Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: Nobody wanted #EQNZ for Christmas

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  • nzlemming, in reply to merc,

    All this does not bode well for any of us, Christchurch included.
    nzlemming; I’d like to think that monosyllabic answers used at question time would be censured by the Speaker, or at least let it be known that Gerry is laughing in all our democratic faces.

    Not disagreeing with you. That's why I said "sadly". I doubt that we'll ever get decent behaviour from Lockwood Smith as Speaker, though.

    Is there a war going on between central and local govt. that we need to know about?

    There is always a tension between the two. Central govt hate that local govt often won't do things that CG regards as being in the national interest because LG regard their first responsibility as being to their ratepayers, and LG hates that CG keeps poking their nose in, usually to demand reports and statistics. It's really odd when you've been part of both, because you can see both sides, and realise that both arguments are mostly bullshit.

    Waikanae • Since Nov 2006 • 2937 posts Report

  • Sacha, in reply to merc,

    Used to embed for me

    it doesn't like any other text in there - in this case, the "embed" part from where you found it.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • Sacha, in reply to merc,

    I'd like to think that monosyllabic answers used at question time would be censured by the Speaker, or at least let it be known that Gerry is laughing in all our democratic faces.

    It is at least "answering" the question, unlike last term where you'll recall Brownlee got away with refusing to do so.

    And the political consequences rely on a functioning opposition and media. Any time is good..

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • merc, in reply to Sacha,

    Ah thank you for that I should have remembered, my bad.
    Functioning opposition, yes the opposition member did not speak well, indeed with MMP why does Labour construe as the opposition? I say cut out all that question time nonsense and the Speaker as well...
    Gerry is taking the p*ss isn't he?
    nzlemming; the local central Govt. divide is not helping anyone save those with vested interests, it is undemocratic and dysfunctional, time to let it go.
    Yes I'm talking about a whole new Govt. model.

    Since Dec 2006 • 2471 posts Report

  • Ian Dalziel, in reply to merc,

    Attachment

    Clown Prints...

    Gerry is taking the p*ss isn’t he?

    "I didn't expect it to end up in the newspaper as if it was a threat ... I'm just incensed by that." sure, Gerry, a real surprise... how long you been in politics again? Nicely played!

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report

  • merc, in reply to Ian Dalziel,

    Gerry the Bouncer in full-on intimidation mode. Will no one rid us of this foul priest (legally of course)?

    Since Dec 2006 • 2471 posts Report

  • Sacha, in reply to merc,

    I should have remembered

    fallen into same trap myself :)

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • Sacha, in reply to merc,

    with MMP why does Labour construe as the opposition?

    they don't on their own - as will become increasingly clear this term

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • merc, in reply to Sacha,

    Snagged on the cactus ;-)

    Since Dec 2006 • 2471 posts Report

  • merc, in reply to Sacha,

    Indeed, they must play with the others, but can they?

    Since Dec 2006 • 2471 posts Report

  • Sacha, in reply to merc,

    rid us of this foul priest (legally of course)

    that will probably take another election - up to 3 years, maybe sooner

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • merc, in reply to Sacha,

    that will probably take another election - up to 3 years, maybe sooner

    I simply fail to see how on any measure this man is justifying his position, really I can't, it just does not stack up and that monosyllabic, hyperbolic, shameful excuse for a democratic charade in parliament demonstrates why he is next to useless.
    The shame of our system is that there are no checks and measures on complete governance incompetency.

    Since Dec 2006 • 2471 posts Report

  • Sacha, in reply to merc,

    there are no checks and measures on complete governance incompetency

    it's called an opposition

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • merc, in reply to Sacha,

    it’s called an opposition

    Indeed I think we the people need a stronger check than that, sadly once in place it would inflate itself and destroy further our thin rights. I blame all our Govts for that.
    The expectation of our rights and governance being solidly held and performed is so low because the power has been captured by vested interests in the absence of a formal written constitution enshrined in law.
    They get to play in the fields of the Lord. Why not a referendum question well and honestly written and advertised fairly and evenly...to the effect that, Does NZ require a written constitution enshrined in law that holds our leaders to protect and uphold our rights thereby written and agreed by the entire nation state of NZ?

