Hard News: Nasty
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WH,
Perhaps so, but I don't think politicians are those particular experts.
No, generally not. A lot of work is done by the bureaucracy, but certainly some politicians are more famous for policy wonkery than others. Ideally ministers should know enough to be able to exercise some independent judgment on the technical issues that arise within their portfolio.
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Ideally ministers should know enough to be able to exercise some independent judgment on the technical issues that arise within their portfolio.
It also seems like a lot to ask, that a minister would have any level of detail about the technical issues of an entire ministry. The fact that who the ministers are can chop and change from year to year suggests what a 'management level' the ministers come in at. Police minister one year, telecommunications the next - I find it pretty hard to believe there are any people who are experts in both fields, least of all professional politicians.
The best they could really hope for is to have a team of people who have similar ideology, who actually are technically competent. I'm sure that's how most well run ministries work, and the really bad calls mostly happen when the minister actually thinks they are an expert in the field. Muldoon as Finance Minister is a good example, made especially bad by also being probably the most important portfolio, and also the Prime Minister, with the numerous other duties attached to that, and the hubris of power.
That's why I'm very wary of claims that John Key will run the economy better because of his background. Unless his background is managing a team of economists, it's probably just dangerous to think he has expertise that is relevant. Just because he has mastered surfing the money markets, doesn't mean he knows how to control the winds and the tides that make surf, or anything about the most ideal condition, flat water.
I'm personally a computer programmer, but can I run a large software company? That's unknown...
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I've been to plenty of dull presentations. Come to think of it some were worse than dull. Often presented by grey people in cheap suits - politicians and worthies. Not only did they rarely have anything particularly interesting to say but they also said it in a dull way.
Having a drag entertainer deliver a serious message is a brilliant mash up. Especially if the audience would otherwise reject a message delivered by a worthy in a worthy monotone - or as part of a political spin.
If the message has impact and gets through an audience's mental barriers then it is money well spent.
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Well, this thread has had a good run, so I don't mind moving sideways:
What's up with Mike Moore's comments in the Herald this morning? He slams 'the politics of personal attack' ie a 'return to Muldoonism' and yet ...
... he's on Newstalk ZB/Leighton Smith this morning saying <paraphrasing>: "what's up with Rodney Hide? He's always struck me as looking like a young Mussolini working in the corn fields"
is that not a personal attack?
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"O, swear not by the Moore, the inconstant Moore,
That monthly changes in his circled orb,
Lest that thy love prove likewise variable."
You expect consistency from a career politician? -
Moore's 'long cold night' speech is one of my favourite political memories. Crackers.
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WH,
Often presented by grey people in cheap suits - politicians and worthies. Not only did they rarely have anything particularly interesting to say but they also said it in a dull way.
politicians, worthies, university lecturers...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Theft_Auto:_Vice_City_soundtrack#Perception_and_positive_thinking
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What's up with Mike Moore's comments in the Herald this morning?
Audrey Young and other seem to think this is a new departure from Moore. But readers of the DomPost will know that he has been slagging off Clark and this Government for a long time. Those damn Labour Muldoonists, fancy supporting his WTO candidacy.
Young describes him as "popular". If time in office and elections won are any indicator those are very rose tinted specs Young is wearing.
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What's up with Mike Moore's comments in the Herald this morning? He slams 'the politics of personal attack' ie a 'return to Muldoonism' and yet ...
Well, I find the reaction entirely predictable - guess the truth hurts. Very amusing listening to Chris Trotter get very bitchy on NatRadio's The Panel today when Moore had the gall to read Trotter's 'courageous corruption' line back to him.
Putting the catty hyperbole aside, I think Moore actually has a serious point. I think it's hard to over-estimate the damage Muldoon did to the National Party when to an increasingly large proportion of the electorate he crossed the line between 'strong leader' and 'paranoid thug'. On the partisan tip, I don't give a damn if Labour falls into the same hole. As a citizen and more or less decent human being, I'd rather not see New Zealand politics fall any deeper into that particular sewer than it's already gone.
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Agreed Craig
Although very different PMs, Rob & Helen can only be compared to each other.
'81 Tour for Rob and Foreshore & Seabed for Helen as examples of the extent each will go to stay in.OT
I loved this 'Good News' story.
Alt Education kids stop a robber.
Not once was anyones ethnicity mentioned.
Good people are us. Bad people are them? -
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Also, bloody wonderful watching them on Cllose Up - Daniel Zheng, Solomona Savelio, Sione Lolohea, Andrew Taia and Brian Luafalealo all seem to have the whole laconic to the point of coma, don't make a fuss mate Good Kiwi Bloke thing down. Did expect Mark Sainsbury to scream "will someone say something though. :)
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I think it's hard to over-estimate the damage Muldoon did to the National Party when to an increasingly large proportion of the electorate he crossed the line between 'strong leader' and 'paranoid thug'
My father, a business leader and fairly well off man, always voted National. My mother always voted Labour, but that's another story. My lovely Dad, bless his capitalist cotton socks, was much enamoured of the National Party to the extent that he found himself on the Foreign Affairs something or other committee so spent a reasonable period of time in the Parliament buildings. Imagine our horror, then, when he voted Labour, once and once only. I can't remember what year it was. He hated Muldoon vehemently, said he was an "evil little prick disguised as a poisonous dwarf". That always said something to me about the man. Because like me, my Dad was very partisan.
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You want to know what partisan is?
Mum told me Jesus was a socialist.Rather than '81 Tour I should have used the Dawn Raids for Rob.
During those dark days when student activisim is celebrated by the now middle aged who lament of the state of todays students.
I recall them dropping the ball & passing it on to the Catholic Workers Movement. An Indonesian math student (PhD) spoke out on Canty Campus about the army/police murder of his father & uncle. Rob was sure he'ld be safe to go home & refused him refugee status. NZ didn't need any PhDs back then No8 wire is all we needed. So after couch surfing for a few months & gaining the status of over stayer all the students radicals had to go home for holls but couldn't take Jose with them. So for 6 months we had a guest we couldn't tell anyone about. A mail drop went round but no-one told, God bless our neighbours. Eventually Jose got refugee status in Canada and letures at Uni there.
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