Posts by Graeme Edgeler

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  • Hard News: Just marketing to the base,

    Way back on page 1, Danyl noted:

    Still, its worth remembering that only three years ago the National Party welfare policy was to punish women on the DPB who had additional children by totally cutting off all their benefits.

    This wasn't the case.

    At the last election, National discussed whether they might remove the automatic right to a DPB increase for recipients who had additional children while on the DPB. E.g. a DPBary with two dependent children and who received a DPB at a level calculated for one parent with two dependent children, who gave birth while on the DPB, might still receive the DPB at that level, instead of automatically getting the DPB at the level calculated for one parent with three dependent children.

    Not saying I think it was a great plan, but it wasn't nearly as bad as you make out.

    Wellington, New Zealand • Since Nov 2006 • 3215 posts Report

  • Hard News: Just marketing to the base,

    the highest marginal tax rates in the land will be faced by those trying to get off the bottom rung.

    No, they might be high, but the abatement on the student allowance allowance above the earning threshold is 100% (which is a decrease(!) since the last election).

    Every dollar a student earns over the abatement threshold is a dollar they lose from their allowance.

    Wellington, New Zealand • Since Nov 2006 • 3215 posts Report

  • Field Theory: Out of the Blocks,

    Has there been any gymnastics on TVNZ free to air?

    Yes. Quite a reasonable amount over the weekend on TV1 - it was qualifying, I believe. I assume the finals will also be broadcast.

    Wellington, New Zealand • Since Nov 2006 • 3215 posts Report

  • Hard News: A few days away,

    [NBC shows] so much beach volleyball it's creepy.

    To be fair to NBC, with their on-line coverage, they're showing more hours of Olympic coverage than were shown in the US in all the earlier Olympics combined. I think they're just showing a lot of everything.

    Wellington, New Zealand • Since Nov 2006 • 3215 posts Report

  • Island Life: A boycott would do nothing,

    A second channel devoted to the games would make a lot of sense.

    You mean like TVNZ Sport Extra on Freeview? They should totally have something like that!

    :-)

    Wellington, New Zealand • Since Nov 2006 • 3215 posts Report

  • Hard News: Beijing: Ignoring it is not…,

    Meanwhile, Keith Quinn is blogging. Could it get any wilder than that?

    Well, I went through the link, started reading and then realised I'd kept reading and read all the posts so far. A good sign for a 'blog, I think.

    Wellington, New Zealand • Since Nov 2006 • 3215 posts Report

  • Hard News: John Key(nesian),

    I can't actually understand why FHP as you call 'em aren't free. How is it a choice to consume such items?

    I will claim no knowledge of FHP, but I'm pretty sure I have to eat food and have to pay for it!

    Wellington, New Zealand • Since Nov 2006 • 3215 posts Report

  • Hard News: Wild is the Weekend,

    Will someone please ask National whether they'd do a deal with this bunch of neanderthals...

    They're not running for election as far as I know.

    Wellington, New Zealand • Since Nov 2006 • 3215 posts Report

  • Hard News: Wild is the Weekend,

    Later on, after lamb and lentil stew, we watched an Alastair Cooke documentary I'd downloaded -- I hadn't appreciated what a rake he'd been as a younger man

    Not quite the impression you get watching Alistair Cooke's America ... which provides me an excellent opportunity to recommend that you all watch it (purchased legitimately, of course).

    Wellington, New Zealand • Since Nov 2006 • 3215 posts Report

  • Hard News: Just Some Things,

    Did I mention it's my birthday?

    No. But Facebook did.

    Wellington, New Zealand • Since Nov 2006 • 3215 posts Report

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