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Open mike 30/12/2013

Written By: - Date published: 7:46 am, December 30th, 2013 - 115 comments
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openmike

Open mike is your post.

For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose.

The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy).

Step right up to the mike …

115 comments on “Open mike 30/12/2013 ”

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  1. millsy 1
    30 December 2013 at 7:52 am

    Apparently this country is tipped for a big economic boom this year.

    Whats the bet that those in the lower middle and the bottom will get bugger all or nothing and that those at the top will capture all the benefits?

    • lprent 1.1
      30 December 2013 at 8:00 am

      It is essentially what happens when you pump prime the economy with an influx of insurance money and Nationals traditional election year cookie crumb droppings, and offset by the price of rising interest costs flooding in from offshore.

      It will be essentially jobless – so as fragile as hell. Not to mention the numbers of milk powder production facilities coming online throughout the world at present making an impact on Fonterra’s commodity business.

      If the “recovery” makes an impact, then I’d expect it to dissipate by the end of the year. But that is what we all knew anyway eh?

    • veutoviper 1.2
      30 December 2013 at 9:03 am

      The various articles predicting an economic boom next year IMO are partly wishful hoping – although I have no doubt there will be those putting a lot into trying to make this happen in an election year.

      And I agree that any gains will not flow through to those in the lower middle class and bottom – eg just more of the same in terms of lack of jobs, bene bashing etc.as Lprent says in his reply.

      But not all are predicting a boom year without reservation.

      This Herald article today on predictions for the NZ stock market in 2014 is very interesting. It starts out with a positive perspective in the heading and first few paragraphs, but then moves to a more cautious stance from Mark Lister, head of research at Craigs Investments Partners – New Zealand’s largest retail broker – who believes that the stockmarket will not perform as strongly next year.

      It then ends on a negative note from JBWere strategist Bernard Doyle who is convinced New Zealand may not be the best place for investors.

      This month, Doyle recommended clients lower their exposure to New Zealand because of concerns about high local share prices, rising interest rates and the pending general election.
      “This backdrop leaves us underwhelmed with the risk-reward presented by the local market,” he said.
      “This does not mean we think New Zealand equities are necessarily going to decline in 2014.
      “It simply reflects that we don’t believe investors are likely to be adequately rewarded for the risks they bear in this market.”
      Instead, Doyle is recommending clients invest more in global listed companies, and he even prefers Australia to New Zealand.
      “Global equities are top of the pile, Australia second, and New Zealand last.”

      http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11179215

      • Sacha 1.2.1
        30 December 2013 at 9:24 am

        Middle-class mortgage holders will be sensitive to rising interest rates. The Nats probably have plans about how to throw some ‘assistance’ their way to reduce anxiety before the election.

        But most benefits of increased economic activity will continue to flow to business owners and investors rather than staff. The latter and their representatives will put up with it like always. The Nats don’t need their votes. Other parties must do a far better job of winning those or we get the next stage of our return to the 1990s.

  2. Tautoko Viper 2
    30 December 2013 at 8:16 am

    I have been thinking about TPPA and the fact that Wayne Mapp admitted that there would be some loss of sovereignty for NZ but it would be worth it for the benefits. It appears to me that loss of sovereignty would not be to other countries but to Big Corporations- Big Pharma, Tobacco, Biotech (GE/GM) etc who have written the TPPA. As far as I am concerned, if Tim Groser agrees to investor-state dispute settlements then he should be tried as a traitor.

  3. chris73 3
    30 December 2013 at 8:58 am

    http://www.whaleoil.co.nz/2013/12/ten-indicators-things-coming-right/

    – A collection of links from reputable sources, more good news

    • Zorr 3.1
      30 December 2013 at 9:06 am

      There’s a problem with your link. It appears to be to a spam site.

        • Sacha 3.1.1.1
          30 December 2013 at 9:26 am

          Falling crime is driven by demographic changes as much as anything. Though our decade-long over-investment in prisons must be playing some part.

