Hibernian Rhapsody

Meath inks a Limerick is about to go Down
Pop the Cork and Tip a rear 'e lad
I can see Clare Down the Cavan
Armagh God....He's Killed 'er...and Kenny!
It's Offaly cold for salad. Please, hold the Mayo

using this old laptop is like living in a cave

A bit like Cthulhu's calculator, what?

My deepest sympathies.

(Well, it's fireboxdoor just fell out, which, for yer average range, is death...)

The Queen of Green

Oh! Reigning without a Macintosh...

...embarking on a Hibernian Rhapsody.

My work/email iMac G5 just died...
I think I'll be entering Hibernation!
using this old laptop is like living in a cave

Aw. I was up for a bit of mansplainin' on a cloudy Friday the thirteenth...

And I would, but I've lost my in-countenance pants. It's a messy business, this coat of alms.

Has anyone asked Kevin Ireland?

and risk raising his Eire?

But it would honestly seem a bit pointless trying to explain/mansplain on that now.

Aw. I was up for a bit of mansplainin' on a cloudy Friday the thirteenth...

No man is an Island

Has anyone asked Kevin Ireland?

No man is an Island, he is a peninsula...

unless he wears a cape!

just do it, do it, do it...
he said shortly
(if not bluffly)
jutting out his
pointed little headland...

The true state of things is revealed in Lyndon Hood's excellent The Calculator of Cthulhu – be prepared to stare into the still beating heart of true horror – not for the faint hearted!

Magic.

No man is an Island, he is a peninsular...

Maybe a lost continent?

better than being incontinent
if you catch my drift...

rock blunts scissors
but paper wraps rock
and the Is-Land is just
well ...a Frame up

And to clarify, I wasn't using the term "creatures" to imply you're evil or obtuse. Just that "sentient being" didn't seem quite appropriate as a label for people who voted based on appearance of change over consideration of substance.

That's still not why I voted for them. But it would…

Wait the protest by truckies,when we are spending millions replacing the Harbour bridge because of trucks, and they got glorified as Robin Hoods because of $500 they might have to pay extra?

That whole thing was one of the most serious "What. The. FUCK?!" moments in the last few years…

So if you could 'enlighten' me, I'd like to rise above the subclass of rock

Well, it appears that at least some of the electorate turfed Labour because they thought National really had become Labour-lite – or Labour had become National-lite – so there was no harm in changing the…

several Trotterites crawling out of the woodwork

And (unmentioned by me) a whole bunch of people disagreeing with them.

power which the social and economic system has vested in them _in spite of_ not because of their gender, ethnicity or sexuality

Wow.

#peopleactuallybelievethis #christrotter

@martinb: You've exhausted your patronising dick credits for the quarter, buddy.

Not really Craig but what's the point? Spade a spade innit? If a "brush off" is acceptable to the Speaker of the House, then a whole lot more will emerge. Jus' sayin' cos I can't be bothered arguing.

Yesterday I pointed at the Dim-Post's vicious but accurate description of their mood-swing against National. What I didn't talk about was their suggested strategy for Labour to capitalise on it: abandon "social engineering" (that is, any moves to ensure equality for anyone who isn't a…

Don't call people who don't vote for you "retards", "evil" or imply they're sociopaths while bitching about your opponent running a nasty smear campaign.

The 'creatures', don't forget 'them'.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C8mvoH60wG4&p=61DD35ACEFC72660&playnext=1&index=1

when it goes undetected or unresponded to by the fourth estate?

It means they don't deserve their privileged legal position if they're not delivering a public service. Transfer that to bloggers etc who are willing to hold power to account.

So what can it mean when it goes undetected or unresponded to by the fourth estate?

Silvio Berlusconi, anyone?

So that must be those famous and celebrated pages in NZ history of the National party.

Jim Bolger opposing nuclear testing and going to South Africa to meet Nelson Mandela...or is it actually the National party's wish that there was no history or people would call bullshit on it…

I like, recordari

Fortunately Kevin Hague, Lynne Pillay and David Parker, and I/S all have their bullshit detectors set to 'High'.

And yet again papers like the Herald are only too happy to repeat the press releases

Surely any clapped out third-rate bullshit detector set to 'Low' would have detected this bullshit?

So…

And yet again papers like the Herald are only too happy to repeat the press releases

Fortunately Kevin Hague, Lynne Pillay and David Parker, and I/S all have their bullshit detectors set to 'High'.

