Open mike 01/09/2011

91 comments on “Open mike 01/09/2011 ”

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1. mickysavage 1

   1 September 2011 at 6:37 am

   Memo from Crosby Textor
    
   To the hollow men
    
   So far things are working really well.  John Key is accepted by enough to be an ordinary kiwi despite his immense wealth and despite the fact that the only people who have done well under his reign are the very wealthy.  Swinging voters are so gullible!
    
   Our attack on Phil Goff’s credibility is working well.  We even managed to persuade the MSM that he was told about the Israeli spies in Christchurch, despite the fact that if he had an inkling about what had happened he would have been apoplectic with the attack on New Zealand’s sovereignty.  Of course he was not told.  We are doing well by persuading some that he may have been briefed on what happened.  The meme that he is not able to lead, despite decades of competent governance, is gaining momentum.
    
   And we have managed to create a sense of disunity in Labour’s ranks even though there is actually none.  David Cunliffe is loyal to Phil but the media have bought the line that if David says nothing he wants to depose Phil and if he denies wanting to depose Phil then he wants to depose Phil.  Excellent work!
    
   We also have some very helpful weapons.  Rupert Murdoch’s recent poll was great and provided our supporters with an excellent weapon to attack Goff and Labour with.  The MSM fell for it hook line and sinker.  Instead of trying to work out how it had Labour’s Auckland’s support at half the level of a poll the day before they reported it as further evidence that Goff is stuffed.  Remember to remind our supporters that the truth does not matter, if they are able to spin and bash with an idea then they should do so, no matter how false the idea is.
    
   And it is vital that we do not talk about policy, at least significant policy.  If National has to justify the huge budget deficit and talk about selling assets at the same time then our focus groups suggest that support will take a serious hit.  Avoid discussions about important policy areas at all cost.
    
   And remember.  It does not matter what the reality is.  If something arises spin it with conviction.  After all, the secret to success is sincerity and conviction, once you can fake that you’ve got it made.
   • Tigger 1.1

     1 September 2011 at 9:04 am

     This.
   • ianmac 1.2

     1 September 2011 at 9:28 am

     It is incredible that “they” can get away with the dirty tricks. You would think that there would be the odd journalist with integrity. Somewhere? Mickey you have told it the way we see it.
     • aerobubble 1.2.1

       1 September 2011 at 9:48 am

       What’s incredible is how cheap voters are. If voters had a clue they’d all start a
       co-op right now, that would borrow money on the soon to be privatized assets
       and each of them would be rmuch much richer and not have to personally
       borrow any money! All those DPB mothers could rush out right now, form a
       collective, and buy these National giveaway shares.

       Of course Key is trusting that voters are too lazy and think.

       My take is if NZ wants good economics of growth, vote Labour. CGT will
       means we will invest and grow, but if the voters re-elect Key, then bring it on,
       buy the shares, sell them at a profit and have to pay even higher taxes,
       few opportunities, greater inequality in the future. That’s the choice,
       quick profit now. I know kiwis well enough now to know they are
       very individualistic and rather naive about the advantages of collective action
       whether in the public sector or private, but this is hardly surprising since
       the MSM does a fine job of include the most hardline rightwing rich
       people are good for the economy and don’t listen to those lefties who
       say that rich people make their money by exploiting distortions and
       people at the bottom.
   • Anne 1.3

     1 September 2011 at 10:23 am

     Spot on mickeysavage. Thank-you.
     The most discouraging aspect is when you are talking with someone who starts to spout the C/T memes. As soon as you try to explain the reality their eyes glaze over. They don’t want to be confronted with the truth. Very sad.
   • insider 1.4

     1 September 2011 at 12:26 pm

     Wow. You guys really believe this? Says it all…
     • thejackal 1.4.1

       1 September 2011 at 1:03 pm

       Is that the extent of your argument insider? Pathetic!

       The taxpayer has footed the bill for the likes of Paula Bennett to go off and get trained in how to spin. That’s all National can do because the statistics and reality don’t lie. National has no plan apart from tax cuts for the wealthy and beneficiary bashing. Flogging off assets is a dead end street off a very long road.

       National is failing New Zealand when strong leadership is required. Instead of a government that gives a damn about kiwi’s, we get the same old cronyism, growing inequality, a mass exodus, budget cuts, higher costs and hollow rhetoric.

