tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3753486518085091399.post2538507135687358160..comments2024-03-29T03:41:12.499+13:00Comments on Bowalley Road: Orbiting A Dying Sun?Chris Trotterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09081613281183460899noreply@blogger.comBlogger54125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3753486518085091399.post-67877272326028221572016-01-13T11:03:29.099+13:002016-01-13T11:03:29.099+13:00jh You seem to be angry with everyone. Which is ...jh You seem to be angry with everyone. Which is a reasonable outcome of the policies that both major parties have pursued and introduced. <br /><br />But when it comes to Chinese they will be a mixed blessing. Hard working, astute, entrepreneurial, showing NZrs up as laggards and putting vitality into business here. At least the politicians now think of something other than milk powder. China having an interest in this country is bringing money into this economy. But it also arouses interest by the USA who have tied and bound us to them and their ilk with FiveEyes, and in TPPA excluding China. <br /><br />The politicians are determined to bring about the scenario hinted at in the subtle curse 'May you live in interesting times'. I thought it was a Chinese quote but Wikipedia says different. However their own saying does express well our situation.<br />Despite being widely attributed as a Chinese curse, there is no equivalent expression in Chinese.[1] The nearest related Chinese expression is "宁為太平犬,莫做亂离人" (nìng wéi tàipíng quǎn, mò zuò luàn lí rén), which is usually translated as <b>"Better to be a dog in a peaceful time, than to be a human in a chaotic (warring) period."</b>[2] The expression originates from Volume 3 of the 1627 short story collection by Feng Menglong, Stories to Awaken the World.[3]greywarblernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3753486518085091399.post-4463484643107930582016-01-12T09:47:10.457+13:002016-01-12T09:47:10.457+13:00Recently one of the Hong Kong book sellers was pic...Recently one of the Hong Kong book sellers was picked up in Thailand. Will we become another Thailand (thanks to self-interest and a left-wing obsession with racism)?<br /><br />ANS. No because if (say) house prices shot through the roof there would be a public outcry and the politicians would act.jhnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3753486518085091399.post-5627413770330892602016-01-11T22:31:35.644+13:002016-01-11T22:31:35.644+13:00Robert M
On paper no doubt that seems the best pla...Robert M<br />On paper no doubt that seems the best plan looking at the figures objectively under our present economic hegemony. <br /><br />Definitely there needed to be innovation in business and restraint and pride from unions in the 1970s and 80s. The system that replaced what we had is not working for people, some are doing okay but embracing the service economy with some paid $13 an hour and some $130 is not what ordinary people envisaged as a goal. There are hard times now, and more can be done about matching jobs with projects that would be of value to NZ. And encouraging local business, and local trading. Everything is skewed away from that, there needs to be a reset from imported, and our precious powdered milk dollars being spent on bringing another million china mugs, skirts and tops into the country, (how many in a year overall?) <br /><br />Just looking down your nose isn't acceptable as an effort at imagining better future policies. They should allow for reasonable living conditions and a level of self-command and enjoyment of life, friends and family, not being at some firm's beck and call and whim. What they did in Cuba was impose one rigid approach then their nearest consumer nation USA put the freeze on them. We should be able to do better than Cuba but our nearest consuming nation is full of spit and vinegar. We're not in Cuba's shoes - yet.greywarblernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3753486518085091399.post-30446563296445723012016-01-11T18:07:48.903+13:002016-01-11T18:07:48.903+13:00Chris, I couldn't agree more about the grey me...Chris, I couldn't agree more about the grey men and women who are the MPs representing the Labour Party. It's sad. I have no optimism. I am waiting for some fireworks.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3753486518085091399.post-37080779257328180552016-01-11T16:51:55.871+13:002016-01-11T16:51:55.871+13:00On The Standard
fisiani 3.1.1.1.2
10 January 2016 ...On The Standard<br /><i>fisiani 3.1.1.1.2<br />10 January 2016 at 12:37 pm<br /><br />Typical moaning from the Left. Someone points out growth and there’s an immediate Yeah, But. Actually not even a Yeah. Skilled young Kiwis have always left. They are now returning in droves. It’s a beautiful day, employment is at an all time high. The economy is growing at 2.2%. Wages are easily outstripping inflation. Enjoy the good times.</i><br /><br />None of the bus drivers in our company break $20/hour. Even with the (odd) tips and the commission there is no way in hell that we would come close. That is fairly standard throughout tourism. Back in the 1970's a driver for H&H in Invercargill made more than he does now and Red Buses was a highly paid job. We are now outnumbered by Chinese. Tourism is a big employer. <br />So who is getting the wage rises?<br />http://www.stats.govt.nz/browse_for_stats/income-and-work/employment_and_unemployment/LabourMarketStatistics_HOTPMar15qtr.aspx<br /><br />It looks as though the government has deliberately sacrificed a section of the workfore for the property /construction sector. They can do this because the left are out of touch and obsessed with racism (migrants push down wages).jhnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3753486518085091399.post-48192405925044593442016-01-11T08:33:38.691+13:002016-01-11T08:33:38.691+13:00jh:
The quicker the alleged left wing parties in ...jh:<br /><br />The quicker the alleged left wing parties in this country ( Labour / Greens )accept that they made a massive mistake in negotiating a FTA with China in 2008, which allowed unfettered right for Chinese people / investors to buy property in NZ the better for every-ones sake.<br /><br />Sovereignty was sold by Labour and the selling was embraced by every-one in NZ that counted, except Joe Muggins, his wife and children.<br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3753486518085091399.post-49685861027314865192016-01-10T22:15:30.040+13:002016-01-10T22:15:30.040+13:00Labour is broke, like it needs money, lots of it.