ACC reinstates help for victims of sex abuse

It should never have been taken away in the first place. And yes, my critical capacity seems to be intact, although it could just be a…

Labour leader Phil Goff says the party will make Maori and Pacific unemployment a focus of the Mana by-election.

Bring it on – in terms of framing the debate, and everything in the last 150 comments.

Try as I might, I can't beat the wry wight.

To-wit to-woo,
the 'owling throng,
all creatures great 'n' thrall

The national obsession
of Aussie progression
A gap; a ditch; the gall!

Assuming you're referring to the public that voted in the current government, I suspect "creature" rather than "sentient…

Assuming you're referring to the public that voted in the current government, I suspect "creature" rather than "sentient being" would be the more-apt of the definitions.

I have wight defined as the more apt:
__[archaic or dialect] a person of a specified kind, esp. one regarded as unfortunate:…

Has anyone seen or posted this. Quite pertinent.

Yes, and I don't think the timing issue of Chris Carter will be that important. This statistic will still be true next month, and the "brush off" is on record.

can't beat the wry wight

From the link: "a creature or living sentient being".
Assuming you're referring to the public that voted in the current government, I suspect "creature" rather than "sentient being" would be the more-apt of the definitions.

Wit of a desiccant sobriety.

more of a dry white whine...

sadly, it looks like we are stuck with the descent society for now, and with the current castrati in power best we can hope for is a descant society...

Wit of a desiccant sobriety.

sadly, it looks like we are stuck with the descent society for now, and with the current castrati in power best we can hope for is a descant society...

"We would love to see wages drop."

"Don't be jealous."

Best viewed on a giant telescreen.

Can I have the decent society back sometime soon?

sadly, it looks like we are stuck with the descent society for now, and with the current castrati in power best we can hope for is a descant society...

Seriously, we're nearly two years into National's term and Labour just a couple of months ago was still getting slammed for things it did while it was in govt. It's media management has been pretty bad for quite some time now.

The departure of Mike Munro and Mark Watts I…

Can I have the decent society back sometime soon?

Larger quota of retards?

I really don't like the term "retard". At any rate I believe the technical phrase is "Kiwis who don't want to be told how to live their lives".

Sorry to be cynical, but a proper communication strategy should have been prepared for a debate that would not be fair.

I think the point is well made that Labour, and everyone else, can bitch as much as they want about the bum job the media is doing.

If they…

Brownlee knew all this. But there was political mileage in pretending he didn't. Ditto for the privately-backed scare campaign around folate.

You are right. Sorry to be cynical, but a proper communication strategy should have been prepared for a debate that would not be fair.

If you can't communicate your own policies properly when in power it's your own damn fault.

Danyl, let me refer you to a post I wrote last September on these issues — sparked by a Goff mea culpa pretty much exactly like the want you want Labour to utter now,…

Yeah. They listened to weird bastard.

Thanks for the link. I get the impression that a lot of New Zealand politicians, and quite a few would do well to listen to weird bastard's sucessors. There are an awful lot of people crying out for less regulation. We need smarter regulation,…

Golly, Lets think. Holding down the roof with Z nails? Wow. I…

Japan actually has a rolling efficiency standard, continually moving upwards. What was best practice 5 years ago is middle of the pack now.

Yeah. They listened to wierd bastard.

Oh Gio, I have never wanted to tend to your 'special needs' more than when I just read that paragraph.

Okay, I'm going to find moderately hard to get rid of that mental picture as I spend the morning at a meeting on 'special needs'. Thanks a bunch!

We're drifting…

If you can't communicate your own policies properly when in power it's your own damn fault.

This I certainly agree with. Further, they don't seem to be able to communicate their policies now either.

ETA: @Craig, snap!

If you can't communicate your own policies properly when in power it's your own damn fault.

Indeed. I do it as much as any other party political beast, but on sober reflection back in 2002 it was hard to blame "the media" for National's historically low share of the popular…

I do think those two things were turned into potent symbols, woven into a narrative if you like, and…

one man's social engineering is another woman, child, homosexual, impaired person's basic human rights.

We're drifting away from reality here: policies that regulated lightbulbs and shower pressure were what upset voters and they weren't guaranteeing anyone's human rights.

A few pages back someone blamed Labour's inability to sell it's policies…

I had wondered about that. But if Jim gets the mayoral chains and leaves parliament, does the JAPP disappear with him? And is he ok with gay people, or are they Evil, like drugs?

