Open mike 30/05/2011

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, May 30th, 2011 - 90 comments
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Open mike is your post. For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose.

The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the link to Policy in the banner).

Step right up to the mike…

90 comments on “Open mike 30/05/2011 ”

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  1. ropata 1
    30 May 2011 at 7:23 am

    Sickening faux news from the Herald this morning. Sesame St, MASH, Happy Days part of vast left wing conspiracy. Never mind the fact that US politics is further right than ACT

    • Carol 1.1
      30 May 2011 at 7:38 am

      And nevermind that the examples given in the article are of of social liberalism (anti-guns, pro-gay, anti-war, pro-divorce, anti-racist, ‘peaceful conflict resolution’, rather than actual radical left class-based policies). Pretty much all the examples given are more centrist, based in notions of individual civil rights. No mention of income inequalities, collectivist politics…. And many are ones embraced by some neoliberals.

    • felix 1.2
      30 May 2011 at 8:02 am

      Ah yes, the hidden anti-gun, anti-violence agenda of Hollywood.

      • PeteG 1.2.1
        30 May 2011 at 8:38 am

        They’re cunning, aren’t they.

        They’re also a bunch of socialists, making a buck by pandering to whatever the masses will fork out for never crosses their minds. Commercialism is an antonym of Hollywood.

        • mickysavage 1.2.1.1
          30 May 2011 at 8:55 am

          Commercialism is an antonym of Hollywood
           
          What the?
           
          I am now convinced that PeteG and I occupy different dimensions.
           

          • wtl 1.2.1.1.1
            30 May 2011 at 9:00 am

            I think he was being sarcastic in this particular case, following on from felix’s comment.

            • Tigger 1.2.1.1.1.1
              30 May 2011 at 11:34 am

              Oh yes, pro-gay Hollywood. That’s the reason so many gay stars come out of the closet.

    • Brett Dale 1.3
      30 May 2011 at 5:27 pm

      How can anyone not like Mash the greatest programme ever.

    • Vicky32 1.4
      30 May 2011 at 5:45 pm

      How bizarre!

  2. mickysavage 2
    30 May 2011 at 7:35 am

    Simon Lusk’s cunning plan is now falling into place.

    Former Banks staffer and Auckland City Councillor Aaron Bhatnagar has put his hand up for the Epsom nomination for the ACT National Party. 

    No doubt he will run a principled campaign before falling on his sword and ceding the seat to ACT.  He will of course be rewarded for his loyalty to the right wing cause and I doubt that anyone one else will bother seeking the nomination it being the poisoned chalice that it is. 

    It is a plan so cunning you could pin a tail on it and call it a weasel …

    • vto 2.1
      30 May 2011 at 8:56 am

      So cunning he will probably end up pinning a deer tail on his own arse and running through the bush during hunting season.

      Whispers behind closed doors, playing people against each other without their knowing, deception and lies, saying one thing when there is another in play. I imagine all of this goes on in this duplicitous world of politics.

      And people hassle travellerev about conspiracies.

      Conspiracies are the bread and butter of sections of the planet.

  3. travellerev 3
    30 May 2011 at 9:03 am

    I thought that in light of John Key’s support for the Zionist cause it would be prudent to place a link to an interview with one of my heroes Rabbi Weitz who calls the state of Israel the work of Satan and who prays for the speedy dissolve of the state of Israel and a return to the peaceful cohabitation of Muslims, Jews and Christians which until 1948 the start of the Nakba was the norm. He and his fellow Interviewees have a few things to say about Anti-Semitism too.

    • John D 3.1
      30 May 2011 at 9:50 am

      The stated aim of the Islamofascists is the destruction of Israel and the Jewish people. (and the rest of us infidels too)

      • travellerev 3.1.1
        30 May 2011 at 10:14 am

        John D,
        You should really go back to the library and start reading up on history.

        On a personal note I have lived all my life amongst a great variety of Muslims (Moroccan, Tunisian, Turkish, Iraqi, Iranian, Kurd, Egyptian to name a few) and never ever over a period of more than 30 years have I ever encountered a shred of animosity towards Christians, Jews or other religions until after the invasion of Afghanistan and Iraq and even then it was few and far between.

