Posts by Sacha
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John Roughan shows why some pre-MMP journos really need to STFU or retire - ignorant nostalgic wibbling that assumes we all share the priorities of old white men. It's like a foolish 1970s timewarp.
To Chinese eyes, the scruffy-haired man in the suit would surely not have embarrassed himself and them if multi-party democracy was all it is cracked up to be.
In one sense they would be correct. Our electoral system lacks a certain quality control. It was generous to describe Norman as "an elected member of Parliament". He came in on a party list.
If there is a weakness in MMP to my mind, it is the presence in Parliament of people who have never been individually assessed by a broad spectrum of the population.
They can be chosen by members of a small party, and even become its co-leader, without being capable of winning a respectable vote in an election.
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quite a few of those awarded list seats by a party could not win a public endorsement if they had to.
That is the reason MMP enthusiasts say it is fairer to minorities. But they overstate the supposed racism, sexism and homophobia of a general electorate. Sensible, reliable, well-presented individuals have proved anyone who measures up on those qualities can win.
And you can guess who decides what is "respectable" or "sensible" or "reliable" or "well-presented".
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More goals??? Rid the game of off side.
Yes please
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Football World Cup rankings from NY Times.
Argentina in with a grin - and it wasn't just my imagination that the All Whites hardly touched the ball except in defense, then.
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NZ has GE labelling requirements
Actually, seems I'm wrong and that's improved since I last heard. I have always been a label reader - maybe I just don't buy enough food that might have GE ingredients? Where was the public awareness campaign about it?
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NZ has GE labelling requirements just like the UK has.
No it doesn't - which hardly enhances trust in those who profit from its introduction into our food and environment.
Let's have the public conversation about the likelihood, impact and reversibility of harms and benefits - and to whom they accrue. Clue: it's not scientists.
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covering off Harry Duynhoven's arse
fair point - and for a pretty poor ROI
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we still pay them less than men when they get a job as a scientist and we don't let them run the institutes.*
Um, does Helen Anderson (until recently) being head of MoRST - the lead agency - count?
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Only it's likely they never will - because they are better than that. The abuse of urgency really does not reflect well on Nact at all, either individually or collectively.
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Hi-res satellite pic
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Thanks, Sam. That sort of casual, ignorant racism seems to get a free pass every time from our slackarse media.