Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: Local Heroes?

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  • TracyMac,

    Regarding the whole frigging ludicrous false dichotomy between teh "socially liberal" geyz and wimminz vs teh WORKERZZZZZ, it's amazing how few of the morons who make these comparisons fail to realise that quite a frigging few working class workers also happen to be frigging gay or women themselves. And I can tell you that the queer working class people and women I know actually DO care very much about having fair living and working conditions.

    (In fact, the only queer people I know who would actually want to become married-married are working class)

    God, it pisses me off, that kind of wilful obliviousness. Not that I have fond memories of the union "brothers" of Trotter's ilk I encountered in the mid-80s, who spent lengthy meetings agitating about the fact that us females (and queers, not I told them at the time) had the audacity to want to contaminate their sacred chapels and workplaces. Wankers.

    Canberra, West Island • Since Nov 2006 • 701 posts Report Reply

  • giovanni tiso,

    But you don't want to scare nice middle-class white males into voting National, do you? You're hurting Danyl's cause by being so angry.

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report Reply

  • Islander,

    Not to mention Trotter's case - hmmm, I wonder when he was last in the South? I know about his family links - but him?

    Big O, Mahitahi, Te Wahi … • Since Feb 2007 • 5643 posts Report Reply

  • Ross Mason,

    Jeez Tom. Who pays this piper's son?

    There was massive desire to punish Labour last election,

    45% of voters gave the Nats their tick. A mandate? Hmm. What happens in this country is that it is not the true blues or firey reds who decide the election it is the swingers. About 12% max (2002) - but usually between 2% to 5% - of the total vote decide who the major party is.

    HELLO!! We have MMP. I do think it is about time the Nats realised this and kept their toys in the cot. FFP is gone chappies and chappesses. I guess we will tinker with it (SVP?) but my prediction is it is well dead and buried. Learn to live within it.

    S59? A basic human right for anyone. But absolutely, even more basic is the rights of the innocent. And there is none more innocent than our children. For a developed country it staggers me, the lack of parental care and attention we give. Full stop.

    Now lets see...Social Engineering.....

    8 hour day. Votes for Women. 5 day week. Arbitration. Social welfare. I'll willing give so that I can take it. State housing. Superannuation. Child care. Health Camps. Free Libraries. Free Education. I'll use and pay for it. Public Health care. Yep. Ditto. Free milk. Capital punishment abolished. Lets poke noses at the French at Mururoa and Nuclear free? F*^k yeah! Smoke free. Yup. I ABSOLUTELY enjoy going to a pub these days. Values Party. MMP. PAYE. Treaty of Waitangi Ammendment Act. 1981. Seat Belts. Speed Limits. Warrants of Fitness. Breath testing. Homosexual Law Reform. Happy and gay. Maori Language act. NZ Bill of Rights. Public Finance act. Freedom of Information Act. Finshery quotas. Matrimonial Property Act. GST. Contraception, Sterilisation and Abortion Act. Metric System. Home insulation. Solar heating.

    I'll stop there. A short list that to no ones surprise was NOT focused on any one political spectrum. But I HAVE to say that the VAST majority of the biggies were probably from the socialist leaners.

    Sorry Tom. FAIL. We've always had it, we will always have it.

    We ain't done too bad considering a shit load of other countries have followed us in an awful lot of these!!!

    Upper Hutt • Since Jun 2007 • 1590 posts Report Reply

  • Islander,

    Ross Mason - all really good points!
    And just how many of them actually were initiated by right-wingers, again?

    Big O, Mahitahi, Te Wahi … • Since Feb 2007 • 5643 posts Report Reply

  • Logan O'Callahan,

    It was an energy efficiency standard, something that's been done in a number of other countries, and something that some incandescent light bulbs meet! You can buy energy-efficient incandescent bulbs at the supermarket. I know, because I saw some last Sunday.

    Yup. Developed in response to a new energy efficiency standard in California.

    Pretty much the same with most appliances. They keep getting more efficient because of ever tougher standards in USA. Most consumers would keep buying outdated deep fill washers and crappy inefficient fridges if they cost $20 less up front. Forget that they cost $100 more per year to run.

    Since Apr 2008 • 70 posts Report Reply

  • Ross Mason,

    And just how many of them actually were initiated by right-wingers, again?

    I forgot ACC. Jaw dropping to the rest of the world when it emerged.

    Now the Nats???

    CSA...Mazengarb Report (I forgot that too)...Abolished capital punishment. Ombudsman (forgot that one)..Metric system..Carless days and Nat Super...forgot again..OIA...Another one forgot..RMA finally but Palmer had a big hand in that one...fancy the Nats passing it though...any recent news about it??..Oh dear...Employment Contracts Act...They did send the Tui to Mururoa though...
    ACC was probably begun under Nats.

