General Debate 11 March 2011

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Say Goodbye to Hollywood

Boy, that week went quick, must be getting old. Oh, first.
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March 11, 2011 8:05am
Inventory2

Are the lefties who vilified Judith Collins for things that she did NOT say going to do likewise to Phil Goff for something that he DID say? Or was their outrage faux?

http://keepingstock.blogspot.com/2011/03/of-looters-cellmates-and-firing-squads.html

I probably shouldn’t hold my breath …
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March 11, 2011 8:22am
Murray

First sensible thing Goof has said in a very long time.
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March 11, 2011 8:36am
Chris2

I heard Harawira on Morning Report an hour ago complaining how the maori party had already breached its agreement with him.

Apparently there was a deal that included him being allocated a good office at Parliament and a decent seat location in the Chamber. He complained he got neither.

Diddims.
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March 11, 2011 9:11am
Murray

The Maori party doesn’t assign offices, thats the speakers department.

Did he forget that too?

If he forgets much more maybe the SSC should “forget” to pay him.
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March 11, 2011 9:13am
Pete George

I also heard Harawira talking about trying to start a party that would appeal to both Maori and non-Maori. It will be tough for him to manage wider appeal.

Re his Parliamentary “deals”, it sounds like he wants to place himself on the outer except with inner baubles.
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March 11, 2011 9:19am
jonnobanks

What a joke Dick Smith is; http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/4755272/MP-Nick-Smith-caught-out-in-his-togs/ …. I wonder if he will use CHCH as an excuse for the ETS now
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March 11, 2011 9:34am
Chris2

The Pipatea Street house Nick Smith was dashing to from the Thorndon swimming pool used to be the Prime Minister’s residence for decades. Keith Holyoake would be spinning in his grave.

But at least Smith was only dashing from the pool to home, unlike Dover Samuels who was caught pissing in a hotel corridor.
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March 11, 2011 9:46am
Murray

Man wears togs shock horror.

Get a crutch jonno you’re as lame as they come.
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March 11, 2011 10:00am
side show bob

‘A party that would appeal to both Maori and non -Maori”, let me guess, far left fruitcakes, want ta be Maori’s ( Lilly white fools with large bone carvings hung by snig chains around their necks and speaking in foreign accents) and bludgers desperate for a position at the gravy trough.
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March 11, 2011 10:03am
Murray

Uncle Tanes SSB.
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March 11, 2011 10:10am
jonnobanks

Murray, why are your knickers in a twist? Why was angry? I am sorry, but it is you that’s as lame as they come. How are the toy cannons? You little child that never grew up.

Nick Smith is not just a man, but a MP who is in charge of important policy affecting everybody in the country. If he is just as child like as you are, then the country is truly in trouble.
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March 11, 2011 10:21am
Gosman

Hey David,

What happened to all that champaign that Busted Blonde received from the NBR and which you stated there would be a big party in Wellington to consume?

If it has happened then who won the prize from your loyal readership to partake in the festivities?
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March 11, 2011 10:22am
Christopher Thomson

Daniel Vettori, am I the only one that hopes he doesn’t make a comeback from his knee?

I don’t rate him as a spinner, remember how he didn’t take any wickets on the last day of the test. When did he take a serious amount of wickets against any of the top sides? How does his bowling stack up in the recent stats as being effective?

I also remember his fielding in the 1-dayer after he hurt his knee. He should have gone off as I believe he let too many runs go through him because he couldn’t move.

Once he’s gone then maybe they will finally stop selecting the carthorse that is Oram.

And they have to remove How from the team. How can anyone bat through the first 15 powerplay overs and score 4 runs!
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March 11, 2011 10:24am
Murray

Joono you being a pathetic dick does not constitute me being angry.

You weakass birdcage liner is fucking sad even for an agenda compelled leftie with a chip on his shoulder. Since when was it a mark of a deficient character to wear your bloody togs to the pool? People do it every day.

