Posts by nzlemming
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Hard News: The real problem with the…, in reply to johnno,
Hmm, with all that crowd, one does wonder how he could "accidentally" leave a recorder on a table he could barely see.
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Hard News: Back to mediocrity, in reply to Russell Brown,
But I've been going to watch rugby at Eden Park for a long time, and I just find it bizarre that the basics -- a scoreboard and clock and competent ground announcing -- aren't regarded as necessary any more
Even Athletic Park had that much ;-)
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Hard News: The real problem with the…, in reply to John Morrison,
Don't you think this decision is the most 'helpful' to get the saga off the news cycle, and everyone saves face?
Now, why should the police be concerned with anyone 'saving face'? Their job is to enforce the law. Of course, now, without a test case, we have no idea exactly what the law is, which I think is Russell's point.
ETA Snap, Mik
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Hard News: A storm in any port, in reply to Steve Barnes,
I would call that arrogance
I would call that a complaint to the Ombudsman.
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Speaking of moving on, folk have probably not missed Nick Smith's resignation from his portfolios, but not from parliament. http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/6608670/Nick-Smith-resigns-ministerial-portfolios
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Hard News: Reputation and remuneration, in reply to Scott Chris,
Besides, what real news value does a story about maggot burgers actually have?
Exsqueeze me? Got Marmite???
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Hard News: Reputation and remuneration, in reply to DexterX,
For Paula Bennett her behavior damaged her credibility – she has paid a price for that and is a List rather than an electorate MP
I think you'll find that Bennett won in Waitakere, after specials and recounts.
And the character in Othello is Iago. You're getting confused with National party ministers - understandable as they are equally treacherous ;-)
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Hard News: The Vision Thing, in reply to Rich of Observationz,
It's the smaller ones who have the biggest problems.
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Hard News: The Vision Thing, in reply to Sacha,
Maybe Smith is one of those scared little lads with control issues?
The key issue is the private sector aspect. Nactional want to sell anything that isn't nailed down, and they believe that being able to pry it up with a crowbar means it wasn't nailed properly in the first place.
So, first, you get LG out of stuff that your mates can make a profit doing (see Brownlee's comments about "the market will provide" in Chch), then you ditch the stuff that isn't profit making (like housing and infrastructure) on the basis that it's not "core services", and then you take over the debt that councils have incurred, on the basis that you also take over the assets that the debt enabled, then you sell off the assets (theoretically to pay the debt) to the mates from step one, which leaves tiny impoverished councils with nothing but rates for funding, which in turn means those councils will have to come cap in hand for government funding and that's how you control the spending. And somehow, this is supposed to reduce rates.
Let's face it - change is needed. Most councils are technically insolvent, because of the debt, just like many private companies, and their rateable population is just too small. But what Smith appears to be proposing is a gutting of democracy at the local level. Sure, we'll be able to vote for councillors, but they won't have the resources to actually do anything.
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I posted a link on FB before:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2012/mar/19/david-cameron-sell-off-roads
**David Cameron unveils plan to sell off the roads**
Sovereign wealth funds to be allowed to lease motorways in England, says prime minister
Anyone offering a pool on when this becomes 'long considered National policy'?