Posts by Sacha
-
Hard News: We interrupt this broadcast ..., in reply to Sofie Bribiesca,
Well it just went to A Cuppa Tea Party to try to ensure their return.
A party to the right of National can carry the can for policy in that direction. The move ensures that the Nats aren't the most rightward, as Ben says.
-
Hard News: We interrupt this broadcast ..., in reply to Kracklite,
can't resist
wafer thin willpower
-
Hard News: We interrupt this broadcast ..., in reply to Kracklite,
they were nonetheless sincere and effective
and well-organised as part of a coherent campaign
-
Useful fisking of National's proposed asset sales (acknowledging that fisking is not voting) by a financial advisor.
In terms of historical performance, the SOEs have been a good investment - Treasury reckons they have returned 17.5 per cent a year during the past five years. From a financial perspective, selling state assets is not a no-brainer. The real tragedy of these asset sales is that the average New Zealander will see his or her equity in these great assets reduced. At the moment, every New Zealander, rich or poor, young or old, has an equal shareholding in the assets proposed to be sold.
While many individuals will buy shares in the new companies either directly or via their Superannuation or KiwiSaver Fund, there will be a much larger number of less well-off New Zealanders and young New Zealanders who won't be able to participate in any way, shape or form.
This sad situation will probably be compounded by the new "private enterprise model and strategy" implemented by the new boards of directors of the privatised assets, which is frequently spin for putting up prices and restructuring the balance sheet to increase borrowings.
-
Readers will draw their own conclusions.
-
Hard News: Some things just don't let…, in reply to Jackie Clark,
They're not miles away from your brother's stuff. Certainly compared with the harder end of FN's roster.
-
Hard News: Some things just don't let…, in reply to Russell Brown,
They were awesome alongside peers at that Nun anniversary gig at the Powerstation with Chris Knox MCing.
-
Hard News: We interrupt this broadcast ..., in reply to Steve Barnes,
You're perfectly free to persist in tribal thinking. Just don't expect it to produce any form of meaningful change.
-
Hard News: We interrupt this broadcast ..., in reply to Steve Barnes,
The political left has had several woeful years. I wish that didn't make a difference but it does - and "results" include the public opinion polling and political discourses highlighted by the current election campaigning. However, I'm not just talking about an election, and there's more to action than voting.
The Greens seem better placed now (though not without risks and tensions). Labour had a strong campaign start before their old strategic muppetry reared its head again. Some individuals are campaigning well but the long-standing lack of coherence and confidence will restrict translating that into short-term ability to make things change.
The occupy and environmental movements give some broader hope - providing deniers face up to what's actually going on and some stale fogies are made to walk the plank. That means less pollyanna all round.
-
Hard News: We interrupt this broadcast ..., in reply to Steve Barnes,
These people are not dumb, they are dangerous
They are if they are not properly opposed, yes. That involves political parties and broader movements being smart, communicating effectively and rallying support for as long as it takes. The people who say that hasn't been happening aren't dumb either, and sadly the results speak all too well for themselves.