Posts by Hilary Stace
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And page 2 of the DomPost.
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I do a bit of cemetery tourism. An aim of my OE was to see Marx's grave in London's Highgate Cemetery. I don't pass by Waimate without dropping by to say hello to Norm Kirk, and my mother's family plot near by. Ancestor Richard Davis has a handsome old grave in Waimate North. I'm not a genealogist, but that's a group that understands the fascination of cemeteries.
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I find it fascinating how skillful this government is at spinning the public. Just imagine if a GST rise was dismissed as an issue by pre-Budget commentators as Key had promised not to raise it, before the last election. And then sprung on us on Thursday. Just as people will be fine with Kiwibank privatisation by the next election as it will by then be old news.
Interesting article in DomPost today about the careful media management by the Government and implying that Key is scared of a grilling by Sean Plunket so refuses to be interviewed on Radio NZ. Only Paul Henry and a few hand picked soft touches are allowed that privilege.
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From a quick look at the disability budget increase it seems the bulk of it is going to providers (private or NFPs) of residential, respite or home and community support. I just hope there is some incentive to make sure it really goes to better pay,training and conditions for the actual workers. And with some way for the auditing of that to be done by consumers.
There is a new peak body of providers and it looks like they have had a big influence on the Minister. A lesson there for others in the sector.
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In the 1981 general election Social Credit won 372,056,
20.65% of the total, up from 16.1% the one bfeore.I do however actually feel grateful that first past the post kept those loons away from the levers of power.
So, Russell, I presume you consider the 1981-4 National Government,- elected with fewer votes but more seats than the main opposition Labour Party - a sober and rational one?
A Labour/Social Credit government from 1981 may have actually stared down the Rogernomes..
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Wikipedia already has a comprehensive entry for the election with all relevant statistics of percentages, numbers of seats won and lost and an electoral map.
(Amazing how close the three main parties were in New Zealand terms.)
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From Bagehot who is live blogging for the Economist
* May 6th 2010, 20:53 by The Economist | LONDON00:18: Another view from the southern hemisphere: a correspondent appeals for Britons to learn from New Zealanders. Yes, really. "I've been very surprised since the beginning of Cleggmania that more has not been made in the British press of New Zealand's experience. Yes, laugh all you like. It's a small country, far away with lots of sheep. It also happens to be something of a laboratory for economic, political and social experiments. First country to give women the vote, first to introduce large scale welfare state, and in many ways went much further than Thatcher in a swing to the right in the 1980s. By the 1990s the people were fed up with their politicians and ready to punish them (sound familiar). In a referendum voters rejected the British-style first past the post system and supported a German-style form of Mixed Member Proportional Representation." My suspicion, given tonight's swing to the Tories, is that the lessons from New Zealand may be neglected for some more years yet.
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Is this the first election with a postal voting option? Because those people might have voted when the Lib Dems were surging a couple of weeks ago and not reflected in exit polls.
Are people who vote by postal vote more likely to vote one way or another? Special votes in NZ used to favour National because they tended to be people away on holiday. But after the electoral laws were made more inclusive they became the late enrollers, students, young people etc. Postal votes would favour those whose lives are more geographically secure.
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Russell, you do do some good generous stuff.
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Russell - not sure if it is the right time to be promoting JB Hi-Fi as there is a bit of industrial action going on there.
From the Living Wage FB page."Please spread the word and support these young JB Hi Fi Workers- their greedy CEO pays himself over NZ$5million, but he won't give workers 50 cents on their pay. Invite all your friends to the event, and to join the Campaign for a Living Wage group!".
Event: JB LO PAY- Solidarity Rally!
Start Time: Saturday, May 8 at 1:00pm
End Time: Saturday, May 8 at 2:00pm
Where: Jb Hi Fi Store, Queen Street- Saturday May 8th 1pm