Stop being an immature asshole for gods sake, you just look like a complete idiot. Althogh that impression may not be entirely inaccurate.
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March 11, 2011 10:56am
Mr Nobody NZ

Bryla, said in the I’ve Seemed To Have Hit A Nerve Thread, “Last Tuesday in Afghanistan, nine boys between ages 8 and 12 were ruthlessly murdered by Apache helicopter in Afghanistan. What punishment do you think the pilots, politicians and cheer squad responsible should get for that crime?”

While the incident is clearly unfortunate using emotive words like murder is complete crap.

First of all the incident is still under investigation so currently there is no clear understanding of what the intent of the Apache crew however at this point the presumption has to be it is simply one of the many unfortunate situations that occur in war. It sucks and if I was one of the poor kids parents I would be enraged and probably be signing up with the Taliban right about now but its not Murder.
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March 11, 2011 12:02pm
Bryla

Mr Nobody, of course it’s murder. Murder by the cowards in the helicopter who, safe from harm themselves, gunned down an eight year old collecting firewood. Murder by the cowardly lying politicians who continue to say we’re “winning” (this is a war against tribal peoples that’s been going on for longer than nine years, has achieved precisely nothing, and has spread to Pakistan and Iraq. How do you sanitise it? Do you have children? Perhaps you’d care to sacrifice them for US/NZ/AUS foreign policy.
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March 11, 2011 12:10pm
jonnobanks

Whoa Murray, you kiss your mother with that mouth?

I am sorry Murray, but going on from your comments you have made over the years, it is you that is a complete dick. A sad little child. I don’t know what your insecurities are…. sad nonetheless. Nice arguments… I pity the fool. Both you and Nick Smith.
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March 11, 2011 12:18pm
Bevan

Bevan, just because you’re ignorant of any alternatives to violence doesn’t mean all of us are. You might try looking at the work of Gene Sharp and the International Centre on Nonviolent Conflict, or the Holy land Trust (distributing materials in Arabic on nonviolence).

Why is it that bullies and thugs so often use “the protection of women” as an excuse for their own bad behaviour. Giving out medals for murdering children indeed! Do you think you’re eligible for one?

Also from Bryla’s attempt to take the ‘Nerve’ thread OT:

Must be nice hiding behind your rose tinted glasses Bryla, face up there are fuckwits in the world who will use force against their own people – why don’t you take a gander at Libya: what do you think the chances are of the opposition defeating Gaddafi? NONE! How many rebel deaths are acceptable to you before you would intervene? None of your soft cock sit ins or protest marches are going to change the situation there! The only thing that will save the Libyan people from Gaddafi’s murder machine is military force – weapons, training, no fly zone & air strikes. Arm them enough to defend themselves, and prohibit Gaddafi from employing air assets against them.

But go stand on your street corner with your protest sign, [sarcasm]I’m sure Gaddafi and his sons will stop and listen to some soft cock aussie protestor.[/sarcasm] Meanwhile, the real men will do the dieing – rest assured they will hold nothing but contempt for you when you try to claim you helped.

And will innocent people be killed during the conflict: yes, exactly the same that has happened in all conflict since the beginning of warfare – but does that mean we should stand back and let dictators brutalize their citizens? It aint the 80’s no more.
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March 11, 2011 12:25pm
Mr Nobody NZ

Bryla, Firstly I believe that Soldering is an honest career that was good enough for My Grandfather, Father, Older Brother and Myself. If any of my Children (Yes I have two under 5 and a third due in the next month) then while I would worry if they were deployed I would fully support them.

As for it being Murder its not (At least from the couple of reports I have read). There is no evidence that the Apache Crew purposefully targeted the children, intended to kill children. Rather at the moment we have a scenario where several accidental killings occurred as has happened in every military operation from the beginning of time it sucks, its unfortunate but its war.

I am sure that the crew are suffering greatly right now, you would be hard pressed to find group of professional soldiers that would be happy to learn they had killed unarmed civilians let alone unarmed children but at the end of the day soldiers have to make life an death decisions usual in the span on milliseconds where getting it wrong typically means your own death.

