The sticker brigade
November 14th, 2011 at 3:15 pm by David FarrarStuff reports:
Protesters are claiming to have made 700 National Party billboards “more honest” by adding their own slogans overnight.
A statement released this morning from the unnamed organisation said stickers were added to billboards around the country in a “coordinated operation”.
About 50 people were involved in the operation.
Worth thinking about this. This was done in around a dozen cities, which would have involved someone centrally professionally printing the stickers up, having a network of 50 people to deliver them, the ability to send them to key contacts in each area, and then to all have them do it at the same time.
I think it is fair to conclude this is not the work of a couple of students. It is almost inevitable that it was done by people involved in a youth wing of a political party. No one else would have the contact and resources to do this.
Related posts:
- Bumper Sticker Competition
- Now that’s a good idea
- It was the Greens
- Unanswered questions re Jolyon White
November 14th, 2011 at 3:20 pm
Whale pointed this out on Oct 14 when he got wind of the order being placed for a number of these stickers.
I wonder if he has details on who the client was?
Vote:November 14th, 2011 at 3:21 pm
I bet he has.
Vote:Tomorrow, maybe Wednesday they may be named and shamed.
November 14th, 2011 at 3:25 pm
Either unionists aligned to the socialist Labour Party or gullible and callow youth close to the backward-looking Luddites.
Vote:November 14th, 2011 at 3:27 pm
It’s a counter-productive move either way and reeks of young, passionate ignorance. They think that they are being clever but people just see it as a vindictive and a little creepy. It’s also pretty undemocratic to systematically try and destroy another party’s message. A bit like the balaclava’d version of the EFA.
Vote:November 14th, 2011 at 3:27 pm
if whale knew about the print run, surely someone in the labour party knew it was going on.
they are just pathetic
Vote:November 14th, 2011 at 3:28 pm
Sweet, criminal conspiracy charges for Christmas. Vandalism for new year.
I know Ian Lees-Galloway will be all for prosecution, hes been bitching about billboard vandalism on his facebook page since they all went up. He did say it was clearly all the work of the national party, but lets wait and see shall we?
Vote:November 14th, 2011 at 3:30 pm
That sort of thing just puts people off. Counterproductive behaviour.
Vote:November 14th, 2011 at 3:33 pm
Swift action from the Police will send a signal that this is wrong and not permitted in a democratic nation that values freedom of speech. A limp response will embolden future ‘bullies’ to do the same. It will be interesting to watch the Police’s response.
Vote:November 14th, 2011 at 3:34 pm
And it will be interesting to see how Goff/Robertson couch their approval/disapprove/knowledge of this action.
Vote:November 14th, 2011 at 3:36 pm
The NZ Police to take swift action? That is an oxymoron.
Vote:They will need to ring New York first to get approval. Yes, the malign influence lingers.
November 14th, 2011 at 3:41 pm
Fuck democracy
Vote:We are the left
November 14th, 2011 at 3:43 pm
i have very little doubt that the group who bemoans everyones carbon footprint and rants about gaia whenever they can has happily burned a ton of carbon and wasted plenty of precious resources to make this happen.
because remember its only bad when other people do it, its not hypocrisy when we do not follow our own ideology.
Vote:November 14th, 2011 at 3:49 pm
It’s the Unions/Labour of course.
Vote:November 14th, 2011 at 3:51 pm
I think that’s most unfair to students.
They had the wherewithall to mobilise an army to help clean up Christchurch but you would belittle them the ability to culture jam a few billboards ?
But yeah, I smell the dastardly hand Colin Craig or Peter Shirtclffe behind this most foul of deeds.
Vote:November 14th, 2011 at 3:51 pm
Ugh, socialists. End justify the means. Complete disrespect for other people’s property. Faux outrage at anything their opponents do. Hypocrisy when the exact same behaviour is repeated by their own, to applause. Motivated by little more than envy. Have no understanding of incentives beyond welfare == Labour votes. Assume everyone else is stupid. Perfectly happy with inequality when its them in the top 1%. Markets evil no matter how many people impoverished under the alternative.
In short: wankers.
Vote:November 14th, 2011 at 3:56 pm
Given the number of trade unions who have registered as third parties for the election campaign, I would suggest that they are better fincially and humanly resourced to carry out an operation of this scale.
Vote:November 14th, 2011 at 3:57 pm
The press release says they did it in: “Auckland, Wellington, Gisborne, Whakatane, Napier, Hastings, New Plymouth, Palmerston North, Kapiti Coast, Nelson, Marlborough, Motueka, Golden Bay, Christchurch and Dunedin.”
