OnPoint by Keith Ng

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OnPoint: Dear Labour Caucus

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  • martinb,

    Just thought I’d say sorry to Bart or Keith if they found any of the debate unpleasant.

    Sometimes I’m a little tounge in cheek which doesn’t necessarily come across, but also I can be a little be serially serious too.

    Certainly not my intention to be personal or unpleasant. I’m sorry if it came across that way.

    I guess I’ve found that a lot of people really don’t like Cunliffe, and I don’t really understand why exactly. I mean he’s a very earnest chap, but from my viewing seems to be genuine in his political beliefs and hard working in his efforts to achieve them.

    I like Shearer too, shook his hand the day after the win, but I don’t know enough about what he would do or how he views the Labour party.

    Anyway it’s Shearer! So discussion over! Let’s look at Banksie and co again.

    Auckland • Since Jul 2010 • 206 posts Report

  • Kumara Republic, in reply to Rich of Observationz,

    and those with a delusional aspiration to that status.

    The way it currently is, it's basically mutated from a stake in civil society, to a grown-up form of peer pressure.

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

  • Sofie Bribiesca, in reply to martinb,

    Anyway it’s Shearer!

    Let's see where that goes eh, before we give him shit ;)
    I really hope Cunliffe isn't ignored. He is a good politician and good for Labour. Jmo

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report

  • Damian Christie, in reply to giovanni tiso,

    I assume that you are fully aware of the irony of advocating a free-market solution to this problem

    ...and I assume you are aware of the chances of the Government deciding to fund it? :)

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1164 posts Report

  • martinb,

    To Shearer's credit he is reported as saying Cunliffe will have a very senior position. So just to see where he and Parker end up.

    Interesting times. Fingers crossed.

    Auckland • Since Jul 2010 • 206 posts Report

  • Keith Ng,

    Just thought I’d say sorry to Bart or Keith if they found any of the debate unpleasant.

    Not a problem. Given the kinds of things I wrote in the post, it's only fair I get as good as I give. I simply don't like venturing out into the pure politics stuff, where there are no facts, only scuttlebutt and opinions.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 543 posts Report

  • giovanni tiso, in reply to Damian Christie,

    By the way, and I have been blogging about this, I don't think the solution is beyond reach. We need to look no further than Maori TV. Following the election through them was like being in a different country. And naturally the quality and extensiveness of their coverage is a function of the fact that the Maori electorate is much more informed than the general electorate, so an informed public breeds better media as well as the other way around. But that's no reason not to try to reform the media.

    ...and I assume you are aware of the chances of the Government deciding to fund it? :)

    The government funds Maori TV, doesn't it? And looking at what's politically possible with the narrow focus of the next electoral cycle is really no help. This is not an issue that it should be hard to campaign about.

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report

  • Russell Brown, in reply to giovanni tiso,

    That. Yes, I had seen that, but you didn’t ask him a question about his politics, you asked him a process question. The media are fairly good at covering process, I have no major quarrels there.

    Why not just, say, look up Robertson's maiden speech rather than continue to passively imply he's a hollow man or a blank slate?

    Excerpt:

    Mr Speaker, in 1954 and 1957 my grandfather Bob Wilkie ran as the Labour Candidate in the Wairarapa. A somewhat thankless task at the time. His advertisement in that long lamented journal, the Featherston Chronicle just before the 1957 election reads in part (and I quote)

    “ I believe it is the responsibility of all in prosperity to care for those in adversity; that the welfare of the nation in the future depends on the children of today, and every assistance financial and otherwise should be given to those who have undertaken the responsibilities of parenthood”

    While times may have changed, the core values of social justice, community and family that lie at the heart of my grandfather’s words and the Labour Party’s existence, remain as important as ever. I hope that Bob, who is in the gallery today, is proud that his grandson has made it to this place. And happy 89th birthday for tomorrow.

    These values of social justice are what drew me to the Labour Party- a party of principle and vision. I believe that the fifth Labour Government took giant strides in the journey towards social justice. History will judge programmes like Kiwisaver, Working for Families, 20 hours Free Early Childhood Education as landmarks of our economic and social progress. I felt privileged to work with and for Helen Clark and Michael Cullen- true campaigners for social justice and people who have dedicated their adult lives to the betterment of their fellow New Zealanders.

    And:

    I am proud and comfortable with who I am. Being gay is part of who I am, just as is being a former diplomat, a fan of the mighty Ranfurly Shield holding Wellington Lions or New Zealand music and literature. My political view is defined by my sexuality only in as much as it has given me an insight into how people can be marginalised or discriminated against, and how much I abhor that. I am lucky that I have largely grown up in a generation that is not fixated on issues such as sexual orientation. I am not- and neither should others be.

    He also called for the compulsory learning of Maori language for students up the age of 14, describing that as "one small step we could take to build a more harmonious society."

    My first contact with Grant was in 2001, after I'd written about the 9/11 attacks. He was a reader of Hard News and simply wanted to share his feelings about the close friend he'd lost there. I recall that he said "You'd have liked him, Russell."

    I think his commitment to special education issues is genuine. Hilary Stace has spoken well of him in that respect.

    Also, in 2007 he was co-author of a Cricket World Cup blog for this very website. He's sound on cricket.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report

  • Sacha, in reply to Damian Christie,

    I'm sure Don Brash, Lindsay Perigo, and any number of Act followers would feel similarly ripped off by the MSM's shallow focus.

