CIRCLE WITH A DOT

@gleick Personally, I read it as meaning that the courts are powerless. I wish that the press would just say it. It's time for headlines like "Judge castrated more times than anatomy allows".

@ArrestJK @jeremy_pm I agree – asinine combat is not essential to MMP, but a carryover of poor culture by people who refuse to learn or otherwise improve. When the Greens first started getting seats their rationality was furlongs ahead of the National–Labour blabber. But they never had the capital to resist being held down by the two behemoths. Now, at last, we see the behemoths cutting themselves down. Might be an opportunity for Parliament to move beyond its school bully mentality.

@ArrestJK @jeremy_pm Labour's brand right now seems to be snotty Hipkins trying really hard to dig at National to cover up not having anything to offer. He doesn't even do insults well so all we're left with is a niggler in the corner.

I was especially disappointed when he said in a recent interview that it's really just a personality competition and he's going to eat fewer sausage rolls. What a dipshit. All about politics, nothing about government.

@ArrestJK @jeremy_pm Yes, I would like there to be five or six main parties so that every government is a coalition. Not just a business compromise, but an actual coalition.

Or no main parties, for another perspective. We've had MMP only nominally for far too long now. Current government is like New World+Four Square+Nosh and the other side is like Woolworths+Fresh Choice.

@ArrestJK @jeremy_pm If there are enough first-time MPs maybe they also won't be pinned down by the poor norms of parliamentary culture, and could break away from some of the stupidity long perpetuated by elders and betters.