General Debate 12 July 2011

Email
Facebook
Twitter
Comment76

Uncategorized
General Debate

Comments (76)

Login to comment or vote

Inventory2

A certain Green Party member got cyber-slapped around the ears in a big way last night over at Keeping Stock; start your day with an amusing little ditty; it’s our Comment of the Year so far!

http://keepingstock.blogspot.com/2011/07/comment-of-year.html
0 0
Log in to Reply
Report
July 12, 2011 7:00am
Pete George

Brash versus Sharples was more careful than brash, and more dull than sharp. Bribe the tribe, clash of Brash.

Message to Sharples – I was born here, I have a right to live here, I am not here at anyone’s invitation.
Message to Brash – if you’re not prepared to say things face to face why say them in print?
It’s false advertising.
0 0
Log in to Reply
Report
July 12, 2011 7:03am
Manolo

The American version of the hopeless Goff. More and higher taxes for all and sundry: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303812104576438130028027412.html?mod=WSJ_Opinion_LEADTop
0 0
Log in to Reply
Report
July 12, 2011 7:06am
Manolo

A militant gay teacher speaks: http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/5268892/Teacher-out-to-ban-pupils-use-of-gay

By the way, how do you get a “masters degree on homosexuality in education”?
0 0
Log in to Reply
Report
July 12, 2011 7:10am
Put it away

Banning things is gay
0 0
Log in to Reply
Report
July 12, 2011 7:46am
Manolo

Turia and Sharples will be happy. Wait until the other NZ tobacco-nazis see this: http://health.msn.co.nz/blog.aspx?blogentryid=845527&showcomments=true
0 0
Log in to Reply
Report
July 12, 2011 7:49am
ciaron

@ Manolo: I don’t know for sure, but I’d bet it was against my religion.
0 0
Log in to Reply
Report
July 12, 2011 7:53am
Andrei

What can you say when both the IPCA and a coroner issue a ruling which not only contradicts real world driving experience but also the New Road Code?

http://nzconservative.blogspot.com/2011/07/this-is-odd.html
0 0
Log in to Reply
Report
July 12, 2011 7:55am
mikenmild

With a Master’s degree under his belt, perhaps he’ll be ready to tackle a subject like ‘the history of Canadian doughnut shops’ or ‘The Effects of Pre-Existing Inappropriate Highlighting on Reading Comprehension’ – actual PhD topics.
0 0
Log in to Reply
Report
July 12, 2011 7:57am
Yvette

As touched on already –
A Kiwi teacher is on a mission to ban the word “gay” from pupils’ everyday speech.
Warren Bowers, a primary school teacher who has done his masters degree on homosexuality in education, said New Zealand children and teenagers seemed to use “gay” as a negative colloquial term more than pupils in other countries.
“Quite often teachers just ignore it … teachers will pull kids up on using sexist language, they’ll pull kids up on using racist language … but if kids use that word ‘gay’ … quite often, they’ll just let it slide.”
However, Victoria University linguistics professor Laurie : said he doubted a ban would have much effect. Despite common use of racist terms being eliminated, racism still existed.

Interesting: a Primary school teacher able to push his personal agenda, discussing homophobia terms with little kids.
I would suggest ‘personal’ because he doesn’t seem to be on a crusade to also remove the word ‘wanker’ from similar usage for similar reasons, that young boys should not have derogatory connotations to misdirect or complicate a natural experience.

Mr Bowers, who is gay, said it was hard enough coming out as homosexual, without the negative connotations associated with the word.

Textbook case: Mr Bowers is obviously doing this as an extension of his own narrow interests, as are Chris Carter’s comments as a former education minister and now an independent MP.
Both he and Bowers are definitely gay – in both its most common recent meanings.

