Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: Morning in Auckland

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  • Kyle Matthews,

    those people who ignore science and evidence, who dog whistle, who pander to the mob

    That's not tin foil in your hat, that's iron-y.

    Since Nov 2006 • 6243 posts Report

  • Peter grower,

    I'm not paranoid .................... I'm just not gonna help the fuckers.

    And good to see kyle hold politicians in such honorable regard.

    Perhaps Kyle could give me some examples of this Govt baseing its laws and regulations on science and evidence.

    .... cause I can give him multiple examples of them engaging in what I'd call "boot camp" thinking.

    Simplistic, populist crap.

    Btw I know numerous people who dont do your precious census.

    Pull YOUR hat down over ya ears if you dont want to hear that ;-)

    Since Dec 2006 • 30 posts Report

  • nzlemming,

    'Scuse me, but as a former dues-paying member of the Evil League of Evil, we do our best, orright? It's just with the budget cuts and the recession and all, we're kinda reduced to the Naughty League of Evil for the time being.

    We will be back to full strength after the transfer window closes and we pick up a few more unCivil Servants from the Olde Countrie...

    Waikanae • Since Nov 2006 • 2937 posts Report

  • Peter grower,

    Actually its kinda ironic that Kyle should decide that my not doing a census makes me anti-science.

    Some other idiot thought my not doing a census made me anti-vaccination.

    I'd like to hear how this govt applies science to drug policy, or education.

    We'll see who's got the tin hat on .

    Since Dec 2006 • 30 posts Report

  • Jeremy Eade,

    I'm not paranoid .................... I'm just not gonna help the fuckers.

    By remaining invisible you are of no consequence to them, they can't just look into the eyes of 4 million people and decide basic infrastructure and social policy, they (we) need to know what the population actually looks like from time to time. What particular questions on the census do you object to?

    auckland • Since Mar 2008 • 1112 posts Report

  • Kyle Matthews,

    And good to see kyle hold politicians in such honorable regard.

    Actually no. I just decided that this has descended to the level of mocking you. Given the number of scientists and social scientists who work on the census, among other things.

    Since Nov 2006 • 6243 posts Report

  • Sacha,

    I don't mind anyone deciding to dodge the Census, so long as they don't think that makes them some big crusading hero rather than an irrelevant delusional clown.

    If you want to change things, then do it. Holding your breath until you turn blue doesn't count.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • Sacha,

    The Sunday Star Times displays interesting postmodernist editorial standards with an interview/non-interview with Paul Henry a la Alice in Wonderland.

    SST: Is there any chance that we could have a catch-up?

    PH: Look, I really haven't got anything to say to be honest. I've made the decision that, unlike Chris Carter, I will go quietly.

    ...

    PH: This isn't an interview now, is it?

    SST: Well, I'm taking notes, but I am curious given money is no object ...

    PH: It's important to me that I don't, I don't want to say anything now, I don't want this to turn into an interview.

    SST: Well, we didn't say we were off the record.

    PH: In which case there's absolutely no chance that you would get the interview (laughs).

    SST: So aren't you happy for me to quote...

    PH: Clearly this is an interview now so I'm going to have to end it because I don't want to give an interview.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • Joe Wylie,

    I don't mind anyone deciding to dodge the Census, so long as they don't think that makes them some big crusading hero rather than an irrelevant delusional clown.


    "Don't push your politics on me, pal."

    flat earth • Since Jan 2007 • 4593 posts Report

  • Peter grower,

    What I find interesting is how my not doing the census brought out a little bit of "kiwi blog" behavior in some of the posters here.

    Well done you lot ....................

    Not doing a census is very mild civil disobediance .

    Its not a crusade.

    Now i do hope that the kiwi blog infection does not spread too deep here at PA ..........................

    I'd hate for this place to stink of shit like that sewer .

    Since Dec 2006 • 30 posts Report

  • Martin Lindberg,

    I'm not sure if you realise that personal details in the census are confidential and not released to any other agancies.

    Census Confidentiality

    But then again, you don't sound like you put too much faith in any government organisation.

    Stockholm • Since Jul 2009 • 802 posts Report

  • Andre Alessi,

    The Sunday Star Times displays interesting postmodernist editorial standards with an interview/non-interview with Paul Henry a la Alice in Wonderland.

    I did think that was about as blatant a case of not getting consent for an interview and printing it anyway as you could get. The whole thing stinks quite badly, although feel free to insert a "Paul Henry should have known better, etc" caveat here.

    Devonport, New Zealand • Since Nov 2006 • 864 posts Report

  • Peter grower,

    Martin I have copys of my "life-time" drivers licence and a "life-time" fire-arms licence. Both of these were changed at the whim of the Government.

    And its the whim of the Government which decides how confidential the census info is ......................

    The NZ govt, whether Nat or Labor has always called people like me criminals, even though I dont hurt anyone or commit any real crimes.

    So therefore I'm not going to help any organisation which goes after me to do me harm .