...Labour is broke, like it needs money, lots of it.<br />The wealthy in NZ rarely support labour. Roger Douglas disenfranchised labour's supporters, Richardson, Shipley ensured taht they remained disenfranchised.<br /><br />All the blogosphere rhetoric does not fill labour's coffers.<br /><br />Forget policy, vision etc. No money = no party.peterlepaysanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14707848102966641049noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3753486518085091399.post-43031986266744621022016-01-10T14:27:52.956+13:002016-01-10T14:27:52.956+13:00In reply to greywarbler high sophistication manufa...In reply to greywarbler high sophistication manufacturing in NZ that was competitive internationally was possible in the l950-2000 period Fisher and Paykel is an example, A & G Price in Thames was an internationally competitive rail constructor who went out of fashion after the Labour Government went into office in 1935 and was not used much for new construction. However even at the end of the 1960s A & G price in cooperation with UK corporate AEI could have built the diesels which dieselised the South Island railways and completed North Island dieselisation at costs more than competitive with European, UK, GM or GE if not Japan. However Mitshubushi and Gm were selected by Lake, Holyoake and McAlpine without complaints from Kirk or the FOl because it would have exposed the totally uncompetitive nature of the railways own government workshops. Much of the reason why competitive industry was not much established here in the 20C is that the governments were never prepared to shut out the 20 % of the least able and inefficient from employment the essential methodism of KIrk, Sutch and Muldoon meant hard heavy industry and competitive labour market and industrial practice was rejected here because soft inefficiency was desired here on the myth that agriculture would continue to provide for all and support. insultated economy. Greywarbler seems to be proposing a old Cuban or North Korea type economy amazing how unpopular it is with the Cubans as distinct from NZ socialist doctors. In American terms I would be pretty sure that more than 60% of the NZ male workforce could never earn more than $20,000 in a competitive world market and I don't believe that sophisticated manufacturing except in niche areas like Yauchts and farm machinery is no longer an option as general manufacturing will be monopolised by rising nations and those with ruthless industrial practice and hgue domestic markets like China, Brazil and Mexico.Robert Mnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3753486518085091399.post-55624566723361651312016-01-10T12:21:10.325+13:002016-01-10T12:21:10.325+13:00Before you read unknown's reference, you shoul...Before you read unknown's reference, you should probably read these – among other things :-).<br />http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/cifamerica/2012/feb/28/wikileaks-intelligence-industrial-complex<br />http://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2012/02/stratfor-is-a-joke-and-so-is-wikileaks-for-taking-it-seriously/253681/Guerilla Surgeonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03427876447124021423noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3753486518085091399.post-51535117391417050072016-01-10T12:04:43.155+13:002016-01-10T12:04:43.155+13:00Chris Trotter, I always wondered how/why places l...Chris Trotter, I always wondered how/why places like Canada can so "successfully" adopt "multiculturalism". <br /><i>“Vehement opposition to immigration, particularly from Asian countries, in New Zealand from an ill-informed and xenophobic rabble persists despite overwhelming evidence that immigration will improve our long term economic prospects.</i> John Carram 1996<br /><br /><i>As revolutions go, it could hardly have been quieter. I don’t recall the government making a dramatic policy announcement to the effect that New Zealand would be opening its doors to the world. There was no great debate, no public meetings. It happened incrementally and largely without fuss.<br /><br />A few questioning voices were heard. Veteran Auckland journalist Pat Booth wrote a controversial series of articles in 1993 warning of an “Asian invasion” and Winston Peters’ New Zealand First Party tried, without much success, to make political capital out of the inflow of “non-traditional” immigrants in 1996.<br />More recently another journalist, Deborah Coddington, provoked outrage with a magazine article about Asian crime in New Zealand (which is undeniably an issue, although many of Coddington’s critics would have had us believe otherwise).