PS –
If you want kids to do something, tell them they can’t.
Bowers could learn a little from a 1947 primary school teacher, Patricia Bartlett.
0 0
Log in to Reply
Report
July 12, 2011 8:07am
Andrei

Tsk milkenmild those topics have got nothing on studies we have underway in this country

Exhibit: Professor Annamarie Jagose

My current research project is “Orgasmology,” a cultural history of the unique compactions of cultural meaning that have accrued to orgasm as well as the wide repertory of narratives that have taken orgasm as their figural vehicle across the twentieth century. In 2004, I was awarded a Vice-Chancellor’s Strategic Research Development Award (2005-2006) to advance this research. I was also a member of a collaborative UoA team funded with a Marsden Fund Grant from the Royal Society of New Zealand to work on a collaborative three-year project “Acts and Identities: Toward a New Cultural History of Sex” (2007-2009).
0 0
Log in to Reply
Report
July 12, 2011 8:08am
Lance

So the have already ‘buggered up’ the word gay and are now looking for another word to ruin.

Oy vey
0 0
Log in to Reply
Report
July 12, 2011 8:11am
Falafulu Fisi

Andrei, she has a PhD in gender and queer theory; television studies; cultural studies and everyday life. I didn’t know that these sort of bullsh*t is taught at university level. As I have predicted a few years ago, that there will be degree programs at university for courses in toilet cleaning and rubbish collection. It looks like that it is moving towards that way. Besides, some of these are already being taught at NCEA level (such as making the bed) in recent years.
0 0
Log in to Reply
Report
July 12, 2011 8:32am
Nookin

I hope he is not a maths teacher. He would have all sorts of trouble explaining what a square root is.
0 0
Log in to Reply
Report
July 12, 2011 8:36am
TripeWryter

Well, yes, I can imagine that Mr Bowers will now have his work cut out, trying to re-engineer schoolchildren.

Tell children they can’t do something, and they will, and they will find alternatives to subvert his strictures.

For some reason, teachers in particular feel they have to enforce enlightenment and goodness and fairness in children, and sometimes that is laudable.

But children have their own social codes, and are quite ruthless about it. They include, exclude, befriend, ostracise for all sorts of reasons.

Eventually they often grow out of it, and without the precious ‘help’ of perhaps well-meaning teachers and counsellors.

One of my children was born with a physical disability. She found, as have countless children down the ages have found, that sometimes it’s better to ignore children’s cruel remarks. She found resilience of character because of it.

Mr Bowers would be better to keep his nose out of things that don’t concern him, and the school that employs him perhaps could encourage him to do that.

As someone else said: this is his personal agenda.
0 0
Log in to Reply
Report
July 12, 2011 8:38am
flipper

Andrei…
Coroner Garry Evans is a conveyancer whose career started in Wellington law firm O’Regan and Arndt (Much later, O’Regan, Arndt, Peters and Evans). The late Harry Arndt was the quality. Evans the padding. When ACC took over from Workers Compensation the firm went south. It was little wonder Evans was passed over for a permanent coronial appointment when the structure was revised. Still a conveyancer but not the best.
0 0
Log in to Reply
Report
July 12, 2011 8:42am
AlphaKiwi

I feel sorry for these 5 men in Wellsford. It’s obvious they are the real victims here.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10737895
0 0
Log in to Reply
Report
July 12, 2011 8:44am
Murray

Oh look some shirtlifter thinks that kiwis what they can’t do is going to work for him.

Gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay gay!

Hows that working out for you teacher boy?
0 0
Log in to Reply
Report
July 12, 2011 8:52am
AlphaKiwi

Democracy takes a blow in Israel.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-14111925
0 0
Log in to Reply
Report
July 12, 2011 8:53am
Mr Nobody NZ

I can’t help but think that Mr Bowers needs to watch South Parks The F Word (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_F_Word_(South_Park)) as I suspect that the context that most of the school children are using the term “gay” in is not the one the he is associating it with.
0 0
Log in to Reply
Report
July 12, 2011 8:58am
Yvette

gay
adjective
Gay meaning ‘homosexual,’ dating back to the 1930s (if not earlier), became established in the 1960s as the term preferred by homosexual men to describe themselves. It is now the standard accepted term throughout the English-speaking world. As a result, the centuries-old other senses of gay meaning either ‘carefree’ or ‘bright and showy,’ once common in speech and literature, are much less frequent. The word gay cannot be readily used unselfconsciously today in these older senses without sounding old-fashioned or arousing a sense of double entendre, despite concerted attempts by some to keep them alive.
Gay in its modern sense typically refers to men ( lesbian being the standard term for homosexual women), but in some contexts it can be used of both men and women.

