Open mike 17/12/2015

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, December 17th, 2015 - 92 comments
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92 comments on “Open mike 17/12/2015 ”

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  1. Pascals bookie 1
    17 December 2015 at 6:27 am

    http://www.buzzfeed.com/franciswhittaker/syrian-prisoners-executed-and-tortured?utm_term=.ldQXZyQwQ#.grK80N6b6

    This (leaving aside all the horrors inflicted since) is why all the plans that have Assad’s regime staying in power will simply not work. It would be like trying to restore the Baathists in Iraq.

  2. Penny Bright 2
    17 December 2015 at 7:35 am

    I’m actually delighted that business woman Victoria Crone is standing in the 2016 Auckland Mayoralty.

    That takes the pro-Supercity / pro-corporate 2016 Auckland Mayoral candidates to four:

    Stephen Berry
    Mark Thomas
    Phil Goff
    Victoria Crone

    Surely all those highly-paid corporate spin-doctors haven’t forgotten ‘Electoral Politics 101’?

    DON’T SPLIT THE VOTE?

    How DUMB is that?

    Hate to remind you – but in 2013 – only 36% of Auckland voters bothered?

    So – here’s the thing.

    Nearly two thirds of Auckland voters didn’t in 2013 – which is a rather large number of potential voters?

    What if significant numbers of previous non-voters feel inspired to vote for a Mayoral candidate – who clearly doesn’t represent corporate interests?

    And the third of Auckland voters who did vote in 2013, are now ‘spoiled for choice’ with the ever-growing numbers of pro- corporate / pro- ‘Supercity’ candidates – ie: the vote is potentially significantly split.

    Actually – I think you will find increasing numbers of Auckland voters are starting to realise that a Mayoral candidate who is campaigning for Auckland Council and CCOs to be held accountable to the ‘rule of law’ regarding citizens and ratepayers’ LAWFUL rights to ‘open, transparent and democratically accountable’ local government – is an increasingly attractive proposition.

    (That’s what I’ve been finding out in the Eastern suburbs ….:)

    Penny Bright

    2016 Auckland Mayoral candidate.

    • tracey 2.1
      17 December 2015 at 7:54 am

      Can you outline your top 5 priorities once elected?

      • Penny Bright 2.1.1
        17 December 2015 at 8:44 am

        My ‘vision’ Tracey, is to ensure that Auckland Council and Auckland Council Controlled Organisations (CCOs) are held accountable to the ‘Rule of Law’ regarding citizens LAWFUL rights to ‘open, transparent and democratically accountable’ local government.

        The Auckland Mayor has a dedicated budget to help ensure the implementation of the Mayoral vision.

        (In the 2014 – 2015 financial year, the Auckland Mayoral Office budget was $4.15 million.)

        So – in order to achieve this – I shall employ a small team of professional, highly competent forensic accountants / auditors, who will ‘go through the books with a fine tooth comb’, in order to find out exactly where public monies in the Auckland region are being spent, invested and borrowed.

        I shall then make that information available for public scrutiny.

        How can you carry out ‘cost benefit’ analyses for ‘cost-effectiveness’ in the spending of public monies, if you don’t know exactly where the costs fall?

        How can you exercise ‘prudent stewardship’ / ‘fiscal responsibility’ – if you don’t know exactly where the ‘costs’ fall?

        When I am elected Mayor of Auckland, and the Public Records Act 2005 (in particular), is implemented and enforced in a proper, lawful way, transparency, in my view, will be transformed.

        My vision is also that the public majority of Auckland citizens, not a private corporate minority, should benefit from public monies.

        That Auckland ‘local government’ – should focus on being citizen and local community ‘friendly’ – not multi-national ‘business friendly’.

        My vision is that unless rigorous ‘cost-benefit’ analysis supports the contracting out (privatisation) of Auckland Council services and regulatory functions, then they should be brought back ‘in house’, under the public service model.

        My vision includes replacing the CCO model for infrastructure and trading functions, and bringing these back under direct Council control.

        The corporate ‘Rogernomics’ vision has been ‘commercialise, corporatise – PRIVATISE’.

