Island Life by David Slack

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Island Life: Big Little City, Big Little News Service

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  • stephen walker,

    thanks Sacha, i've just started reading it.

    nagano • Since Nov 2006 • 646 posts Report

  • Tom Semmens,

    meanwhile, it seems clear to me that the 3.6% Mussolini is out of control. Now he plans to drown local government in the bath.

    Amd once again, Rodney is showing that he believes that silly things like democracy and consultation are non-core activities that interfere with the orderly looting of the state for his big business buddies.

    It seems to me agenda of our preposterous little Mussolini is clear.

    1/ Gut local democracy and hand over power to an oligarchy of your mates.

    2/ Drown local government in the bath with faux populism (talking point de jour: My Fair Lady/David Beckham) and force it concentrate on ACT-defined "core activities".

    3/ Get your oligarchy elected in step one to privatise the lot at fire sale prices to a corrupt crony capitalist elite who will proceed to extract monopoly rents from the peasants for roads, water etc.

    4/ Complete the feudal transformation of New Zealand by giving Rodney plum jobs on the board and a knighthood for services to local government.


    PS, I just learnt how to post a link!

    Sevilla, Espana • Since Nov 2006 • 2217 posts Report

  • Russell Brown,

    I've blogged Rodney's folly here this morning.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report

  • James Francis,

    As long time reader may I just say, that you Mr Dalzeil, are worth the price of admission every single day. Brilliant.

    Thanks

    Seconded with acclamation.

    By-the-by, I was listening to Kim Hill interviewing Jim Wilson from Phantom Billstickers on Saturday. He mentioned that the person that came up with the name was one Ian Dalzeil. I thought, I know that name...

    St John's, Newfoundland • Since Nov 2006 • 121 posts Report

  • David Slack,

    Tom, I agree, and disagree. I see ACT ideology running barefoot and blissful here, but I don't see conspiracy or corruption. I do believe there is a high probability that brigands and charlatans in the Richwhite mould will be quick to see the opportunities, however.

    I personally doubt that the policy and the ideology is in the best interests of the wider community but all the same, I still prefer the politics of Hide, who will argue his ideological corner, to the principle-free/policy-free approach of Key I wrote about the other day.

    Devonport • Since Nov 2006 • 599 posts Report

  • Craig Ranapia,

    It seems to me agenda of our preposterous little Mussolini is clear.

    Thanks, Tom. Now, why should I take you any more seriously than the "Stalinist dykeocracy" idiots on the right wing of this particular turkey?

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

  • Kyle Matthews,

    I'm no fan of John Banks, but unless you're willing to prove massive electoral fraud I really think its time to get the hell over it.

    I'll happily admit he was democratically elected. He's still a dick though, which I'll repeat as long as he keeps popping up on my TV.

    Since Nov 2006 • 6243 posts Report

  • Gareth Ward,

    I think the ARC called them "Community Councils" and they had a heck of a lot more power than the government's proposed "local boards".

    What do you mean? These boards will be super powerful! They'll have to meet on a park bench of course, but still...

    Yup, Rodney told Morning Report the local boards "won’t necessarily need to have premises" and could just meet in the library or something. Good. Lord.

    Auckland, NZ • Since Mar 2007 • 1727 posts Report

  • Craig Ranapia,

    I'll happily admit he was democratically elected. He's still a dick though, which I'll repeat as long as he keeps popping up on my TV.

    Go to, but some folks might want to try doing it without sneering at people who don't vote the way they like or calling people they don't like fascists.

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

  • Matthew Poole,

    Yup, Rodney told Morning Report the local boards "won’t necessarily need to have premises" and could just meet in the library or something.

    That says everything about where he views their place in the spectrum. Marginally higher than the rubbish collectors. You only suggest that a local body could reasonably meet in a public space in a public building when you will have them discussing absolutely nothing of any significance or sensitivity.

    I'm a big fan of open, transparent governance, but there are some things and some documents that need to be discussed in private. At least we know how Rodders views these new boards. It's a shame we can't do a damned thing about changing it :/

    Auckland • Since Mar 2007 • 4097 posts Report

  • Matthew Poole,

    calling people they don't like fascists

    It's a bit beyond that Craig, and you know it. Rodney's actively trying to reduce citizen involvement in Auckland's local politics, and with this latest flight of fancy he's seeking to extend these ideas to the rest of the country. Getting DIA to review the LGA but not allowing submissions from the general public until there's legislation before a select committee is decidedly undemocratic.
    Plus, quite why anyone would believe that we'll get a chance to discuss any such legislation, given National's love of urgency, is beyond me.

    Auckland • Since Mar 2007 • 4097 posts Report

  • Tom Semmens,

    if I wanted to call Hide a fascist, I would do so. Calling this frankly ludicrous man the 3.6% Mussolini hopefully both reminds people he has no mandate and envokes a Mel Brookes view of this buffoon.

