Posts by slarty
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Thank you. I mean it. My mum always did it, and seriously they struggled to get people to turn up to make it work some years (mainly when Thatcher was at her height...)
The best argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voter
But equally:
It has been said that democracy is the worst form of government except all the others that have been tried.
And of course in this situation:
Everyone has his day and some days last longer than others.
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Hard News: Democracy Night, in reply to BenWilson,
Yeah, there’s some cases. Pretty few, I’d have thought.
Estimates vary, but about 1,500 people commute from Waiheke. I'd guess maybe half of us have to use a second form of public transport. Personally I used to get a bus every day (the monthly passes cover most of the buses, both ends).
To me the train thing is more about the quality of central Auckland - a bit like the waterfront. And for all the FUD, such things tend to be self funding in the long term (imagine Sydney or London without decent rail...)
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Hard News: Democracy Night, in reply to Ian Dalziel,
l perpetual motion funding device
I'm afraid I shall have to start using this in my professional spiel!
I will of course give full credit :)
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Hard News: Democracy Night, in reply to Jimmy Southgate,
I think there may be reasonable support for selling the shares into SuperFund / KiwiSaver schemes
They do realise that this is a fantasy don't they? Unless we generate $7Bn of 'new cash' from the sales even Treasury admit it makes no commercial sense (the interest on borrowing about $7Bn is covered by dividends from the assets being sold).
For a start, the Super fund (that one set up by Cullen in the face of demands for tax cuts that is currently saving our collective arses :) is included on the balance sheet projections, so any transfer of ownership would have no net effect.
And the whole point of Kiwisaver funds (IHMO quite rightly) is that they aren't politically driven beyond the incentive to participate. If they were they are effectively just plain old fashioned NZ Super - and that will never survive as a contributory scheme under that structure
Like I say, parallel universe where the normal laws of time and money appear not to exist.
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Hard News: Democracy Night, in reply to Kumara Republic,
True. I mentioned this to a (grey, white, female) stranger on the ferry just now. She was horrified and started mumbling about a war. It's not the first time I've heard my elders and betters say a civil war is looming. Where do they get their brainwashing? Or do I exist in a parallel universe?
I still trust Iwi much more that the old white men.
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I am almost tempted to tune into talkback to listen to the ranting that will be prompted by this.
The dissonance it will inspire would be a joy to behold.
But the more I think about it, the more it sounds like a least-worst outcome.
I honestly think many people who voted National thought that "nice Mr Key" wouldn't really go through with the sales...
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Hard News: Democracy Night, in reply to BenWilson,
The left needs to talk, listen, argue and develop an alternative, more collective and communal vision for the country.
+3 then.
... again - a party with dignity fighting for an equitable society.
Anybody fancy having a whip-round for 122 copies of The Spirit Level? (and 10 copies of Zombie Economics...)
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Capture: Walk across the rooftops., in reply to Sofie Bribiesca,
Sofie, would that be the Amerigo Vespucci? Can't see well enough to count the masts!
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Capture: Walk across the rooftops., in reply to Lilith __,
I recall swimming somewhere on the North Shore and getting pink toilet paper (remember that?) in my fingers... ahh the good 'ol days when nobody drank to excess, there was no crime and our environment was truly clean and green.
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Hard News: Criminalising Journalism, in reply to Jackie Clark,
Was anyone else aware that Jehovah’s Witnesses don’t vote?
Thank Christ for that.
(sorry for any offence, but I couldn't resist)