Open Mike 17/05/2018

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, May 17th, 2018 - 85 comments
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85 comments on “Open Mike 17/05/2018 ”

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  1. Ad 1
    17 May 2018 at 6:19 am

    Good day for a proper Labour-led government budget.

  2. Ed 2
    17 May 2018 at 6:32 am

    Tax the rich.
    Tax the corporations.
    Abolish GST.

    • Stunned mullet 2.1
      17 May 2018 at 7:42 am

      Already happens
      Already happens
      Not going to happen

      • Ed 2.1.1
        17 May 2018 at 7:45 am

        Tax them a lot more.

        • Stunned Mullet 2.1.1.1
          17 May 2018 at 8:02 am

          Best you vote for a party that will move to increase taxes a lot more – I doubt the current lot will. Also who are these ‘rich’ and which corporations in particular- certainly the facebooks, apples, googles etc appear to pay minimal tax but I believe most governments are at a loss how to get money out of them.

          • Puckish Rogue 2.1.1.1.1
            17 May 2018 at 9:21 am

            Presumably Ed thinks anyone who makes more than him is “rich”

            • Stunned Mullet 2.1.1.1.1.1
              17 May 2018 at 9:33 am

              I don’t know that’s why I asked.

            • AB 2.1.1.1.1.2
              17 May 2018 at 9:58 am

              Presumably Ed thinks anyone who makes more than him is “rich”
              My guess is that Ed is more concerned with the rather flexibile meaning of “makes” in that sentence. Lots of people work hard and don’t “make” much money, lots of others don’t work that hard and “make” lots. The difference is on the whole not strongly correlated to skill levels either.
              Getting rich is predominantly about having access to streams of unearned income.

            • alwyn 2.1.1.1.1.3
              17 May 2018 at 10:42 am

              @PR
              That would make us the richest country on earth.
              Or at least the only one where everyone, except Ed, is rich.

      • Draco T Bastard 2.1.2
        17 May 2018 at 1:25 pm

        No it doesn’t. That’s why the rich get away with not paying between 7 billion in taxes.
        But not enough. Corporate tax rates should be higher than the personal tax rate so as to encourage the payout of dividends.
        Of course not. GST is how the costs were transferred from the rich to the poor.

  3. DB Brown 3
    17 May 2018 at 7:13 am

    No more corporate welfare.

  4. Grey Area 4
    17 May 2018 at 7:45 am

    Look out for Emmerson’s take on the return of the Saudi sheep deal. Entitled “Your Worst Nightmare” a wild-eyed sheep with what looks like a bloody snout pushes though some curtains bleating: I’M BAA-AA-ACK!

    I started my day with a laugh!

    • bwaghorn 4.1
      17 May 2018 at 10:35 am

      The shame is the fact the that dodgy prick mcully caused it will be forgotten.

  5. Ad 5
    17 May 2018 at 8:10 am

    Looking forward to Smith and other ex-National Ministers getting called in as witnesses when the Ardern government lets the Saudi sheep deal go to court against MFAT.

    Better than mint sauce on a Sunday roast lamb.

    • Peroxide Blonde 5.1
      17 May 2018 at 10:20 am

      …served with Highwater Wines Central Otago Pinot Noir (John Key is a shareholder)…

    • savenz 5.2
      17 May 2018 at 11:27 am

      No wonder we need so many more lawyers than the UK per capita in NZ – just more and more litigation over stupid government/council decisions that siphon tax payers dollars to more and more lawyers…

    • Gabby 5.3
      17 May 2018 at 6:57 pm

      I’m sure it will suddenly have been oprashnilmadda all along and sorry don’t recall.

  6. Puckish Rogue 6
    17 May 2018 at 8:13 am

    So the budget will be interesting, if Labour manage to exceed expectations then good on them and they’ll get deserved bouquets but if they don’t then they’ll reap what they sow

    At least politics, at the moment, isn’t boring 🙂

    • Stuart Munro 6.1
      17 May 2018 at 8:20 am

      Meh – the architects of the $11 billion hole would still be crying wolf if Robertson stumbled on a cache of diamonds that paid off all our debts and funded everything we could wish for. There will be a lot of meaningless braying and trumpeting of (second hand) financial expertise from a group that never demonstrated any.