       A smile and wave doesn’t cut the mustard when you look at the facts of New Zealand’s situation.
     • Anne 1.4.2

       1 September 2011 at 6:45 pm

       Re insider
       As I said….
   • Peter Rabbit 1.5

     1 September 2011 at 1:11 pm

     Micky, while its easy make jokes like that one above (very nice btw) when you read comments like:
     “when it was put to him [Goff] that National would have had to blunder on a monumental scale to lose after just three years in office, his answer was curiously telling.

     “They would have to have had Ruth Richardson running the finance portfolio,” was his response.

     He went on to suggest that the National Government had had “some pretty good alibis” in the past three years, including the global financial crisis and Christchurch earthquakes.”
     http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/5536300/Voters-pick-up-the-dog-tucker-signals

     You have to start wondering what is Goff doing?

     Perhaps Crosby Textor have kidnapped Goff and replaced him with a Right Wing look a like.
     • mickysavage 1.5.1

       1 September 2011 at 2:43 pm

       Cheere Pete.
        
       Like the rest of us Phil has some very good days and some not so good days …
   • Vicky32 1.6

     1 September 2011 at 5:48 pm

     And we have managed to create a sense of disunity in Labour’s ranks even though there is actually none.  David Cunliffe is loyal to Phil but the media have bought the line that if David says nothing he wants to depose Phil and if he denies wanting to depose Phil then he wants to depose Phil.  Excellent work!

     This is exactly what Patrick Gower was saying the other night! I was furious..
2. millsy 2

   1 September 2011 at 7:06 am

   The file sharing law comes into effect today, and thus its back to the $9.99 bins at The Warehouse for me…
   • Bored 2.1

     1 September 2011 at 7:43 am

     Shadow servers, hijacked IP addresses, etc…..hear the evil, cant see it…
     • aerobubble 2.1.1

       1 September 2011 at 10:04 am

       I don’t get you. If I were served by a person who demanded I prove I did something
       wrong, and I have no tech ability, I’m going to be raging that I had to pay a
       fine, or had my credit rating hurt, or put on a watch list at the ISP. It
       won’t take much time at all before those that send these notices that you have
       downloaded somethingyou should not of for everyone to start avoding those
       companies. Start a boycott on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays of
       Cinemas, if Hollywood gets slap happy. Over time this law is a shit law
       and people will get fed up.

       and think about it students who have little spare cash having to find alternative
       types of media to entertain themselves, what happens when they leave uni,
       what’s the chances they don’t get all that attached to hollywood but
       continue their alternative free entermain behaviors.

       So who wins having a distorted bad law, National a few voters for clamping
       down in Nanny state ways.
       • ianmac 2.1.1.1

         1 September 2011 at 10:43 am

         Wellington CBD is now wifi for free. Download your files in the CBD and leave the council to sort it out. Or our Public Library. Or the Motel Or…
         • clandestino 2.1.1.1.1

           1 September 2011 at 11:13 am

           Not going to work I don’t think. Download speeds and data are assigned and limited. Just use proxy IPs, which you can find for your bittorrent client.
           • wtl 2.1.1.1.1.1

             1 September 2011 at 12:02 pm

             I wouldn’t recommend this unless you know you can trust the proxy. The proxy hides your real IP address from others, but not the proxy itself. Stacking proxies might help, but if there is no encryption involved any one of them could easily log what you are up to.
           • NickS 2.1.1.1.1.2

             1 September 2011 at 12:26 pm

             Or private trackers…
       • Bored 2.1.1.2

         1 September 2011 at 11:52 am

         Hi Aero, Clandestino is onto it, proxy IPs…the net is a dark and mysterious world. The buggers cant enforce anything if we play “dirty”. Which is why the law is an ass.
       • NickS 2.1.1.3

         1 September 2011 at 12:29 pm

         Heh, DC++ networks are pretty common in uni’s, so all that’s needed are a couple of people bringing in files via sneakernet, onion routing, private DC++ servers on the net, private torrent trackers, or various file downloading sites, such as rapidshare and they’ll be fine.
         • Lanthanide 2.1.1.3.1

           1 September 2011 at 5:35 pm

           IRC. Newsgroups.