          • Zorr 3.1.1.1.1
            30 December 2013 at 9:35 am

            The key line Sacha is this:
            “with recorded offences down for the third fiscal year in a row, and a massive 17.4 per cent drop in crimes in the past three years”

            If you starve front-line police of funding and manpower, this is what you would also see. There is data here but no actual correlation proving that recorded offences can be equated with a falling crime rate as there are so many other factors in play (especially under the Nacts)

            • chris73 3.1.1.1.1.1
              30 December 2013 at 9:42 am

              They can only go by the recorded data but what say you about the other links?

              • Bearded Git …
                30 December 2013 at 10:19 am

                It shows that NZ is finally reaping the rewards for Labour’s hard work over 9 years in power. That is the kind of timescale these things have to be judged on.

                National has tended to simply maintain the status quo they inherited on many of these issues, apart from ridiculous and useless laws like 3-strikes and car crushing.

            • Naturesong 3.1.1.1.1.2
              30 December 2013 at 1:42 pm

              They’ve also changed the reporting to reduce domestic violence stats.

              There have been a number of reports about this, but still National brag about the success. They are truly an Orwellian government. Agencies express concerns over crime statistics

            • David H 3.1.1.1.1.3
              30 December 2013 at 1:52 pm

              Yeah you ever tried to get a cop to come to your house for a Burglary? Yeah right! It’s more like “Here’s a Event number for your Insurance Company”

              • Tim …
                30 December 2013 at 7:59 pm

                Yep! Unless of course you can provide them with the video – then they’re there in seconds to tock up one to the cleanup stats.

          • chris73 3.1.1.1.2
            30 December 2013 at 9:36 am

            Yet rising crime is a very good signal of inequality and other social dysfunctions so if crime is falling under National…

        • QoT 3.1.1.2
          30 December 2013 at 9:39 am

          “reputable sources … lindsaymitchell.blogspot.co.nz”

          I question your assumptions.

          • chris73 3.1.1.2.1
            30 December 2013 at 9:45 am

            Mostly reputable but you can go to stats nz to check the figures if you dont believe them but really the main point is to highlight the good things thats happening to this country 🙂

            • McFlock 3.1.1.2.1.1
              30 December 2013 at 3:33 pm

              Half of which national get in the way of or institutionally fabricate, and the rest are pathetically outnumbered by the housing crisis alone.

              But you don’t give a shit about that, because it’s all just a game to you – as long as the blue team win, you’re happy. No matter how many forestry workers die.

        • RedbaronCV 3.1.1.3
          30 December 2013 at 10:27 am

          Although there is some evidence that the police are just dismissing some complaints and of course in the DV area it looks like they don’t bother to charge just hand out the wet bus ticket Police safety order – so that the kids are made homeless. Takes thousands of offences off the books.

        • greywarbler 3.1.1.4
          30 December 2013 at 10:33 am

          c73
          Spend your time learning facts about what is happening and also the facts of reports on conjecture about likely happenings in the world and NZ instead of just seeking good news from the past. You aren’t doing anything useful. If you want to be useful and don’t want to run in the looming marathon future event yourself, you might offer something useful to help the runners to bolster their strength and understanding of how to combat the hazards to be faced. Not hand-picked good news statistics. They won’t be aids in preventing the damage to life we are facing.

          • chris73 3.1.1.4.1
            30 December 2013 at 10:38 am

            I disagree, I think theres some good and useful facts in there. I do understand that any good news for National is considered bad however along with the doom and gloom the left is promoting its also good to have some good news as well.

            • greywarbler 3.1.1.4.1.1
              30 December 2013 at 10:53 am

              chris73
              You silly person – we here are not playing your stupid game of political tiddlywinks. When we talk doom and gloom we are trying to face real problems and look for real answers. Stay with your game of who is going to win the 2014 test match, your side or those upstart others. Those who can’t think beyond sporting games are lacking brain activity in the part of the brain that can objectively and logically look at things to come, and the real outcomes of present happenings. You waste your and our time with your inane mumbles.

              I see your name coming up here like fertile weeds in my garden. Aaaahhh! Try reading a book, alot of books, why don’t you. lprent doesn’t need your input to boost the site’s stats over snakeoil and taniwhablog.

