General Debate 16 August 2011

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krazykiwi

I’m cold. So is Cuba Mall 🙂
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August 16, 2011 8:08am
starboard

f (*&% snow !!
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August 16, 2011 8:08am
Scott Chris

Redneck Olympics: The main events:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/8696232/Redneck-Olympics-the-main-events.html

Y’all come back now y’hear?
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August 16, 2011 8:09am
Longknives

The Watermelon Speed-Spitting contest looks like one heck of a good ‘ol time….
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August 16, 2011 8:14am
Murray

Hey I know, why don’t we wait for it to snow in the afternoon, add raid and freezing temperatures then drive like an asshole on the way to work on Tuesday morning!

Who let the jafa into Palmy?
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August 16, 2011 8:15am
Scott Chris

My favourite event is Bobbin’ for Pigs Feet:

Bobbin’ for Pigs Feet Pickled limbs are generally used for this delightful contest, which sees contestants plunge face first into troughs of water only to re-emerge with their quarry gripped between their teeth. Those to retrieve the most feet in an allotted period of time raise a trophy of a mounted, crushed beer can.
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August 16, 2011 8:15am
Murray

Socialist olypics: EVERYONE wins because failure is bad k.

Medals for all comrades.
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August 16, 2011 8:16am
starboard

where ya lern ta spell murray?
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August 16, 2011 8:18am
nasska

Did everyone see the news item about “Happy Feet’s” reluctance to go for a swim yesterday? Apparently the zoo vet had to shove him into the pool. If Wellington is too cold for penguins maybe it is time to abandon the wretched place.
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August 16, 2011 8:26am
krazykiwi

😀
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August 16, 2011 8:27am
103PapPap

Never eat yellow snow.
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August 16, 2011 8:32am
flipper

The Government should do more to create jobs!
We need more taxation!
Well… so say Goffie, Love my Hair, et al.

All that sounds like Obama and his idiot academic (9.2%+ unemployed but really 14%+)acolytes.
Sure, tax more. Create illusory Government ” make work” jobs.

It is established as fact that:

1. Only the private sector can create and maintain real jobs.
2. Lowering tax rates actually increases tax revenue (even if the cost of administration cuts 20-25% from the monies received).

Dumb Goffie. Dumb flake media types (Holmes and Espinder especially).

Dumb NZ Herald.
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August 16, 2011 8:34am
Lipo

This sort of story gets me excited
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=10745424
I mean how are the employers supposed to pay there employees if they do not come to work and produce anything
Typical NZ, always wnat something for nothing. Heard a good remark on radio last week, We should rename New Zealand to Freeland
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August 16, 2011 8:35am
krazykiwi

Lipo – note that story has Matt Jones declaring what, in his opinion, an employers legal obligations are. Clearly paying tax isn’t one of them
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August 16, 2011 8:41am
Pete George

Some interesting comments from Teenagers cool towards ‘pocket money’ scheme:

Glen-Paul Waru, who tutors the Mangere course and hosts his own Tuesday night hip-hop show Juicy on Juice TV, said National was “on to something” with its plan.

“It was an eye-opener for me when I started working with at-risk youth. I was blown away with the holes in the system and the inadequacy of Winz.”

He said many families pushed their teenage children into applying for the IYB, arranging for aunts or uncles to declare that the children no longer got on with their parents, because the families needed the extra income.

Many teenagers lied about how much rent they paid so they could get more money. Most received travel allowances of $10 a day to get to class but got lifts with friends so they could spend the money on drugs and alcohol.

“I’ve voted Labour all my life except last time, when I voted no confidence,” he said.

“I’m voting National, only because I’ve been working in this environment for a year and I see how youth are affected … I think National is on to something. It’s not perfect but it’s a step in the right direction.”

Mr Waru said life for his students barely extended beyond their home and their course.

“I took them to Warkworth two weeks ago and half of them had never been over the harbour bridge before.”

There’s other tricks too, like claiming they live at an address further from their course so they get more travel money.

Targeting areas with relatively high proportions of problems is smart, as is trying to teach them better ways as soon as possible. The target demographic includes some of the worse (and disadvantaged) youth, and it’s very difficult if not impossible to intervene successfully with some of them, the too hard basket cases, but even if they could turn half them around it would be a major improvement.
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August 16, 2011 8:48am
flipper

Ah Yes, Pete.
But you are a realist (well, most of the time!). Good stuff.
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August 16, 2011 8:58am
wreck1080

Once again the ‘experts’ get it wrong on the New Zealand dollar…

Yesterday…
http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/market-data/currencies/5447800/Kiwi-may-gain-as-equity-markets-recover

The New Zealand dollar may rise this week, as equity markets recover from a three-week selloff following the US credit rating downgrade

Today….

http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/market-data/currencies/5450936/Investors-turn-their-backs-on-dollar

The New Zealand dollar fell against all major currencies last night as investors returned to stock markets with gusto and largely ignored trading in the kiwi.

Currency forecasting is a mugs game.
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August 16, 2011 9:42am
Pete George

Should we address yet another part of our dishonest society?

Is it time for ‘cash only’ jobs to end?

Bugger the tradesmen trying to evade taxes – it’s time to refuse offers of under-the-table work, says former Fair Go presenter Kevin Milne.

