Posts by Sofie Bribiesca
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Hard News: The problems inherent in the system, in reply to BenWilson,
I’m over hearing about how awesomely progressive we can be via the slow incremental accumulation of reasons not to take drugs, culminating in the hardly surprising decision to ban the whole lot of them.
I was a bit over hearing from not the horses mouth or not the horses mouth anymore but used to... but I don't mind that others want to find solutions that appease themselves. It is afterall supposed to be a democracy,but I do think the business of getting down to enjoying yourself versus doing what has been deemed allowed is one of the things I've always done. Give them what they want then work the system. I'm just used to it. I'm not alone .Geez half of NZ is doing that already. Just, some police wanna get all up in ya face about it and when the public join in and cry foul, we take the 2 steps sideways and waltz.
I'm glad however that ,the conversation is out and shopping the other day, a guy at JB Hifi was discussing how pot works for him and we just need to get on and legalise. That was a conversation I have not experienced before on a shop floor.
Baby steps Ben. This govt has never been progressive.I guess people generally still live with hope.
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Speaker: Let's talk about class, in reply to Graham Dunster,
We all (and I include myself here) seem to be too busy with our own wee lives to break out for the greater good.
I’d like to think I care enough to have empathy for others. I like to think I can put others well being before mine and I like to think I have never and would never vote for the Government we currently have. I am also pretty loud at explaining how I feel about NActional MUFPets I do notice that the system we have has thrown the people into a cycle of “what’s in it for me?” or” How does this affect me first?” because I think many are struggling to make ends meet. Also as soon as someone disagrees ,they get labelled conspiracy theorists or they are considered outside the hive which can make one unpopular very quickly and some people are not strong enough to need that shit in their lives. However it is demoralising when a personal issue throws you at a brick wall everytime you turn a corner and once that happens that transcends the next issue and slowly one stops believing that the good will prevail. I heard Cunliffe saying he cared about the Pike River Miners Families. No matter anyone else saying negative stuff about Labour and their past ,I’m still going to support them because their policy says “We Care about you”, and I’d sleep better knowing those men didn’t die in vain and that their families are not worthless.
Oh now, thanks Kevin you guys have shown much empathy that I know is sincere and Ilook forward to the Greens and labour being able to work together on issues such as this. Keep up the good work.
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Hard News: The problems inherent in the system, in reply to Moz,
Why can’t we treat cannabis (fixed it for you) the same way as tobacco? Hey, why not make it part of the tobacco license?
We should be able to just as anyone who uses drugs wants to give up should be able to seek some help. That was my point, (albeit I beat around the bush) it should be like alcohol law.Laws we already have and are used to. I also think, that if someone doesn't want to give up their whatever vice,they too should be able to live that way. The word Junkie seems to be applied as a derogatory word of which I don't like the discrimination. Addict suggests sick. User works for me as it has no prejudice.
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Speaker: Let's talk about class, in reply to TracyMac,
Again, a mining company is "big business", and even Labour wants to position itself as "corporation friendly" .
Back in late 2013 I remember, and there was this from Cunliffe about Pike River Miners families. I recall Cunliffe trying time and time again to raise this in the House and I suspect their policy is a consequence of that. I consider that a fair attempt from Labour to respect the families and protect future situations that could occur. Until the laws in place to protect workers and until the systematic funding cuts from this current lot are stopped we will continue to have the likes of Whittall and Companies like this one at the helm, I believe. It smelt of asset stripping to me. That's never good for the working class in a business.
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Hard News: The problems inherent in the system, in reply to Rich of Observationz,
but not one that’s in people’s faces, if that’s what people object to.
I think that's one thing. Some people would be getting all hooha about it being Tax free (although I think we pay tax twice on many things and that's acceptable ). People don't like others getting something for free if they have to pay as in alcohol which is taxed.
Campbell live did a marvellous job of showing that people were getting high in the morning. Shock Horror! There were some who bought their drugs on their way to work, and although I heard a couple of people say it was for a smoke when they got home, the perception was, they will get high at work. The work ethic that is pushed is you must put in 40 hrs at least a week and then you can have a bit of fun. If nobody wants to employ you or you haven't created your own job yet, you are supposed to look ready. How cruel is that? Who are these judges to say you'll get a job one day so sit tight and wait.... oh that's right its Paula Benefit (lets put millions into making people ready for work and pay more consultants to advise the unemployed while we take away their accommodation and cut their assistance because you had to hitch the 35km to get to a Winz appt that want to see that you are work ready and you were late as noone picked you up and there were no buses in the whole area to help get you there rant grumble grrr). We have picked up people in this situation. But I digress. So yeah, tax, nimbyism,I'll get my coat...
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Hard News: The problems inherent in the system, in reply to Russell Brown,
Her personal experience as a former user of cocaine and heroin and
Ok, so some talk about it, but they are usually ex... ;)
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Hard News: The problems inherent in the system, in reply to BenWilson,
A small fraction end up junkies. I don’t see why we have to dedicate all of the discussion to the junkies.
I don’t see how most on here can. How many users actually will admit to it and explain what is good about it . One thing a “junkie” is very good at is to not talk about it because of the stigma awarded in the drugs sphere around different types of heavier stuff. People will chat about an E on Saturday nite or a bit of speed to enjoy a dance party etc. Not many admit to having a ping of homebake to chill in front of a good movie at home. A junkie can function in society just as well as a pot smoker or casual drinker. The stigma however is that they can’t, as I think you insinuated or did you use the term loosely for all types of drugs?
As an aside, we are just watching a rerun of the entire series of "The Wire", Series 3 on Hamsterdam is a pretty good analogy of acceptance of users and the Police trying to find a solution to ignoring the trade while at the same time accommodating the others residents in the community with the inherent problems that come with all of it.
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Hard News: The problems inherent in the system, in reply to Craig Ranapia,
It wasn’t perfect by any measure, but it did make a difference.
Whereas the needle exchange was. It gave those with any concern about HepC a chance to not share needles with a very good exchange rate on used ones and free alcohol swabs etc that together encouraged safe use along with safe needle disposal. The literature was valuable also. So in all, it is helpful to be helpful, but I agree with Ben in much of his assessment to legalise in that the hypocrisy in our democracy is just not fair for those who enjoy what should be a human right to smoke pot and why not with the same test that is applied to alcohol. That law is already there.
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Someone in the Council is trying to make a plan forward. Go Deputy mayor, Penny Hulse!
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Hard News: The sphere of influence, in reply to "chris",
So we may have mixed up our Julia Xus
Yes, there is more than one. Considering the one who works for Oravida did work for Bankers Trust and Lehman Brothers, I'd put my money on this one ( the plot thickens :)