           Can’t beat the oldies.
       • Deadly_NZ 2.1.1.4

         1 September 2011 at 11:36 pm

         And also where does the ‘fine’ go??? if it’s to a company then is it restitution? or what? or is it a civil matter??? in which case cant we just tell em to go blow?
   • Deadly_NZ 2.2

     1 September 2011 at 11:29 pm

     Well there are some nifty tools out there to keep the nasties away, lol. And now a lot of VPN companies are going to make some good money now. maybe they’ll have a special. Mine says I am in Miami.
3. chris73 3

   1 September 2011 at 7:08 am

   Wow, jealous much?
   • travellerev 3.1

     1 September 2011 at 9:33 am

     Slither back under your rock you silly man.
     • grumpy 3.1.1

       1 September 2011 at 10:40 am

       Hang on! I think he’s talking about the Labour/UN joint venture retirement plan!

       Sick of Business Class?? Spent a political career studying corruption? – just get kicked out of Labour caucus and enjoy life in the UN, First Class airfares, stay in the hotels you only dreamed of. Emulate your heroes like DS-K – you’ve got it made!
4. tc 4

   1 September 2011 at 7:25 am

   Precisely Mickey, note the time being devoted to how kiwis are getting assets first and fund managers lining up to back the govts line that it’s kiwis first and watch them froth up over Carters UN job taking any opportunity to rehash his implosion and place Helens name out there again oh and we’ve got a story about someone with links to something to put sideshow John on saying no comment…speculation at best….whereas that 10bill budget hole and other current issues get ignored.

   Chris73 yes some on the left are jealous they don’t possess the ability the deceive, diffuse spin and generally fail to engage in anything which will highlight the true agenda….no plan or vision, NZ for sale, ahoy the wealthy and powerful….screw the rest.
   • Tiger Mountain 4.1

     1 September 2011 at 7:46 am

     Deception, media manipulation, avoidance of wide public scrutiny, ‘bait and switch’, employing drones to blog and general fear and loathing are not really the type of politics the left is envious of #73.

     No.s #1 to #72 have different names I suppose but the same tory story. The likes of the Hollow Men really do piss on this country, so it has been good the last couple of days to remind people of their true colours.
   • Puddleglum 4.2

     1 September 2011 at 10:19 am

     I, too, have noticed that there has been a sudden uprise of financiers and fund managers singing in chorus in the media about how the shares would stay in ‘NZ ownership’.

     Sadly, Russel Norman on Morning Report today didn’t make the point that it’s not just about foreign ownership but about private ownership of the assets. He got trapped into saying “it’s great that iwi are ambitious” to own some shares but that there’s no guarantee that they won’t end up in foreign hands.

     Yes, if there’s going to be private, corporate ownership of these shares then it may as well be iwi corporates but that shouldn’t distract from the fundamental argument against privatisation in the first place.

     The main point is that these assets will cease to be publicly owned and run in the ‘national interest’. 

     Frankly, all the Tower executives and Kiwisaver ‘advisors’ telling us that NZ corporates have sufficient capital to purchase the shares should be countered by pointing out that (a) those institutions aren’t the ‘mum and dad shareholders’ that Key and English have been talking about, and (b) the fact that they are ‘NZ owned’ is not the main concern.

     Norman did, however, make the important point that this would have no impact on NZ’s savings/investment rate since it just shuffles ownership around within NZ. 
     • ianmac 4.2.1

       1 September 2011 at 10:47 am

       If I get 9.9% of the shares. My wife gets 9.9% of the shares and my son and my daughter and my father-in-law I will own 49% of a SOE. So might John Key act. (Then sell overseas to a Chinese Consortium for 250% profit.)
     • AAMC 4.2.2

       1 September 2011 at 10:48 am

       Perhaps we could all do what I intend to do, buy solar panels. If they’re going to sell our strategic assets then I intend to be strategic about my own energy production.
       • Puddleglum 4.2.2.1

         1 September 2011 at 12:52 pm

         If we did that collectively I’d agree.

         If it was just a call for individual ‘consumers’ to install solar panels to meet their own, private energy needs then I would disagree.

         ‘Privatisation’ is not just an economic term. It concerns the increasing tendency to turn our social world into a set of materially discrete private spheres, with a diminishing number of people within each sphere. Connections between these spheres then reduce to contractual arrangements enforced by some coercive system (e.g., the police and judiciary).

         Think about what you’d do if someone from the poorer, ‘less wise’ parts of town (who had ‘chosen’ not to install solar panels) came to your place and wanted some of your energy and was in no mind to take ‘no’ for an answer. Would the reactionary individualist come to the fore? (You know, “Well, if they didn’t think ahead, more fool them. I’ll set the cops onto them if they want some of my energy!”)