He is pushing for a campaign to end “cash only”, unrecorded payments – which let tradesmen dodge taxes.

He said that every job that skirted taxes cost everyone else in extra taxes to make up for it.

But it’s just what Kiwis do, get away with what we can and complain about others that do it.
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August 16, 2011 9:46am
jaba

Strike season
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August 16, 2011 9:50am
Scott Chris

Wreck,

This just in:

The Kiwi dollar is expected to rise tomorrow based on predictions related to Happy Feet’s reluctance to take his usual morning dip.

Further news:

Oil prices set to fall as concern rises over the ongoing wrangle over the price of All Black rugby jerseys.
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August 16, 2011 10:03am
wf

The elders are teaching the kids their culture, isn’t that what we all do? They know what works. John Key says these young people should be under the care and attention of their parents but if they won’t look after them, then the state must. (Of course, they are being looked after but not in the way the government expects.)
What would you do with your pregnant 16 year-old?

No doubt the rules will be strict, like having restrictions on change of address, appropriate living companions, etc.

One wouldn’t expect a teenager to be enthusiastic about anything that might cramp their style.

IMO anyone who gets pregnant before they can provide for the child is not a mature, thinking, person anyway.
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August 16, 2011 10:05am
Viking2

Murray (8,053) Says:
August 16th, 2011 at 8:16 am

Socialist olypics: EVERYONE wins because failure is bad k.

Medals for all comrades.

Ha Typical NZ politicsas well.
Reminds me of keys undetaking to include the Greens, Maori, United whatever and Act in his running of the country. Losers take all like we have now.
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August 16, 2011 10:16am
Griff

We may get the reintroduction of youth wages
http://www.3news.co.nz/Youth-rates-being-considered—Key/tabid/419/articleID/222326/Default.aspx
Also note key has made a statement that reform will be rolled out across welfare. Is this the start of things to come I hope so
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August 16, 2011 10:23am
Lee01

“We may get the reintroduction of youth wages”

Fantastic news! Lets hope they do more than just consider it.
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August 16, 2011 10:26am
peterwn

Pete George – IRD do pay alot of attention to businesses where a significant portion of income is cash. Some are easy to check eg taxi owner-operators, pubs, etc since IRD can easily check their inputs (eg the amount of beer and top shelf stuff supplied to a pub). Another means of checking is going through building and electrical permits. It is more difficult for high labour content jobs where the amount of material used is small and variable. Another method is assessing the ‘financial worth’ of a taxpayer to see if it is in line with declared taxable income. As Kevin Milne is advocating is for customers to get involved and not be parties to tax evasion by tradespeople. Unfortunately a tradesperson who is not excessively ‘greedy’ with cash jobs and is careful with how the cash is spent would be difficult for IRD to ‘finger’. However IRD does hold all the trump cards and the Ace of Spades when dealing with suspected tax evasion so this helps their side – for example IRD can issue an assessment almost on a whim and onus is very much on the taxpayer to rebut it.
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August 16, 2011 10:29am
Murray

Just another day at the office for the peace loving palos.

http://www.jpost.com/Defense/Article.aspx?id=233918
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August 16, 2011 10:30am
Murray

My question Viking is why Key has decided before an election to include people that his suporters vote AGAINST.

We’ve told him we don’t want them… so he includeds them. WTF?
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August 16, 2011 10:31am
mikenmild

Key’s tactic may be aimed at further undermining the Labour vote, by holding out the prospect to Maori or Greens voters that they would have some influence in a National-led government. Some voters undecided between Labour, Maori or Greens might prefer some influence in government to none.
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August 16, 2011 10:34am
Banana Llama

Freezing my damm ass off, i moved to dorkland to get away from the cold.
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August 16, 2011 10:35am
Griff

If you want Nat to go more right vote act not Nat. if you want national to be more Maori vote Maori not Nat. It allows a more inclusive form of government which hopefully is good for the country. MMP is poorly understood as yet. Some are beginning to wake up to the strategic significance of the party vote most are still asleep
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August 16, 2011 10:52am
Lee01

“If you want Nat to go more right vote act not Nat.”

That depends on what you mean by “more right”. Which Right?

I like some of ACT’s policies, particularly their education policy, but at the end of the day they are still essentially a liberal party, and liberalism, even in its right wing forms, is the essential root problem not only in NZ but the West as a whole. Party voting ACT does nothing to solve that problem.
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August 16, 2011 11:04am
Griff

Then you need to work towards a party that shares your views or accept Nat which is now the center party.
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August 16, 2011 11:13am
Brian Marshall

Banana Llama, I have real problems. It’s colder outside than in fridge.
Do I leave my beer outside to chill and run the risk of not finding it till after the snow thaws or not?
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August 16, 2011 11:19am
Banana Llama

Brain.

Cleaning mobo’s with Isopropyl … i’m worried i’ll go up like roman candle if i turn the heater on, maybe i could just drink it instead =)
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August 16, 2011 11:30am
Owen McShane

Why Fisher and Paykel are moving their clinical trials off-shore.

We have written off a high tech business that in my time used to be worth about $150,000,000 and had great prospects for growth. We really know how to kill off high value business.

Shaun Holt, medical researcher writes this story in 2009.