As for the politicians you won’t find me defending their stances on Iraq/Afghanistan. While I believe there were good reasons to engage in military operations in those country’s the reasons the politicians used to sell Iraq war to the public I believe were dishonest and what had become obvious is that there was a distinct lack of planning around the Afghan conflict, in particular what the operational goals were. Both of these conflicts have been further hindered by politicians more focussed on public opinion polls and winning their next term in office than they have been on winning these wars.
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March 11, 2011 12:31pm
Bryla

Bevan “Meanwhile, the real men will do the dieing (sic)” despite the spelling error what you really mean is that “the brutal men will do the killing”. Why are you assuming that “the rebels” are in any way superior to “the government” in Libya?

Didn’t you notice that it was nonviolent civil organisation that ousted Mubarrack in Egypt? Milosevich in Serbia? While violence has comprehensively failed in Libya? In Palestine? In Afghanistan.

Still, I suppose you’re too busy preparing to go to Libya and fight yourself to be bothered listening to jerks like me. Godspeed.
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March 11, 2011 12:32pm
Bryla

Mr Nobody said “you would be hard pressed to find group of professional soldiers that would be happy to learn they had killed unarmed civilians let alone unarmed children”. I’d have to go all the way to the “collateral murder” tape from Wikileaks, where your “professionals” were exulting from a distance about the murder of civilians, and rejoicing about APCs running over corpses.

For revealing that little bit of US democracy at work, Bradley Manning has been subjected to psychological torture for 8 months and is now in a catatonic state after 8 months in isolation.

All of which is sadly “accidental” I’m sure.
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March 11, 2011 12:41pm
Bevan

Bevan “Meanwhile, the real men will do the dieing (sic)” despite the spelling error what you really mean is that “the brutal men will do the killing”. Why are you assuming that “the rebels” are in any way superior to “the government” in Libya?

You know, highlighting spelling mistakes is probably the lamest form of debate ever….

Looking at your rebuttal, you’d never ever try to remove ANY regime, no matter how despicable they are? That is nothing more than gutless bullshit. All you are saying is you don’t think Arabs or Muslims are capable of living in freedom.

So how despicable does a regime have to get before you’d agree a military option is the option available?

Didn’t you notice that it was nonviolent civil organisation that ousted Mubarrack in Egypt? Milosevich in Serbia? While violence has comprehensively failed in Libya? In Palestine? In Afghanistan.

WTF? Yeah right – cause Gaddafi is really respecting civilians tight to protest his rule isnt he! What fucken world do you live in?
Military intervention didn’t work in Serbia? WTF? I can only assume you failed to notice the Nato intervention in Yugoslavia which enormously weakened Milosevic to the point he could not stand retaliate, plus if he did Nato would have spanked his arse again!

As for Mubarrack – why do you think he refrained from attacking the protestors? Answer: Relations with the west. NO western country would have stood for it.

Still, I suppose you’re too busy preparing to go to Libya and fight yourself to be bothered listening to jerks like me. Godspeed.

We need a rolleyes emot here…

Mr La, you should refrain from assuming anything – you make yourself look like an arse.
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March 11, 2011 12:50pm
Mr Nobody NZ

Bryla said: “For revealing that little bit of US democracy at work, Bradley Manning has been subjected to psychological torture for 8 months and is now in a catatonic state after 8 months in isolation.”

Pfc Bradley Manning did not simply reveal a little bit of US democracy at work, he broke his oath as a US Soldier and stole and distributed over 250,000 classified military documents. Of which he rightly should face a military court. If he truly felt that the information needed to be seen in the light of day he could have easily invoke the Military Whistleblower Protection Act (source wikipedia) “protects the right of members of the armed services to communicate with any member of Congress (even if copies of the communication are sent to others)”

As for his psychological torture, it might be worth noting that as of December 2010 his Lawyer was saying that the guards were professional, and had not tried to bully, harass, or embarrass Manning and that his torture appears to being limited to only one hour exercise/day, being allowed to keep only 1 book/magazine in his cell and controlled access to writing materials and television.

