Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: The Digital Natives

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  • Ian Dalziel, in reply to Russell Brown,

    It makes more sense to focus on their own policies
    and on opposing the party they oppose.

    Yeah, but it would be good if they took off the heavy duty blinkers to get the big picture...
    At the moment it feels a bit like 'La la la la I can't hear or see you'
    The post-election landscape will include Greens,
    and they are here to help.

    How hard can that be?

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report Reply

  • AlistairC,

    BenW :
    Since the question obsesses you so : Laila is working on raising her geek profile: apparently she got told to shut up about technical details on Q&A
    http://tvnz.co.nz/q-and-a/s2014-ep13-video-5987463

    And what do you actually know about how geeky she is? Her husband runs a software company... Oh and she's not aiming to get your vote anyway... you're too old for her anyway :)
    But each day when she walks to the sea,
    She looks straight ahead – not at he…

    Girl from IPMana (sexist meme of the day)

    France • Since Sep 2008 • 10 posts Report Reply

  • Ian Dalziel, in reply to AlistairC,

    Girl from IPMana (sexist meme of the day)

    I'm hoping the 'Princess Laila and the Rebel Alliance' meme
    might bite as well...
    Especially as Key's Death Star is closing in for the kill!

    ;- )

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to AlistairC,

    Her husband runs a software company

    He’s a health sector research/data geek. Nice man.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • BenWilson, in reply to AlistairC,

    you’re too old for her anyway :)

    I'm sure she'd take it if I gave it :-)

    As for obsession, hardly. I'm disappointed, slightly. We'll see, now. My prediction, the IP is screwed. I consider that a bit of a pity, a might-have-been. The upside is that Mana get some money so I think we'll get a much better view this election of what their true support is.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report Reply

  • BenWilson, in reply to AlistairC,

    Russell Norman came across very well in that Q&A to my eyes, btw. Really has a good idea of how a mixed coalition could work.

    Talking up what a threat IP is to them seems a bit flat to me. Maybe they take some votes from the Greens, but it doesn’t seem like they’re really challenging the Greens on the environmentalism front, and would be foolish to try. So long as they signal compatibility, I think they’re making the right move. IP Mana that is (wasn’t that the name of Bruce Lee’s legendary Wing Chun instructor?). So long as they’re genuinely targeting a different demographic, it’s good for both parties on the left. I’m damned sure that the Greens would rather make the numbers with Labour with the help of IP/Mana than with the help of NZ First.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report Reply

  • Richard Aston, in reply to BenWilson,

    I’m damned sure that the Greens would rather make the numbers with Labour with the help of IP/Mana than with the help of NZ First.

    But does Labour feel that way?

    Northland • Since Nov 2006 • 510 posts Report Reply

  • BenWilson,

    Wow, just hit Cunliffe's bit. I seldom watch TV news so I'm just a little shocked by how confident and coherent he is, remembering how poorly Shearer came across. Good to see.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report Reply

  • BenWilson, in reply to Richard Aston,

    But does Labour feel that way?

    Perhaps not, but as Norman kept pointing out, they're in a very strong position this time. There is nearly zero chance that Labour will form a coalition without the Greens, so if IP/Mana made up the numbers, the Greens could quite simply insist, locking NZ First out. To do so would make a lot of sense, would push much more strongly for their own agenda. Then Labour's only other coalition possibility would be with National, and that seems very unlikely in this country at the moment.

    ETA: I think that the chance of this happening is low, though. NZ First seems likely to also be required. I think they would probably go with National, however much Peters likes to talk up keeping his options open. But a lot can happen in a few months. I'm feeling pretty impressed with how much like a government in waiting the Green and Labour leadership are looking.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to BenWilson,

    Talking up what a threat IP is to them seems a bit flat to me. Maybe they take some votes from the Greens, but it doesn’t seem like they’re really challenging the Greens on the environmentalism front, and would be foolish to try. So long as they signal compatibility, I think they’re making the right move. IP Mana that is

    As if on cue, Laila Harre tweets:

    Having a look at @NZGreens climate change policy. Seems sensible to me.

    See, not that difficult. MMP voters like to know where the similarities are as well as the differences.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to Russell Brown,

    Slater/Ede vs Hager – know who I’d put my money on. :)

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • BenWilson, in reply to Sacha,

    MMP voters like to know where the similarities are as well as the differences.

