Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: Congratulations, Mr Key

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  • Deborah,

    Quoting from my own blog: The NZ election - a jaundiced view

    More than that, he seems not to understand just what life might be like for the people on the other side of the tracks, despite that much vaunted upbringing in a state house with a widowed mother. When speaking to school kids in Waitara, a small Taranaki town with a large proportion of underprivileged young Maori households, he chose as his topic National’s promise to get fast broadband into 75% of homes. The kids weren’t impressed.

    “How can you compare the environment to broadband?” Jenses Kemp (17) said. “Not everyone has computers … how can he justify that billion dollars? Some kids here don’t even have money for clothes.”

    Shane Partington (17) agreed. “That billion dollars could go towards so much. What about our education and health system?”
    Taranaki Daily News

    Key forgets that his own underfunded childhood nevertheless had incredible privilege - a middle class mother who not only valued education, but knew how to go about getting it for her children, and a white skin.

    New Lynn • Since Nov 2006 • 1447 posts Report

  • Ian MacKay,

    Perhaps Roger Douglas will stir things up a bit which might earn some concessions for Act in exchange for quiet, and then as a List MP he could just resign.

    Bleheim • Since Nov 2006 • 498 posts Report

  • Angus Robertson,

    And the farmers are right up there wanting the ETS dumped ASAP. The framers just want to keep polluting as long as they can.

    The farmers in question are amoung the worlds most efficient users of carbon/kg of produce, they are by world standards the complete opposite of polluting. An ETS sets farmers/business as convenient political scapegoats and does nothing to tackle global warming.

    Auckland • Since May 2007 • 984 posts Report

  • Tomorrowpeople,

    Which cryogenics company did Rodney-the-Epsom-poodle use to unfreeze Roger?

    The Craps tables at the B… • Since Nov 2006 • 188 posts Report

  • Ian MacKay,

    I just heard Key said that "Hide as a Minister outside cabinet was a good idea." Remember the fuss when Peters was so appointed? Flop-flip.

    Bleheim • Since Nov 2006 • 498 posts Report

  • Blake Monkley,

    Under National, softball will gain prominence (3 strikes and you're out).

    Auckland • Since Jul 2008 • 215 posts Report

  • Luke Williamson,

    What global warming? Rodney checked it out and there is none.

    Warkworth • Since Oct 2007 • 297 posts Report

  • Shep Cheyenne,

    Come on, Key was raised in a State House by a Mum on her own and has a few issues about cash which is why he has over compensated so much as the rich mans used car salesman does.

    Does anyone know where the house Key grew up in is?

    Could do the Richard Nixon log cabin museum thingy.

    Since Oct 2007 • 927 posts Report

  • Tomorrowpeople,

    Oh yeah - Yay Rodney - thanks mate.
    Do poodles emit methane when they fart?

    The Craps tables at the B… • Since Nov 2006 • 188 posts Report

  • George Darroch,

    The farmers in question are amoung the worlds most efficient users of carbon/kg of produce, they are by world standards the complete opposite of polluting.

    {{Citation needed}}.

    I call bullshit on this one.

    It is uncontroversial among climate scientists that dairying is a major source of greenhouse emissions, intensive application of fertilisers causes further emissions, and that the emissions per unit of food are much greater than in most comparable forms of agriculture.

    (Rice and palm oil are major emissions sources, particularly where large scale drainage and clearing occur.)

    Sounds like the kind of bold and false assertions that many of our farmers continually make.

    WLG • Since Nov 2006 • 2264 posts Report

  • Graeme Edgeler,

    I just heard Key said that "Hide as a Minister outside cabinet was a good idea." Remember the fuss when Peters was so appointed? Flop-flip.

    That was over the suggestion that he was a minister outside government - a complete nonsense.

    [and to a small extent, it was also over the Foreign Minister in particular, being outside government/cabinet]

    Wellington, New Zealand • Since Nov 2006 • 3215 posts Report

  • Tomorrowpeople,

    Does anyone know where the house Key grew up in is?

