Posts by BenWilson
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Voting Green might do more to help National get in, only if the Greens decided to work with National. But they might be a very moderating influence on National if their coalition votes are actually needed. Voting Green might also help Labour get in.
But I think the likely kingmakers are going to be the very small parties. UF, ACT, Maori. If ACT don't get in (which could possibly be achieved by tactical left voters putting the National candidate in, something they should seriously consider), then it seems likely to me that the Maori Party will be the only moderation on National. Indeed, they could hold the power to swing the entire government either way, if they choose. Or it could even come down to Harawira. If he refuses to work with National, which is very likely, then the center parties could topple left, giving a Labour+Green+MP+Mana (and probably UF, the eternal swinger) party.
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Speaker: Why Auckland, and New Zealand,…, in reply to Russell Brown,
Pick up the car in the morning, bro. The last train’s at 12.36am. Night may have barely started by then ;-)
Heh, an extra trip just to use the train :-)
I've found it very useful for trips to Waiheke. Train is much nicer for children in prams, and the car is safe outside the house with the huge savage dog that barks ferociously at every single passer by.
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Speaker: Why Auckland, and New Zealand,…, in reply to Russell Brown,
I confess, it's taken me too long to realise what a sweet way into town the Western Line is from Pt Chev. Baldwin Ave is a 5 min drive from where I am, and a fairly safe place to leave the car if I'm in for a big one.
Hmmm, but after the big one, it's a 5 min drive home?
ETA: Buses seem to be better options for boozy nights unless you're walking distance from a train station. Pity, trains are much nicer to ride in. Trains sell on their convenience for commuters. Integrated ticketing would make a huge difference.
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Speaker: Why Auckland, and New Zealand,…, in reply to James Butler,
And the commercial truck driver, don't forget them. The trucking sector is by far the biggest beneficiary of the RONS program.
And Big Cycling too, they're all road users who won't get a damned thing out of a rail loop, but could cut those Kaitai-Invercargill trips down with the cycleway of National Party significance.
The stupid thing is that good rail is really, really good for cars and trucks, because it takes lots of private vehicles off the road. It's a really cost effective way of keeping our road infrastructure efficient. If only the petrol heads could grasp this, they'd realize they get a lot of bang for rail buck.
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The problem with GST is that it's a regressive tax generally. That can be offset in income taxes.
I'm not a fan of exemptions generally, if the goal is improving health. In Australia, the idea was to not cause a rise in the cost of food, without suggesting that poor people eat unhealthy when pinched (even though it does seem to be true).
When I worked in Oz, the project to bring in GST was about the same in size as Y2K - around 30 full timers for a year for a company around 1000 people in size. But they didn't already have GST.
Pushing for healthier eating is better achieved through education.
I do also like the idea of communal plots for growing your own, although I'm not really sure how you prevent theft. In the UK these plots are in locked walled compounds. I don't think it would have a huge effect on health for working classes, who would relish working the land after a hard day's work about as much as you'd imagine. But for the underclasses it could be a boon. They're good for community spirit, focal points for social interaction. People do like fresh fruit and veg, particularly when you can see for sure that it's fresh.
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Hard News: Walking upright again, in reply to Emma Hart,
He was wrong. You may wish to substitute your own words for "wrong"...
Look, it's dynamic environment.
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Cracker: Spotted, in reply to Steve Barnes,
Oh damn, I won't be there by 7! :-)
Seriously, I'll see you later then, don't know when this meeting's going to end, but I'll drop in to see if you're still around after.
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Speaker: Doing the right thing on retirement, in reply to Kate Hannah,
Yes, it seems that childcare is something quite a lot of grandparents actually enjoy. I don't want to speak for all old people on that, of course. But it's the same old unacknowledged work that is actually of utmost priority and value.
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Speaker: Doing the right thing on retirement, in reply to Sacha,
The limitations can be easily seen when older people advise younger ones about things like how easy it is to get a job if you want one.
Of course. But if you're even talking to them, there's a chance to put your perspective. And it is good to ask them about just what kind of job it was, how they got it, what sort of pay it was on, etc. All of that feeds back to them in terms they can understand. Sometimes they don't listen, sure. But that's often a two way thing.
ETA:
Differing contexts add richness to inter-generational conversations, so long as they are acknowledged to exist.
Was that an edit? If so, snap.
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Cracker: Spotted, in reply to Steve Barnes,
Neighbourhood bar tonight?
How late you staying? I have a meeting at 6:30, but would pop in later if some peeps are going to be there.
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