        First CCOs (Council ‘CORPORATE’ Controlled Organisations) – then PPPs (Public Private Partnerships).

        Beware the ‘weasel words’!

        Does Phil Goff support or oppose CCOs?
        Does Phil Goff support or oppose PPPs?

        Hope this helps.

        Kind regards

        Penny Bright

        2016 Auckland Mayoral candidate.

        • Tracey 2.1.1.1
          17 December 2015 at 11:28 am

          “replacing the CCO model for infrastructure and trading functions, and bringing these back under direct Council control…”

          Would that require Legislative change?

          • Sacha 2.1.1.1.1
            17 December 2015 at 8:23 pm

            Yes, as has been explained to madame candidate many times now. If someone wants to change the supercity structure then they need to be in government, not in council.

        • Sans Cle 2.1.1.2
          17 December 2015 at 11:37 am

          “My vision includes replacing the CCO model for infrastructure and trading functions, and bringing these back under direct Council control.”
          Hi Penny,
          I am interested in your vision. If you were elected would you not be hamstrung by the legislation – The Local Government Auckland Council Act of 2010?
          Are you campaigning on an issue that you would have no control over, after you became Mayor?

          I think Rodney Hide stitched the Auckland Council up tightly, in his corporate/privatization reforms, and the Mayor does not have any power to change that.

  3. tracey 3
    17 December 2015 at 8:01 am

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=11562015

    I note that the Herald and Phil Quin do not reveal his prior ties to Labour in hus by-line.

  4. Penny Bright 4
    17 December 2015 at 8:17 am

    See folks – despite the often bad press – ‘Activists’ get things done.

    Seen this?
    ______________________________________________________________________________________

    http://i.stuff.co.nz/auckland/local-news/east-bays-courier/75003039/Eastern-suburbs-consult-with-Auckland-Transport-on-new-bus-network

    Eastern suburbs consult with Auckland Transport on new bus network
    11 December 2015

    Concerned bus users in Auckland’s eastern suburbs were pleased with the outcome of a recent public meeting.

    Activist Penny Bright facilitated a meeting between residents and Auckland Transport officials as they discussed the new bus network proposal.

    St Heliers-Glendowie Residents Association member Robert Johnston was pleased with AT’s willingness to listen to suggestions.

    “With public transport, if you’re going to make it work you’ve got to make it attractive to people to use,” he says.

    He says that one of the main concerns the residents had was AT’s intention to direct some bus routes to the Orakei and Meadowbank train stations.

    Resident John Coutts agrees that some of the routes need improvement over what was initially suggested.

    “We want to maintain a direct link to the city and not feed the trains,” he says.

    Coutts says that the Orakei area in particular is so close to the city that it would make more sense to have Britomart as their “hub” station, instead of extending their journey by 20 to 30 minutes by forcing a transfer at Orakei Station.

    Public consultation on the new network was extended to December 14.

    Public transport network manager Anthony Cross says that AT will take all of the feedback into consideration as they refine the new network design.

    – Stuff

    ______________________________________________________________________________________

    Penny Bright

    2016 Auckland Mayoral candidate

    • Ad 4.1
      17 December 2015 at 9:02 am

      This sounds precisely like Auckland Transport reforming, listening and doing a good job, and the NZHerald noticing exactly that.

      BTW, since he’s named, Anthony Cross is an outstanding public servant.

    • Draco T Bastard 4.2
      17 December 2015 at 11:28 am

      Resident John Coutts agrees that some of the routes need improvement over what was initially suggested.

      “We want to maintain a direct link to the city and not feed the trains,” he says.

      Ah, so the residents complained about AT making public transport more efficient.

      • Sacha 4.2.1
        17 December 2015 at 8:31 pm

        They do have a point about Orakei, but they are otherwise bucking the overall regional integrated network design by opposing short bus spokes to train hubs. That is how AT propose to get twice as many passenger trips from the same number of buses and drivers, all over the region. It’s also why the CRL is crucial, to double the rail network’s capacity so it can handle all those extra tranferring passengers. In short, sorry Easties but you are not special.