      • Puckish Rogue 6.1.1
        17 May 2018 at 8:25 am

        But thats always the way, the new government blames the previous government while simultaneously taking credit for the previous governments achievements

        • solkta 6.1.1.1
          17 May 2018 at 8:27 am

          Well i guess this government is shit out of luck with the latter.

          • Puckish Rogue 6.1.1.1.1
            17 May 2018 at 8:32 am

            Sure and I suppose the strong economy and low unemployment is because of the fine work Labour did the last couple years

            • Stuart Munro 6.1.1.1.1.1
              17 May 2018 at 8:36 am

              Given that both are pretty flimsy fictions they’re mighty hard to take credit for.

                • Stuart Munro …
                  17 May 2018 at 8:56 am

                  Oddly enough, Robertson doesn’t take advice from me, and I’ll have to see something pretty awesome on his behalf before I’ll be taking advice from him.

                  The Key government left a desolate wasteland – Robertson only pretends otherwise to cheapen the cost and ease of borrowing.

                  And he’ll have to borrow – you can bet Bill didn’t fund MPI to address the mycoplasma debacle for instance.

                  • Puckish Rogue …
                    17 May 2018 at 8:59 am

                    So Robertson is basically in cahoots with National or working on similar but divergent lines?

                    • Stuart Munro …
                      17 May 2018 at 9:39 am

                      His priority should be fixing the things that have been broken – NZ is in pretty bad shape. Instead it seems likely that we’ll see another rehearsal of pretentions to fiscal orthodoxy while the country continues to decline.

                      Savage set out to address real problems – neo-liberal orthodoxy will never achieve that.

                    • Puckish Rogue …
                      17 May 2018 at 9:50 am

                      I personally think Robertson now realises that NZ isn’t in as bad a state as the Left proclaimed before the election and therefore doesn’t need to radically with the economy, well more than they’ve already done

                    • Stunned Mullet …
                      17 May 2018 at 9:51 am

                      NZ is in pretty bad shape,..a deslate wasteland.. – what utter tosh.

                      I had such high hopes for your commentary after your more recent engagement on this site Stuart but you’ve reverted to hyperbole and cant.

                    • mauī …
                      17 May 2018 at 9:54 am

                      The economy is fine,.. just everything else is fucked.

                      Thank god for the economy 🙂

                    • Stuart Munro …
                      17 May 2018 at 11:33 am

                      “I personally think Robertson now realises that NZ isn’t in as bad a state as the Left proclaimed before the election”

                      What Bill English knew about the economy didn’t amount to a hill of beans. He couldn’t even maintain growth (ex migration) above 1% – when 3% is a moderate result by global standards.

                      Robertson is a gender politics maven, a newcomer to finance, and readily duped by the chorus of non-performing assholes who described Blinglish’s gross mismanagement as a “rockstar economy”. He probably doesn’t have the chops to break us out of the failing status quo and put us on the path to genuine social and economic recovery.

                      Watch the suicide stats and foodbank stories – they, like taxi drivers, are closer to the genuine economy than the statistical fiction writers of Treasury.

                    • Puckish Rogue …
                      17 May 2018 at 11:46 am

                      Well you shit on everyone equally so thats something

                    • Stuart Munro …
                      17 May 2018 at 11:57 am

                      That’s a pretty lame characterization – the truth is that in a democracy these pitiful policy pushers who’ve moved NZ down in real quality of life terms are paid and sworn to represent us. It is our call to judge their performance, and not difficult to ascertain that they have done very poorly indeed since 1980.

                      Neither bonhomie nor pretentions to fiscal orthodoxy excuse that.

                • Draco T Bastard …
                  17 May 2018 at 1:34 pm

                  Robertson follows the same ideology as National and is thus just as wrong.

  7. Kat 7
    17 May 2018 at 8:41 am

    Hosking reckons “this Government has a lot of work to do when it comes to convincing most of us they’re any good with an economy”……. the arrogance and blatant misinformation is palpable given the previous Labour govt ran nine straight surpluses.