<br /><br />By and large, however, New Zealanders have absorbed the newcomers without conflict or tension, confirming our reputation as generally tolerant, easy-going people.</i><br />http://karldufresne.blogspot.co.nz/search?q=Spoonley<br /><br />Now some quotes from: The Social Psychology of Social (Dis)harmony: Implications for Political Leaders and <br />Public Policy<br />Luisa Batalha, Katherine J. Reynolds & Emina Subasic<br />Australian National University<br /><i>This work thus suggests that for multiculturalism to succeed identities need to be transformed. And, importantly, as Kymlicka suggests, this transformation applies not only to the minority but also to the majority. </i><br /><br /><i>In a multiethnic/multicultural society, the shift from an exclusive to an inclusive definition of the national prototype requires the emergence of new and consistent discourses about who ‘we’ are (see Kymlicka, 1995). Discourses that do not appeal to ethnic heritage and traditions but to civic values. It is in this context that the role of political leadership comes into place in changing the discourse and creating a consensual view of the national prototype such that it becomes shared by the members of a polity (see Uberoi & Modood, 2013). Moreover,<b> there needs to be an institutionalisation of the public discourse</b> as in line with terms outlined by Parekh (2006). </i><br /><br />So a certain <i>correctness</i> defines your membership and right to the resources of an institution and those institutions proliferate. The "xenophobic rabble" fight from small yachts while lavish resources provide battleships to the correct position and we finish with an array of propaganda institutions. The middle classes are doing well and off to Europe for the winter.; the "xenophobic rabble" who don't get "diversity dividend" (rather see invasion) are suffering from a "political psychopathology" (Spoonley). There is only one side to the story: but is that healthy?jhnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3753486518085091399.post-74140890475548178482016-01-10T10:02:21.990+13:002016-01-10T10:02:21.990+13:00Everyone please read Unknown's reference.
This...Everyone please read Unknown's reference.<br />This is the crux of western capitalist democracy's flaw in serving societies needs and can be fixed.<br />Cheers David J SDavid Stonenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3753486518085091399.post-15219406912041514272016-01-09T19:27:15.860+13:002016-01-09T19:27:15.860+13:00jh:
Hard to disagree with you ,though the 2008 FT...jh:<br /><br />Hard to disagree with you ,though the 2008 FTA with China give the Chinese the same rights as NZ citizens to buy property, ( Helen Clark, Labour PM ).<br /><br />All political parties in NZ preach 'diversity' so where do the police start ?.<br /><br />What about Parliament!.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3753486518085091399.post-1198015741312837712016-01-09T16:06:34.920+13:002016-01-09T16:06:34.920+13:00Another interesting if slightly off topic article....Another interesting if slightly off topic article.<br />http://www.salon.com/2016/01/08/attack_on_democracy_transcanada_suing_u_s_govt_is_chilling_sign_of_dystopian_tpp_era_we_live_in/Guerilla Surgeonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03427876447124021423noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3753486518085091399.post-13207829024060882622016-01-09T10:50:20.333+13:002016-01-09T10:50:20.333+13:00Stratfor on reforming the banking system. They rec...Stratfor on reforming the banking system. They recommend taking the power to crat money from private banks<br /><br />http://cdn2.hubspot.net/hubfs/515194/gweekly_160105_pdf_.pdf?utm_campaign=B2C+Workflow1&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-81MZ7RDVJPrpmUGwy0PSC9jTO-YsY2O0xVOgJdKIJk80ccHeMWBKrwvH40uJNi4WoTDsJjCfFaXcsS4lKFK0NNuCNC5A&_hsmi=20622523&utm_content=19648317&utm_source=hs_automation&hsCtaTracking=ebce912e-61aa-4e07-977f-31a1218378a2|39fac972-1937-4ab4-831f-618bcc921924Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15607028751724602829noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3753486518085091399.post-27574726772415767262016-01-08T07:19:57.207+13:002016-01-08T07:19:57.207+13:00These days people wont be easily swept up as peopl...These days people wont be easily swept up as people are more skeptical. A lot of water has passed under the bridge in the last 100 years and whether or not people understand economics they understand the behaviours of the actors. Today you have to get through the analyses of a Gareth Morgan or Paul Krugman when it comes to redistributional economics. But on another front Labour is hampered by it's open border advocates, "anti-racists" (etc). These people never won a popular vote, they made their way in through an activist base and their legitimacy is based on the fact that their ideas emanate from our universities where they are deemed to have proved their worth through scholarship. Unfortunately they are like religious beliefs: you get it or you don't (and the public don't).Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3753486518085091399.post-34635895246638556782016-01-08T06:08:48.119+13:002016-01-08T06:08:48.119+13:00What I really don't get, Chris, is why there&#...What I really don't get, Chris, is why there's so much rhetoric on this blog against Labour, but no one's come out with a clear definition of what Labour politics mean today. We can only judge the party, as it is configured, based on their policies.<br /><br />The party is going to release policy sometime this year. When that happens, we will be given some real data on which to base our judgements of the Labour party.<br /><br />Why don't we reserve judgement until then?manfredhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05864320667710466331noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3753486518085091399.post-70619441745634138162016-01-07T20:34:58.165+13:002016-01-07T20:34:58.165+13:00tears our being,our care.tears our being,our care.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3753486518085091399.post-54474642861058384542016-01-07T09:29:06.682+13:002016-01-07T09:29:06.682+13:00Anonymous said...
The racist attack by Twyfor...Anonymous said...<br /><br /><i> The racist attack by Twyford and Rob Salmond on people with Chinese surnames was a scandal and Andrew Little's subsequent support for Twyford and Salmond was disgraceful leadership from a major political party. </i><br /><br />No it showed that ethnic Chinese are buying houses way out of proportion to their numbers. Sometimes the truth is racist.<br /><br /> <i> I have seen to much racism in my time,it ruins and destroys people because of their skin colour or ethnic origin's. Twyford ,Salmond and Little should be investigated by the police and race relations conciliator. </i><br /><br />If you go back to Dr Greg Clydesdale's <i>Growing Pains </i> paper and NZ Firsts Mr Brown the <i>racism</i> was aimed at <i>populations</i> and the effect on the well being of the <i>local</i> population. In hindsight many of the claims Brown made would stand up and Dr Clydesdales claims are easy to validate. <br />The Race Relations Office does not look at issues visa vie the effect on the local population. By default any criticism of a migrating population is <i>racist</i>. It and the HRC are a bridge for non citizens to cross the border. They are the result of an ideology that doesn't believe in borders.<br /><br />Ethnocentrism is normal and is what glues a community together (family, tribe, nation). It is as late as 2011 that experiments showed the role of oxytocin in ethnocentrism. That is not to say we don't adopt and nuture outsiders, but if there is going to be a mass movement there has to be some sort of reciprocity (you play in our yard, we play in yours) or economic gain (other than the migrants and a select few of National supporters). <br /><br />It is the snake oil salesmen who peddle <i>diversity</i> who should be investigated by the police.jhnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3753486518085091399.post-78977246245360031282016-01-06T20:15:38.135+13:002016-01-06T20:15:38.135+13:00In 1916, Labour was led by heroes. One hundred yea...In 1916, Labour was led by heroes. One hundred years on, perhaps predictably, it is led by colourless political careerists: men and women lacking the character, courage and creative intelligence to be genuine revolutionaries – or even effective reformers.<br />............<br />Things aren't black and white. Right/wrong can be a fuzzy line. It is alright to have bold ideas but as Angela Merkel is finding out actions have consequences.<br /><br />It could be that Labour is now suffering from it's revolutionary boldness: wasn't the attempt to build a superordinate national identity bold enough (and someone has to own the perceived consequences)jhnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3753486518085091399.post-20137825973270950972016-01-06T07:53:54.834+13:002016-01-06T07:53:54.834+13:00http://www.salon.com/2016/01/05/controlled_by_shad...http://www.salon.com/2016/01/05/controlled_by_shadow_government_mike_lofgren_reveals_how_top_u_s_officials_are_at_the_mercy_of_the_deep_state/<br /><br />Deep state article. Interesting.Guerilla Surgeonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03427876447124021423noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3753486518085091399.post-709205547175239402016-01-06T02:35:33.878+13:002016-01-06T02:35:33.878+13:00Labour claims to be a democratic socialist party.
