Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: Medical Matters

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  • dave crampton,

    So Russell, do you think it was a bit silly for Right to Life to go to court to open this " can of worms"?
    Or do you think it is fine to break the law as long as the majority of the public agree ( or dont care).

    welli • Since Jan 2007 • 144 posts Report Reply

  • Hadyn Green,

    this morning after the unveiling of the iPhone 3G, which will be launched here along with other participating territories by Vodafone.

    July 11 according to Engadget. But will it really only be Vodafone? Because that, if I may be so bold, sux.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 2090 posts Report Reply

  • Matthew Poole,

    Or do you think it is fine to break the law

    Where was the illegallity? Not exercising all the powers the law grants you, because you don't think you actually have those powers, isn't illegal. It may or may not be entirely moral, depending on whether one takes the view that the ASC willfully decided that they lacked the power to inquire fully (and even if the original Committee was wilful in their decision, it's incredibly unlikely that anyone now sitting was party to the original decisions), but it's certainly not against the law.

    Auckland • Since Mar 2007 • 4097 posts Report Reply

  • Lucy Stewart,

    I was feeling pretty dozy when Morning Report came on this morning, but the abortion thing woke me up right quick. The thing is, of course, that Judge Manning is one hundred percent correct: most abortions performed in this country are technically breaking the letter of the law, in that it's hard to argue a serious mental health risk to the women involved - but he was also correct in noting that no-one gives a damn, because no-one - or no politicians to date - is willing to challenge or change the law.

    And that's the problem, really; not that the law is being (technically) broken, but that the law makes those abortions technically unlawful. What we need is for someone to get out there and make abortion on demand fully legal. Otherwise you leave far too much room for groups like Right to Life to get in there and try and limit its availability.

    Speaking of them, could their spokesperson have been any more odious on the radio this morning? I'm not even talking about the bits where he wanted to protect the "rights" of the "unbord child" from conception on; that was bad enough, but the way he talked about needing to "protect" women from the "tragedy" of abortion - the only protection I need is from fuckers like him trying to limit my access to it, thank you very much. I'm just glad the women's rights advocate who came on after called them out on treating women like children who can't make up their own minds.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 2105 posts Report Reply

  • Matthew Poole,

    But will it really only be Vodafone? Because that, if I may be so bold, sux.

    My understanding is that Vodafone don't have an exclusive deal, as opposed to AT&T's lock on the official iPhone market in the US.

    Not that it'll be much use other than with Vodafone here, until NZC gets online and Telecom get their non-CDMA network built.

    As one of the guys here at work pointed out, the handset cost is of far less import than whatever kind of rapeage goes on with data pricing.

    Auckland • Since Mar 2007 • 4097 posts Report Reply

  • Rogan Polkinghorne,

    I've often wondered about the legislation regarding abortion...it's always seemed a litlle 'grey' to me at best. Regardless of whether or not the law is being (technically) broken/ignored, it seems to me that the system works pretty well as is?

    Does anyone think that this is likely to become a real issue? Personally, I think (or would like to think) that most NZers are reasonable enough to accept that this particular decision is one best made on an individual basis; it's not like you have to have an abortion just because you can...

    But being an election year, I get a funny feeling that someone's going to latch onto this and give it more air than it really needs?

    A-town • Since Nov 2006 • 105 posts Report Reply

  • Rich of Observationz,

    I feel that a lot of women aren't going to be too pleased to have mostly male judges deciding what they can do with their bodies.

    Maybe Labour should whip out a Bill to put the law in line with the current de-facto situation. This would be unacceptable to a lot of National MPs, not to mention the Christian Right. Making this an election issue might be no bad thing - it could sway the vote of a lot of people who are tending to the Nats.

    (I think most of the hard-core god-bothering Christians were lost to Labour a while ago).

    Back in Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 5550 posts Report Reply

  • Hadyn Green,

    The [http://www.apple.com/nz/iphone/buy/|Apple website] is saying you can get it from Vodafone and...that's it.

    As one of the guys here at work pointed out, the handset cost is of far less import than whatever kind of rapeage goes on with data pricing.

    So that's why it'd be better if there was more than one carrier, right?

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 2090 posts Report Reply

  • Hadyn Green,

    And look at me and my poor linking skills:
    The Apple website is saying you can get it from Vodafone and...that's it.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 2090 posts Report Reply

  • Lucy Stewart,

    I've often wondered about the legislation regarding abortion...it's always seemed a litlle 'grey' to me at best. Regardless of whether or not the law is being (technically) broken/ignored, it seems to me that the system works pretty well as is?

    Well, yes and no; yes, in that most women can access abortions when and as they need them, but no, in that the requirements for them to see two certifying consultants mean that most do not have the option of chemical abortions, which are much safer and easier than surgical abortions, but only available in the very early stages of pregnancy. It would be much better if those requirements were dropped or altered, at least for the first trimester of pregnancy. Plus the law as it stands smacks of paternalism and half-measures. I doubt that's enough to get it changed any time soon, though.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 2105 posts Report Reply

  • Stephen Judd,

    do you think it is fine to break the law as long as the majority of the public agree ( or dont care).

    How do you feel about the speed limit?

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 3122 posts Report Reply

  • Matthew Poole,

    So that's why it'd be better if there was more than one carrier, right?

    Of course. But right now, there's precisely one GSM carrier with an available network.

    The Apple website is saying you can get it from Vodafone and...that's it.

