Posts by Sacha
-
get a room :)
-
Capture: EQNZ Remembrance, in reply to JacksonP,
I would want a lead in
maybe start with a stub and expand as the thread grows?
-
Capture: EQNZ Remembrance, in reply to Sofie Bribiesca,
we had ways around that
I guess nakedness is one solution :)
-
Capture: EQNZ Remembrance, in reply to JacksonP,
Seems we're using up our fountain shots
Just start a new thread pronto, I reckon. Better coherence for posterity.
-
Hard News: The Vision Thing, in reply to Rich of Observationz,
especially in Chch.
-
Hard News: The Vision Thing, in reply to Robert Urquhart,
The minister has expressed concern about councils getting involved in social issues
That element has major implications, yes. The 2002 Local Government Act explicitly added social and cultural responsibilities to the environmental and economic ones that had more commonly been the focus of councils for decades. That change has been expressed in various ways including prominent subsidies for the sporting, tourism and events industries, some of which have blown up publicly like a certain city's rugby stadium and associated deals.
The Nats (and Act) have long been antagonistic about local and regional delivery of economic development and social services. If the government strips those from councils, there would have to be a transfer of some functions to MSD, Housing and other govt agencies.
The current lot's ideology would dictate using that opportunity to privatise delivery, cut funding and fire more public sector staff, and assume that the charity sector or families would magically pick up the slack.
Naturally, you'll recall them campaigning on this significant move in the recent election, despite planning it for over a year. And the opposition bringing it to your attention then and now.
-
Hard News: The Vision Thing, in reply to BenWilson,
We didn't actually elect central government to set the priorities of local body at all.
Local government always answers to central. Worth remembering when considering who to hold accountable for various things that involve both.
-
Hard News: The Vision Thing, in reply to BenWilson,
I don't think it's controversial to say that it has been over half a century since western nations moved out of a predominantly industrial economy that made stuff, into a service and information based one. The subsequent shift to a creative value focus has been underway for many years already too. It doesn't mean we stop doing the previous stuff, just that it becomes less profitable.
Design adds value. For instance, if our fashion industry were only about the value of the raw materials, Karen Walker wouldn't be bringing in nearly as many export dollars. Nor if she didn't have creative business and deal-making expertise from her partner and others.
Negotiating deals has been part of human endeavour for millenia. No doubt some ancient Greeks had the same argument about goat-herders rather than traders constituting the only 'real' economy. The villages and families of both still benefitted nonetheless.
-
He really does a give a fig, as Jolisa said..
-
Hard News: The Vision Thing, in reply to BenWilson,
an economy that derives back to a product rather than a service
so, last century's economy then?