        My mother travelled alone through Turkey, Iraq, Iran and Afghanistan and had no problem whatsoever with the people she met. She was respected, invited, fêted, cherished and aided in her journey to India where she met up with her husband who was working for the WHO at the time. And that was the norm for their behaviour towards women at the time.

        Ahmadinajad has very cordial relations with the Jews living in Iran (he donates to the Jewish hospital for example) as well as many Jewish organisations in Europe and the US. Here is what he really said about Israel before it was twisted in the MSM.

        If you had any idea how ignorant and racist your comment was I’d hope you would hang your head in shame.

         

        • John D 3.1.1.1
          30 May 2011 at 10:51 am

          Why was my comment racist? Islam is not a race.

          And have you been to Bradford recently? There the Muslims spit on the whiteys for not wearing a veil.

          • Colonial Viper 3.1.1.1.1
            30 May 2011 at 12:29 pm

            Yes of course, because that racist comment makes it OK.

          • travellerev 3.1.1.1.2
            30 May 2011 at 12:47 pm

            Come to think of it I’m not surprised really that while you expect Muslims to “integrate” into the Western world because of the cultural mayhem which would ensue if they didn’t you find it totally acceptable for Westerns not to do the same because “Our” civilisation is “Superior” to “theirs” (Fill in the people we are currently or in the past “saving” from their own “inferior” culture). Your ancestors after all “civilized” New Zealand.

            • John D 3.1.1.1.2.1
              30 May 2011 at 7:34 pm

              Yes you are correct. I do regard our culture as superior to theirs.
              We have equal opportunities (or try to) for women. We have gay rights. We have..etc etc.

              Islam is locked in the 7th century. They take the words of the Koran literally. Any discussion of it is taboo.

              If this makes me racist, then so be it.

              Over to you, Guardian reader.

              • travellerev …
                30 May 2011 at 9:45 pm

                John D,

                You sad sack of shit. At least we’ve established that you are a racist. So now for the reality check.
                No 1/ Iran. Over 50% of all students are female. On some universities % 70 % of all students are female. What do they study? Applied Physics seems to score high on their list of preffered studies. Not beautician, fashion design or other nampy pampy studies preferred by females in this country but serious Beta studies traditionally the territory of the Pakeha male if he gets around to actually going to an university. Why do they do these studies? Because unhindered by the macho crap of the thicko NZ male they are actually valued workers in the Iranian industry and their input is greatly valued.

                No2/ Before the coalition of the killing destroyed Iraq over 50% of the workforce was female. They were doctors, judges and lawyers and they were free to build careers most women in this country can only dream off. Why? Because Healthcare (1800 free healthcare centres reduced to less than half) , Education and daycare for children was free. Women could walk the streets 24/7 safe and sound as they were considered equal to men before the invasion (One of Sadam’s idiocyncracies) You asswipe. Our “superior” culture destroyed that with 4.5 billion years worth of Depleted Uranium and the biggest most imperial army this world has ever seen. The result? Women are wearing the veil again, Religious groups are fighting each other again and poverty and mortality has gone through the roof as all their free institutions have been privatized and cut back by their “imperial” rulers.

                No3/ At this moment we are bombing Libya. We are liberating them with humanitarian kinetic military action. (Also known as bombing the shit out of them). Libya was a country with the lowest debt, free healthcare, free education and a guaranteed basic income for everybody as a result of Gaddafi’s financial politics of returning the oil revenues over to his people. He did not believe in the central banking system and as a result his country had no international debts and that is what the international money men didn’t like. that is why we are bombing the shit out of them.

                Our “superior” culture is the most barbaric, imperialistic and ignorant culture on the face of this planet. You Moron. Not them. Us.

                Here is what Ayla Anwar has to say about imbeciles like you and what they have done to her country:

                Iraq has become a disaster area, a health hazard…the levels of toxicity and pollution are so high, none are allowed to measure.
                The new Iraq is the Democracy of toxicity and contamination…it is the new democracy where you wish for a quick easy bullet instead of a long agonizing tumor.