The big complaint of his treatment seems to circulate around the fact he subject to a Prevention of Injury order which is one step below a suicide watch which requires checks by guards every five minutes, and no sleeping during the day and being required to remain visible at all times, including at night. As a result he has no access to sheets, no pillow except one built into his mattress however does have a blanket which is designed not to be shredded.

Until March 2011 he was allowed to sleep in boxer shorts, however following comments by Manning suggesting he could hang himself with the elastic from the boxer shorts it was require than Manning must sleep without clothing and present himself naked outside his cell for morning inspection.

It doesn’t seems like physiological torture to me and I suspect that if Manning did find a way to commit suicide you would be among the first to accuse the US Government of “murdering” him too.
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March 11, 2011 1:16pm
Mark

Egyptian women protesting violently and sexually assult by Egyptian males.

Egyptian Christians protesting another church being burnt to the ground, stoned by Egyptian males.

Peacful is anything but – maybe Keith Locke and the left can come out again and say victory for humanity.
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March 11, 2011 1:17pm
Lance

Bloody hell
If Bryla was around during WW2, blood pressure and apoplexy would have taken him/her long ago.

In any armed conflict right or wrong this has happened, does happen and will happen.

Insulting anybody who voices a different point of view to you will not alter that.
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March 11, 2011 1:17pm
bereal

More evidence of the inept hopeless foreign policy of Barry Obama. When the USA elected an
academic idealogue who is only really interested in social engineering and wealth distribution it
was bound to end in tears. The world needs a leader to to lead the only superpower and the free
world. That task is beyond Obama.
Today France recognises the revolutionaries in Benghazi, the US policy seems to be, wait and see.
Obamas security boss anounces Gaddafi will prevail. USA has to wait and see regarding a no fly zone.
Day of Rage tomorrow in Saudi Arabia.
Obama is having a news conference tomorrow, watch for a bunch of rhetoric that will sound good,
dont expect action or real leadership.
The world really needs a Reagan or even a W Bush or a JF Kennedy.
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March 11, 2011 1:43pm
RightNow

Tit&Nic: A love story on a sinking ship
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-_X6QY_Nrir8/TXlk5j-6dzI/AAAAAAAAS7c/McD2IaBaLv4/s1600/cameron_clegg%25281%2529.jpg
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March 11, 2011 2:18pm
Bevan

Insulting anybody who voices a different point of view to you will not alter that.

Its not very Christian of him.
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March 11, 2011 3:14pm
trout

I see that the media have elevated economists to the level of prophets. A bunch of young nerds who have probably experienced very little of the world beyond a computer screen are being given increased air time to express their very limited views and give opinions on how life in NZ should change as if they were the new Oracle. At least the older version: Oram, Rosenberg, Hazeldine, Easton et al are well known for having strong political bias that makes most of their outpourings suspect.
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March 11, 2011 3:54pm
Christopher Thomson

BUT WHAT ABOUT VETTORI?
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March 11, 2011 4:11pm
starboard

for Murray…

After experiencing the discomfort and embarrassment of a prostate test on the National Health Service, a friend of mine decided to have his next test carried out while visiting in Thailand where the beautiful nurses are rather more gentle and accommodating.

As usual he was asked to strip off, he lay naked on his side on the bed and the nurse began the examination.

“At this stage of the procedure it’s quite normal to get an erection” said the nurse.

“I haven’t got an erection” said the man.

“No, but I have” replied the nurse.
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March 11, 2011 5:08pm
Pete George

Even the experts…

Predictions of liquefaction ignored

When compiling a report on earthquake risk for ECan some years ago, scientists drilled about 600 holes around Christchurch to map where liquefaction was likely to occur.

