Posts by Steve Barnes
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OnPoint: Yeah nah, but what *do* we…, in reply to linger,
In most fields other than politics, such a pervasive belief that changing the symbol alone is sufficient to change the reality would be called magical thinking.
Well, in business it is called Re-Branding and if you have ever dipped your toe into that morass we call Economics you will see "Magical Thinking" is par for the course.
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Up Front: Five, in reply to Emma Hart,
You avoid feeling sympathy by making these people into people who don’t deserve your sympathy.
We call that "Othering" and it is the the mark of a Right Wing mind.
"Why should we care about starving children when their scumbag parents spend our hard earned taxes on cigarettes, booze, big screen TVs and the pokies"
"The unemployed are just lazy"
"They have too many children"
And so on and so on.
And by the way, the people that try to shine a light on the plight of the poor are "Smelly, dirty, ignorant rent a crowd losers"
And don't get me started on those crims on a holiday island off Australia.... And those greedy refugees coming to steal out jobs and women......
What a caring country we are becoming under the enlightened leadership of the wonderful John, bloody, Key and pals. -
OnPoint: Yeah nah, but what *do* we…, in reply to linger,
Laser Red Peak!
Likes it we does.
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OnPoint: Yeah nah, but what *do* we…, in reply to Ian Dalziel,
The process was rushed and the city will end up with something that was not to the right scale or that taxpayers had paid too much for, Key said.
See what happens when you get rid of proof readers?.
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OnPoint: Yeah nah, but what *do* we…, in reply to 81stcolumn,
*He picked Red Peak
Am I too late for the flag design game?
I drawered Red Beak...
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I could go with Saunders, I think…
But Trump? He may ring the death knell for the TPP but the collateral damage would be horrendous.
Bernie Saunders, on the other hand, in my opinion, has a fly in the ointments chance of taking the biscuit, to mix a misplaced metaphor or two. -
Polity: Key: Peering between the lines, in reply to BenWilson,
I’d expect Key’s strategy now, if he still has any savvy left, will be to try to divert attention to the Green Party/The Far Left. And pray for some headline grabbing crisis abroad.
I think his next move will be to get some kind of deal over the children in the Australian concentration camps. (I have thought for quite some time that the situation with the detention centres was deliberately over the top so as to allow leverage in terms of the public attitude to the humanity of both leaders). This will make Key appear to be “Way Ahead” of the Greens and allow a poke at the far left inasmuch as “see, we didn’t have to go the loony route” will play into the hands of the Right.
As for "headline grabbing crisis abroad." all I have to say here is one word... Trump. -
Polity: Key: Peering between the lines, in reply to Sacha,
hey I had never thought of that approach.
more informative than parliament.The comments were rather bizarre, like you can’t buy fans anymore and “just fit a heat-pump” .
The kind of depth of understanding and analytical approach that leads to following the the ideas of a charlatan.
But seriously, the attitude that concentration camps are fine and dandy should not sit well on the PM's shoulders. -
John Key’s a political poker player, and in poker there’s an old maxim about projection. When people are stuck in weak position, they go out of their way to project strength. It’s how you try to get out of a tricky position.
Can't quite agree there. Poker face is more a disinterested, distanced, disconnect, not deliberate. A deliberate attempt to fool your opponent is, in itself, a tell.
Key, as a trader, is more of an iconic sea captain, apparently oblivious to danger but calculating the horrendous odds while appearing relaxed and unfazed.
To many, this can be frustrating, not being able to discern a "hit" on his demeanor.
The trick with Key is to get him angry, that is when you see the real Key. It may present itself as a slight stammer or a softening of the voice in the hope of not being heard but it is underneath that cool calm teflon exterior that the turmoil takes its toll, he has to lie and in doing so loses his grip on reality. His greatest fear is a lack of confidence, confidence in himself and the confidence of his peers. -
I put this on another thread but I think it belongs here.
Question Time 17 Feb 2016
Question 11, Denise Roche…Denise Roche (to the Prime Minister) “Is it humane for babies and children to be detained in offshore detention centers?”
John Key “That would depend on the circumstances they were in but anyway that is the policy….”So, its OK to have babies and children in offshore detention centers if John Key agrees with the circumstances.
I have just had the misfortune of reading the comments on an article in Stuff as to how to use a fan to keep cool…
Now I understand how we can have a prime minister who knows about nothing but money…