    But overall.. Not too many from the top list.

    Upper Hutt • Since Jun 2007 • 1590 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    Most consumers would keep buying outdated deep fill washers and crappy inefficient fridges if they cost $20 less up front. Forget that they cost $100 more per year to run.

    And why wouldn't you address that tendency up front if you were running a campaign? Marketing fail, even with all the resources of incumbent govt on their side.

    The 'taxpayers subsidising wealthy polluters because we are bound by Kyoto and export customer expectations' factoid similarly escaped being pressed into service after the new govt made it clear they were intent on going easy on those poor suffering farmers and truckies.

    Again, basic competence and coherence required. Who's delivering it?

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Islander,

    I'm grateful you've done the research Ross Mason, because my gut instinct is that Nats do buggerall for the populous in general (us lowly people on less than $30,000 p.a. Who make up nearly 75% of ANZ inhabitants.)

    Who, despite pressures not to, keep on trying to get better educated, create in all kinds of fields, and be supportive of our families & friends.
    And will suceed.

    Big O, Mahitahi, Te Wahi … • Since Feb 2007 • 5643 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    So Rod Deane has been hired to decide which Defence Force assets to privatise.

    [Bill] English indicates that this approach is now being percolated through other departments including Defence, where former State Services Commissioner Rod Deane is running through the work done by the "strategy boffins" to isolate which assets need to stay in Crown ownership.

    Heard about that anywhere?

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Islander,

    Berloody hell...

    Big O, Mahitahi, Te Wahi … • Since Feb 2007 • 5643 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    More like it - not silently tolerating lies.

    Labour's finance spokesman, David Cunliffe, has been leading the attack over the wage gap.

    He said today Mr English's claim that National inherited a bad economic situation ignored Labour's achievements, such as the world's lowest unemployment rate, the longest post-war economic expansion and halving gross government debt while pre-funding superannuation.

    "Every time Bill English repeats his mantra it sounds thinner and more ridiculous," Mr Cunliffe said.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • George Darroch,

    And why wouldn't you address that tendency up front if you were running a campaign? Marketing fail, even with all the resources of incumbent govt on their side.

    Well, there is the energy star rating. The last Government initiated a plan to put fuel efficiency ratings on cars, but the Nats and ACT were furious about that. How dare they! Telling the customer upfront how much fuel and pollution it requires.

    Yup. Developed in response to a new energy efficiency standard in California.

    California's standards have pulled along the rest of the world. Manufacturers aren't going to make seperate products for California (1/5 US population), so they make them that good for the entire US. And since they make them that way for the US...
    Japan actually has a rolling efficiency standard, continually moving upwards. What was best practice 5 years ago is middle of the pack now.

    WLG • Since Nov 2006 • 2264 posts Report Reply

  • George Darroch,

    I suspect the National Party also wanted to reward their friends. Stephen Joyce, after all, is Minister for the Road Transport Forum.

    WLG • Since Nov 2006 • 2264 posts Report Reply

  • Joanna,

    1.

    You voted National, we understand. It's tough. Did they cut your taxes? You poor dear. I really feel for you so bad.

    Oh Gio, I have never wanted to tend to your 'special needs' more than when I just read that paragraph. (In case that sounds too sarcastic, that was a total platonic come-on).

    2.

    everyone forward this HTML email to as many people as possible.

    Typical Newmarket, thinking of their own, and not of the accessibility needs of others!

    3. Ross Mason's awesome list:

    You, sir, are awesome, and thank you for providing concrete quotable evidence to what I would have just otherwise summed up as a feeling - "Labour aren't as evil as National, full stop".

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 746 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia,

    And just how many of them actually were initiated by right-wingers, again?

    The Human Rights Amendment Bill, under the name of Associate Health Minister Katherine O'Regan -- but don't let me fuck with the narrative. But, hey, Islander, passing legislation where I can't lose my job, be evicted or denied services just because I'm gay was a National Government doing nothing for me.

    OK, let's keep playing.

    In 1974, Venn Young introduced the first serious attempt at homosexual law reform -- which was defeated by a majority of both parties.

    Robert Muldoon was one of ten National MPs who crossed the floor in 1961 to vote in favour of abolishing the death penalty for murder, along with Ralph Hannan, Justice Minister in the second National Government).

    I could keep on, but I need to get some sleep.

    I would have just otherwise summed up as a feeling - "Labour aren't as evil as National, full stop".

    Yeah, so much easier to feel than to think.

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report Reply

  • George Darroch,

    The Human Rights Amendment Bill, under the name of Associate Health Minister Katherine O'Regan -- but don't let me fuck with the narrative.