Geological sciences lecturer Mark Quigley said ECan’s mapping of likely liquefaction was right for a lot of areas. “Some was worse and some not as bad [as predicted],” he said.

Dr Quigley himself was a victim in one of the much older suburbs, Avonside. His house was “absolutely hammered,” and he’s removed more than 500 wheelbarrow loads of sand from the property.

Can’t say he wasn’t warned. We all take considered risks. Hmmm – no liquefaction problem where I am, but there are a lot of loose rocks up the hill.
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March 11, 2011 5:09pm
RightNow

starboard – very good.

One day in the Garden of Eden, God was looking for Adam and Eve, he couldn’t spot them anywhere.
Eventually Adam walked out from some bushes. “There you are, where have you been?” said God.
“Well, me and Eve were having sex, it was great, I can’t believe you didn’t tell us about it” said Adam.
“Oh no! You’ve committed cardinal sin” said God. “Where’s Eve?”
“She’s washing herself in the river”
“Oh great”, said God, “now all the fish are going to smell funny”
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March 11, 2011 5:14pm
starboard

excellent RightNow.
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March 11, 2011 5:17pm
Viking2

Meanwhile Prime Minister John Key said today some overseas leaders may attend next Friday’s memorial service for Christchurch earthquake victims.

Key said that as well as the attendance of Prince William, who would speak at the Hagley Park service, there was talk other leaders may attend.

Mr Key declined to speculate on which leaders might attend.

I don’t suppose he will invite Frank! but maybe Barry will come. William can pick him up on the way over.
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March 11, 2011 6:55pm
Viking2

A young Arab asks his father:
What is this weird hat that we are wearing ?
It’s a “chechia” because in the desert it protects our heads from the sun !
And what is this type of clothing that we are wearing ?
It’s a “djbellah” because in the desert it is very hot and it protects your body !
And what are these ugly shoes that we have on our feet ?
These are “babouches”, which keep us from burning our feet when in the desert !

Tell me, papa…
Yes, my son ?
…. Why are we living in Auckland and still wearing all this shit ?
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March 11, 2011 6:58pm
Viking2

One for Dime and all those that frequent bars.

http://joeschwartz.net/shemale/index.html
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March 11, 2011 7:00pm
Viking2

Liddell resigns from GM – won’t rule out Fonterra job
11:30 AM Friday Mar 11, 2011

Kiwi executive Chris Liddell has quit his role as chief financial officer of US car maker General Motors just a year after he joined the company.

Liddell, who was last year named the NZ Herald’s Business Leader of the Year, will leave GM on April 1

Why did I post this?
Well IMHO Treasury could do with someone that knows what he is doing and Double Dipton needs replacing with someone who knows what he is doing.
Given his track record at both Microsoft and Gm he must be no.1 for both posts. Worth every cent if he could change NZ from its current indebtedness. Sell lots of useless Govt. organisations and bank the cash. Get rid of a lot more.
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March 11, 2011 7:06pm
Mark

Viking2 – in GMs IPO offering to the public in the report it stated that the internal financial controls in GM were not robust, which if you read between the lines there is no way GM actual knows if it posted a profit or loss for the year.

But yes he must be a great CFO because he was named NZ Herald’s Business Leader of the Year.

Surprised no finance company directors have been named as NZ Herald’s Business Leader of the Year.

It’s like the award not to get.
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March 11, 2011 7:14pm
Shunda barunda

Big earthquake in Japan, tsunami has hit the coast, fires in Tokyo.
mag 7.9
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March 11, 2011 7:27pm
OECD rank 22 kiwi

Big Earthquake in Japan.

“US geology officials said the 7.9-magnitude quake struck about 250 miles (400km) from the capital at a depth of 20 miles.”

