tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3753486518085091399.post8119242682296351542..comments2024-03-29T17:12:19.648+13:00Comments on Bowalley Road: Reflections On The Christchurch Earthquake: Give Us The ToolsChris Trotterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09081613281183460899noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3753486518085091399.post-4916078773428718392011-03-22T01:56:25.311+13:002011-03-22T01:56:25.311+13:00Haiti is a perfect example of how lack of tools ha...Haiti is a perfect example of how lack of tools has hampered efforts to rebuild a small nation. A year after their earthquake small teams of people are paid by the government pick away at twisted wreckage as all heavy equipment is in private hands that demand profit for its use. I have no doubt that New Zealand would be in a better position if it could utilise public owned equipment for clearance and construction.<br /><br />Although Haiti is all about the tools, I actually believe earthquake recovery in Chile is a better example of the problems that lie ahead for New Zealand. <br /><br />The incoming presidency of Sebastián Piñera took office only two weeks after the earthquake. Piñera (who happens to be one of the richest men in South America) is not able to initiate the type of free-market reforms often associated with wealthy business interests, partly due to the recent economic and political history of Chile and partly due to competing interests within his coalition. The government could be viewed as surprisingly moderate in a similar outlook as the government of John Key. <br /><br />Unsurprisingly, as part of rebuilding, the government of Chile flagged "non-vital" asset sales as a partial means to fund reconstruction. What is much more of a surprise from a right wing coalition is that a 3% corporate tax rate increase was legislated along with an increase in Royalty fees from mining companies and a 0.25% real estate tax on the top 5% of properties sold to assist in funding reconstruction. <br /><br />Even with the additional state revenue in Chile, shortages of funds have (probably) left a majority of those displaced from the quake 12 months ago without adequate housing as a result of the market led reconstruction. <br /><br />What really troubles me is the financing of reconstruction. It is unimaginable that National will entertain corporate or property taxes as a means to keeping debt under control. Mr Key has already rejected the idea of Capital Gains taxes and property taxes recommended by the IMF for the purpose of reconstruction. It doesn’t take much imagination to see how this scenario is going to play out.<br /><br />The projected $18 billion government deficit is astronomical. As no additional measures are being made to recoup government costs I can only assume that a crisis will be left to brew for "tough measures" in the budget of 2012. <br /><br />Naomi Klein has done a lot of writing in recent years about "Disaster Capitalism" and the shock doctrine. She observed major implementations of unpopular, and un-mandated free market reforms are normally pushed as a response to a crisis (either real or artificially developed). Free Market reforms are presented as "the only option" or “fete de complete “and are normally rammed down the throat of a nation before it has time to protest. The financial crisis that is currently being left until after the election is obvious grounds for the next large scale attack on the public service and infrastructure of the nation. <br /><br />The Earthquake may be more disastrous for the welfare of the country than any of us are currently aware.Lozhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12064567381918975446noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3753486518085091399.post-51505550179157189822011-03-19T20:23:49.228+13:002011-03-19T20:23:49.228+13:00In an era where quarterly financial reports and an...In an era where quarterly financial reports and annual bonuses are the primary drivers of our society we face the very real risk of seeing Christchurch being reconstructed as a morass of tilt slab boxes. Quick to build, highly profitable in the short term and quick to deconstruct.<br /><br />Chris, your comments are profoundly relevant in this time.Round the bendhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01727153496702685062noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3753486518085091399.post-54620907195095703152011-03-17T22:13:26.621+13:002011-03-17T22:13:26.621+13:00You are indeed a character. It's hard to belie...You are indeed a character. It's hard to believe you are still lamenting the demise of the Ministry of Works! Perhaps it's time to write a ballad and start a new musical genre. You could call it.. lets see - I know, 'the Socialists lament'.<br />.....<br />Perhaps you could explain how we built those canals and dams in the Mckenzie basin and why the public should subsidise developers (who want to bring more and more people in) by paying for more large infrastructure projects such as a tunnel under Auckland harbour.jhnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3753486518085091399.post-89344169435821339152011-03-17T21:56:13.362+13:002011-03-17T21:56:13.362+13:00"Back then most New Zealanders looked upon th..."Back then most New Zealanders looked upon the state as their friend and ally."<br />.....<br />Well real estate agents and developers still do!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3753486518085091399.post-81190979824280722372011-03-17T07:30:28.946+13:002011-03-17T07:30:28.946+13:00The old MOWD was nicknamed Ministry of Waste and D...The old MOWD was nicknamed Ministry of Waste and Destruction. We always used to joke that it was a retirement home for graduate engineers embarking on a career. The reality is that they did a brilliant job because they were an engineering shop with rigorous practices. The foolishness of the Rogernomics argument that MOWD were innefficient compared to the market mechanism was that the rigorous standards were severely compromised by the market. As money took primacy standards may not have been compromised but the move is definitely to "you get what you pay for" which tends to be adherence to the minimum.<br /><br />More importantly as you say the body of expertise, the peer review and local knowledge coupled with a capacity to deliver is severely missed.Nicknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3753486518085091399.post-7975128779774543292011-03-16T21:43:18.906+13:002011-03-16T21:43:18.906+13:00we are doing very well here Chris, every day we ma...we are doing very well here Chris, every day we make progresspeterquixotehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15873112816453062068noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3753486518085091399.post-35498923030911184542011-03-16T19:40:34.838+13:002011-03-16T19:40:34.838+13:00Chris say:
"
Give Us The Tools: Had the Chris...Chris say:<br />"<br />Give Us The Tools: Had the Christchurch Earthquake struck in the years before the dismantling of the social-democratic state, New Zealand would have been much better prepared to deal with the catastrophe. In the Age of Neoliberalism is our anorexic state equal to the challenge of reconstruction?<br />"<br />and I say, we have the tools Chris, we use them every day, and we are making progress.peterquixotehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15873112816453062068noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3753486518085091399.post-44563763952028349972011-03-16T16:10:50.478+13:002011-03-16T16:10:50.478+13:00It's a bit risky invoking the memory of the Ec...It's a bit risky invoking the memory of the Economic Stabilisation Act, but otherwise a good column piece. Of course, in the old days, the Reserve Bank would be part of the mix rather than autonomous. How kind of the Governor to consult with the finance minister before taking the extraordinary step of lowering the OCR below the inflation rate, and what a big contribution it was to reconstruction (irony intended).Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3753486518085091399.post-16037119427475561362011-03-16T12:55:32.218+13:002011-03-16T12:55:32.218+13:00Chris
You are indeed a character. It's hard ...Chris<br /><br />You are indeed a character. It's hard to believe you are still lamenting the demise of the Ministry of Works! Perhaps it's time to write a ballad and start a new musical genre. You could call it.. lets see - I know, 'the Socialists lament'.<br /><br />To the tune of 'home, home on the range'....<br /><br />When I was young, and Micky's shadow was still on the land<br />New Zeland had then, blokes who were men<br />and we all lived our lives in God's hand.<br /><br />(chorus)<br /><br />Sing, sing with me friends, of a time that is over and past,<br />Employment was full, just like my old uncle Bill, it was great but it just didn't last.<br /><br />One thing we knew, it was trusted and true, before our MP's were jerks,<br />If trouble arose, and we suffered life's blows<br />We could rely upon the Ministry of Works.<br /><br />(chorus)<br /><br />Christchurch will be rebuilt, with or without Government assistance, and the sooner we can get started, the better it will be for everyone, employees, employers and beneficiaries.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17190324943334170206noreply@blogger.com