    Since Dec 2006 • 2471 posts Report

  • Sacha, in reply to merc,

    As Matthew said on the other thread, a written constitution is a red herring in the short term. We can do better with what we already have. Our political system relies on opposition parties, political movements, media, and a 3-year electoral cycle as its main check and balance on Executive power.

    However, the system is fairly easily gamed, including by allowing ruling parties to appoint enough MPs to Associate and outside-Cabinet ministerial roles to buy their ongoing support in caucus and dilute internal accountability.

    Our nation's poor grasp of governance in both civic and business circles doesn't help.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • merc, in reply to Sacha,

    Agreed, but what to do ay? We form a republic and Key becomes President, winning.
    Mind you I would like to see the process of writing the bloody thing...from little things big things grow. Look at how Palmer's inclusion on Treaty Principles has stalled for now our master's grand selloff scheme.

    Since Dec 2006 • 2471 posts Report

  • nzlemming, in reply to merc,

    with MMP why does Labour construe as the opposition?

    All the non-coalition parties form the opposition. Labour gets more questions because they're allocated proportionately. Blame the lazy media who still refer to "the Opposition spokesperson".

    Waikanae • Since Nov 2006 • 2937 posts Report

  • nzlemming, in reply to merc,

    Gerry the Bouncer in full-on intimidation mode. Will no one rid us of this foul priest (legally of course)?

    Turbulent. Both apply.

    Waikanae • Since Nov 2006 • 2937 posts Report

  • nzlemming, in reply to merc,

    The expectation of our rights and governance being solidly held and performed is so low because the power has been captured by vested interests in the absence of a formal written constitution enshrined in law.

    I don't agree. You only have to look at the charade that is the US Senate and House of Reps to see that a written constitution is no guarantee at all. That's not to say we shouldn't have one, but it's not a panacea.

    Waikanae • Since Nov 2006 • 2937 posts Report

  • merc, in reply to nzlemming,

    I know, permit me if you will, and Sacha, and Mathew a moments exasperation lifted for a minute by a futile plea to sanity. Who can know what good may come from these times?

    Since Dec 2006 • 2471 posts Report

  • Keir Leslie,

    All the non-coalition parties form the opposition. Labour gets more questions because they’re allocated proportionately. Blame the lazy media who still refer to “the Opposition spokesperson”.

    This is wrong. For instance Shearer is Leader of the Opposition.

    (Arguably difference between o/Opposition, but also there are functions which attach to being largest bloc of non-gov't MPs.)

    Since Jul 2008 • 1452 posts Report

  • Rich of Observationz,

    [rights] agreed by the entire nation state of NZ?

    So you'd have to have 100% unanimity on what those rights were? Good luck with that...

    Back in Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 5550 posts Report

  • merc, in reply to Rich of Observationz,

    Heh thanks, I was kinda blowin' *ss you know...boy, when did we all get so cynical ;-)
    Oh and BTW the basic rights should be real easy no?

    Since Dec 2006 • 2471 posts Report

  • Hebe, in reply to Sacha,

    And the underlying tension seems to be over govt trying to pressure council to privatise its assets.

    That's part of it. Personality clashes seem to be another. Leadership of the council and the govt seem to be pulling in two directions.
    It will be interesting to see what happens after the council by-election -- whether the result tips the balance of power around the council table or not.

    Christchurch • Since May 2011 • 2899 posts Report

  • Rich of Observationz, in reply to nzlemming,

    It sez here:
    The Leader of the Opposition is the member who leads the largest political party that is not part of the Government. I wonder what will happen when the Greens become that party (if they don’t go straight to being the largest party *in* government).

    Back in Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 5550 posts Report

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