                OK so you hate Arabs, many of you do. I never really understood where your inferiority complex came from…must be the language barrier, like the radical language barrier…

                Oh how I saw you gloat, and you’ve been gloating for 8 years now, gleefully, nastily, slyly, you gloated….and you mocked…you mocked with your airs of intellectual knowledge…what knowledge you garbage, you have no knowledge…you are a self seeking, self promoting, sensationalists third grade columnists, writers, bloggers, activists, and the rest…

                You miserable ignorant bastard. You miserable white middle class, male Pakeha ignoramus. “Shame on you, shame on you” and the whole arrogant lot of you who think that you just because you’re white and have a dick have superior civilisation.

                 
                 

                • thatguynz …
                  30 May 2011 at 10:08 pm

                  Rev,

                  I am white and middle class yet I applaud everything you have just said. (Well save for the ad hominem attacks perhaps). I too was once uninformed but my eyes have been opened and my only hope is that more people stop believing the fallacies that we are exposed to on a daily basis. It is certainly not an enjoyable journey going down the rabbit hole – downright scary in fact, but it most certainly is enlightening. I truly hope the world and more importantly NZ, becomes a better place as people wake up to what is truly going on.

                  Cheers.

                  • travellerev …
                    31 May 2011 at 11:43 am

                    Good to meet a fellow traveller.
                    I get so angry  with guys like him I loose my cool but if you see the amount f interaction between us you will also see it took awhile before I got there.

                • John D …
                  30 May 2011 at 10:09 pm

                  You miserable ignorant bastard. You miserable white middle class, male Pakeha ignoramus. “Shame on you, shame on you” and the whole arrogant lot of you who think that you just because you’re white and have a dick have superior civilisation

                  This fucked up comment gets past moderation?

                  You sad, fucked up, left-wing, Islamofacist-apologist

                  [and from here it goes pretty crazy. Some really foul language. John D, you can disagree with ev, a lot of people do, you can make moderate use of strong language and say things that might offend within reason, but you can’t go nuts like that]

                  [lprent: Please label the moderation with who left it.
                  I think that John D still hasn’t read (or more likely understood) the policy on robust discusion vs pointless insults ]

              • Colonial Viper …
                30 May 2011 at 10:06 pm

                Islam is locked in the 7th century. They take the words of the Koran literally. Any discussion of it is taboo.

                Hmmmm. Given that middle east investors are now cornerstone shareholders of key US tech and banking corporations, i think that your characterisation is simply asinine, just like you are.

              • Draco T Bastard …
                31 May 2011 at 1:53 am

                Hell, if we were as good as Islam in the 7th century we’d all be a hell of a lot better off. Equal treatment of everybody including the environment, massive research bringing about technology to help people, democracy that makes ancient Athens look dictatorial…

                Sure, it fell to the authoritarians as almost all civilisations have but they do seem to be working their way back. As for us? Well, we’ve always been dictatorial, sexist, war-like and generally oppressive. To justify all this psychopathy we’ve built up the illusion that we were better, fairer and more civilised. When we came across a civilisation that actually was better, fairer and more civilised we attacked with extreme prejudice. Still do today.

                • travellerev …
                  31 May 2011 at 11:45 am

                  Very true. Amazing female theologians at the time too. A true liberation theology, which is by the way how a lot of people still see it. It being the fastest growing religion in third world countries.
                  The John D’s of this world are going to get it very hard at the rate it’s going

                  • John D …
                    31 May 2011 at 1:06 pm

                    I have a friend who was living in Dubai recently. He was living with his girlfriend (engaged).

                    Stopped by a routine traffic patrol, the cop asked to see their papers, and it was seen that they were living together.

                    This is illegal in Dubai.

                    The woman was instantly deported. The man was jailed for three months, then lashed, then deported.

                    Whilst in jail, the man met an Indian who had been in a minor traffic accident 30 years previously. Because he was involved in an accident with an Arab, it was deemed to be his fault.

                    Because he didn’t have the “blood money” to pay the Arab out, he languished in jail for 30 years.