    • Visubversa 4.3
      17 December 2015 at 1:00 pm

      A direct link to the city – so more traffic on the Tamaki Drive.

  6. Gangnam Style 6
    17 December 2015 at 8:21 am

    “The potential for school closure is a strength, not a weakness, of the Partnership Schools model.” – These bastards forget that these are kids lives we are talking about, so what if they spend a year or 2 at a substandard fucked up experimental school, no worries, try again next year. These are the parents making “poor choices” IMO.

    http://m.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11562044

    • Paul 6.1
      17 December 2015 at 9:01 am

      Extreme ideologues are running the country.
      ‘Centre right.’

      Just another media lie.

      • Wayne 6.1.1
        17 December 2015 at 11:31 am

        “Extreme ideologues are running the country”

        Compared to what?

        Other OECD countries – we tend to be in the middle of most measures (taxes, spread of wealth, social spending, etc)

        Social agenda – New Zealand has gay marriage, no smacking – the PM voted for both.

        International deployments – NZ has trainers in Iraq , but no combat role, like about 50 other countries in the coalition.

        Previous New Zealand governments – most commentators put National with Key a bit to the right of Labour under Helen Clark – but in both cases they are near to the centre. National has kept interest free loans for students, Working for Families, kept the ERA, not changed ACC. It even got Labour to vote for the latest RMA reforms.

        To justify your claim you need to be able to substantiate it with actual examples. And TPP does not count, unless you think Canada, Chile and Vietnam are also extreme right wing countries.

        • Draco T Bastard 6.1.1.1
          17 December 2015 at 12:02 pm

          Compared to what?

          Reality.

        • gsays 6.1.1.2
          17 December 2015 at 12:55 pm

          hi wayne, i will bite.
          “To justify your claim you need to be able to substantiate it with actual examples”

          selling to us something we already own, our power companies.

          getting a multi national corporation to run our prisons.
          (without researching it i am picking sercos parent company has a bigger balance sheet than aoteroa)

          bail out scf.

          running a school experiment that doesnt work, cost heaps and and mucks up childrens education.

          all of it hard right ideology

          and this is just some of the stuff we know about.
          what are the pandas hiding?
          is it a court case for a high profile person?

        • Pat 6.1.1.3
          17 December 2015 at 1:01 pm

          “And TPP does not count, unless you think Canada, Chile and Vietnam are also extreme right wing countries.”

          none which have ratified it….and one of which that just threw out the government that supported it.

          • greywarshark 6.1.1.3.1
            17 December 2015 at 6:34 pm

            Chile had its leftish government overthrown with publicly exposed USA intervention, and was under an awful regime of RW for many years, probably never has got over that. Vietnam another country that was attacked by the USA and has been left with a large amount of illness caused by Agent Orange.

            These countries have had decades of trying to restabilise themselves after being broken by USA intervention.

            Canada – has been sued by USA interests, and had its ability to handle its own resources and economy undermined by treating with the USA – now with a less RW leader who knows what will happen? A Chile right on the USA’s doorstep might be a bit smelly. But there are other ways of bringing them to heel. A country’s political orientation can be fairly easily subverted – look at our own.

            Our very own esteemed Labour Party was taken over by subversives trained probably at Harvard as easily as a local community group can be overwhelmed and subsumed by a rigged membership voting for their own hostile, financially predatory candidates.

        • Lanthanide 6.1.1.4
          17 December 2015 at 1:04 pm

          Cutting taxes for the rich and raising taxes for the poor and justifying it with “broader economic growth” that has 0 scientific rigour behind it, only to then be surprised when the economy doesn’t do as well as predicted.

          Running up the largest debt this country has ever seen, after it was paid down to a net-0 position by the previous government. Largely this was a result of the tax cuts.

          Refusing any sort of proper market intervention in the Auckland housing crisis, until eventually being forced to put in a weak version of CGT (2 year bright line test). Maintaining the existing “accommodation supplement” payments which just end up in the pockets of the landlords which only fuels the Auckland housing crisis, an extreme version of middle and upper-class welfare (far far worse than interest free student loans).