    • Puckish Rogue 7.1
      17 May 2018 at 8:44 am

      Whats the problem? He said “this government”, the previous Labour government did a decent job in a boom period but Cindy is no Helen and Grant is no Michael so yeah they do have to prove it

      • mauī 7.1.1
        17 May 2018 at 9:51 am

        I’m sure you held Keys 08 government to the same standard… you were probably posting about it on a right wing blog then however..

      • Kat 7.1.2
        17 May 2018 at 10:17 am

        So when they do prove it “most of us” should be happy then.

        • Puckish Rogue 7.1.2.1
          17 May 2018 at 10:21 am

          If they do then good on them for earning it but they shouldn’t, as you seem to think, get the respect first without earning it

          • Kat 7.1.2.1.1
            17 May 2018 at 11:41 am

            They won’t break with tradition so its already proven but they will never convince some who are not “the most of us”.

  8. millsy 8
    17 May 2018 at 9:18 am

    I’m not expecting wholesale nationalisation, or free ponies, but I’m hoping for something that is half pie radical in this budget.

    • Ad 8.1
      17 May 2018 at 10:20 am

      You’ll get red meat, peas, carrots, mashed potatoes, and an apple afterwards.

      No custard.

    • David Mac 8.2
      17 May 2018 at 10:30 am

      I think we’ll get watered down election promises. An election campaign with half of the marketing dept on holiday.

      I do hold a little hope for a solution to:

      ‘How the hell am I going to drop $1000 on the table every week to service a mortgage?’

      • AB 8.2.1
        17 May 2018 at 11:15 am

        I do hold a little hope for a solution to:
        ‘How the hell am I going to drop $1000 on the table every week to service a mortgage?’
        There is no solution other than:
        a.) it becomes less than $1,000
        b.) you have more money coming in to pay the $1,000
        c.) you give up, become a renter, someone who already owns several houses buys yours and they become inexorably richer as you become inexorably poorer.

        Sorry – the answer, even under this government, won’t be a.) or b.)

        • David Mac 8.2.1.1
          17 May 2018 at 11:35 am

          In the late 50’s my Dad was running a small car rental company for the guy that owned it. Washing cars, juggling the inventory, booking oil changes etc. A very average income. Mum was raising kids. Owning a home via conventional means, as it is now, an impossible dream. The govt gave them the boost up into our own home. It set them on the path to the comfort they now enjoy in their old age.

          I don’t know how it worked, Home Advances Loan? All I know is that it was a government initiative, the act of a govt that could see sense in assisting families into their own homes rather than chucking readies at the owners of ramshackle motels.

          • savenz 8.2.1.1.1
            17 May 2018 at 11:47 am

            Yep that’s how my parents got their own home too on one income not large in the 1970’s. The government had builders building houses that Kiwi’s could then buy at/near cost and the universal family benefit was enough to pay off the mortgage.

          • dv 8.2.1.1.2
            17 May 2018 at 11:50 am

            There was a post office scheme in the 70’s and 80’s that helped with a first house deposit, can’t recall the details.
            Also state advance loans at 2-3% – bank rates 10% isn

            • David Mac 8.2.1.1.2.1
              17 May 2018 at 12:04 pm

              There must be some kind of tipping point. Why advance an accommodation supplement of $600 a week when $550 would own it?

              I couldn’t afford to live in a motel, the thought of it is outrageous, all that money for so few of the comforts of home.

            • Daveosaurus 8.2.1.1.2.2
              17 May 2018 at 5:20 pm

              Home Ownership Accounts. http://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1974/0051/latest/whole.html

              Roger Douglas killed them IIRC. More reason to banish Douglas, Prebble, Bassett and co., and their ideologies, to the dustbin of history.

              • dv …
                17 May 2018 at 7:19 pm

                Thanksx.
                I have been trying to remember now for a while.

                I recall that we didn’t realise that we could set it up for my wife as well, and missed the bonus by about a year or 2.

                But it was a good scheme.
                ..

