Speaker by Various Artists

Read Post

Speaker: Why we need to stop talking about inequality

90 Responses

First ←Older Page 1 2 3 4 Newer→ Last

  • Kumara Republic, in reply to SHG,

    Thought experiment.

    Dumb luck is not a manifesto. America’s GI Bill and the German Soziale Marktwirtschaft are.

    And will the wealth gap still be ‘not your problem’ if those on the wrong side of it decide the only way to close it is with AK47s, and one of them happens to be pointed at you? JFK once said that ‘those who make peaceful revolution impossible, will make violent revolution inevitable’.

    The southernmost capital … • Since Nov 2006 • 5446 posts Report Reply

  • Joe Wylie, in reply to Kumara Republic,

    Dumb luck is not a manifesto.

    IMHE those who happen to be favoured by dumb luck tend to see their situation as evidence of a functioning meritocracy.

    flat earth • Since Jan 2007 • 4593 posts Report Reply

  • Rosemary McDonald, in reply to Kumara Republic,

    ‘those who make peaceful revolution impossible, will make violent revolution inevitable’.

    Which is kinda what Tracy was saying in 1988.

    In a whisper.

    Waikato, or on the road • Since Apr 2014 • 1346 posts Report Reply

  • andin, in reply to chris,

    I’d compensate everyone

    Very community minded of you, would SHG do anything like that ? could he & his ilk put others first?

    Stolen? Yeah right.

    It is an old thought game no need to get cynical on it, although the temptation is definitely there these days.

    raglan • Since Mar 2007 • 1891 posts Report Reply

  • Ian Dalziel,

    One Planet / Three worlds / One future?

    Venezuelans are facing the prospect of a heat wave without their favorite beer, the latest indignity in a country that has seen shortages of everything from disposable nappies to light bulbs.
    Cervecería Polar, which distributes 80% of the beer in the socialist South American country, began shutting down breweries this week because of a lack of barley, hops and other raw materials, and has halted deliveries to Caracas liquor stores.

    and

    French supermarkets will no longer be able to destroy or dispose of unused edible food, after the French National Assembly unanimously passed a new amendment to a green energy law yesterday - ...(it) will require supermarkets over 400 square metres in size to enter into formal agreements with food redistribution charities by July 2016.

    and

    Leafy greens grown on space station now on astronaut menu! It might sound unbelievable, but, NASA astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS) are ready to sample fresh veggies grown in space microgravity.

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report Reply

  • andin,

    It’s not so easy to examine and modify our own personal prejudices.

    No it isnt, but if our species are to have a future in this universe that is what we have to do. It was the aim for centuries of our species in the mistaken belief that a god wanted us to do it. Well there may be a consciousness to the universe but us on this small stone in one of a billion galaxies will never be able to grasp it. It just makes our existence more tolerable and that is the best reason of all

    raglan • Since Mar 2007 • 1891 posts Report Reply

  • Peter Malcolm,

    No, we must continue to talk about income inequality as it is the most important issue facing the world but we must get thwe words right and clear messages about what to do about it.
    It is important as a friend said to me "you are well enough off to be a liberal" What he meant was that for most people if you are worried about where the next meal is coming from then issues like "climate cahnge" are simply not on the agenda.
    As to what we should do about inequality:
    1. A "living wage" for the minimum wage inflation adjusted
    2. Enough well paid jobs for all who need them. If industry can't supply then Govt must.
    3. Benefit levels at living wage levels
    4. A progressive tax system that taxes all income regardless of source, including benefits. No tax on the first $20000 then progressive from there up to 60% on everything over $500,000

    And that is a start.
    Peter Malcolm

    Tauranga • Since Mar 2015 • 6 posts Report Reply

  • Rosemary McDonald, in reply to Peter Malcolm,

    +1

    No, we must continue to talk about income inequality

    I think maybe we should stop talking and start acting.

    Less hui, more dooey.

    Waikato, or on the road • Since Apr 2014 • 1346 posts Report Reply

  • andin, in reply to Peter Malcolm,

    the most important issue facing the world

    Is who are these arseholes, who are lining their pockets, screwing everyone else and inflating their own sense of self purpose? We dont need them! They shouldnt be in charge of a Weet bix packet.

    raglan • Since Mar 2007 • 1891 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Barnes,

    Well, up here in the Far North we have inequality in spades and when some community minded people come up with a great scheme... this happens.

    Last month the council awarded a five-year, $4.6 million contract for waste and recycling services for the northern half of the district to Whangarei's Northland Waste The contract had been held for 24 years by Kaitaia social enterprise CBEC (Community, Business and Environment Centre) and later by Cleanstream, a partnership between CBEC and Te Rarawa.

    CBEC boss Cliff Colquhoun said the partnership between council, iwi and community was the envy of many councils around New Zealand.

    "We were the last locally owned enterprise in the Far North to hold a major contract with the Far North District Council, and this appears to be the end of an era for local contractors."

    Kaitaia's pioneering recycling programme had been a model for other schemes around the country. Cleanstream had more doubled recycling in the Far North, saving ratepayers $600,000 a year by extending the life of the Ahipara landfill

    But somebody wants to make a profit instead.

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report Reply

  • Rosemary McDonald, in reply to Steve Barnes,

    Kaitaia’s pioneering recycling programme had been a model for other schemes around the country.

    We are in the FN often, we're seriously into recycling and have found the depots up there extremely well run.

    26 years is a testament to sustainability....I wonder how long the new boys will last?

    Waikato, or on the road • Since Apr 2014 • 1346 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Barnes, in reply to Rosemary McDonald,

    .I wonder how long the new boys will last?

    I wonder how long before they start laying off workers and telling us that the recycling program is losing money and we have to expand the Ahipara landfill thus negating any savings and causing grief to the community.
    They will, of course, get their way and be "compensated" for any losses. After all, private profit is good eh?.

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report Reply

  • Rosemary McDonald,

    http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/soundshistorical

    Tonight's (16th August ) Sounds Historical on Natrad dug a 41 year old interview with Bill Rowling out of the archives.

    A bit discomforting listening to Rowling talk about inequality and how the haves should share more with the have nots.

    Rowling talks about voters being more educated about social and political issues....that basically New Zealanders are fair and rational people.

    He also spoke about seeing himself more of a referee, rather than promoting his own point of view on issues of public importance.

    I felt rather sad and nostalgic...

    Waikato, or on the road • Since Apr 2014 • 1346 posts Report Reply

  • Joe Wylie, in reply to Rosemary McDonald,

    Natrad dug a 41 year old interview with Bill Rowling out of the archives.

    Young Bill.

    flat earth • Since Jan 2007 • 4593 posts Report Reply

  • Nat,

    Really interesting post, thank you!

    I just read this article too, and I think they are very complimentary: https://newmatilda.com/2015/08/19/truth-hurts-science-behind-why-people-dont-care-about-death-our-planet-and-democracy

    It's long but well worth it, and offers a potential framing to counter apparent apathy about global warming (in an Australian context).

    Seattle • Since Jun 2011 • 52 posts Report Reply

First ←Older Page 1 2 3 4 Newer→ Last

Post your response…

Please sign in using your Public Address credentials…

Login

You may also create an account or retrieve your password.