              • chris73 …
                30 December 2013 at 11:03 am

                Ok but only because you said it

              • felix …
                30 December 2013 at 11:29 pm

                “You silly person – we here are not playing your stupid game of political tiddlywinks.”

                Actually you are playing chris’s stupid game. And so is anyone who replies to him.

                God only knows why the mods here continue to let him link-whore his stupid whaleoil posts, and that’s pretty much all he ever does here.

  4. Sanctuary 4
    30 December 2013 at 9:09 am

    If you want a giggle, pop over to pundit and read another confused piece from Josie Pagani about religion. Honestly, that women is the very definition of the immodestly clueless.

    • Colonial Viper 4.1
      30 December 2013 at 9:35 am

      Thanks but no thanks.

    • QoT 4.2
      30 December 2013 at 9:44 am

      Oh goddammit, Sanc, I have no self-restraint when it comes to reading Josie Pagani’s attempts at commentary, and now I feel like I’ve been zapped with Will Smith’s neuralyzer.

      • Sacha 4.2.1
        30 December 2013 at 10:10 am

        Her ability to be wrong about more than politics is oddly reassuring. Just wait until she tackles science.

        • Anne 4.2.1.1
          30 December 2013 at 10:22 am

          In December politicians try as hard as they want, there’s no out-polling the man with the white beard. No press release can compete with our collective obsession with an obese man in Labour red, handing out free gifts to everyone including the 800,000 people who didn’t vote in the last election.

          Get it? Santa Claus is a fat socialist… handing out money and pressies willy-nilly with no thought to the cost. Quick, somebody tell the 800,000 voters who never voted. We’re home and hosed!

          and that’s just for starters:

          http://pundit.co.nz/content/no-we%E2%80%99re-not-the-most-secular-nation-in-the-world

          • Sacha 4.2.1.1.1
            30 December 2013 at 10:24 am

            And ssshhh, nobody tell the Republicans that Red is a socialist colour.

          • veutoviper 4.2.1.1.2
            30 December 2013 at 10:37 am

            “Quick, somebody tell the 800,000 voters who never voted. We’re home and hosed!”

            And the other big man – no beard though, and always wears black ( OMG is he a NZF supporter?) – is working on a solution to non-voters.

            KDC Tweet on 26 Dec

            New Zealand politics will get exciting in 2014. My advanced non-voter activation alogarithm is genius. You’ll see 🙂

            LOL

        • Ron 4.2.1.2
          30 December 2013 at 4:12 pm

          Well she had one good thing to say in reminding us that we dont have to put up with Jim Mora and his stupid panel for a while.
          Always be thankful for small mercies

  5. Morrissey 5
    30 December 2013 at 10:00 am

    Mr Brown’s Boys
    Part 1 of 2

    SCENE: Friday December 6, 2013. The Public Address Academy, Auckland. The headmaster, the venerable Mr Brown, can be seen walking across the quad to the Hard News classroom, accompanied by a boy dressed in a King’s Prep uniform. Mr Brown is the foundation headmaster of his school, and has been running it for many years—too many years, some would say. He has in recent times been prone to some appalling lapses in judgement, and is increasingly given to irascible outbursts when criticized for that lack of judgement.

    MR BROWN: Wait outside the classroom, Matthew. I’ll call you in after I’ve established a few ground rules.

    MR BROWN enters the classroom.

    Today there is an air of sadness hanging over the P.A. Academy; the heroic anti-apartheid activist and former president of South Africa, Nelson Mandela, has died, and the pupils know they will be expected to compete with one another to say how sad they are. Mr Brown sets the tone authoritatively….

    MR. BROWN: I remember seeing Nelson Mandela at Wembley Stadium, shortly after his release, in 1990.
    ….Several pupils stifle yawns, several exhale loudly and slump in their chairs, others roll their eyes. Mr Brown is oblivious to all of these signs, however…

    MR. BROWN: Mandela came to the front of the stage to speak and, after three solid minutes of cheering, the crowd began to sing ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’. Never has that song sounded so resonant. I think I cried.

    ….Several pupils snicker, and several more can be seen rolling their eyes sardonically…..

