tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3753486518085091399.post1995098049601095050..comments2024-03-29T15:01:27.866+13:00Comments on Bowalley Road: Democratic Engineers, Or Neoliberal Mechanics?Chris Trotterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09081613281183460899noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3753486518085091399.post-46979286929730699712017-11-19T02:06:36.414+13:002017-11-19T02:06:36.414+13:00Venom, I think, must always be deeply subjective, ...Venom, I think, must always be deeply subjective, born in the muck of birth. Nothing to do with reason, which otherwise is the firm support of the people's point of view. Gunpowder. Most of the 35ists had it. The side-effect: the ludicrous level of batty beliefs among socialists observed by Orwell. Objective reason and subjective explosion is where we have it over the pure subjectivists who are trying to take over the absolute perspective of reality from the, very, fertile lea of 70 years of comfort. sumsuchnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3753486518085091399.post-56335603739935300822017-11-14T23:18:40.538+13:002017-11-14T23:18:40.538+13:00Countryboy, so glad to see you away from the dairy...Countryboy, so glad to see you away from the dairy-cow turds. Poesy is truier.<br /><br />The friends of the rich have changed us in their 30 years. Venom and force is needed. And immense unafraid understanding, instead of playing the game. Can't see it in any parts of this govt but hope for the whole (strangely).sumsuchnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3753486518085091399.post-52411449674174205922017-11-14T17:19:20.142+13:002017-11-14T17:19:20.142+13:00It is rather depressing to watch successive govern...It is rather depressing to watch successive governments fail to lead. Legislation results from leadership; leaders take us toward the known, great leaders toward the possible. That means having the bravery to take charge and overturn / replace legislation, and as ministers to demand adherence. With the Public Service the vast majority are unversed in dogma. The dogmatic can be identified and subdued. The best method is the Admiral Byng principle. Shoot one very publicly on their own quarterdeck to "encourage the others."Nick Jnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3753486518085091399.post-87573072245524263442017-11-14T11:40:38.867+13:002017-11-14T11:40:38.867+13:00Roger Douglas and Jim Bolger set the precedent if ...Roger Douglas and Jim Bolger set the precedent if my memory serves, of getting advice from outside the civil service, though I may be wrong as I didn't take a huge amount of interest in politics before them. If they can't make the Treasury more representative, perhaps they could just go to outside agencies. The advice they get from civil servants is meant to be free and frank – yet honest. I've no doubt that some of the civil servants honestly believe their own advice, but I suspect it's a belief that comes from ideology rather than actual research. Mind you, what minister hasn't said "I want to do so and so – find me some research that supports it." That attitude should be rooted out as well.Guerilla Surgeonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03427876447124021423noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3753486518085091399.post-76522210201510844722017-11-14T08:19:50.203+13:002017-11-14T08:19:50.203+13:00The real danger and power is not visible audible p...The real danger and power is not visible audible politicians.<br /><br />But invisible silent bureaucrats working in darkness - unelected.BlisteringAttacknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3753486518085091399.post-84583324918427678102017-11-13T22:39:08.524+13:002017-11-13T22:39:08.524+13:00I think this the PDF version of Economic Managemen...I think this the PDF version of Economic Management referred to by you in your post:-<br /><br />http://www.treasury.govt.nz/publications/briefings/1984i/Alan Ivorynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3753486518085091399.post-16857095822563801662017-11-13T20:24:10.457+13:002017-11-13T20:24:10.457+13:00I’m speaking as, and for, the common man/woman. I’...I’m speaking as, and for, the common man/woman. I’m common. I’m common as brushed polyester. I’m more common than mud on a boot. I’m common as a manual gear box on a Toyota Starlet. The one with the wind up windows. <br />Neoliberalism is to me a polite word to describe an impolite cadre of swine, no disrespect to actual, and one would hope free range, swine. <br />‘Neoliberalism’ is a way to describe criminals being criminals. <br />If someone punches you in the mouth and knocks out a tooth? Do you call them a dentist? If someone kicks you up the arse? Is that person then a proctologist? <br />Neoliberalism is the reverse of that logic, yet, isn’t... <br />Kiwi-As Criminals have labelled themselves ‘neoliberals’ to avoid any uncomfortable questions from those who, instead, sit and wait for you and me to speed by in a vehicle designed to speed with. Otherwise...? Horse. Cart. <br />While the real crooks steal from us, thus making us feel a bit shit, then we take it out on each other while the cops are all “ I dunno... I really dunno...? “ <br />Let me put it another way. <br />What’s a ‘law’? A ‘law’ is a thing written by an ‘expert’ expressing what might seem like a good idea. A political consensus is needed, usually, to place that written thing into ‘law’ then we must all adhere to [it] or else. <br />Our Kiwi-As criminals tumbled on to a great scam and simply wrote up a bunch of stuff, called them ‘laws’ and then we acquiesced because laws, then waved goodbye to our stuff and things without so much as a “Wait a fucking minute! ? “<br />It’s entirely typical, and expected, to have our politicians bury their true intentions under layer upon layer of bullshit. I.E. ‘Laws’. <br />You do know? That the ONLY way we can rescue ourselves from the warped and criminalistic head-fuck that is ‘ neoliberalism’ is to find the perps and, by their own logic, go all dentist and proctologist on them. <br />The deviancy of the well educated criminal class got us into this and the might of the Masses is the only thing that can get us out of it. <br />Engage the masses... That’s the answer. But God help you if you try. <br /><br />countryboyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08906800965006947285noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3753486518085091399.post-16575463140097361022017-11-13T17:31:23.411+13:002017-11-13T17:31:23.411+13:00Although I grew up in a farming family, both the p...Although I grew up in a farming family, both the paternal and maternal sides of my family were very involved in the military. One grandfather was a decorated cavalryman in Egypt, at Gallipoli, and in Palestine; the other was decorated for his efforts at The Battle of Jutland. <br /><br />Both of my parents spent time in the Royal Navy – my father as a pilot, my mother as a chef. Both were Petty Officers. And four of my mother’s brothers were Warrant Officers (First Class). (One was an RSM who took a field commission and went on to retire as a half colonel.)<br /><br />When I was about ten or so, my half-colonel uncle arranged for me and a couple of my schoolmates to interview a recently-retired General for a school project. To get the conversation going, I said something about how it must be a great honour to run the Army.<br /><br />‘Oh, gosh no,’ the General said. ‘The Warrant Officers run the Army. And the Navy. And the Air Force. We’re more like politicians.’Jack Scrivanonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3753486518085091399.post-13579607231693054472017-11-13T17:01:44.891+13:002017-11-13T17:01:44.891+13:00Chris, well done by your piece,
this crowd are nei...Chris, well done by your piece,<br />this crowd are neither Democratic Engineers, nor Neoliberal Mechanics they are simply a mess of crap and unless the real left, those who care for a vibrant and successful society come to the fore, then we will be singing for our supper for bread alone.<br />At least the Right offers bread and water.Polly.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3753486518085091399.post-69322405624411908292017-11-13T17:00:29.136+13:002017-11-13T17:00:29.136+13:00I recall joining a major govt dept and on the firs...I recall joining a major govt dept and on the first day being 'sized up' by ordinary and senior collegues. Usually by asking me of my 'position' on a matter.<br /><br />Essentually to find out if I was one of them.<br /><br />As it happened I wasn't a neo liberal lunatic.<br /><br />Over time my life at work became very very very difficult in a range of ways.<br /><br />And they got what they wanted - me out of the picture.Suetnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3753486518085091399.post-31017301778930406312017-11-13T15:36:02.591+13:002017-11-13T15:36:02.591+13:00So we have to reform democracy and governance? So ...So we have to reform democracy and governance? So lets do this!peteswriteplacehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04474922953916383101noreply@blogger.com