I think that Jim's staying in Parliament until the next election, no matter what. After that,…

The Human Rights Amendment Bill, under the name of Associate Health Minister Katherine O'Regan — but don't let me fuck with the narrative.

There are plenty of things the last National Government did that deserve plaudits, and I acknowledge them. The point, which I think you will probably agree with,…

And just how many of them actually were initiated by right-wingers, again?

The Human Rights Amendment Bill, under the name of Associate Health Minister Katherine O'Regan — but don't let me fuck with the narrative. But, hey, Islander, passing legislation where I can't lose my job, be evicted or denied…

You voted National, we understand. It's tough. Did they cut your taxes? You poor dear. I really feel for you so bad.

Oh Gio, I have never wanted to tend to your 'special needs' more than when I just read that paragraph. (In case that sounds too sarcastic, that…

And why wouldn't you address that tendency up front if you were running a campaign? Marketing fail, even with all the resources of incumbent govt on their side.

Well, there is the energy star rating. The last Government initiated a plan to put fuel efficiency ratings on cars, but the…

Labour's finance spokesman, David Cunliffe, has been leading the attack over the wage gap.

He said today Mr English's claim that National inherited a bad economic situation ignored Labour's achievements, such as the world's lowest unemployment rate, the longest post-war economic expansion and…

[Bill] English indicates that this approach is now being percolated through other departments including Defence, where former State Services Commissioner Rod Deane is running through the work done by the "strategy boffins" to isolate which assets need…

Who, despite pressures not to, keep on trying to get better educated,…

Most consumers would keep buying outdated deep fill washers and crappy inefficient fridges if they cost $20 less up front. Forget that they cost $100 more per year to run.

And why wouldn't you address that tendency up front if you were running a campaign? Marketing fail, even with all…

And just how many of them actually were initiated by right-wingers, again?

I forgot ACC. Jaw dropping to the rest of the world when it emerged.

Now the Nats???

CSA...Mazengarb Report (I forgot that too)...Abolished capital punishment. Ombudsman (forgot that one)..Metric system..Carless days and Nat Super...forgot again..OIA...Another one forgot..RMA finally…

It was an energy efficiency standard, something that's been done in a number of other countries, and something that some incandescent light bulbs meet! You can buy energy-efficient incandescent bulbs at the supermarket. I know, because I saw some last Sunday.

Yup. Developed in response to a new energy efficiency…

There was massive desire to punish Labour last election,

45% of voters gave the Nats their tick. A mandate? Hmm. What happens in this country is that it is not the true blues or firey reds who decide the election it is the…

Or in more simple terms, your last post was bloody brilliant.

Oh, well, thank you kind sir. I blame the subject though. And Stephen. (When in doubt, always blame Stephen.)

Um, you do know that National haven't manage to impose FPP yet, and we're still on MMP. Which means that even if Labour carry off all the trophy seats, their majority still depends on the party vote.

I'm absolutely aware of this. But it's also a fact that people identify…

I think some hard localism would do well.

Um, you do know that National haven't manage to impose FPP yet, and we're still on MMP. Which means that even if Labour carry off all the trophy seats, their majority still depends on the party vote.

Or is this part of…

perhaps as a Progressive

I had wondered about that. But if Jim gets the mayoral chains and leaves parliament, does the JAPP disappear with him? And is he ok with gay people, or are they Evil, like drugs?

"all those who might be able to modify their driving"

I had thoughts.
"OK, I'll drive Drunk"

Where to start the modification.
It's self-modification you want.... right?
I'll Googlemapit.

Hi all,

Please take some time to read the message below. This important safety message applies not only to our colleagues but to family and friends also.

Please forward on to all those who might be able…

You made me check and with Giovanni I'm number five. Five! Oh boy...

Work to do then? Poor Russell isn't on the first page. What the hell have 'Brand' 'Norman' and 'Crowe' got to do with anything?

ETA: It's that damn blog of yours. I suggest you spend less time…

Only if you do it in New Zealand, internationally she's not in the top ten at least. And how many high-profile Jacindas could there be in New Zealand?

I did sort of know that. It was an attempt at humour. So, not funny? Oh well, I'll burn that one.
[Just…

if you type 'Jacinda' in Google it helpfully predicts you mean 'Ardern' without any prompting

Only if you do it in New Zealand, internationally she's not in the top ten at least. And how many high-profile Jacindas could there be in New Zealand?