Tsunami warning issued.
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March 11, 2011 7:29pm
adze

We just saw the Tsunami’s effects via a live feed on TV3, incredible.
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March 11, 2011 7:32pm
OECD rank 22 kiwi

Upgraded to 8.8 magnitude
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March 11, 2011 7:33pm
Shunda barunda

8.8!!
Shee-itt!!
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March 11, 2011 7:38pm
bereal

Maybe Ken Ring is not so stupid, still 9 days to go to the perigee.
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March 11, 2011 7:38pm
Pete George

Ding-a-ling is so stupid, he has been nowhere near “predicting” the current spate and certainly not this one, it’s been the opposite of what his “opinion” has been.

It looks very scary over there. Fires and flooding too.
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March 11, 2011 7:44pm
Shunda barunda

You’re really not into the Ring piece are you Pete!!
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March 11, 2011 7:48pm
Viking2

Roger Douglas – political swansong that needs urgent attention

Roger Douglas speech to the House on the Budget Policy Statement 2011:

On the 28th May 2009 I said in this House that “this is a budget of deficits. A deficit of spending, a deficit of the current account, a deficit of courage, but most importantly, a deficit of imagination”.

I realise that I got it wrong – I was being far too generous to the Government. This country is up the proverbial creek, not only without a paddle, but in a boat that is quickly sinking. We are running a cash deficit of $300 million a week (which is about to get much larger) and the Government’s response has been to act like cowards.

They have refused to do the right thing. They want to fund reports, hold press conferences, give speeches – do everything humanly possible to avoid making any decisions that might be unpopular. I am sick of it. We are in a state of financial ruin and the Government wants to sit on its hands. I am disgusted and have had enough.

New Zealand faces problems that are of a long standing nature. If we look around the world we can see inspiring examples of countries that have had the guts to do what is right, made the tough decisions, and are now enjoying tremendous success.

Their economic prosperity has meant that the vulnerable and old in society are looked after, the physically able have access to productive jobs, the sick have access to healthcare and their children are well-educated. These are the hallmarks of a functioning society. For many politicians in this House a vision of a prosperous society is just too difficult for them to fathom. Steve Chadwick made this clear when she said that her children had already resigned themselves to earning less in New Zealand than they would overseas. Is this the vision and inspiration we see coming out of the Labour Party.

What a great future and vision she has instilled in her children for New Zealand. Instead of looking for reforms that could see us pass Australia many politicians in this House have given up! It is a disgrace and unacceptable from a politician in this House. If this is what you are selling to New Zealand as their future you should give up.

In this speech I do not want to focus on a comparison with Australia, the National Party by rejecting the 2025 taskforce report shows that they do not want to catch Australia. This was too ambitious for them. I want to look at a country that we should be outperforming almost in every respect – Singapore. Singapore has everything against it, it has roughly the same sized population as New Zealand, it has absolutely no mineral wealth, and it could easily fit into Lake Taupō. In almost every respect we should outperform them, however the reality is that we do not even come close.

Let us draw comparisons between the two countries. First, New Zealand GDP growth in 2010 was under 1 percent. Singapore grew at a whopping 14 percent. In 1960, our GDP value was almost 3 times that of Singapore. In the last 20 years, Singapore has raced ahead. In 2015, Singapore will have a GDP value that is 3 times that of New Zealand. If we are to look at labour productivity per capita in New Zealand dollars – Singapore labour productivity in 2010 was $182,546 per person, that is almost twice New Zealand’s $93,365.

Why have they been able to achieve such prosperity with no minerals, no land and a relatively small population? They certainly did not do it by giving $43 million loans to private televisions channels. It is because they were willing to make tough decisions.

Government expenditure accounts for only 17% of GDP, that compares to New Zealand’s 43%. Their tax rates are also low, the top take rate being on 20 cents in every dollar kicking in at around $320,000 New Zealand dollars rather than the 33 cents which kicks in at $70,000 in New Zealand. Most importantly, their politicians had a vision for the future, they put aside short-term political gains and focused on the future – in short they had the guts to do what was right. They outlined a blueprint of where they want to go and they moved swiftly to achieve it. In doing so, they have left New Zealand in the dust.

