Posts by Ian MacKay
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Craig:,
That's not "neutrality", Ian. You can have perfectly strong -- and strongly expressed -- views on either end of the political spectrum, and still maintain a modicum of civility and regard for objective reality. Doesn't have to be a zero-sum game."
I was excluding the ranters who seem to be somewhere on the right (if such a thing exists). It seems that when you can't tell from the post whether the person is one or the other, then it seems the issues are easier to cope with. For me anyway.
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Colin Espiner's blog seems to attract some extreme right ranters, but there are some very interesting and varied views that seem neutral politically and therefore address issues. eg Throw Away the Key.
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And I understand it's not retrospective in any respect.
Surely if that were the case they would have time to generate any extra prisoners by 2011?
Great Lyndon.
It follows then that if a person had to serve even three/five years, National would not have to front up with the action. They are clever to have their cake and........ -
I had read that the shopowner who has been charged, had gone outside onto the footpath armed with a hockey stick, accused a youth of stealing from his shop, attacked the boy at which point the other youths joined in. Several people were hurt. At least one of the youths was also charged. If this was so, was the shopkeeper defending himself? Was he defending his property? Or was he attacking a youth? Not sure where the info came from so can't verify. Read it somewhere.
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Grant said:"What's the bet that should someone reveal something skoddy about a National MP Whaleoil, Hooten, et al, will hypocritically cry foul."
No No. Not "foul". They say:"Labour is using our money to dig the dirt on us good folk"
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Stuart remarked on the "reward for being nice" as a philosophical question. I agree and the principle of "rewarding for good behaviour" is faulty. However acknowledging good behaviour is a great thing. "You did a great job there George." "You dried all the dishes." "You brought the washing in without being asked." No reward though.
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I have looked at the SST graph of Violence and Homicide. I do not understand it. It seems to show nearly nil in the 1950's and huge rise to 2005. That's not true. Is it? Can't be.
Homicides include murder manslaughter, infacide, and I think suicide. Was up as high as 120 but now in the low 80's. The murder rate has stayed constant at around 50-60 per annum. It is a problem comparing with other countries because some for example count a mass murder as a single event. In NZ each victim is counted in the total.
I have looked at Peters responses here and on his blog. In a perfect world everyone would be kind to each other. But thats not so. I cannot for the life of me understand what Peter is proposing. Blame DPB? Put any potential violence in prison? What is the answer Peter? Please explain or you will just scare everyone for nothing. Crime is less not more over the last decade. -
A friend sent her son to a school in Christchurch as a boarder about 4 years ago. On her visit to him he said" Can't wait to next year!"
"Why?"
"Cos next year it will be my turn to beat up the young ones."
My friend spoke to the Head of the Hostel about the violence, and he said "Don't worry about it. Thats what the boarders always do to each other. Toughens them up." (2005!!!)
The lad was sent to Nelson College instead. -
Hey Haywwood! We want to go back to the good old days! Bring back corporal punishment. Show a bit of backbone boy! A good thrashing never did me any harm. Discipline needed here! Boot camps are the answer for you Mamby Pambies! :)
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I have been reading the Listener for decades but have reached the stage of cancelling my sub in the next quarter, but I was pleased to read a study of crime statistics written by Gabrielle Maxwell this week. page 24. In spite of those loud voices eg Sensible Sentencing Trust(??) it seems that crime is reducing, and not "spiralling out of control" as Mr Key says. As for Rodney Hide, is this just another dog-whistle tactic? (Is it true that Hide was the last person to be censured by the Privileges Committee?)