    There are plenty of things the last National Government did that deserve plaudits, and I acknowledge them. The point, which I think you will probably agree with, is that one man's social engineering is another woman, child, homosexual, impaired person's basic human rights.

    WLG • Since Nov 2006 • 2264 posts Report Reply

  • Keir Leslie,

    I had wondered about that. But if Jim gets the mayoral chains and leaves parliament, does the JAPP disappear with him? And is he ok with gay people, or are they Evil, like drugs?

    I think that Jim's staying in Parliament until the next election, no matter what. After that, I'm pretty sure the Progressive Party is going away. And, well, if Jim Anderton thinks gay people are Evil, somebody better let him know about Tony Milne.

    Since Jul 2008 • 1452 posts Report Reply

  • Danyl Mclauchlan,

    one man's social engineering is another woman, child, homosexual, impaired person's basic human rights.

    We're drifting away from reality here: policies that regulated lightbulbs and shower pressure were what upset voters and they weren't guaranteeing anyone's human rights.

    A few pages back someone blamed Labour's inability to sell it's policies on 'the media'. I'm sympathetic to small parties like the Greens when they complain about misrepresentation in the media - but when you're in government you have more press secretaries than there are journalists in the press gallery. You have millions of taxpayer dollars to spend on public relations consultants. You have 'researchers' to write letters to the editor and call talk radio shows pretending to be members of the public. You have the PM who can go on any tv or radio show they want any time they want. If you can't communicate your own policies properly when in power it's your own damn fault.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 927 posts Report Reply

  • Stephen Judd,

    I'm not sure whether it was you, Danyl, who used the phrase "social engineering" in this thread first, but I don't think regulating lightbulbs and shower pressure count as social engineering.

    I do think those two things were turned into potent symbols, woven into a narrative if you like, and Labour completely failed to put them (and the "hip hop tours" etc) into a bigger picture. I think that's what you're saying in your second para above, and if so, well cripes then the problem wasn't that Labour regulated lightbulbs and shower pressure, and the solution isn't that they should promise not to do it again. And it surely isn't to accept labels ("social engineering") created by their opponents and wear them with shame.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 3122 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia,

    If you can't communicate your own policies properly when in power it's your own damn fault.

    Indeed. I do it as much as any other party political beast, but on sober reflection back in 2002 it was hard to blame "the media" for National's historically low share of the popular vote. That was all down to a bad campaign, worse than incoherent policies voters obviously found as appealing as day-old fish, and the amusing but discouraging (to me) spectacle of loose cannons being fired into feet on an hourly basis. And, dare I say it, plenty of people who thought Bill English was a perfectly nice chap but if he couldn't get his own house in order, there was no way he could run a government.

    Seriously, don't think you can blame the Press Gallery for that without Sarah Palin-ish levels of high functioning psychosis.

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report Reply

  • Martin Lindberg,

    If you can't communicate your own policies properly when in power it's your own damn fault.

    This I certainly agree with. Further, they don't seem to be able to communicate their policies now either.

    ETA: @Craig, snap!

    Stockholm • Since Jul 2009 • 802 posts Report Reply

  • giovanni tiso,

    Oh Gio, I have never wanted to tend to your 'special needs' more than when I just read that paragraph.

    Okay, I'm going to find moderately hard to get rid of that mental picture as I spend the morning at a meeting on 'special needs'. Thanks a bunch!

    We're drifting away from reality here: policies that regulated lightbulbs and shower pressure were what upset voters and they weren't guaranteeing anyone's human rights.

    I take it therefore that you voted National because of the pernicious, oppressive regulations on shower pressure and efficient lightbulbs enacted by Labour? If so, I'd like to put a moratorium on you complaining about anything or making fun of anybody for the next, let's say one hundred years.

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report Reply

  • Ross Mason,

    Japan actually has a rolling efficiency standard, continually moving upwards. What was best practice 5 years ago is middle of the pack now.

    Yeah. They listened to wierd bastard.

    Upper Hutt • Since Jun 2007 • 1590 posts Report Reply

  • Ross Mason,

    The light bulbs and the shower heads were easy targets to pick on. But in the context of improving your housing, the countries energy needs and your living bills, they were ideal candidates to include in housing regulations.

    Golly, Lets think. Holding down the roof with Z nails? Wow. I wonder how many roofs that stopped disappearing in Wgtn winds. Adding a bit more bracing? So that your next house won't wobble to bits in the next earthquake. Double glazing. Sewage. Running potable water. Electrical regulations. Gib board / dry walls so that the fire won't take your house in 5 minutes.

    Jeez. All wee things that add up to improved social conditions. Surely. ..Oh. and less DEAD people.

    Thanks Craig. Three more. Keep searching....My point was that both sides social engineered. But....

    Upper Hutt • Since Jun 2007 • 1590 posts Report Reply

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