Posts by Rosemary McDonald
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Access: Disability as a wicked policy problem, in reply to Marc C,
So “wicked policy problems” remain, and remain unresolved, I fear.
...and that would be the fear of many of us Marc.
You know, there is an easier, and probably cheaper, method of reducing the number of beneficiaries.
ALL those who are willing and able to do paid work should front up to WINZ and say...
...and they should get a job.
A job that pays a Living Wage, with fair and equitable conditions.
The taxes, willingly paid by these valued and respected workers, will go towards paying a respectful income to those who are not able to work.
Those few people who are unwilling, but able to work....well, those folk will always be with us.
And we pay ridiculous salaries to MPs and bureaucrats...so whats a few more snouts in the trough?
Yes, I know, a simplistic little suggestion...
Respect, Marc, for pushing this issue.
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Access: Just think of the children, in reply to Marc C,
Oh! My,my, my!
Score, Carmel!
Surely to god there is a limit to the amount of bullshittery allowed in any one session of the house?
Perhaps it will reach the point when the buggers will drown in it.
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Toby Manhire's last column for the Herald?
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11514702
Advice to "Malco" Turnbull....
Be yourself. But choose which bit of yourself depending on the audience.
In Parliament, seethe at the infighting opposition; rile them up, all cutting jibes and sick burns. Outside the house, tone it down a notch. Remember there are always a range of views. Remember there's a good chance it's the last government's fault. Blame them. Remember to be relaxed about things. Remember that reasonable people don't always remember.
If the issue is complex and detailed, it may be necessary to assert that grass is orange, the sky is green and oranges are blue. Invest in a large cupboard to store all your hats.
Don't be aloof. Don't be slick. Be a bit of a dork. Be the dorky, lovable uncle, though preferably not in a hair-pulling way.
Give the man an award of some sort....!!!
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Access: Just think of the children, in reply to Ian Dalziel,
but Jeez, the woman has no idea about what life might be like for some on the benefit she controls – that is appalling…
One gets to the stage Ian, where the contempt one encounters from WINZ bureaucrats of all levels ceases to appall.
Having been a recipient of the Invalids Benefit (SLP in these PC times, but don't take the "Supported" bit too literally!) Peter is looking forward to graduating in a few weeks to the far more acceptable National Super.
He could facilitate this transition from beneficiary scum to worthy senior pensioner on line...but of course the added complication of Disability means we have to front up to our local office....Oh Joy!!!
A friend recently was sent the invitation to sign up for the Super...and chose to do the on line thing...because...she didn't want to have to go into the WINZ office and encounter "those sorts of people".
"Like us, you mean?" was Peter's quick riposte (he gets the odd one away now and again).
"Yes!" was the quite unashamed reply.
She was completely and utterly impervious to our discomfiture.
Most folk seem to live in their own wee insular worlds....they have to actually experience something before they can sympathise.
Another lifelong friend of Peter's not long ago quipped that "every day was a holiday" for me. The fact that his mate needs 24/7 support (and would get this funded were he an ACC client) seemed to escape him. This guys wife had been telling me a few months earlier how much having to care for her very elderly mother at home had negatively impacted on her ability to go to work...in fact, she had to give up work for a while. Terrible imposition!
Yet, that has been the reality for me for nearly two decades.
We are (theoretically) close to these people....but they just don't seem to get it.
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Polity: Too much to swallow on the TPP, in reply to Sofie Bribiesca,
I’m also impressed with the stand ( or sitting as the case may be) this Doctor has expressed in Wanganui
Likewise the doctor who spoke with some vehemence at the TPPA Rally in Kaitaia back in August. He is an American...and can see the TPPA giving big business the power over healthcare provision that so blights the US.
I'm in awe of these (mostly) Young People speaking out and making their stand.
Kia kaha.
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Polity: In defence of the centre, in reply to David Hood,
Now, I wonder what those defending the centre line will make of this?
We "politically irrelevant" Bus dwellers gave a rather stunned(who would have thunk it?) but resounding cheer at the news this morning. We tried not to get cross at the Natrad newsreader repeating the 'socialist Marx fan' narrative...and pondered on just how our so called 'centre left' in Godzone are going to respond to this.
Understand, please, oh defenders of the centre line....we are over it.
Bring on the Kiwi Corbyn!
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Hard News: To have a home, in reply to Ian Dalziel,
Wishy-Washy
Flippy-floppy.
Fuzzy-wuzzy,
Twisty-turny,Our Leader.
Doomy-gloomy.
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While waiting to capture the swamp kauri log on the back of the truck, we waited in the grounds of the Ancient Kauri Kingdom in Awanui.
The above carved log is in their entrance.
It would have been rude not to go inside and at least buy a couple of coffees...and I was stunned by the sheer beauty of the processed swamp kauri on display.
Clearly there are local artisans more than capable of converting this 'resource' into items of commercial worth.
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Hard News: To have a home, in reply to ,
“Are New Zealanders equipped to cope with people who have been traumatized?
Short answer...no.
Longer answer...That's no reason to not take in refugees...we just NEED to be aware that simply providing a home, three squares, education etc., may not be sufficient.
Look how well we have done for our indigenous refugees....children in state care, those with mental health issues, our disabled citizens.
We can do better.
I hope.
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Back on topic.
Some years ago our family was a temporary refuge for a very wee lad of Iraqi/Kiwi ancestry.
Dad was a child of the Tampa(we think) and had grown up amid bombs and guns and generalised mayhem.
Mum was a victim of familial, generational sexual abuse and violence.
Both were lovely people (seriously), but despite such support our MSD was (and still is) capable of providing, neither had a snowball's chance of ever being able to parent. Tragic.
Bring in these desperate refugees/asylum seekers...BUT...let us make absolutely sure that they have the support they need to mitigate the effects of their horrendous experiences.
