Posts by Andre
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There are a large number of writers with no journalism training as well. I wrote for my local paper, school magazine etc before scoring a job selling ads for a trade magazine publisher. I never went to journalism school but ended up as an editor of a monthly magazine my own company published (20,000 circulation to businesses). The understanding of the commercial side of the industry is pretty much self-taught from what I've seen. If I'd done media training in 1986 when I left school it would now be very redundant since fax machines didn't even exist then. My brother also worked as a writer/editor for years with no official training - we both just knew instinctively how to write. So the journalists exiting training are just the tip of the iceberg. The graphic design industry is even more over-trained I think.
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@Islander - I expected the Greens to be polling on about 20% by now and wonder who the pollsters contact for their surveys. They are the only show in town if you're a left-winger. There is a sharp divide between those who hate beneficiaries and those who don't, and I think that is a more prevalent theme than most policy areas when looking at what people are saying online and over the course of conversation. It's like the whole economic situation is the fault of sickness beneficiaries like SBW's sparring partner tonight and students who haven't paid their loans off - and that those who have "worked hard their whole lives" are entitled to be bailed out of the recession by future taxpayers. Selling the utility companies and Air NZ is fine as long as it gets them beyond the global recession without losing a bean. And bugger the unemployed, low wage workers and solo mums - it's all their fault. It's rather sad but I feel that is the argument that will win or lose the election. I used to know people who would vote for the party that would guarantee their mortgage rate wouldn't increase - and beneficiary bashing seems that type of issue for many. I think that you are right about a marked difference in attitudes between young and old but there are a lot of twenty-somethings out there that hate beneficiaries too. In some polls it is 65% of all respondents across the board. It could be the issue that decides the election - are you willing to bash a bene? It's a sad indictment on us as a society and reflects a loss of community compared to our egalitarian roots.
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I think the Herald editor forgot to read yesterday's article about the Global Commission on Drug Policy report and has the gall to give us an opinion piece today urging the criminalisation of the "new synthetic drugs". Ignore the fact that the approach is not working why don't they? They also ignore the top experts in the world by spouting such trash. Grrr. Hope you're feeling better Russell. Winter has definitely arrived.
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He has set himself up as an enemy of the Governor General and Prime Minister though...
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Hard News: Time to get a grip, in reply to Russell Brown,
I wonder what will happen to the Green vote in Auckland Central without Nandor in the running. A lot of traditional Labour supporters may have given him their electorate vote. Many others may not have voted for him but might like his replacement. It could have an effect on Labour's polling this year.
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Hard News: The digital switch-off, in reply to Russell Brown,
I reckon Fonterra should give free dairy produce to kiwis as a response to their polluting ways... and have been boring peeps about it for about 3 years now. They deliver the product and stack the supermarket shelves themselves already, so the retailers don't lose much other than space. You would still have to buy boutique items like feta, cream, clarified butter and could still buy Mainland if you wanted a branded product. But basic unbranded milk, butter & cheese would be available with a ration card of some type for free. We only eat 3% of what is produced yet can't swim in most waterways as a result of dairying. They have been asked to change, promised to self-regulate and haven't bothered. I hit up the Fonterra exec at the filming of Media7 at the Classic about two years ago and he reckoned they were trialling a scheme involving 15000 low-income earners. I think it went the way of their promise to fence waterways...
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I'm about to be offline for a while but will check back for Worik's response later... cheers!
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I have to say that before Worik Stanton attacked me I hadn't read all of the Green's policies... but I still think that there should be a party like the Alliance circa 1992 that included various left-wing viewpoints with a lesser degree of ecological bias. Like a capital gains tax-introducing non-National party party that doesn't require us to compulsorily go organic?
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And just to support the meme of this thread I agree that the best programmes from TVNZ7 should be screened on TV1 or 2 or a public broadcaster showing news, doco's and current affairs-only would be a good idea.
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@Ben I think that we should means-test superannuation payments before we start attacking beneficiaries and low-earners, and no political parties are brave enough to address the issue. Support the 70% of elderly who need support - for sure. We are in trouble financially and the idea that we pay $16500 to Michael Fay, even though he resides abroad, seems unfair. The older generation have paid taxes but not compulsory super - so doesn't that make the pension a benefit?