Now, Mr Bowers, the word is changing to mean something else.
Just deal with it – yourself.
0 0
Log in to Reply
Report
July 12, 2011 9:03am
Put it away

If we need another word to replace “gay” as a general negative term, can I suggest “green”
0 0
Log in to Reply
Report
July 12, 2011 9:05am
krazykiwi

They have no backbone and their slimy bodies are made up of more than 90 per cent water but they threaten to turn beaches into no-go zones within two decades.

No, not your local Green or Mana candidate but jellyfish that are apparently procreating out of control thanks to ‘climate change’.

The complete absence of objective science in these ‘articles’ is breathtaking. When you read these, ask yourself if the researcher is looking for more funding to pursue their life passion. It usually looks that way.
0 0
Log in to Reply
Report
July 12, 2011 9:06am
ciaron

I notice the term being used in the context of something being misrepresented, or not functioning as the designer intended. in that case Mr Bowers efforts are most certainly… gay.
0 0
Log in to Reply
Report
July 12, 2011 9:10am
Pete George

As Bryce Edwards suggested on NatRad this morning the Greens are trying to reposition themselves as more centrist.

There’s a possibility that may be just for vote attraction rather than core policy objectives.
0 0
Log in to Reply
Report
July 12, 2011 9:16am
kingofthejuice

Homophobes are so gay.
0 0
Log in to Reply
Report
July 12, 2011 9:21am
kingofthejuice

@Put it away (2,025) Says:
July 12th, 2011 at 9:05 am
“If we need another word to replace “gay” as a general negative term, can I suggest “green”

Okay, since we’re making up words, why don’t we call climate change deniers ‘cnuts’ (as in King Cnut)
0 0
Log in to Reply
Report
July 12, 2011 9:27am
wf

Trypewriter said:

. . . . . For some reason, teachers in particular feel they have to enforce enlightenment and goodness and fairness in children, and sometimes that is laudable . . . .

Are the educators taking over where religion has left off?

Will education suffer the same degradation as religion itself? Empty churches and empty schools?

Dare I say
God help us! ?
0 0
Log in to Reply
Report
July 12, 2011 9:27am
backster

The homosexual teacher instead of banning the word gay should try and rehabilitate it to its original wholesome meaning. He could offer the words ‘poofter’ or ‘faggot’ or ‘dyke’ as acceptable terms which have historically been used to indicate deviants ,
0 0
Log in to Reply
Report
July 12, 2011 9:35am
Luc Hansen

From VeryKrazyKiwi

The complete absence of objective science in these ‘articles’ is breathtaking.

The hypocrisy in this statement from an avid climate change/global warming denier is what is truly breathtaking.

He can’t even name what he objects to the physical science because he knows he will get shot down in flames so he relies on conspiracy theories and character assassination.

It’s like those idiots who objected to the billboard advocating making money out of going green. First they say the conspiracy is to destroy the world’s economies, then, when it’s pointed out that green makes economic sense, the conspiracy turns out to be a money making scheme.

Talk about having it all ways!
0 0
Log in to Reply
Report
July 12, 2011 9:35am
starboard

Nookin 8.36.

Bawhahahahahahah!!! Good one.
0 0
Log in to Reply
Report
July 12, 2011 9:41am
jcuk

The point raised in the Coddington-Franks yelling match on Morning Report about Brash saying the problem with Maori is the most concerning problem facing people is rather suspect in my view. I suspect that since people know Brash has a position on this subject then they are more willing to mention their concerns than if talking to other politically correct people.