    Well it's not there anymore - it was subdivided and turned into three 5 bedroom condos, each with their own lap pool, 5 car garaging, under-floor heating, water feature, wine cellar and panic room.

    lol - j/k

    The Craps tables at the B… • Since Nov 2006 • 188 posts Report

  • Shep Cheyenne,

    If the farmers can hold out for 20yrs on the ETS all of the Dairy would have been out sourced to South America anyway and the massive profits can take a hit from ETS if they even apply there.

    Since Oct 2007 • 927 posts Report

  • Gareth Ward,

    So Hide's to be a Minister outside Cabinet - presumedly so he can avoid collective responsibility and attack National for not providing a 7% flat tax rate and the summary execution of jaywalkers?

    Auckland, NZ • Since Mar 2007 • 1727 posts Report

  • simon g,

    NZPA/TV 3 reports:

    Today Mr Hide accepted Sir Roger Douglas would not be made a minister while Mr Key said it was likely Mr Hide would hold such a role but outside of Government. ...

    Mr Key said the support arrangement with ACT would be similar to the arrangement between New Zealand First and the last Labour government.

    Smart move, I reckon. Disappoint a few True Believers short-term, get peace of mind long-term.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 1333 posts Report

  • Tomorrowpeople,

    So what is Rodney going to be be then?

    Someone suggested education - WTF?

    How about Minister for Poodles?
    Minister of Softball?
    Minister of Cryogenics?
    Minister of Dancing Competitions?

    The Craps tables at the B… • Since Nov 2006 • 188 posts Report

  • Graeme Edgeler,

    Ministers outside cabinet are subject to cabinet collective responsibility.

    Wellington, New Zealand • Since Nov 2006 • 3215 posts Report

  • Angus Robertson,

    {{Citation needed}}.

    As you wish.

    It is uncontroversial among climate scientists that dairying is a major source of greenhouse emissions, intensive application of fertilisers causes further emissions, and that the emissions per unit of food are much greater than in most comparable forms of agriculture.

    This is all entirely correct, but irrelevent since the ETS does apply any tariff/taxation based upon that basis. The ETS taxes only production here, the rest of the world (where most of our production is consumed) also adopts the same techniques but less efficiently and taxfree. Best efficient production made less profitable = least efficient production made more profitable = more pollution. More pollution = more global warming.

    Auckland • Since May 2007 • 984 posts Report

  • Gareth Ward,

    Thanks Graeme. Where's the upside in the arrangement then?

    Auckland, NZ • Since Mar 2007 • 1727 posts Report

  • simon g,

    Graeme

    So what does Key mean by "ouside of government"? No collective responsibility, surely? Or a slip of tongue?

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 1333 posts Report

  • simon g,

    or slip of 't' ...

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 1333 posts Report

  • Tomorrowpeople,

    lol

    The Craps tables at the B… • Since Nov 2006 • 188 posts Report

  • Gareth Ward,

    Angus, please lay out which of our large agriculture production competitors will have a significant difference in ETS-incentives? As I understand it, both the EU and the UK have ETS schemes in place that are currently working on getting agriculture included.

    I'd also like your view on whether or not we should be reducing emmissions overall in our economy? Particularly given we have signed up to Kyoto like every other developed nation. Do you simply think taxpayers should wear the cost? Or is a whole-of-market ETS not the way to do it?

    Auckland, NZ • Since Mar 2007 • 1727 posts Report

  • Angus Robertson,

    Edit:

    "This is all entirely correct, but irrelevent since the ETS does not apply any tariff/taxation based upon that basis."

    Damn it.

    Auckland • Since May 2007 • 984 posts Report

  • Gareth Ward,

    and of course, Australia's will do to...

    Auckland, NZ • Since Mar 2007 • 1727 posts Report

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