         To add a further step to my points above – my opposition to privatisation is not just about corporate private ownership; it’s about the ills of any solely private ownership of something so necessary to all of us. (That’s not to say that individuals shouldn’t have their own energy supply, just that there also has to be a collective energy supply – or collective means of providing energy – over which we have control and access, together.)
         • AAMC 4.2.2.1.1

           1 September 2011 at 1:27 pm

           Agreed, but then unfortunately is the real world that we are being confronted with.

           Our Government is about to sell our strategic energy resources and as much as I’d like to act collectively to prevent that, the media, polls, apathy, stupidity, self interest, stupidity and so on and so forth are very likely to prevent that sort of collective action.

           So, rather than be subject to ever increasing power and water prices, I’ll stand accused of being a self serving individualist and ensure that my children have power from solar and water from the roof and will be happy- if the events that AFKTT predicts happen, as I’m fairly convinced is likely – I’ll be happy to be a hub for the street for power and cooking, if I haven’t managed to get a piece of land before then or am not running fromthe city before he blows the bridges.

           But in the meantime, a lack of leadership and governance, from any political party mean I have no option but to act privately. My first intention of coarse is to do all I can to work towards achieving a government in November that won’t sell our assets, but as much as admire the optimism of a Loy of the loyalists on thi blog, I’m not sure I’m feeling quite so sure.
           • Puddleglum 4.2.2.1.1.1

             1 September 2011 at 2:47 pm

             Completely agree and completely understandable – and I wouldn’t want to accuse you of being a self-serving individualist, so my apologies for that implication.

             I’m a bit into self-serving self-sufficiency myself, if the truth be known. An old-fashioned section with some fruit trees at the back, a vege garden, greenhouse, worm farm, composting … all very amateurish but making a bit of progress.
             • AAMC …

               1 September 2011 at 3:24 pm

               No offense taken, I’d much rather a society wide approach, but I’m not gonna wait.
     • millsy 4.2.3

       1 September 2011 at 11:27 am

       Quite. The foreign ownership issue is a red herring. The issue must be to keep those companies in public ownership.

       In fact, if I had my way, the energy companies would be turned back into the old ECNZ, and the Bradford reforms rolled back. The electricity is a total mess with ticket clipping and duplication galore. The only good thing about it, is that it gives me a job 🙂
       • Bored 4.2.3.1

         1 September 2011 at 11:54 am

         Thanks Millsy, so true. The underlying issue is how to avoid rent taking behavoir by capital. Make the buggers take risk if they want reward.
     • KJT 4.2.4

       1 September 2011 at 2:24 pm

       AND I suppose we are expected to borrow to buy these shares, as most Kiwi’s have not been paid enough to save since the mid 80’s..
5. The Voice of Reason 5

   1 September 2011 at 7:29 am

   Christian woman likes anal sex shock!
   • ropata 5.1

     1 September 2011 at 8:18 am

     Nothing about christianity or anal sex in that weird article..
     • Tiger Mountain 5.1.1

       1 September 2011 at 8:21 am

       Maybe Voice is thinking of replying to Sineads ad….
       • The Voice of Reason 5.1.1.1

         1 September 2011 at 8:31 am

         One of the requirements is living in Ireland, TM, and if Sinead is prepared to pay my fare, I’m off, to be sure, to be sure!
          
         Ropata, look again or even better, check her blog, which is linked to in the article. I’m assuming she’s still a christian. Last time I heard, she’d formed her own church and ordained herself as a minister, after considerable earlier difficulties with the Catholic hierarchy.
         • ropata 5.1.1.1.1

           1 September 2011 at 10:43 am

           I would like to apply also .. I’m off to check my family tree for Irish ancestry
           (Although Sinead seems to inhabit a parallel universe of her own)
           • The Voice of Reason 5.1.1.1.1.1

             1 September 2011 at 11:30 am

             No chance … nothing compares, nothing compares … to me!
   • millsy 5.2

     1 September 2011 at 11:23 am

     Why the fuck would anyone be attracted to a woman with a shaved head. Too masculine for me…

     Yuk..might as well go pick up a bloke…
     • Tiger Mountain 5.2.1

       1 September 2011 at 11:40 am

       Whatev millsy, everyone has their own style to be sure, and I am Irish, 4th gen kiwi but not that keen on Guinness or being Sinead’s kept companion slash bonker, but kudos to Voice for posting like it was 1999, or at least a Friday arvo.
       • The Voice of Reason 5.2.1.1

         1 September 2011 at 12:23 pm

         I may have been a bit obscure, TM. I posted it as a riposte to a christian commenter who had a bit of an anti-gay meltdown on an earlier open mike. But I’d still be on the first flight to Shannon if Sinead’d have me!
          