                    I have also seen the appalling conditions that Indian workers have to endure in Dubai. Many are killed in construction accidents, and this never gets reported.

                    I have lots of friends of many races. I certainly don’t consider myself “racist” by any stretch of the imagination.

                    I do, however, find regimes (such as Iran) that tolerate stoning of women and executions of homosexuals to be unacceptable.

                    I know that there are tolerant parts of Arabia (such as Syria). I don’t know about Iraq, I didn’t support the war there, and since I haven’t been there I can’t really comment.

                    Your statement that “I admit that I am racist and I hate Arabs” is completely unsupported by my comments above.

                    • travellerev …
                      31 May 2011 at 1:14 pm

                      That’s OK, We’ll bomb the shit out of them and that will sort that.
                      If it’s OK with you John I’m going to stop this for now because it just doesn’t go anywhere and if you can’t see that what you describe doesn’t in anyway justify the war crimes we perpetrate on the Afghans, Pakistanis, Iraqis and Libyans then that still makes you a racist sad sack of shit. Have a nice day.
                       
                       

                    • John D …
                      31 May 2011 at 1:21 pm

                      The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the link to Policy in the banner)

                      It seems OK for travellerev to call me a racist, a “sack of shit”, and for people to swear at me. OK, I did lose my rag last night, for which I apologise.

                      I don’t approve of the military intervention in the Middle East. It’s all about power and oil, and the same is being played out in Libya.

                      What I object to is this political correctness that forbids any criticism of Islamic fundamentalism. (I am equally critical of Christian fundamentalism and the Bible Belt, btw)

                      We are not going to get anywhere unless we acknowledge that there are issues to be dealt with on all sides.

            • Daveosaurus 3.1.1.1.2.2
              30 May 2011 at 10:38 pm

              I find it rather amusing that, when Pākehā argue for integration, they do it in English…

  4. travellerev 4
    30 May 2011 at 9:18 am

    Adam Kokesh is another one of my heroes. He is an Iraq veteran and one of the first veterans to speak out against the wars as illegal wars of aggression with the winter soldier protests.

    He and his fellow soldiers went to Iraq and Afghanistan in the aftermath of the events of 911 in order to defend their country against the “terrorists” and to protest their freedoms only to come back to a country in which even dancing in a public space was forbidden. Here is what happened when he in his new position as a reporter and presenter at RT (Russian TV) participated in a flash dance event at the Lincoln memorial.

    And this is what he had to say about it in his first interview after the event.
     
     
     

  5. lprent 5
    30 May 2011 at 9:46 am

    This amused me. Forget the astroturfers. Beware of Microsoft…

    • vto 6.1
      30 May 2011 at 9:54 am

      Excellent. There is no doubt in my mind that it is time for the moneylenders to take a back seat. They are loans after all, with a risk of default, hence various interest rates. The Greek, and other, people need to say to the moneylenders “fuck off and wait”. They need to say “we need our money for ourselves first, and once that is in order we will get your money back to you then (at zero interest)”.

      Such action may well send shockwaves, which will shudder when they hit, as shockwaves do. But after that we will all just keep on keeping on.

      Time for the moneylenders of the world to back off.

      • travellerev 6.1.1
        30 May 2011 at 9:55 am

        VTO,
        I love ya!

        • John D 6.1.1.1
          30 May 2011 at 10:00 am

          When the PIIGS fails, and the Euro project is close behind, this will have profound effects on the world economy.

          It is staggering that the MSM is completely blind to this.

          • travellerev 6.1.1.1.1
            30 May 2011 at 10:16 am

            It is staggering to me that a guy who seems to be aware about the MSM partial blindness to certain issues is so blind to the obvious propaganda the MSM is espousing about Muslims and Arabs, Persians, Pashtuns and Semites other than Jews.

            • John D 6.1.1.1.1.1
              30 May 2011 at 10:53 am

              Just because I don’t adopt your revisionist view of the world makes me blind?

              I don’t get my information about Muslims from the MSM, I get it from my friends in Europe.

              • travellerev …
                30 May 2011 at 10:58 am

                Members of the British National party are they?