Labour would also do well to remember not to patronise communities too heavily by parachuting in untested aparatniks into safe seats, but instead use people with well established public mana and integrity. Shearer was…

said Feeley.
"I expected a preliminary report will be with me by next week, and I stress preliminary report," "This will state there is no offending, or we still need to do more work on this or…

people are sick to the back teeth with being treated with smug reverse snobbery for daring to disagree with a certain socially liberal POV

What, that all people are equal, and deserve to be treated equally?

That's not "a certain socially liberal POV" – its the absolute core of left-wing…

be all Mike Moore about it

It'll be a long, cold night... oh, never mind. I'm too discouraged to even make mean jokes.

It's their…

And it would be really helpful…

It's much like the debate around the low-flow shower-head policy. Labour successfully failed to penetrate the public's consciousness with the message that mandating low-flow heads was the last resort after any number of other energy-consumption-reduction measures had not been implemented, including such radical ideas as wrapping hot water cylinders and…

How about tent cities at Parliament?

We already have a campaign song...

I was born by the river
In a little tent
And just like the river
I've been running ever since

It's been a long, long time coming
But I know a change gonna come
Oh, yes it is…

Melissa Lee was parachuted into that electorate over the loud objections of the local Nats.

"I can see South Auckland from my house!"

Labour ran an effective campaign grounded in the networks it had built up over years in the Mt Albert electorate.

...by Helen Clark in her tenure as a very well respected PM and local MP.

Even allowing for the hapless performance of National's candidate, it was a good look.

Melissa…

'trying to be popular and get elected discriminates against women and gays! Somehow!'

You didn't hear when I said I already had bingo? I don't need the Chris Trotter Special. I don't even know where to put a giant fluffy bunny.

Seriously: stop with this white middle class whine already,…

And how did their policy to ban incandescent bulbs work out?

Thank you for demonstrating the absolute failure of Labour/Greens to get explanation of the actual policy in front of the electorate. Whether than failure was due to the media (largely, I think) or due to the parties failing to…

I got an electorate mailout from Grant Robertson last week – it is quite clear that not only is Labour campaigning against all GST

Wow, so Labour is going to abolish GST? Could anyone point me to that wonderful policy on their website, because I can't find it...

The trouble is party members are more or less emasculated, and I would suggest the membership (and indeed, the general population) is much more economically to the Keynsian left than both our main political parties.

Insomuch as I have metaphorical masculinity, it's still here. But thanks for the concern, dude.…

where exactly did the "$50bn welfare bill" figure come from

Oh they said 'what if everyone on a benefit stayed on it forever?'

And of course our slackarse media breathlessly relayed that utter crap without a second thought, even while telling us that those on benefits for 10 years or…

Because Sue Bradford was an arrogant MP who couldn't be bothered doing anything other than treating anyone who disagreed with her like a piece of shit on her shoe

Oh, perleeeez. Compare Sue…

And where exactly did the "$50bn welfare bill" figure come from, since the media don't seem to be telling us the whole story?

Actually, the media have told the whole story. But only once or twice, before latching onto the $50b figure. It's a valid number, but with a very,…

people are sick to the back teeth with being treated with smug reverse snobbery for daring to disagree with a certain socially liberal POV

There's a lot of sound and fury in your posts, Tom, but I'm not exactly sure what it signifies. Which people? What's the 'socially liberal POV'…

And where exactly did the "$50bn welfare bill" figure come from, since the media don't seem to be telling us the whole story?

Where's Keith Ng when you need him? I'm sure he'll be able to rip that figure to shreds in about three paragraphs and half a graph.

Currently she's being denied resources left right and centre and the philosophy of every single provider is that she has a need, not a right.

"Need" is what we might some day get around to responding to, when we feel sufficiently magnanimous and the budget allows for it. A "right"…

Bonus points – limit access to education to ensure an even more innumerrate population that won't call you on…

And where exactly did the "$50bn welfare bill" figure come from, since the media don't seem to be telling us the whole story?

Let me guess. They projected the last two years forward?

"Need" is what we might some day get around to responding to, when we feel sufficiently magnanimous and the budget allows for it. A "right" just has to be fulfilled as a matter of duty.

This. What I was trying to say earlier. Define it as a right, and then…

If it's the latter, then Orwell lives.

The trouble is party members are more or less emasculated

I call bingo.

Well, here's a thought: People expect Oppositions to say that the Government sucks donkey cock, and will bring about the end of days if given a chance.