...Labour claims to be a democratic socialist party.<br /><br />It is neither. If it cannot reform itself ASAP, it deserve to die.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3753486518085091399.post-56996285223863790382016-01-05T13:19:01.965+13:002016-01-05T13:19:01.965+13:00Robert M
A mixed salad of opinions and factoids. ...Robert M<br />A mixed salad of opinions and factoids. Fusion political opinion without form or substance!<br /><br />Loz and Chris interesting viewpoints that seem to shine through that red haze in the image. The dynamic economy when motoring along has the propensity to kill and maim people who are in its way and caught in its cogs and machinations. <br /><br />Labour has been unable to foster that 'peasant' economy, the word referred to disparagingly by Robert M. An economy where people are busy making things and trading locally, then reaching out to nearby and eventually distant communities when they have prime skills and desirable goods that enable local hubs of excellence to grow. Then imports don't destroy and mean substitution for the economy. It sounds simple but it would make for a strong, though not flashy (flash-in-the-pan) economy and make efficient use of available resources, labour and earning power.<br /><br />Instead Labour now seems to regard itself as the responsible broker in economics. Watch it adopt austerity to solve the country's financial problems, bring in user pays, limit the social security systems, adopt authoritarian slogan-driven or utopian ways of limiting assistance to people with needs, (bootstrap-raising, community-driven, neighbourhood-support), raise the age of old age pensions (the word superannuation as a sop to the middle class who consider themselves too fine and superior to be classed as pensioners).greywarblernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3753486518085091399.post-33341164947331058982016-01-05T12:08:08.010+13:002016-01-05T12:08:08.010+13:00The big question is not whether Labour will surviv...The big question is not whether Labour will survive, but whether the have-nots and the precarious-haves are able to either wrest real representation from the current system, or find what is needed to change it. The thing is, you cannot represent anyone unless you are part of the establishment, and you cannot be part of the establishment and represent Labour's traditional constituency. Moreover, the levers for negotiating on behalf of a Labour constituency are systematically kept out of reach - union power is compromised where manufacturing is off-shored, and rent strikes and the like are hard to achieve in a housing shortage. Meanwhile, Rebstock takes up CYFS and stories appear in the press about neglected children, just as stories about stupid, badly behaved HNZ tenants appeared to accompany HNZ sell-offs. And as you have earlier pointed out, English is better placed to publicly express compassion for the poor than anyone in Labour, because those who matter know he does not mean business, whereas Labour just might. Under these conditions, which also apply in the UK, Corbyn may fare no better than his more compromised colleagues, but at least he is putting pressure on the establishment's rules. And you only have to look at the widespread abandonment of TV3 to see that people will use a lever if only they are able to get hold of one. The real challenge is getting hold of one that is able to make a real difference.Olwynnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3753486518085091399.post-21524688825252703412016-01-05T10:19:39.452+13:002016-01-05T10:19:39.452+13:00Inequality is rising in NZ because less than 20% o...Inequality is rising in NZ because less than 20% of NZ, these being the property owners of Auckland (43% of adult Aucklanders) are making more money from property than the ordinary worker can from their 40 hour week (if they are lucky enough to have a steady 40 hour a week job).<br /><br />Andrew Little and his team, which includes Phil Twyford are willing to challenge this inequality. The right see the danger -that is why they troll. They know they are doing sweet F A because it is their constituents and donors that is benefiting from this rise in inequality. Instead the orthodoxy here in NZ defends itself by other means, perhaps even more successfully than in the UK.<br />....<br />Twyford will have a battle on his hand as many on the left refuse to see a link between migration and house prices (eg Sacha at The Standard). If you can't touch migration that leaves sprawl or flag houses and high rise next door -no thankyou.jhnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3753486518085091399.post-80329606355202975832016-01-05T10:04:55.845+13:002016-01-05T10:04:55.845+13:00here's what counts Chris
http://www.whaleoil.c...here's what counts Chris<br />http://www.whaleoil.co.nz/2016/01/cant-wait-to-see-what-phil-twyford-will-say-about-this/#disqus_threadjhnoreply@blogger.com