This misses out some of the top 15 population centres but includes some minor centres. So who is weak in Tauranga, Rotorua, Whangarei, Invercargill and Whanganui – but strong in Golden Bay, Motueka, Whakatane and Kapiti ?
Vote:November 14th, 2011 at 4:01 pm
Pity no mainstream media journalist is interested in investigating this any further. If the EB want to write about the Greens well every Woodward/Bernstein journalistic instinct is invoked to show skullduggery by Brash but finding out who on the left backed the vandalism of the right’s billboards – chirping crickets!
Vote:November 14th, 2011 at 4:03 pm
vibenna>but strong in Golden Bay, Motueka, Whakatane and Kapiti ?
Old people retire there? Maybe this is a Grey Power campaign?
Vote:November 14th, 2011 at 4:07 pm
Surely this is a criminal act? And if so, and if the Police investigate, won’t they be able to trace where the press release came from?
Vote:November 14th, 2011 at 4:18 pm
LOL nice effort lads.
It is wonderful to imagine the Kiwiblog right pursing their thin lips, wringing their hands, and mopping the spittle from their chins as they struggle to contain their righteous indignation for long enough to type a comment on this thread.
What a humourless and miserable lot you are, you have my pity.
Vote:November 14th, 2011 at 4:25 pm
RRM
Vote:Is this the left’s H Fee tactic for 2011? It was silly enough to deface the billboards but to go public and claim responsibility claiming to be some anonymous concerned apolitical group ….I feel a Tui’s billboard coming on!
November 14th, 2011 at 4:25 pm
What kind of moron votes for someone based on a billboard anyway? Sure, vandalism is vandalism and where vandals are caught they should be dealt with according to law. But spare me the bullshit that this is somehow an affront to democracy. The very notion of people voting based on billboards is an affront to democracy.
Vote:November 14th, 2011 at 4:25 pm
RRM – im not sure how this is funny? the stickers they put up werent funny?
i wouldnt be impressed if our side did it. its just so piss weak and desperate.
i feel sorry for you, you seem like a good dude. but at the moment, you are really without a decent party to vote for
Vote:November 14th, 2011 at 4:26 pm
Oh and near the Karori tunnel you can see THIS Winston First billboard:
http://www.nzfirst.org.nz/Images/billboard3.jpg
Winston’s head and the words “For a fair” have been cut out, leaving just the word “GO” and Winston’s headless body. It is awesome…
Vote:November 14th, 2011 at 4:26 pm
It wouldn’t be remotely difficult for one person to dream this up and carry it out with some Facebook friends or something.
Seems highly unlikely that any official entity (either party youth wing or labour union) would do it – too much risk vs little return.
The only real complication in the printing, which any number of places could do, wouldn’t be hugely expensive (under $1 each I’d say) and can be paid for with cash.
Vote:November 14th, 2011 at 4:28 pm
dime –
You’re right the sticker bombing is not particularly clever, but they are election billboards ffs. Public vandalism of election billboards is older than democracy itself.
Expecting this not to happen is like expecting not to get heckled at a public meeting.
[Edit: and the stickers ARE cleverer than drawing a moustache on Paula Bennett, which is pretty much all the benchmark standard is for wit in billboard vandalism.]
Vote:November 14th, 2011 at 4:28 pm
RRM – where would you draw the line? Election office signage? Vehicle signage? Pamphlets?
Elections should be a fair contest of ideas and ability of candidates, not dirty tricks and vandalism. Surely?
What if a candidate or party has already spent all their allowed expenses and then gets their signs defaced – too bad?
Politics has become far too childish, nasty, vitriolic. And many people have had a gutsful of it.
Vote:November 14th, 2011 at 4:32 pm
Lets see your pity post election day RRM.
Vote:November 14th, 2011 at 4:34 pm
Pete George –
are you saying that electioneering billboards carry detailed, accurate information about the future of our country… and it is important that this information is not defaced?
Vote:November 14th, 2011 at 4:40 pm
Pete George,
The line is drawn at the law. But it’s no reason for people to get their knickers in a twist as if it’s undemocratic and a threat to freedom of expression. Indeed I would estimate that in some small way this campaign by vandals has probably contributed to debate, not restricted it. That doesn’t justify breaking the law but lets not pretend that a picture of a politician on a billboard is somehow the fountain of political discourse and the pillars of democracy. What billboards actually represent is the hoodwinking of ignorant and gullible people too lazy or apathetic to take an interest in politics.