Tale of Two Light Bulbs … from yesterdays GD thread …I am glad I recently read Jodi Picout’s book about a young man suffering from that version of autism and can understand the problems the person faces in society … and think it is a shame that somebody in the police force with the authority to curb its members doesn’t.
0 0
Log in to Reply
Report
July 12, 2011 9:42am
big bruv

More “Green” scaremongering

http://www.stuff.co.nz/environment/5269009/Toxic-crisis-predicted-with-digital-TV-move
0 0
Log in to Reply
Report
July 12, 2011 9:43am
Put it away

Kingofthejuice – if you actually knew the King Cnut story instead of the common erroneous version that reverses his expectation of what the tide would do, you would see why your attempt at wit makes no sense. Can we redefine “ignorant” as kingofthejuice?
0 0
Log in to Reply
Report
July 12, 2011 9:49am
Dave Mann

I agree with you Pete that last night’s debate with Brash vs Sharples was pretty bland.

Brash made some good points but not nearly forcefully enough in nz opinion. Sharples surprised me in the sheer skill with which he presented racial separatism and privilege as ‘our country moving together’. Amazing duplicity from the man who is obviously a very accomplished liar and in a way entertaining to watch.

I was also impresse with the production values of the programme and the fact that the maoris’ TV channel which is paid for with our tax money looks so good and has the guts and flexibility to pick this up at such short notice. A visitor to New Zealand would be forgiven for being confused as to who these ‘disadvantaged’ people are that everybody is talking about.
0 0
Log in to Reply
Report
July 12, 2011 10:04am
wreck1080

Gareth Morgan has nailed it. Why isn’t he president of the world already?

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=10737829

No wonder he is one of the most repected business people in NZ, he knows whats going on and also happens to have the same views as me ha ha.

Yet he goes further, and argues for a capital tax which I am also agreeable.

Gareth is effectively arguing for a tax increase for himself—who in their right mind would do that? An honest and trustworthy person is who.

But Labour wish to increase total taxation but the proper method would be to ensure the changes are tax neutral–ie, income tax is cut by the opposite amount of the new taxes.
0 0
Log in to Reply
Report
July 12, 2011 10:05am
hj

Pete George Says:

“As Bryce Edwards suggested on NatRad this morning the Greens are trying to reposition themselves as more centrist.

There’s a possibility that may be just for vote attraction rather than core policy objectives.”
……………………..
Catherine Delahunty is 4th on the list.
+
“Opponents of the legislation say the battle over the foreshore is not over with a promise from the Greens that it won’t let the foreshore and seabed issue die as it heads into the election campaign.

Greens co-leader Metiria Turei says the Maori Party has betrayed its supporters.

“I’m very distressed about this, this should not have happened,” she says. “The Maori Party had the power to fix the 2004 legislation, to repeal it and to put in place a just outcome, and they chose not to.”

Ms Turei is furious at the Maori Party.

“We should repeal the racist law and restore access to the courts and genuine justice,” she says. “We’ll continue to hold the Maori Party to account for their role in allowing this legislation to pass.”
http://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/newsdetail1.asp?storyid=193090

etc, etc = highly likely the Greens misrepresent themselves at election time (that’s integrity)!
0 0
Log in to Reply
Report
July 12, 2011 10:34am
Yvette

‘Hardline’ approach by police on looting story
A police investigation into a current affairs television story on an alleged Christchurch looter is consistent with a “hardline” approach by Christchurch police, the accused’s lawyer says.
The investigation followed a story on Television New Zealand’s Sunday programme about Cornelius Arie Smith-Voorkamp, an Asperger’s sufferer who was arrested for allegedly stealing light-fittings from a quake-damaged Lincoln Rd property after the February 22 quake.
A police spokesman said last night: “We are investigating the actions of the Sunday programme in relation to their dealings with parties to the case.” …
TVNZ was surprised by the investigation.

