Comments on: Brownlee’s blow-out

By: Taking responsibility, a trait of government at The Standard 2.02

Taking responsibility, a trait of government at The Standard 2.02 — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 09:08:14 +0000

[...] the same kinds of excuses about ACC, extracting people from Thailand, air-force 757’s1, brownlee and the light, and why they are planning on capping Housing NZ’s housing [...]

By: pinkpostman

pinkpostman — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 00:57:03 +0000

Im always amazed how ordinary folk have fallen for Nanny State as a means of attacking the Political left. In a natural crisis like floods and slips these same people are the first to moan if “nanny state”action is not started at once.
The wealthy and privaledged among us have done very well out of “nanny state ” but as soon as a helping hand is given to working people the rich and their mates say
its nanny state .A simular motive is when the union movement gains something for its workers , the first in the queue to recieve are the non unionists. The left needs to capture the power of words ,and well before the next election.

By: northpaw

northpaw — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 08:29:17 +0000

DB,

Choice is choice.

Whicha choice is whicha..?

There’s the choice of preferment(aka cultural construct (of becoming))..

and the optional choice – can have one, can’t another – as per the intended law re out with incandescents, in with low wattage light efficiency.

BTW: be interesting to note how incandescents are characterised since they do waste heat energy( excepting the infrared jobs at 250 watts for tiny bathrooms!)

and the choice most folks take the word to mean, between one thing and another, both retained or available..

By: gingercrush

gingercrush — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 08:01:41 +0000

Yes Green issues will become more relevant I actually don’t disagree with you there. As for Obama. Before Obama a number of states were already working on Green ideas and in America the best way is through the states though Obama will be a larger proponent of Green issues. I wouldn’t expect miracles from Obama and increasingly his team isn’t looking like change its looking like a government from the left. Which is fine but to me Obama’s whole rhetoric was a change and an America citizens can once again believe in. But when most of your team is made up of the same washington insiders as the Clinton administration I don’t see change. And also in America there are several steps where Green issues will be resisted. Unless Obama totally changes how Washington operates which I think looks unlikely. The Green movement there will only go so far. And it still requires action to be taken by the states where that will be more effective.

Green issues likewise will be relevant here. Just because people vote National does not mean we don’t care about green issues or in sustainability. But that doesn’t mean we’ll go down the route of the Green party and implement their policies. That is something most New Zealanders haven’t voted for.

QtR – I was using that as an example. And I used that as an example because 1 trees breathe in CO2 and 2. burning of wood still creates emissions. And 3. I believe you live in Christchurch which as you know has certain smog levels that are rather unacceptable and the council has implemented new standards in housing etc for what a person can or can’t use as energy. Thus even burning wood fireplaces have been tackled as part of that implementing. Thus by Janet’s analogy people could have been stigmatised for having wood burners. But that hasn’t happened meaning I can’t see how someone would be stigmatised for using old lightbulbs.

By: Janet

Janet — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 07:31:14 +0000

Brett
Some people are in a position to exercise choice (because of wealth, access to resources, money, transport etc). Most people aren’t. Choice is not a neutral term. It is a concept that some people have created to justify their own access to, or desire for something, that other people can’t have (for a variety of reasons).

GC
Green issues are actually sustainability of the planet and support for humanity issues. Wait till President Obama gets going – being Green will not only be very cool, but finally people will realise that it is essential for our mutual survival.

By: gingercrush

gingercrush — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 07:28:54 +0000

cultural construct – Pathetic sociology term.

bill brown – You get over yourself or would you stigmatise someone for using old light bulbs? Yeah I think you would. Such a shame.

By: Quoth the Raven

Quoth the Raven — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 07:26:39 +0000

GC – What’s environmentally unfriendly about a fireplace? Fitsimmons has a fireplace. As long as you’re burning wood there’s nothing wrong.

By: Brett Dale

Brett Dale — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 07:23:57 +0000

Janet

Choice is not a culture construct (what ever the &*^%$ that means)

Choice is choice.

By: RT

RT — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 07:22:50 +0000

Must be an Act convert, and they polled well below 5%

By: bill brown

bill brown — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 07:15:12 +0000

GC, suddenly you’re all over telling everyone how to think – go take a cold shower and get over yourself.

By: gingercrush

gingercrush — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 07:13:39 +0000

Janet – The Greens polled nearly 7% and 7% only. Green issues while adopted in Labour and elsewhere does not mean the whole of New Zealand is turning Green. It also doesn’t mean some stupid social stigma will be attached to those that use OMG the old lightbulbs. Get real.

People still have fireplaces and people still use coal. Do people give them social stigma? No. People still drive cars and older cars that use more emissions. Do they get socially stigmatised?No. So please don’t speak like you are everyone. Because anyone that would stigmatise someone over using old lightbulbs really needs to get themselves in check

By: Janet

Janet — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 07:12:31 +0000

Brett
Choice is a cultural construct.
It’s not a level playing field.

By: Felix

Felix — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 06:56:39 +0000

Bloody silly banning cats from dairies.

At one time they were compulsory and with good reason.

By: Brett Dale

Brett Dale — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 06:37:51 +0000

Its all about choice.

People can buy what they like under National, under Labour they had to get Aunty Helen’s permission first

By: Janet

Janet — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 06:33:46 +0000

Watch this policy change over this parliamentary term. Try buying one of the old light bulbs in a couple of years – or admitting to your friends and neighbours that you still use them. Will have the same status as leaving the sprinkler on your garden in a time of extreme water shortage. Something probably only Act voters do.

Green issues are going to escalate in significance in the next couple of years and this announcement of Gerry’s will come back to bite him.