Vote:November 14th, 2011 at 4:41 pm
It’s just wrong to deface someone else’s property. Morally and legally wrong.
Pretty simple really.
Vote:November 14th, 2011 at 4:41 pm
RRM
Vote:Defacing billboards IS as old as democracy. What’s new (and stupid) is to form an organization, fund it and co-ordinate a nationwide campaign and then hide behind fake names but supposedly all in the name of honesty – thats worthy of a Tui!
November 14th, 2011 at 4:44 pm
I can remember a similarly unauthorised campaign by the Exclusive Brethren once.
What a humourless and miserable lot the left were…
Vote:November 14th, 2011 at 4:45 pm
I was wondering about this myself having seen the stickers added to National signs in Strathmore park, Miramar and Seatoun the last couple of days.
It would be ‘optimistic’, to put it mildly, to expect a groundswell of anger against this sort of carryon to materialise and enable National to win Rongotai, but it certainly makes me a bit cross.
I find rather chilling to think there are sneaky socialists creeping about in the dead of night, especially as Seatoun is a very wealthy suburb and people around here are all very rich and therefore targets for burglars; is there nothing the Police can do?
As for ‘more honest’ billboards perhaps the Greens can explain how myriad of new taxes and wealth destroying policies makes us richer?
Vote:November 14th, 2011 at 4:52 pm
JamesS,
As for ‘more honest’ billboards perhaps the Greens can explain how myriad of new taxes and wealth destroying policies makes us richer?
I suppose that depends on which “us” you are referring to. While I wouldn’t seek to justify the Greens policies in particular, it is worth noting that new taxes are not an inherent evil. That if reducing taxes always increased revenues then we would reduce taxation to 0% and miraculously we’d have all the funding we needed.
Vote:November 14th, 2011 at 4:57 pm
Re the Greens Billboards.
Richer should read ‘ROOTED’.
Vote:November 14th, 2011 at 5:00 pm
Yes, I’ve thought for the past few weeks that the by far most dishonest campaign billboards have been the Green ones. Honestly, “A Richer NZ” from a party dedicated to a medieval concept of economics and weighed down by a sense of greed and envy at others’ ability to improve themselves in various non-culturally approved fashions (that is, not as directed and regulated by themselves).
It would seem to be crying out for a mass billboard “improvement” campaign, but that would be, IMHO, improper in the conduct of an election. It is only the left, burdened as it is by hatred, that such concepts of legality, honesty, and democracy get distorted to mean “what ever I do is OK because I mean well”.
Vote:November 14th, 2011 at 5:05 pm Vote:
November 14th, 2011 at 5:19 pm
Suggested stickers for other parties:
Labour – borrowing billions because we know better than the financial markets.
Greens – Don’t ask about our policies on drugs.
NZ First – Whatever the Rt Hon Winston Peters thinks.
UnitedFuture – Vote for us. Please. We’re nice people, really!
ACT – If you want National to be the government, don’t vote for National.
And no, I’m not seriously suggesting anyone actually deface a billboard.
Vote:November 14th, 2011 at 5:23 pm
Typical, suppress discourse, unless, of course, it’s compatible. This seems to be the new battle ground as their ideas are not convincing people. So, a resort to dirty tricks seems to be the only way out.
Vote:Suppression has been a favoured tactic, as well as smear campaigns and fear mongering. Their ideas are incapable of winning over public opinion, so childish antics that show how ineffectual and unimaginative they are. A sad commentary, and who wants to see these and their ilk in political office?
November 14th, 2011 at 5:26 pm
No billboards were suppressed or defaced, they were simply debated.
Vote:November 14th, 2011 at 5:29 pm
1. Astroturfing blogs and newspaper comments – check
Vote:2. Disrupting other party’s meetings – check
3. Secret recordings of other party’s meetings – check
4. Third party campaining – check
5. Defacing billboards – check
6. Ignoring electoral and council bylaws – check
7. Posting hatefull messages or ‘artwork’ – check
November 14th, 2011 at 5:29 pm
Ed Snack (544) Says:
November 14th, 2011 at 5:00 pm
“…from a party dedicated to a medieval concept of economics…”
I think this is somewhat unfair. Contrary to popular right wing myth, the Green Party policies are not communist. Do I approve of all their ideas? No, but the right wing pretends that if the Green Party were elected we’d suddenly turn into Stalinist Russia.