        • Stuart Munro 6.1.1.5
          17 December 2015 at 3:02 pm

          Economic policy is well to the right of what is reasonable – I know managed decline is your de facto strategy but a lot of kiwis want that growth and jobs you lied about. Cheap farm labourers is a false economy while there are out of work New Zealanders.

          It’s the dishonesty and the incompetence we don’t like – if you actually had a working plan instead of a disinformation machine you’d get more respect – but you run up Grecian levels of debt and try to pretend you’re geniuses.

          Iceland jailed a more honest and competent government than yours.

        • Paul 6.1.1.6
          17 December 2015 at 3:40 pm

          Extreme economic ideologues, Wayne. I’m not talking about social policies, but plain old neo-liberalism.

          You have heard of the extreme philosophies of Ayn Rand and Milton Friedman, haven’t you? We have been guinea pigs for their ideology since 1984.

          Canada, under Harper was an extreme right wing country,dedicated to tar sands, ultra support of Israel and attacks on civil rights. But you knew that, didn’t you?

          And the TPP is an attempt by corporates to control the legislative powers of democratic countries.

          Why are you so subservient to corporate interests? Do they pay you well?

          Either you are being willfully ignorant on all of this or you are being duplicitous for your corporate masters.

  7. Paul 7
    17 December 2015 at 8:34 am

    Our disgusting PM makes jokes about rape in prison and pulls young girls pony tails.
    And a contemptible number of middle class property owning New Zealanders like him because their house prices keep going up.

    They deserve the consequences.
    Unfortunately others don’t.

    • Paul 7.1
      17 December 2015 at 8:59 am

      His ordinary Kiwi bloke image is exactly that. An image. And those that still believe that PR construct are either willfully ignorant or suckers for advertising. Others, including some of the RWNJs who troll this site, who repeat the statement that John is just like an average NZers, are part of the lie.

      They know very well that he is far more comfortable playing golf with his buddies from Merrrill Lynch and Goldman Sachs on the golf courses of Hawaii than frequenting his local RSA.

      People who vote for Key deserve the consequences of supporting his extreme neo-liberal government.

      Unfortunately others don’t.

  8. The Chairman 8
    17 December 2015 at 8:44 am

    This is a good one.

    https://youtu.be/odR37GoXlaw

    Thoughts?

  9. esoteric pineapples 9
    17 December 2015 at 9:04 am

    China vows to aggressively falsify air pollution numbers

    http://www.theonion.com/article/china-vows-to-begin-aggressively-falsifying-air-po-37429

  10. ianmac 10
    17 December 2015 at 9:06 am

    Headline says, “Little now backs SAS in Isis war”
    But of course there has to be provisos.

    “Labour leader Andrew Little said Labour would support sending SAS troops to fight Isis if the right conditions were met.

    Those conditions were having a clear and realistic objective, that it would have to be part of a multinational mission mandated by the United Nations and that the level of risk needed to be acceptable.”

    So not quite the impression that Audrey likes to suggest.
    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11562158

    • Paul 10.1
      17 December 2015 at 9:18 am

      Just another media distortion.
      The msm are owned by massive corporations.
      They are courtesans to them.

    • Ovid 10.2
      17 December 2015 at 11:01 am

      Multilateralism and the UN have always been a core part of Labour policy, but I wonder if resolution 2249 would be construed as explicit UN authorisation which:

      Calls upon Member States that have the capacity to do so to take all necessary measures, in compliance with international law, in particular with the United Nations Charter, as well as international human rights, refugee and
      humanitarian law, on the territory under the control of ISIL also known as Da’esh, in Syria and Iraq, to redouble and coordinate their efforts to prevent and suppress terrorist acts committed specifically by ISIL also known as Da’esh as well as ANF, and all other individuals, groups, undertakings, and entities associated with
      Al Qaeda…

    • Colonial Viper 10.3
      17 December 2015 at 11:08 am

      Little should simply say – as it stands today, there is no way that NZ troops should be in Iraq or Syria.

