Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: Unreasonable people vote

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  • Danielle,

    You didn't just... tell a woman to 'calm down'... in a discussion about feminism, did you?

    Heh.

    Charo World. Cuchi-cuchi!… • Since Nov 2006 • 3828 posts Report

  • Jeremy Eade,

    Chairman Mao walked around China starving, admirable in his devotion to the cause. Still, Mao...the admiration isn't deep.

    auckland • Since Mar 2008 • 1112 posts Report

  • Jeremy Eade,

    You didn't just... tell a woman to 'calm down'... in a discussion about feminism, did you?

    Heh.

    No, I told her to calm down on a discussion about me.:)

    auckland • Since Mar 2008 • 1112 posts Report

  • Emma Hart,

    You didn't just... tell a woman to 'calm down'... in a discussion about feminism, did you?

    Heheheh.

    a discussion about me

    If this keeps up, I'm going to snorfle coffee.

    Christchurch • Since Nov 2006 • 4651 posts Report

  • Danielle,

    OK. Let's be a bit more straightforward. As I see it, your point seems to be based on this weird thing that a rightwing woman isn't actually doing the feminist cause any good, because really women in politics/media should make everything so much better with their delightful nurturing and whatnot. And everyone else is saying 'dude, assuming that women are going to be delightfully nurturing is, in its own way, just as essentialist and sexist as saying that they shouldn't be in public life at all'.

    You are compounding the problem by using discussion tactics that Feminists on the Internet have deconstructed as silencing and patronising ('calm down', etc).

    Hence, here we are in whatever this is.

    Charo World. Cuchi-cuchi!… • Since Nov 2006 • 3828 posts Report

  • Russell Brown,

    Well yeah, the gifting of $billions to mega rich idiots who somehow have managed to lose even more than that. You say its great news that is brilliant for the economy and causes growth. Others say it is bad news and causes unemployment. It's either good policy or its not, and people can make their own judgement call.

    Hopefully -- but not likely -- with a sounder understanding of TARP than you have expressed above. Did you miss the part about how the TARP money comes back?

    And the point wasn't to "cause growth" -- it was to stave off a collapse of the banking system. There were some hideous policy failures in the years leading up to the crunch, but once it had happened, there weren't a whole lot of other options, for either Bush or Obama.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report

  • JackElder,

    "To "civilianise a significant number of posts currently filled by uniformed personnel not required to deploy operationally", enabling it to shift uniformed personnel to the front of the organisation."

    For one thing this sounds like we're going to open ourselves up to contractors

    I don't think that there would be too many contractors involved. The defence forces already have a number of civilianised positions - I interviewed for one a few years ago. It was very definitely on a "full time employee" basis rather than contractor. I was under the impression that there were a lot of back-office jobs (analysis, logistics, etc) that were part-fulfilled by fulltime civilian employees rather than uniformed staff. It sounds like they want to expand the number of these positions, which doesn't seem unreasonable. I wouldn't worry about a Blackwater-style shift to the contracting model in the NZ defence sphere.

    (For those imagining me in uniform, I'm afraid I didn't take the job.)

    Wellington • Since Mar 2008 • 709 posts Report

  • Jeremy Eade,

    No, i believe I was commenting as a free citizen on media i have read and the stereotyping has been written by others.
    I aint gonna stereotype anyone, ...but i will challenge views.

    As I see it, your point seems to be based on this weird thing that a rightwing woman isn't actually doing the feminist cause any good,

    Well that idea is not mine. It's been introduced to me by the views of woman I've met and read. It doesn't seem that weird.

    auckland • Since Mar 2008 • 1112 posts Report

  • Matthew Poole,

    Well yeah, the gifting of $billions to mega rich idiots who somehow have managed to lose even more than that.

    Is it still a gift if they pay it all back, plus some? Coz that's what the banking sector, at least, is now projected to do.

    Auckland • Since Mar 2007 • 4097 posts Report

  • Craig Ranapia,

    Craig, Fundamental courtsey, I've got more manners than you have books, everone has more manners than you.

    You really should get out of the house more, if you believe that.

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

  • Matthew Poole,

    I wouldn't worry about a Blackwater-style shift to the contracting model in the NZ defence sphere.

    What about a shift to a US-style military-industrial-complex with the use of PPPs?

