the power they ditched He Waka Eke Noa and 'Zero Carbon Act'. Don't get fooled again.

Indeed. “It's just that in this particular case, he didn't judge the safety of that event adequately." I’ve yet to see a single case where Seymour judged safety adequately.

"didn't our generation have measles parties? NO. THAT WAS CHICKEN POX AND THAT WAS DUMB TOO! BUT YOU WOULD HAVE TO BE A MURDEROUS EVIL PIECE OF SHIT TO THROW A MEASLES PARTY BECUASE PEOPLE LITERALLY DIE. Why are people so horny for infectious disease? Vaccination and isolation saves lives!

Wow! This is exciting for people with long COVID in the USA.