    • Draco T Bastard 10.4
      17 December 2015 at 12:48 pm

      Labour leader Andrew Little said Labour would support sending SAS troops to fight Isis if the right conditions were met.

      And Labour shifts further to the RWNJ side.

      • Stuart Munro 10.4.1
        17 December 2015 at 2:16 pm

        I think it was a Herald gotcha story – Labour claim no policy change. Might’ve flown a kite though.

    • b waghorn 10.5
      17 December 2015 at 5:40 pm

      I 100% agree with Mr Little ,on the ground targeted forces are miles ahead of the current methods.

  11. The Chairman 11
    17 December 2015 at 9:14 am

    Back once again with the ill behaviour.

    https://youtu.be/-izn1i5MlBI

  12. Paul 12
    17 December 2015 at 9:15 am

    Barry Soper excuses John Key’s pony tail pulling.

    ‘John Key frequently over steps the mark and even embarrasses himself, like he did when he regularly pulled a waitress’ ponytail, clearly not intending to cause offence but apologising for overstepping the behavioural boundary.’

    Yes. I shall repeat his words.
    ‘when he regularly pulled a waitress’ ponytail, clearly not intending to cause offence’….

    What a disgraceful apology for journalism, Mr Soper. Are you expecting favour from the court of John Key?
    I wonder what Heather du Plessis-Allan thinks of Key’s abuse of young women in this way?
    These media lackeys, courtesans and courtiers need to be held to account.

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=11562360

    • Gangnam Style 12.1
      17 December 2015 at 9:52 am

      Heather du Plessis-Allan would probably giggle, shes kinda lightweight.

    • ianmac 12.2
      17 December 2015 at 10:00 am

      This morning Morning Report discussed the latest Key singing and soap story. The verdict pointed out that Key avoids the harder interviews and concentrates on soft radio programs where listeners don’t care about the politics and want just the entertaining. So no harm done?
      Put me in mind the lashing that Colin Craig got for being interviewed in a sauna. Disgraceful said the media. But the response to Key’s unbecoming behaviour? Michelle Boag gives it gentle approval. So that’s OK.

  13. Anne 13
    17 December 2015 at 10:25 am

    A new monthly newsleter has ‘hit the stands’ which promises ” a practical, dispassionate analysis of politics”. At $35 per month you too can read the premium analytical journal in the land. Danyl McLauchlan has kindly critiqued the first edition:

    http://thespinoff.co.nz/16-12-2015/politics-why-you-need-incite-in-your-life-a-review-of-cameron-slaters-35-monthly-e-newsletter/

    Enjoy…

    • ianmac 13.1
      17 December 2015 at 10:28 am

      Read that Anne. Funny. Are they for real or are they attempting satire, or is Danyl just being mean.

      • Anne 13.1.1
        17 December 2015 at 11:05 am

        I imagine a bit of all three. Worthy of posting by an author – humorous and refreshing during this bustling, stressful time of the year.

  14. Chooky 14
    17 December 2015 at 10:25 am

    This is interview by Kathryn Ryan is very interesting:

    http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/ninetonoon/audio/201783038/us-psychologist-philip-zimbardo

    ‘US psychologist Philip Zimbardo’

    “Philip Zimbardo is the American psychologist whose 1971 study on prison mentality exposed the ease at which participants playing the role of guards, began psychologically torturing their prisoners.The Stanford Prison Experiment centred on a group of college students who were deemed prisoners or guards at the flip of a coin and showed that within 24 hours those with power, used it mercilessly – and the group who were prisoners succumbed to submission just as easily.

    In recent years he has turned his attention to the disconnect between males and the real world because of online pornography, and a lack of role models and positive interactions. Professor Zimbardo is also behind a new initiative Heroic Imagination Project, which stems from his work on what makes people do bad things – and instead focuses on what qualities make people act in heroic ways.”

    • ianmac 14.1
      17 December 2015 at 10:33 am

      Echoes of that reaction were in the “Blue eyes v Brown eyes” experiment where those in a classroom with brown eyes were persecuted by the rest of the class to demonstrate just how cruel discrimination is. The “good” ones became so involved with their roles that they scared themselves.

