The Bull Ring

𝕋𝕣𝕦𝕞𝕡 𝕠𝕣 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕄𝔸𝔾𝔸 𝕞𝕠𝕧𝕖𝕞𝕖𝕟𝕥. 𝔼𝕧𝕚𝕝 𝕨𝕒𝕝𝕜𝕤 𝕒𝕞𝕠𝕟𝕘𝕤𝕥 𝕦𝕤 𝕋𝕣𝕦𝕞𝕡’𝕤 𝕤𝕖𝕔𝕠𝕟𝕕 𝕥𝕖𝕣𝕞, 𝕨𝕚𝕥𝕙 𝕒𝕟𝕟𝕖𝕩𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟 𝕥𝕙𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕥𝕤 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕒𝕥𝕥𝕒𝕔𝕜𝕤 𝕠𝕟 𝕊𝕡𝕣𝕚𝕟𝕘𝕤𝕥𝕖𝕖𝕟 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝔻𝕖𝕞𝕠𝕔𝕣𝕒𝕥𝕤, 𝕚𝕟𝕔𝕚𝕥𝕖𝕤 𝕧𝕚𝕠𝕝𝕖𝕟𝕔𝕖, 𝕤𝕙𝕣𝕖𝕕𝕕𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕌𝕊 𝕡𝕠𝕝𝕚𝕥𝕚𝕔𝕒𝕝 𝕤𝕪𝕤𝕥𝕖𝕞. 𝕄𝔸𝔾𝔸’𝕤 𝕙𝕒𝕥𝕖𝕗𝕦𝕝 𝕚𝕕𝕖𝕠𝕝𝕠𝕘𝕪, 𝕤𝕡𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕕𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕘𝕝𝕠𝕓𝕒𝕝𝕝𝕪, 𝕚𝕤 𝕨𝕠𝕣𝕤𝕖, 𝕡𝕠𝕚𝕤𝕠𝕟𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕕𝕖𝕞𝕠𝕔𝕣𝕒𝕔𝕪 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝔸𝕞𝕖𝕣𝕚𝕔𝕒𝕟 𝕡𝕤𝕪𝕔𝕙𝕖 𝕝𝕠𝕟𝕘-𝕥𝕖𝕣𝕞. 𝐃 onald Trump and the MAGA movement are toxic plagues obliterating the US political system and destabilizing the globe, their vicious attacks on Democrats, feuds with icons like Bruce Springsteen , and reckless annexation threats fueling hatred, violence, and chaos.  Trump’s second term delivers immediate carnage, while MAGA’s hateful ideology—spreading worldwide and scarred by January 6—poisons the American psyche and beyond.  Choosing w...

ℕ𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟𝕒𝕝 𝕔𝕝𝕒𝕚𝕞 𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕪 𝕒𝕣𝕖 𝕓𝕖𝕥𝕥𝕖𝕣 𝕖𝕔𝕠𝕟𝕠𝕞𝕚𝕔 𝕞𝕒𝕟𝕒𝕘𝕖𝕣𝕤. 𝕀𝕤 𝕥𝕙𝕒𝕥 𝕥𝕣𝕦𝕖? 𝕃𝕒𝕓𝕠𝕦𝕣’𝕤 𝕗𝕚𝕤𝕔𝕒𝕝 𝕙𝕚𝕤𝕥𝕠𝕣𝕪 𝕤𝕦𝕣𝕡𝕒𝕤𝕤𝕖𝕤 ℕ𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟𝕒𝕝’𝕤, 𝕨𝕚𝕥𝕙 𝕕𝕚𝕤𝕔𝕚𝕡𝕝𝕚𝕟𝕖𝕕 𝕕𝕖𝕓𝕥 𝕣𝕖𝕕𝕦𝕔𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟, 𝕙𝕚𝕘𝕙𝕖𝕣 𝔾𝔻ℙ 𝕘𝕣𝕠𝕨𝕥𝕙, 𝕝𝕠𝕨𝕖𝕣 𝕦𝕟𝕖𝕞𝕡𝕝𝕠𝕪𝕞𝕖𝕟𝕥, 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕖𝕢𝕦𝕚𝕥𝕒𝕓𝕝𝕖 𝕔𝕣𝕚𝕤𝕚𝕤 