    Surprise surprise. As above, we have a single GSM carrier. Who else would supply the phone? Vodafone can licence retailers to sell the phone, as they do with DSE and everyone else who currently sells phones for use on the network. Given that their network of retail stores is pretty small, they're unlikely to go down the path of only selling it themselves or through the Apple store. There are several retailers that are both Vodafone and Apple resellers, and they're perfect candidates to carry the iPhone.

    Auckland • Since Mar 2007 • 4097 posts Report Reply

  • FletcherB,

    How do you feel about the speed limit?

    It's a valid point..... but it would be a far closer comparison if the police actually actively looked away while you sped past, or directed you to which streets dont have policing in them...

    Getting an abortion under current legislation is all a bit nudge-nudge-wink-wink... If you say this to us, then you'll qualify sort of thing...

    West Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 893 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Young,

    The current abortion legislation was written thirty years ago by a pack of geriatric religious males in an insufficiently representative parliament. Given the decriminalisation of homosexuality in 1986 and sex work in 2003, it's long since past time that we followed the lead of the Australian Capital Territory and Victoria.

    Decriminalise abortion in New Zealand, now.

    Craig Y

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 573 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Young,

    Incidentally, here's the pro-choice side of the debate...

    http://www.alranz.org

    Craig Y

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 573 posts Report Reply

  • Ben Austin,

    I'm sure a gray market will start up pretty quickly for Iphone v2 given the success of the v1 gray market.

    The abortion thing could be pretty big, it has after all been a while since the smacking/prostitution issues, so if someone wants another whack at starting a culture war this is all that is going. Although I can't see the mainstream Right buying into this cause. That being said I guess it would be a little easier this time, since the UK has just had a rehash of the abortion debate we could borrow all their debating points.

    London • Since Nov 2006 • 1027 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia,

    Making this an election issue might be no bad thing - it could sway the vote of a lot of people who are tending to the Nats.

    Oh... and it might just piss off a few women who don't really appreciate their wombs being used as political footballs by anyone, Rich -- regardless of their views on abortion. You think the legislative framework around abortion needs to be changed, at least take your own argument a little more seriously.

    I feel that a lot of women aren't going to be too pleased to have mostly male judges deciding what they can do with their bodies.

    You do realise that Sian Ellias isn't a remarkably well-connected tranny?

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

  • The ex-expat,

    I would hope that this ruling might jolt one of the pro-choice members of parliament into drafting sensible legislation around abortion. However what was that about turkeys and christmas?

    Auckland • Since May 2008 • 5 posts Report Reply

  • James Green,

    Maybe Labour should whip out a Bill to put the law in line with the current de-facto situation.

    I'd be really excited to see Labour run with some legislation on principle.

    Limerick, Ireland • Since Nov 2006 • 703 posts Report Reply

  • Idiot Savant,

    I'm waiting to see the full judgement so I can see whether this might actually pose a barrier to access, or whether the ASC is simply being told it has powers to inquire if it wants to, but if there's any hint of the former, then its time for a bill. Our icky, messy compromise has kept the issue off the agenda for thirty years, but if the loons are going to put it back on and force us to have a debate, then its time to push for full liberalisation so we can join the modern world.

    Palmerston North • Since Nov 2006 • 1717 posts Report Reply

  • dave crampton,

    Ah Craig Young, you tosser:-)
    .... hello Craig.... If you say that the current abortion legislation was written thirty years ago by a pack of geriatric religious males in an insufficiently representative parliament, what role does public officials have in drafting legislation? hoe do you know they were whilte male religiousl tossers huh!

    Anyways the problem with the law is that it is religiously broken . And, yeah Stephen, I'm fine with the speed limit, if you break it and get caught, you get fined. If you break the abortion laws, nothing happens.

    Like smacking, and electoral finance laws, and years ago, gay sex, ther is no consequence for breaking the law.
    Finally if the Abortion Supervisory committee was notaware of its powers, whatthe hell is it doing? Scrap it.

    welli • Since Jan 2007 • 144 posts Report Reply

  • Matthew Poole,

    I would hope that this ruling might jolt one of the pro-choice members of parliament into drafting sensible legislation around abortion. However what was that about turkeys and christmas?

    I imagine Family Fist would be right in behind the religious conservatives in opposing such changes. After all, where else will they get the next generation of whipping boys? :P

    Seriously, though, it would be interesting to see how the usual suspects on "moral issues" turn out in the event of a discussion around the current abortion laws. In many ways it's actually nice that we live in a country where it's unknown where most of our elected representatives stand on abortion (except by inference) because it's just a total non-issue.

    Auckland • Since Mar 2007 • 4097 posts Report Reply

  • Kyle Matthews,

    Maybe Labour should whip out a Bill to put the law in line with the current de-facto situation. This would be unacceptable to a lot of National MPs, not to mention the Christian Right. Making this an election issue might be no bad thing - it could sway the vote of a lot of people who are tending to the Nats.

    I don't know if I could handle abortion being thrown into the election right now. Can't we just have the normal stupid debates?

    Since Nov 2006 • 6243 posts Report Reply

  • Matthew Poole,

    I don't know if I could handle abortion being thrown into the election right now. Can't we just have the normal stupid debates?

    Can we have a debate at all?! It's hard to debate the merits of different sides when one side is being very light on details.

    Auckland • Since Mar 2007 • 4097 posts Report Reply

  • Lucy Stewart,

    I don't know if I could handle abortion being thrown into the election right now. Can't we just have the normal stupid debates?

    Yeah, it'll be messy as all hell, but I'd rather have the messy public debate and settle this thing than keep on with the current legislation. I mean, surely by now we're grown-up enough to just legalise abortion and be done with it. Enough with the compromise crap.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 2105 posts Report Reply

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