Well, this the crux of the debate, isn't it? As far as I can tell, you are saying the more things change the…

Word. The Ax the Tax campaign is what actively stopped me from joining Labour. If that's Labour trying to focus on economic issues, I think they would hurt themselves less by trying to, I don't know, make everyone buy gay lightbulbs.

Roflnui.

I have very firm recollections of an interview Banks gave about this on, I think, National Radio, and it was quite clear that he did not support the moves being mooted.

Yeah, well, as I indicated,, Banks' views on social issues change fairly regularly.

You'll forgive me if I find your dismissing my concerns as worn-out 'identity politics' just a tad... really fucking annoying.

I don't know how you missed the memo, but people are sick to the back teeth with being treated with smug reverse snobbery for daring to disagree with a certain…

Currently she's being denied resources left right and centre and the philosophy of every single provider is that she has a need, not a right.

We're seeing he same thing: not as critical as yours, I'm sure — but in a way that tells me that the "support into work…

Gio, keep reading the rest of what I said – your daughter has a valuable contribution to make to society and to your family and community, and fairness suggests investment in making that possible.

Currently she's being denied resources left right and centre and the philosophy of every single provider…

All we're getting from Labout is "raising GST is evil, but we're not actually going to commit to anything concrete like repealing it".

Word.

I got an electorate mailout from Grant Robertson last week – it is quite clear that not only is Labour campaigning against all GST, they are…

Same result, different argument. Can you see there's a chance my framing is more appealing to…

Ah, Tom! Tom, Tom, Tom, Tom, Tom...

aaaargh! the drums, the drums!

How about talking (consistently and often) about needs rather than rights;

Oh no you don't. My daughter has a right to participate in society, not a need. If it's a need, then the government can say sorry, we don't have enough money or resources to respond to it. Get in…

Surely a labour leader could get that over and not rely on ertzatz NACT policies washed down with dog-whistles to bigotry

A competently positioned one, yes.

I don't know if people are really sick of it. They're just not talking about it, or thinking in those terms.

Exactly – framing.…

I'm not sure John Banks being seen as a campaigner for social justice is all that amazing.

Really? Let's go back, say, two years...

I have very firm recollections of an interview Banks gave about this on, I think, National Radio, and it was quite clear that he did not…

I'm one of the people with vaginas you might as well be ordering to 'get in behind'

That's because you haven't yet learnt to respond to whistles. It would be so much more efficient that way.

if Labour is the party of the top 20% of income earners, who the hell are National the party of?

John Key. The thin end of the wedgewood.

(Sorry for 'sucking…

Bradford was a Green MP. I would like to think no Labour politician would have have handled the issue with her inept arrogance.
Section 59 IS a classic example of the liberal "sneering 'we-know-best' arrogance". Not because it was wrong, but because of…

'Hey ladies, homos, and brown folk: could you stop pestering us *normal people* with all your weird little *needs* and whatnot? It's tiresome.'

Speaking of liberal "sneering 'we-know-best' arrogance"...

I don't see how pandering to moral conservatives – which is what we're talking about – can be sold as "having listened to the electorate" the way that you have.

Harking back to that Olsen interview, wouldn't it be nice if the debate could be couched in terms of 'basic…

Refusing to reverse [Section 59] seems to have done Key no harm at all

Sort of like how mum gets no thanks for cooking all week, and then dad's a hero for taking you out for an ice cream on Saturday.

All we're getting from Labout is "raising GST is evil, but we're not actually going to commit to anything concrete like repealing it"

Word. The Ax the Tax campaign is what actively stopped me from joining Labour. If that's Labour trying to focus on economic issues, I think they would…

All we're getting from Labout is "raising GST is evil, but we're not actually going to commit to anything concrete like repealing it".

And "we might or might not remove GST on food". It drives me nuts.

I don't know if people are really sick of it. They're just not talking about it, or thinking in those terms.

Well, here's a thought: People expect Oppositions to say that the Government sucks donkey cock, and will bring about the end of days if given a chance. But what…

And I'm far from convinced that the Section 59 amendment would have been a dealbreaker with the public had Clark's government not already been worn out.

That's a bit of conventional wisdom I'm unconvinced by, full stop — but it does fit the narrative if you're convinced that National only…

Labour can no longer leverage electoral advantage from liberal identity politics – in fact people seem heartily sick of it to the point that we as a country are lapping up a reactionary, authoritarian bully state and loving it.

I don't know if people are really sick of it. They're…

protecting children from physical abuse... ...are things that Labour should feel contrite about?