𝕞𝕒𝕟𝕒𝕘𝕖𝕞𝕖𝕟𝕥. ℕ𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟𝕒𝕝’𝕤 𝕣𝕖𝕔𝕜𝕝𝕖𝕤𝕤 𝕓𝕠𝕣𝕣𝕠𝕨𝕚𝕟𝕘, 𝕒𝕦𝕤𝕥𝕖𝕣𝕚𝕥𝕪, 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕖𝕝𝕚𝕥𝕚𝕤𝕥 𝕥𝕒𝕩 𝕔𝕦𝕥𝕤 𝕦𝕟𝕕𝕖𝕣𝕞𝕚𝕟𝕖 𝕤𝕥𝕒𝕓𝕚𝕝𝕚𝕥𝕪 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕤𝕠𝕔𝕚𝕒𝕝 𝕠𝕦𝕥𝕔𝕠𝕞𝕖𝕤. N ational are consistantly claiming they are the better economic and fiscal managers. Constantly in the lead-up to the 2023 election. Is there any historical truth to this? Lets dig deep into this. Labour’s fiscal history in New Zealand starkly outshines National’s, which is marred by reckless borrowing, inequitable tax cuts, and austerity that has repeatedly undermined social and economic stability.  Labour’s ...

Analysis by Bruce Alpine, May 29. 2025 𝕋𝕣𝕦𝕞𝕡 𝕚𝕤 𝕒 𝕗𝕒𝕚𝕝𝕦𝕣𝕖 - 𝕎𝕙𝕒𝕥 𝕔𝕠𝕦𝕝𝕕 𝕡𝕠𝕤𝕤𝕚𝕓𝕝𝕪 𝕤𝕒𝕧𝕖 𝔸𝕞𝕖𝕣𝕚𝕔𝕒 𝔸𝕞𝕖𝕣𝕚𝕔𝕒 𝕟𝕖𝕖𝕕𝕤 𝕦𝕟𝕚𝕥𝕪, 𝕡𝕣𝕠𝕘𝕣𝕖𝕤𝕤𝕚𝕧𝕖 𝕥𝕒𝕩𝕖𝕤, 𝕓𝕖𝕥𝕥𝕖𝕣 𝕖𝕕𝕦𝕔𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟, 𝕦𝕟𝕚𝕧𝕖𝕣𝕤𝕒𝕝 𝕙𝕖𝕒𝕝𝕥𝕙𝕔𝕒𝕣𝕖, 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕚𝕟𝕗𝕣𝕒𝕤𝕥𝕣𝕦𝕔𝕥𝕦𝕣𝕖 𝕚𝕟𝕧𝕖𝕤𝕥𝕞𝕖𝕟𝕥. 𝕋𝕣𝕦𝕞𝕡’𝕤 𝕕𝕚𝕧𝕚𝕤𝕚𝕧𝕖 𝕡𝕠𝕝𝕚𝕔𝕚𝕖𝕤—𝕥𝕒𝕩 𝕔𝕦𝕥𝕤 𝕗𝕠𝕣 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕣𝕚𝕔𝕙, 𝕥𝕣𝕒𝕕𝕖 𝕨𝕒𝕣𝕤, 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕣𝕙𝕖𝕥𝕠𝕣𝕚𝕔—𝕕𝕖𝕖𝕡𝕖𝕟𝕖𝕕 𝕚𝕟𝕖𝕢𝕦𝕒𝕝𝕚𝕥𝕪 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕞𝕚𝕤𝕥𝕣𝕦𝕤𝕥, 𝕗𝕒𝕚𝕝𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕟𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟. A merica deserves bold, unifying solutions—fair taxes, robust education, universal healthcare, modern infrastructure, and social cohesion—to achieve true greatness.  Instead, across both terms, Donald Trump’s catastrophic leadership has turned the U.S. into a global laughingstock, doubling down on divisive, elitist policies that wreak havoc.  His first term ignited division with lies and giveaways; his second es...

