Posts by martinb
Last ←Newer Page 1 2 3 4 5 Older→ First
-
Hard News: The Huawei Question, in reply to DeepRed,
all racism is equal, just some racism is more equal than others methinks...
-
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]
-
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...
-
Hard News: The Mega Conspiracy, in reply to DeepRed,
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.
-
OnPoint: Association of Community…,
includes discussion on astroturfing and the tobacco lobby, related to plain packaging in Aussie.
-
Look David, if you’ve had writers block you don’t have to hide from us behind these kinds of stories- just come right out and say it! We won’t judge you.
Even though- does the invention of wild, wild, extraordinary excuses for not having completed any writing count as creative output enough to be considered completed writing?
Seriously though, best wishes!
When times get tough ask your self- what would Alan Bollard do? After reading your fine piece of financial reporting a few years back I often turn to the Bollster when I’m at a low ebb. Alternating between him and Kenneth off 30 Rock, of course.
It's good to hear you caught a break.
-
The ASBP?? heh.
Sport and class in NZ is interesting, or class and ethnicity.
This discussion: from the ashes.
I remember this coming up as a discussion point in my 5th form English class after studying Pygmalion.
I was one of two students who argued for the proposition "that New Zealand wasn't a society where class mattered."
I, the idealist, argued equality of opportunities, assistance to achieve (eg Ms Bennet) and the justice system so that there was a fairness in way the law was applied irrespective of who you are, at that time citing the catching of tax evaders.
The other student argued that we had shrugged the historical shackles of the English or European class system and the basis for it there wasn't relevant here.
Other students, from memory, argued about the importance of connections, schools, knowing the right people (particularly given say a Kings preball- Norgate, Key and so on...!) ...and other things I have forgotten.
Gee, this is one to go dig out those academicky articles or smart folk right? I've think I've got Belich on this somewhere...
-
OnPoint: Dear Labour Caucus, in reply to Jeremy Eade,
hey Jeremy I understand you were trying to start a discussion about Paul Ifill's influence on the nascent middle class football culture in New Zealand, but perhaps Ben "Scores winners" Sigmund, or Manny "God with us" Muscat may have been a better place to start- golly am I hoping for 3 'Nix wins plus beating the Aussie's at cricket!
Dear I say it my girlfriend should go on overseas trips more often for these important sporting weeks!
-
OnPoint: Dear Labour Caucus, in reply to Sacha,
Is that a fair characterisation of what is happening specifically with Labour though?
Remember too that the tactics of this term have been to create false moderate positions for the Key government, by setting up a more extreme proposition further right such as the Working Welfare Group.
-
OnPoint: Dear Labour Caucus, in reply to Damian Christie,
Dude please do. I enjoyed your contributions.