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Ruminations of an Old New Zealander
About Me
- Chris Trotter
- Chris Trotter has spent most of his adult life either engaging in or writing about politics. He was the founding editor of The New Zealand Political Review (1992-2005) and in 2007 authored No Left Turn, a political history of New Zealand. Living in Auckland with his wife and daughter, Chris describes himself as an “Old New Zealander” – i.e. someone who remembers what the country was like before Rogernomics. He has created this blog as an archive for his published work and an outlet for his more elegiac musings. It takes its name from Bowalley Road, which runs past the North Otago farm where he spent the first nine years of his life. Enjoy.
Bowalley Road Rules
The blogosphere tends to be a very noisy, and all-too-often a very abusive, place. I intend Bowalley Road to be a much quieter, and certainly a more respectful, place.
So, if you wish your comments to survive the moderation process, you will have to follow the Bowalley Road Rules.
These are based on two very simple principles:
Courtesy and Respect.
Comments which are defamatory, vituperative, snide or hurtful will be removed, and the commentators responsible permanently banned.
Anonymous comments will not be published. Real names are preferred. If this is not possible, however, commentators are asked to use a consistent pseudonym.
Comments which are thoughtful, witty, creative and stimulating will be most welcome, becoming a permanent part of the Bowalley Road discourse.
However, I do add this warning. If the blog seems in danger of being over-run by the usual far-Right suspects, I reserve the right to simply disable the Comments function, and will keep it that way until the perpetrators find somewhere more appropriate to vent their collective spleen.
Blog Archive
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2017
(213)
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September
(28)
- The Last Thing Progressive New Zealand Needs Is A ...
- A No. 8 Wire Constitution - That Works.
- MMP With FPP Characteristics: New Zealand's DIY El...
- A Song For The Times.
- WHAT IF? Some Random Thoughts About The Next Thre...
- Bill To Winston: "Let's Do This!"
- Election Day Blackout.
- A Song For The Times.
- Some Things Never Change.
- You’re Wrong Keith: We Have To Do This NOW.
- A Song For The Times.
- When The Country Goes To Town.
- 1969: The "Nearly-But-Not-Quite" Election.
- VOTE!
- One Picture: Toby Morris's Brilliant Take On Natio...
- A Second Chance For Labour To Put Things Left.
- This Is Still A Fight: Some Thoughts On The Newshu...
- A Song For The Times
- Let's Elect A Progressive Government With The Poli...
- To Remain The Same, New Zealand Must Change.
- Tales From A Possible Future: Expanding The Tax Wo...
- The Seventies: The Decade Right-Wingers Would Pref...
- Trust & Taxes: How National Intends To Derail The ...
- A Song For The Times.
- Jacinda's Biggest Challenge: Redefining "Economic ...
- Some People: Paula Bennett And National’s Tribal I...
- Time For The News Media To Become "Relentlessly Po...
- Dangerous Territory: Is It Time To Scrap The "No S...
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September
(28)
6 comments:
Thanks Chris or continuing to give those of us who can remember the Pre Rogernimics days the hope that there can be a future worth voting for...
I know two people (I'm one) who voted TOPS when NZF was the other contender. People may not get the connection?
A comment for Sunday - it is sunny in Nelson. About to vote. Hope that progressives towards better get a government that is not made up of devious dinosaurs and their spiny children.
The Urban dictionary has an telling reference to The Lizard King:
An alter ego of Doors lead singer Jim Morrison, to imitate a Native American shaman. Shamans identified strongly with an animal deity. Jim chose the lizard, which included the ability to shed his skin (leather pants, which he wore chronically).
It may also be said he chose a Tyrannosaurus rex for "dinosaur fear" -- the theory that we have a genetic memory from the time when dinosaurs not only ruled the earth, but also snacked on our furry ancestors.
Some people may see a similar situation here to Thailand with its red shirts (indigenous Thai people) and yellow shirts (Chinese).
Winston folded when asked by an (ethnic) Indian boy: "why are you against migrants?' Why is it only Asian migrants?". He should have let him have it,'1. New Zealanders didn't want their nation diversified. (Parr 2000)
2. Which other countries are doing the same as (so-called) migration receiving countries" ("classic" migration receiving countries at that)?
3. He could have quoted Kerry McDonald or Michael Reddell at him. Kerry McDonald called the high rate of migration "a national disaster". He could have pointed to the cooling between Australia and New Zealand and it's effect on working class New Zealanders. By kowtowing he tacitly agreed with the Duncan Grieves, Paul Spoonley, Noelle McCarthy and Jim ("our future lies with Asia") Bolgers.
Someone pointed out that he may have got greedy trying to widen his appeal? Someone needed to be brave enough to stand up and say "yes, we are a people"
Hi Chris
Looking forward to your bit or bite. It is developing much as many forecasted. But still the specials to come and make their difference.
And Winston, they are playing for him 'Is you is or is you ain't my baby.'
TOPs should have been enabled to be on Radionz I think. But they come under the threshold. What do you think about a 4% threshold first before an electorate win. That would get rid of this one group injecting themselves like a thorn in the body politic. The woman on panel said the threshold should be 1 or 2%. This is close to the recommendation from the panel looking at it nationally, can't think of their name. I think that is stupid PC stuff. That gives the power to the rigid and prejudiced to get in just like ACT. No way.
I see the "ultra far right" ADF got 13% of the vote in the German elections. "Not since the 1930's". Once was considered normal but still is in Asia.
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