         The hair’s longer now, btw, an eton crop, I think it’s called in the salons.
         • Vicky32 5.2.1.1.1

           2 September 2011 at 2:22 pm

           If you define Sinead O’Connor as a Christian, no wonder you have so many problems with understanding the point of view of anyone who doesn’t agree with you!
           Bitter and vengeful much, are you? You’ve caused enough trouble for this year – why not sod off to the Dawkins site? You’d never have to deal with contrary views there.
           • McFlock 5.2.1.1.1.1

             2 September 2011 at 2:55 pm

             “sod off”?
             Nope, no bigotry there…
             • Vicky32 …

               2 September 2011 at 5:53 pm

               “sod off”?
               Nope, no bigotry there…

               If you think ‘sod off’ is some kind of bigotry, you need to improve your knowledge of non-American idiom… 😀
               • McFlock …

                 2 September 2011 at 6:20 pm

                 And you should think about why the word is what it is.
           • The Voice of Reason 5.2.1.1.1.2

             2 September 2011 at 2:58 pm

             It’s not a question of my definition of a Christian, it’s Sinead’s. If she, or you, claim to be Christian, then that is fine by me. It’s no more my business than what name you prefer to be called by. You claim to be a Christian, but there is little evidence of Christian virtue or values in the abuse you hurl so gaily around this site.
              
             And as for bitter and vengeful, well, as the world’s best selling work of fiction says, let he who is without sin caste the first stone. You stitched yourself up, Vicky32, with bugger all help from me.
              
             (Puns very much intended).
             • Vicky32 …

               2 September 2011 at 5:42 pm

               You claim to be a Christian, but there is little evidence of Christian virtue or values in the abuse you hurl so gaily around this site.

               I don’t fling abuse. You fling abuse… but hell will freeze over before you admit that… Your main issue with me, is that I don’t believe that Christian = doormat, and I won’t put up with lies and insults. Neither do I believe that women should always be subordinate to men and silent in their presence. 

               And as for bitter and vengeful, well, as the world’s best selling work of fiction says, let he who is without sin caste (sic) the first stone. You stitched yourself up, Vicky32, with bugger all help from me.

               Not true, but whatever. Have it your own way. (It’s the only thing that will make you happy, and above all, make you stop harassing me from day to day to tiresome day!) Leave it out – even your sycophants will be getting bored with it soon.
               • ropata …

                 3 September 2011 at 6:01 pm

                 Don’t take everything so personally Vicky, I am Christian also, but I’ve been hanging around the blogs long enough that personal stuff doesn’t get under my skin (much).

                 Also the USA has amply demonstrated that a nominal “christian” society is not immune from greed and tyranny. Religion is all too often the refuge of scoundrels, so when it’s criticised as such there’s not much argument.

                 Much of what passes for Christianity these days is indeed fiction. I believe God is working in subtle ways to restore our broken world, but humans are his agents and not the easiest material to work with!
                 • Vicky32 …

                   4 September 2011 at 12:58 am

                   Don’t take everything so personally Vicky, I am Christian also, but I’ve been hanging around the blogs long enough that personal stuff doesn’t get under my skin (much).

                   Thank you Ropata! I have a tendency to take this kind of thing much too personally – I admit I am a marshmallow and I let it get far too far under my skin!
                   You are very correct in what you have said.. Bless you!
     • Tigger 5.2.2

       1 September 2011 at 12:02 pm

       Millsy, take it over to Kiwiblog you homophobic tosser.
6. just saying 6

   1 September 2011 at 7:31 am

   Little message for the Labour front bench. There’s a rumour some of you drop in here from time to time. You might be familiar with the song from when you were young and believed in something:

   Whatever happened to all the heroes?
   All the Shakespearoes?
   They watched their Rome burn
   Whatever happened to the heroes?
   Whatever happened to the heroes?
   • Bored 6.1

     1 September 2011 at 7:40 am

     They got strangled…….
   • Bill 6.2

     1 September 2011 at 9:15 am

     Always prefered the sentiments of ‘Kill yr Idols’ anyway… http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gYSnZRDe7h4
     • The Voice of Reason 6.2.1