I think the Green Party suffers from too much idealism that government regulation is the cure to all ills and that some of their policies would have unintended negative consequences, but I don’t find them as crazy as the political right makes out and that some of their ideas are worthy of consideration.
I think it’s good they’re in Parliament but I’m also glad they could not govern by themselves. If the good policies could be seperated from the idealistic nonsense then we would indeed become a “richer” NZ.
Vote:November 14th, 2011 at 5:38 pm
Weihana
“If the good policies could be seperated from the idealistic nonsense then we would indeed become a “richer” NZ.”
You mean to say if the Green Party was actually a ‘green party’.
Vote:In case of the New Zealand Green Party”, the environmental policies are only the means to achieve their (not so) hidden agenda.
November 14th, 2011 at 5:39 pm
Oooooh my pet issue of today!
I hope these Bastards get done like a dinner, and that Whale busts them with his noted skill for ferreting out information!
This is an attack on democracy and on freedom of speech. If you want to put that message out there, make your own damn billboards with your own bloody authorisation statement, its your democratic right!!
Vote:November 14th, 2011 at 5:40 pm
Michael (439) Says:
November 14th, 2011 at 5:19 pm
“Greens – Don’t ask about our policies on drugs.”
True but a bit silly of the Greens I think. We live in a liberal country and especially with regards to Cannabis I think most people are coming to the conclusion that prohibition is stupid. Drug law reform is perhaps the most sensible policy the Greens have and by far the most sensible position of any political party in Parliament. All they need is a sensible well groomed, smartly dressed, non-drug-using member to promote their policy and I think it would gain favour among many people. They certainly do not need to worry about the social conservatives because social conservatives are not voting Green anyway.
The problem is the Greens started off with Nandor and the public’s perception of his image does not accurately convey the soundness of the Green’s policy on drugs. Drug law reform is a sound policy idea supported by many world leaders and businessmen including Richard Branson who visited here recently. The Greens could capitalize on this new image for drug law reform which doesn’t have to be some dreadlocked Rastafarian.
But of course timing is everything, I just hope when the time is right they do not run scared.
Vote:November 14th, 2011 at 5:41 pm
Good idea Micheal, how about we all suggest some more..
Labour: Borrowing billions your kids will have to pay for.
Vote:Labour: $16 billion? Thats nothing compared to the last time!
Greens: For the softer side of Mao.
Greens: Duuuude! You gotta smoke some of this!
November 14th, 2011 at 5:44 pm
Weihana if the Green party were elected we would not turn into Stalinist Russia, but rather Leninist Russia (will leave you to read some history books to work that one out for yourself).
Idealism is a belief in ‘noble causes’ so, no, the Greens are most certainly not guilty of that! ha ha!
They have managed, somehow or other, to convince mainstream NZ that what they advocate is morally right and anyone who disagrees with their 14th century view of the World is racist, evil, bigoted, nasty, selfish, mean spirited and should be ashamed of themselves.
In reality, anyone who is not exactly keen on spending their lives in a Siberian gulag is making the correct choice in not voting Green; these are evil people with evil policies.
It reminds me of that wonderful quotation from the film “The Usual Suspects” which goes “the greatest trick the devil ever pulled was to convince the World he doesn’t exist” – Russel Norman is a very evil man and has pulled the ultimate confidence trick (Rod Petricevich is in awe of him) by convincing people he is morally right. Weird.
Vote:November 14th, 2011 at 5:50 pm
Considering the level of organisation and only attacking one party then the article calling them protestors is pretty dim – almost certainly politically motivated and organised and 10 to 1 Labour related.
However surely billboards are fair game? A public service to mutilate them IMO.
Vote:November 14th, 2011 at 5:55 pm
Weihana if the Green party were elected we would not turn into Stalinist Russia, but rather Leninist Russia (will leave you to read some history books to work that one out for yourself).
Right, so opponents will be lined up against a wall and shot, instead of being starved to death…
Vote:November 14th, 2011 at 5:57 pm
@Michael 5:19 pm
The Green Party is proud of its policy on drugs. Prohibition and criminalisation has simply not worked to reduce drug-related harm.
Personally, I would go much further than the Greens, and decriminalise possession of all drugs for personal use – even the heavy stuff like meth and heroin.
Portugal did that 10 years ago, and the evidence is that their drug-related deaths have halved in that time.
