tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3753486518085091399.post7614526536405069658..comments2024-03-29T03:41:12.499+13:00Comments on Bowalley Road: National Must Learn To Be Kind – Or Remain In Opposition.Chris Trotterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09081613281183460899noreply@blogger.comBlogger29125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3753486518085091399.post-11148065288856079822023-06-06T12:33:43.545+12:002023-06-06T12:33:43.545+12:00Anecdote is not solipsism Anecdote is not solipsism Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3753486518085091399.post-17769253546141186272023-05-29T12:20:16.200+12:002023-05-29T12:20:16.200+12:00"Unlike the middle class commentators on this..."Unlike the middle class commentators on this blog I live in a boarding house and see regular abuse of smokes booze and dope.Every pay day the bennies load up on these items.The treaty settlements are also paid in cash along with an apology for the abuse that will follow such largesse from the liberal conscience or killing with kindness of this the labour young tyros."<br /><br />Anecdote is not evidence. Your 2nd sentence I don't understand at all so I won't comment.Guerilla Surgeonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03427876447124021423noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3753486518085091399.post-22968497738420818962023-05-28T15:57:43.840+12:002023-05-28T15:57:43.840+12:00This just informs my view above regarding universa...This just informs my view above regarding universalism. People stigmatize certain beneficiaries, and indeed will decide that it is a personal fault their is no suitable employment, they cannot live off the benefit because they cannot budget and the benefit received is squandered on items moralist deem unsuitable. The Pensioner is not stigmatized, there is a strong belief that they deserve dignity after a life of work and contribution, there is recognition that rents and rates are unfair to a fixed income, and we welcome when there is an ability for them to be able to have a small treat for themselves or grandchildren.<br /><br />Both groups are in situations where there is a requirement to have assistance from the state. Both face rental or rate costs, both have benefits that they will struggle to pay essentials with. It is only with prejudice and a sense of moral superiority that some of the contributors to this blog have control and punitive provisions towards beneficiaries that they do not impose upon the pensioner.<br /><br />All have a right to dignity in life. The Barronnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3753486518085091399.post-72438422367369496172023-05-27T22:34:09.960+12:002023-05-27T22:34:09.960+12:00As I said Chris ... somewhere else ... Ardern'...As I said Chris ... somewhere else ... Ardern's kindness didn't encompass the actuality of it, the heart of it, the neediest.<br /><br />But, yes, the talk of it helped. Like Zoos despite being cruel help our feeling for our fellow wildlife. <br /><br />sumsuchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03133092096534660472noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3753486518085091399.post-70633859841385242362023-05-27T14:48:02.344+12:002023-05-27T14:48:02.344+12:00A digital food voucher or hop card might be a thin...A digital food voucher or hop card might be a thing for the future but for the time being might be beyond the scope of your average beneficiary,student or pensioner, the hard core of the labour government support base and the grateful recipients of generous increases.chris prudencehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05430569590759271068noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3753486518085091399.post-54527680800463673452023-05-27T14:26:54.776+12:002023-05-27T14:26:54.776+12:00Jesus wept, racist stereotypes much? Do you have a...Jesus wept, racist stereotypes much? Do you have any actual research/information on this? Or did you just drag it out of your bigoted arse?<br /><br />Unlike the middle class commentators on this blog I live in a boarding house and see regular abuse of smokes booze and dope.Every pay day the bennies load up on these items.The treaty settlements are also paid in cash along with an apology for the abuse that will follow such largesse from the liberal conscience or killing with kindness of this the labour young tyros.chris prudencehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05430569590759271068noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3753486518085091399.post-55944547412949804832023-05-27T09:54:29.608+12:002023-05-27T09:54:29.608+12:00If you are going to be kind you have to decide to ...If you are going to be kind you have to decide to <i>whom</i>?<br /><br />Therein lies the problem. Ardern would call looking after NZr's "small-minded nationalism" while in a practical sense doing <i>zero</i> for NZrs.<br /><br />National would be kind to business owners needing staff while promoting migration which in a NZ context results in a lower marginal product for each additional worker such that:<br /><br />Real wages will fall<br /><br />Owners of land will benefit<br /><br />There will be an outflow of ‘native’ labour in search of higher wages in Australia<br /><br />The economy will be bigger, but average incomes will fall<br /><br />Resources will flow into low value service production.