Daily Review 27/07/2015

45 comments on “Daily Review 27/07/2015 ”

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1. mickysavage 1

   27 July 2015 at 6:07 pm

   Anyone surprised at how minute National’s change to immigration policy is? Basically all they have done is change a number on a piece of paper and then extolled it as some sort of big change.
2. millsy 2

   27 July 2015 at 6:10 pm

   Garth George died today. I would offer my condolences but give that, among other things he saw homosexuals as degenerate vermin that were fit for extermination I would say good fucking job. Bitter and twisted old man.
   • Anne 2.1

     27 July 2015 at 6:23 pm

     He was a conservative old timer who was brought up to have those prejudices. If he’d had a more liberal upbringing, I’m inclined to think he would have been a different person. He never struck me as a nasty individual… just badly informed. An example is he never liked the ACT Party. He regarded their policies as anathema to a decent society.
     • Draco T Bastard 2.1.1

       27 July 2015 at 6:32 pm

       +1
     • mickysavage 2.1.2

       27 July 2015 at 7:18 pm

       Yep he was an old time conservative and occasionally I agreed with him wholeheartedly. There was this post I did in January last year about what I thought was his best ever column (http://thestandard.org.nz/garth-georges-best-column-ever/)

       I will quote some of what he said:

       “Thus my first and dearest hope for this year, which happens to be the 20th anniversary of the United Nations Year of the Family, is that the next 12 months will see real and determined efforts to alleviate this suppurating national sore.

       For poverty is the trigger for so much else that ails our people – child abuse and neglect, poor child health and inability to learn, to name but three.”

       …

       “Constantly throwing people and money at these problems has not worked and won’t ever work. What is needed is an almost complete revision of our thinking on the economy as a whole, because that is where the problem really originates.

       We have been told for decades that if we improve our economic performance, our wealth-production, the results will be felt by all. That is absolute rubbish, and we know that because the wealthier we have become, the greater the number reduced to poverty.

       Wealthy people – and businesses – get that way because by every means possible they hang on to what they have got. Just look at our four major overseas-owned banks, which last year hoisted obscene profits in the billions of dollars.

       That sort of profit reveals just one thing: that hundreds of thousands of bank customers are being royally ripped-off.”

       …

       “Ours is a low-wage economy and, as far as I’m concerned, that is the basic cause of poverty and all the social problems that flow from it. … It is long past time that we revised our attitude to wage and salary earners and paid them their due.

       It is also long past time we got rid of terms such as “human resources” and realised anew that wage and salary earners are people and not just bums on seats with a brain and a pair of hands – what Karl Marx labelled “economic units” – but are a valuable investment, not a liability.”

       …

       “I am persuaded that the economic model which has driven our fiscal affairs for nearly three decades is seriously, if not irreparably, flawed, and that that is the place to start if we are ever to achieve economic justice for all and reduce poverty to its absolute minimum.

       Laissez-faire capitalism has to go – or at least be subjected to some form of strict regulation.”
       • Clemgeopin 2.1.2.1

         27 July 2015 at 8:59 pm

         Excellent points.
       • Tracey 2.1.2.2

         28 July 2015 at 10:31 am

         problem was Mickey, Garth couldn’t see that many of his views were contributing to the “suppurating national sore”/
     • Visubversa 2.1.3

       28 July 2015 at 7:21 am

       He was quite nasty. When he was doing The Herald’s Letters to the Editor he published a letter from a well known RWNJ calling for a gay MP to be put to death. When several of us rang to complain we were abused. Fortunately the paper realised that he had gone too far and apologised. Not long after that GG retired to Rotorua.
3. James 3

   27 July 2015 at 6:24 pm

   Classy Millsy.
4. rational thinker 4

   27 July 2015 at 6:58 pm

   Why dosnt the left start to play national at their own game and get some well liked new Zealand people to form their own parties in small regional areas where the left has a clear majority or stronghold. Vote for the candidate but party vote labour

   Put John Campbell on the West Coast, push Damien Oconner into the front bench and stand no labour candidate on the coast. Boom theres one seat

   Get Ritchie Mcaw to stand in Christchurch with his own party and bam theres another seat. Repeat two or three more times and whammo the left are back in the game

   Do I think its the clean democratic way to win. No , bet sometimes you’ve got to to get knee deep in the trenches and and elbow deep in the shit to make any progress
   • millsy 4.1

     27 July 2015 at 7:07 pm

     I dont think McCaw is left wing…
     • rational thinker 4.1.1

       27 July 2015 at 7:13 pm

       maybe mcaw isn’t but you get the drift.. Wouldn’t surprise me if he was though. Someone that is left of the same calibre
       • Ergo Robertina 4.1.1.1

         27 July 2015 at 8:15 pm

         I think it’s safe to say McCaw is not left wing. He is heavily invested in the exploitative aged care sector and I haven’t seen anything from him to suggest any acknowledgement of the need for urgent reform to lift wages and conditions in the sector.
         http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11203208
         • Rosemary McDonald 4.1.1.1.1

           28 July 2015 at 5:30 pm

           https://www.consumer.org.nz/articles/rest-homes

           “Of the 123 homes for which surveillance audits were available, only 14 met all the criteria they were assessed against.”

