The top 10 #nzpol tweets of this week - July 10, 2014

Another week passes us by as September 20 seems to be edging closer and closer. John Armstrong makes yet another prediction for Labour's annihilation at the polls and John Key actually invokes #notallmen. Perhaps the biggest news story of this week broke last week when David Cunliffe "apologised" for being a man. So we had our NZ version of #yesallwomen as many women on Twitter (and a whole bunch of men as well) attempted to explain why Cunliffe's apology is important. I myself wrote about why this was the least a man could do. In any case, House wasn't sitting and not a lot of policy was discussed. Labour launched it's education policy over the weekend during Congress as well as a hashtag or two. There's been a lot of hashtag discussions on Twitter and I think the "Twitterati" are in agreement that you cannot dictate hashtags from the top. (More on that below) Let's get onto the top tweets this week! 

Today in #nzpol, @johnkeypm on NOT ALL MEN, tomorrow "But reverse racism is a thing!", Monday "I saw "die cis scum once, I AM OPPRESSED".
— Roz S-P (@IrnBruja) July 4, 2014

I've been wondering this since I was like 14 and someone explained libertarianism to me. I don't get why you would believe we shouldn't have government still want to be in government.  

People who don't believe in government - stay out of it then #nzvotes #nzpol
— Sacha Dylan (@kaupapa) July 8, 2014

The Sensible Sentencing Trust are the climate change deniers of the justice sector, and do similar amounts of harm.
— Di W (@di_f_w) July 7, 2014

I still can't get over the nonchalant way this whole thing has been handled!  

How much more evidence do we need for racism in NZ than an MPs office being shot-up and law enforcement doesn't care? #NativeAffairs
— Rev. Chris Huriwai (@RevChrisHuriwai) July 7, 2014

Wow.. this pic. Not a good call. 

Good work #TeamKey, thoughtful placement as illustration of your government. Very creative. HT @nomlah pic.twitter.com/KL1hKL2D22
— Max Dillon Coyle (@MaxDCoyle) July 7, 2014

Ha! Some days I feel this way too. Some days I can't articulate what I want a government to actually do. I rarely hear anything that makes me sit up and go - this is exciting! 

I wish the main parties would come up with policies that live up to my non-specific expectations.
— MC Wordcloud (@AceMcWicked) July 7, 2014

This really suprised me! Normally major political parties want to stay away from 5 topics. They are abortion, euthanasia, marriage equality, decriminalization of marijuana, and prostitution. To see a Labour candidate do so before even being elected is interesting. I suspect Tamati gets a certain amount of freedom that other candidates do not.  

Yo. Let's talk WEED. Thoughts? A crime? Let doctors prescribe? Or free it and open up a market, like WA and CO in US? pic.twitter.com/lMMPyueZQf
— Tamati Coffey (@tamaticoffey) July 8, 2014

Ok this. I could do a blog on this but this makes me so angry. If you do not know about Sarah Wilson and her fights with WINZ, you've been living under a rock. The fact that she had horrifying health news from the doctor but going to the WINZ is more scary means our welfare system does not work for the people. People who have to access this system are often the most vulnerable and we treat them like dirt when we should have empathy. Nobody wants to be in this situation willingly. I can't even believe I have to write this out. Sort yourself out NZ - this is completely unacceptable. We are a better nation. Let's not try to be like America. [End rant, not really, I will rant about this again] 

Morning all. Thank you for messages overnight. Today I have to go tell WINZ. It's almost more scary than seeing the doctor.
— Sarah Wilson (@writehandedgirl) July 8, 2014

Ha! I love love love dinosaurs so maybe this will only be funny to me. And gifs on Twitter! Yes!  

I felt that gif of Ex-Labour minister Pete Hodgson dancing needed more T-rex cc @avancenz http://t.co/O5yfjeX8qE
— Luke Appleby (@lukeappleby) July 10, 2014

I don't even. No. I have to walk away. This post can only handle one rant.  

"the most brutal person I ever met was Helen Clark" - Rodney Hide responds to Chris Trotter's attempt to explain Cunliffe's remarks on men.
— Toby Manhire (@toby_etc) July 10, 2014

Ok, so I mentioned hashtags above. I really like this hashtag. I will be using it. Dictated hashtags do not work but hilarious, creative hashtags do!  

You guys, I just realised Labour's #ForABetterNZ hashtag is a big gay acronym: #FABNZ #wakeupsheeple
— Lew (@LewSOS) July 10, 2014

10 Rules of Top 10
1. Tweets must be funny or thoughtful or informative or display critical analysis 
2. What is funny or thoughtful or informative or display critical analysis is subjective and determined by me.
3. I may provide commentary on the tweet if it particularly strikes my fancy
4. They are not ranked from 1-10
5. Disclosure: I *am* particularly looking to highlight gender and racial minority voices
6. If you want to point me to the direction of a good tweet, please do it!
7. Using the #nzpol/#nzqt/#nzvotes is helpful but not required
8. I hope to get better about this as the weeks progress
9. I am a big fan of correct spelling and grammar (but I know mistakes happen too!)
10. Let's try to use social media for good and raise the level of debate!