<br /><br />Imagine how the future looks from a baby boomer perspective. We accept that we die but would like to think that NZ lives on (that instinct is universal).<br /><br />George Megalogenis looks at demographic change in parts of Australia and UK and says "these are people who don't see a future for their children in ["New New Zealand"]" <br /><br />Let's face it, we have a bell-shaped IQ distribution.<br /><br /><i>Govt investigator caves in to Christchurch’s NIMBYs, giving them ‘Xmas present’ of delaying intensification rules until late ‘23. Don’t like the laws of the land set by Parliament? Just ignore/defy them. Landowners live by their own rules. Easier than taking the vote off renters <br /><br />There will need to be 5m* in and around Christchurch by the end of this century. So many standalone homes on big sections. They all need to 3-5 stories high. Much, much more needed to get prices and rents to half of what they are now relative to incomes </i><br />https://twitter.com/bernardchickey/status/1606083702714310657<br /><br />* 5 million people?<br /><br />Despite acknowledging on RNZ that immigration is negative at the macro level, Hickey claims to be concerned about urban issues, poverty and climate change while adding that this is about those who will be arriving from offshore.<br /><br />So you are one of the dummies in a meritocratic struggle who just wants that Kiwi life of <i>yesteryear</i>: you muck around in the backyard, tinker with the car and bag the potatoes. Meanwhile the people in the street all know each other and the outdoor life (a salmon at the Rangitata mouth) is readily accessible .<br /><br />One of Megalogenis books appears to sum this dilemma up<br /><br /><i>Australia is in transition. Saying it is easy. The panic kicks in when we are compelled to describe what the future might look like*. There is no complacent middle to aim at. We will either catch the next wave of prosperity, or finally succumb to the Great Recession. What has gone wrong with our politics? And what does our government need to do so that Australia is notglobalisation's next victim? </i><br />https://www.perlego.com/book/746239/balancing-act-australia-between-recession-and-renewal-pdf<br /><br /><br />As above (BH) the future looks bright for the Key Chou and top echelon's of tertiary education whanau and (perhaps) Bob the Builder but you can't take the savannah or need for community out of the human heart.<br /><br />The YIMBY-Yuppies tend to scoff when I tell them about the 2 year old who cried on entering the Osaka <i>aparto</i> having spent summer days in the NZ garden.<br /><br />Brian Easton pointed out (as per a Report) that (his estimate) with that level of population growth tourism will have to be 2.5 times it's over-tourismed peak in 2019."Would you even want to live in a country like that?"<br /><br />Jacinda will be just fine "having a wonderful time <i>somewhere in the Mediterranean</i>" <br /><br />John and Max will be fine living on an island next to a former US president.<br /><br />I think the guy who stabbed Jo Cox saw this scenario.<br />I think <i>he whose name I shall not mention</i> saw this scenario.<br /><br />[Enter the media crew and a new narrative/ Enter Kate Hannah]John Hurleynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3753486518085091399.post-48555793975678345142023-05-26T08:46:55.821+12:002023-05-26T08:46:55.821+12:00To Larry,
Why do the youth have to fix the proble...To Larry,<br /><br />Why do the youth have to fix the problems for the people that are still living the high life now?<br /><br />Can't afford a house off a boomer cause of the arbitrary rules they made? Then change the rules. Millennials are the next big voting block, and they may feel scorned enough to do it.<br /><br />Not enough workers? There's a bunch of landlords out on wine tours. Maybe they could pay off their mortgages instead of expecting kids to do it for them?<br /><br />We have enough wealth circulating around the country where the average person can sit comfortably. We will still need to work to keep the lights on and to keep us fed, individually and at a societal level, but this forced austerity to keep a few people insulated from contributing to society is a complete farce.<br /><br />The cheap hobbies I've been wanting to take up are carpentry and knife making, as well as learn French. But I'm too busy working over the weekend to pay off someone else's mortgage. No-Skateshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16774353895766542392noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3753486518085091399.post-68342013688242508332023-05-25T22:15:22.696+12:002023-05-25T22:15:22.696+12:00Enjoy the intelligence on this site. Enjoy the intelligence on this site. sumsuchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03133092096534660472noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3753486518085091399.post-76889824874251952612023-05-25T21:05:06.260+12:002023-05-25T21:05:06.260+12:00Anonymous said...
