Up Front by Emma Hart

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Up Front: The Up Front Guide – How to Make a Stupid Law

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  • Stuart Coats,

    Bravo Emma.

    I particualrly like the bit about emotional screeching. So true, so true.....

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 192 posts Report

  • Idiot Savant,

    Meanwhile, if you want to try your hand at making non-shit legislation, or fixing existing shit legislation, then you can join the New Zealand Progressive Bills Project. But you'll need to create your own moral panics.

    (Well, its marginally relevant).

    Palmerston North • Since Nov 2006 • 1717 posts Report

  • Idiot Savant,

    I particualrly like the bit about emotional screeching. So true, so true.....

    Yup. Sums up the Sensible Sentencing Trust (and the ACT party) in one.

    Palmerston North • Since Nov 2006 • 1717 posts Report

  • George Darroch,

    It helps if the major opposition party is desperate to seem tougher on lawanordah.

    Cause then you've only got the Liberal Democrats or Greens to oppose the substance. And who's going to listen to Keith Locke?

    WLG • Since Nov 2006 • 2264 posts Report

  • Chris Smith,

    Once the legislative process starts and people can see fine detail in your stupid law...

    Please note that this step is purely optional and can be avoided with a liberal application of Parliamentary Urgency.

    Auckland • Since Feb 2009 • 2 posts Report

  • Lucy Stewart,

    Please note that this step is purely optional and can be avoided with a liberal application of Parliamentary Urgency.

    It also helps if you don't give the politicians time to read it before they vote. This way, any tendency to logical analysis they have hiding deep within their souls will be overriden by the emotional screeching.

    I also suggest that your shit law should always punish someone for something, preferably with a long jail sentence. If you're not punishing people, you're not doing it right. Any talk of rehabilitation is right out. Muttering about the sad demise of capital punishment gets you bonus points.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 2105 posts Report

  • Angus Robertson,

    Yup. Sums up the Sensible Sentencing Trust (and the ACT party) in one.

    And where would the Greens be without Sue Bradford saving all New Zealand children from child abuse?

    Auckland • Since May 2007 • 984 posts Report

  • Stuart Coats,

    Speaking of moral panic, check out this house:

    http://www.open2view.com.au/Property/76263?key=91c7eacbfaf7c619c5a8&search_id=957568

    There should be a lwa aginst taste like that!

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 192 posts Report

  • Emma Hart,

    Speaking of moral panic, check out this house:

    Now, how could one possibly justify a moral panic around a house? Oh, that's right, you move to Queensland:

    THE height of a proposed high-rise development has been slashed because parents fear pedophiles will be able to spy on children from the top storeys.

    Christchurch • Since Nov 2006 • 4651 posts Report

  • Stuart Coats,

    Oh, there should also be a law against my typing.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 192 posts Report

  • andrew llewellyn,

    Speaking of moral panic, check out this house:

    Take my haaaand, I'm a stranger in paradiiiise...

    Since Nov 2006 • 2075 posts Report

  • Andrew Stevenson,

    Good post again Emma; thought provoking, coherent, relevant and yet scary.

    I imagine this has been happening in some form since the first town meetings in Athens, has anyone worked out suitable counter strategies?

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 206 posts Report

  • George Darroch,

    And where would the Greens be without Sue Bradford saving all New Zealand children from child abuse?

    Where would we be without those moral crusaders, out to save innocent parents from prosecution?

    But lets have that debate again some other time soon :)

    WLG • Since Nov 2006 • 2264 posts Report

  • MikeE,

    "Yup. Sums up the Sensible Sentencing Trust (and the ACT party) in one."

    "And where would the Greens be without Sue Bradford saving all New Zealand children from child abuse?"

    Or Jim Anderton from BZP

    Washington DC • Since Nov 2006 • 138 posts Report

  • Danielle,

    Take my haaaand, I'm a stranger in paradiiiise...

    Bwah!

    Also: ya-ha-ha-HOWZA. That is SOMETHING. I mean, sorry for shouting, but the Botticelli Venus reproduction on the ceiling? And that bathroom! And the ACTUAL LION HEAD rug?

    Cannot. Process.

    Charo World. Cuchi-cuchi!… • Since Nov 2006 • 3828 posts Report

  • Stuart Coats,

    I wonder if the $15 million price tag gets you the furnishings as well.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 192 posts Report

  • Deborah,

    I think I realised that it was truly the house that taste forgot when I got to the photo of the bar.

    New Lynn • Since Nov 2006 • 1447 posts Report

  • Eddie Clark,

    Excellent post, Emma.

    Re the house. Two things stuck out to me.

    1) Poo coloured marble bathroom? Excuse me??
    2) How do big game hunter, italian renaissance, and especially the country distressed kitchen go together??? Was it designed by 4 different designers who never talked to each other??

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 273 posts Report

  • Gareth Ward,

    THE height of a proposed high-rise development has been slashed because parents fear pedophiles will be able to spy on children from the top storeys
    That's... I... But... Good Lord. Do pedophiles only operate effectively more than 60feet in the air?

    Auckland, NZ • Since Mar 2007 • 1727 posts Report

  • andrew llewellyn,

    And the ACTUAL LION HEAD rug?

    Reminds me of that picture opf Governor Palin reclining on a dead kodiak bear.

    I leave dead animals lying around like that & I get hell, I can tell you.

    Since Nov 2006 • 2075 posts Report

  • Emma Hart,

    THE height of a proposed high-rise development has been slashed because parents fear pedophiles will be able to spy on children from the top storeys

    That's... I... But... Good Lord.

    And see, this is one of the reasons it works. Because the sheer bat-fuck crazy just leaves you completely incoherent.

    Christchurch • Since Nov 2006 • 4651 posts Report

  • giovanni tiso,

    Poo coloured marble bathroom? Excuse me??

    One can finally use the phrase "peccable taste".

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report

  • Jolisa,

    How do big game hunter, italian renaissance, and especially the country distressed kitchen go together???

    What made me giggle was the name of this, er, palace. Madison. They go all out for "originality" on the decor, and then settle on a name unique to, oh, every other girl under five?

    Auckland, NZ • Since Nov 2006 • 1472 posts Report

  • Jolisa,

    Oh, Giovanni, touché! Forgive them, for they know not what they do.

    Auckland, NZ • Since Nov 2006 • 1472 posts Report

  • Andrew Stevenson,

    So can we start a moral panic about stupid laws and get them made banned (any MP introducing one considered stupid will be jailed)?

    Think of the effect the bad laws have would have on the children!

    Can you use their own weapons against them?

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 206 posts Report

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