Posts by Emma Hart
-
Okay, let's not get all down on the economists. Economics is a useful tool, as long as it's remembered that it's ONE of a kit of tools, not the only view there is. And I don't think anyone here is pushing that 'everything is nails' point of view.
-
Are you able to expand on this for those of us not familiar with Christchurch suburbs and their socio-economic status? I'm assuming, from the way you put it, that these are on the lower end.
Doesn't get any lower, really. Poor people, poor housing, distinct lack of resourcing. A lot of people who were about to get kicked in the crotch by Welfare Reform anyway.
-
I think you'd have a tough time getting people down here to agree that the Cathedral shouldn't be rebuilt. It's sad. We need a symbol of hope. Yes, we also need some kind of monument, but that's the building that symbolises our city.
And... okay, bear with me, this is difficult. My partner's work and my kids' school are in the CBD. And it doesn't matter shit. There is a step before "what kind of central city should we build?". Homes. Infrastructure. And I know that should go without saying, but when this earthquake hit, there were still people living in broken houses using chemical toilets from the LAST earthquake. This time, when it's New Brighton, and Aranui, and Woolston, and Linwood? I have a dark hurty feeling.
I'm not saying in any way we shouldn't have this conversation, I just... had a moment during John Key's "you'll never walk alone" speech where I thought, if there is more you can do, why the fuck didn't you guys do it last time?
This week, you're going to start seeing an awful lot of anger coming through from people down here.
-
OnPoint: On Price Gouging, in reply to Isaac Freeman,
It's been weird. When we drove to Ilam on... Thursday, I think, some service stations had huge queues out the forecourts. Ones just down the road were just doing normal business. I wonder if people go past a busy one and think, "Shit, people are panic-buying, better make sure I get some too."
-
But the price of this is that people will despise their corner dairies and resent their rich neighbours, who will in turn be suspicious of them.
This. We love our corner dairy for their behaviour in both earthquakes. We will preferentially use them for little things, rather than going down the road to larger shops which are slightly cheaper anyway. So in the long term, by not price-gouging, they have benefitted economically. It's called good will, and I seem to remember putting it on double-entry accounts at high school.
-
Here is my audio for those who missed it. Thanks to Sacha for managing to find it for me.
-
Hard News: Again: Is everyone okay?, in reply to Paul Williams,
That's sort of what I sound like, except apparently I was disappointingly unsweary. I'll work on it.
-
Hard News: Again: Is everyone okay?, in reply to Stephen Judd,
Stephen, I believe that's the poetry equivalent of Godwinning a thread. Well done. :)
-
Hard News: Again: Is everyone okay?, in reply to Danielle,
Hey! I love water-chestnuts. Screw you, dude.
-
Up Front: Ups and Downs. And Side-to-Sides., in reply to Hilary Stace,
Ah, yeah, little house is about an inch high. Pony maybe four inches nose to non-existent tail. Here is pony in better days.