Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: The Politics of Absence

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  • Stephen Judd,

    Getting back to the theme of Labour and the media for a moment, this seems well-done to me.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 3122 posts Report

  • Kumara Republic, in reply to Sacha,

    And is Key’s face – or voice – a branding element for National?

    snap, rhinocrates

    So would the cartoons of Tom Scott, Mike Moreu et al be C&D'ed? I say let the usual suspects do a Radler on us.

    The southernmost capital … • Since Nov 2006 • 5446 posts Report

  • Sacha,

    A constrast in messaging and styles, and some sly porkies: the earlier-mentioned Labour and National candidates for Auckland Central talk about the economy in the latest of their regular paired Herald columns (titled with geriatric humour).

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • Craig Ranapia, in reply to Stephen Judd,

    Getting back to the theme of Labour and the media for a moment, this seems well-done to me.

    Until you note the trivial factoid that the same people who clean John Key's office also clean Phil Goff's, and there's not actually anything preventing Parliamentary Services (who I believe are their legal employer) paying them above the minimum wage.

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report

  • Stephen Judd, in reply to Craig Ranapia,

    If only success in politics rested on rigorous logic applied to undisputed facts.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 3122 posts Report

  • izogi, in reply to BenWilson,

    I'm pretty sure there's an awful lot of people who would be satisfied that their kind of person was represented by the party of their choice, by a bunch of people who don't live anywhere near them, but share their views, or appeal to them in some other way.

    This is true, and I don't think it's necessarily a requirement for me, at least, to have someone represent me in a local geographic way and solve my local problems for me. On the flip-side, however, I still think there's lots of value in ensuring that there's at least one MP in our House of Representatives who's systematically obliged to go and mix with each geographic community, get a feel for the effects of nationwide government policies and decisions on local people throughout the entire country, and be aware of all that stuff when taking part in government. Even if I don't care so much about having a local MP to talk to and sort out my local problems, I'd still like a guarantee that at least one MP will be taking an interest in what effect government policies will have on local issues.

    List MPs can linger with the locals in specific places if their party deems it worthy of their time, but that doesn't guarantee engagement with and understanding of every place, even if the people there aren't very talkative or politically aware.

    Wellington • Since Jan 2007 • 1142 posts Report

  • chris,

    this seems well-done to me.

    By the time she pays $250 in rent, $90 for power and $70 for petrol to get to and from work, Masoe has about $43 left to pay for groceries.

    $90 p/w for power? Are prices really this high now?

    Mawkland • Since Jan 2010 • 1302 posts Report

  • Stephen Judd, in reply to chris,

    $90 p/w for power? Are prices really this high now?

    Doesn't seem excessive for a 9 pr 10 person household (four kids, four grandkids). There's going to be a crapload of hot water just keeping everyone clean and in clean clothes, not to mention heating and cooking.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 3122 posts Report

  • chris, in reply to Stephen Judd,

    wow, I took it as a typo. A lucrative industry there.

    Mawkland • Since Jan 2010 • 1302 posts Report

  • BenWilson, in reply to izogi,

    On the flip-side, however, I still think there's lots of value in ensuring that there's at least one MP in our House of Representatives who's systematically obliged to go and mix with each geographic community, get a feel for the effects of nationwide government policies and decisions on local people throughout the entire country, and be aware of all that stuff when taking part in government.

    Which is precisely why the parties would do it anyway, if they had the resources to. It could be their internal policy because it works, not because the system forces them to do it. It's highly appropriate for Labour and National. For the Greens, not so much, there's just not enough of them to be out pressing the flesh in every electorate.

    Furthermore, there would probably be no reason to have 60 MPs inaccessible to casual public inquiries. They're representatives, after all, and they come from all over the place. Surely they could have an office near to where they live, by which they can avoid the problem of getting out of touch with ... well whoever it is that wants to see them - I expect it's simultaneously a lot of people, and also a very small fraction of their voters.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report

  • DexterX,

    In the house today:

    & in stuff

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/5737904/John-Keys-cleaner-campaigns-for-better-wages

    Goff - the content of his debate is great - his dlivery after the incident is measured for a time - he needs to stop barracking his face off to appear sincere and maintain calm and not elevate to the level of barking.. He needs to pause at times and let the truth of what he is saying resonate.

    That National were blindsided by the credit rating down grade really shows they have lost their grip. They have advanced a credit rating down grade this as a part of the reason for assets sale and other policy measures.

    OK we have the downgrade already let us just keep the assets OK.

    I support Goff's position with the exception of CGT, which is not something I support.

    The level of wages and cost of living – very sincere to run this out during election year – but wage and salary earners are always forgotten once their vote is cast and the election result rolls out.

    You may recall the mother of the family in Mangere who died when the there power was turned off and her oxygen respirator stopped – in that household her husband was I understand working a 40-hour week.

    The seat of a lot of tragedy born out of hardship is that people working 40, 50 even 60-hour weeks don’t make a living wage in relation to their outgoings.