       1 September 2011 at 9:35 am

       Cheers, Bill, that hits the spot. The Stranglers were always a bunch of misogynist old tories and bandwagon jumpers anyway.
       • just saying 6.2.1.1

         1 September 2011 at 12:55 pm

         Heard it this morning and it reminded me of the situation with Labour, especially the line “they watched their Rome burn”. Thought it must be about the right vintage for most of the front bench…

         Shorter version of the comment: F$%#king do something.
         • The Voice of Reason 6.2.1.1.1

           1 September 2011 at 1:00 pm

           Well, you might like this, JS.
            
           I think you’ll find Labour are going to roll out actual policy over the next few months that builds up into a compelling campaign for change. National will continue to smile and wave, and the rest of us get to smile and wave goodbye to our assets.
            
            
            
            
           • just saying 6.2.1.1.1.1

             1 September 2011 at 3:53 pm

             If that article was largely purloined from a Labour press release, send the writer back for retraining journalism 101.

             If it was an entirely unscripted report from the journalist, all I can say is typical.

             Oh and in reply to your question VoR
             -And?
             • The Voice of Reason …

               1 September 2011 at 4:03 pm

               Hmmm, I didn’t actually ask a question. Back to blog commenting 101 for you, just saying!
                
               You suggested in your shortened version that Labour need to effing do something. This is clearly something and there’s more to come. NZ is going to be asked to make a choice between practical steps to turn the country around or letting Key smile and wave us into poverty.
               • just saying …

                 1 September 2011 at 4:05 pm

                 Two words: work schemes
7. Pete George 7

   1 September 2011 at 7:35 am

   In one way I’m really quite close to David Cunliffe, according to his political perception as indicated at Vote Chat last week, and my political compass.

   Cunliffe placed himself quite close to where the Greens were placed in 2008.
8. ropata 8

   1 September 2011 at 8:15 am

   Busload of Kids placed at risk:
   http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10748617

   The benefits of privatisation…?
   • millsy 8.1

     1 September 2011 at 11:24 am

     The privatisation of our school bus system is a sleeping scandal.

     I really dont see how evil the old system was, with the old DoE buses doing the main routes with small private operators filling in the gaps.
9. freedom 9

   1 September 2011 at 9:12 am

   “Prime Minister John Key said it was inevitable there would be some foreign ownership, but local investors would be long-term holders and there was no reason to think they would all sell out. “Our view always has been it’s absolutely critical that majority ownership is held by the New Zealand Government,” he said.

   However, that would not be passed into law

   “When I say I won’t sell more than 49 per cent … I think New Zealanders will take me at my word,” he said. ”

   – just like “no increase in g.s.t ” and “tax cuts north of $50 a week”
   We know we can trust him because John’s word is his BondShare
   • travellerev 9.1

     1 September 2011 at 9:38 am

     Just remember: When a banker speaks he lies!
10. prism 10

    1 September 2011 at 9:28 am

    Black border for NZPA. The closing of this agency is an example of how New Zealand is losing its way as a country, our news supply being dominated and shrunk by Australians through Fairfax ownership. Our NZ ownership and control of the majority our newspapers has been lost. Our ability to be informed, to get unslanted background on current topics and reliable history and thoughtful, knowledgable future projections has been decimated. This is made worse as we now have no television that is under public ownership. In the place of such intelligent reports and serious comment we have people who pass themselves off as commentators who are attractive, quirky, or grumpy talking heads, both fluent and confident, offering us a mirror on our country. But mirrors’ reflections depend on their angle!

    Australian owners have most of our banks, and our NZ one was achieved after only a fight with the right wing Nationals. Australians own the biggest chunk of our supermarkets, Australian interests own most of our appliance and large furnishing stores.