    Absolutely. Both are vital. Full marks for similarities. Now, about those differences...

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report Reply

  • Paul Campbell,

    It dawned on me that Hollywood may have done something inadvertently very stupid, they have essentially goaded a viable pirate party into existence …. from now on any dirty tricks on their part are going to scream “American Political Interference” (which it would be …. cue TV news images of John Minto talking about the Rainbow Warrior and American Nuclear Warships) which would just be playing into the IP’s hands

    Dunedin • Since Nov 2006 • 2623 posts Report Reply

  • Paul Campbell,

    Dunedin • Since Nov 2006 • 2623 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to Sacha,

    As if on cue, Laila Harre tweets:

    Having a look at @NZGreens climate change policy. Seems sensible to me.

    See, not that difficult. MMP voters like to know where the similarities are as well as the differences.

    Which is much easier to say if you don't have any policy of your own. It's a bit harder for Labour to endorse another party's policy if that requires the ETS they introduced to be scrapped. What they have said is "We'll talk," which seems fair.

    You do seem to think it's Labour's job to publicly agree with everything the Greens suggest.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to BenWilson,

    Wow, just hit Cunliffe’s bit. I seldom watch TV news so I’m just a little shocked by how confident and coherent he is, remembering how poorly Shearer came across. Good to see.

    He’s become quite good at not being rattled by interviewers barking excitedly at him, which is useful. He's also seeming less like an android.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Rich of Observationz, in reply to Russell Brown,

    Labour first http://www.webcitation.org/5k1gJJStW then gave it up under pressure from Peters and Dunne. They did consider that one could be introduced "post 2012".

    They then switched to an ETS, which has comprehensively failed.

    It would be kinda nice if they could work with the Greens on a suitable policy that also addressed consumer living standards issues, but I guess that the Greens managed that all by themselves.

    Back in Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 5550 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to Russell Brown,

    Which is much easier to say if you don’t have any policy of your own.

    The Internet Party has their own environment policy. Signals to voters a potential overlap with say Greens, Mana and Labour – and not with National.

    What [Labour] have said is “We’ll talk”

    Link welcomed.

    You do seem to think it’s Labour’s job to publicly agree with everything the Greens suggest.

    Labour does not have to agree or disagree with everything their likeliest allies propose.

    However, making a reported blanket ‘no comment’ promise between now and the election is not smart behaviour under MMP, and at 30% it hardly makes them look like a government in waiting, does it. Have to wonder whose idea it was.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to Rich of Observationz,

    an ETS, which has comprehensively failed

    been comprehensively gutted since, to be fair.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Rob Stowell,

    Love the carbon tax policy. Really hope NZ gets to try it.
    But am i just missing something obvious, or is there a sort of paradox at the heart of it? Eg- giving the money a tax would raise back to people (and companies, ahem) in the form of flat tax cuts, so carbon users pay more, and those who use little pay less, is all good. Sets clear incentives, etc.
    But the books only balance financially if carbon consumption stays the same. And that would mean the scheme is a failure. If the tax works, we should use less carbon. If it's wildly successful, a lot less. And then govt only gets a little back in carbon tax, so the tax cuts are not off-set, and need to be either adjusted, or the rate of carbon tax raised, or we pay for the tax cuts with other taxes.
    It's a problem I'm sure the Greens would love to have, but it does make 'balancing the books' a juggling act.

    Whakaraupo • Since Nov 2006 • 2120 posts Report Reply

  • Rich of Observationz,

    I think the assumption is that in year 1, the tax cuts balance the carbon tax.
    If in subsequent years, people are using less fuel, then sure, the carbon tax revenues will fall and they'll have to pay more in other taxes to compensate. But they'll be saving money on fuel, and paying the same net amount in tax.

    (Unless they choose to run an SUV, or own a coal fired dairy factory, or fly the Pacific five times a year. Those people will continue to be worse off).

    Back in Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 5550 posts Report Reply

  • Bart Janssen, in reply to Russell Brown,

    He’s also seeming less like an android.

    That'll be the latest patch.

    People were so hard on Shearer but they didn't realise he was running on the beta.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 4461 posts Report Reply

  • BenWilson, in reply to Bart Janssen,

    People were so hard on Shearer but they didn’t realise he was running on the beta.

    Yes, he was 95% complete on launch.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to BenWilson,

    if only he'd been Swifter

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    Scott Yorke assembles some relevant tweets and posts.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

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