    • CR 14.2
      17 December 2015 at 12:54 pm

      +1

      http://www.simplypsychology.org/milgram.html

      another famous and thought-provoking experiment

      • ianmac 14.2.1
        17 December 2015 at 3:48 pm

        Yep. Know that one too CR. Some revelled in the shock giving. Most didn’t.
        An historian said that in mortal combat most drafted soldiers would avoid killing anyone if they could. But in every unit were a few who went out of their way to kill others and laughed while doing so. Even killing those who were no longer a threat. Bit disturbing that amongst us there are such people. Me. I help insects to escape outside.

  15. Robert Glennie 15
    17 December 2015 at 10:57 am

    http://willnewzealandberight.com/2015/12/17/nationals-education-policy-part-i-christchurch/

    National has shown surprising contempt for schools in some of its most blue South Island electorates since it took office. It has closed the Prime Minister’s old school (about 400 metres down the road from me)and rezoned it for developers to build on. No rhyme or reason for it since Ilam electorate schools thanks to Labour, were already nearly full, having had roll expansions anywhere between 50-100%.

    Recently Hekia Parata said she was going to close Redcliffs School and that she had been fair and given the school the opportunity to make a stand. Hekia was always going to close the school. She has ignored the fact that the school can be made nearly completely safe from rock fall, and that the small bit that could not be, the school was prepared to surrender. Not only that, but a contractor was prepared to do the remedial work for free.

    Would love to see the back of this Government, but not wholly convinced Labour can deliver the goods.

    • repateet 15.1
      17 December 2015 at 11:10 am

      The contempt they show probably runs way deeper than you had thought.

      If you are not familiar with this site you should look through it.

      https://networkonnet.wordpress.com

      • ianmac 15.1.1
        17 December 2015 at 11:48 am

        Just gone off to read Kelvin’s site thanks rapateet. His report on the Ministry misdeeds to steal $18million off the Rangiora College community is breathtaking. The Ministry removed the BOT and the Principal so that they could use a Commissioner to strip the assets as had been for decades legally in the control of BOT and Principal on behalf of the Community. The grounds for sacking included “financial mismanagement” but the books have been audited and were always were totally clear. Ministry Mischief?
        The Principal had gone to a course which the Ministry said was unauthorised and they removed her. The course was authorised by the BOT and correctly came out of the Principal’s Professional Development budget. Mischief?
        Thank goodness someone is raising these issues like Phillipstown School forcefully merged and now the new site is overcrowded. Redcliff School forcefully closed with no justification. Parata and her Ministry are working against the interests of children.
        As repateet wrote visit https://networkonnet.wordpress.com

  16. Morrissey 16
    17 December 2015 at 11:07 am

    Fomenting Happy Mischief since Monday;
    My recent excursions on to David Farrar’s Kiwiblog.
    Thursday 17 December 2015

    It is an irrefutable fact that The Standard has far superior, more intelligent and liberal contributors than either Kiwiblog or Whaleoil. That’s why I spend most of my spare time here. Now and again, however, I like to stir things up in Dullsburgh and Stupidville, and pay our extreme right wing friends a visit.

    Since being banned for life over on Whaleoil, I have had to turn to David Farrar’s Kiwiblog for my occasional fix of boor-baiting. I had made a couple of comments there over the years, but usually forgot to go back and check up on the responses. On Monday, however, I re-registered and sent my first little missive into the chickenhawks’ cage. Since then, I’ve earned myself close to one hundred down votes on a variety of posts….

    http://img04.deviantart.net/2e04/i/2012/248/7/e/who_da_man__by_therese_b-d5dq2vs.jpg

    Kiwiblog has a system whereby very popular posts are highlighted in yellow. Very unpopular posts, on the other hand, are highlighted in pink. Consider, for instance, this message that I posted there yesterday….

    http://www.kiwiblog.co.nz/2015/12/general_debate_16_december_2015.html#comment-1636210

    I also posted that message on this forum, where it attracted only approving comments. On Kiwiblog, however, it has so far attracted 29 down votes, as well as, encouragingly, 2 up votes. (Thank you, whoever you are!)