    MR. BROWN: You will have other thoughts and memories and you are welcome to share them here. Please be respectful of each other. Michael, you were the first to put your hand up. Please stand up and share with the class how sad you are.
    MIKE O’CONNELL: What can one say, others will say it better in the eulogies that will pour out. Simply RIP Nelson Mandela, the world is a poorer place without you but your legacy will remain for a long, long time.
    MR. BROWN: Good, good. That was so sincere. Paul?
    PAUL CAMPBELL: I cried the day he was released, tears are flowing now – what more can I say.
    HEBE: I am so happy for him that he died at home, at 95, with his people. Who would have thought in 1981 that could happen?
    LUCY TELFAR BARNARD He was so great a man it was a privilege even to walk on the same planet as him.
    MR. BROWN: [visibly moved] Right on. Just a minute. I have someone waiting outside who wants to tell you how upset HE is at the death of Madiba.

    Mr Brown leaves the classroom and re-enters with the boy in the King’s Prep uniform. The boy is smirking unpleasantly, and arrogantly looks down his nose at the children in the class, who seem to already know him….

    SEVERAL VOICES: Fuck off, Hooton!
    MR BROWN: Class, this is Matthew. He’s joining you today to join in with your tributes to Nelson Mandela.
    MURMURING FROM CLASS: What?!!???!? …. HE’S A NOTORIOUS RACIST!!! …. How COULD you invite HIM of all people to talk about Mandela?
    MR BROWN: [reproachfully] I did ask you to show respect for each other.
    UPROAR FROM CLASS:…. Totally inappropriate! …. Brown has lost his fucking marbles!…. That’s Matthew fucking Hooton, the racist prick!… Russell Brown needs to be put out to pasture NOW!!!… Silly old bastard!
    MR BROWN: [tired and at his wits’ end] I have repeatedly asked everyone here to show good faith and respect. If you can’t do that, please leave the discussion.
    SEVERAL VOICES: This is a fucking JOKE! This guy is a RACIST, yet Brown is letting him speak about Nelson Mandela!??!!?!?
    MATTHEW HOOTON: Isn’t it a strange, melancholy and nostalgic day? Mandela really was the greatest figure of the 20th century.
    SEVERAL VOICES: Fuck off, racist!…. He’s a friend of John Ansell, for Chrissakes!… SHUSH! He’s starting to speak…
    MATTHEW HOOTON: In the way I view the world, being a child of the 1980s, he was alongside Reagan, Thatcher and Gorbachev in the sense of bringing tyranny to an end…

    OUTRAGE AND UPROAR FROM CLASS: What the FUCK!!!?!?!!?…. W-w-w-what did that smirking, smarmy prick just say?!!???!

    ….END OF PART ONE…..
    http://publicaddress.net/hardnews/mandela/

    • phillip ure 5.1
      30 December 2013 at 11:22 am

      “… He’s a friend of John Ansell, for Chrissakes!…”

      heh..!

      phillip ure..

      • Morrissey 5.1.1
        30 December 2013 at 12:28 pm

        Actually, he’s more than just a friend; Hooton was a co-conspirator in the cynical, disgusting campaign of race-baiting that constituted the bulk of Don Brash’s doomed campaign in 2005. For the gruesome and incriminating details, read Nicky Hager’s The Hollow Men.

        • Sacha 5.1.1.1
          30 December 2013 at 3:09 pm

          Rubbish. Hagar says Hooten was pushing *against* the race-baiting. Read from p80.

          • Morrissey 5.1.1.1.1
            30 December 2013 at 3:20 pm

            He told them to tone it down at the time, purely as a practical measure: Hooton, unlike many in the National Party, does have a brain and realised the revulsion that most people would have for the kind of racial hatred being pushed by Ansell.

            Hooton made a public show of pinching his nose to show his disapproval after they carried on despite his “pushing against the race-baiting”. If he’d had any decency at all, he would have had nothing to do with that racist campaign.

            I’m not surprised to see you spinning for Hooton, however. You went out of your way to make the same point in that infamously stupid thread on Public Address, when so many of that forum’s “liberals” bent over backwards to praise Hooton’s hypocrisy, and to pretend that he really meant what he had written.