    To me our Governmnets are a bit like a husband who sometimes beats his wife when drunk.

    Most of the time they can be really good .............. but they still beat their wife.

    I suppose I could go the other way with the census ................. I could tell them there are more people at the dwelling than really exist and make up some fictional NZer's with strange habits .

    they will be hobbits .

    Since Dec 2006 • 30 posts Report

  • Kyle Matthews,

    Martin I have copys of my "life-time" drivers licence and a "life-time" fire-arms licence. Both of these were changed at the whim of the Government.

    And its the whim of the Government which decides how confidential the census info is ......................

    All three of those things are governed by legislation, so parliament is what you're looking for. So not so much 'whim of the government', as 'vote of your elected representatives'.

    Since Nov 2006 • 6243 posts Report

  • B Jones,

    I have copys of my "life-time" drivers licence and a "life-time" fire-arms licence. Both of these were changed at the whim of the Government.

    Oh, the humanity. Yes, that's exactly comparable to domestic violence. What an appropriate analogy.

    Meanwhile, on this planet, government uses Statistics data to anticipate rise in demand for primary schools.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 976 posts Report

  • Peter grower,

    oh the humanity alrite B jones.

    My analogy was in relation to the criminilization of people like me.

    The hint is in my user name here..........

    The Government ( or parliment if we want to split hairs ), call me a criminal, so does the "justice system".

    They bully and try to get their way with force and violence ....................... much like a wife beater.

    The wife beater will usualy take a certain drug though, the producers of that drug give large amounts of money to our politicians and they actually buy themselves protection........... its almost like corruption.

    And I'm sure the government could use info from our births registrar to determine primary school numbers. That and perhaps council information on which citys are growing or shrinking.

    Our governments are bent or rotten in some way.

    just like a wife beater.

    Since Dec 2006 • 30 posts Report

  • Danielle,

    But... how does the census have anything to do with you growing pot? The census doesn't have anything to do with drug laws.

    Charo World. Cuchi-cuchi!… • Since Nov 2006 • 3828 posts Report

  • Geoff Lealand,

    @ Peter grower: Geez, you need to argue your case a little more coherently if you want a sympathetic reader!

    Screen & Media Studies, U… • Since Oct 2007 • 2562 posts Report

  • Sacha,

    I'm sure the government could use info from our births registrar to determine primary school numbers. That and perhaps council information on which citys are growing or shrinking.

    Many New Zealanders move house between when they are born and when they start school. And Councils get their demographic information from.. you guessed it, the Census.

    Thank goodness non-functioning potheads aren't usually in charge of policy.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • Martin Lindberg,

    Well Peter, I agree that you have a few points there, but I don't see how they are connected.

    The Government ( or parliment if we want to split hairs ), call me a criminal, so does the "justice system".

    There's certainly an argument to be had about de-criminalizing growing pot. But until the law is changed growing pot is still illegal.

    the producers of that drug give large amounts of money to our politicians and they actually buy themselves protection........... its almost like corruption.

    Again, I can see an argument that the breweries and hospitality-industry have too great an influence over policy-making wrt alcohol.

    But none of these arguments are connected with the census, which is where you started.

    (Oh, unless you put down pot grower as your profession in the last census. But even then, Statistics NZ are not allowed to pass that on to the cops.)

    Stockholm • Since Jul 2009 • 802 posts Report

  • Sofie Bribiesca,

    (Oh, unless you put down pot grower as your profession in the last census. But even then, Statistics NZ are not allowed to pass that on to the cops.)

    Er, I get the distinct impression that the cops might already know what pot grower does hence the problem being conveyed, which could be why all authority in NZ may be his/her issue, in that the powers that be do sorta get lumped into the one category of "bastards I have met." The hypocrisy of democracy....

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

  • chris,

    But... how does the census have anything to do with you growing pot? The census doesn't have anything to do with drug laws.

    Which is a shame really, as it seems as good an avenue as any to determine NZers' drug use and attitudes.

    Statistics NZ are not allowed to pass that on to the cops.

    It seems there is a still a certain degree of mistrust out there.

    Mawkland • Since Jan 2010 • 1302 posts Report

  • BenWilson,

    I can understand why criminals wouldn't really agree with censuses. I even think they've got a point. As a small subsection of society in NZ, they're never going to be able to feel comfortable answering a bunch of the questions honestly.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report

  • nzlemming,

    Oh, unless you put down pot grower as your profession in the last census. But even then, Statistics NZ are not allowed to pass that on to the cops.)

    Even IRD won't pass it on to the cops, unless you don't pay your tax (and good luck with that audit)

    Waikanae • Since Nov 2006 • 2937 posts Report

  • ScottY,

    I just caught up with this thread. I'm not particularly interested in paranoid conspiracy theories, but this did make me laugh:

    The Government ( or parliment if we want to split hairs )

    This rather proves that someone doesn't actually know anything about the government or state, wihich rather diminishes the power of his observations.

    West • Since Feb 2009 • 794 posts Report

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