Posts by Joe Wylie
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Speaker: Saying what we actually mean on…, in reply to ,
Its not difficult to make the mistake of referring to people who live in poverty as a problem that can be read in the same way that rat infestations are a problem.
Irradiating poverty...
Serco had a nice little operation going processing them into YouTube fodder until some party pooper blew the whistle.
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Polity: Saudi sheep: Misappropriating…, in reply to chris,
How would we feel about a rule that only allowed for questions to be asked across the floor?
All I can manage is that what looks like a clear case of gaming the system seems to be time-honoured practice. Those better versed in parliamentary practise and the intricacy of standing orders might offer some insight into why we don't have such a rule.
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Polity: Saudi sheep: Misappropriating…, in reply to chris,
Another bugbear I have, related to protocol, is the indulgence that is members being allowed to ask questions of other members from within their party
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Polity: In defence of the centre, in reply to Sacha,
Tony Blair and Bill Clinton were very astute politicians...
Blair and the Clintons have another thing in common - they both despise anyone from outside their familiar networks of vested interests as political amateurs. On the evidence of his contributions here, Rob Salmond's pretty comfy with that world view.
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Polity: In defence of the centre, in reply to Rich of Observationz,
That's probably the best post of yours I've ever read on here, Tom.
If you had a lifestyle block and Mr Semmens strayed onto it you wouldn't shoot him any more than I would.
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Polity: In defence of the centre, in reply to Kumara Republic,
They could do worse than to look to Iceland for a least worst solution.
We hope. Even Zimbabwe might offer a few lessons. Because this imaginatively bankrupt where-Britain-goes-we-go hiding to nowhere passed its use-by date around a couple of generations ago.
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Polity: New Zealand and the TPP: “Or…, in reply to Tinakori,
his inglorious excursion into racial politics.
Oh yes, you've identified an historic own goal there. It's almost up there with Fletcher Building CEO Graham Darlow's blaming the Irish for shoddy quake repairs - note the smarmy accompanying grin 1:54 into the clip - but without points to be scored you won't be crying racism on that one.
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I don't know how long BFM's mid-80s Men's Show lasted, but it was memorable for its earnest good intentions bordering on unintentional self-parody. Along with issues of interest to men - stopping violence, being righteously non-sexist - men were encouraged to phone in, though I don't recall many responses.
One afternoon a guy who identified as Maori took up the offer. The host extended a warm welcome, then discovered that his caller didn't really have any pressing issues to discuss - "Just thought I'd call eh".
"So", said the host, "where are Maori men at in Aotearoa today?"
"Eh?" said his caller, "They're, uh, you know, they're everywhere!" -
Polity: New Zealand and the TPP: “Or…, in reply to Sofie Bribiesca,
NZ walking away would have a chilling effect on the negotiations.
Who says ?I don't understand this comment. Our Country by virtue of size isn't chilling and any other Country in the Pacific region can negotiate without us if they are so interested in this agreement.
Gordon Campbell nailed this one a couple of weeks back with "Once again, the rest of the world has misread our national penchant for passive aggression as being a gesture of compliance."
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New Zealand’s position on trade, where we unilaterally take down almost all our own tariffs then act completely surprised when nobody listens to our pleas later, has been likened to showing up naked to a strip poker game. Before the game begins, you’ve already lost.
It's not just Groser, he's simply the heir to a grand tradition. And while the likes of Tinakori attempt their usual partisan tribal pointscoring, there are still those in positions of influence within Labour who haven't moved beyond the Mike Moore orthodoxy of a quarter-century ago.