Posts by Richard Aston
Last ←Newer Page 1 2 3 4 5 Older→ First
-
Key’s charisma factor
I think not - most of the politicians I have meet have that something - you feel their presence but once while waiting for a meeting with Key I failed to notice he was sitting next to me. He is non threatening, convivial, nice, pleasant even but charisma - no.
I think he attracts trust more than anything - its a complex world and too few have the time or inclination to try to understand policy in a multi dimensional and heavily interconnected world. Those who can't understand resort to belief - in who - well that John Key looks like he wouldn't hurt a fly , he's nice , probably was a good boy for his nana - he'll do. -
Wow and I thought there was one small oasis on the afternoon wireless that had be forgotten by the politicians. Our own little Hobbiton on wireless, removed from the rough and tumble of political affairs, of no interest to spin doctors and press secs.
The panel has had plenty of controversial options sprinkled amongst the generally interesting nattering but noone has noticed in the past. -
Legal Beagle: Now it's up to you, in reply to Islander,
Was he not primarily a lawmaker & statesman? Whose poetry seems to have been largely propaganda in support of what he was doing?
Yes I think a lawmaker first poet second ... propaganda? I though he used poetry to communicate his ideas to the Athenians, does that count as propaganda?
And yes perhaps a lawmaker can't really dance out on the edge of language, safely or even unsafely .
Though I'm thinking of Wallace Stevens - insurance agent by day , damn fine poet by night. I do not know which to prefer/The beauty of inflections/Or the beauty of innuendoes/The blackbird whistling /Or just after.
-
Legal Beagle: Now it's up to you, in reply to Islander,
Fair enough Islander I guess there are poets and poets but what about Solon the greek poet who was credited with setting up Athens? Just loved that thing he did declaring all debt written off .
-
Great work Graeme.
I am disappointed we have no options for absolute monarchy or theocracy. Hey they worked in the past.This wonderrful list of forms government has some doosies like Kratocracy (government by those who are strong enough to seize power through force or cunning) umm that would include spin doctors right?.
I’d like a poetcracy – government by poets.
-
Hard News: The Minister's Brain Has Exploded, in reply to Sacha,
Thank you Sacha for laying out the overview so well and nailing this current mess back to its true origins ie
corporatisation that splits service providers from policymakers and funders for largely ideological reasons.
I'm right there with Webweaver giving you a standing ovation .
-
Hard News: The Minister's Brain Has Exploded, in reply to recordari,
Not inspiring anything. Least of all the rugby
Good point recordari - The actual game of rugby is certainly taking a back seat to the - rah rah hoopla economic miracle global media madness Adidas Heineken et al promotional machine - with wobbly wheels.
-
Hard News: The Minister's Brain Has Exploded, in reply to DexterX,
I just knew there was something deeper to Happy Feet !
Thanks for the expose Dexter - it all makes sense now.
Did he sent back a message um like " so long and thanks for all the fish" -
Fran O'Sullivan's Herald article had a wee nugget buried in it
... the original proposal to have a number of decentralized fan zones across wider Auckland operating in time for the opening game celebrations.
this was the plan by Auckland City even planners who must have know the potential problems in centralizing such a huge event in one place.
It seems the original decentralized party approach advance by Auckland City was over ridden by government and its party central idea.
This seems a crucial piece of information that's got buried - Govt created the conditions for the problem in the first place.
-
Hard News: Towards the Truth, in reply to Ian Dalziel,
Yeah interesting appointment - I guess all the previous appointees were ex military.
extensive policy and operational experience particularly in relation to international economic and trade matters
Now that interesting, why a economic/trade angle for this role?
Are we getting into industrial espionage? Will we be using the GCSB to glean economic intelligence to our advantage?