1. YET ANOTHER CONTROVERSIAL TEAC REPORT
2. BUSH STILL THE MAN
3. WALK FOR CAPITALISM
4. TOP TEN HEADLINES WE'D LIKE TO SEE
5. WEBSITE OF THE WEEK

1. YET ANOTHER CONTROVERSIAL TEAC REPORT

The Tertiary Education Advisory Committee, set up by the Government to work on a future vision for tertiary education in New Zealand, has delivered yet another controversial report. The fourth and final report, released last week, contained such ideas as:

-Cutting funding for institutions that fail to meet the needs of Maori
students;

-Removing the academic waiver for mature students, meaning that older students would require the same university entrance qualifications as school leavers;

-Bringing back some form of interest on student loans, because of the huge increase in borrowing brought about by Labour's policies;

-"Redirecting" money away from student allowances;

-Restrictions on student numbers.

TEAC's findings have been somewhat limited by the Government's terms of reference, which told them not to consider any major increases in funding. However TEAC have still managed to upset commentators on both the Left and the Right.

National Tertiary spokesman Maurice Williamson said the report contained a few positives. "The coupling of tuition and research funding is a good idea which we have always supported. The cost and funding review is well overdue and should have been taking place while TEAC were doing their work.

"This report is an improvement on the first two TEAC reports which were a huge waste of time and an embarrassment. However it is convoluted and it will take some time to work through what the report means because on a first glance it could mean all things to all people," Mr Williamson said.

NZUSA Co-President Andrew Campbell strongly criticised the report. "Students have no faith in TEAC and their mindless attacks on students without a shred of evidence to support them. The Government has a lot to do to restore confidence in their work and their ability to deliver in tertiary education."

2. BUSH STILL THE MAN

From http://www.gallup.com/poll/releases/pr010926b.asp

President Bush's job approval rating shows no sign of decline. The latest Gallup poll, conducted Nov. 8-11, measures the president's approval rating at 87%. Bush's job approval has remained at 86% or higher in seven polls conducted over two months. In the history of Gallup polling, no prior presidents have been able to sustain their high approval levels, with no apparent decline, this long.

In the Nov. 8-11 poll, eighty-nine percent of Americans approve of the way Bush is handling the war on terrorism, topping a list that includes 10 individuals or organizations involved in the war effort. After Bush, Secretary of State Colin Powell gets the highest approval score at 87%, followed by Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld (80%), Attorney General John Ashcroft (77%), and Vice President Dick Cheney (75%).

Congress gets very high marks from the public as well -- 73% approve of the job Congress is doing overall and 77% approve of the way it is handling the war on terrorism.

The only organization that gets a negative rating by the public is the news media. A majority, 54%, disapprove of the way the media are handling the war on terrorism, while 43% approve.

3. WALK FOR CAPITALISM

This is an event being organised by the Libertarianz that people may be interested in.

D2 - Sunday, December 2 - join the first ever global rally FOR Capitalism - in every major city around the world, including here in NZ in Christchurch, Wellington, Hamilton, Auckland and Whangarei.

The D2 WalkForCapitalism is a positive day of promotion, discussion, and festivities - NOT a counter protest. You are warmly invited to join in, to get involved, and to stand up for capitalism - it's more important now than ever!

We proudly uphold: Free trade, globalisation, liberty, profit, free speech, technology, universal individual rights, intellectual and material prosperity, private property, rule of law, innovation, creativity, human dignity and happiness

To help, or to just send money, contact:
Whangarei: Helen Hughes cgp@ihug.co.nz
Auckland: Peter Cresswell organon@ihug.co.nz
Hamilton: Steve McLennan stev@clear.net.nz
Wellington: Tina White fcw@xtra.co.nz
Christchurch: Mark Tammett, MTammett@stc.quik.co.nz

The official website is www.walkforcapitalism.org

4. TOP TEN HEADLINES WE'D LIKE TO SEE

This is from a letter to the Evening Post written by a Russ Watt of Raumati
South.

1. "Labour MP once had real job - not paid for by union or taxpayer"

2. "Union official shaves off moustache, loses 20kg"

3. "Peter Dunne caught doing something in Parliament"

4. "Laila Harre admits: no paid parental leave in Bangladesh"

5. "Matt Robson beaten by crim on parole, calls for tougher sentencing laws"

6. "Teachers admit - 12 weeks holiday a year is enough"

7. "Beneficiary writes to paper thanking taxpayers for benefit"

8. "Wilson's friends no longer first choice for lucrative posts"

9. "List MP admits to being absolutely no use whatsoever"

10. "Clark vows - no airbrush next election!"

5. WEBSITE OF THE WEEK

www.cricinfo.org

Absolutely essential if you like cricket. It has live coverage of every match being played around the world, a huge archive of practically every match played in the history of the world, and all the latest news from around the world. Very useful if you are stuck at work and can't get to a TV or radio.

Any views expressed here are not necessarily those of New Zealand Young
Nationals, or the New Zealand National Party.

Contributions, feedback, articles and subscriptions welcome. Email
newwrite@national.org.nz

Editor: Phil Rennie

© Scoop Media

Gordon Campbell: On the Sony cyber attack

Given the layers of meta-irony involved, the saga of the Sony cyber attack seemed at the outset more like a snarky European art film than a popcorn entry at the multiplex.

Yet now with (a) President Barack Obama weighing in on the side of artistic freedom and calling for the US to make a ‘proportionate response’quickly followed by (b) North Korea’s entire Internet service going down, and with both these events being followed by (c) Sony deciding to backtrack and release The Interview film that had made it a target for the dastardly North Koreans in the first place, then ay caramba…the whole world will now be watching how this affair pans out. More>>