Posts by martinb

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  • Busytown: “Glory! Glory! There’s the salt!”,

    Glad this is still going here. Was so sad to see the 24 hour news cycle has rolled on past this great New Zealander.

    Been wearing one of these all day at work today

    Auckland • Since Jul 2010 • 206 posts Report

  • Busytown: “Glory! Glory! There’s the salt!”, in reply to richard,

    think the book the Catalogue of the Universe features in the story- the guy who isn't the fullback or fast bowler stands on it to get the girl...from memory I think she tells him to stand on it...

    Auckland • Since Jul 2010 • 206 posts Report

  • Speaker: The Voyage: On Interpreting and…,

    Scott- if we used your notion as the basis of our trading relationships we would give Pharmac to the Americans.

    We would have signed up to a treaty allowing our government to be sued by multi-national companies in the 90s, and have traded away our democracy and sovereignty for little gain.

    Auckland • Since Jul 2010 • 206 posts Report

  • Hard News: The Base,

    Are the Nats going to admit that this in fact has the same effect on weekly income as a tax rise, and ask why students and graduates are the ones who are asked to make the sacrifices so that tax cuts can continue to be given to those on higher incomes?

    The Nats behaving like corporate raiders- take over, sell off, kill off.

    Auckland • Since Jul 2010 • 206 posts Report

  • Hard News: The Base,

    The thing about Cunliffe that I like and is lacking from our current politics is the ability to take a complex issue and distill it and explain it in public discussion. It's nice to have a politician who is making decisions for us try to explain what they are doing and is actually prepared and able to debate. I've often felt like he is showing us the working, not the spin.

    Don't know if he'd make a great leader, but damn Labour needs some heft and to show that their front bench is up to the task.

    Auckland • Since Jul 2010 • 206 posts Report

  • Hard News: The Huawei Question,

    Whatever happened to Tze Ming Mok? Can we beg her to come back and write?

    Might be an interesting to the Pakuranga and Ilam view of China...vaguely related topic-The Finnish Prime Minister was down here a few years back digging hobbits wasn't she?

    Auckland • Since Jul 2010 • 206 posts Report

  • Hard News: The Huawei Question, in reply to Kumara Republic,

    all racism is equal, just some racism is more equal than others methinks...

    Auckland • Since Jul 2010 • 206 posts Report

  • Hard News: The Huawei Question, in reply to Lew Stoddart,

    I would like to reserve the right to express concerns about the Chinese government (or one or another of their companies) and their actions without being called a Yellow Peril-shouting racist.

    Just like I would like to be able to criticise the Israeli government without being called a Jew-hater.

    +2 on Lew…

    we’re not in China yet Dr [insert name here]

    Auckland • Since Jul 2010 • 206 posts Report

  • Hard News: A storm in any port,

    I did enjoy the show- but having watched it now it doesn't tally with Simon Wilson's editorial.

    He says in that editorial "It seems plain in this dispute that the port does not want to reach a settlement...It suggests the negotiations were a pretext in a plan to destroy the union."

    This view was not put on the show- the former coms person Karen Benland (sp? sorry!) said repeatedly that the company were willing to negotiate with the union and that the management were under pressure- not as Simon suggests that they were making the pressure.

    Nor was there any questioning about who or why there was pressure being placed on the management, still an interesting question given both Pearson and Gibson's previous employment at Maeserk, the remarks by Doug McKay and the report the council tried to prevent getting out, published in the Sunday Star-Times, that was the justification for the 12% claim.

    I thought the port had signalled in previous negotiations or court proceeding or something they were planning to casualise? Which also suggests that the union should have been more on the ball.

    Bit of a late contribution! Hope someone reads it...

    Auckland • Since Jul 2010 • 206 posts Report

  • Hard News: The Mega Conspiracy, in reply to Kumara Republic,

    depends- lobbying on behalf of a dominant media player and probably donor (?) does rather begin to worry.

    Aside from anything else does no one worry about the collection of cultural power in the hands of one media outlet?

    This is especially true with the starvation and slow death rattle of public service digital and triangle.

    Our ability to see out reflection in the mass media is poor and getting poorer.

    Auckland • Since Jul 2010 • 206 posts Report

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