Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: A different kind of country

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  • Kumara Republic, in reply to Sacha,

    If the left package up a coherent story, it gets reported.

    Such as the joint announcement of NZ Power, where they managed to set the agenda for once, instead of others setting it for them. But so far, for every NZ Power there seem to be several Man Bans.

    As for blogs, what do Kiwiblog and Whaleoil have that The Standard and The Daily Blog don’t have yet? Connections? Money? The ability to politically dog-whistle?

    The southernmost capital … • Since Nov 2006 • 5446 posts Report

  • Sacha, in reply to Kumara Republic,

    coherence - to be fair, that's easier when you're fed lines by your party.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • Sacha, in reply to Richard Aston,

    they could learn a thing or two from the Greens

    wouldn't hurt

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • DexterX,

    Labour are double tasking - they are heading a recruitment drives for both the Green Party and NZ First.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 1224 posts Report

  • Kumara Republic, in reply to Sacha,

    coherence – to be fair, that’s easier when you’re fed lines by your party.

    Ah, of course... KB & WO are also card-carrying members of the blue team, which counts as connections.

    TS & TDB on the other hand, are more loosely organised collectives that transcend party politics. That's both a blessing and a curse.

    The southernmost capital … • Since Nov 2006 • 5446 posts Report

  • Sacha, in reply to Kumara Republic,

    collectives require better leadership and extra coordination effort, yes

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • Bart Janssen, in reply to Luke Williamson,

    JohnKey sees himself as CEO of NZ Corp

    There are a lot of people who firmly believe that running our country as if it was a "proper business" would be best for all.

    Setting aside the sheer ignorance of such a view, given the appalling performance of using business methods for public good worldwide. The thing that bugs me most about this view is - if you actually believe running the country like a business is a good idea then why would you vote for this bunch of hopeless clowns.

    Surely if you believed we need a CEO and not a statesman you'd want someone competant in that role. Instead we have this bunch of plonkers who clearly couldn't run a business to save their own lives let alone ours. Every single negotiation they've been involved in they've been completely ripped off, not personally of course, it's just our money they've lost.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 4461 posts Report

  • Kumara Republic, in reply to Bart Janssen,

    if you actually believe running the country like a business is a good idea then why would you vote for this bunch of hopeless clowns.

    "Socialism never took root in America because the poor see themselves not as an exploited proletariat but as temporarily embarrassed millionaires." ― John Steinbeck

    The southernmost capital … • Since Nov 2006 • 5446 posts Report

  • izogi, in reply to Barnaby Nicholls,

    There's nothing more disturbing than a government granting itself more power and failing to construct adequate accountability or oversight mechanisms.

    It's something about trying to run the government as a business, where in business freedom and openness aren't automatic givens. (Try asking Coca Cola Amatil how many bottled water units it sold last financial year, for instance, and it'll just ignore you.)

    And now that business has discovered it can either ignore or re-write its own rules and free itself from the constraints that normally inhibit businesses in ways that are inconvenient (for the business), and generally get away with it.

    Wellington • Since Jan 2007 • 1142 posts Report

  • DexterX, in reply to Bart Janssen,

    Every single negotiation they've been involved in they've been completely ripped off, not personally of course, it's just our money they've lost.

    Yes the Torys, by default, take a position of strength - being the elected government of sovereign nation and negotiate to a position of weakness for the general populace whilst setting themselves up – no surprises there.

    I find the media, with the exception of Campbell Live, largely mirroring this government –Example - Key a few weeks ago responded to concerns about the cost of living and price of homes in Auckland with something like –“People can go and live somewhere else if they can’t afford it”. Sean Plunket, who has replaced Michael Laws in more than just the time lot, taunted a caller with basically the same goading.

    Aside from Plunket living in Wellington and telling the poor Aucklanders how to and where to live, the taunting fails to recognise that the future “world's most liveable city” needs people at all levels and ranges of skills. The more desirous and aspirational the slogan the further it is removed from the world one is living in .