Why do the Police not lodge a complaint with Broadcasting Standards, like anyone else, if they have a legitimate complaint?
0 0
Log in to Reply
Report
July 12, 2011 10:39am
kingofthejuice

@Put it away (2,027) Says:
July 12th, 2011 at 9:49 am

A fair point. I would argue that the ‘popular misconception’ of Cnut’s history is as valid as any truth you may propose.
0 0
Log in to Reply
Report
July 12, 2011 10:42am
Sofia

Primary school teacher Mr Bowers should note that the word ‘gay’, which he wants to preserve to describe his own and Chris Carter’s sexual orientation, has most likely moved from that usage to mean ‘un-cool’, ‘boring’, ‘lame’ and ‘of no new interest’, as a result of himself and others banging on endlessly about their sexuality, playing the gay card, being in our face so long after the general public has been brainwashed, by particularly the NZ Aids Foundation, to ‘accept’ homosexuality.
Why else has the word shifted in meaning, other than it reflecting the attitude to some now boring gays?

What is more a concern is that, of the very few male primary school teachers there are, Mr Bowers flaunts his particular sexuality, albeit that his attitude is past its best by date, or gay.
0 0
Log in to Reply
Report
July 12, 2011 10:56am
backster

YVETTE::::”Why do the Police not lodge a complaint with Broadcasting Standards, like anyone else, if they have a legitimate complaint?”

Perhaps they are considering “Contempt of court,’ or ‘conspiracy to pervert the course of justice’ charges against the channel.
0 0
Log in to Reply
Report
July 12, 2011 11:09am
Manolo

Gareth Morgan turned into a warmist some time ago. He’s now become a multimillionaire socialist, an advocate for higher taxes for serfs and peasants.
0 0
Log in to Reply
Report
July 12, 2011 11:17am
Sofia

Perhaps they are considering “Contempt of court,’ or ‘conspiracy to pervert the course of justice’ charges against the channel.

Very reasonable explanation – why not simply say so?
0 0
Log in to Reply
Report
July 12, 2011 11:39am
tom hunter

I’ve always thought that Obama’s only real skill was campaigning, but after seeing clips like this I’m beginning to wonder even about that skill:

“So, when you hear folks saying ‘Well, the president shouldn’t want massive job killing tax increases when the economy is this weak.’ Nobody’s looking to raise taxes right now. We’re talking about potentially 2013 and the out years.”

Heh, heh, heh. Vote for me in 2012 so you can get massive job-killing tax increases in 2013.

Obama is awesome.
0 0
Log in to Reply
Report
July 12, 2011 11:49am
Mick Mac

http://blogs.news.com.au/heraldsun/andrewbolt/
Climate change is settled science people!

It’s like the homosexual teacher, it’s just so gay.

Manalo 11:17
I prefer the term Chardonay Socialist myself.
0 0
Log in to Reply
Report
July 12, 2011 12:02pm
Lance

Agree with some of what Gareth is saying.
I suspect it is a bridge too far to include the family home in CGT. It will take time to wean the populous off the tax free (un-productive) tit.

I had to laugh at some of the comments about people taking themselves and their assets to other countries if CGT is introduced here. You know all those other countries that don’t have CGT.. oh wait!

As for proposing a CGT as a fairer system being leftist…huh?
There seems to confusion between tax everything that moves or is nailed down so it can be wasted on useless and inefficient things (leftist) and move to a fair CGT so the tax take as a whole can be reduced and the economy is channeling productive sectors.
You know like lets actually earn stuff before we spend it. Radical I know.
0 0
Log in to Reply
Report
July 12, 2011 12:10pm
ciaron

You know like lets actually earn stuff before we spend it. Radical I know.
You’re talking about the Government there, right?
0 0
Log in to Reply
Report
July 12, 2011 12:17pm
Lance

@ciaron
Theoretically the nation, as we (collectively) voted them in.
0 0
Log in to Reply
Report
July 12, 2011 12:22pm
tom hunter

You know like lets actually earn stuff before we spend it. Radical I know.