Resources were moved in Portugal from the criminal prosecution of drug users to providing support and rehabilitation to people with drug dependency problems. Judged by virtually every metric, the Portuguese decriminalisation framework has been a resounding success. Drug use of all kinds declined in Portugal. Lifetime drug use among seventh to ninth graders fell from 14.01% to 10.6%. Lifetime heroin use among 16-18 year olds fell from 2.5% to 1.8%. HIV infection rates among drug users fell by 17%, while drug related deaths were reduced by more than half.
Vote:November 14th, 2011 at 6:09 pm
I’m dubious about the effectiveness of hoardings but it’s very hard to judge that. What is certain is the cost – quite a bit of time and money can go into them.
And freedom of speech applies to those putting up hoardings as much as anyone else – defacing, wrecking and changing messages is anti free speech.
Vote:November 14th, 2011 at 6:15 pm
JamesS (29) Says:
Vote:November 14th, 2011 at 5:44 pm
“…evil people with evil policies”
You don’t appear particularly reasonable on this matter, your smug sense of superior historical knowledge notwithstanding. Nothing in Green Party policy, as far as I can see, is anything close to the Bolshevik decrees which included the abolition of private property. To say the Green Party would have us in Siberian gulag’s appears like something which could only be expressed by someone suffering from extreme paranoia.
November 14th, 2011 at 6:16 pm
This is organized criminal activity on a significant scale.
Vote:November 14th, 2011 at 6:18 pm
Hoardings defaced may be replaced. They do NOT count as additionaL electorate or party expenditure.
Vote:The timber or other fames do NOT count as election spending.
The only issue, of course, is whether the party (s) can meet the cost.
November 14th, 2011 at 6:26 pm
Weihana, as I said earlier “the greatest trick the devil ever pulled is to convince the World he doesn’t exist”; your naiveity shows it is working spectacularly ha ha!
(Hotchin and Petricevich want to have dinner with you and sell you London bridge!)
They said it, you swallowed it whole. Case proven.
Vote:November 14th, 2011 at 6:27 pm
Pete George (11,727) Says:
November 14th, 2011 at 6:09 pm
And freedom of speech applies to those putting up hoardings as much as anyone else – defacing, wrecking and changing messages is anti free speech.
I would say it’s only anti free speech if it suppresses a contrary view. The protestor’s message, at least as I can see from the example picture on stuff, has not suppressed the National Party, it has added to the debate, albeit in a manner that is illegal. No reasonable person could believe that the message comes from the National Party and these messages do not appear to suppress any view that National is advocating. It would seem to be a property right violation, not an infringement upon free speech.
Vote:November 14th, 2011 at 6:29 pm
I think that National should liberalise election advertising rules in early 2012 (by largely eliminating all rules), and spend some money in encouraging civil society to participate. Politics shouldn’t be the domain of the parties that happen to be there now. It’d make great media fodder, so hopefully the media could be hooked into being supportive of this.
Vote:November 14th, 2011 at 6:29 pm
JamesS (30) Says:
November 14th, 2011 at 6:26 pm
You have proven nothing. You have merely asserted something without any reference to fact.
Vote:November 14th, 2011 at 6:31 pm
Shit I agree with toad legalize all drugs prohibition does more harm than drug use.
“mana” is more towards the abolition of private property read their ideas on housing someday
This crime seems more like Mana or occupy supporters than labor youth just the sort of stupidity you expect from the loony far left
Vote:Mana supporters have already stolen maori party billboards up north
November 14th, 2011 at 6:32 pm
Weihana, there are hundreds, if not thousands, of Bridgecorp investors who are in a similar state of ‘denial’. I have proven EVERYTHING, anything you say or believe from here on in is simply denial.
Vote:November 14th, 2011 at 6:40 pm
I very much doubt it would be the youth wing of either Labour or the Greens, the Greens are probably competent enough to organise it something I doubt could be said about their counterparts in Labour. I suspect unions as in those that have actual workers as members would also shy away from this. It is against the law.
It has been well planned and executed ( bar the Whale slip up ) and that tends to make me think students’ associations. Most student associations have weekly papers and the printers are minnows and they are hungry for any work they can get so don’t expect any printer to stick their hand up. Also student association accounts are not held up to what I would describe as rigorous scrutiny could I have got away with it when I worked for Critic ( OUSA publication ) probably, bar one of my co-workers ( we shared the sales job ) being a Young Nat.
” No one else would have the contact and resources to do this.”