  9. Peroxide Blonde 9
    17 May 2018 at 10:22 am

    “Whether enough progress in reassembling Humpty Dumpty can be made to allow the EU summit to avoid a collapse in the Brexit talks in June is still very much in the balance. Brussels is turning up the heat, but it remains to be seen if Theresa May can deliver something which might break the logjam.”

    June is when the English government’s penchent for kicking the brexit can down the road comes to an end.

    https://www.irishtimes.com/business/economy/scramble-under-way-to-make-progress-on-brexit-border-issue-1.3497306

  10. ankerawshark 10
    17 May 2018 at 10:45 am

    http://subzpsubzp.blogspot.co.nz/2018/01/farrars-honeymoon-scam_19.html?m=1

    This piece is a must read. Uncovering how a meme about the lack of poll bounce for Labour after the election was made and picked up by the msm.

    Great work sub zero………….real journalism

  11. AsleepWhileWalking 11
    17 May 2018 at 10:53 am

    Strippers appear to be exploited by Calendar Girls

    https://i.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/103840709/stripping-was-all-i-had-former-dancer-exposes-calendar-girls-rules-and-fines

    Most concerning are the “fines” as it is reminiscent of prostitute being fined while it was still illegal (mainly to make up for a lack of patrons).

    • OnceWasTim 11.1
      17 May 2018 at 11:41 am

      I’m not sure when both the Labour Inspectorate and Immigration NZ are going to realise the bleeding obvious ESPECIALLY as we know, when they’re very short on Labour Inspectors and other resources.
      Going after the victims of exploitation (and in the case of immigrants of all descriptions, trying to flick them out of the country as quickly as possible) will solve SFA.
      As someone pointed out, it simply “flushes the pool” allowing for the next round of ticket clippers and exploiters.
      Putting the resources into cracking down on the exploiters, the shoddy PTEs and consultants with cosy little relationships to businesses prepared to exploit (sometimes even direct financial interests) will ensure better outcomes for all.

      I’m not sure that issuing Labour Inspectors with stab proof vests is going to solve the problem either other than stroking their egos and allowing them to feel like butch enforcers.

      • David Mac 11.1.1
        17 May 2018 at 11:52 am

        The tenancy tribunal system doesn’t cost the taxpayer a dollar. (Directly). It is self funding. This is why it only costs $20 to lodge a case. The interest earned on all of our rental bonds covers most operational costs.

        I think the labour inspectorate should be looking for a similar model. Put a zero on the end of the current fines. Calendar Girls would be a right handy earner. Dodgy restaurateurs and gangs of painters? Threatened with finding $30,000 or facing deportation…the money will appear.

        • OnceWasTim 11.1.1.1
          17 May 2018 at 12:08 pm

          Not a bad idea.
          I’ve come across so many instances of immigrant victims of exploitation who’d have ‘self-deported’ if only they’d been able to pay back the loans taken out getting here and money owed to people who’ve helped support them whilst here.
          They’d also be more of a mind to expose the ‘exploiters’ if they didn’t have to live in constant fear in the meantime whilst they’re being royally fleeced by some PTEs, employers and others who’d made false promises to them.
          The Labour Inspectorate still appears to be scratching its arse wondering why people aren’t prepared to talk.
          (In many cases it’s because they fear being deported and are a fucking sight worse off financially than they were before setting eyes on the place. And they know that a new round of people are about to suffer the same fate whilst those running the scams and exploitation will get a rap over their knuckles with a wet bus ticket if at all)

          • David Mac 11.1.1.1.1
            17 May 2018 at 12:29 pm

            Yes, in those circumstances, depending on whistle blowing or victims to take a stand is asking them to tighten their own thumb-screws.

            With increased funding a team of undercover waiters, painters, wherever there are hot-spots, could be hired. They could gather evidence and present it in court.

            I’d see the inspectorate’s job as making it easier in our environment to do the right thing by workers than to cheat them. Assist wannabe exploiters in arriving at the decision that there is little to no upside in doing the wrong thing.

            I guess a downside of such an outcome could be the dept becoming a victim of it’s own success.