           Score, McCaw.
           • Jones 4.1.1.1.1.1

             28 July 2015 at 5:36 pm

             Doesn’t surprise me at all. Tertiary health-care in NZ is like the wild west… and it’s a licence to print money. It’s in urgent need of regulation.
   • Ergo Robertina 4.2

     27 July 2015 at 8:06 pm

     The West Coast is not a left-wing stronghold. The Coast voted in Chris Auchinvole, who was not particularly well known, in 2008. Damien got the seat back, but the party vote went to National in 2014 as follows:
     Green Party 4,658
     Labour Party 8,438
     National Party 16,058
     • Colonial Viper 4.2.1

       27 July 2015 at 9:49 pm

       the West Coast used to be a Labour stronghold, like so many others. Today, even Red fortresses like Dunedin South party vote for National.
   • Tracey 4.3

     28 July 2015 at 10:32 am

     What’s with the assumption that John Campbell:

     a. wants to be in politics;
     b. wants to stand for Labour
5. sabine 5

   27 July 2015 at 7:12 pm

   not sure if anyone has linked to this

   http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/farming/70594420/tpp-could-allow-foreigners-to-buy-large-assets-without-formal-approval–john-key

   file this under labour does it too but not quite as good.
   • Hanswurst 5.1

     27 July 2015 at 10:53 pm

     File it under “The drunken ramblings of a very confused man”.
6. millsy 6

   27 July 2015 at 7:28 pm

   MS and Anne – it is true that he did align with the left on some issues but on the most part he was hard right. He was anti union, denied climate change, supported privatsation of education, supported mining in our national parks, opposed environmental regulations, and supported the teaching of magical spells as legitamite ways our world came into being.

   He has also called for the total banning of abortion – forcing young women to bear children they do not want into this world. Even in cases of rape.
   • mickysavage 6.1

     27 July 2015 at 8:37 pm

     Many is the time I have despaired at the stuff George has written. I thought we should celebrate the fact that he had that one outstanding column in him.
     • Molly 6.1.1

       28 July 2015 at 10:22 am

       Agree. Always read his columns prepared for my blood pressure to rise.

       But as Anne mentioned, he was a product of his time and upbringing. The compassion we wished he could have shown more regularly, we need to exercise ourselves.

       Millsy is quite right about his prejudiced views which were oftentime abhorrent, but we can feel sorry that he lived his life in such a narrow and bigoted place – his world view gave an indication of those he lived among and the joy he got out of living.
7. Anne 7

   27 July 2015 at 7:39 pm

   https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/key-says-labour-s-demand-for-foreign-buyers-ban-schizophrenic-q03214

   He’s now labeling Labour as schizo. Living on planet Key as he does, he’s the one who is schizo. But then he always has been good at projecting his behaviour on to the other side. Witness “Dirty Politics”.
   • Stephanie Rodgers 7.1

     27 July 2015 at 8:00 pm

     Schizophrenia is an actual mental illness. People behaving erratically or dishonestly is not the same as having schizophrenia. How about finding terms of abuse which don’t crap on people who already have difficult lives?
     • Anne 7.1.1

       27 July 2015 at 9:00 pm

       Why don’t you direct your venom at John Key then? He used the word not me. I deliberately used the slang term “schizo” to differentiate from the formal terminology for precisely the reason you have alluded to. I will comment on any topic I choose whether you like it or not Stephanie Rodgers!

       The stage is all yours because I have an early start. Enjoy…. 🙄
       • Stephanie Rodgers 7.1.1.1

         27 July 2015 at 9:04 pm

         You comment as much as you like. I’ll comment as much as I like to point out that your language – even if you want to split semantic hairs because somehow saying “schizo” is tooooooootally different and definitely doesn’t impact on people with schizophrenia – is judgemental, oppressive, and unnecessary.

         I love it when people get *one* negative response and immediately flounce off declaring “I’ll comment whether you like it or not!!!!!!” as though one disagreeing comment is ~killing your freedom of speech~.
         • Clemgeopin 7.1.1.1.1

           27 July 2015 at 9:39 pm

           I think your framing of her comment by using the phrase, ‘don’t crap on people’ is probably what elicited her curt response because I doubt she was trying to crap on mentally sick people.

           I am sure you could have made your point in a more sweet, kinder and loving way, no? I am sometimes obnoxious. I am going to try and improve.
           • half crown 7.1.1.1.1.1

             28 July 2015 at 8:22 am

             “I am sometimes obnoxious. I am going to try and improve.”

             I have not seen that pal. In fact you are one of many excellent contributors who have very well thought out point of views on this site. I always read your comments.
             • Clemgeopin …

               29 July 2015 at 12:15 am

               “I always read your comments”

               Good to know. Thanks! I like reading your comments too!
               ————–
               Have you heard this joke?

               “Team member interviewing a job applicant for a job.

               Team member : Tell me your greatest weakness?