Woah there Nelly. You start making demands like that and pretty soon people will be asking questions as to how to restructure government institutions to prevent automatic spending increases, rather than figuring out ways to increase government revenue further and …. oh wait.
0 0
Log in to Reply
Report
July 12, 2011 12:27pm
ciaron

One thing always wonder (but never get around to finding out) is: when someone like Goofy Goff or Stormin’ Norman prattle on about all the other countries with CGT, what over all part does the CGT play in the total tax take? What other taxes (and don’t forget the various levies) do those countires run and how do they compare with ours? For one, I already fell taxed enough and think it high time the Govenment learned to cut it’s cloth as the people have to.
0 0
Log in to Reply
Report
July 12, 2011 12:32pm
hj

Motor mouth:
http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/ninetonoon/audio/2493232/politics-with-sue-bradford-and-deborah-coddington.asx
0 0
Log in to Reply
Report
July 12, 2011 12:41pm
KevinH

John Key in todays Herald:

NZ did not need new taxes, it needed more taxpayers “and the way to get that is to encourage growth”. A capital gains tax would discourage investment and cost jobs.

“Do we really want to put a dagger through the heart of growth? That’s what a capital gains tax is going to do.”

That statement surmises Nationals position on tax reform and indicates that there won’t be any reform in this area in the immediate future.
Labour will have another 3 years in opposition to develope a tax package that ultimately will never be implemented.
0 0
Log in to Reply
Report
July 12, 2011 12:45pm
tom hunter

Meantime, as the US hurtles towards an 11th hour compromise that avoids default but scares the living daylights out of everybody – Greece is still going down and making the Eurozone look shakier by the day:

if the drama continues on both sides of the Atlantic, we may soon get to witness a paradox: where does a capital “flight to safety” go if America defaults while the euro implodes?

Hello …. global financial crisis approaching ….. Hello. Anybody home?

Bueller? Bueller?

Oh well, guess I’ll continue paying off the last of my debts and battening down the hatches as best I can.
0 0
Log in to Reply
Report
July 12, 2011 1:02pm
hj

Overseas Investment Office figures show 72 farms sold to foreigners in 18 months to June, two declined
http://www.interest.co.nz/rural-news/54322/overseas-investment-office-figures-show-72-farms-sold-foreigners-18-months-june-two
0 0
Log in to Reply
Report
July 12, 2011 1:06pm
Jimbob

So if too much money is going into houses, does that mean we should be living in tents and buying Apple at $354 a share?
Inflation is a major issue with property, so you get hit with a double whammy if CGT is brought in. The houses have to be built to house the growing population and accordingly most of the money must be borrowed, as it happens in all western countries. The money put into housing by the owner is already taxed, the money he pays for interest and principle is already taxed. Also with the GFC still in it’s infancy, share prices around the world are about to tank massively, along with you hard earned taxed dollars. At least with a house you have a place to live and some sort of nest egg for your retirement.
As Manolo @ 11:17 am writes about our very learnered socialist Mr Morgan, he was once a champion of the free market, what the hell happened? Sorry, but being a socialist money manager does not give me that much confidence in what that guy writes.
0 0
Log in to Reply
Report
July 12, 2011 1:35pm
RightNow

We can call anybody anything we want, we have freedom of speech. Climate alarmists for example, are murderous nincompoops.

Luc, Kingofthejuice, climate sensitivity to a doubling of CO2 is no more than 1.6 deg Celsius. Care to debate?
0 0
Log in to Reply
Report
July 12, 2011 1:45pm
kingofthejuice

@RightNow (2,853) Says:
July 12th, 2011 at 1:45 pm

My position on the matter of AGW is simple. I don’t believe that it is an attempt by control freaks to interfere with my freedom, because it would would be impossible to corral so many scientists into the conspiracy. The scientists may be wrong, but then it comes down to managing a potential risk. I personally do not know enough about climate science to give you a reasonable debate about the specific example you cite. I have bought into what the ‘authorities’ are telling me. I am a warmist. Baaa.
0 0
Log in to Reply
Report
July 12, 2011 3:12pm
grumpyoldhori

Tom Hunter, a USA default, it seems some conservatives are arguing that they can default but it would make no difference because China and Europe will lend again on the some terms as before.