                Racist because most Muslims are brown people with funny names, eating funny food and it is easy to believe whatever anybody tells you about them.

                Most Europeans hated Jews for a long time and many of them still do. Just because they live in Europe doesn’t make your friends any less prejudiced, racist and ignorant.

                • John D …
                  30 May 2011 at 11:10 am

                  Members of the BNP? No, just the regular blacks, whites, Chinese and Jews who live in the country.

                  I don’t support Islamic fundamentalism.

                  • travellerev …
                    30 May 2011 at 11:27 am

                    Neither do I but I do defend the right of people to defend themselves against invasions of their territory and illegal wars of aggression and conquest by the international robber barons. See here, here and here for example

                    Let me ask you a question: If this country had been invaded say 10 years ago by the Iraqis and you had family living in Iraq al that time would you expect you family in Iraq to be angry with the government and the people invading your country? Or would you expect them to shut up and take it up the backside while you are being killed in your own country?

                    Because you see that is what is happening. Afghanis and Pakistanis and Muslims from all over the Muslim world living in the UK are hearing back from their families in the invaded countries how their families are being bombed by drones and killed with Depleted Uranium and they are angry.

                    Just like, I imagine, your family would be if they heard you and yours were bombed to smithereens by the war crimes of the country they are living in and just like your family they don’t want to bend over and take it lying down.

                    • Gosman …
                      30 May 2011 at 11:34 am

                      If the people who invaded my country replaced a brutal undemocratic regime and offered me the opportunity to partake in the decision making of my country via a democratic process, I think I would take the opportunity to enagage rather than to spend my time fighting the ‘evil oppressors’.

                      Are you stating you would prefer senseless killing rather than positive non violent opposition and engagement?

                    • travellerev …
                      30 May 2011 at 11:44 am

                      Hi Cowboy hat boy,

                      Just so you don’t think I’m ignoring you here’s a link about what an Arab woman thinks of the Western occupation of her country.

                      And if it’s OK with you I’ll leave my interaction with you at that. You are so young so ignorant and so full of yourself still that I prefer to wait for say a couple of decennia to let time and a few female rejections to mellow you out and perhaps by then you could get some sensible clothes instead of that ludicrous cowboy hat and coat you were wearing in the te Papa museum last year.

                    • Gosman …
                      30 May 2011 at 11:47 am

                      You know when you’ve won a debate when the other person resorts to ridiculous personal insults rather than to deal with the points raised.

                      BTW is this sort of behaviour by travellerev acceptable to The Standard moderators?

                    • travellerev …
                      30 May 2011 at 11:50 am

                      LOL. Whatever. Cowboy hat boy, Whatever.

                    • travellerev …
                      30 May 2011 at 12:27 pm

                      It was Sarcasm J, Sarcasm, I thought of actually pointing it out at the time but I thought you were smarter than that. No i don’t want to introduce these punishments in New Zealand although a few Act members would probably love too.
                      But why would a Muslim living in England from say Pakistan whose family was bombed to smithereens by the invading forces illegally bombing villages with unmanned drones not be entitled to protest against these monstrosities perpetrated against his countryman or expect foreigners in his country integrate just like you expect them to so the same.
                      You see it is this apparent discrepancy in your willingness to accept that what is good for the goose is good for the gander that is the racism you suffer from.
                      You see

                    • John D …
                      30 May 2011 at 7:37 pm

                      How did these people hear about their families being bombed to smithereens?
                      Was it was when they were being delivered an anti-west hate sermon at the East London Mosque, or was it on one of their recent trips to Pakistan, to attend Al Qaeda training?

                      Over to you, Guardian Reader.

                    • Colonial Viper …
                      30 May 2011 at 10:28 pm

                      John D you are a joke. A bad one, but a joke nonetheless.

                • Gosman …
                  30 May 2011 at 11:36 am

                  Regardless of who most Muslims are doesn’t mean that having a dislike for Muslim theology is racist. I can have serious concerns over Christian theology and it doesn’t mean I’m anti-European.

                  • John D …
                    30 May 2011 at 12:06 pm

                    Well said Gosman.