But that is enough of that. What vision should we lay for New Zealand’s future? The first point should be to not accept apathy and poverty. We need new leaders that are inspired and inspiring. They need to implement quality reform. I want to outline what will be needed to leap over Australia and catch Singapore.

We need to decide to switch from government delivery, to private sector delivery like Singapore did in a whole range of industries. I have an 11 point action plan to get this country back on track:

1. Tax Choice

1. Introduce a $35,000 dollar tax free threshold.
2. Right to stay on current system for over 30s if they so choose.
3. Allow the poorest in society to keep their money – compassionate.
4. Singapore has a tax free threshold of around $21,000 NZD, and only taxes at 2% up to around $35,000 NZD.

2. Flat tax rate beyond $35,000.

1. Singapore have significantly flattened their tax rate. There top tax bracket is 20%, kicks in at around $320,000 NZD.

3. Replace company tax with an asset tax

1. 1.2 cents in the dollar (not available to fee based industries i.e. lawyers and engineers).

4. Healthcare –

1. Singapore 1 – 3 percent GDP v 9% in NZ.

5. Education

1. Māori – underachievement For Maori, 56 percent will not gain NCEA level 1 or above before they leave school.
2. More generallya third of school leavers fail to achieve NCEA Level 2 or higher.
3. Singapore – education is seen to be a great source of social mobility. Singapore has released statistics recently that show that children from disadvantaged backgrounds continue to achieve academically. Of students in the bottom third socio-economic bracket, about half score within the top two-thirds of their Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE). This is cannot be said about New Zealand.

6. Welfare

1. Minimum income.
2. Time limit.
3. Re-education.

7. Government expenditure

1. Goal to get total government expenditure under 20 percent – ideally get it to 17% like Singapore.

8. Regulations

1. Get rid of remaining tariffs.
2. Cut through red tape.

9. Immigration

1. Open up immigration – get skilled people in.

10. Reform Government assets

I want to provide a future where my grandchildren live in New Zealand and can earn wages that are competitive with the world. I have a vision. I know how to get there. I refuse to be like Steve Chadwick and let my grandchildren accept that we will always be poorer than everyone else. It is disgusting. It is time to wake up – it is time to lay the groundwork for our children, make the tough decisions, rather than sit back and give in to apathy and poverty.

http://lindsaymitchell.blogspot.com/
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March 11, 2011 7:57pm
Shunda barunda

In the past 40 mins in Japan there has been the following earthquakes:

An 8.9, 6.4, 6.4, 6.8, 7.1

Blimey!!
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March 11, 2011 7:58pm
Viking2

Anyone think we should sign up to Roger’s prescription? Nah maybe not. too many socialists on this forum.
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March 11, 2011 7:58pm
Pete George

Bloody horrible, Sky News just had a live helicopter shot of the tsunami engulfing buildings, farmland and vehicles on roads.
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March 11, 2011 7:59pm
Shunda barunda

Bloody Hell!! did you see the size of the tsunami?
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March 11, 2011 8:05pm
adze

Hot from youtube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xDNIb1vRQqM
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March 11, 2011 8:07pm
big bruv

Those poor buggers in Japan, I hope that our government has already scrambled our USAR teams and offered them to the Japanese government, I don’t give a damn what the cost is, this is the time that we must offer to help our mates in the same way they were so quick to help us.
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March 11, 2011 8:14pm
Shunda barunda

This is a truly horrendous disaster, TV3 now running a live feed.

