Posts by Martin Lindberg

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  • Island Life: There is no alternative,

    Can we say that, these remarkable and commendable efforts notwithstanding, the charge that people who were against tax cuts and yet don't voluntarily overpay are somewhat hypocritical, is supremely idiotic?

    Well, it's kinda weird anyway. Why peg what you consider to be the right amount of tax to pay on what it was just before this government dropped the tax-rate? Why not peg it to some time in the past - 1975 for instance?

    Stockholm • Since Jul 2009 • 802 posts Report

  • Island Life: There is no alternative,

    I always used to think that governments or parties to the left were more susceptible of putting beliefs or policies ahead of actually responding to real financial situations. Being dogmatic, I suppose.

    It seems that being dogmatic is no longer only for the left. If it ever was.

    Stockholm • Since Jul 2009 • 802 posts Report

  • Hard News: On Ideas,

    Still, just goes to show,it's who you are

    I'd love to get a copy of that -then maybe even I could understand it. Slightly longer version on the Guardian website.

    Love the ending:

    Professor Luis Garicano, to whom the Queen directed her question when she visited the LSE in November last year, said: "She seemed very interested, and she asked me: 'How come nobody could foresee it?' I think the main answer is that people were doing what they were paid to do, and behaved according to their incentives, but in many cases they were being paid to do the wrong things from society's perspective."

    Obviously a communist. Maybe even an Italian one.

    Stockholm • Since Jul 2009 • 802 posts Report

  • Hard News: On Ideas,

    But it's for our own good!

    <sarcasm>
    Snap! Now I get it. So it's a win-win for all parties going forward.
    </sarcasm>

    I can see the need for investments, but not if it's just a euphemism for selling off assets. If anything we need investments in R&D. I know it's easy for me to just say that - it won't make it happen. And I don't know how to make that happen. But surely we should expect more from this brain trust than a giant SALE-sign.

    Stockholm • Since Jul 2009 • 802 posts Report

  • Hard News: On Ideas,

    Here's a Brash idea.
    Sell it all

    I don't claim to understand economy on a national/international level, but how is this different from a shop putting up signs saying "Everything must go!! Make us an offer! No honest offer refused!"

    How does it benefit our economy in the long term if all (or most) assets are sold? Isn't that just a one-off cash injection?

    Stockholm • Since Jul 2009 • 802 posts Report

  • Island Life: The Guilt of Clayton Weatherston,

    Perhaps we can have an in-depth feature on people who suffer from dissociative disorders that allow them to compartmentalise and rationalise distasteful behaviour.

    I'm sure we'll see one in this weekend's Herald on Sunday.

    Stockholm • Since Jul 2009 • 802 posts Report

  • Island Life: The Guilt of Clayton Weatherston,

    Maybe it will now be possible to watch the evening news again (only just, though) without having to walk away for 10 minutes while the latest updates from this sad trial are shown.

    I appreciate that Clayton has a right to speak in his own defence, but I don't accept that all tv-news needed to broadcast all his ramblings. It was obscene.

    Stockholm • Since Jul 2009 • 802 posts Report

  • Speaker: What Diversity Dividend?,

    Thank you Stephen W.

    You took the words I really wanted to say right out of my mouth but I didn't want to start off on this site with that kind of language.

    Stockholm • Since Jul 2009 • 802 posts Report

  • Hard News: Chocolate elitism,

    You need Tyler Durden's special liposuction left-over soap.

    fight club soap

    Sustainable and renewable. W00t!

    Stockholm • Since Jul 2009 • 802 posts Report

  • Speaker: What Diversity Dividend?,

    For example, i think it is prudent to discuss how much - if any - Muslim migration we want here BEFORE we have a huge Muslim minority, not after. We need to have a national discussion about what values and assumptions we want to shape out immigration policy. And just because some people might find that debate uncomfortable or distateful doesn't mean we don't need to have it.

    Well you can count me as one of those who would find a debate on which immigrants to allow in based on their religion distasteful.

    That's why we, and nations like Canada, have a points system.

    Thankfully, I don't believe religion has any particular points attached to it wrt NZ immigration. Not sure aboout Canada, but I would be surprised if it did.

    Stockholm • Since Jul 2009 • 802 posts Report

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