John H... your (off) point ... Anonymous said...<br /><br /> John H... your (off) point is?<br /><br />That there is an elite consensus on immigration [National and Labour - Brother & Sister] <i>regardless</i> of it's affect on housing, livablity and social cohesion.<br />In particular I'm curious as to why an enlightening speech at ANZSOG has blank sections. Is it something that isn't meant to be openly discussed. I'm no expert but digital equipment shouldn't fail like that, but you could easily (and roughly) do it on Youtubes video editor.<br />I don't think what I wrote was unclear.<br />It wouldn't be the first time elites conspired against the public<br /><br />“If people had any idea about the scale of these changes,” [Sonya Davis] confided to me early in her first term as MP for Pencarrow,” they’d be horrified. It’s been decided that New Zealand’s future lies in Asia. That’s got massive implications – but most people haven’t a clue. No one asked them and certainly no one’s telling them.”<br /><br />John Hurleynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3753486518085091399.post-34478691828137985692023-05-25T13:42:42.342+12:002023-05-25T13:42:42.342+12:00John H... your (off) point is?
John H... your (off) point is?<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3753486518085091399.post-20110561301824196812023-05-25T09:53:03.423+12:002023-05-25T09:53:03.423+12:00George Megalogenis Foreword Our Very Own Brexitis ...George Megalogenis Foreword <i>Our Very Own Brexit</i>is John Key Through and through<br /><br /><i> Today, however, the United States and Britain provide counter examples of bloody-mindedness, while our politicians are slaves to opinion polls — a toxic mix. The election of Trump on a platform of bellicose nativism and Britain's vote to leave the European Union are unmistakable declarations of retreat from a phase of globalisation that favours Asia over the North Atlantic. The challenge for Australia is to separate sympathy for our allies from a pragmatic assessment of our national interest as a rich nation in Asia. This phase of globalisation plays to our natural advantages of mining, education and mass migration. There is nothing to be gained by copying America now; on the contrary, even a mild form of Trumpism would take us back at least to the protectionist stasis of the 197os. Our record of 28 years of economic growth without the interruption of a deep recession is a reminder that the open model still works for us. It bears repeating that the United States and Australia sit on opposite sides of globalisation's new divide. Australia's continued prosperity is tied to the very thing that unsettles the United States: <br />the rise of Asia. Now it might suit Australian conservatives to cuddle up to an unconventional politician like Trump because it drives Labor people crazy, thereby distracting their opponent from the ordinary concerns of swinging voters. But no serious governing party in Australia would entertain a program of high tariffs, immigration restrictions and a Tweetstorm of ridicule against our neighbours. The threat Trumpism poses for Australia is not its literal imitation because we are too small to play bully, even if we wanted to. The danger is that the president actually gets what he wishes for: the replacement of a globalised order of shared interests through trade and migration with one in which strongmen write their own rules.</i>John Hurleynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3753486518085091399.post-4299519762762784032023-05-25T09:52:03.575+12:002023-05-25T09:52:03.575+12:00Immigration is up to John Key levels.
Bernard Hic...Immigration is up to John Key levels. <br />Bernard Hickey asked Grant Robertson about this and whether more money should be spent on state housing and infrastructure. Roberston said there are no plans to make changes.<br />He said that immigration is necessary to maintain our standard of living.<br /><br />There is an Australian NZ School of Governance 2016 video of a plenary attended by Bill English. George Megalogenis is speaking and he reveals things never presented in our media: immigration is the fifth pillar of the open economic model. Demand is coming from offshore (Chinese and Indians escaping a degraded environment and overcrowding).<br /><br />The video freezes after "livability" and after "political ramification" where "Leave" appears briefly.<br /><br />George Megalogenis <i>Forwards</i> Sam Roggeveen of the Lowy Institute's <i>Our very Own Brexit</i>.<br /><br />The book argues that the major parties have had declining membership and have evolved into professional organisations (someone called them) "cartels" and that more and more fringe parties are forming around issues. He says that no one cared about the EU until factions in the Conservative Party made it an issue as they were bleeding votes to Ukip.<br /><br />As a reviewer puts it: <br /><i>Yet, fears Roggeveen, in their search for power, one party could decide instead to sacrifice one of the vital legs upon which we will need to stand: high immigration levels. This would be our 'very own brexit' - both in the damage self-inflicted to the country as well as the harm for our reputation overseas.</i><br /><br />Roggeveen is dismissive of <i>identity</i> as many travel overseas and quotes polls (I'm reminded of Andrea Vances "Immi-What" headline). <br />Eric Kaufmann argues the exact opposite. He says we should be careful with aggregate data.