    A couple of hours after that, someone called “kowtow” wrote, hilariously….

    I see we have a new racist here called morrissey

    “Simon Pound reminded us that Los Angeles children are under far more danger from white home-grown Christian terrorists than they are from any Islamic terrorists.”

    I suspect Los Angeles children are in more danger from blacks and browns than from whites.

    A bit later, “Longknives” delivered the following zinger….

    Viz Magazine used to sell ‘Morrissey is a Twat’ T-Shirts.

    Just thought that was timely..

    (That garnered 11 up votes.)

    Still, it’s gotta be said, despite the alarming complacency and the militant ignorance of so many of the commenters—imagine a board full of Gosmans—that Farrar’s blog, which does permit dissent and argument, is immensely more civilised and intelligent than Whaleoil’s boor-fest.

    From Bewilderment Valley, this is Morrissey Breen reporting for Daisycutter Sports Television.

    • Sans Cle 16.1
      17 December 2015 at 11:58 am

      Thanks and good on you! You go where many of us fear to tread!

      • Morrissey 16.1.1
        17 December 2015 at 12:58 pm

        Thanks for the encouraging words, Sans Cle. Actually, there are quite a few dissenting voices on Kiwiblog, and a good level of debate there. It’s well worth a visit.

        Although, as is almost immediately clear to anyone who spends some time there, the intellectual tone of Kiwiblog is far below that of the Standard.

        • Rosemary McDonald 16.1.1.1
          17 December 2015 at 3:46 pm

          Morrissey…I confess to wandering over there occasionally, and find myself only reading the comments that attract the most down votes.

          And reading replies to the comments that attract the most down votes.

          “Boor baiting”…spot on.

          (I nearly, nearly signed up myself the other day, incensed by the post as well as some of the comments….(get your facts right for gods sakes!!!)…but I resisted…I would have to shower after, and we’re conserving water…

          The whole “John Key is a really cool jokey blokey type” narrative…rips my undies….yuuuck.

          Chocolate fish to you Sir, for boldly going and all that…

        • ropata 16.1.1.2
          17 December 2015 at 4:45 pm

          I used to comment on Kiwiblog before world+dog went there and it became a haven for the worst rednecks racists and violent idiots. Anyone with a semblance of sanity gets voted down hard. It does make one sad about the state of kiwi blokedom (it’s 99% dudes commenting there) and the ability of my fellow humans to think logically or have any charity

    • Chooky 16.2
      17 December 2015 at 2:22 pm

      lol..very good!…so pleased you weren’t Boared to Death…just got a bit bored with the piggies

  17. Draco T Bastard 17
    17 December 2015 at 11:39 am

    Real estate agencies accused of price fixing

    The action relates to the way the agencies dealt with changes to property advertising on the Trade Me website, the commission said.
    It has filed proceedings in the Auckland High Court for alleged price fixing and anti-competitive behaviour by 13 national and regional real estate agencies, three individuals, as well as a company owned by a number of national real estate agencies.

    Adam Smith said:

    We rarely hear, it has been said, of the combinations of masters, though frequently of those of the workman. But whoever imagines, upon this account, that masters rarely combine, is as ignorant of the world as of the subject.

    Chapter VIII, p. 80.

    So much for competition.

    • RedBaronCV 17.1
      17 December 2015 at 7:48 pm

      I’ve had a bit of a read of this one and I’m struggling a bit. As far as I can see real estate agencys decided they didn’t want to absorb/consume Trade me’s offering at the increased prices.
      One reaction was for clients to have the trade me cost charged through to them (which is done with a number of other marketing techniques).
      The other was to drive more business the way of the real estate industry’s dedicated site.
      These reactions were discussed between agencies.
      Clients of agencies could presumably still negotiate their marketing package & costs with any agents they wished to use and there is no evidence as far as I can see that this did not happen.
      So effectively agencies decided to boycott(or pass on increased costs) to some extent the Trade me costs.
      So my question is that if a group of people decide not to consume or use a service,
      is that not their right ?
      If the neighbourhood got together and decided to boycott the local supermarkets in favour of getting their own veggie truck from Pukekohe isn’t that similar?