            • OnceWasTim 11.1.1.1.1.1
              17 May 2018 at 12:47 pm

              I’m interested in furthering this discussion @DM because you seem to have sensible ideas/solutions. Commitments – so hopefully later.
              One of my concerns is with Immigration Consultants (who are often described as ‘lawyers’ when they’re not). They should have to operate under the aegis of a lawyer at least, because then there is some process for sanction. I’ve come cross these so-called ‘lawyers’ who also run things like security companies, labour hire companies, even beauty salons (when that was supposedly a ‘skill shortage), and who funnel their victims through these places.
              I’m not sure the IAA has ever heard of the Companies Register before. It might have given them a place to start identifying the charlatans.
              …..later

    • indiana 11.2
      17 May 2018 at 11:42 am

      They should all join a union.

      • OnceWasTim 11.2.1
        17 May 2018 at 1:58 pm

        Indeed…..however for many it’s a case of cudda shudda wudda because all they’ve ever known is the culture of the ‘self’ and the benefits of a collective approach is so passe – that is until things jump up and bite them in the bum. However, they’re no less entitled to be treated with respect and common decency – such as not being subjected to slave labour conditions.
        Listening to RNZ this morning though, it appears some unions are prepared to represent those that have been exploited, regardless of membership – presumably as long as they now join (I maybe wrong, but I’d have thought in the cause of mutual benefit) …. a bloody small price to have to pay.

        Perhaps, just like the ‘Taxpayers Union’ have hijacked the idea and label of unionism, unions should start calling themseves ‘associations’ (so much more classy to a gNatzi mindset)

  12. savenz 12
    17 May 2018 at 11:18 am

    Water shortages to be key environmental challenge of the century, Nasa warns

    Freshwater supplies have already seriously declined in 19 global hotspots – from China to the Caspian Sea – due to overuse, groundbreaking study shows

    https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/may/16/water-shortages-to-be-key-environmental-challenge-of-the-century-nasa-warns

  13. savenz 13
    17 May 2018 at 11:20 am

    Banned CFC’s are back in production..
    Mysterious rise in banned ozone-destroying chemical shocks scientists

    https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/may/16/mysterious-rise-in-banned-ozone-destroying-chemical-shocks-scientists

    • cleangreen 13.1
      17 May 2018 at 7:33 pm

      Thanks for that savenz.

      national were also letting in ozone destroying chemicals too here.

      we need to tighten up on our emissions simply to save our planet now as the traces of national policy are still around and affecting our planet.

      Jacinda must step up here.

      National have promoted the worst transport policy in history by culling rail for more trucks to increase the emissions of CO2 levels five times more by choosing to using road freight vs rail freight.

      We need to move half the road freight back to rail as soon as we can.

      Then use carbon pricing of all products made and transported using the EU model of carbon “food miles” pricing now on all products not just food.

      This may finally setup our clean transport system we most need.

      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Food_miles

      Food miles is a term which refers to the distance food is transported from the time of its production until it reaches the consumer. Food miles are one factor used when assessing the environmental impact of food, including the impact on global warming.[1]

      The concept of food miles originated in the early 1990s in the United Kingdom. It was conceived by Professor Tim Lang[2] at the Sustainable Agriculture Food and Environment (SAFE) Alliance[3] and first appeared in print in a report “The Food Miles Report: The dangers of long-distance food transport”, researched and written by Angela Paxton.[4][5]

      Some scholars believe that an increase in the distance food travels is due to the globalization of trade; the focus of food supply bases into fewer, larger districts; drastic changes in delivery patterns; the increase in processed and packaged foods; and making fewer trips to the supermarket. These make a small part of the greenhouse gas emissions created by food; 83% of overall emissions of CO2 are in production phases.[6]

  14. savenz 14
    17 May 2018 at 5:05 pm

    I bought my kids a Sundae from a west Auckland McDonalds drive through and something was clearly going wrong at the store because the spoons supplied were dirty and a whole lot of other things were weird…

    Police investigate McDonald’s sundae pills
    https://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/357577/police-investigate-mcdonald-s-sundae-pills

