Posts by Just thinking

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  • Hard News: That Buzzing Sound,

    I'ld like to add to my last that I do agree with Rankins critique of Catholicism. I just think there is more good than bad in it and hold faith that it will change for the better at the centre and already has on the edges.

    Putaringamotu • Since Apr 2009 • 1158 posts Report Reply

  • Hard News: That Buzzing Sound,

    On Rankins personal life. She has made it the issues back in 2005.


    Free-range soul searching replacing organised religion in NZ

    "...Christine Rankin, the former senior bureaucrat now running social policy lobby group For the Sake of Our Children, fits the classic "seeker" profile - a middle-aged Pakeha woman who doesn't feel spiritually fulfilled by the mainstream faiths.

    Rankin, the epitome of the secular Western career woman with a skill for waste-trimming public service reform, enthuses about the big change in her life; earlier this year she discovered Soka Gakkai, a Japanese Buddhist tradition which emphasises the power of chanting.

    "It has changed my life, given me a whole new meaning," Rankin says. "I had a Catholic childhood, full of fear about God and what happens when you die - it was not anything joyous.

    "Although I believe I've always been very spiritual, I was adamant for a long time that organised religion was not going to feature in my life. Having had that Catholic experience and being rejected because I'm divorced, I wasn't able to participate when my children had first communion, for example. In that kind of religion, you don't belong unless you toe the line, and let's face it, most of us don't."

    Rankin enjoys the Soka Gakkai emphasis on individuals' strength in dealing with hardship.

    "I feel like I can handle anything that happens to me now." ...
    The article preceeded this with a comment to witches and now goes on to talk of Jedis.

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/hinduism/news/article.cfm?c_id=500822&objectid=10361977

    Putaringamotu • Since Apr 2009 • 1158 posts Report Reply

  • Hard News: That Buzzing Sound,

    It might be worth remebering Rankin talked of this suicide as a 'choice'.

    Putaringamotu • Since Apr 2009 • 1158 posts Report Reply

  • Hard News: That Buzzing Sound,

    I agree with simon g that this has all the compelling horror of a road smash.

    Bringing personal lives on to TV is ugly. It was ugly when Rankin talked of Helen Clark as 'Childless' and talks of specific tragedies rather than general policies to improve things. And it's ugly now to hear on 60minutes of suicide notes protesting an affair (of 2yrs) that Rankin denies, only to marry the widower 6months later.
    Road smash all right, I know it's wrong and I can stop but commenting on it.

    As for her professional position. She ruled herself out of contention years ago and these personal revelations shouldn't impact on this error of judgement by Bennett in giving her this role.

    Two options as I see it.
    a)Rankin should stay for the minimum term and Bennett should go.
    b) pay Rankin her years worth at $50K to stay away and then let her sue if she feels she can win one dollar more.

    Putaringamotu • Since Apr 2009 • 1158 posts Report Reply

  • Hard News: When that awful thing happens,

    Matthew, from your link, it was interesting to see John Howat described as an expert. He is of course the long-time Chair of the lobby group COLFO, whos factions are breaking up. NZ Pistol Assoc & the Antique Arms Assoc have jumped ship.

    "The question I would ask is who is selling those stocks, those magazines and pistol grips? That is irresponsible." Howat is talking about his competition here and doesn't call it illegal or that it should be so, but being irresponsible. If I may, he is saying - "Don't let them sell them, let me".

    As for Tony McLeod Police National Manager. Jan hasn't hidden himself or surrendered his 'collection', Ihaka has brought attention to someone who holds responsibility for allowing this situation to exist. The clear facts of this situation make a lie of this statement by McLeod.

    Of course there is no added cost to any Firearms restrictions. User pays and not to mention the productivity of not having a city frozen by fear.

    OMG - " And, lastly, firearms crime is not a huge problem here."

    Putaringamotu • Since Apr 2009 • 1158 posts Report Reply

  • Hard News: When that awful thing happens,

    Thought these might be interesting to have a look at.

    Easy corrections to current gun laws would be a psyc test, raise the age to 18yrs and have MSSAs & handguns stored in an armoury at a Club/Police Station/NZDF. Of course observing the existing laws and having those faceless beuracrats tracking down expired lifetime license holders could be a good start too.

    http://www.iansa.org/index.htm

    See the two right hand boxes.
    Laws on civilian ownership of handguns in 16 countries

    http://www.iansa.org/documents/Schoolshootings96-09.doc

    Putaringamotu • Since Apr 2009 • 1158 posts Report Reply

  • Hard News: That Buzzing Sound,

    All Lee had to do was smile and hold to the party line. No-one expected her to win (except maybe one person).

    This looks very bad, I wonder if she can lose a list seat from this & they'll replace her with Stephen Franks?

    Tunnel/Canal, bulldoze 500 or bulldoze 400, I really don't see the difference other than partisan politics to squabble over.

    It is not a solution to the problem. It only moves the problem a few kms further north and with growth will be obsolete in 10yrs.

    Labour failed to grasp the issue and install an Airport to City (& beyond) train years ago.

    Putaringamotu • Since Apr 2009 • 1158 posts Report Reply

  • Hard News: When that awful thing happens,

    Steve Parks - I really thought the use of a Registry would be self evident as the comparison to cars was priviously stated by Alpers and so left it out to avoid repition.

    I consider my evidence based arguement more persuasive than an opinion based one, but over to you.

    Gun in fatal shooting linked to illegally sold firearms
    "We've been able to confirm this weapon is one of a large number of restricted firearms previously reported as having been stolen in a bogus burglary by a Hahei gun collector John Mabey."
    http://www.police.govt.nz/district/waikato/release/4501.html

    Lets remeber Mabey was vetted as suitable to be a collector & the Waikato Police have confirmed one of his pistols have been used to kill.

    A S - pretty sure the Police have confirmed that these weapons were held by him legally, but hey those silly laws.

    Putaringamotu • Since Apr 2009 • 1158 posts Report Reply

  • Hard News: When that awful thing happens,

    "Your laws are sane and workable"

    Lets recap here. Our laws are workable, because the Police did nothing when Jans lifetime firearms & collectors licenses lapsed under a new system, ultimately resulting in multipul shootings & death.

    Gun Collectors like this guy Hot Water Beach gun collector John Mabey, 43 have put many lethal weapons into our community and it simply must stop.
    http://www.stuff.co.nz/waikato-times/news/19800

    It's a good thing we live in a Democracy and can change this.

    License all owners & Registar of all weapons including airrifles along a blanket ban of MSSAs & handguns. No additional cost involved = user pays.

    Putaringamotu • Since Apr 2009 • 1158 posts Report Reply

  • Hard News: When that awful thing happens,

    A S - military style semi-automatics (MSSAs) and handguns
    http://www.police.govt.nz/resources/1997/review-of-firearms-control/

    And yes I'm talking a total ban in private hands.

    It does look like a total systemic failure by successive govts and Police to follow up on their responsibility and of course the de-registar has proved itself a total failure.

    Alpers on RNZ said Aussie halved there death by gun stats & 20% of Waikato Gun 'Collectors' had ilegal weapons - unregistard MSSAs & handguns.

    The following speaker still considered unlicensed gun owners to be lazy rather than law breakers, oh dear.

    Putaringamotu • Since Apr 2009 • 1158 posts Report Reply

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