            • Sacha 5.1.1.1.1.1
              30 December 2013 at 4:04 pm

              Spinning? You clearly have too much time on your hands, chap.

              • Morrissey …
                30 December 2013 at 4:51 pm

                Spinning?
                Call it what it used to be called then: you were apologizing for him.

                You clearly have too much time on your hands, chap.
                That comment makes no sense whatsoever. What if I had 24 hours a day free? What difference would it make?

            • rhinocrates 5.1.1.1.1.2
              30 December 2013 at 4:06 pm

              Hooton doesn’t have opinions, he has brand management and he saw PA as an opportunity, no more, – and in doing so, he proved that liberals believe what they want to believe.

              He never misses an opportunity to race-bait, saying the Labour is full of “stupid maori” (RNZ), that Mana is full of “dumb bros” (NBR), he thinks that the Kahui child murder was a great opportunity to make a “hilarious” political joke (RNZ)… well the Penguin and his fan club had a good giggle over that one at least.

              If he had any decency – which he doesn’t – he’d dog-whistle at a higher pitch.

              Hooton’s not a racist? Wanna buy a bridge? I got one to sell…

              Oh, by the way, I’m not sure that he’s like to be defended by Nicky Hagar – he likes to call him a [Snip]

              [Way off point and disruptive. Tone it down – MS]

  6. greywarbler 6
    30 December 2013 at 10:16 am

    Some musings beautifully done on what Christmas can mean even in these times of confusion and questioning of false norms and traditions. Tim Minchin, combined with great graphics makes a lovely tribute to people who care about each other coming together at Christmas.
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vWQuDtxD2-c
    Tim Minchin
    White Wine in the Sun
    (Muvizu Animdation)

  7. greywarbler 7
    30 December 2013 at 10:46 am

    The latest on NSA undermining of integrity of world governments and business and private citizens freedoms to live their lives without interference.
    http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/12/20/us-usa-security-rsa-idUSBRE9BJ1C220131220
    and
    http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/catalog-reveals-nsa-has-back-doors-for-numerous-devices-a-940994.html

  8. phillip ure 8
    30 December 2013 at 11:17 am

    guyon espiner to become new morning report (nat-rad) co-host..

    phillip ure..

  9. tricledrown 9
    30 December 2013 at 11:56 am

    Election year appointment.
    Patsey public broadcasting.
    Jim Mora would ask harder questions .

    • Morrissey 9.1
      30 December 2013 at 1:41 pm

      tricledrown: Election year appointment. Patsey public broadcasting. Jim Mora would ask harder questions .

      JEREMY ELWOOD: Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!

      SUSAN BALDACCI: He he he he he he he!

      JIM MORA: Oh that’s very good! Tricledrown is with us on the Panel. Coming up: another survey and more quotes from the New York Times.

    • phillip ure 9.2
      30 December 2013 at 4:00 pm

      “..Jim Mora would ask harder questions..”

      that’s funny..!

      ..not true..of course..but funny nonetheless..

      phillip ure..

  10. tricledrown 10
    30 December 2013 at 12:02 pm

    C73 regional police commanders massage crime figures.
    New technology ie cctv DNA cellphone cameras aging population are the main reasons.
    But sacking a large swathe of paper shufflers has changed frontline policing ,Police Now reluctant to deal with crime because they have to do heaps more paperwork.

    • greywarbler 10.1
      30 December 2013 at 1:00 pm

      I wondered about those lower crime figures. Normal response – bloody paperwork so don’t feed details through unless necessary. So less crime BEING REPORTED. Important words.

  11. veutoviper 11
    30 December 2013 at 12:09 pm

    Just wanted to say thank you to Lprent for the new style Comments and Links. Very impressive, while clean and clear.

    Thanks.

    • Morrissey 11.1
      30 December 2013 at 12:57 pm

      Hear, hear!

    • lprent 11.2
      30 December 2013 at 1:05 pm

      I liked it. Try pressing a handle…

      • veutoviper 11.2.1
        30 December 2013 at 2:58 pm

        Wonderful – straight to all comments by that handle! I tried Chris73 – does he do anything else, I wonder?

