Posts by Idiot Savant

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  • Southerly: A Trip to Canberra with Alan Bollard,

    Just like flying from Wellington to Palmerston North.

    I can't believe people actually do that. Quite apart from the fact that after the airport bullshit, its not that much quicker than driving, there's nothing here.

    Now, going the other way, I can well believe. Who cares how you get out of Palmerston, provided you get out?

    Palmerston North • Since Nov 2006 • 1717 posts Report

  • Hard News: So far from trivial,

    I'm not so sure he should be prosecuted. Isn't it up to the victim whether to make a complaint? She chose not to, and I think we should respect her choice.

    The reason the ancient Athenians moved to public prosecution for crimes was precisely because private prosecution allowed the rich and powerful to victimise the poor and weak with impunity. And I don't think anyone in New Zealand (other than perhaps certain select members of our rich and powerful) would be happy with that.

    Palmerston North • Since Nov 2006 • 1717 posts Report

  • Hard News: So far from trivial,

    pushing someone to the ground and kicking them so hard you break their back isn't "lashing out", it's - I don't even know if vicious is strong enough.

    You forgot the "repeatedly" in there, which means the words you're looking for are "vicious" and "sustained".

    Palmerston North • Since Nov 2006 • 1717 posts Report

  • Hard News: The Greening,

    (albeit some are "sustainably" grown, whatever that means)

    It means its grown in a plantation which is then replanted, like most of the ones in NZ, rather than being made from clearcutting the rainforest in Indonesia.

    Palmerston North • Since Nov 2006 • 1717 posts Report

  • Hard News: The Greening,

    I thought that supermarket plastic bags were already biodegradable.

    "Biodegradable" in the sense that they eventually break down into smaller pieces of plastic as the links between polymer chains break. But at the end of it, you're still left with a pile of plastic, and nothing eats it or breaks it down.

    Palmerston North • Since Nov 2006 • 1717 posts Report

  • Hard News: The Mood,

    I was scoffed at last week when I said that the Labour were out of touch
    But that is what it feels like out in the wops, wops

    The thing about the wop wops is that no-one lives there, which means that electorally, they don't matter now that we have MMP.

    Harsh, but true.

    Palmerston North • Since Nov 2006 • 1717 posts Report

  • Hard News: The Mood,

    If National continue as they have done, raising hopes that can't be met, they will soon be as unpopular as Bolger/Richardson in 92/93, and MMP will mean a one-term government.

    Or less, because if they're not a majority government, then they'll have a coalition or cooperation partner who may decide to pull the plug and be hailed as heroes rather than go down with the sinking ship.

    (This, IMHO, is a feature, not a bug: a real check on the ability of governments to lie to the public and hide their agenda. But in order to work, it requires minority government, which is not what the polls are telling us ATM)

    Palmerston North • Since Nov 2006 • 1717 posts Report

  • Hard News: The Mood,

    __ Bolger really is the Stateman Moore wished he was.__

    .... and just about half the statesman Lange was.

    But still twice the statesman Key wil ever be.

    Palmerston North • Since Nov 2006 • 1717 posts Report

  • Hard News: The Mood,

    After seeing who voted for the Criminal Procedure Bill, I wonder if anyone cares.

    And we're going to get extra helpings of the same fear and resentment when the Immigration and Criminal Proceeds bills come back at the end of the month.

    Palmerston North • Since Nov 2006 • 1717 posts Report

  • Hard News: The Mood,

    It's one thing to ride on a wave of unfocused anger -- some of it from people who seem to think the government should be able to protect from every insult, even the imagined ones -- and another to find the place is ungovernable when it's your turn.

    Jim Bolger was smart enough to understand that. But is John Key (or Murray McCully)? And more importantly, does he care?

    Palmerston North • Since Nov 2006 • 1717 posts Report

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