                    I support Muslims who accept and integrate into the culture of their host country. When you have ghettos of disenfranchised youths, as are springing up all over Europe now, you are on the path to cultural and societal oblivion.

                    • travellerev …
                      30 May 2011 at 12:11 pm

                      Me too, and while we’re at it I think that any foreigner in any country should adapt to the existing culture and integrate and so if as a foreigner you are caught adulterating in a Muslim country and stoning is the accepted punishment he or she should accept that punishment and if drinking is not allowed and women should not drive cars than it speaks for itself that we should not commit to those vices and trespasses.
                      We, like we expect, from immigrants from other cultures would not want to destroy other peoples cultures like we would expect them to respect ours, now would we.

                    • John D …
                      30 May 2011 at 12:21 pm

                      Great comment travellerev

                      No we wouldn’t want to stop beheadings, stonings etc. Not at all, in fact we should introduce them into NZ.

                      Might spice up Saturday night telly.

                    • Colonial Viper …
                      30 May 2011 at 12:28 pm

                      Beheadings for sabotage of our economic sovereignty and selling off state treasures for the personal gain of friends and family would seem entirely appropriate.

                  • John D …
                    30 May 2011 at 12:45 pm

                    Beheadings for sabotage of our economic sovereignty and selling off state treasures for the personal gain of friends and family would seem entirely appropriate.

                    Cool. Maybe we can start a campaign?
                    I’d definitely be into this.

                    “A Beehive Beheading”. I’m sure it would get better ratings than “Citizen A”

                  • Vicky32 …
                    30 May 2011 at 6:05 pm

                    I can have serious concerns over Christian theology and it doesn’t mean I’m anti-European.

                    Good, because not all Christians are European, any more than all Muslims are Middle Eastern or Asian!
      • Draco T Bastard 6.1.2
        30 May 2011 at 12:55 pm

        They need to say “we need our money for ourselves first, and once that is in order we will get your money back to you then (at zero interest)”.

        Nope, they just need to tell them to fuck off and then remind them that when you loan someone money that you’re taking a risk that you won’t get it back and that the risk just came due.

        We need to be doing the same thing.

        • ropata 6.1.2.1
          30 May 2011 at 2:07 pm

          Yes that will do wonders for our international credit rating and ability to purchase oil and run the economy …

          • Draco T Bastard 6.1.2.1.1
            30 May 2011 at 5:33 pm

            The economy would be fine. Run a little slower but it’d still be there.

            Consider, with Peak Oil now confirmed which means growth is out, how do you think we’re going to pay the debt anyway? Especially when you consider it’s compounding aspect due to interest.

  7. Lanthanide 7
    30 May 2011 at 9:49 am

    Anyone know what food pukeko’s might eat? There’s a bunch of them wandering around near my work. Would be nice to drop something off by the roadside on my way in. Dripping, like wax-eyes?

    • vto 7.1
      30 May 2011 at 9:55 am

      Various grasses. Juicy lovely grass and other vege. But not rolled up grass unless looking for some post-consumption amusement…

      • Jilly Bee 7.1.1
        30 May 2011 at 10:46 am

        I only recently found out why Pukekos frequent motorway verges and often become road kill. Apparently they eat small stones and gravel from the roadside to help digest their diet of ‘juicy lovely grass and other vege’. Your Pukes, Lanthanide my have a bit of indigestion and are looking for some gravelly relief!

        • travellerev 7.1.1.1
          30 May 2011 at 10:50 am

          Thanks for that one, JB. I was wondering about that but my chooks need the same so that makes perfect sense.

        • Lanthanide 7.1.1.2
          30 May 2011 at 10:56 am

          Certainly where they’re trekking is along the side of a road that has lots of gravel and loose stones, almost like a river.

  8. travellerev 8
    30 May 2011 at 9:52 am

    They are happy to share bread with ducks. Awesome birds Pukeko’s. Little velociraptors fiercely defending their tribe if need be. Love em.

