Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: Ideology for Evidence

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  • Steve Barnes,

    Yes, those nasty Unions eh?

    Smith's is one of several stories of heartache and misery being rolled out in the aggressive campaign against the government's new 90-day work trial scheme.

    Nasty aggressive Unions and their stories of misery.
    WTF?

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report

  • Matthew Poole,

    Smith's is one of several stories of heartache and misery being rolled out in the aggressive campaign against the government's new 90-day work trial scheme.

    Nasty aggressive Unions and their stories of misery.

    Steve, did you consider that the adjective "aggressive" might've been intended to mean "forceful" rather than "threatening"?

    Auckland • Since Mar 2007 • 4097 posts Report

  • Sacha,

    John Armstrong unimpressed by ideological welfare report. Interesting tone.

    If this was part of a strategy to manipulate at an early stage what promises to be a humdinger of an argument once some reform options go on the table, then it worked even better than its proponents would have been hoping.

    The $50 billion was widely misconstrued as being an estimate of the future size of the annual benefit bill. For that to be the case, the total amount budgeted for welfare payments would have to blow out by nearly eight times its present levels. The benefit system would have well and truly become unsustainable.

    That is about the only funny note in a document that amounts to polemic masquerading as analysis. It is highly selective in citing statistics that suit its argument. It uses the experience of other countries to point to the relative failings of New Zealand's social assistance policies.

    Perhaps worst of all, it makes assertions that are just plain wrong.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • Sofie Bribiesca,

    Interesting tone.

    Slowly, slowly...
    I've noticed the tone of several opinion pieces on the swing. I half agreed with Paul Holmes the other day, and man was I surprised.I needed a lie down!

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report

  • Sacha,

    Emperor's clothes drawing second glance..

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • Simon Grigg,

    The practice was recently outlawed there, IIRC.

    It was outlawed years ago, but as with all things legal in Indonesia the law is very pliable. The riders just have to pay the cops every now and then and they are still there in the same numbers

    Just another klong... • Since Nov 2006 • 3284 posts Report

  • Matthew Poole,

    I've noticed the tone of several opinion pieces on the swing

    The welfare thing seems to have been the tipping point. Mining raised eyebrows, but wasn't hugely scandalous amongst the Herald's intellectual luminaries. Maybe because they didn't see a problem with it, or maybe because the immediate public backlash was so loud and ferocious that they didn't want to be seen as being cravenly opportunistic in fomenting rebellion.

    Now, though, the welfare issue, particularly the oh-so-trite-and-predictable results from the WWG, looks like it could be the step too far. Whether or not we agree with their political leanings, they're not stupid. They can see an ideological whitewash with the best of them, and unlike mining National has firmly lashed its colours to the mast of dumping on bennies. A flip-flop at this point, especially when National's most ardent supporters firmly believe that there's a huge class of bennies-for-life, really will shred whatever remnants of clothing the credibility emperor has left.

    Auckland • Since Mar 2007 • 4097 posts Report

  • andin,

    When it comes to selling a backwards direction as the way forward these NAT's have nothing on this guy. Or perhaps their friends on Facebook.....

    raglan • Since Mar 2007 • 1891 posts Report

  • Kumara Republic,

    @Matt P: It seems employment law changes, coupled with proposed changes to welfare, have created an unintended consequence or two - most likely an escalating fear of being unemployed. That people are likely to be more reluctant to change jobs if there's no guarantee of finding another, or if they're facing the chop, they'll be rather bolshie about it (like in France).

    The southernmost capital … • Since Nov 2006 • 5446 posts Report

  • Matthew Poole,

    DR, that's very true. And with the economy showing every sign of going back into recession (not that I consider a claimed 0.6% growth-rate to be proof of anything), people will be even more wary of anything that could become their reality in the near future.

    Auckland • Since Mar 2007 • 4097 posts Report

  • Craig Ranapia,

    I've noticed the tone of several opinion pieces on the swing

    I wouldn't waste any time or energy on Paul Holmes' economic analysis based on sales of his high-end olive oil... (Sorry to tell Paul this, but making my student loan payments and savings targets has always been a little more important than exotic condiments.)

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report

  • Kumara Republic,

    Looks like all diplomatic avenues have been exhausted...


    The southernmost capital … • Since Nov 2006 • 5446 posts Report

  • Matthew Poole,

    DR, I don't think diplomacy is ever effective when you've got an ideological justification for introducing something. Unless one takes the Will Rogers definition of diplomacy: Diplomacy is the art of saying 'nice doggie' until you can find a rock.

    Auckland • Since Mar 2007 • 4097 posts Report

  • Sofie Bribiesca,

    I wouldn't waste any time or energy on Paul Holmes' economic analysis based on sales of his high-end olive oil...

    No I don't Craig. Today however, I note John Armstrong is once again showing some spine.

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report

  • Kumara Republic,

    The southernmost capital … • Since Nov 2006 • 5446 posts Report

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