Posts by Sacha
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Hard News: This Anzac Day, in reply to Joe Wylie,
Said doco series painted that as the US and other financiers demanding a return on their loans, to the surprise of the Kaiser et al.
But there also seemed to be a culture angle. Troops never marched through Berlin. Suspect that's why Allies went the distance in WW2.
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Hard News: Anzac Day II, in reply to Tinakori,
the two Governors General.
who were they?
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Hard News: This Anzac Day, in reply to Joe Wylie,
The impression I got was that Germany were not forced to properly admit they had been beaten, so the conditions were resented as unfair. Like I say, not my area. The WW1 series on Maori TV has been illuminating but is based on only one author's perspective.
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Envirologue: What has Neoliberalism Done…, in reply to Kumara Republic,
Andrew Dean nails it in his new book Ruth, Roger and Me
I want to read that. What's your take?
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Hard News: Anzac Day II, in reply to BlairMacca,
Australian's 'celebrating' anzac day by getting smashed off their faces and gambling. Maybe its an Aussie thing but I prefer our more 'sober' rememberance
I've learned this Anzac Day that Australia has long commemorated survivors whereas we have mainly focused on those who died - so they get pissed and march and play two-up while we lay wreathes and talk. Makes some sense.
I didn't really understand the function of our widespread monuments until Sam Neill talked about the bodies not coming home and family needing an equivalent to a funeral and a grave. Will never see all those small town memorials the same way again.
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Hard News: Anzac Day II, in reply to Richard A,
I suspect that if I still lived in NZ I would watch no TV as the commercial channels really are shit (as they are here).
You might like Maori TV. Everything TVNZ is no longer. And had full Anzac Day coverage right from the get-go.
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Hard News: This Anzac Day, in reply to BenWilson,
The worst thing about WW1 is WW2. It was like we learned nothing and had to do it all again
Not into military history but it seems the first war wasn't finished properly (Germany not properly defeated) so after a couple of decades the second one started.
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Metro editor Simon Wilson on dirty politics, the 2014 election and our PM's political style.
But Key also knows something else: we judge character by looking and by listening to tone of voice, far more than by digesting what is said. Once we have judged, we are not likely to unjudge. He may also know this is especially true of educated people, who are susceptible to the arrogant notion that they have special insights.
Key understands that we judged him early on as trustworthy, capable, successful, a rich bloke you could talk to, a man comfortable in himself with little need to prove anything to anybody.
That’s an appealing set of character traits. Why would we be looking for reasons to change our view of him? Deciding John Key was not that man would diminish not just him, but us with him.
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Envirologue: What has Neoliberalism Done…, in reply to Kumara Republic,
The skills shortage we read about in the news is really a skills under-investment
Our businesses have got away with that for decades, just like their under-investment in R&D. Take more profit for themselves as dividends and high exec salaries instead. Expect government to pick up the slack for them with public funds. Lazy and immoral.
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Tim Watkin who produces The Nation writes about Key not understanding power relationships.
So Key is clear: No, he does not accept he misused his power by repeatedly tugging on a woman's hair over a period of months. In fact, his hair-pulling is "a bit of fun" and an attempt to "put people at ease", so is "really the opposite" of an abuse of power.
Which suggests Key thinks this is a woman exploiting his playfulness. Or, if that goes too far, his error is not in being careless with his power, but not being powerful (and serious and detached) enough.
That framing reveals a remarkable lack of understanding of his power as Prime Minister and a worrying lack of judgement. It also opens wide an avenue of attack for his opponents and should prompt many more questions from Gallery journalists when he returns to New Zealand.
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