the fact that NZ [was] ... the first country (but not State — that honour goes to South Australia) to give women the vote

Not so. Women in South Australia gained the vote in 1895 [link], two years after New Zealand. Wyoming was the first state in the world to?

I agree. It's disappointing, if not surprising, that our new Government is not doing anything radical to leapfrog ahead. But then they are a 'conservative' party.

But then they came in bereft of ideas, as National Party governments always seem to.

What's the answer?

Unfortunately,?

Wyoming was the first state in the world to allow women to vote, in 1869

Oh, this argument!

New Jersey. New Jersey was the first state in the world to allow women to vote.

The framers of New Jersey's first constitution in 1776 gave the vote to "all inhabitants of?

Wyoming was the first state in the world to allow women to vote, in 1869.

According to Wikipedia, it's really not that simple :-)

Introduce a carbon tax that abates GST (i.e. drop GST by an amount that reflects the revenue from carbon). This would for example make food cheaper and petrol more expensive, and there's no need for government to choose which vested interest gets the taxpayer subsidy;

You sir, are, if you'll?

I prefer Key over the alternatives, but I'm waiting for the leadership (over administration) also. Good luck with getting any government, much less a Nat one, to even talk about decriminalisation though. Glad its not the only?

And umm... how does any government get the politics out of the classroom when the teachers unions are one of the most politically active (left) organisations there are?

Well if previous administrations weren't hell bent on policy that would have ensured teacher's pay was low and their working conditions and?

P.S. And (without thinking it over for very long) the GST/Carbon tax scheme sounds like a brilliant concept.

Decriminalise drugs — the Portuguese model is probably worth a look (another country that gets ahead by being different, not the same). Put the hundreds of millions of dollars saved into the health & education system;

The British drugs advisory bust-up has been fascinating — if unnerving — to watch this?

New Zealand punches above its weight in global affairs due to its environmental and ethical position ..., the fact that NZ is nuclear-free and generates nearly 80% of its electricity from renewables

But can these noble attributes be attributed to courageous government policy?
Our nuclear-free stance was people driven ??

Nice to see that A N Wilson, on the topic of the drugs advisory controversy, isn't letting me down.

I am not suggesting that any British scientists are currently conducting experiments comparable to?

I am just not sure how much radical change is actually driven by government or prime ministers.

His example of the New Deal was a pretty good one, I thought.

I've thought about it. If the state is compelling people to pay money into?

The British drugs advisory bust-up has been fascinating — if unnerving — to watch this past week.

Although I have had to giggle at the references in the UK press to 'Nuts sacking'.

Journalistically irreseistable, I suppose.

If the state is compelling people to pay money into Kiwisaver then the state will have to guarantee the investment.

Why? That's the certainly not the case in Australia or with 401ks in the US?

We'd certainly need proper financial investment reform, but if a Govt fronted and said "complusory?

His example of the New Deal was a pretty good one, I thought.

I agree David but it seems to me these are only moments in history – where governments or leaders act as visionaries , perhaps supported by fortunate circumstance or providence.
Maybe I have become jaded but having?

That's the certainly not the case in Australia or with 401ks in the US?

401ks are optional. In Australia the employer is required to contribute, not the employee.

To ease my jaded soul can you think of courageous actions by governments in recent history approaching the arc of what "Slarty" is throwing out to us.

Now you're putting me on the spot : )
There was plenty of boldness, vision and consequence to the Lange government. Perhaps, post-MMP,?

The 2+2 model now should be formalised as 4 of salary, without the?

Now you're putting me on the spot : )
There was plenty of boldness, vision and consequence to the Lange government. Perhaps, post-MMP, the boldness is more likely to be found on the fringe.

I agree the Lange govt was right up there in the bravery stakes
I think the?

what is the magic that gets fringe ideas into the mainstream ?

Fear or greed?

To ease my jaded soul can you think of courageous actions by governments in recent history approaching the arc of what "Slarty" is throwing out to us.

Internationally? The whole end of the cold war thing. China's move to its quasi capitalism model? For NZ, Treaty of Waitangi was pretty?

I agree the boldness is often on the fringe but what is the magic that gets fringe ideas into the mainstream ? I don't think telling John Key what he needs to do will do it.

I would think it's likely more effective than not telling him ...

I would think it's likely more effective than not telling him ...

Yeah fair enough but if that's all you do ...

The drug decriminalisation maybe, but the rest of them are just major policy changes – not ending the Cold War.

The other way of looking it is at that the drug decriminalisation is easier, given that other countries are already, to varying extents, doing it. Portugal has, as Slarty notes,?

Abating GST against carbon tax is a real goer. Do it John, Do it!

How do these things happen?

Somebody puts the innovative PM on the spot.
It worked with Lange and the nuclear ban. He tried?

The politics of selfishness will be with us forever. It's up to those few of us with good ideas to keep pushing them until they get traction, and then push them through the process, attempting to keep the dilution to a minimum.

It seems only an Icelandic meltdown would fix?

I reckon the plotters should get to Pita, he is the false panel in the bookshelf.

I love the image Bruce – Pita does the political leader/friend of govt so well but their is a lot more behind him that and from what I have seen of him its deeply?

Remove all tax benefits that encourage housing speculation

Well, it appears that, incredibly, that may just happen. There are a number of ideas that have been floated in columns in the Herald, detailing different ways that other jurisdictions have dealt with the issue of taxing residential property.
Unsurprisingly, the most negative column?

And any CGT would be a blunt instrument, and would probably?

Unsurprisingly, the most negative column on the topic came from Roger Kerr. It's a shame he and his cronies have so much sway with the occupants of the Beehive

I'm always amazed by how much influence the Business Roundtable has, given that after more than 25 years in business up?

It just seems like the entire membership is Roger Kerr and a couple of PR flacks.

Not quite. They even have a woman!

How about a Tobin Tax?

The problem with that idea is that the world, or at least the major currency-trading nations, needs to all be in on it together. Although our currency is heavily traded, we're a minnow in the markets. That gives NZ zero room to try and enforce?

I'm always amazed by how much influence the Business Roundtable has

.. given how obviously wrong they are about how the world works. C'mon, 15 years until 1999 wasn't long enough to see that?

If Max Bradford is indeed still among us (hovering on the dry right wing like a?

We should remove all tax benefits enjoyed by religious organisations.

You want to improve the economy, but you want to hit at organisations that do a lot of work to support people who are failed by the policies of the government? Yeah, you really thought that one through, didn't you.?

We can all rest easy – our superiors are going to work it all out for us, without the need for anything as messy as democracy.

Just ask Pinochet or Suharto.

As Kyle Chapman points out here, the state benefits quite significantly from the charitable activities of religious organisations.

Please don't call me Kyle Chapman. Please.

As Kyle Chapman points out here . . .

Kyle Matthews, as it turns out. Can't have been a Freudian slip :)

I can only conclude that those who advocate removing tax benefits from all religious organisations are either driven by a beady-eyed ideology, or are happy to undermine the?

without the need for anything as messy as democracy.

A boy is it ever messy !
Our Rodney who art in Auckland thinks ACT are doing all the work
Rodney seems unhappy that the tail is furiously wagging the dog but the dog isn't' doing any thing.

As Kyle Chapman points out here

Ouch! Burn!!!!

Ouch! Burn!!!!

ARGH! FUCK! Fuckity fuck. That'll learn me for not double-checking who I'm quoting when I go and harvest a link.

[edit]
And Kyle, please take that as a very sincere apology.