Posts by Russell Brown
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"Mr Brash, do you agree with your new candidate, Don Nicolson, that emissions trading schemes are a secret plot concocted by the United Nations and persons unknown to rob wealth from developed countries?
"And if so, how would you explain the call from the 23 large multinational corporations that form the G8 Climate Change Roundtable for governments to define and introduce just such methods of price-signalling on carbon use?"
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Hard News: Angry and thrilled about Arie, in reply to merc,
Who or what are the IPCA and could you please explain further why in this context it would be better that they had some teeth?
The Independent Police Complaints Authority. The problem as I see it is not that it lacks teeth, but that it can only operate retrospectively, when it is the current actions of the police that need attention, now.
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Hard News: Like Minds, in reply to Graeme Edgeler,
AS people are more likely to … run intro trouble with the police.
Have you a stat somewhere to back this up?
Sacha has provided you with a reference. Unfortunately, this area isn't well-researched, and it's complicated by poor diagnosis. But I think the Arie Smith case will eventually be seen as a pretty good example of the additional risks faced by AS people in confrontations with the police, and there are many more anecdotes.
Particularly for young people, interacting with the police requires a high degree of social ability, one that AS people will struggle with, especially if the interaction becomes stressful. Sufficiently so that there are specific guides for AS people who come into contact with the criminal justice process. this one is a fascinating read.
So ... yeah. It'd be great to have some better research to refer to, but this is what we have to work with.
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Hard News: Like Minds, in reply to W K,
This program taught me to be open-minded in an unexpected way – it showed me that Mike King wasn’t a complete prat after all.
Absolutely. I think he'd readily acknowledge that there may have been times when the description was accurate, however.
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Hard News: Meanwhile in Epsom ..., in reply to Joanna,
Wow, I can’t believe I’m actually going to be hoping for National to win an electoral seat!
If Richard Simpson were to get the nod, more so.
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Greer McDonald now says on Twitter that Collins’ office told her it is *not* “seeking further advice”.
They're completely denying the content of the emails people are receiving, and saying the minister does not get involved in individual cases.
WTF?
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Hard News: Meanwhile in Epsom ..., in reply to Rich of Observationz,
Lange opposed Field’s selection?
Oh hell yes. And he continued to publicly question Field's ethical fitness.
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People who have written to the Minister of Police about this case are receiving replies along these lines:
Dear Mr XXXX
The Hon Judith Collins, Minister of Police, has asked me to acknowledge and thank you for your correspondence 11 July 2011 concerning a prosecution against Cornelius Arie Smith-Voorkamp.
The Minister has asked Officials for advice on this matter. You will receive a response as soon as possible.
Yours sincerely
Inspector Scott Spackman
Police Private Secretary -
Hard News: Meanwhile in Epsom ..., in reply to Craig Ranapia,
In 1990, Taito Philip Field looked pretty damn meritorious on paper when he won the selection for Otara. How did that work out in the end?
Pretty much exactly how David Lange warned it would, sadly.
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Hard News: Angry and thrilled about Arie, in reply to Hilary Stace,
I’ve heard hints that there might be an official (and uninformed) assumption that Arie needs ‘treatment’ ie a chemical straightjacket in a forensic unit. No – he needs a discharge, an ordinary life and a job.
[Shudder]
If this is true, then there’s a much bigger fight to be had.