Posts by Angela Hart
Last ←Newer Page 1 2 3 4 5 Older→ First
-
A big part of the problem we have here is this unquestioning repetition of statements by the media without any checking whatsoever. Truthiness results when people have seen/read/heard the same lie so many times without it ever being challenged that they accept it as truth. It’s a terrible way to ru(i)n a country. Perhaps the repetitive sound bite aspect of this method will eventually be remembered as John Key’s legacy.
-
Polity: Home-spun non-truths, in reply to Sacha,
yup, that was a golden opportunity lost
-
As a philosophy I think a UBI is a very good idea, but there are obvious potential issues with it in practice.
Clearly, there would be negative consequences if it were to be introduced at a level significantly lower than the level of National Super, unless there were years of preparation to ensure that elders had the means to manage via Kiwisaver or other retirement plans.
For those of working age, having the means to manage between paid jobs without all the crap which has been developed to discourage beneficiaries is an obvious plus.
But the need to supplement the income of those who cannot work long term would continue. This is the bit I worry about. Seniors have been able to wield political power and lobby to get their needs addressed. Those who cannot work long term have not been able to do this, so their needs are not met unless their incapacity is the result of an accident, in which case they should be adequately catered for by ACC. People who are not able to work for long periods, or for their lifetimes, who are not covered by ACC are on very low incomes. In addition they are seen as bludgers when in fact the welfare state is meant for them.
If we changed to a UBI, it would be very easy to continue to ignore this group, and there might well be deaths if they were worse off financially than they are at present.
When any new scheme is mooted we always talk about monetary cost. This one in particular needs to also consider the costs and benefits to New Zealand society, we need a way of looking at these which can stand alongside the merely monetary in the judgement process.
As for the question of can we afford it, of course we can. We spend far too much punishing and trying to fix people rather than preventing problems in the first place. A sensible UBI could pre-empt many of the problems which result in hospitalisation, crime and imprisonment. -
Legal Beagle: The Teapot Moan Scandal…, in reply to andin,
"Honest" has a different meaning to Mr Key, There are so many examples of him saying things as PM that are not true, that I cannot trust almost anything he says.
-
Polity: Home-spun non-truths, in reply to Rob Salmond,
confident Labour’s policy at the election will be a “Labour” proposal rather than a “Labour and Green” proposal.
It's past time that Labour got with the Greens and showed the public a collaboration which could govern capably and with integrity. Labour has no show alone.
-
Access: Disability as a wicked policy problem, in reply to Sacha,
that's one hell of a budget blow out, yes, it could be a reason for his quitting.
-
Iain Duncan Smith, British work and Pensions Secretary, has resigned over the cuts to supports for people with disabilities
http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/world/299375/uk-minister-resigns-over-benefit-cuts -
Hard News: Dirty Politics, in reply to Alfie,
Eighteen months after the illegal Police raid on Nicky Hager’s home, his computer equipment will finally be returned today.
I hope he gets compensation for the loss of his work equipment for 18 months, I guess a sincere apology for the despicable way he and his family were treated is too much to expect.
-
Polity: Global behemoths and tax, in reply to Peter Davis,
You're being generous if you think they missed it. They just haven't done anything about it.
-
Surely the researchers' role on such a panel is to be informed about the pros and cons of various methodologies and pass that information to the group. If the senior stakeholders then choose less accurate/reliable methods because of cost issues, at least they will be aware of the reduction in accuracy/value of the resulting information.
What the research will help them achieve may well be compromised when poor methodologies are employed. They need to know that the money spent may be entirely wasted if poor decisions are made about methods.