Batten down ? I suggest a deep bunker may be a good idea for us all if countries start defaulting on their debts.
0 0
Log in to Reply
Report
July 12, 2011 3:26pm
Nookin

Oh how the mighty have fallen!!
http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/money/5272691/Judge-rejects-Petricevic-application-for-stay-of-proceedings
0 0
Log in to Reply
Report
July 12, 2011 3:28pm
RightNow

kingofthejuice,
“The scientists may be wrong, but then it comes down to managing a potential risk.”
Even if the scientists are right, when it comes down to managing a potential risk what the hell is anybody doing right?
0 0
Log in to Reply
Report
July 12, 2011 3:34pm
kingofthejuice

@RightNow (2,854) Says:
July 12th, 2011 at 3:34 pm

I don’t hold out much hope that it will be managed. There is too much consumer resistance. There isn’t the political will to do anything meaningful and there will never be any global consensus on regulation reducing the emission of greenhouse gases.

Is the ETS an unfair economic burden? Yes, I suppose it is.
0 0
Log in to Reply
Report
July 12, 2011 4:12pm
tom hunter

it seems some conservatives are arguing that they can default but it would make no difference because China and Europe will lend again on the some terms as before.

You think Europe will have money to lend outside the continent? As for China, their steady draw down of US Treasury investments over the last few months should already be an indication of their willingness to lend to the US.

Care to link to those conservatives who are actually making that precise argument – or is that another FireDogLake assertion.

By contrast what I’ve read is that most conservatives are making the argument that the spending increase insanity of the last few years has to stop and even be rolled back, followed by fixes to the longer-term structural problems of Medicare and Social Security – or lenders like China will eventually get tougher.

The Democrats seem to be the group who think they can continue pissing money up against the wall while the world will lend them cheap money because they’re the USA, and that the vast ocean of spare cash splashing around in the US can simply be tapped with new and higher taxes.

Some conservatives are making the argument that hitting the debt limit amounts to something like the Continuing Resolutions that have powered the US government at various stages over the past few years. Which is to say that, with tens of billions pouring in from tax receipts the Treasury simply continues to pay the interest and principle on the debt plus Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid, CIA, NSA, FBI and Defense – and that’s it. Everything else goes down the priority list to say the least until some sort of budget can be crafted and agreed to by all sides.

Not a default in other words.

Not that I’m advocating such an approach myself because it would still cause some disruptions – although I can see how the GOP would think they’re being set up to cover for massive tax increases that the Dems never had the balls to pass when they controlled all the branches of government: Bush 1990 all over again.

It’s more an example that the August 2nd date that’s being trumpted by Geithner is not actually the sort of drop dead date he claims it is.

Popcorn moments though.
0 0
Log in to Reply
Report
July 12, 2011 4:13pm
Viking2

Gees, its raining here! like bloody pissing down in huge amounts.
0 0
Log in to Reply
Report
July 12, 2011 4:53pm
calendar girl

hj: “Overseas Investment Office figures show 72 farms sold to foreigners in 18 months to June, two declined
http://www.interest.co.nz/rural-news/54322/overseas-investment-office-figures-show-72-farms-sold-foreigners-18-months-june-two ”

So what are you saying – that no New Zealand farm should be able to be sold to a foreigner? If that’s your line, you might like to tell us how many New Zealand farms in total were sold in the 18 months to June, so that we can work out what percentage of total farms sold went to overseas interests. Otherwise, statements like the one you quoted are fairly meaningless and potentially misleading.
0 0
Log in to Reply
Report
July 12, 2011 4:58pm
holysheet