               Job applicant : My honesty

               Team member : I don’t think honesty is a weakness

               Job Applicant : I don’t give a shit what you think.”
               ——————–

               LOL….Just kidding!

               I know you posted that joke recently. Cheers!
           • Anne 7.1.1.1.1.2

             28 July 2015 at 6:53 pm

             Thank you Clemgeopin. You are correct. S.R. knows I was remarking on a preposterous comment made by John Key in which he was claiming that “Labour was schizophrenic”. I believe she knew I was not being derogatory about people with mental illnesses. I have also observed that she has done the same sort of thing to one or two other TS commenters in the past.
             • Clemgeopin …

               28 July 2015 at 11:56 pm

               She seems to be very sensitive on certain issues. Fair enough.
   • Clemgeopin 7.2

     27 July 2015 at 8:37 pm

     I wonder if Key considered the same of Don Brash and most of the RW hypocrites that supported him in a slightly different context?
   • Clemgeopin 7.3

     27 July 2015 at 8:40 pm

     I get what you mean, Anne.
8. vto 8

   27 July 2015 at 7:58 pm

   Hands up if you believe John Key …..

   http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/farming/70594420/tpp-could-allow-foreigners-to-buy-large-assets-without-formal-approval–john-key

   its a double-switchback -negative-entendre fingercross, that’s what it is and John Key is just pulling it ….
   • Clemgeopin 8.1

     27 July 2015 at 8:21 pm

     The Trans Pacific Partnership trade deal could allow foreign entities to buy large assets without Crown approval, Prime Minister John Key has signalled.

     That is an alarming statement ! That statement from Key alone should be enough for everyone to reject TPPA!

     Why would any sane person agree to a stupid and dangerous agreement like that!
     The wealthy countries like USA, China, India, Saudi Arabia etc will swallow up all of New Zealand in no time at all, within just a few years!

     I say, reject the multi country TPPA. Opt for separate bilateral agreements between countries and preserve our sovereignty over land, houses and all properties. Don’t let Key, the trader, trick us into signing the deal.
   • Clemgeopin 8.2

     27 July 2015 at 8:33 pm

     Why don’t you believe him? I don’t get the point of your question in reference to the linked quote.
     • vto 8.2.1

       27 July 2015 at 8:41 pm

       Exactly!

       It makes no sense and goes against the grain as you so aptly exclamation mark in your first four sentences above .

       Beware!

       its a double-switchback -negative-entendre fingercross..
       • Clemgeopin 8.2.1.1

         27 July 2015 at 9:22 pm

         Ok, I get it now. Thanks & Cheers!
   • Tracey 8.3

     28 July 2015 at 10:34 am

     Yup, sounds like the TPP might not allow that, and come Saturday and next week he will claim they negotiated it out…
9. Draco T Bastard 9

   27 July 2015 at 8:29 pm

   Greece, the Sacrificial Lamb

   Consider the case of milk. Greeks enjoy their fresh milk, produced locally and delivered quickly. But Dutch and other European milk producers would like to increase sales by having their milk, transported over long distances and far less fresh, appear to be just as fresh as the local product. In 2014 the troika forced Greece to drop the label “fresh” on its truly fresh milk and extend allowable shelf life. Now it is demanding the removal of the five-day shelf-life rule for pasteurized milk altogether. Under these conditions, large-scale producers believe they can trounce Greece’s small-scale producers.

   The reforms forced upon Greece appear to be so that they’re forced to buy from a globalised monopoly.
   • Draco T Bastard 9.1

     27 July 2015 at 9:24 pm

     Wolfgang Schäuble, The Trust Troll

     This cannot in any sense be seen as an economic document, since an economic document would have to assess the feasibility of its proposals. Instead it simply states Schäuble’s ideology: regardless of your economic circumstances, simply implement these (so-called) market-oriented reforms, restore trust, and your economy will grow.
     • Tracey 9.1.1

       28 July 2015 at 10:35 am

       applies to TPP too DRaco. Where is the cost/benefit analysis and will it be released to the public next week following the signing of the TPP? I mean, to claim that the TPP will benefit NZ they must have done some analysis and projections?
       • Draco T Bastard 9.1.1.1

         28 July 2015 at 10:48 am

         Yep. Kelsy addressed that yesterday in the NZHerald:

         The best-case scenario by the US Department of Agriculture, assuming Japan, the US and Canada removed all their tariffs, is a 0.01per cent increase in New Zealand’s GDP by 2025. Hardly ‘meaningful’.

         That’s the gain meanwhile we’ll lose our sovereignty, our health costs will go up and we can expect an increase in poverty from it. The losses far outweigh any possible benefits from the TPPA.

         Kelsey was pointing out that Labour just wasn’t going far enough in opposing the TPPA and I agree.
10. marty mars 10

    27 July 2015 at 10:17 pm

    lol

    “A Satanic organisation unveiled a controversial bronze Baphomet sculpture in Detroit just before midnight on Saturday, after trying in vain to have it installed near a 10 Commandments monument in Oklahoma.”

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/world/americas/70586456/satanic-temple-holds-public-sculpture-unveiling-in-detroit

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