Posts by Rosemary McDonald
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Hard News: Dirty Politics, in reply to John Farrell,
Please?
What the hell is "social capital"?
Signed,
She who lives in a cage.
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Hard News: Synthetic cannabis: it just…, in reply to Katharine Moody,
anyone seriously under the influence of just about anything is unlikely to put the needs of their children first, but physical and psychological violence against children must be the central tenet of any drug reform/policy.
What I was trying to say.
I get it about the 'evidence based research', that would hopefully lead to sound policy....but as we have seen with alchohol (I. to, have issues) this does not necessarily happen.
The harm from our liberal, permissive alchohol laws and our society's immaturity in it's drinking has been enormous. Probably unquantifiable.
Taxes on alchohol come no where near to contributing to the costs.
It'd be the same if dope was decriminalised.
There are no simple answers, and no quick fixes.
I'd like to see more discussion on why so many have to chemically alter their conciousness just to relax, have a good time, cope with their life.
When I worked in the Drug and Alchohol sector many years ago, my boss used to give talks on substance use and abuse to young adults...usually at technical institutes and the like.
She got the usual responses when she asked why they drank/toked/popped/sniffed.
Her response, which caused more than one attendee to sheepishly glance at his/her 'mates'; "If you need to get off your face to have a good time with your mates...perhaps you should look around for a different set of friends."
Got 'em every time.
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Hard News: Synthetic cannabis: it just…, in reply to Alfie,
Over the years, anti-drug propaganda has portrayed dope smokers as evil fiends, hiding out in darkened rooms in some numbed state of nirvana.
Not necessarily....and most would have no problem with cannabis users sitting in a dark room relaxing and contemplating their place in the universe. Fill your boots.
The other side is parents using cannabis, being so 'relaxed' that feeding the kids, getting them to school, pro actively encouraging their kids education are simply not important.
Or, and this does happen, giving young children cannabis to keep them quiet and manageble.. Easy to do,,,,you just stick the kids in the car and light up.
In some parts of NZ there are generations with blighted futures due to cannabis use.
They are not necessarily involved in the production and trade....just the end users.When discussions are being had about drug reform....consideration MUST be given to the children of drug users...the innocents.
Alchohol being legal and controlled has certainly not ensured there is no harm to those on the periphery of abusers.
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Hard News: #GE2015: Proper Mad, in reply to Hilary Stace,
. What's the bet the next step is selling them off to private providers.
You mean NZ is actually leading the way????
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Envirologue: What has Neoliberalism Done…, in reply to Paul Campbell,
Cartoons inspired by fairytales....
A whole new genre?
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Hard News: #GE2015: Proper Mad, in reply to izogi,
I was 12 when the family emigrated from the UK to NZ. We had endured months of power cuts as the Electrical Workers Union and the Miners Union had been locked in a pissing contest with Government.
Even those of us who sympathised with the workers (there was much community support for striking miners) realised that a point was reached where it had gone beyond a wages and conditions battle, but had morphed into something else.
I was twelve...so sorry, can't define the why and wherefore....but there was a shift from support to, well, fear and despair.
So, we come out here, and Labour was in, and Kirk was king. BUT....it seemed that everytime there was a telly or radio interview about industrial relations....there was a whingeing pommy accent delivering the message.
I've often wondered if they were on the same plane.
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And this...http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/273106/historical-abuse-claims-process-criticised
with wise words from a survivor.
"He said the Government's fast-track scheme was a way of getting the victim backlog down as easily as possible.
"They're trying to make it go away," he said.
Mr Mahy said the United Nations Torture Committee was to give the New Zealand government feedback on how it had dealt with the historical claims later this month.
He said this programme was a last minute bid to look like something was being done.
"Everything the New Zealand government has done to date is cynical.
"They're about to be slammed by the UN without a doubt. Anyone who's involved in these claims - wait for a couple of weeks and see what happens with the UN because New Zealand isn't going to get away with this." "
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Access: Some aspects of New Zealand’s…, in reply to Sacha,
Now this could be a very interesting discussion....this comes to mind...
http://www.stuff.co.nz/29482/Gang-shooting-a-workplace-accident-ACC
quite bizarre, but shows the extent of ACC's power to find someone, anyone, responsible.
These people were in the care of employees of the State, and they were undoubtably harmed.
ACC could accept their claims....and ACC could chase up the employer.
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Access: Some aspects of New Zealand’s…, in reply to Hilary Stace,
'The State broke me when I was a teenager and the State has a responsibility to fix me, whatever it takes'.
Funny to see it described like that.
Last night, when re listening to the February Natrad piece, I couldn't help thinking that there could be grounds for these people to make a claim through ACC.
The current ACC Lump Sum payment for permanent impairment....and there is definately grounds to describe the effects as that ...is aound $116,000.
And ongoing support.
And...ACC has an embarrassment of riches at the moment.