      • Draco T Bastard 17.1.1
        17 December 2015 at 9:56 pm

        I’ve had a bit of a read of this one and I’m struggling a bit. As far as I can see real estate agencys decided they didn’t want to absorb/consume Trademe’s offering at the increased prices.
        One reaction was for clients to have the trade me cost charged through to them which is done with a number of other marketing techniques).
        The other was to drive more business the way of the real estate industry’s dedicated site.
        These reactions were discussed between agencies.

        The discussion between agencies would be the problem – it’s cartel behaviour.

        So my question is that if a group of people decide not to consume or use a service, is that not their right ?

        That is their right but that doesn’t bring about charges of price fixing and High Court cases.

        If the neighbourhood got together and decided to boycott the local supermarkets in favour of getting their own veggie truck from Pukekohe isn’t that similar?

        That would be dependent upon if people in the neighbourhood were free to go elsewhere.

  18. Muttonbird 18
    17 December 2015 at 1:22 pm

    How can she say this with a straight face?

    Ms Collins said the number of prisoners has been increasing at a rate consistently above forecasts, despite significant progress in reducing crime.

    http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/292386/$17m-poured-into-under-fire-corrections

    • Draco T Bastard 18.1
      17 December 2015 at 1:43 pm

      1. She is simply too stupid to realise what she’s saying
      2. She’s a practised liar

    • Tracey 18.2
      17 December 2015 at 2:14 pm

      Confused it with….

    • ropata 18.3
      17 December 2015 at 4:37 pm

      She is pleased that her mates in Serco are making a few million $$$ more out of the taxpayer due to increased rates of incarceration. She is also pleased that the cops are skewing their crime reporting stats to make NatCorp™ look good.

      Nobody gives a f*ck about actual crime rates or victims thereof, in fact their ACC is being cut off

  19. Draco T Bastard 19
    17 December 2015 at 1:38 pm

    Police raid on Hawke’s Bay house fails to uncover drugs

    Such a great headline.

    Police did though find a .22 rifle and some other items that could be related to drug use, though this was yet to be confirmed.

    Can’t say that I’ve ever used a rifle in my drug use. I’m pretty sure that the oils on it would give the whiskey a funny flavour and it would also be incredibly difficult to drink out of.

    It was earlier reported two CYF social workers had visited the property earlier in the day and became ill later in the afternoon.

    CYF released a statement saying the workers were treated for “possible exposure to dangerous chemicals”.

    Yes, but were they actually tested for “possible exposure to dangerous chemicals” which I think would probably be a better idea before applying the wrong treatment and assuming that the right one was applied. Also, was the house itself tested for the dangerous chemicals?

    Detective Senior Sergeant Dave de Lange said police got information from “various sources” that led them to believe there was a meth lab inside the Elliot St, Taradale house.
    Residents of houses on the quiet street said the family living in the house had been renting it for about a year and they tended to keep to themselves.

    Why do I get the feeling that the ‘various sources’ are the neighbours who are simply suspicious of people who keep to themselves?

  20. Draco T Bastard 20
    17 December 2015 at 4:27 pm

    High Court finds police raid on Nicky Hager was illegal

    Wellington High Court judge Justice Clifford issued his judgement today on the legality of the police search of Nicky Hager’s home on 2 October 2014.

    The judge found that the search was illegal. He said that the Police had failed to disclose relevant information to the Judge who issued the warrant. As a result, he formally declared that the warrant was “fundamentally unlawful”. He also found that the search was therefore unlawful. Justice Clifford also expressed concerns about other aspects of the Police’s actions.

    More to go but I’m not expecting any real difference in the court findings.

    Now we need for the people who conducted this illegal search to be held accountable. Unfortunately, we can probably expect urgent legislation from this government making it legal.