Lack of resources DPF ? If I couldn’t pull this off for under a $1000 ( and I suspect I could do it for $500 plus postage ) OK I am in the industry and know where to go but it is just working a phone to figure that out.
My thoughts, well yes despite being one of the left leaning commentators on Kiwiblog, it is not negotiable break the law and if you do well be honest and do it like a Whale. What ever we think of Cameron’s politics nobody can question his integrety they could have learned a lot from Cameron’s honesty.
My Challenge to the sticker people tell us who you are ?
Vote:November 14th, 2011 at 8:36 pm
Fish. Barrel. Ka-boom. You almost feel sorry for the Leftards, don’t you?
Vote:November 14th, 2011 at 9:02 pm
@hamish, I would have ageed with you that the stickerpeople were unionists but the evidence against is that they were working on Sunday night, and we know they would have taken a working day off to do union bidding.
Vote:November 14th, 2011 at 9:03 pm
Toad is right….swoon!
If ACT had backed Brash’s musing on decriminalising cannabis they would have jumped in the polls as the voter base in NZ is more young and liberal than old and conservative. But no…Banks was allowed to get away with his Nazi nonsense undermining Brash and the idea sank…what a pity. The legalisation of ALL drugs is basic ACT principle 101….that they are too scared to stand by it proudly shows its time they faded out and a new,fresh liberal party that really believes in its principles and freedom arises to take its place..
Vote:November 14th, 2011 at 9:19 pm
I’m picking the left are the only ones going to suffer from this, with any marginally left voters deciding they just don’t feel comfortable voting for parties who attract adolescent vandals. National and perhaps United Future will be the winners from it.
Vote:Maybe it was all engineered by Pete George? If not – Pete perhaps you should consider stickering some UF billboards too.
November 14th, 2011 at 9:42 pm
I’ve thought of gimmicks to try and attract attention but not stickering. I have this old fashioned notion of not dicking around with other people’s stuff. Anyway, there’s not enough of me even to just do the UF hoardings.
I’ve thought of pitching a tent on St Clair beach protesting lack of attention, dressing like a penguin, covering myself with oil and having a cup of tea and using a hidden microphone to leak comments about the media and pollsters being prats but that’s a bit old hat.
I’m doing something different and potentially radical but it’s just improving democracy for the forgotten people of the middle majority so no one (apart from the growing number of people supporting it) takes much notice.
Vote:November 14th, 2011 at 9:55 pm
Putting the shoe on the other foot; can you inagine the outrage if some others’ (Greens, Labor) signs had been defaced. I think that the humorous side would be dimmly viewed. Absolute hypocricy. Of course, these are the only ones that disrespect others property enough to go ahead and DO something like this. In all honesty, we might have thought of doing something like this, but common decency prevents us from actually doing it.
Vote:November 14th, 2011 at 11:14 pm
This is an extremely serious crime
It is an organised attempt to interfere with a political groups lawful communication with the voting public.
The perceived effectiveness of the billboards or the stickers is irrelevant. Incompetence does not excuse the intent, they should have made their own billboards mocking the others. It is completely different to either the Exclusive Brethren or pledge card incidents which were attempts to communicate with the public rather than prevent another group from doing so.
The election should be postponed until the perpetrators are caught and jail terms approaching a decade handed out. Then the electoral spending limits and periods need to be reset. It is not acceptable to put off dealing with crimes against the democracy until after the election.
Vote:November 14th, 2011 at 11:15 pm
If any billboard message is undermined by a small comment underneath it – it must have credibility problems enough anyway.
Vote:November 14th, 2011 at 11:18 pm
Toad uses the Portuguese experiment to defend and advocate for more liberal drug laws, stating that their experiment has decreased drug use, blah, blah, blah.
How about looking at the Singapore experiment toad, they have much lower instances of drug use, drug related crime and any other drug based “metric” you care to consider, than Portugal.
You implicitly state that you want much lower instances of drug use, HIV infection etc. Well, I’ll give you that in one fell swoop – by bringing in the death penalty for possession to supply of drugs. Nobody, but drug pushers will get hurt in the process.
How can you not support my policy, when it has achieved and bettered everyone of your stated aims?
Vote:November 14th, 2011 at 11:36 pm
Plus, do they think that people actually read these billboards?
