Posts by martinb
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includes discussion on astroturfing and the tobacco lobby, related to plain packaging in Aussie.
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Look David, if you’ve had writers block you don’t have to hide from us behind these kinds of stories- just come right out and say it! We won’t judge you.
Even though- does the invention of wild, wild, extraordinary excuses for not having completed any writing count as creative output enough to be considered completed writing?
Seriously though, best wishes!
When times get tough ask your self- what would Alan Bollard do? After reading your fine piece of financial reporting a few years back I often turn to the Bollster when I’m at a low ebb. Alternating between him and Kenneth off 30 Rock, of course.
It's good to hear you caught a break.
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The ASBP?? heh.
Sport and class in NZ is interesting, or class and ethnicity.
This discussion: from the ashes.
I remember this coming up as a discussion point in my 5th form English class after studying Pygmalion.
I was one of two students who argued for the proposition "that New Zealand wasn't a society where class mattered."
I, the idealist, argued equality of opportunities, assistance to achieve (eg Ms Bennet) and the justice system so that there was a fairness in way the law was applied irrespective of who you are, at that time citing the catching of tax evaders.
The other student argued that we had shrugged the historical shackles of the English or European class system and the basis for it there wasn't relevant here.
Other students, from memory, argued about the importance of connections, schools, knowing the right people (particularly given say a Kings preball- Norgate, Key and so on...!) ...and other things I have forgotten.
Gee, this is one to go dig out those academicky articles or smart folk right? I've think I've got Belich on this somewhere...
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OnPoint: Dear Labour Caucus, in reply to Jeremy Eade,
hey Jeremy I understand you were trying to start a discussion about Paul Ifill's influence on the nascent middle class football culture in New Zealand, but perhaps Ben "Scores winners" Sigmund, or Manny "God with us" Muscat may have been a better place to start- golly am I hoping for 3 'Nix wins plus beating the Aussie's at cricket!
Dear I say it my girlfriend should go on overseas trips more often for these important sporting weeks!
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OnPoint: Dear Labour Caucus, in reply to Sacha,
Is that a fair characterisation of what is happening specifically with Labour though?
Remember too that the tactics of this term have been to create false moderate positions for the Key government, by setting up a more extreme proposition further right such as the Working Welfare Group.
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OnPoint: Dear Labour Caucus, in reply to Damian Christie,
Dude please do. I enjoyed your contributions.
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OnPoint: Dear Labour Caucus, in reply to Lew Stoddart,
arggh. I'm not even a party member and I'm equally or more naive. But I feel I have to respond to Lew, one final time.
Dude, I think it is wrong to judge reaction to Shearer from the party activists yet, a day after he has won and those who strongly supported Cunliffe are coming to terms with the loss and what the future direction of the party will be.
I think this attitude and the statements of yours need much more unpacking.
Again I'm unqualified, but from what little I have read my understanding was that political parties were becoming the world over less and less mass movements, and that even where someone like Obama engaged a large number of people through social media the engagement was fleeting and the commitment limited.
Part of the problem of Labour may be what a contemporary MMP political party should be and how it should organise itself, and how it can include and attract those time-poor and poor-poor people who are highly skeptical of what value they would be allowed to add. Or have no history of political engagement personally or in their family. I'm sure that Moira Coatesworth is and has been thinking about these things. As you say crucial things for NZ and the state of our democracy.
I think in any group you are going to have a range of opinions and experience. Even the one-eyed can have skills to bring to the table, especially if they are offering them gratis.
Anyone who door-knocked, enrolled or engaged a voter during the election as you said deserves our admiration. Even the obsessive ones.
Ultimately too, politics is about a group of people and to steal off Churchill: People are the worst, apart from every other evolutionary step that has come before them!
hope not too flame grilled? cheers
p.s. I feel there is also a bit more to this as you talked about losing those with 'moderate' views which suggests a drawing of a political continuum that itself isn't static. I'm not sure in what sense you meant moderate here.
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OnPoint: Dear Labour Caucus, in reply to Tom Semmens,
So yes- to sum up- the majority of Labour activists who have been door knocking, scruntineering, pamphlet dropping, putting up signs and actively working to try to save assets, get children out of poverty etc etc over the last couple of months are obsessive and stupid and therefore shouldn't be listened to. Unlike caucus, the media and the blogosphere which is wise and worldly.
I'm confused if the message is to reinvigorate by ditching everyone who has been working for you. That sounds suspiciously like the Nats line on public service jobs- reinvigorate the economy by pruning the deadweight back office jobs.
I certainly don't think this will be Shearer's line.
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OnPoint: Dear Labour Caucus, in reply to Keith Ng,
Well we really appreciate your efforts to keep the 'pure politics' reality grounded and based on evidence and sources. Keeps us well-informed and less ignorant in our opinions.
It will be interesting to see what happens with Labour from here.
Cheers Keith!
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To Shearer's credit he is reported as saying Cunliffe will have a very senior position. So just to see where he and Parker end up.
Interesting times. Fingers crossed.