Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: Political Idol, or whatever you want to call it

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  • paynter, in reply to Hebe,

    going botulistic

    There's your word of the year right there.

    My take is that if the Government can legislate to take away caregivers' rights to compensation and to legally challenge Government decisions, then the precedent has already been set, and the casino company in question should not be surprised to find its own property and legal rights legislated away in a similar fashion.

    Since Nov 2006 • 29 posts Report

  • Rob Stowell, in reply to BenWilson,

    A consequence of reneging on the 30 year part of deal would be that other parties in future might not believe the government if they attempted to negotiate such a deal again. It would set up a precedent that corporations couldn’t buy our laws, so we’d never be able to sell them again. I think I could not only live with that, but indeed would actually prefer that.

    ETA: And the consequence of not undoing this deal is that there is now a precedent for making deals like this. It’s the thin end of a scary wedge, IMHO. If we are going to start eroding the supremacy of our own parliament, I’d rather we did it on things like human rights, rather than corporate rights.

    I'm only replying so I can read this again :) Beautifully put, Ben.

    Whakaraupo • Since Nov 2006 • 2120 posts Report

  • Matthew Poole, in reply to BenWilson,

    corporate rights

    The only rights that matter, as far as the current regime are concerned.

    Auckland • Since Mar 2007 • 4097 posts Report

  • Lucy Telfar Barnard, in reply to Matthew Poole,

    You mean… work together? Across party lines?

    Even if the parties can't or won't do this, I was thinking more that whichever company was wanting to sign the contract should go to the opposition and say "hey, here's what we're trying to thrash out with the Government, could you live with that?"
    For example, back when Gregory Fortuin was appointed Race Relations Commissioner, he made a point of going to the (then National) opposition and saying basically "The [Labour} Government have offered me this job, but would you have any objections to my appointment".
    If something similar were done when entering into a contract with the government, there'd be greater confidence that the deal would be less likely to be undone with a change in government. The onus is as much on the other party as on the Government to ensure there's cross-party support - possibly more, since they're the ones who'll lose out if the next Government renegs.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 585 posts Report

  • llew40, in reply to Lucy Telfar Barnard,

    maybe, but politics is a blood sport, so while it would be nice to think that any opposition will consider such an approach entirely on its merits, I'm cynical enough to think that political opportunism will always be a factor.

    Since Nov 2012 • 140 posts Report

  • Ian Dalziel,

    Mark's hissed theory...
    Welcome to the 'Lie dream of a casino soul'

    There's a silent rumble
    In the buildings of the night council
    It's a meeting of controllers
    Who drive right through the gates
    In white roll-tops

    And i guess this just goes to show
    The lie dream of the casino soul...

    Meanwhile in the sticks
    Proles rich, dance in cardboard pants
    And i guess this goes to show
    The lie dream of a casino souls scene

    Anyone wanting to send John Key or Steven Joyce a copy of this essential Fall track - you are in luck I have one on Trade Me at the moment...

    ;- )

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report

  • Hebe, in reply to Ian Dalziel,

    Fall track? I’ll raise you The The. This thread makes me think of the “this will be the day/when things will surely change” line. The Muldoon-Thatcher-era parallels in our political landscape and society are startling to me. Or did I not get enough sleep?


    Christchurch • Since May 2011 • 2899 posts Report

  • Ian Dalziel, in reply to Hebe,

    I’ll raise you The The...

    thanks for that, but...
    ...I prefer my 'This is the Day' with more 'Beef'!

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report

  • Hebe, in reply to Ian Dalziel,

    ‘This is the Day’ with more ‘Beef’!

    Haven't heard of that before. BMT.

    Christchurch • Since May 2011 • 2899 posts Report

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