  9. ianmac 9
    30 May 2011 at 10:04 am

    Another brilliant refreshing article from Tapu Misa. This time it is a John Key: “that’s after claiming 6000 people would be put out of their jobs as a result of such a rise, and that the Department of Labour had said so – which wasn’t quite true.” (Who would have guessed?)
    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10728872

  10. Puddleglum 10
    30 May 2011 at 10:18 am

    So much for the recession helping keep a lid on carbon emissions.

  11. travellerev 11
    30 May 2011 at 10:25 am

    OK, one last hero for today: Cynthia McKinny. Black, female, leader of the Green party in the US and former Congress women known for confronting Rumsfeld about the lost trillions at the Pentagon.
    She is in Tripoli, Libya this moment to share with the Libyans the “kinetic humanitarian events” perpetrated on the more than 2 million civilians of that city.
    This is what she has to say about the murders of Gaddafi’s family members.
     

  12. prism 12
    30 May 2011 at 10:35 am

    First interview on radionz today is about Christchurch contractors not getting paid. Few things if I remember rightly –
    1 The EQC call centre is in Queensland.
    2 One contractor has been waiting for a payment of $54,000 since September earthquake for replacing windows in an apartment block which required cherry pickers, expensive machinery.
    He says that he has never been contacted from EQC, but that is surprising. Perhaps he is talking about recent months. He has made numerous calls to Oz and feels he is starting to pick up the Aussie twang. He says he only gets patsy answers.
    3 EQC couldn’t come on to programme but stated as previously that they pay within 21 days if GST number is right and the invoice shows costs apportioned properly as to time and materials.
    The contractors feel that the EQC is understaffed and this in itself results in delays and inefficiencies apart from any faults in EQC practices.
    4 The above contractor has got in touch with Gerry the Butt but but couldn’t get an answer till he sent his email in bold red letters. Pity that even with his Powers he seems to be gerrybuilt when he should be using them to assist EQC to get more staff to deal with the unchecked details that result in the no-payment which is stifling the recovery.
    5 Unpaid workers have been continuing going to work, crawling inside and on top of roofs of unstable buildings doing practical and helpful work which is unsafe in itself, so that safety can be provided for the occupants and surrounds, but have not been paid sometimes for a month because of lack of payment to their employers from the EQC.
    6 The red zone contractors are thought to be getting paid all right. Gerry the Butt always does seem to have been more interested in the centre of Christchurch and its businesses rather than the rest of the struggling public. They are SEP, too miniscule for the great men at the forefront of the Christchurch earthquake management to give their immediate attention, ‘Just wait till we are ready to attend to you’ is their message.

    • Lanthanide 12.1
      30 May 2011 at 10:57 am

      Hopefully Roger Sutton will sort it out once he’s on board. It certainly seems like an early impediment to a fast effective recovery if you lose the goodwill from many of the people who’ll be doing the heavy lifting for the next 2-3 years.

      Edit: Never mind, John Key has put his oar in it already, so something will start happening: http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/christchurch-earthquake/5071405/Pay-up-EQC-told-by-firms

      He does seem to have a magical ability to make ‘things’ happen, although exactly what it is seems to be a sticking point – recovery of Pike River victims comes to mind (“cost is no barrier”). He also seems to usually get involved too late – where were you 3 months ago on this issue, Key? Or last December?

    • ianmac 12.2
      30 May 2011 at 12:04 pm

      My adult son had his flat redstickered. He put in his itemised claim for a modest contents insurance claim on the 24 February. No response. No payout to help him get started again. So not only the big players unpaid but the little ones also.

  13. randal 13
    30 May 2011 at 12:01 pm

    hey it looks like the gunnas are in control at the moment. wee gunna do this and we gunna do that but somehow al they do is get their makeup done for the next piccie in the dompost social pages.

  14. Bunji 14
    30 May 2011 at 1:38 pm

    Good guest post on NZAID at Public Address.

    • rosy 14.1
      30 May 2011 at 9:22 pm

      Thanks Bunji… Murray McCully treating NZAID as a business model, to support economic development (and use aid to profit NZ) rather than the poor. Excellent article by Terence Wood deconstructing this ideology of aid distribution.

