Posts by Andre
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Putting our utilities under private control doesn't make any sense knowing that we were overcharged $2.5 billion for power in the last five years - and that was by SOE's in the main.
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What was Bridgecorp's statement of intent?
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Why ask for ownership to be returned unless they want more power over the management of the area? If you check out the Wairoa District Council which governs Lake Waikaremoana, Maori seem under-represented in the area's local government: http://www.wairoadc.govt.nz/council/representatives/
http://www.whakatane.govt.nz/About-the-Council/Council-People/Mayor-and-Councillors-Profiles/
There seem to be multiple councils governing the area outside central government. Maybe government could set up a local body that acknowledges their tribe members' geographical location - a super-district... -
It's crossing a line and we had no control over events 100 years ago. Parts of Urewera maybe could be returned such as Maungapohatu (if it's not already in Tuhoe ownership) and the fertile lands taken by the government in 1865. Lakes Waikaremoana and Waikareiti are treasures of the nation as well as Tuhoe. Two-thirds of the troops that fought Tuhoe 150 years ago were Maori.
There must be other ways to settle treaty claims than through diminishing our conservation estate. Most of their original fertile lands are probably now in private hands. Wouldn't it make more sense to purchase it back if we really want to set things completely right? It was the loss of their fertile lands that apparently caused the famine etc. -
We shouldn't give our conservation lands to Maori. All New Zealanders would continue to have full rights of access but would still feel as though they were crossing someone else's property.
I think that Tuhoe want to be their own sovereign nation with all others excluded and I think that allowing that would be a backward step in our growth as a nation. My kids shouldn't be made to feel like outsiders anywhere in NZ and if they are it shouldn't be by government decree. Just as Maori should never be made to feel like outsiders in our own country.
And the terror raids just sound sickening - the police state creeps ever closer... -
FPP = For Powerful Politicians. Once they are in power they can move the electorate boundaries to stay in. Social Credit was a system to achieve equality by asking consumers what they most wanted and then producing it, rather than producing stuff then trying to find a market for it.
Wikipedia says "Consumers, fully provided with adequate purchasing power, will establish the policy of production through exercise of their monetary vote. In this view, the term economic democracy does not mean worker control of industry. Removing the policy of production from banking institutions, government, and industry, Social Credit envisages an "aristocracy of producers, serving and accredited by a democracy of consumers." Socialism that has an aristocracy.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_Credit
The "Crimpoline Suit and Skoda Brigade" were our largest third party for decades but were seen as anti-semetic because they opposed the classical monetary system and founder Major C. H. Douglas was convinced of an international jewish banking conspiracy (ahead of his time perhaps). His ideas were seen as slightly keynesian - and Keynes is back in vogue since the credit crisis. -
These are my thoughts on the anti-MMP campaign's leader's viewpoint:
"Me and my friends have so much money that it is worth us sinking billions into ensuring our future political protection by bringing back FPP, allowing us to distort electorate boundaries to put our cronies in government. Then we can pay back sectors of business that support us unfettered by the weight of public opinion. I pine for the days of farm subsidies and think big!" -
I agree that NZ media were uninterested spectators at the UK's political meltdown in contrast to their sideline cheering for Obama at the last US elections. That may be because Obama had a fairly clearly enunciated vision (CHANGE NOW!!!) and charisma. His beliefs included a fairly trade protectionist stance that wasn't really reported here though. The Uk's politicians make Bill English look charismatic...
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Would Dave Dobbyn's career have been more successful if he had government funding in the late 70's, early 80's?
Should NZ artists seek commercial success or be happy with just "reflecting NZ culture". Many of my friends are alternative musicians who actively seek to avoid sound "commercial". Occasionally they produce music that is uniquely brilliant but a lot of the time many bands are experimenting and growing instead of trying to sound radio friendly. Over the years some of my mates have driven me nuts by not playing more commercial sounds BTW - but they are artists and it's their call. The $50k minimum should be reduced so that bands that show promise but don't just want to appear on radio or TV can be supported too. -
Let's acknowledge the fact that the system to date has seen the market for NZ music expand exponentially. I'm more worried that National will just dump the whole thing so that they can give the uber-wealthy some more tax breaks.