“Last year I submitted an application for a simple study to see if honey could help treat a common skin infection in children that is otherwise very difficult to treat. Only 15 children were required for the study, and all the caregivers had to do was to apply the honey, cover with a dressing and see if it seemed to help.

In order to apply to the ethics committee, I had to consult a Maori health provider to make sure there were no cultural issues if any Maori children took part and see a justice of the peace to sign a statutory declaration.

The application itself needed around 9000 words to complete and over 350 pages had to be submitted. For a study which could not be any simpler and had almost no chance of causing any harm, the application process took longer than doing the study would have.
The study was rejected by the committee and around 40 points were raised, most of which were either wrong or not relevant to the ethics of the study. For example, I was told to consult at least two more Maori health providers and to have systems in place for interpreters, even though the study was to be undertaken by a few GPs who would ask their own patients with this condition if they wanted to take part.

This example demonstrates how the ethics review system is extremely onerous for researchers and not capable of quickly approving simple ethical studies. Rather than the international standard of five committee members of whom one is a lay person, New Zealand requirements are for 12 members of whom at least half are lay people, and a lay person chairs the committee.
Medical researchers are hugely frustrated by the quality of the ethical reviews of their proposals, the work required for an application and the time taken for the responses and approvals. One of our leading orthopaedic surgeons has said the greatest impediment to medical research here is the growth of the ethics committee process.
Since then the process has grown further. The solution is simple. The Minister of Health can approve private fee-paying ethics committees, which can operate according to the international guidelines. There are people ready to run these committees and a one-week simple process, as opposed to the current 10- to 20-week nightmare, would also attract research to this country.
The global clinical trials industry is worth over US$60 billion and is growing rapidly, yet we undertake only around US$10 million here.
Also, clinical trials give participants free access to the latest medications and reduce the burden on the health system.
The New Zealand medical research ethics review system wastes researchers’ time and energy and stops good research that can be of huge benefit to our health and economy. This surely is unethical.”
* Shaun Holt is a doctor, researcher and author.
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August 16, 2011 12:17pm
tristanb

Griff: If you want Nat to go more right vote act not Nat.

Sadly, a vote for ACT is likely to be wasted. They’re relying on John Banks – and he’s an absolute ****. I voted for Loony Len (who I hate) for mayor because I couldn’t bring myself to support Banksie.
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August 16, 2011 12:28pm
Lee01

“Then you need to work towards a party that shares your views or accept Nat which is now the center party.”

The Nat’s are a center right party. I don’t think a party that introduced the 90 day probation period and is in favour of asset sales and welfare reform can reasonably be called “center”.

Of course they are not conservative either, which is a problem for me, but neither are ACT.

As a traditonal Tory there is no party in NZ that fully shares my views ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Traditionalist_conservatism ) so I vote for the lesser of evils.
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August 16, 2011 12:31pm
Courage Wolf

What a fucking pussy:

http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/5450860/Return-of-youth-wage-unlikely-Key
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August 16, 2011 12:50pm
Elaycee

@tristanb says: “I voted for Loony Len (who I hate) for mayor because I couldn’t bring myself to support Banksie.”

That worked out well, didn’t it?

Now we have the biggest moron since Dick Hubbard in charge of Auckland. And decisions to match his IQ. For example, Len decided that he wanted to explain to ratepayers about the new rates. So far so good, but then he backs a daft decision to send out this advice in a separate mailer rather than include his note with the rates demand sent out at the same time. Net (extra) cost to ratepayers – approx $300,000.

Great thinking on your part…. not. Besides, there were other candidates on the ballot paper….
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August 16, 2011 1:00pm
joana

Cabinet is to meet in CHCH to commemorate the first aniv of the Sept 4 quake…Spare us , spare our born days. Haven’t we suffered enough?
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August 16, 2011 1:16pm
Mick Mac

Vote party vote ACT.
Imagine if the 80% who Key stiffed actually did that. Would Key sit up and take notice?
Of course he would because he would have his hands held by someone who did listen to the 80%
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August 16, 2011 1:17pm
backster

LEE01…………..I understand and share your dilemma.
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August 16, 2011 1:47pm
Viking2

so no it seems that key and Bennett still don’t get it. So in plain ordinary Kiwi, for their benefit.
Get the fuck out of peoples lives.

Look at todays action by EPMU.
Hundreds of steel workers strike
WILLIAM MACE
Last updated 13:01 16/08/2011

About 850 steel workers walked off the job last night at NZ Steel’s Glenbrook, Taharoa and Waikato North Head sites.

The Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union (EPMU) said the workers called a 24-hour strike from 7pm after a breakdown in collective agreement talks.

Get these arseholes out of peoples lives as well.

!00.000 dollar earners and they want more privilegefor working in a non competitive envioroment.

So lets let some of those who can’t get jobs have a crack at the cost. I’ll bet we can find a few hundred at $50K no problem.

This is why you have o many unemployed, some many young without jobs.

Mr key and your followers grow some nuts and deal to this shit be reinstating the contracts Act .

anf hurry up about itbrefore all the freezing workers start and the dairy workers. Its that time of the year.