Analysis by Bruce Alpine, May 28. 2025 𝕂𝕚𝕟𝕘 ℂ𝕙𝕒𝕣𝕝𝕖𝕤 𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕗𝕗𝕚𝕣𝕞𝕤 ℂ𝕒𝕟𝕒𝕕𝕒'𝕤 𝕤𝕠𝕧𝕖𝕣𝕖𝕚𝕘𝕟𝕥𝕪 𝕒𝕞𝕚𝕕 𝕋𝕣𝕦𝕞𝕡 𝕒𝕟𝕟𝕖𝕩𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟 𝕥𝕙𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕥𝕤 𝕂𝕚𝕟𝕘 ℂ𝕙𝕒𝕣𝕝𝕖𝕤 𝕀𝕀𝕀 𝕤𝕒𝕚𝕕 ℂ𝕒𝕟𝕒𝕕𝕒 𝕚𝕤 𝕗𝕒𝕔𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕦𝕟𝕡𝕣𝕖𝕔𝕖𝕕𝕖𝕟𝕥𝕖𝕕 𝕔𝕙𝕒𝕝𝕝𝕖𝕟𝕘𝕖𝕤 𝕚𝕟 𝕒 𝕨𝕠𝕣𝕝𝕕 𝕥𝕙𝕒𝕥'𝕤 𝕟𝕖𝕧𝕖𝕣 𝕓𝕖𝕖𝕟 𝕞𝕠𝕣𝕖 𝕕𝕒𝕟𝕘𝕖𝕣𝕠𝕦𝕤 𝕒𝕤 𝕙𝕖 𝕠𝕡𝕖𝕟𝕖𝕕 𝕥𝕙𝕖 ℂ𝕒𝕟𝕒𝕕𝕚𝕒𝕟 ℙ𝕒𝕣𝕝𝕚𝕒𝕞𝕖𝕟𝕥 𝕠𝕟 𝕎𝕖𝕕𝕟𝕖𝕤𝕕𝕒𝕪 𝕨𝕚𝕥𝕙 𝕒 𝕤𝕡𝕖𝕖𝕔𝕙 𝕨𝕚𝕕𝕖𝕝𝕪 𝕧𝕚𝕖𝕨𝕖𝕕 𝕒𝕤 𝕒 𝕤𝕙𝕠𝕨 𝕠𝕗 𝕤𝕦𝕡𝕡𝕠𝕣𝕥 𝕚𝕟 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕗𝕒𝕔𝕖 𝕠𝕗 𝕒𝕟𝕟𝕖𝕩𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟 𝕥𝕙𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕥𝕤 𝕓𝕪 𝕌𝕊 ℙ𝕣𝕖𝕤𝕚𝕕𝕖𝕟𝕥 𝔻𝕠𝕟𝕒𝕝𝕕 𝕋𝕣𝕦𝕞𝕡. T rump’s repeated suggestion that the US annex Canada prompted Prime Minister Mark Carney to invite Charles to give the speech from the throne outlining his government's priorities for the new session of Parliament.  The King is the head of state in Canada, which is a member of the Commonwealth of former colonies.   “...