      • phillip ure 11.2.2
        30 December 2013 at 4:15 pm

        cool..i never pay enough attention to know who’s right/left..if their actual words don’t indicate..

        ..now i will know..

        ..(btw..i think i’m kinda left..but not old skool bbq-stalinist left..and i guess the soak-the-rich/end-poverty/stop-eating-fucken-animals and legalise pot while you are at it..makes me kinda left-left..

        ..more green than most of the greens..

        (especially ‘more green than ‘please-pass-me-that-bowl-of-pig-fat turei..eh..?)..but really..i shouldn’t single turei out..most green mp’s are in that basket..certainly not a vegan to be seen amongst them..)

        ..more labour/left than most of the labour/left here..(and especially more so than the current mob of labour mp’s..)

        (c.f partial-nationalisation-plan/idea..)

        ..and mana are so so hangi-heavy..so far from even vegetarian..that i despair..(sigh..!..)

        ..and all of the political parties in complete denial about the implications/impacts of what they eat..

        ..and somehow..i think that dotcoms’ party will also be kinda heavy on the charred animal-flesh..eh..?

        ..where do i belong..?

        ..phillip ure..

        • Tim 11.2.2.1
          30 December 2013 at 8:45 pm

          For some reason @Phillip, you just reminded me – I need to watch “Eat the Rich” again.

        • Sacha 11.2.2.2
          30 December 2013 at 9:15 pm

          “most green mp’s are in that basket..certainly not a vegan to be seen amongst them”

          really? do share your sources.

          • phillip ure 11.2.2.2.1
            30 December 2013 at 10:07 pm

            norman..vego..turei carnivore..hughes..vego..graham..carnivore..delahunty..carnivore..hague ..vego (i think..)..clendon vego..

            ..dunno about the others..but hughes confirmed on a frogblog thread a while back that there were no vegans..

            .and..y’know..some people who still eat fish call themseves vegetarians..(!)

            phillip ure..

        • phillip ure 11.2.2.3
          30 December 2013 at 10:24 pm

          should i start a ‘soak-the-rich/end-poverty/stop-eating-fucken-animals and legalise pot while you are at it!’- party..?

          ..surely that grab-bag of issues could muster 5%..?

          phillip ure..

  12. tricledrown 12
    30 December 2013 at 12:26 pm

    C73 most of your links contradict your claims.
    Child deaths we are the worst in the developed world only the US is worse.
    Suicides only 2 less per year than longterm average.
    Those figures jump up and down.
    Violent and domestic abuse continues to climb.
    Unreported crime figures are researched by Police.
    So are massaged.
    Burglaries are down.
    Yeah right.
    Most people have a $300 to $1000 no claim ryder on their insurance policy so their is no point in reporting minor crime to police and waste time.
    You had better come up with better spin .
    Captive 73.

    • chris73 12.1
      30 December 2013 at 2:35 pm

      Ackshully the Left will need better spin because the swing and undecided voters will be getting their information from the MSM and not from political blogs which means they’ll be reading the headlines and the headlines are saying good, positive things about NZ

      And that means 3 more years of National

      tricledrowning

  13. Adrian 13
    30 December 2013 at 1:37 pm

    Less “real” crime actioned, but a lot more traffic notices trying to be issued. The 4km allowance is because there were a lot less tickets issued last year and financial targets not met. BTW quotas are now called targets and even very senior and CIB staff expected to meet them.
    How are they doing it, night shift officers are sitting on CCTV cameras and issuing tickets for parking ,passing etc without leaving the office.
    If it’s happening in Nelson it must be the same countrywide.

  14. aerobubble 14
    30 December 2013 at 2:08 pm

    Whaleoil is not a journalist, in the same way a writer for a
    church newsletter is not, preaching to a select audience of
    believers doth not maketh it so. There is a public interest in a
    broad sheet having such protection. The protection applies
    to media that serves all groups, an impartiality in the media outlet. This of course would also
    mean the Herald would also lose such protection IMHO. Nz independence
    in news has taken huge loses as pro-wealthy only views have taken over.
    Now whether the story is merited protection is a different question.
    You rarely see an positive argument against the wealthy that harms general wealth,
    made with any vigor.

