Michael John Schmidt: The slow slide towards authoritarinism

Benito Mussolini, a pivotal figure in 20th-century history, emerged from post-WWI Italy to become a polarising leader. Born in 1883, Mussolini initially embraced socialism before founding the Fascist movement in 1919. Exploiting social and economic upheaval, he seized power in 1922 and instituted authoritarian rule1… but how did he do this?

Michael John Schmidt: Te Whetu Ora and “equitable” healthcare?

I recently wrote an article addressing two significant concerns:

1) The bloating of the Te Whetu Ora HR Department, during its establishment (since then additional roles have been advertised!)

2) The visible promotion of Cultural Marxism, aided by this expansion. For instance, positions like “Group Manager, Organisational Culture Programme” or “Group Manager, Internal Communications & Culture”, essentially represent political or commissarial roles.

Michael John Schmidt: Poisoned pill – Te Whatu Ora

In September 2008 during the year of the last financial collapse, Peter Cappelli authored an article titled The Trouble with HR in the Harvard Business Review. In it, he argued that HR departments had lost their relevance and credibility in many organisations, asserting the need for them to reinvent themselves. Cappelli claimed that HR departments had failed to fulfil their essential functions of talent management, performance evaluation, and employee relations.

• Cappelli P. The trouble with HR. Harv Bus Rev 2008; 86: 40–7.

Michael John Schmidt: Middle East Realpolitik

We all have a responsibility to inform ourselves as far as practical and, especially if we are politicians, to verse ourselves in “Realpolitik”.

• Realpolitik refers to a pragmatic approach to politics, focusing on practical and realistic considerations rather than on ideological or moral principles.

Regarding being ideologically driven and ill-informed, we have Chlöe Swarbrick, providing advice (20 November 2023) on international affairs, i.e. the current conflict in Israel/Gaza. She said, “… it is incumbent on all political leaders in this country to stand-up to the plate (maybe she meant “step up”) and to say they call for a ceasefire and a return of the hostages and I would say for the incoming government to recognize the statehood of Palestinians…”

Michael John Schmidt: There Is No Need to Reassess the Concept of Free Speech

We do not need to imagine free speech as a line or as a circle. There has already been enough consideration of ‘what is free speech’, and reassessing it is a trap.

The history of free speech has woven its way through centuries of societal evolution. It finds its roots in the intellectual and philosophical discourse of great thinkers.

Michael John Schmidt: The intransigent and failed policies of the Greens and Labour re - oil and gas development in Taranaki

Intransigent Policies

In April 2018, the New Zealand Government announced that it would no longer issue new offshore oil and gas exploration permits in order to “transition toward a low-carbon economy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions”.

I have just finished reading the Greens’ 2023 election policies which affirm a continued ban on oil and gas exploration in Taranaki.

Michael John Schmidt: Hold and cold MSM

Summer can be a bit perplexing. According to NIWA, “meteorological summer” begins on 1 December. But “astronomical summer”, marked by the summer solstice, falls on 22 December. Usually, natural summer, determined by weather patterns and the warmest 90-day period of the year, starts around 14 December. Yet, it can kick off as early as 22 November or as late as 5 January. This complexity poses a challenge for mainstream media (MSM) when they claim, ‘the hottest summer ever’. The question arises: to which summer are they referring? When does it start and end?

Michael John Schmidt: From the Desk of a Male Pale and Stale

Archaeological evidence suggests that tobacco was discovered in the Americas and was being cultivated and used by the indigenous culture as early as 5000 BC. It was introduced to Europe in the 16th century and became popular as smoking was often associated with a certain level of status or sophistication. In many cultures smoking was considered fashionable and associated with the upper classes or influential individuals – leading to the growth of the tobacco industry. New Zealand was no exception to this. The renowned New Zealand artist, Charles F Goldie, even depicted this devotion in his paintings of Maori women.