    Wage theft at Maccas – $1 million a year in lieu days or public holiday pay

    https://thedailyblog.co.nz/2018/04/20/wage-theft-at-maccas-1-million-a-year-in-lieu-days-or-public-holiday-pay/

  16. Morrissey 16
    17 May 2018 at 5:29 pm

    Not all people in the film industry are dim bulbs and louts like Rob Reiner, Harvey Weinstein, Jared Leto, Kevin Spacey, or that unfunny talking toilet Roseanne Barr

    Colin Kaepernick and hundreds of other protesting football players showed us that athletes have consciences as well as talent. Now the likes of Ava DuVernay, Bette Midler, Mia Farrow, and Judd Apatow are doing the same for Hollywood….

    http://normanfinkelstein.com/2018/05/16/in-praise-of-ava-duvernay-bette-midler-mia-farrow-and-judd-apatow/

  17. Morrissey 17
    17 May 2018 at 5:47 pm

    Trump’s bad—but the Democrats are just as bad.

    https://twitter.com/BetteMidler/status/996089360327041025

    • Ed 17.1
      17 May 2018 at 6:00 pm

      Missing your transcripts

      • Morrissey 17.1.1
        17 May 2018 at 6:06 pm

        Sorry Ed, I’ve been too busy with other stuff recently. I have, however, been listening to Jim Mora—he hasn’t been too bad, I must say. The other day his guests were David Farrar and Ali Jones, who mauled and battered Farrar as completely and humiliatingly as Gordon Campbell did to that nasty old plod Graham Bell a few years ago.

        More transcripts ARE on the way, especially concerning the love fest for Bonnie Prince Harry and his bride….

  18. Jenny 18
    17 May 2018 at 10:45 pm

    https://our.actionstation.org.nz/petitions/recycling-makes-cents-we-want-cash-for-containers

    To: The House of Representatives
    Introduce a bottle deposit scheme!

    Campaign created by
    Rowan Brooks

    Introduce a bottle deposit scheme!
    We want the New Zealand government to initiate a bottle deposit scheme to control drink packaging waste and encourage greater recycling.

    Why is this important?
    Bottle deposit schemes (also known as container deposit schemes) are a simple, effective way to deal with plastic pollution, clean up our oceans and beaches and support our local communities.

    It’s simple; you get a 10c refund on a bottle when you recycle it and this incentive could nearly triple New Zealand’s recycling rates overnight! [1]

    We had a system like this in Aotearoa NZ until the 1980’s, and ‘bottle drives’ were popular fundraisers for groups like the Scouts! This stopped when ‘disposable’ plastic bottles were introduced.

    Bottle deposit schemes are taking off worldwide as a way to keep plastic out of the environment – Australia will have them in all states by the end of 2018 and Germany has achieved a 98% recycling rate on plastic bottles!

    If we bring in a bottle deposit scheme, before we know it there’ll be less plastic on our beaches, the local kids will be fundraising by collecting bottles, and we’ll have created over 2,000 new jobs!

  19. eco maori 19
    18 May 2018 at 6:45 am

    Good morning the Am Show on 3.
    I say that the Labour lead coalition government budget is a good thing living with in OUR needs. We need to be prepared for another world financial down slow and or the price of oil to go up with oil men in charge of the White House.
    I seen the boat show when I read about all the complaints about the middle class being being squeeze ECO MAORI Says that I have not seen so many flash boats and Ford trucks than at this point in time so don’t threat Middle class people you have it sweet compared to the lower class people who are manly brown people.
    Many thanks to The Warehouse red shed for stopping the use of plastic bags.
    As for the pink shirt day I support that one day I wore a cap it was pink I thought it was cream my wife informed me it was pink. Ka kite ano. P.S I still see the ECO MAORI – – – – is working

    • eco maori 19.1
      18 May 2018 at 10:19 am

      There you go a racist old white man who needs to retire his dumb – – – – views if we carry on listening to this bigots views we would not even have the Internet how would you like to do with out that science made that possible Mcvay is just got the Waiapu coming out of his eyes with out science we would be nothing like as advanced as we are. Ka kite ano P.S We all know why crime is falling the what effect Ana to kai
      https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12052794