    If there is a Pacific free trade agreement, which includes USA, signed up we will have the coup de grace to our freedom to operate in our interests and to retain our own profits. We are losing the ability to achieve the realisable dreams and plans of our tupuna, through overseas takeover and control of the core businesses of our country’s infrastructure and our main businesses now, and future ones. We will have a case of country osteoporosis, and gradually crumble away. Or we may be destroyed as Mexico has been, their existing problems exacerbated by huge drug deals being rerouted through the country to USA from Columbia.
    • Draco T Bastard 10.1

      1 September 2011 at 11:40 am

      NZ is being re-colonised courtesy of the FTAs that we’ve signed. Our wealth will be stripped from us by laws that are detrimental to us and given to our new foreign owners.
      • insider 10.1.1

        1 September 2011 at 12:35 pm

        Were we ever de-colonised in that sense? Haven’t we always had large scale foreign investment? The meat industry was dominated by Vesteys and others for most of last century. Oil by British and US companies, banking and insurance by Australians, shipping by Brits. Plus ca change
        • prism 10.1.1.1

          1 September 2011 at 2:18 pm

          @insider – You mention last century – now we are in this century with different things to think about. Looking at the foreign-owned list – you have shipping from Britain, we let our own small shipping fleet go, we are thinking of selling part of our airline, which if we do will see our interests become secondary to a foreigners profit. We have tried to build our own agricultural industries but need to watch that red-hen johhnies come lately don’t break our sector solidity into little shards or that a landslide of foreign investment doesn’t strip us of that. Oil is on its way out and we are hoping to carry on as usual as long as poss no matter what the danger to our water ecology.

          It’s not just the same, though a trend shows up for sure for those who are ready to look at it, see it and understand it.
    • prism 10.2

      1 September 2011 at 4:25 pm

      This is a quote from a book by a war journalist Erik Durschmied about the change of commitment and style by the big media networks around 1986. – Company hr departments cut staff with the sensitivity of a chain saw. Decisions were taken by computer printouts: The list! Who’s on the list? went up the anxious cry. Long-termers in seemingly untouchable positions walked into their offices to be told by their secretaries that they had to clear out their desks by noon and hand in their credit cards. The catch phrase was ‘Lean and mean’ and it meant – I want it closed – now.

      “A period had come to an end. Once the money-changers took over from creative talent, stock market reports replaced the importance of news reports. A heritage was squandered. Without fanfare, the beacons of information were laid to rest, and with them the influence the networks exerted over millions of faithful viewers. The once supreme CBS lost its number one rating, but its share price doubled within a year.”
11. Puddleglum 11

    1 September 2011 at 10:08 am

    Why is it always so depressingly true that to get to the truth you have to follow the money?

    I remember some on the right saying that the Treaty process created a “grievance industry” that had an interest in maintaining grievances. Well, I suppose now they’ll be pointing out that the secret rendition process has created a torture facilitation industry that has an interest in perpetuating torture?

     
    • clandestino 11.1

      1 September 2011 at 11:23 am

      Isn’t that the ironic thing about the right though? Ideologically pure while they’re making money, inconsistent moralists when they’re not.
12. aerobubble 12

    1 September 2011 at 10:21 am

    Tourettes Sydrome. How do Police manage those who have it?
    Could the defense of provocation have been used if the victim had
    Tourettes? In light of the light bulb thief what is Police procedure
    when dealing with people with mental aberrations? Shouldn’t Doctors
    who have the confidence of their patients be in the loop so to speak.
    Give the death of a man in state housing, that was not discovered for a year,
    why wasn’t their Doctor aware of their reculsive lifestyle and had
    a duty of care to insure some way of checking they were okay?

    Can you imagine someone running out into traffic and you unwilling to
    go to their aid for fear of being run over, only then to be charged with
    not going to their aid.
13. NickS 13

    1 September 2011 at 12:33 pm

    And here’s your daily dose of rational, arse kicking feminism:

    Your Home Birth is Not a Feminist Statement
    • prism 13.1

      1 September 2011 at 2:26 pm

      @NickS That was informative. I think I remember right, one study shows infants born at home were three times more likely to die than those born in hospital. Not a comfortable thought.
    • wtl 13.2

      1 September 2011 at 2:47 pm

      Does anyone know how prevalent home birth is in NZ?
      • joe90 13.2.1

        1 September 2011 at 5:48 pm

        The land of the free and neonatal mortality.

        Although newborn death rates have decreased over the last 20 years, a new study shows that the U.S. neonatal mortality rankings have plummeted by 26 percent. The U.S. is now tied for having the 41st lowest risk of newborn death, down from a ranking of 28th two decades ago, with a current neonatal death rate of 4.3 per 1,000 live births

        The study shows that babies born in countries including South Korea, Cuba, Malaysia, Lithuania, Poland and Israel are now more likely to survive than those born in the United States.
      • McFlock 13.2.2

        1 September 2011 at 5:51 pm

        broad brush figures here: 2-2500home births/yr, and about 60-65k live births in NZ per year (statsNZ). So only a few% home births.
         
