Posts by Bart Janssen
Last ←Newer Page 1 2 3 4 5 Older→ First
-
Envirologue: Too Big to Fail – Why…, in reply to Amanda Wreckonwith,
This approach is very appealing but I wonder how quickly you think we will get to this point?
Some days I don't think we will. We select the people to manage our country based on a popularity contest inevitably decided by the amount of money that each side can apply to marketing themselves. Nothing to do with ability to make worthwhile decisions. On that basis we're fucked.
Some days I think folks really do get it, they are tired of seeing their services degraded to fund tax cuts we don't need while critical part of our economy and ecology are sold to the highest bidder. And yes they will vote for someone to put a stop to that shit.
I can't change the minds of all the voters but I can and do have the conversation with folks about if they voted and who they voted for and what they expected from those they voted for.
Some days that feels worthwhile.
-
Envirologue: Too Big to Fail – Why…, in reply to Stamper Stamp,
I would appreciate an explanation
There is abundant scientific literature. If you don't have the knowledge to understand that literature there are multiple statements from scientists who do have the knowledge and have clearly explained that the literature is correct and the effect is real.
What you are in fact saying is that you don't believe those scientists and you are instead relying on some other process to guide your thoughts. Since that process has nothing to do with logic or rational thinking there is no point in engaging with you. You will drag out flawed debunked graphs and data endlessly wasting everyone's time and none of it will change the reality of the world.
-
Envirologue: Too Big to Fail – Why…, in reply to Dave Hansford,
as does most of the western world and much of the east
Look I get your ideological hatred of the neoliberal doctrine. But I'm sorry you are shifting into an extreme ideological position yourself and frankly that is distorting your view.
China is far from any kind of neoliberal ideology and while elements of Western Europe are neoliberal huge parts of it are incredibly socialist and can and have run neoliberals out the exit door.
As for India and Africa, neither could be described by any ideology as simplistic as "neoliberal".
Sure our morons in Wellington are indeed neoloberal but actually they are much better described as corrupt. All of the actions of the Nats over the last terms could quite simply be put down to simple corruption by companies with deep pockets (Insurance, Oil, Fonterra, and Fletchers being prime examples).
None of which would matter a damn if you weren't wasting time and energy on a pointless attack on an ideology. History should teach you that attacking ideologies is hopeless. What works is is making the ideology irrelevant.
For New Zealand it's as simple as deciding that "no thanks we don't want to fuck up our environment" and voting accordingly. No impossible ideological revolution required.
-
Hard News: This Anzac Day, in reply to John Farrell,
1st lord of the admiralty
Yeah I did know that. Was being facetious.
His story is interesting - the debacle at Gallipoli somehow didn't quite destroy his career. To some degree he probably became a better war leader because he no longer actually planned campaigns and left that task to those with some competence, by contrast Hitler's (and yes I guess that Godwin's the thread) direct involvement as a general contributed significantly to the allied success.
-
Hard News: This Anzac Day, in reply to Hilary Stace,
I still don’t really understand how NZers came to be invading Turkey.
Really short version.
Churchill had this idea that opening up another front would relieve pressure in France and Belgium. His plan was to sail troops into the Sea of Marmara and attack Istanbul.
The problem was the narrow strait leading into the sea was flanked by guns that would destroy any fleet, so he decided landing troops on each side of the strait to capture those guns was a good idea.
It so happened that there were some Australian and New Zealand troops that nobody knew what to do with so he sent them along with the French and British troops he assigned to this errand.
That was about the level of planning involved and hence it was an unmitigated* disaster - so Churchill became a politician.
*this could almost be a perfect definition of the word
-
I struggle with all the aspects of ANZAC day and the way we view war itself. So much is boys own heroism. So much clinical analysis of strategy and tactics and weaponry and ...
And I'm fascinated by much of that as well.
But my father served in the Dutch army during WWII and I know almost nothing about his experiences. Except the very gaps tell a story, not a fun exciting boys own story.
And I've read and seen enough first-hand accounts to know those who experienced war hated everything about war, including what it did to them. Nothing of that history is jolly boys own.
Yeah the last 100 years is complex. There is no straight line from then to now. And what we know now about that time is no less complex.
I do still feel the strength of lest we forget. I do still get the sense that those who experienced war never want anyone else to have to suffer that. The idea that we should only ever send our young men and women to war as the very very last resort is still there.
But somehow today's ANZAC doesn't feel right. Yet again politicians are sending our young into a war we don't really understand, being led by commanders we barely know. Have we actually forgotten?
The night before and I'm still not sure if we'll go to the dawn service.
-
Hard News: About Campbell Live, in reply to Paul Campbell,
That Taiwanese news channel that does animations of world events ….
Nailed it
-
Hard News: About Campbell Live, in reply to Alfie,
Incidentally, if I lived in Auckland I certainly wouldn’t be patronising any of the Hip Group cafés either.
Yeah this part really pisses me off. It isn't entirely clear that the owners of The Hip Group weren't lied to as well but the most parsimonious conclusion is that they hung their waitress out to dry for the benefit of Glucina, The Herald, and Key.
And I do go to their cafes, I think I've eaten at most of them and been many times to some of them. What bugs me is their staff always seem happy and helpful - which usually indicates that the bosses are decent and fair.
Yet on the face of it, the owners of The Hip group have decided it was better business to trick their staff member into an interview with one of the most right wing gossip columnists around.
It will be hard to stop visiting Hip Group cafes but there are a lot of other nice cafes in Auckland.
-
Hard News: About Campbell Live, in reply to Sacha,
Note that Glucina is denying the accusation
Hmmm who should I believe?
Such a hard decision ...
-
Hard News: About Campbell Live, in reply to Russell Brown,
The waitress says she was deceived into sitting down with her employers and talking to Rachel Glucina
This is just disgusting. It appears as though The Herald, through Glucina and Currie have decided to give up any pretense of having moral standards.
Surely there are some restrictions on whether journalists are allowed to lie to victims of harassment to get a story?
This woman was the victim of sustained bullying and harassment.
The Herald believes it's OK to lie to her in order to get a story?