Bradford was a Green MP. I would like to think no Labour politician would have have handled the issue with her inept arrogance.

Section 59 IS a classic example of the liberal "sneering 'we-know-best' arrogance". Not because…

the identity politics vein is now largely mined out

'Hey ladies, homos, and brown folk: could you stop pestering us *normal people* with all your weird little *needs* and whatnot? It's tiresome.'

Providing cheap lifetime education, decent…

The section 59 amendment closed a loophole that allowed a couple of assault cases a year to be dismissed. Worth doing? Sure. But equivalent to homosexual law reform? Worth losing power over and having Paula Bennett and Judith Collins as government Ministers?

I think that (actually like nuclear free legislation)…

being like Labour without all the sneering 'we-know-best' arrogance

So you're saying that allowing gay people to enter into civil unions or protecting children from physical abuse of promoting the sale of energy efficient lighbulbs are things that Labour should feel contrite about? That they are signs of arrogance, as…

And how did their policy to ban incandescent bulbs work out? It made them a bit more unpopular and the new government reversed it as soon as they took power. Way to change the world.

So you're proposing that Labour should base its policies with maximum heed to any bit…

I wonder what portfolios Anne Tolley will get in her second term . . .

I'm going to have to call bullshit on that. When Clark got elected for her first term, it was on the basis of moving the country far to the left of National. She didn't try…

The problem emerges when the micromanaging of policy becomes the…

Or, to put it another way, accept injustice, discrimination and bigotry, and do nothing about them.

Fuck that.

I wonder what portfolios Anne Tolley will get in her second term . . .

Were you wanting to sound that arrogant, or did it just come out wrong?

It isn't arrogant, it a statement of fact.

Over a quarter of the countries population will live in the SuperCity. More people live in Auckland than the entire South island. North of Tokoroa contains over two…

Most people define 'social engineering' as parliament making laws they don't like.

I could have sworn someone here (Damian?) said that "social engineering" is virtually a job description for governments of any stripe, and as such is meaningless.

Yeah. Labour were voted out partly because the public was 'sick of the nanny state'

Say you, Chris Trotter and Phil Goff. It was the rhetoric that the most reactionary fringes of the Right used to attack the Clark government, but it doesn't make it true. Perhaps the centre-Left lost…

The section 59 amendment closed a loophole that allowed a couple of assault cases a year to be dismissed. Worth doing? Sure. But equivalent to homosexual law reform? Worth losing power and having Paula Bennett and Judith Collins as government Ministers?

Well, when you put it that way – no.…

I'd go the other way – governments should accept that they're going to do unpopular things, and that they're not likely to get elected four terms in a row.

I'd much rather they make a bit of a difference in the world rather than sit on their hands to be…

And mood swing or not, the party needs to develop a long-term message around unemployment, flush out stories about real people, and depict the current government as complacent. Or, better yet, relaxed.

David Cunliffe could do worse than to borrow the "It's the economy, stupid!" mantra.

@Danyl: I wonder if…

And so we're stuck with "social engineering"

What I regard as examples of social engineering are the motivations of some home schoolers (shutting off children from the temptations of the world and raising them as replicants of their parents) and doctrinaire schools such as Middleton Grange.

the high point for Phil Goff's Labour Party was the by-election that secured a replacement for the previous party leader.

Yes, and Mr Shearer is certainly developing well, going on what little we see of him. I think last time I saw him was on Backbenches.

Yeah. Labour were voted out partly because the public was 'sick of the nanny state' and now they're angry the government won't lower the blood alcohol limit.

Well, in theory, that's a popular stance:

Almost two-thirds of New Zealanders support lowering the drink-driving limit, a survey has revealed.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XlWtLtWdrKU

The local is national in this town.

Were you wanting to sound that arrogant, or did it just come out wrong?

Most people define 'social engineering' as parliament making laws they don't like.

Yeah. Labour were voted out partly because the public was 'sick of the nanny state' and now they're angry the government won't lower the blood alcohol limit for drink driving. Go figure.

And so we're stuck with "social…

Perhaps people could take a look at our child abuse statistics and, I don't know, harden the fuck up? Just an idea.

Yeah. A lot of the opposition did boil down to "My feelings are hurt!"

But as a branding strategy, it ignores what's about to happen in Auckland

I believe Danyl lives in Wellington. I would imagine he is like most non-Auckland based New Zealanders who fail to grasp just how dominant Auckland is in this country, economically and politically. It is not an accident…