But you no longer care about farmers do you.
You want the Labour urban liberal vote so you can remain in power.
Disaster ain’t ya.
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August 16, 2011 1:53pm
jaba

100k would be average for operations staff (would include overtime and allowances) .. many are at the 120k level, similar to a school principal in charge of hundreds of kids and teachers.
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August 16, 2011 2:39pm
Griff

Bias in MSM

head line at stuff Return of youth wage unlikely – Key

“We will consider it,” he told TV3’s Firstline programme. “I wouldn’t say we would necessarily carry it out.”

“While a youth minimum was a factor, the Government didn’t want the public to believe it was the only factor

.”I think as part of an overall package it might be considered but I wouldn’t want to say it’s front and centre stage, I really don’t think it is.”

This does not say unlikely
Key is watching the poles to see which way to jump on this
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August 16, 2011 3:04pm
AlphaKiwi

Warren Buffet shits all over neo-liberalism.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/15/opinion/stop-coddling-the-super-rich.html?_r=2&hp
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August 16, 2011 3:18pm
joana

The idea of Cabinet coming to CHCh for Sept 4th is getting a thrashing in the Press comments section. How can anyone in WGtN be so insensitive and so out of touch? Do they really have no idea of how many people , are living here?
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August 16, 2011 4:11pm
joana

Airfares , hotels , lunches , dinners , allowances , taxis…How much is this sideshow going to cost?
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August 16, 2011 4:16pm
RightNow

Stop The Environment from Ed Asner

Cars have climate control…
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August 16, 2011 4:19pm
tristanb

Great thinking on your part…. not. Besides, there were other candidates on the ballot paper….

You’re dead right that Len is a corrupt wasteful bullshit artist, who is obviously mentally ill, and makes Minto look right-wing.

But you know. I’d do it all again. I just have an irrational hatred of John Banks. Sadly there was no third horse in that mayoral race, and I wouldn’t have been able to live with myself if I saw Banks’s face as mayor. I admit it’s probably a psychiatric condition of mine – I got furious when at the bottom of the Herald there was a picture of that grinning arsehole and his Order of Merit. I wonder if I have suppressed memories involving someone who looked like him, or whether I’ve been exposed to some subliminal left-wing propaganda.

Either way, if I saw the smarmy bastard on the road I’d cross the street and vomit. Can’t explain it any better than that!
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August 16, 2011 5:06pm
tom hunter

Warren Buffet shits all over ~~neo-~~liberalism…..
via:
– ownership of life insurance companies that just love higher estate taxes as it’s the main driver for their estate tax planning.
– making a billion dollars out of the bailouts through buying chunks of Goldman Sachs, on the assumption that the US would bail it out.
– is planning investments in notorious government slurpers Archer Daniels Midland (PBS says thank you), and ye old warmonger supporters General Dynamics.

So I can see why he wants to boost government revenue.

In any case he should have taken note of these points on tax, which he appeared to miss or not know of.

I think the GOP should call his bluff and wipe the Bush tax cuts for people making more than $1 million per year – it’ll get them $40-50 billion a year – enough to pay for almost two weeks of the deficit.

Oh – and he hates Obama’s suggestion of screwing with corporate jets. See “Self Interest” (aka George Soros).

I never thought class warfare people were such cheap whores but I guess George and Warren know their markets.
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August 16, 2011 5:34pm
Elaycee

I see that Mallard has been kicked out of the House…. again!

What a complete tosser – he is out of control.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10745504
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August 16, 2011 5:52pm
Elaycee

tristanb says: “Either way, if I saw the smarmy bastard on the road I’d cross the street and vomit. Can’t explain it any better than that!”

Well, in that case maybe there is justification for an invalid voting paper. I’d sooner be seen socialising with dear leader (and there is NO chance of that), than be caught voting for Loopy Len Brown. His ‘legacy’ will take a decade to sort. 🙁

But each to their own, I guess….
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August 16, 2011 5:55pm
nasska

tristanb

If it’s any comfort Banks has that effect on many people. He may save ACT by holding Epsom but he will be an albatross around their necks when the party vote is counted. If the stupid old fools who run ACT had any balls they would have ditched the supercilious loser & taken the chance of campaigning hard for the party vote nationwide.

Banks & a couple of hangers who will guide the party down the shitter will be the reward for their timidity.
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August 16, 2011 5:55pm
jaba

maybe mallard got himself kicked out so he could get more training in before Sunday
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August 16, 2011 6:09pm
Grant

Comment of the week from the neo-economic geniuses at the standard:

From that great hater of the right, and uber uber lefty, colonial viper:

Colonial Viper 10.2.2.1.1
16 August 2011 at 6:08 pm

The other thing to do is for governments to not borrow money at interest, but to print it free of interest and free of debt. The supply of money can then be directly tightened or loosened as economic circumstances and the economic cycle requires.