USGS earthquake list:

http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/recenteqsww/Quakes/quakes_all.php
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March 11, 2011 8:26pm
Hurf Durf

That international airport looked like a lake. No doubt the waters took the planes on the tarmac and threw them about like toys.
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March 11, 2011 8:35pm
Pete George

We’ll be only seeing small bits of it but that’s bad enough.
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March 11, 2011 8:37pm
adze

Pacific tsunami warning issued for pretty much all the Pacific…
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March 11, 2011 8:51pm
double d

devastating for Japan. the force of the tsunami looks incredible.
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March 11, 2011 9:02pm
Shunda barunda

There is some amazing footage of the second (third?) waves of the tsunami rolling into the coast line, terrifying stuff.
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March 11, 2011 9:09pm
bereal

In eight days the moon will be closest to the earth since 1992
You cant tell me this has nothing to do with the current spate of earthquakes around
the world. i dont believe its just a fluke.
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March 11, 2011 9:16pm
bereal

In 1992 , the last time the moon was this close to us there were eartquakes in California, Turkey,
Nicaragua and Egypt. Try and say the moon has nothing to do with earthquakes.
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March 11, 2011 9:24pm
Pete George

That’s not what Ring says bereal – “The moon will be 356577kms away on March 19, and this will be the closest it has come to Earth since 12 Dec 2008”. The 19-21st of March will be a potent date for an extreme event.

And he also predicted 5, 19, 20, 21 March, so he missed out on all of the current cluster off Honshu.
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March 11, 2011 9:31pm
big bruv

‘Try and say the moon has nothing to do with earthquakes.’

OK…the moon has nothing to do with earthquakes.

Seriously bereal, you do yourself no favours with this type of superstition.
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March 11, 2011 9:36pm
Yvette

1992 quakes
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_20th-century_earthquakes
look at the years either side
and worry?
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March 11, 2011 9:40pm
Pete George

I survived those ones ok Yvette, and I don’t know anyone in Japan, it was truly awful seeing some of the coverage but I’m not worried about where I am for now, tsunami warning or not.
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March 11, 2011 10:03pm
dime

Holy shit. This is brutal.

Poor buggas

Hope it doesn’t wipe out Hawaii or anywhere else
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March 11, 2011 10:03pm
reid

Why is the very idea of exploring the possibility of moon gravitational influence upon plate tectonics anathema to some? Since we haven’t yet found the Higgs Boson we can’t yet precisely measure gravity and until we can do that we can’t rule anything in or out about this possibility, I would have thought.

Also, whether or not a particular student of the hypothesis makes an incorrect measurement and/or draws an incorrect conclusion(s) makes not a jot of diff to whether or not the hypothesis is null.
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March 11, 2011 10:13pm
Pete George

It’s not anathema Reid, it’s accepted, but very inaccurate. For people fleeing Christchurch next weekend the warning wasn’t much good, over a week early in Japan.
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March 11, 2011 10:15pm
reid

This is going to hit hard in Guam, Palau, Marianas, Marshalls, Micronesia and moving into our regional islands. Also Indonesia and PNG.
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March 11, 2011 10:22pm
reid

it’s accepted, but very inaccurate.

As soon as we can accurately quantify the force of gravity we can do a simple calculation and see whether or not its possible and since we know the mass of the moon and the mass of the plates we can look back over past events/moon perigrees and see what happened, given also we know the plate dynamics. It’s pretty simple, all we need is that Higgs Boson then some really brainy people to tell us what all those squiggles mean.
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March 11, 2011 10:29pm
hj

Witchy-poo knocketh:

“The humanitarian effort on the ground will be needed for a very long time. It needs to be led by the strongly networked groups like Aranui Community Trust and the marae and Pacific community networks. We need to back these people because they are part of the vulnerable communities.”

One of the good things about the quake is the way state house tenants took off (no jobs- no commitment)
http://blog.greens.org.nz/2011/03/07/door-to-door-in-christchurch/
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March 11, 2011 10:31pm
Inventory2

Civil Defence is warning of waves up to 1 metro arriving at North Cape around 6.30am …
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March 11, 2011 10:47pm
reid

If I was a photo journo I’d be speeding up to Cape Reinga right now. You should be safe from the cliff top.
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March 11, 2011 11:13pm
reid

Of course it could turn out to be a complete waste of time as well but then I’m not a photo journo so I don’t care.
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March 11, 2011 11:21pm

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