    Sevilla, Espana • Since Nov 2006 • 2217 posts Report

  • Craig Ranapia,

    No, Tom, you just expose yourself as someone for whom history is just a lumber room for imbecile name-calling. Though, to be fair, your timing -- days after the anniversary of the D-Day landings when quite a few people were killed by actual fascists who were anything but figures of fun -- is typically exquisite. I believe there are also a good number of Italians who found Mussolini's reign far from amusing.

    Meanwhile, feel free to chunter on.

    It's a bit beyond that Craig, and you know it. Rodney's actively trying to reduce citizen involvement in Auckland's local politics

    Matthew: What I do know is that anyone who thinks New Zealand bears any serious comparison to actual fascist regimes is someone I don't intend to take seriously in this or any other lifetime. Sorry if you find this comparison offensive, but if you don't like being compared to the Whaleoily Kiwibog residents for whom Clark was Stalin in drag or some love child of Michael Jackson and Robert Mugabe, you shouldn't make it so easy. I didn't find their convoluted and insulting rationales convincing, and your apologetics for a particularly dishonest rhetorical f-bomb isn't flying either.

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

  • Craig Ranapia,

    Or even better, you might want to get on line and peruse the volumes of the Official History of New Zealand in the Second World War covering the Invasion of Italy -- which I think you'd only find funny if you were of a particularly twisted disposition.

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

  • Joe Wylie,

    if I wanted to call Hide a fascist, I would do so. Calling this frankly ludicrous man the 3.6% Mussolini hopefully both reminds people he has no mandate and envokes a Mel Brookes view of this buffoon.

    Or maybe this?

    flat earth • Since Jan 2007 • 4593 posts Report

  • Tom Semmens,

    I was kinda thinking of this... It how I imagine a Business Round Table discussion of the supercity going...


    Sevilla, Espana • Since Nov 2006 • 2217 posts Report

  • Emma Hart,

    Good gods, Alexei Sayle in army uniform looks like my eldest brother. More therapy, coming up...

    Christchurch • Since Nov 2006 • 4651 posts Report

  • Don Christie,

    I don't intend to take seriously in this or any other lifetime

    Craig, maybe you should. Off topic I know, but the UK has just elected two fascist twerps to the EU parliament, and that is not an over blown description.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1645 posts Report

  • Tom Semmens,

    Though, to be fair, your timing -- days after the anniversary of the D-Day landings when quite a few people were killed by actual fascists who were anything but figures of fun -- is typically exquisite.

    And I found just the website for you Craig!


    http://www.dramabutton.com/

    Sevilla, Espana • Since Nov 2006 • 2217 posts Report

  • Steve Barnes,

    Or how about the Personal Soundtrack Shirt

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report

  • Quo Vadis,

    "if I wanted to call Hide a fascist, I would do so. Calling this frankly ludicrous man the 3.6% Mussolini hopefully both reminds people he has no mandate and envokes a Mel Brookes view of this buffoon."

    Tom! Stunning! Wish I'd got there first, but yes...the posture, the self importance, the extremely small appendage. Rodney IS Benito reborn.
    I haven't been here for a while, but I see a few people here take themselves a tad seriously and don't like lil Rodders being flamed.
    Craig dude, put down that handle of vinegar and take a BREATH man!

    nobby auckland • Since Jun 2009 • 10 posts Report

  • George Darroch,

    Craig is exactly right. The hysterical rush to compare Hide to early 20th Century European dictators is not only ridiculous, but detrimental to public discussion. It means that the serious things you need or want to say get buried behind debates over trivialities. and makes you look like idiots.

    The right took quite a few years before they started making comparisons to Mao and Mugabe in public, but it only took the Greens six months. It's hardly something to be proud of.

    Tom, Quo, you are the two who need to stop your sanctimonious posturing while spouting ridiculous comparisons.

    WLG • Since Nov 2006 • 2264 posts Report

  • Kumara Republic,

    I think the most appropriate term would be "plutoligarchy", but it's no bumper sticker slogan.

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

  • Ian Dalziel,

    Golden stream beyond dog leg cocked...?

    "plutoligarchy"

    But that's just what I see...

    Oh for a Meritocracy...
    Just the Able and Talented - not the Worthy...
    Though there is much worth in an over-throw
    of the Kakistocracy as it stands!

    I get an election just thinking about it...

    yrs
    Lumpy Prole
    Grate Unwashed
    Bar n Grille

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report

  • giovanni tiso,

    Craig is exactly right. The hysterical rush to compare Hide to early 20th Century European dictators is not only ridiculous, but detrimental to public discussion.

    I think I took issue with Tom's use of the F word some months ago, but as the token Italian on these boards can I just say that calling him the 3.6% Mussolini seems pretty harmless? Thus put it's almost a term of endearment, really. And there can't be a person who seriously thinks that Hide or Act have got anything whatsoever to do with actual Fascism. Right?

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report

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