Public Address | Cafe | Legal Beagle: The Entrenchment Angle We All Missed

ravida ravida

Fri, 09 Jun 2023 20:54:26 +1200

Unfortunately, I had an article ready about New Zealand’s entrenchment issue but now find it irrelevant. My thesis would have been that hasty proposals with quick votes are no way to handle such important matters and will ultimately undermine entrenchment as well as jeopardize its constitutional basis.

New Zealand doesn’t…

Rob Stowell

Sun, 23 Apr 2023 14:31:58 +1200

This article – the end of buzzfeed news, descent of the big platforms – makes one wonder if PA and places like this might be the future (again) :)
https://www.newyorker.com/culture/infinite-scroll/buzzfeed-blue-check-marks-and-the-end-of-an-internet-era

Kumara Republic

Tue, 17 Jan 2023 19:41:08 +1300

AI spam is going to be a real menace. And AI hackers will work all night and day :(

There are already too many of them popping up here. Seemingly faster than we can report them.

Rob Stowell

Tue, 10 Jan 2023 16:25:22 +1300

AI spam is going to be a real menace. And AI hackers will work all night and day :(

Rob Stowell

Sun, 18 Dec 2022 12:50:16 +1300

Its also arguable that the ability to vote in several local body elections gives an unequal weighting to some (wealthy) voters preferences. YMMV.
There are plenty of gnarly issues in the models of co governance we've seen.
If marriage doesnt work as a metaphor, perhaps see it as a 50:50…

Seamus Harris

Thu, 15 Dec 2022 18:40:16 +1300

I'm not sure there is a clash between "one person one vote" and "no taxation without representation" in the case you mention.

Nobody is getting extra votes in any given election simply through owning more property. Rather, some people get to vote in multiple local elections because they own properties…

Rob Stowell

Wed, 14 Dec 2022 20:16:18 +1300

We need to know just what we’re getting, what we’re giving up, what we can do to change things that might not work, and why we’re opting for – or against – co-governance.
Its ironic you mention everyone getting an equal vote; the debate around 3 waters involves local government…

Seamus Harris

Wed, 14 Dec 2022 15:40:18 +1300

Why do we need a conversation on co-governance? We already have universal suffrage, meaning everyone gets an equal vote.

Oh hang on. Actually we no longer have universal suffrage because the government has destroyed that pillar of our democracy in the name of co-governance.

Your marriage analogy was perfectly clear…

Rob Stowell

Wed, 14 Dec 2022 08:21:21 +1300

My own opinions can be plenty childlike. Just saying NZ needs to have a sensible thoughtful conversation about co governance.
And maybe Im not being clear enough. The marriage analogy is simple: in an equal partnership NEITHER party can be said to be in control. Control is shared. Neither party…

Seamus Harris

Wed, 14 Dec 2022 06:04:44 +1300

If you think the word 'control' is inaccurate, then please just say that. Whether the word 'control' is emotive is an entirely separate matter, and not really relevant.

'Aristocrats' is accurate. Again, whether or not it is emotive is a separate issue.

You used the marriage metaphor, which implies consent.…

Rob Stowell

Wed, 14 Dec 2022 00:16:48 +1300

Control is emotive here because its wrong. 'Aristocrats' is pretty emotive too, but likening this to sexual violence really takes the cake.
This obviously touches a nerve for you. Be good to have a grown up debate on co-governance one day tho.

Seamus Harris

Tue, 13 Dec 2022 17:37:40 +1300

Why is 'control' suddenly an emotive word? I'm just noting a reality. Can't help it if that reality arouses emotions.

What 'marriage-type relationship'? What 'joint venture'? Those seem to me like bloody stupid analogies. It's not like the citizens ever gave their consent. If we're playing the analogy game, why…

Rob Stowell

Tue, 13 Dec 2022 08:10:53 +1300

"Control" in a partnership is an emotive word. In a marriage-type relationship, at least in ideal terms, would we say one or other partner has "control"? Or would we rather think of it as a joint venture? This is something Aotearoa needs to talk out, and fair to say we…

Seamus Harris

Tue, 13 Dec 2022 00:35:24 +1300

The reality is that control of water is being stripped from the public and handed to an aristocracy – a racial aristocracy unaccountable to the public.

Control of water is being removed from the public and placed in private hands.

Ownership means little without control.

Feel free to play word…

Rob Stowell

Mon, 12 Dec 2022 07:57:59 +1300

You can call it that, but you'd be giving the word your own meaning. Governance is not ownership.

Seamus Harris

Sun, 11 Dec 2022 17:52:16 +1300

Transferring control over water from ratepayers to Maori aristocrats *is* privatization.

Seems like the blindingly obvious is being missed.

Rob Stowell

Sun, 11 Dec 2022 16:27:49 +1300

I'd love to see such a campaign. Quite possible that it would fail, seen as Labour/Green manipulation and campiagned against by a resurgent National/Act. Still the debate is worth having. And it might spark debate about what else we can more or less agree should be entrenched.

Paul Paul

Thu, 08 Dec 2022 14:48:40 +1300

Oh lawd, could you explain this to the wider public in amongst all the chaotic misinformation mayhem that would be created by its opponents?

Public Address

Thu, 08 Dec 2022 14:48:40 +1300

Discussion from blog post.