        I’d be reluctant to extrapolate stats from the States, though, simply because the gap is thin and the confidence intervals on the NZ numbers would be quite wide, even if we were talking about translatable conditions. We’re probably not talking about playing russian roulette with newborns, if you get my drift. 
         
        Vaccination is definitely a demonstrable treatment/wellness gap, but I can probably think of bigger issues to get knicker-twisted about than home births. Besides, it would only reopen the obs/mids argument, and everyone seems to have been on good behaviour the last few years, even beginning to work together constructively. THAT is a major benefit to child health in NZ.
14. joe90 14

    1 September 2011 at 1:49 pm

    Former Powell Chief of Staff: Cheney “Fears Being Tried as a War Criminal”.
    • McFlock 14.1

      1 September 2011 at 2:31 pm

      Good.
      even if he’s never tried, at least he’s constantly waiting for the knock on the door.
15. Jilly Bee 15

    1 September 2011 at 3:32 pm

    I wonder what the MSM and politicians [of both hue] will make of Nicky Hager’s latest book, which I must read!
16. Jim Nald 16

    1 September 2011 at 3:51 pm

    Hi to inhabitants of this planet

    “Ecocide”

    Polly Higgins, author of Ecocide (People’s Book Prize Winner, 2011), is in the country to give a few presentations: Wellington (tomorrow 12:30pm, Spectrum Theatre), Nelson (tomorrow evening), Auckland (Sunday & Monday).

    Making ecocide a crime is fast gaining international support. Polly is the lawyer who has proposed the Law of Ecocide to the UN and is on a tour to speak with lawyers, ministers, universities and environmentalists. Polly Higgins has been hailed as one of the world’s top 10 visionaries. She will be speaking about Making Ecocide the 5th Crime Against Peace, to sit alongside Genocide, and how it will stop dangerous industrial and agricultural practices. Her proposal has long-term and far-reaching consequences for business and banks.

    Her work is regarded as a very significant initiative building on the work of Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring (1962).

    I have heard her speak and she is brilliant. I would recommend her very highly.

    NZ & Australian presentation details:
    http://permaculture.org.au/2011/08/18/polly-higgins-speaking-tour-australia-new-zealand-eradicating-ecocide-laws-and-governance-to-prevent-the-destruction-of-our-planet/

    Her website:
    http://www.pollyhiggins.com/Polly_Higgins/Welcome.html

    Website for her book:
    http://www.eradicatingecocide.com/

    I understand James Shaw, Green Party’s Wellington Central candidate, is hosting her Wellington presentation. Would be good for Labour to be clued up on this. Also, can someone connect her up to Helen Clark, Geoffrey Palmer & UN folks?

    Polly’s framing of the issues in terms of the well-established concept of trusteeship in the international law context, to broaden the issues beyond just notions of property rights, is in alignment with kaitiakitanga and should also interest iwi groups. Greens, Fabians and any thinking and feeling person should lend an ear or a helping hand to Polly’s initiative.

    p.s. I am posting his as an interested member of public and don’t receive a commission or any financial benefit from generating awareness about this.
    • Jim Nald 16.1

      1 September 2011 at 3:59 pm

      p.p.s. Nelson talk just added to her speaking schedule:
      Fri 2 Sep, 7:00- 8:30pm
      Making Ecocide a Crime
      Eden Foundation, Nelson
      http://www.eventfinder.co.nz/2011/sep/nelson/eradicating-ecocide-public-talk-by-polly-higgins
17. The Voice of Reason 17

    1 September 2011 at 6:16 pm

    Latest Roy Morgan out, Labour down a couple, Greens up a couple. The left still at 44, but as I’ve said before, if the Maori Party, ACT and YourNZ, sorry, UF only get 3 seats between them, it’s all on.
     
     
    • McFlock 17.1

      1 September 2011 at 6:35 pm

      Yep – still very much “all or nothing” for national. They’d be praying there’s no systematic conservative bias in the polling, even of only a few percent.
        
      Because of course there’s no chance the Greens will go with National (sarc).
18. thejackal 18

    1 September 2011 at 8:29 pm

    11th September 2032

    Now you might think that David Farrar has plucked the 11-09-2032 (for when people are no longer banned from Kiwibog) out of his rather large posterior. Not so… it happens to be his 65 birthday…

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