Vote:I guess when you have no other strategy…
November 15th, 2011 at 12:28 am
So is this a last gasp by student unions who were scorned by the Nats and ACT? I think we should all put our ears to the ground and see who gossips first about it. @SPC – you’re lying, the Nats never broke a promise on the VSM bill, the Nats were clear they would not introduce a VSM bill – they didn’t, ACT did and the Nats were consistent with their policy of over 2 decades and backed it.
Interesting selection of locations too. Golden Bay, Motueka is hippy Green country, and quite easily students from Nelson and Marlborough student union (run by unelected Labour flunkie Rachel Boyack) could have done the trip over to do that – flanked by sympathetic Greens. Dunedin for sure would be covered by OUSA. They are swimming in cash.
Toad has read ACTs long term beliefs on drugs too I see. Where were you wallies when Don Brash was pillorised in the press for having wacky drug policies? You lot were suspiciously quiet when you could have stood up and said, “We don’t like him but we share the belief that weed should be decriminalised”… instead you played politics and have put back the issue for another half decade. Piss poor Toad.
Vote:November 15th, 2011 at 12:38 am
1. Was the promise to Otago students that they would not introduce such a bill or support one?
2. National were consistent in their policy – really, they were not supportive of the ACT bill till very late in the day and why was this? See 1.
Vote:November 15th, 2011 at 12:44 am
Otago University Students’ Association (OUSA) president Logan Edgar said he was gutted by National’s support for the bill, and that the OUSA would voice its objection in a protest when Prime Minister John Key visited Dunedin tomorrow.
“The National Party made the promise to students that they would not change the status quo of students associations and their membership processes,” he said.
“By National overturning the filibuster, they make a strong and direct signal to the nation that they have interest in the bill and therefore they intend on breaking their previous election promises before the 2011 election.”
Mr Edgar said the bill did not have the support of public submissions, and did not recognise the opportunity for students to take charge of their own associations.
The Union of Students’ Associations (NZUSA) has also said National broke its promises, saying the party had committed to the current law in the 2008 election.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/politics/5386448/Students-upset-at-union-backtrack
Vote:November 15th, 2011 at 12:50 am
Mattyoo… Singapore’s a police state with some nice clean bits that dazzle Westerners who are prepared to blank out the nasty bits. And they have a drug trade…don’t be fooled otherwise.
Vote:November 15th, 2011 at 1:06 am
I’ve lived there scorned, for a number of years, so I know about the ‘underbelly’ of Singapore. Nevertheless, its drug policy equates to far better ‘metrics’ than all of the ones the little green frog so happily suggests Portugal is doing well on.
Vote:November 15th, 2011 at 1:49 am
Prohibition is immoral…therefore its always impractical..the two things being inseparable as far as human beings are concerned.
Vote:November 15th, 2011 at 7:00 am
Now I wish I hadn’t said my tongue-in-cheek comment…
Vote:November 15th, 2011 at 8:41 am
I enjoy the use of the term ‘brigade’ it is so old fashioned it reeks of bay rum and the RSA.
Vote:November 15th, 2011 at 9:07 am
Clint
Vote:I stopped voting for ACT because of its drug liberalization policy favouring United for years because Dunne said not liberalising cannabis laws was a condition of him going into power with Labour. Its not the prohibition per se – NZ has a prohibition – its how you administer it. Sweden’s model is the best – smart policing of strict laws rather than the brutal Singaporean tactics, use of court ordered drug treatment, top quality drug education, well funded treatment options and agencies working closely in a wrap around fashion with at risk youth has seen Sweden fall from a Netherlands style drug free for all in the 60′s and 70′s to the lowest levels of drug use in the western world without massive US style incarceration rates. Decriminalising or legalizing drugs always leads to an increase in use in every country that has tried it – hardly a desireable outcome just so middle aged hippies can get stoned at a dinner party without fear of getting busted.
November 15th, 2011 at 9:54 am
Weihana (941) Says:
November 14th, 2011 at 5:29 pm
Wake up and smell the coffee (free trade)
Vote:The Green are called the Watermelons for a very good reason and it’s not their energy policy (which I think is one of the good ones).
November 15th, 2011 at 9:59 am
yankdownunder (5) Says:
November 14th, 2011 at 9:55 pm
absolutely on to it.
Sonny Blount (1,409) Says:
November 14th, 2011 at 11:14 pm
yeah right.
Vote:Pity we didn’t take Labours organised attempt to interfere with a political groups lawful communication with the voting public and put the whole damm lot of them in prison for ten years.