<br /><br />One of the key insights of George Megalogenis is that the skilled migration system is behind the extra million people per decade Aus receives as their <i>spending</i> (they don't notice declining livability as they land in Remuera/Fendalton etc) "keeps GDP ticking over".<br /><br />As the young bus driver said: "everything they tell us is a big lie".<br />How true.<br />https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sccXWJuphtI&t=744s<br /><br />John Hurleynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3753486518085091399.post-28928710380933965822023-05-24T22:56:43.423+12:002023-05-24T22:56:43.423+12:00MPs in New Zealand do not get tax payers provided ...MPs in New Zealand do not get tax payers provided cars. Reasonable expenses can be claimed for constituent and Parliamentary business. The Barronnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3753486518085091399.post-74867042391741479022023-05-24T14:35:35.113+12:002023-05-24T14:35:35.113+12:00"If Willie Jackson and John Tamihere are seri..."If Willie Jackson and John Tamihere are serious about addressing Maori poverty then this government and the next have to stop paying benefit in cash.Instead of wasting most of their money on booze,smokes and dope and losing control of their lives."<br /><br />Jesus wept, racist stereotypes much? Do you have any actual research/information on this? Or did you just drag it out of your bigoted arse?Guerilla Surgeonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03427876447124021423noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3753486518085091399.post-67936991106024748252023-05-24T14:34:29.095+12:002023-05-24T14:34:29.095+12:00"Targeting not only creates artificial thresh..."Targeting not only creates artificial thresholds, but is designed by the right to put a wedge between the middle classes and those that receive benefit. "<br /><br />Targeting is also reasonably expensive AFAIK.Guerilla Surgeonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03427876447124021423noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3753486518085091399.post-86398919995307164982023-05-24T04:51:22.825+12:002023-05-24T04:51:22.825+12:00If Willie Jackson and John Tamihere are serious ab...If Willie Jackson and John Tamihere are serious about addressing Maori poverty then this government and the next have to stop paying benefit in cash.Instead of wasting most of their money on booze,smokes and dope and losing control of their lives.Rather they should receive generous food vouchers and hop cards for the next few months.Every dole day beneficiary load up on smokes, alcohol and dope.Money burns a hole in their pockets.Rather than paying the benefit in cash,food vouchers and hop cards should be the norm.chris prudencehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05430569590759271068noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3753486518085091399.post-86194639998806292342023-05-23T21:31:50.168+12:002023-05-23T21:31:50.168+12:00The abolition of the $5 prescription charge is not...The abolition of the $5 prescription charge is nothing to do with kindness!!!!!!!!!<br /><br />It is another lolly scramble by Labour.<br />I suggest you read the analysis by Lindsay Micthell.<br />Where facts gazump this crap about kindness<br /><br />https://lindsaymitchell.blogspot.com/oneblokesviewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11747665460845683295noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3753486518085091399.post-36238084406689289912023-05-23T20:45:35.504+12:002023-05-23T20:45:35.504+12:00'Kindness' and 'Bullying' are both...'Kindness' and 'Bullying' are both irritating terms to me -the former rather saccharine and patronising and the latter childish and generalised - both unworthy of intelligent debate. I wish for a different debate, using specific terms and cases. I want a rational well-informed practical functional government before I want a kind one. Various commentators have unpicked the matter of the prescription fees, and it seems there are facts which the media just don't bother to print. <br /><br />Luxon does not have a good political voice, but if the National Party is not going to replace him - and it's rather late in the day - we had better start focussing on his good points, because he does seem to be at least more honest than the blatantly corrupt lot we have. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3753486518085091399.post-76600005532507392202023-05-23T18:07:17.799+12:002023-05-23T18:07:17.799+12:00Who know Chris. Maybe Luxon may be a reincarnation...Who know Chris. Maybe Luxon may be a reincarnation of Helen Clark insomuch as, before she became PM, was pilloried as being dour, faceless, academic and lacking in charisma. (Read also Angela Merkel.) Yet the electorate accepted if not warmed to her as time went by for her ability, among other things, to run a tight, competent caucus.<br />Also, I remember, decades ago, a school principal saying a good staff can carry a poor principal but a good principal can't carry a poor staff. <br />Mark Simpsonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3753486518085091399.post-54966099798419964652023-05-23T14:53:34.281+12:002023-05-23T14:53:34.281+12:00To be frank, the Government foregoing 620 million ...To be frank, the Government foregoing 620 million dollars over 4 years so that households do not have to pay a co-pay for prescriptions that cannot exceed $100 a week, or less that $2.00 a week maximum over a 12 month period, is hardly an expression of kindness.<br /><br />Assistance could be targetted in this manner, through community services Cards and Gold Cards for example, but the amount spend on this per year represents 1/8th of Pharmacs Total Budget per year.