That’ll work….
G
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August 16, 2011 6:39pm
Steve

Shit it has been cold in Auckland. But just imagine how cold it would have been without Global Warming
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August 16, 2011 6:41pm
Steve

A young lady in the maternity ward just prior to labour is asked by the midwife if she would like her husband to be present at the birth. “I’m afraid I don’t have a husband” she replies “OK Do you have a boyfriend?” asks the Midwife “No, no boyfriend either.” “Do you have a partner then?” “No, I’m unattached; I’ll be having my baby on my own.”
After the birth the midwife again speaks to the young woman. “You have a healthy bouncing baby girl, but I must warn you before you see her that the baby is black.” “Well,” replies the girl. “I was very down on my luck, with no money and nowhere to live so I accepted a job in a porno movie. The lead man was black.” “Oh, I’m very sorry,” says the midwife, “that’s really none of my business and I’m sorry that I have to ask you these awkward questions but I must also tell you that the baby has blonde hair.”
“Well yes,” the girl again replies, “you see the co-star in the movie was this Swedish guy.” “Oh, I’m sorry,” the midwife repeats, “that’s really none of my business and I hate to pry further but your baby also has slanted eyes.”
“Yes,” continues the girl, “there was a little Chinese man also in the movie, I really had no choice.” At this the midwife again apologises, collects the baby and presents her to the girl, who immediately proceeds to give baby a slap on the bum. The baby starts crying and the mother exclaims, “Thank god for that!” “What do you mean?” says the midwife, shocked. “Well,” says the girl extremely relieved, “I had this horrible feeling that it was going to bark!”
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August 16, 2011 6:59pm
nasska

A man goes into his son’s room to wish him goodnight. His son is having a nightmare – the man wakes him and asks his son if he is OK? The son replies he is scared because he dreamt that Auntie Susie had died. The father assures the son that Auntie Susie is fine and sends him to bed.
The next day, Auntie Susie dies.
One week later, the man again goes into his son’s room to wish him goodnight. His son is having another nightmare – the man again wakes his son. The son this time says that he had dreamt that granddad had died. The father assures the son that granddad is fine and sends him to bed.
The next day, granddad dies.
One week later, the man again goes into his son’s room to wish him goodnight. His son is having another nightmare – the man again wakes his son. The son this time says that he had dreamt that daddy had died. The father assures the son that he is OK and sends the boy to bed.
The man goes to bed but cannot sleep because he is so terrified.
The next day, the man is scared for his life- he is sure is going to die. After dressing he drives very cautiously to work fearful of a collision. He doesn’t eat lunch because he is scared of food poisoning. He avoids everyone for he is sure he will somehow be killed. He jumps at every noise, starts at every movement and hides under his desk.
Upon walking in his front door at the end of the day, he finds his wife. “Good God, Dear,” he proclaims, “I’ve just had the worst day of my entire life!”
She responds, “You think your day was bad, the milkman dropped dead on the doorstep this morning.”
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August 16, 2011 7:00pm
Steve

The clock on DPF’s server is slower than my comp clock. I post at 7.01 and is says 6.59
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August 16, 2011 7:02pm
tristanb

Live chat with Phil Goff:

http://www.coveritlive.com/index.php?option=com_altcaster&task=siteviewaltcast&altcast_code=f677a55387&height=550&width=470

Unfortunately it’s polluted by shills. (Jo and Brendon)

No answer for: “Have you sold your Wellington apartment?”
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August 16, 2011 7:25pm
nasska

A SIS agent is on a mission in Siberia, to spy on the government. Prior to his mission he received full training, he speaks perfect Russian with in the relevant dialect, and can withstand very low temperatures in order to be able to blend in. As a first step to phase himself in, he goes to the local pub, where all the heavyweight characters hang out, to make connections. He goes to the bar, and asks for a triple shot of Vodka. The barman looks at him suspiciously and says:
– You are not from round here.
The agent begs to differ.
– But Comrade. I speak our beautiful Russian perfectly, why would you say that?
– I just have a feeling. Sorry. I think you’re dodgy.
The agent downs the triple shot of vodka.
– Give me another triple. See? I drink vodka like water.
– No! Sorry. I don’t buy this.
– For fuck’s sake! – the agent gets up from his seat, strips naked, goes outside and buries himself in the 3 foot snow. He comes back 10 minutes later, not showing any signs of being cold.
– There. You happy now?
– No! You are not who you say you are.
The agent doesn’t understand how could the barman have the slightest suspicion, and gets frustrated.
– All right then, why would you be so sure, I’m not a true Siberian?
– You know, we don’t get many Maoris round here.
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August 16, 2011 7:30pm
Steve

Live chat with Phil Goff, hahaha what a joke. Less than 30 min and ‘we are out of time’
Grandstanding bullshit from Liabore. Did anyone ever think they would get a question answered? The questions were pre logged ffs.
Jo and Brendon, oh they live in Auckland do they?
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August 16, 2011 7:33pm
Viking2

Keynote address to the ACT Upper South 2011 Regional Conference
14 August 2011

On November 26 this year, New Zealanders face a choice.

That choice is often couched as “left” or “right.”

The ACT Party and I are often portrayed, by those who don’t like us, as “far right.”

Allegedly, we’d find Attila the Hun collegial company.

This of course is a shabby smear of a party that stands for individual freedom, by those who don’t.

And in fact, as Ronald Reagan once famously observed, the choice today is not so much between left and right as between up and down; between a future … and no future worth speaking of.

America faces that choice again now. So do we. And it was never so stark.

In essence we can move up to a future where we have choice … or down to a black hole where we don’t.

Up to a future where the state exists for people … or down to a black hole where people exist for the state, as depicted in such frighteningly realistic novels as George Orwell’s 1984.

Up to a future unshackled by Big Government … or down to a black hole where communism and fascism have won politically what was denied them militarily: the subjugation of individual citizens to Big Brother.

