Posts by FletcherB
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Sorry if this is repeat info, but I cant be assed reading the ~200 posts that came in since I last looked...
A few of you were interested in the details of the demographic break-down from exit polls....
The fourteen slide graphic on the front page of www.nytimes.com/ called "the changes in the map" has some really interesting info, including demographic voter swings for several of the states that went to Obama after rejecting Kerry in 2004.
It's really interesting stuff... In Florida, whites voted only 1% more Dem than 2004, but black and hispanic voters swung it over..... while in New Mexico it was a massive white swing from 2004 that made the difference... In one swing state, race didnt appear such an issue, but people earning over $50k changed their votes, while in another, it was the under $50k earners that did the business for Obama....
Also, of the 20 states that went McCaine, about 14 were still far higher Democratic result than last election, and only 4 had a clearly stronger Repub result than 2004.
I'm sure the data geeks would prefer even more detail, but it's not a bad start... :)
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The 1999 referendum question on law and order
Anybody remember, or have to hand, the specific wording of the question?
I remember it was a poorly thought out question, but not why.
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I realise I can't think of one technically proficient but aesthetically boring rock guitarist.
Clapton is usually pretty boring to look at. :)
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I took that test... apparently NZ First is my party with their and my views in 78% alignment! AAARRGGHHH!!!!
Then, next, Greens and Labour were neck-n-neck at 73 + 71 and National was way down at 63%....
If we eliminate Winny as a no-go area (it certainly is for me), thats a pretty fair reflection.... I've been confused and tossing up between the Greens and Labour, but recognizing that neither is my perfect fit... and while I wont be voting blue, I had considered it. A National win is not my preference, but I wont see it as the end of the world...
It's somewhat gratifying to find some numerical/statistical alignment that confirms the gut-feel conclusions I'd already come to... (apart from Winston- ech)
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Very easy to sort out.... either you stop taking holidays or we stop having interesting conversations. Which would you prefer? :)
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Rich...
Simplicity is always worth striving for in any system, especially a tax system.... but when the alternatives are filing no return and paying the current rate of tax, or filing a return to get a huge deduction/rebate/benefit.... you know what most people do, right?
As it happens, as an "ordinary employee" I dont file a tax return... But my wife has to file an IR3 so that we get working for families".... thats right, we file a return for zero dollars income. It's a pain in the arse, but it's worth ~$300 a fortnight for us.
Now, income splitting would suit our family very well (which I'm not suggesting as an argument in its favor), but the requirement to fill in a form annually to qualify is not that big a hurdle to cross...
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It occurs to me that either major party could happily "support in parliament" the Maori Party's entrenchment bill.... knowing full well that it wont pass because it DOES need support of both major parties to get the required votes to pass...
In the (small party) Leaders debate last night... thats all Tariana was asking for.... support the bill in Parliament....
So, you support it, and get ~55% voting in favor.... and it doesnt pass because it requires more than a normal bill... sorry, we tried out best... now you keep voting with us for the next three years like we agreed. :)
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+1 on the podcast issues...
Been hit-n-miss for months...
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I came to the same (not a lawyer) conclusion as Evan did...
If that is NOT what it's supposed to mean, it should probably be re-written.
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"The biggest enemy of art, is good taste." - Pablo Picasso