    The different kind of country has replaced the egalitarian moral fabric with a mantra that is despise the people who earn less and have less whilst aspiring to be the people who earn and own more.

    More people need to get out and vote – they do however need to have an opposition to for whom they will get out and vote.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 1224 posts Report

  • Richard Aston, in reply to DexterX,

    More people need to get out and vote – they do however need to have an opposition to for whom they will get out and vote.

    That's the big one . In the last election 25.8 % of eligible voters just didn't vote. That is second to National's 32.3% of eligible voters. Labour got 18.7%

    If the non voters could be inspired to vote who would they vote for ? And why would they vote?

    Northland • Since Nov 2006 • 510 posts Report

  • Kumara Republic, in reply to Richard Aston,

    If the non voters could be inspired to vote who would they vote for ?

    With a small number of exceptions like political commentator Colin James - who hasn't voted since 1975 on the grounds of impartiality - it's a safe bet that a lot of these non-voters are down in the dumps, and are often transient or feel too hopeless to vote.

    With the Greens moving 'upmarket', Te Mana is the most obvious candidate for the non-voting downtrodden - with veteran names like John Minto and Sue Bradford - but it's not a party that's flush with resources, and its sole MP Hone Harawira largely confines it to the fringe. Unlike the Alliance in its day, it seems to be perceived as a Maori-centric party despite the presence of Minto and Bradford.

    The southernmost capital … • Since Nov 2006 • 5446 posts Report

  • Craig Ranapia, in reply to Richard Aston,

    but they are totally focused on the 30% of people who want the same agenda and thats enough to get them into power.

    AKA At least trying to do exactly what you told people you were going to do? The absurdity about Labour's attempt at bedding in the "secret agenda" meme (and National's in 1999) is that it was about as secret as a flasher's knob.

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report

  • Matthew Poole, in reply to Craig Ranapia,

    The absurdity about Labour’s attempt at bedding in the “secret agenda” meme (and National’s in 1999) is that it was about as secret as a flasher’s knob.

    As opposed to the current term's "unspoken until right up to the moment where we ram it down your throat" agenda, such as charter schools. Or widely empowering the GCSB to spy at will on NZers. And then there's Key's threatening dismissal of the Human Rights Commission, with such disdain for the HRC's very existence noticeably absent from National's campaign materials.

    Auckland • Since Mar 2007 • 4097 posts Report

  • Sacha, in reply to Richard Aston,

    why would they vote?

    Because they believe it will make a difference. People are too smart to waste their time otherwise.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • Sacha, in reply to Craig Ranapia,

    as secret as a flasher's knob

    applause

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • Kumara Republic,

    Even Deb Hill Cone smells a rat, no matter how hard she tries to avoid political commentary.

    The southernmost capital … • Since Nov 2006 • 5446 posts Report

  • linger, in reply to Sacha,

    as secret as a flasher’s knob

    agreed, at least WRT asset sales, but YTF is so much of NZ still focussing on the shiny shiny coat fabric instead of noticing how much they’ve been shafted in the meantime?

    Tokyo • Since Apr 2007 • 1944 posts Report

  • Matthew Poole, in reply to Kumara Republic,

    Even Deb Hill Cone smells a rat, no matter how hard she tries to avoid political commentary.

    From memory, DHC is rather sympathetic to our Shon-Key PM, too. I found the piece quite enlightening, though I doubt it'll actually change her vote.

    Auckland • Since Mar 2007 • 4097 posts Report

  • Steve Barnes,

    Sometimes I think we live in a seal colony, we keep being tossed Red Herrings.
    "We are going to mine Conservation Land"....

    "We are not going to mine Conservation Lands because we are really Green so you don't need that terrible Green party"

    "We can;t afford a tunnel for Auckland but we have this little known guy down south who is part of a "group of business people" who wants to build a tunnel through the alps for a few tourist buses for about the same price"

    "We are not going to dig tunnels in Conservation Lands because we are really Green so you don't need that terrible Green party"

    How many more time do we get suckered? Its almost as if we are being manipulated by some sort of trader. Oh... hang on...

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report

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