<br /><br />What would have been better or kinder, giving all families a $2.00 a week boost, or increasing Pharmacs budget by 12.5%?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16595300203400819038noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3753486518085091399.post-65259370424768866032023-05-23T12:43:30.293+12:002023-05-23T12:43:30.293+12:00Allowing feral tenants to terrorise their neighbou...Allowing feral tenants to terrorise their neighbours is kind? Arbitrarily shoving folk down the hospital waiting lists because of race is kind? Forcing folk out of their jobs, creating "two classes of Kiwis" is kind? Whatever!<br /><br />It's not the governments business to be kind, or more accurately pretend to be kind, they need to be fair and just, that's it. If they can't do that then get the hell out of peoples lives.David Georgehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04883628159193125307noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3753486518085091399.post-71275322567439369992023-05-23T12:40:29.889+12:002023-05-23T12:40:29.889+12:00Nice sentiments Chris ... but too late ... "s...<br /><br />Nice sentiments Chris ... but too late ... "she cried".<br /><br />Kindness will not dig us out of our collective economic mire/shambles. <br /><br />Kindness will not pay our mounting bills. <br /><br />The best we can hope for now is to commence a disciplined programme of economic recovery ... while of course (kindly) ringfencing the benefits for our genuinely needy. <br /> <br />So harden up for the life preserving medicine ... or ... just meekly bequeath to our kids and grand-kids a generation or two of second/third world living standards. <br /><br />Vote in October for an administration with the political courage to promote economic responsibility. <br /><br />Our government now spends an historical high of close to 22% of our gdp ... a blowout of over one dollar in every five. Kiwis, lead by a profligate cynical government, have of late (the last 6 years) spent up like there is "no tomorrow." <br /><br />Newsflash: "Tomorrow has just arrived". All significant economic indicators point to the cliff we are about to drive off. <br /><br />I do not feel in the least optimistic that the "there is no tomorrow" brigade of the present generation is ready to help steady the ship. <br /><br />In a "I want it ... and I want it now" society, economic imperatives don't get a look-in. <br /><br />Kindness of course is laudable and inspirational. Unfortunately this is now a time-expired concept ... and a luxury that we now cannot afford and that is in very short supply.<br /><br />Kindness will not cut it. A collective co-operative will ...just might. <br /><br />Suggested gameplan ... a pragmatic-realist's ... survival tactics, include: <br /><br />: Get another part time paid job<br /><br />: Give up any idea for now of being able to afford a first home... with mortgage!<br /><br />: Limit family numbers to two kids.<br /><br />: Look after your own <br /><br />: Take up a cheap recreational activity ... fishing?<br /><br />: Keep up Bowalley Road commentaries promoting economic sanity ahead of mindless kindness.<br /><br />: Do all of the above while appealing to New Zealander's innate goodwill and national pride.<br /> Paying our own way and not living off credit are our deeply held and precious values when <br /> properly applied, will be the best expression of our own Kiwi collective ... "Kindness".<br /><br />PS: Please "be kind" ... and don't shoot this messenger ... OK? <br /><br /> Someone had to say it. LARRY N MITCHELLhttp://www.cprlifesaver.co.nznoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3753486518085091399.post-35687181444064663982023-05-23T11:53:03.481+12:002023-05-23T11:53:03.481+12:00Well as a RWNJ I've held him in contempt from ...Well as a RWNJ I've held him in contempt from day one. There's just something very squishy about him - and I don't mean in terms of failing to be sufficiently right wing for me.<br /><br />No, as you say, there's a quality of cluelessness about his operations as a politician. In that he resembles Don Brash, albeit only a slightly sharper version.<br /><br />Still, I wouldn't get too cocky in your shoes. First of all I well recall the critical cartoon of Norman Kirk in the 1972 election, <i>"Right down the Middle of the Road"</i>. Which is to say that Luxon is playing it safe for the most part, gaffes excluded.<br /><br />Second, inflation hits the poorest the hardest, and if you combine that with job losses from businesses under interest rate pressure, plus mortgages exploding with rising interest rates (to combat inflation), then that's a triple whammy on none other than the people Labour always claim they care the most about and all these little goodies in the budget don't add up in comparison.Tom Hunterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17840988228699338463noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3753486518085091399.post-50844546075672958122023-05-23T09:19:56.508+12:002023-05-23T09:19:56.508+12:00National has to learn how to deal with a very &quo...National has to learn how to deal with a very "unkind" media.<br /><br />I'd really like to see some in depth analysis of the outcomes from ardern's "kind" policies.<br /><br />From what I see in my area, more poverty, more crime, less productivity the only recipients of that "kindness" are the labour MPs stutting about in taxpayer subsidised cars.Gary Petersnoreply@blogger.com