  15. logie97 15
    30 May 2011 at 6:01 pm

    The Penguin gives a political analysis of the polls.

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/blogs/david-farrar-by-the-numbers/5072622/Sixty-five-seats-is-not-bulletproof

    “However, it is worth stressing that a projected 65 seats is not bulletproof. The House is forecast to have 123 MPs, so you will need 62 to govern. On the plus side ACT and United Future look like they can deliver a further four seats. On the negative side, there is the possibility NZ First makes 5%.”

    Since when do independent commentators in a national daily use words like – “on the plus side ” and “On the negative side” – in the context of a balanced report. The plus and negative from whose point of view, Farrar? You are not talking to the blue rinse brigade only. (Obviously, from now on you probably will be).

    • The Voice of Reason 15.1
      30 May 2011 at 6:58 pm

      At least Granny now have a weird apologia at the foot of the page:
       
      “David Farrar is affiliated to the National Party and is a centre right blogger.”

      Affiliated? Are National a gang? Will Farrar be able to go to Whangaz wearing his colours?

      • McFlock 15.1.1
        30 May 2011 at 8:31 pm

        Heh – intriguing:
         
        Points that support National being called a gang:

        If you call destroying livelihoods via derivative trading “theft”, they’re probably worse than the stereotypical “gang”
        count amongst their most valued members an ‘elite’ 1% of the population
        some of them seem to regard themselves outside the law
        use of front organisations and/or “affiliates” (e.g. the penguin, Brethren)

        Points against:

        violence is not usually used – that’s what their economic policies are for

         

        • felix 15.1.1.1
          30 May 2011 at 8:44 pm

          Ah, but the threat of violence is never far from the lips of the likes of Collins, eh?

  16. randal 16
    30 May 2011 at 7:40 pm

    i gunna get me a gum too!

    [lprent: Are you trying to get those dumbarses from the anti-terrorism squads watching this site? Based on their reaction to the idea of catapulting objects I get the idea that they have no sense of proportion or a sense of humor. They’ll assume you misspelt. (After reading the material on operation 8 it is hard to treat treat those clowns with any respect) ]

  17. Armchair Critic 17
    30 May 2011 at 8:33 pm

    “The welfare system should send a clear message that if you could work and support yourself, then you must, [Mr Key] said”
    http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/5075404/Ministers-to-consider-controversial-welfare-plans
    Here we go again. The flaw in the logic is that people can be capable of working, but unable to find a job due to National’s stunning management of the economy.
    So, Mr Key, if someone is capable of working, and keen to work, and there are no impediments to them doing work, but they can’t find a job because National have managed to get unemployment soaring, should they be eligible for a benefit?

    • Herodotus 17.1
      30 May 2011 at 9:33 pm

      I will play the broken record again.
      Perhaps if they allowed Kiwis to work say at the RWC and did not manipulate vista extensions for tourists to work. Pity AC when the govt imposes its own impediments on letting those who do want to work !!! and for a govt dept to actively go out promoting this. A case I believe to reintroduce repealling S59, and give allow MP’s to be smacked for corrective means 😉
      http://www.immigration.govt.nz/migrant/stream/visit/rugby/

  18. Jum 18
    30 May 2011 at 11:19 pm

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/5075056/Govenor-General-receives-military-award-from-Singapore

    It’s all coming together nicely.

    Key’s mentor from Singapore, the businessrotundtable visits from Pinochet’s economic advisor and the GG designate parlaying with all. We now have a military man paraded in front of us as some sort of role model for the young; the message is: go get dressed in your flaks and go out to play with America, carrying the associated appendages that’ll get ya coming back in a body bag, all for the egomaniac leader of the new neo-nz.

  19. todd 19
    30 May 2011 at 11:23 pm

    Climate Change vs John Key

    http://thejackalman.blogspot.com/2011/05/climate-change-vs-john-key.html

    In a recent survey conducted by the WWF, 73% of New Zealanders believe that the Government should prioritise increased development of renewable energy to provide electricity and transport fuel in New Zealand. Only 18% said the government’s energy strategy should prioritise more exploration and mining for fossil fuels such as oil, coal and gas.