  15. McGrath 15
    30 December 2013 at 2:22 pm

    Middle class and higher is where elections are won or lost. If the MSM keep pumping out the good news, then Labour will have a harder job of getting into government. There is also more consumer confidence out there in the middle class overall, making the current status-quo more likely in the next election.

    • phillip ure 16.1
      30 December 2013 at 3:52 pm

      the meat in that story is this:

      “..In the 19th century – when there were no controls on the quality of drinking water –

      – infectious disease was a major cause of death.

      Once standards were established – the number of these fatalities plummeted.

      Similarly – if Americans did not live in a world filled with buffets – cheap fast food – soft drinks with corn syrup –

      – and too many foods with excess fat – salt – and sugar –

      – the incidence of obesity – heart disease – high blood pressure – and diabetes probably would plummet.

      Education can help – but what’s really needed is regulation –

      – for example –

      – limits on marketing that caters to our addiction to sugar and fat..”

      phillip ure..

  17. joe90 17
    30 December 2013 at 3:00 pm

    We’re fucked.

    Overall

    1.Americas Cup

    2.Paul Walker

    3.Royal Baby

    4.Cory Monteith

    5.Lorde

    http://www.google.com/trends/topcharts?hl=en&date=2013#geo=NZ&date=2013

  18. Tracey 18
    30 December 2013 at 3:09 pm

    Chris

    how do you think this good news will translate to for those below median income and how long will it take to materialise fir them?

  19. Tracey 19
    30 December 2013 at 3:29 pm

    I didnt think that you

    a. Would think about it and
    b. Wouldn’t take it seriously

    however your answer did confirm something I had been wondering about you and other national voters.

  20. Tracey 20
    30 December 2013 at 3:38 pm

    Chris

    “how do you think this good news will translate to for those below median income and how long will it take to materialise fir them?”

    Do you care?

    • chris73 20.1
      30 December 2013 at 3:49 pm

      Do I care? Yes I do and thats why National will (hopefully) get another term, the left like to think they have a mortgage on caring well they don’t thats just arrogance from the left.

      The left are very good at spending other peoples money but not quite so good when it comes to their own pockets, National is getting the economy moving and that will translate into more jobs which will do more for poverty then any hand-wringing the Left would do

      • joe90 20.1.1
        30 December 2013 at 3:53 pm

        National is getting the economy moving

        Yeah, Terry Seripisos got things moving too.
        /

        http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/9380846/Public-debt-climbs-by-27m-a-day

      • McGrath 20.1.2
        30 December 2013 at 3:58 pm

        Have to agree with chris73. The left is very good at spending other peoples money until it runs out. Then its up to the centre-right to clean up the mess

        • McFlock 20.1.2.1
          30 December 2013 at 4:19 pm

          nice slogan, shame it’s a complete fabrication.

        • Colonial Viper 20.1.2.2
          30 December 2013 at 5:03 pm

          Do you have a $20 or $50 note in your wallet, McGrath?

          Simple question: where did that note originate? The Government, right? So the realisation for you is that it’s not “your” money, you did not create that money, neither do “you” have any ability to give that money any value whatsoever. The Government fulfils all those functions.

          Whose money is it again, McGrath?

        • lprent 20.1.2.3
          30 December 2013 at 5:45 pm

          Then its up to the centre-right to clean up the mess

          A fiscal moron requiring education…

          I saw Cullen move heaven and earth to finally pay back the government debt that Muldoon squandered in the 80’s because of this problem with Muldoon’s superannuation policy (from 2008).

          Then I saw National get in, and now I’m seeing English in another National government try to run the country with debt again. See this chart from here (derived from the budgets)..

          So English’s fiscally irresponsible policy is making it difficult if not impossible to pay for Muldoon’s fiscally irresponsible superannuation policy of 1975.

          Perhaps you should learn to read accounts rather than pulling bullshit out of your arse… Mind you I suspect that you’re probably too stupid to even know which governments were in what years.

