Posts by Sacha
-
I've never been convinced by "affirmative action"
Ben, if a group has been systematically disadvantaged, the playing field does not magically become level the moment the discrimination is stopped. Some investment is needed to make up for entrenched disadvantage, and fairness suggests that can not be just the responsibility of the disadvantaged group. Nor are they often able to do so.
Decades of discrimination in education and employment means that members of disadvantaged groups will not have the same income, networks and career prospects even when arrangements, structures and organisational behaviors are put right. That leaves them with less power and fewer resources to contribute.
There are obviously differences between individuals and between groups - for example the position and context of GLBT people and disabled people are quite different when it comes to employment and income, but similar in stigma.
Overall, it shortens the bootstraps those people and groups might otherwise be able to pull themselves up with. We can all lend a hand with that, including through public investment and programmes. That's what has been done over the past four decades for women, for Maori, for Pasifika peoples and other migrants.
Not nearly finished yet, though, and the way it is approached is subject to political decisions about the balance between individual and collective responsibility.
-
lets not forget how advanced we were in heavenly navigation while the northern tribe elites were still part of the flat earth society
He's right about that part. "Here there be dragons, etc".
Another crucial polynesian navigation tool was advanced storytelling. Sadly it does not seem to be genetic in its transmission judging by some of the challenged expression by descendents here today.
-
Because it's "not normal", Giovanni.
See, simple. -
Pix
-
I agree that law is not the whole answer. And that's because it's not just laws that discriminate, it's various ways things are set up and fundamentally the behaviour of people towards others.
WTF is that marine technology line about?
Seems like a fair question, and I'd likewise appreciate hearing more detail from Steven about that.
-
'i love teh cock' responses and will fuck anything that moves cos i'm greedy
A satire tag might help some who can't distinguish betweeen spoof and troof.
-
Human rights laws are hardly new and not unique to this country. And I'd rather work together now to be less hateful than wait for some genetic miracle.
-
Which (again) is not insisting that everyone be GLBT, just that you don't go treating anyone worse because of their sexuality. Or their ethnicity, for that matter.
-
Heh. Into the mines of Mordor, with Dougie playing a certain lead role..
-
GLBT's do demand in legislation that everyone have the same attitude like them
By the same 'attitude', do you mean allowing other people to be themselves? Not being allowed to have a go at someone because they're one of those filthy breeders? Only hiring people like 'us'?
You are right that there's tension around this, especially with greater diversity of cultures here now, some with strong beliefs about what's right and wrong and a history of insisting that their view be imposed on everyone. My colonial ancestors were the same.
Hopefully we are growing out of that. As a young nation we have a chance to do this better than anywhere else in the world. But only if we avoid stereotyped thinking and ignorant name-calling.
Who's denigrating you here for who you are rather than the quality of your expression?