Than National could actually get on with the job of turning the country round (instead of being labourlite) and the Watermelons would already be on notice for their usual tricks.
November 15th, 2011 at 11:00 am
It was the Greens (or relations of them), newsflash on ZB 10 mins ago.
Vote:November 15th, 2011 at 11:09 am
Yep; Russel Norman has apologised to John Key for the “vandalism”, although he is trying to distance the Greens from it
http://keepingstock.blogspot.com/2011/11/russel-norman-apologises.html
And who busted this covert Green operation?
http://www.whaleoil.co.nz/2011/11/the-shield-of-sanctimony-will-not-protect-the-greens/
Yep; another harpooning by the Whale! How does he do it?
Vote:November 15th, 2011 at 11:31 am
IMO they only ‘fessed up cos they got caught.
Just made that comment at your site too IV2 – you sure are attracting a lot of anonymous loons lately.
Vote:November 15th, 2011 at 11:40 am
The Greens have admitted going dirty in their campaigning, things are getting bad when they stoop into the mire. This is bad:
Most voters are turned off politics and politicians because of dirt, smear and negativeness.
Time to clean up the campaign.
Vote:November 15th, 2011 at 11:45 am
[Reposted from GD]
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/campaign-trail/5967550/Green-party-link-to-billboard-attacks
It was a decent thing for Russel Norman to apologise to National Party volunteers who will be replacing hoardings signs damaged by the ‘sticker assault’.
There is no question at all the at the Greens candidate for Wellington Central – James Shaw – would have had anything to do with the attacks. Nor would he have endorsed them. He is a man of good character and an honest and worthy opponent for National’s Paul Foster-Bell in Wellington.
Vote:November 15th, 2011 at 11:55 am
Who is Paul Foster-Bell?
Vote:November 15th, 2011 at 11:59 am
The most amazing thing to me is that Whaleoil warned in advance that this would happen, displaying an image of the sticker on his site A MONTH AGO.
http://www.whaleoil.co.nz/2011/10/dirty-tricks/
That guy has sources everywhere.
Vote:November 15th, 2011 at 12:02 pm
Absolutely amazed that people believe Russell Norman when he says he knew nothing about this. What bloody rubbish. His EA has become the scapegoat “she didn’t tell me” – Yeah Right. That would make a good Tui billboard.
Vote:November 15th, 2011 at 12:06 pm
Inventory 2 says:- “Yep; another harpooning by the Whale! How does he do it?”
Nah, he just made an obvious deduction, and now he’s trying to make out like it’s his scoop.
Slater:
>>One of the messages is explicitly anti-mining/drilling, whereas Labour’s focus has been less about mining and more about asset sales/national standards and the minimum wage
>>Greenpeace has a history of stickering. Labour are not as well known for stickers, my understanding is that they tend to knock the things down
>>The Green Party has a network across NZ, needed for this kind of stunt. Especially of interest is that a number of the areas cited for vandalism in the press release are Green/hippie strongholds like Kapiti Coast, Nelson, Marlborough, Motueka, Golden Bay. That’s a disproportionate amount of effort in “environmentally sensitive” areas.
The press release suggests a specific anti-environment bent as well.
Was it a Greenie? Well duh.
Vote:November 15th, 2011 at 12:08 pm
I thought the ‘defacing’ was witty and truthful, and placed in a way which didn’t ruin the entire billboard. I don’t think anyone needs to apologise to the National Party for improving their bland election collateral, and displaying the first genuine grassroots activist impulse I’ve seen since the Greens started cosying up to National. Please stop apologising, Russel. It’s embarrassing.
And the hapless executive assistant is facing the consequences of this action, now dubbed an ‘employment issue’. Evidently Green staffers are as confused as their voters as to whether they’re genuinely a party of change and challenge or whether the prospect of seats round the Cabinet seats are now looming so enticingly close that the Greens will even cut their own supporters loose to join the boys’ club.
Vote:November 15th, 2011 at 12:15 pm
Well that should be good for a 3% drop in Gweens and a good jump in National come the 26th!
Vote:November 15th, 2011 at 12:17 pm
They aim, they shoot, they…. oh shit… own goal
Vote:November 15th, 2011 at 12:21 pm
Where’s that little fucker Toad? I want to give him and his bully buddies a piece of my mind.
Vote:November 15th, 2011 at 12:21 pm
Yes because Greenpeace and the Green Party are the same thing… :-/
Aren’t they?
Vote:I – I – I – I mean, they both have “Green” in their names!