Up to a future where enterprising New Zealanders are free to prosper by their own efforts … or down to a black hole where prosperity is something we’re supposed to be ashamed of.

Up to a future where tall poppies flourish … or down to a black hole of Tall Poppy Syndrome, triumphant.

Up to a future where governments spend responsibly … or down to a black hole where we and our children are lumbered with involuntary debts foisted on us by governments borrowing recklessly to finance their bribes.

Up to a future where industrious New Zealanders are free to keep most of the money they earn, to spend (or save) as they choose, or down to a black hole of … Phil Goffism: “If it moves, tax it. If it doesn’t move, pass a law to make it move. And then tax it.”

Up to a future where people are free to do as they please on their own property provided it doesn’t damage the property of others … or down to a black hole where little Hitlers tell you what colour you may paint your house.

Up to a future where Kiwi kids come out of school fully able to read and write and equipped with all the skills needed to flourish in an open economy … or down to a black hole where too many teachers are themselves ill-equipped to teach.

Up to a future where all children are born because they are wanted … or down to a black hole where breeding unwanted children is a taxpayer-funded meal ticket.

Up to a future where all New Zealanders are genuinely equal before the law … or down to a black hole of racial separatism, where people have special statutory status based not on the content of their character but on the colour of their skin.

Up to a future where New Zealanders are free to air their differences in robust and fearless debate … or down to a black hole where free speech has been shut down by the stifling constraints of political correctness.

Ladies and gentlemen, this last is the most ominous threat from those who would take us on the downward path to a black hole. (Let’s call them “Downers.” If that makes the rest of us “Uppers” … well, I can assure you it’s an entirely legal high!)

By an insidious process of attrition, the Downers have achieved a double-whammy in recent years. By dumbing down education and the media, they’ve trivialised political debate to the point where it’s no longer a contest of ideas but a quest to establish which politician is the most “cool.” That leaves the Downers free to get on with their agenda. That’s one whammy.

Then, if someone does rise above the mush and say something meaningful and challenging, he or she gets chopped down for being “polarising.” That’s the other whammy. Polarising!? For Heaven’s sake! Isn’t the whole idea of having political parties that they put forward differing ideas – even radically differing ideas – and fight them out? That they set out precisely to polarise? That we take it in our stride as intelligent adults and choose among our competing suitors?!

Salman Rushdie, himself the object of an ayatollah’s fatwa, pointed out that freedom of speech is nothing without the right to cause offence. Of course, this is not to say we should go round causing offence all the time; just that being offended is not a licence to censor.

I urge you to immerse yourselves in the spirit of Voltaire: “I disagree with what you say but defend to the death your right to say it.”

I’d also commend to your attention Section 14 of our own Bill of Rights, which says:

“Everyone has the right to freedom of expression, including the freedom to seek, receive, and impart information and opinions of any kind in any form.”

That includes my right to say separatism is wrong, even if supporters of separatism are offended by my saying so! Let me say in passing I shall go right on saying it whether it causes offence or not. But I shall also defend to the death the right of separatists to disagree with me. May we please just have the debate without all the infantile umbrage, without people trying to close it down by whining that they’ve been offended?!

The right to impart opinions of any kind in any form even includes the right to say women are less productive because of their periods. The statement might be wrong, and the hapless Mr Thompson produced not a shred of evidence for it, but one shouldn’t be able to be so readily destroyed by the Ayatollahs of Screech for expressing an opinion that is wrong. Voters should ask themselves what has happened to us as a society when such lynch-mobbery can prevail by sheer decibel power.

In this regard, I was reassured by news that several businesses had pulled out of the Employers and Manufacturers Association not because of Mr Thompson’s comments but because of his dismissal for them. Of course the EMA had the absolute right to dismiss Mr Thompson – don’t get me wrong about that – but it augurs very badly for a future of “up” if it did so less out of genuine conviction that Mr Thompson’s comments were wrong and reprehensible, than out of fear of the Ayatollahs of Screech.

I could, and shall, make similar comments about Lord Monckton’s recent visit here. His Lordship is a distinguished critic of the view that climate change is man-made. He thinks we’re being had by the Global Warmers, and produces powerful arguments to that effect. Astoundingly, almost no one in New Zealand was prepared to front up to him! The Greens initially agreed to debate with him on TVNZ’s Q&A programme. Then they pulled out, prompting me to comment that the Greens had turned yellow. Being unable to find anyone who would debate Lord Monckton, Q&A itself pulled out, apparently not confident that its interviewers were up to the task of playing devil’s advocate with someone they already disagreed with. Same deal on Close-Up.

In other words, one of the key figures in the debate on one of the pivotal issues of our time came to New Zealand … and was ignored by our main television network! Again, it’s their prerogative, but it bodes ill that the state-owned channel is so beholden to politically correct theology. I congratulate TV3’s The Nation, and Leighton Smith’s programme on Newstalk ZB, for showing that, once again, it takes private enterprise to do the job.

Actually, freedom of speech should be indelibly etched into our DNA via the Treaty of Waitangi. Freedom of speech is foremost among the “rights and privileges of British subjects” bestowed on all New Zealanders by the Treaty of Waitangi. In the nineteenth century, the British prided themselves on valuing eccentricity over conformity, on untramelled freedom of speech. Thousands of New Zealanders went on to give their lives for this freedom. We should rage, rage and rage again against anything which threatens its demise.