    In the economic equation that is the NZ Market economy the only thing that is kept in check is wages.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 1224 posts Report

  • Kumara Republic, in reply to DexterX,

    That National were blindsided by the credit rating down grade really shows they have lost their grip.

    The Stepford gloss was going to start flaking off eventually. As I mentioned before, it's not the same as Keeping Calm and Carrying On.

    The southernmost capital … • Since Nov 2006 • 5446 posts Report

  • Sacha, in reply to DexterX,

    National were blindsided by the credit rating down grade

    That's the claim..

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • Craig Ranapia, in reply to Kumara Republic,

    The Stepford gloss was going to start flaking off eventually.

    Just as a matter of interest, have you ever read The Stepford Wives? It's not about what you seem to think it is.

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report

  • Tamsin6, in reply to Craig Ranapia,

    Just as a matter of interest, have you ever read The Stepford Wives? It's not about what you seem to think it is.

    Hmmmm. I know it's only Wikipedia, so might not be as authoritative as it could be, but:

    The label "Stepford wife" is usually applied to a woman who seems to conform blindly to an old-fashioned subservient role in relationship to her husband, compared to other, presumably more independent women. It can also be used to criticise any person, male or female, who submits meekly to authority and/or abuse; or even to describe someone who lives in a robotic, conformist manner without giving offense to anyone. The word "Stepford" can also be used as an adjective ("He's a real Stepford employee"), or a noun ("My home town is a Stepford"),[5] denoting servility or blind conformity, or a seemingly perfect society hiding a dark secret.

    So, National having a conformist and robotic outward persona, while secretly hiding a darker side...not a particularly controversial view surely?

    London • Since Dec 2007 • 133 posts Report

  • Ian Dalziel, in reply to Sacha,

    National were blindsided by the credit rating down grade
    That's the claim..

    and all other Financial woes and mismanagement are still Labour's fault!
    I think National act like petulant schoolkids
    (and most schoolkids aren't even that bad or disingenuous)

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report

  • Bart Janssen,

    Honest MPs?!?!?!

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 4461 posts Report

  • linger, in reply to Tamsin6,

    Maybe Craig’s objecting to the implication that National couldn’t possibly be causing offense to anyone :-)

    ... nah, more likely to the idea that National is secretly enforcing conformity to their perfect vision of society.
    'Cause we know they don't really have a vision :-)

    Tokyo • Since Apr 2007 • 1944 posts Report

  • Craig Ranapia, in reply to linger,

    Maybe Craig’s objecting to the implication that National couldn’t possibly be causing offense to anyone :-)

    Not at all – if you get through life without grievously offending someone, you’re just not trying. But if you bother reading Ira Levin’s novel (which I warmly recommend) the “Stepford wives” are gynoids created by a misogynistic ex-Disney employee. The women they replace – uppity Ms.-reading castrating femi-Nazis one and all – are killed, of course. I know there’s no evil Stephen Joyce is incapable of, but really…

    As a sidebar, it’s worth asking if the whole ‘Stepford wife’ sneer isn’t actually low-grade sexism itself. Wow, so women who don’t act in a manner you deep appropriate are someone less than human, even on the level of a pop culture allusion? Wonderful.

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report

  • Rich Lock,

    Have to agree with Craig here. John Key may be carefully crafting and projecting an image of supreme blandness, but that doesn't make him a subservient animatronic puppet.

    The Stepford epithet is more applicable to any of the partners of any of the leaders of the main political parties, and not on their part - it's a role they're forced into. Imagine the fuss if Bronagh expressed an opinion, or support for ACT. Or Labour.

    back in the mother countr… • Since Feb 2007 • 2728 posts Report

  • Sacha, in reply to Ian Dalziel,

    petulant schoolkids

    That childish eye-rolling clip yesterday should be repeated rather a lot.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • Sacha, in reply to Ian Dalziel,

    and all other Financial woes and mismanagement are still Labour's fault!

    while media faithfully report Key denying all responsibility, exactly as intended

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • Rich Lock, in reply to Sacha,

    That childish eye-rolling clip yesterday should be repeated rather a lot.

    Yes. When the carefully crafted mask does slip, it's not a pleasant sight.

    back in the mother countr… • Since Feb 2007 • 2728 posts Report

  • Craig Ranapia, in reply to Rich Lock,

    Imagine the fuss if Bronagh expressed an opinion, or support for ACT. Or Labour.

    Well, it was pretty common knowledge that Clementine Churchill was a capital-L Liberal and it's pretty clear (in the biography written by her daughter Mary Soames and) her political opinions, while never expressed in public, weren't kept from her husband and didn't cross the floor along with her husband. Her near-pathological shyness didn't make her the very model of a modern political spouse, either.

    In the end, I think you marry a human being not a political party.

    And God knows I developed a wee man-crush on Dr. Judith Steinberg Dean, who committed the unspeakable faux pas of saying she though her busy pediatric practice was more important that making cow eyes at her hubby while he hit the presidential primary trail.

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report

  • Ian Dalziel, in reply to Rich Lock,

    When the carefully crafted mask does slip, it's not a pleasant sight.

    Parliament World - where nothing can possibly go worng...

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report

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