          Check out the current debt growth as at Nov 2013.
          http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/9380846/Public-debt-climbs-by-27m-a-day

          Just as an aside, if I see you make moronic statements like that again without a supporting link or argument you will be booted as being a stupid and ignorant troll trying to start a flamewar. Read the policy

        • Draco T Bastard 20.1.2.4
          30 December 2013 at 7:06 pm

          Take away the banks ability to create money, make it so that the government can’t borrow and that all the money they create must be spent into the economy with offsetting taxes and you’ll see pretty quickly just whose money it is.

          Hint: Money doesn’t belong to the rich no matter how much that they would like think that it does,

        • phillip ure 20.1.2.5
          30 December 2013 at 10:40 pm

          what horseshit mcgrath..

          ..it is the key/tory govt that has blown our foreign debt out from $12 billion when they took office..to over $60 billion now..and a continuation of those borrow to give to the rich policies will see that rise to over $100 billion..

          ..how does that fit with yr ‘the left are very good at spending other peoples’ money’ lowest-orifice-pluck..?

          ..eh..?

          ..$48 billion to date..and fucken counting…eh..?

          ..phillip ure..

  23. millsy 23
    30 December 2013 at 5:01 pm

    C73. Do you think the air and water should be poisoned for bigger profits?

    • chris73 23.1
      30 December 2013 at 8:35 pm

      “C73. Do you think the air and water should be poisoned for bigger profits?”

      – Yes but only if those profits are sent to me directly

  24. greywarbler 24
    30 December 2013 at 5:01 pm

    It’s been a good day for chris 73 – has 38 comments on this site today. Fairly short ones, not requiring much work, though he has supplied a few links showing that NZ is doing well so apparently trying to spread Good Cheer in the Holiday Season and throughout the coming year.

  25. millsy 25
    30 December 2013 at 5:17 pm

    C73. what is your opinion of the US health system and what aspects of it do you think should be adopted here.

    Also, do you think workers should lose their sick leave,breaks and holidays.

    • chris73 25.1
      30 December 2013 at 8:33 pm

      “What is your opinion of the US health system and what aspects of it do you think should be adopted here.”

      – Not much, it gets treated as a political football even worse then it does here.

      – Off the top of my head theres nothing I can think of, under Tony Ryalls superb stewardship our health system is better then the USAs

      “Also, do you think workers should lose their sick leave,breaks and holidays.”

      – Yes however I would also add strictly enforced beatings from the master as well to keep the proles in line

  26. rhinocrates 26
    30 December 2013 at 5:44 pm

    “Guyon Espiner to replace Geoff Robinson on Morning Report”

    -Granny.

    I refuse to link to a Herald article after Jones’ snuff column, so look it up yourselves.

    It looks like they’ve finally found a replacement for Key’s fluffer, Plunkett, not Geoff Robinson.

    Well, the Concert Programme is a gentler wakeup anyway.

  27. Tracey 27
    30 December 2013 at 7:03 pm

    Lprent

    they are just mouthpieces for slogans they dont care are lies.

    chris you dont care. If you did you would have a better idea than you do of answers to some of my questions. You aree merely a parrot. One masquerading as intelligent but still a parrot.

    • chris73 27.1
      30 December 2013 at 8:39 pm

      The problem with the left in general is they think they’re the only ones who care therefore everyone who isn’t left-wing don’t care

      The left want to keep people poor (otherwise no one would vote for them) so the lefts policies are about keeping people dependent on the govt whereas the Right want people to be successful

  28. Draco T Bastard 28
    30 December 2013 at 7:10 pm

    Talking about money:
    Bitcoin is Evil

    I’ve taken to disagreeing with Krugman on principle but that’s a pretty good summation of BitCoin.

  29. tricledrown 29
    30 December 2013 at 9:48 pm

    Carion73
    A monetarist like you would cut out the middle man .
    And end up poisoning yourself.
    Gold price hits the skids
    Coal price likwise
    Oil discoveries nil
    Recovering oil from deep water won’t happen for at least 20 years that’s if they find any.
    Betting on loosers.
    Something HawaiiKey said he would never do.