    They get way more than their fair share of the conversation given that 49 out of 50 New Zealanders don't share their beliefs.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • martinb, in reply to Keith Ng,

    Well we really appreciate your efforts to keep the 'pure politics' reality grounded and based on evidence and sources. Keeps us well-informed and less ignorant in our opinions.

    It will be interesting to see what happens with Labour from here.

    Cheers Keith!

    Auckland • Since Jul 2010 • 206 posts Report

  • giovanni tiso, in reply to Russell Brown,

    Why not just, say, look up Robertson's maiden speech rather than continue to passively imply he's a hollow man or a blank slate?

    That was a nice speech of incredible vagueness. Also, praising Clark and Cullen as champions of social justice is... well, a little hard to take really. As for his tenure as special needs spokesperson, he always came down on the fact that the sector needed more money (ironic, given the fact that Cullen never gave an inch, and National actually increased funding in some areas), but I don't recall him suggesting that it was in need of substantial reform - which it is. And there was an area where he could demonstrate his commitment to fairness voiced in that speech with a departure from his party's sorry record.

    To be fair, Hilary has a rather higher opinion of Labour's disability policy than I do. And she reckons he had a big hand in writing it.

    Also, in 2007 he was co-author of a Cricket World Cup blog for this very website. He's sound on cricket.

    Can't fault him there.

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report

  • merc,

    Thanks John I was wondering about this angle,
    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10772967

    Since Dec 2006 • 2471 posts Report

  • Damian Christie, in reply to Rich of Observationz,

    If people actually thought about actual issues and how it impacted them, the NACT vote would be a lot smaller

    Yeah damn those 48% of NZers who aren't as smart as every one of the 10% who support what I voted for.... ;)

    Maybe it's because I'm not as left as some people here (nor am I as right as other people elsewhere, and I probably vote the same as most of you anyway), but I find it hard to completely dismiss one side as being completely devoid of policy, theory, ideas and just popular because someone smiley is the leader, while the other side is an awesome policy machine with a doofus, and the media won't let them win. And that anyone other than the "1%" who would consider voting for National must be delusional, because Labour(?) is presumably the only choice a rational person in NZ society could otherwise make

    I'm not trying to be glib, but it is worth pointing out that Labour ran the country for 9 years until quite recently, and that the media hasn't changed a lot in that time. So it's not that stacked against the left.

    Anyway, I'm off to Welly for the last two nights of Back Benches. Nice discussin' with y'all.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1164 posts Report

  • Sacha, in reply to giovanni tiso,

    This is not an issue that it should be hard to campaign about.

    We may all agree it's crucial but your chances in a time of increasing unemployment and poverty of mounting a successful campaign for public civics funding are slightly greater than for gay marriage.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • giovanni tiso, in reply to Sacha,

    That's just because we tell ourselves that it can't be done. Once again, though, the model is right there in front of our eyes.

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report

  • Russell Brown, in reply to giovanni tiso,

    And naturally the quality and extensiveness of their coverage is a function of the fact that the Maori electorate is much more informed than the general electorate, so an informed public breeds better media as well as the other way around. But that’s no reason not to try to reform

    Is that why Maori on both the general and Maori rolls consistently vote in markedly lower numbers than the general population?

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report

  • giovanni tiso, in reply to Russell Brown,

    Is that why Maori on both the general and Maori rolls consistently vote in markedly lower numbers than the general population?

    Possibly, yes.

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report

  • Christopher Dempsey,

    I lived in Mt Albert, only a 1 min walk from Clark’s office, for 5 years, never saw her even once.

    Her electorate office was on Sandringham Rd, right opposite Eden Park. You must be a very fast walker :)

    Parnell / Tamaki-Auckland… • Since Sep 2008 • 659 posts Report

  • Craig Ranapia, in reply to Damian Christie,

    I’m not trying to be glib, but it is worth pointing out that Labour ran the country for 9 years until quite recently, and that the media hasn’t changed a lot in that time. So it’s not that stacked against the left.

    Oh, don't bother with your stupid facts. I guess the only reason National got its lowest share of the popular vote in the party's history in 2002 was that outrageously biased media bamboozling the idiot sheeple. What other reasons could there possibly be?

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

  • BenWilson, in reply to Christopher Dempsey,

    You must be a very fast walker :)

    You're right, I'm getting memory blur in my old age.

    *I guess there's some part of me that just doesn't believe that the office of my elected local representative could be so conveniently located, 11 kilometers away from my home.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report

  • giovanni tiso, in reply to Damian Christie,

    I'm not trying to be glib, but it is worth pointing out that Labour ran the country for 9 years until quite recently, and that the media hasn't changed a lot in that time. So it's not that stacked against the left.

    If you identify the left with Labour, then, sure.

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report

  • Rich Lock,

    it is worth pointing out that Labour ran the country for 9 years until quite recently, and that the media hasn't changed a lot in that time. So it's not that stacked against the left.

    the degree in which I identify the Left with the New Zealand Labour Party is... small.

    Indeed.

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

  • merc, in reply to giovanni tiso,

    Since Dec 2006 • 2471 posts Report

  • Damian Christie, in reply to giovanni tiso,

    if you identify the left with Labour, then, sure.

    In NZ, yes I do, so good then.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1164 posts Report

  • giovanni tiso, in reply to Damian Christie,

    In NZ, yes I do, so good then.

    And as a middle class professional you'll be served quite well by both parties. The classic win-win.

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report

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