Analysis by Bruce Alpine, May 27. 2025 ℕ𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟𝕒𝕝’𝕤 $𝟚𝟙𝔹 𝕋𝕒𝕩 ℂ𝕦𝕥𝕤 𝔽𝕦𝕖𝕝 𝔻𝕖𝕓𝕥, 𝕊𝕔𝕣𝕖𝕨 𝕂𝕚𝕨𝕚𝕤 𝕋𝕙𝕖 𝕤𝕞𝕦𝕘 ℂ𝕠𝕒𝕝𝕚𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟 𝕠𝕗 𝕔𝕙𝕒𝕠𝕤 𝕘𝕠𝕧𝕥 𝕙𝕒𝕤 𝕡𝕝𝕦𝕟𝕘𝕖𝕕 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕟𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟 𝕚𝕟𝕥𝕠 𝕒 𝕗𝕚𝕤𝕔𝕒𝕝 𝕒𝕓𝕪𝕤𝕤, 𝕓𝕠𝕣𝕣𝕠𝕨𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕤𝕡𝕖𝕟𝕕𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕞𝕠𝕣𝕖 𝕥𝕙𝕒𝕟 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕡𝕣𝕖𝕧𝕚𝕠𝕦𝕤 𝕃𝕒𝕓𝕠𝕦𝕣 𝕘𝕠𝕧𝕥 𝕨𝕙𝕚𝕝𝕖 𝕘𝕦𝕥𝕥𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕥𝕒𝕩 𝕓𝕒𝕤𝕖 𝕨𝕚𝕥𝕙 𝕒 𝕠𝕓𝕤𝕔𝕖𝕟𝕖 $𝟚𝟙 𝕓𝕚𝕝𝕝𝕚𝕠𝕟 𝕚𝕟 𝕥𝕒𝕩 𝕔𝕦𝕥𝕤 𝕗𝕠𝕣 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕣𝕚𝕔𝕙 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕝𝕒𝕟𝕕𝕝𝕠𝕣𝕕𝕤. N ational’s borrowing is a financial trainwreck. Budget 2024 shovels $12 billion in new debt onto the pile, fueled by a limp economy and a fanatical obsession with $21 billion in tax cuts that have obliterated government revenue.  Net core Crown debt has skyrocketed to 42.5% of GDP in June 2024, up from Labour’s 38.45% in 2023, with projections hitting 42.6% by March 2025.  Finance Minister Nicola Willis crows about a 20–40% debt-to-GDP target—tight...

𝔻𝕚𝕕 ℕ𝕚𝕔𝕠𝕝𝕒 𝕎𝕚𝕝𝕝𝕚𝕤 ℝ𝕖𝕒𝕕 𝕥𝕙𝕖 ℝ𝕠𝕠𝕞? 𝕎𝕚𝕝𝕝𝕚𝕤’ 𝔹𝕦𝕕𝕘𝕖𝕥 𝟚𝟘𝟚𝟝 𝕓𝕖𝕥𝕣𝕒𝕪𝕤 𝕂𝕚𝕨𝕚𝕤, 𝕓𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕜𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕔𝕒𝕟𝕔𝕖𝕣 𝕕𝕣𝕦𝕘 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕡𝕒𝕪 𝕖𝕢𝕦𝕚𝕥𝕪 𝕡𝕣𝕠𝕞𝕚𝕤𝕖𝕤, 𝕞𝕖𝕒𝕟𝕤-𝕥𝕖𝕤𝕥𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝔹𝕖𝕤𝕥 𝕊𝕥𝕒𝕣𝕥 𝕓𝕦𝕥 𝕘𝕚𝕗𝕥𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕨𝕖𝕒𝕝𝕥𝕙𝕪 ℕ𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟𝕒𝕝-𝕓𝕒𝕔𝕜𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕡𝕖𝕟𝕤𝕚𝕠𝕟𝕖𝕣𝕤. 𝕋𝕙𝕚𝕤 𝕚𝕟𝕔𝕠𝕞𝕡𝕖𝕥𝕖𝕟𝕥 𝕒𝕦𝕤𝕥𝕖𝕣𝕚𝕥𝕪 𝕗𝕦𝕖𝕝𝕤 𝕕𝕚𝕤𝕥𝕣𝕦𝕤𝕥, 𝕦𝕟𝕣𝕖𝕤𝕥, 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕚𝕟𝕖𝕢𝕦𝕒𝕝𝕚𝕥𝕪, 𝕣𝕚𝕤𝕜𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕖𝕔𝕠𝕟𝕠𝕞𝕚𝕔 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕡𝕠𝕝𝕚𝕥𝕚𝕔𝕒𝕝 𝕔𝕠𝕝𝕝𝕒𝕡𝕤𝕖. 𝗡 icola Willis’ Budget 2025, delivered last Thursday, is a grotesque display of National’s incompetence, obliterating public trust by breaking pre-election promises on cancer medications and pay equality while shamelessly prioritising corporate greed and wealthy pensioners over struggling young families.  New Zealanders, crushed by soaring inflation, cost-of-living despair, and global threats like U.S. tariffs, demanded urgent relief, robust services...