Posts by Sacha

Last ←Newer Page 1 2 3 4 5 Older→ First

  • Hard News: Smack to the Future,

    The majority of people agree that speeding should be illegal. The majority of drivers speed on occasion.

    The majority of parents have smacked their children. The majority of New Zealanders do not agree that that should be illegal.

    Isn't some underlying disquet because disciplining/punishing children is seen by many as mainly the domain of the family, while speeding is only seen as public domain? Hitting children unquestionably has public implications, just as speeding has private ones. The perception seems different, though.

    I also found it telling that on Q+A the frontwoman for the referendum mentioned "defiance". Unquestioned parental authority seems to be an issue for some, and you can hear the resentment at that authority being restrained in any way.

    In the USA, that attitude would probably come carrying guns, so I feel quite fortunate that here it waves sermons and petitions instead. Still pretty unattractive, though.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • Hard News: A voice of reason and authority,

    Other parts of NZ should be ruled on a colonial basis, with limited autonomy to decide on garbage collection and parking rules.

    Auckland has a job for you. From where you are now, if you like - it's the traditional way.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • Hard News: A voice of reason and authority,

    I believe Craig summarised it well on t'other thread:

    a concentrated burst of innumeracy, functional illiteracy and plain making shit up.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • Hard News: A voice of reason and authority,

    So long as you don't kick them for the purpose of correction.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • Hard News: A voice of reason and authority,

    Or "when did you stop beating your neighbour?"

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • Up Front: The Up Front Guide to Parenting,

    You haven't met Emma.. :)

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • Up Front: The Up Front Guide to Parenting,

    I am twelve

    Overcome momentarily by an inappropriate Five Go Mad flash.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • Up Front: The Up Front Guide to Parenting,

    Uh, the Tertiary Education Union has um, a Combined Unions Negotiating Team.

    I'm sure that's what the opposing negotiators called them..

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • Hard News: A voice of reason and authority,

    Craig, I'm becoming frustrated with you not getting what I am saying. You seem obsessed with the party political process, which I am simply not talking about. Got that?

    I am not being cryptic, though I may be assuming some wider knowledge of similar discussions here, which you have been part of. I don't think that's unreasonable. However, here goes my final attempt to spell it out for you.

    Rodney Hide is using his role as Minister of Local Government to push for changes which - based on experience elsewhere - seem highly likely to disrupt real people's lives.

    That includes both his proposals to cap spending across all Councils and redefine their scope, and in particular the Auckland region's sweeping governance changes which he has had a major influence in shaping so far (though his latest dummy-spitting shows some limits of that power).

    Forcing the man out of that role seems far from disruptive by comparison. I encourage any moderate National voters to lobby their representatives for Rodney's bluff to be called.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • Hard News: A voice of reason and authority,

    FFS, disruption to real Aucklanders, not some beltway political process. Lift your eyes, man.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

Last ←Newer Page 1 1616 1617 1618 1619 1620 1971 Older→ First