OnPoint by Keith Ng

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OnPoint: Dear Gerry

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  • andin,

    Sometimes, they call these things "costs", "risks", "downsides", "negative externalities" or "bad things"

    These things always seem to trip Governments on a Mission from God up.
    Funny thing Gerry has been throwing around figures of what $200 billion of potential benefit to NZ.
    Didn't the US govt spend a whole lot more than that in just one year in the war in Iraq.
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Financial_cost_of_the_Iraq_War

    Looked at in that light even $400 bull, I mean billion, doesnt seem like its worth getting out of bed for.
    And claims that it will benefit New Zealanders for generations seem, well, somewhat overblown.

    raglan • Since Mar 2007 • 1891 posts Report Reply

  • Cecelia,

    I was just reading about Australia's Byron Bay as a holiday destination. Lush rainforest to the door etc

    Would Australia mine in places like that? Nooooooooooo....

    Hibiscus Coast • Since Apr 2008 • 559 posts Report Reply

  • Hadyn Green,

    Find the green civil-servant recycling cube on your desk

    My one is black and smells like a banana skin was left in there for some time (it was), will this make a difference?

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 2090 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    You can only recycle vegetarians in those ones

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Ian Dalziel,

    ROCKS ARE NOT THE SAME AS MONEY.

    But those magic beans we got from overseas
    for those dairy farms are still good, right?

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report Reply

  • Glen Wright,

    Perhaps Natural Dairy could be convinced to go back to its mining roots.

    Since Nov 2006 • 29 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    From the VeryShortStory twitterstream:

    Not one to follow directions, Jack snorted the magic beans. That's when his troubles started.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Grace Dalley,

    I keep expecting Brownlee to be embarrassed when his figures are shown to be wild guesswork, but he seems unembarrassable. Surely he expected to be challenged on the facts?

    I have moments of wondering if the whole thing is a hoax.

    Christchurch • Since Nov 2008 • 138 posts Report Reply

  • Bart Janssen,

    I keep expecting Brownlee to be embarrassed

    He promises to be embarrassed after his lunch meeting ... no need to wait.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 4461 posts Report Reply

  • Rich of Observationz,

    The Crown just means the New Zealand Government

    So why don't we call it that? Calling our government the Crown just means that people can pretend the crap stems from a royal person in a castle, not the dumbass government they voted in.

    Back in Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 5550 posts Report Reply

  • Glen Wright,

    why don't we call it that?

    Because it reminds us that we cannot have a Crown, and therefore government, without goldmines. And it is irresponsible to expect our global neighbours to mine their parks while we wander around ours wearing our Crown.

    Since Nov 2006 • 29 posts Report Reply

  • Grace Dalley,

    Was is Maya Angelou who said, "Wherever there is gold, there is a chain"?

    Paper hat, anyone?

    Christchurch • Since Nov 2008 • 138 posts Report Reply

  • Kyle Matthews,

    So why don't we call it that? Calling our government the Crown just means that people can pretend the crap stems from a royal person in a castle, not the dumbass government they voted in.

    Because of the Queen ever decided to exert some actual power, like dismissing a government (a la Whitlam), we'd find out who's actually on top.

    Since Nov 2006 • 6243 posts Report Reply

  • Kumara Republic,

    All hail God Save the Queen!

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

  • Dinah Dunavan,

    You can only recycle vegetarians in those ones

    You should make sandwiches out of the good bit of those vegetarians first. You know, like those "vegetarian" sandwiches you see in cafes. You'll find them next to the "chicken" or "beef" sandwiches.

    Dunedin • Since Jun 2008 • 186 posts Report Reply

  • Islander,

    And, as someone who is vegetarian (except for titi, cousin's chickens, brother's and others' shot-imported vermin aaannnnd all kai-moana (you will be gratified to know that cetaceans are * not* kai moana))
    I've tasted those 'vegetarian' sammies. So - civil servant hide is it?

    Remind me to always bring my own travelling food-

    Big O, Mahitahi, Te Wahi … • Since Feb 2007 • 5643 posts Report Reply

  • Matthew Poole,

    So - civil servant hide is it?

    There's nothing civil about Hide, and he needs some reminding that he is, in fact, a servant of the electorate. You'd get quite a few sandwiches out of him, though.

    Auckland • Since Mar 2007 • 4097 posts Report Reply

  • Dave Waugh,

    Quite lean sammies though these days Matthew. :o(

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 98 posts Report Reply

  • jon_knox,

    America has Jon Stewart. Australia have Clarke & Dawe. Britain has Fry, Davies, Hislop, Merton & co. Does NZ's mainstream political satire still resemble an 1970's Electrolux in need of a bag change?

    Belgium • Since Nov 2006 • 464 posts Report Reply

  • giovanni tiso,

    I think we blew our quota with John Clarke.

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report Reply

  • Kumara Republic,

    I think we blew our quota with John Clarke.

    Not to mention McPhail & Gadsby.

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

  • Andre Alessi,

    Remember back when Jon Gadsby was relevant? I was still in school uniform.

    Let me correct that: I was in school uniform because I had to be, it wasn't a fetish.

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

  • Steve Barnes,

    McFail and the not so great Gadsby
    Of whom it has been said "Is that the best you can do?"
    There is something in the nature of the Kiwi sense of humour that seems to rely on the Cultural Cringe factor. It is almost like we don't want our comedians to be any good because they may point out our failings. I don't think John Clarke would have continued his craft for long if he had stayed this side of the ditch. In good comedy you end up laughing at your self, in bad comedy you laugh at others and in the end suffer the indignity of boorish bigotry and self satisfied smuggery.
    Now, the Irish on the other hand...

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report Reply

  • 3410,

    McFail and the not so great Gadsby

    Their problem was that they satirised the politicians rather than the policies, which is ultimately just mean and pointless.

    Auckland • Since Jan 2007 • 2618 posts Report Reply

  • FletcherB,

    Their problem was that they satirised the politicians rather than the policies, which is ultimately just mean and pointless.

    Not only that, it also means you've got to get new material when the butt of your jokes is voted out... or wither away to irrelevance like they did.

    West Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 893 posts Report Reply

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