What else, then? What else does ACT New Zealand say is necessary for a Future of Up?

Since this is a speech about the basic principles which alone can secure such a future, I can do no better than quote from ours:

The […]Party seeks a safe, prosperous and successful New Zealand that creates opportunities for all New Zealanders to reach their personal goals and dreams.

We believe this will be achieved by building a society based on the following values:

• Loyalty to our country, its democratic principles and our Sovereign as Head of State

• Equal citizenship and equal opportunity

• Individual freedom and choice

• Personal responsibility

• Competitive enterprise and rewards for achievement

• Limited government

Oh, wait! That doesn’t seem to be the one. It sounds like us, but …

Ah! In fact it’s the National Party’s statement of principles! No wonder I had something to do with the National Party at some point! It’s an excellent statement of principles. I absolutely endorse those principles. The problem is, the National Party itself too often ignores them.

A government whose spending is 36% of GDP, higher than at any time during the Clark/Cullen Government, can scarcely be called “limited.”

A government that continues to tax at punitive levels can hardly be said to be promoting competitive enterprise and rewarding achievement.

A government that is contemplating forcing us into KiwiSaver can hardly be said to be upholding personal responsibility.

A government that denies young people the right to work at youth rates can hardly be said to be upholding individual freedom and choice. Nor can a government that forces parents to send their children to the local school, even if it is poorly performing, or is single sex when parents would’ve preferred co-ed, or vice versa.

A government that appears to have no intention of honouring its promise to scrap the Maori seats and that tolerates the continuation of other race-based statutory privileges can hardly be said to be promoting equal citizenship.

And so on. You get the picture.

Of course, ACT’s statement of principles is very similar to National’s. And we actually mean them.

We start from the classical liberal premise that individuals own their own lives; government doesn’t. Self-ownership means individuals have certain inherent rights and responsibilities; government’s role is to protect those rights … and not assume those responsibilities.

Now, since this proposition bucks the statism inculcated by stealth in our schools and other institutions over generations, it’s not possible to achieve a society that conforms fully to it overnight. But the upward path is one that goes in that direction: individual freedom and responsibility, limited government. ACT is wholly committed to that upward path.

Over the next few weeks, I’ll be outlining policies that will help get us on it. In fact, I’m happy to announce some of them right now:

* We’d make serious inroads into government spending, so that we don’t have to keep borrowing $300 million a week, and can reduce and flatten personal and company taxes.

* We’d scrap the ETS. Whatever you believe about the human influence on the climate, why should New Zealanders be lumbered with an all-sectors, all gases, tax on greenhouse gases when none of our major trading partners is?

* We’d make sure schools were places of learning, not social engineering. Learning would include the basics, including grammar, spelling and punctuation. Parents would be given vouchers with which they could choose which school, state or private, they sent their children to.

* We’d radically reform the welfare system so as to provide a simple, sensible and secure safety net for those in genuine need, but not a hammock for those who could support themselves. We’d change the rules around the DPB, to avoid its being used as a lifestyle choice by under-educated young women to their own enormous detriment, and the detriment of thousands of children born unwanted, often to be abused and even killed. That cannot go on!

* We’d abolish the Maori seats in Parliament and get rid of all other forms of race-based statutory privilege. All New Zealanders would have the equal rights guaranteed by Article III of the Treaty of Waitangi.

* We’d overhaul the RMA so that the current presumption that property owners must seek permission to do anything on their own land was reversed.

* We’d amend the Bill of Rights to include property rights. This is an old idea whose time has certainly come.

* We’d restore Youth Rates, and the 12,000 jobs that have been denied youngsters by their absence.

This list is not exhaustive. It is indicative of the approach ACT New Zealand takes toward the parlous situation confronting the country. We opt for freedom rather than coercion. We treat causes rather than symptoms. We know that, at this critical juncture in our nation’s history, boldness rather than timidity is needed.

We already have some significant runs on the board from our time in partnership with our National Party colleagues: Three Strikes, slightly more business-friendly employment law, the 2025 Taskforce, the Productivity Commission, nudging the Government toward liberalising ACC, regulatory reform, and so on. But there is much more to be done, and the need is urgent.

Ladies and gentlemen, I am passionately ambitious for our country. I don’t want to see it simply catch Australia; I want it to give Australia the same trouncing it does on the rugby field! I don’t want it to be a place where our children come to visit from time to time, but a place where they choose to live because here they can get rewarding job opportunities, a world-class education for their children and a safe environment.

Once, we were such a place, with policies that rewarded the pioneering initiative for which we are rightly renowned. We can be so again. Free people are unstoppable. Together we can restore Paradise.

Down with Down. Let’s choose … Up!
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August 16, 2011 7:36pm
Viking2

National’s Message To Youth: Stay On The Couch
A Press Release published by Hon Sir Roger Douglas at 2:57pm on 14 Aug 2011 in the following categories: Economy | Employment .