So Master Bowers, what would you replace the word “Gay” with
Select from the following. (I am sure others can add to this selection)
Queer
fag
faggot
shirt lifter
chutney ferret
pole smacker
poofter
dyke
fairy
0 0
Log in to Reply
Report
July 12, 2011 5:10pm
starboard

…dont forget knob jockey , chocolate fingers and freckle puncher holysheet…
0 0
Log in to Reply
Report
July 12, 2011 5:43pm
starboard

Petrol and diesel up again today…caltex the first movers this time..the dollar at a record high against the US and they have the cheek to increase..go figure. Fuck I hate oil companies.
0 0
Log in to Reply
Report
July 12, 2011 6:34pm
Viking2

Starboard. have a look at the num nut and arsehole who has this attack on John Ansell.

http://johnansell.wordpress.com/2011/07/12/the-intelligence-level-of-the-left/
0 0
Log in to Reply
Report
July 12, 2011 6:41pm
Steve

Nookin @ 3.28
Oh how the mighty have fallen!!
http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/money/5272691/Judge-rejects-Petricevic-application-for-stay-of-proceedings
I thought NZ was free of snakes, I was wrong. When found they should be exterminated
0 0
Log in to Reply
Report
July 12, 2011 6:44pm
chiz

backster:Perhaps they are considering “Contempt of court,’ or ‘conspiracy to pervert the course of justice’ charges against the channel.

I’ve wondered the same thing. If they thought the report was defmatory they would sue rather than investigate. The reference to “A police investigation into a current affairs television story” makes me think that they believe the report to have broken the law somehow although I can’t see how.

Yvette:Why do the Police not lodge a complaint with Broadcasting Standards, like anyone else, if they have a legitimate complaint

You have to go to the channel itself first. Its a sample size of one and therefore unreliable but my own experience complaining to TV3 about a Sunday story earlier this year, pointing out a trivial error which completely destroyed the story and then being ignored, suggests that they don’t always admit error.
0 0
Log in to Reply
Report
July 12, 2011 6:54pm
starboard

hmmm.. a very disturbed unit that kilian..I left an appropriate response Viking2.
0 0
Log in to Reply
Report
July 12, 2011 6:58pm
reid

I left an appropriate response Viking2.

Me too. It was fun.

It is people like him who try to shut down debate not stimulate it. What an a-hole.
0 0
Log in to Reply
Report
July 12, 2011 7:52pm
calendar girl

wreck1080 @ 10:05, Lance @ 12:10 –

Before Gareth Morgan is acclaimed too fulsomely as a financial guru following his public backing for a capital gain tax, I’ld like him to explain in simple terms how he has managed to lose money for me over since mid-2007 while managing my KiwiSaver account (NZ and global equities).

So far, the total value of my account has failed to reach the cash total of my own investments plus the subsidies paid by the Government. At 30 June I was 2.85% behind break-even in simple cash terms. Given the almost 10% rate of inflation over those four years of progressive contributions into the scheme, my real loss would be around 7 to 8%. It’s clearly time for me to find a new KiwiSaver manager who can make some money for me.
0 0
Log in to Reply
Report
July 12, 2011 8:28pm
reid

I think you’ll find Morgan goes for the long calls CG. If I were I’d assess the portfolio prospects 10-20 years out before making a call.

I’m not with him lest you think so. But he’s no fool.
0 0
Log in to Reply
Report
July 12, 2011 9:26pm
bereal

reid thinks that you’ll find Morgan goes for the long calls.
reid would assess prospects 10 -20 years out.
would reid assess results 10-20 years out ?
no, because that would be precipitous.
0 0
Log in to Reply
Report
July 13, 2011 12:29am
Manolo

Crook kill crook in Afghanistan: http://online.wsj.com/dr/2011/07/12/karzais-brother-assassinated-in-kandahar/
0 0
Log in to Reply
Report
July 13, 2011 7:07am