    I have no problem with some functions being performed by civilian personnel who are, despite being non-uniformed, employed by the military, particularly things like back-office IT. I do, however, have a very serious problem with the private sector operating or owning any capital military assets. Even the most ardent libertarian believes that the state has a duty to provide militarily for the defence of the nation, and I consider that duty to not extend to enriching the private sector beyond the ordinary competitive processes for supply for consumable and capital goods.
    The US military and its relationship with the private sector is endlessly corrupt. The opportunity for corruption just increases when you have private companies bidding to not just build, but also operate, aspects of the fixed military establishment.

    To the comment about civilian medical personnel, until such time as field medics are no longer required I don't see how that role could be civilianised (dictionary suggests civilised. *chortle*).

    Auckland • Since Mar 2007 • 4097 posts Report

  • Jeremy Eade,

    You really should get out of the house more, if you believe that.

    I will.I'm not here to wind you up so sorry.

    I agree with everything Danielle said. I'm not saying you don't have a right to your views and I have no stereotype for a womans role. I guess I do see the worlds solutions as primarily political ones.

    auckland • Since Mar 2008 • 1112 posts Report

  • Megan Wegan,

    I think, at this point, I will just link to this.

    Welly • Since Jul 2008 • 1275 posts Report

  • Craig Ranapia,

    Speaking of Buckley...

    Every time I watch Buckley and Vidal bitching each other with their perfectly circular patrician vowels, I think of otherwise sensible lefty friends who still turn to mush as Mr. Vidal is busy losing what's left of his once formidable mind:

    So what’s your take on Polanski, this many years later?

    I really don’t give a fuck. Look, am I going to sit and weep every time a young hooker feels as though she’s been taken advantage of?

    I’ve certainly never heard that take on the story before.

    First, I was in the middle of all that. Back then, we all were. Everybody knew everybody else. There was a totally different story at the time that doesn’t resemble anything that we’re now being told.

    What do you mean?

    The media can’t get anything straight. Plus, there’s usually an anti-Semitic and anti-fag thing going on with the press – lots of crazy things. The idea that this girl was in her communion dress, a little angel all in white, being raped by this awful Jew, Polacko – that’s what people were calling him – well, the story is totally different now from what it was then.

    Isn't it adorable seeing the object of a statutory rapist's affections being trashed as a "little hooker"? Are Vidal, Stephen ("ladybits don't like to fuck") Fry and Chris Trotter sharing a half-wit or something?

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

  • Jeremy Eade,

    I think, at this point, I will just link to this.

    That's an upsetting reality.I agree.

    auckland • Since Mar 2008 • 1112 posts Report

  • Sacha,

    Jeremy, you've been around here for a while now so I'm curious. How did you think what you said would be received?

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • Andre Alessi,

    Personally, I always like to level things out with a bit of this.

    Devonport, New Zealand • Since Nov 2006 • 864 posts Report

  • Sofie Bribiesca,

    here we are in whatever this is.

    Now that is one hell of a T shirt.
    and, story of my life so far :)

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report

  • Danielle,

    Megan, my very favourite part of that comic is the 'group hug' panel with the very tiny 'no homo' on it. Heh!

    Charo World. Cuchi-cuchi!… • Since Nov 2006 • 3828 posts Report

  • Craig Ranapia,

    I think, at this point, I will just link to this.

    Whatevs. Here's A Kitten. Only Connect.

    That is soooo going on a t-shirt.

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

  • Martin Lindberg,

    Remember your English, people: woman (singular) - women (plural)

    Stockholm • Since Jul 2009 • 802 posts Report

  • Andre Alessi,

    According to an old Slovenian guy I used to work with, you could get away with referring to both one and many women as "voomenz". Usually prefixed with "bloody".

    Pretty sure he wasn't a feminist, though.

    Devonport, New Zealand • Since Nov 2006 • 864 posts Report

  • Craig Ranapia,

    Keep your authoritarian hegemonic discourse off my free expression. Or not. Lookit - kitty!

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

  • Megan Wegan,

    @andre Heh. I have that pinned up next to desk at work.

    @danielle I KNOW! I've been linking to it all over the show. It's just brilliant. Made me feel so much better about being called names yesterday.

    Welly • Since Jul 2008 • 1275 posts Report

  • Jeremy Eade,

    I don't read every thread sacha.
    The point I am trying to point out is I haven't said anything about stereotypes. I respect the Women on this thread and they make great points and every point they made was right.


    This is the third time I've pointed this out.

    auckland • Since Mar 2008 • 1112 posts Report

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