National’s failure to support reintroducing a youth wage is condemning youth to a future of doing nothing, learning nothing and earning nothing says ACT New Zealand Finance Spokesman Sir Roger Douglas.
“Prime Minister John Key said yesterday that he didn’t want to send a message to young people that the only way to get them into work is to ‘cut their pay’, so instead National is sending another message to young people: stay on the couch,” Sir Roger said.

Canterbury University Economist Eric Crampton estimates that up to 13,100 young people are out of work as a consequence of the youth wage being abolished. It is patently obvious that for these thousands of young people getting off the dole and earning a wage would give them a substantial pay rise, not a pay cut.

“Yet last night Mr Key said that the youth wage was ‘only one factor’ in terms of youth unemployment and all but ruled out reinstating it.

“Instead today he announced policies including tracking youth who are not in work or training, restricting what young beneficiaries can buy and encouraging them to attend budgeting programmes. I am certain if given the choice between these feel good measures and actually having a job, almost all beneficiaries would choose the latter.

“But this is a choice that thousands of unemployed young people are being denied, and will continue to be denied until the youth minimum wage is reinstated.

“Finance Minister Bill English said yesterday that there are no easy political solutions to the global debt crisis. He was right, but should reflect that the same applies to youth unemployment. If National really cares about helping young beneficiaries they should take the most obvious step; allow young people to help themselves first,” Sir Roger said.
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August 16, 2011 7:38pm
wat dabney

It’s always rather shocking to read principled political statements like that.

We’re so used to politicians speaking like children.
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August 16, 2011 7:55pm
Steve

W O R K
What is this work thing and why do it? There are many things to do besides work. Sleep is one.
So is eat food, watch TV, txt about the latest cellphone, play comp games hard out, get pissed and stoned.
HTFU you selfish little shitbags. The Taxpayer in NZ owes you nothing, get off your arse and WORK
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August 16, 2011 7:57pm
Viking2

Steve, do you actually know how to motivate people to do that or are you just blowin smoke out ya arse?
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August 16, 2011 8:31pm
Viking2

The Return of the Dinosaur Zealander.

“They’re trying to protect their own jobs and those of the community around the Pukekohe and Franklin area.

“In this day and age, trying to drive down wages and conditions is frankly counter-productive. It’s not good for the steel workers, and it’s not good for the contractors either.”

http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/5455745/NZ-Steel-workers-back-on-the-job

100k a year not enough?
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August 17, 2011 7:10am
Viking2

http://www.stuff.co.nz/5453107/Wellington-snow-from-the-sky

Cool video of Wellysnow and windmills that produce nothing on the coldest day forever!

Good one greenies.
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August 17, 2011 7:21am
Viking2

Taxpayer loses another $50 million to govt. Dept.
A dip in Waikato farm prices has hit Transpower’s balance sheet, forcing it to write off $20 million of its property portfolio during the past year.

It yesterday reported an 11 per cent fall to $126 million in annual earnings.

The state-owned enterprise spent about $200 million on dairy farms, grazing land and lifestyle blocks through Waikato and the southeastern outskirts of Auckland for its transmission line project about five years ago, near the top of the farm price boom.

However, the fall in land prices meant it had to cut the value of its holdings. In the previous year the impairment had been $30 million.

General manager of corporate services Howard Cattermole said Transpower had been forced to buy properties when negotiations for easements over land for the North Island grid upgrade became difficult.

“When the project was struggling to get momentum the decision was made to purchase properties and register the easements and then resell the properties. As a consequence we acquired a pretty significant property portfolio.”

Transpower still holds the bulk of about 80 properties.

The market was “not buoyant” but three or four properties were selling each month.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=10745543
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August 17, 2011 7:24am
Viking2

So the denial has begun.

Is Key really this inept or has he hired Phil’s press secretary?

Key disputes jobless rate, saying many studying
By Derek Cheng
5:30 AM Wednesday Aug 17, 2011

The Government is questioning the extent of youth unemployment by claiming that many defined as unemployed may be at school or university.

The youth unemployment rate – for those aged 15 to 24 – is 17.4 per cent for the June quarter, according to the Household Labour Force Survey.

The youth unemployment rate – for those aged 15 to 24 – is 17.4 per cent for the June quarter, according to the Household Labour Force Survey.

For those aged 15 to 19, the rate balloons to 27.6 per cent.

Much of that was due to a surge in employed people aged 20 to 24 but this was offset by a fall in the number of people aged 15 to 19 who were employed.

The Government has used the trend for the younger age group as justification for its policy for disengaged school leavers, which it announced at the weekend.

The Labour Party has broken the figures down further to claim that there are no jobs.

“When National came in, there were roughly 220 under 24-year-olds who had been on an unemployment benefit for more than a year. That number is now eight times higher,” said Labour employment spokeswoman Jacinda Ardern.

Many consider the rate of those not in employment, education or training to be a better indication of disengaged youth. This rate also fell from 10.7 per cent last June to 9.8 per cent in June this year.

“The fall in [that rate] appears to be due to a modest increase in employment for people aged 20 to 24,” a Department of Labour report said.

Many young people were deciding to stay in education longer.

So, its now beat the taxpayer around the ears for wanting some results time.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10745556
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August 17, 2011 7:32am
Pete George

Is this the same Viking who had a dig at me recently for the number of comments I post?
I don’t think I’ve ever done four consecutively.
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August 17, 2011 7:32am

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