And having an accident and being full of pain killing drugs means that I am taking a bit of extra care as well.
As some of you know I write my posts pretty quickly – sometimes having thought carefully about an issue and sometimes not.
This break has meant I have an accumulation of posts in my head. Some are old issues, some current, some new and some just idiosyncratic.
They include:-
1. More on why we really had a by-election in Botany.
2. How Finlayson misled the Supreme Court.
3. The real level of the UFB subsidy to Telecom
4. How the cost of living is now hitting upper middle income earners.
5. What is the definition of well off these days.
6. The lost opportunity to develop trades esp building skills in 2011.
7. Who ends up owning privatised SOEs.
8. Will kids born in 2009 be worse educated than those before ?
9. We have to do something about primary care costs to free up hospitals EDs.
10. Why do we risk our meat exports by privatising inspection?
11. How to destroy teacher professional development.
I’m looking forward to the post on “How Finlayson misled the Supreme Court.”
8 – only if National Standards are not properly implimented and carried out. The following over at Homepaddock says it all really:
balance deleted. If people want to go there they can. And you might like to proof before you cut and paste. Trevor
I look forward to your posts Trevor.
I went to the supermarket this morning. I spent $104. My partner of 20 years and I have a combined income of in excess of $140k (gross). As we got back to the car with out one bag of groceries, we both wondered allowed “how the heck do a family of four with one or both parents on minimum wage feed their families?” – we know we’re lucky, we know we are well-off. I just dont get why so many people in the same position as we are begrudge more to these very kinds of families.
A fine selection of posts. Mend well my good man.
a) How is it that Nact politicians and supporters have developed into such horrible human beings – totally egocentric- greedy, self serving, money-at all-cost-worshippers, and cruel (to any but themselves), manipulators, really foul mouthed thugs (judging by Kiwiblog comments) and often out and out deceivers.
b) How can they, their thinking and their MSM lapdogs be eradicated from the political scene so that New Zealanders can live hopeful, fair, happy not fearful, creative and fulfilling lives?
We only have one life and Nationaletc. are ruining it.
Appreciate you posting Trevor -especially being laid up and groggy, but still showing steel. We so need to raise the right/pertinent questions – and keep asking them until satisfactorily answered.
I bet the truth will consistently reveal that the ‘self -servers’ are not only NOT the right answer, but largely create the problems in the first place. N.B. when is ‘right’ wrong – when it is Nact.
I do hope you get well soon.
“totally egocentric- greedy, self serving, money-at all-cost-worshippers, and cruel (to any but themselves), manipulators”
Certainly the ones who post on here anyway. I posted about the problem my niece has in getting a job, and the horrendous struggle for low income families just buying groceries, and you dont find any of the regular nat supporters in those threads.
They have rose coloured glasses and secure well paying (as opposed to minimum wage) jobs and an almost complete inability to walk in the shoes of anyone who isnt them.
Get Well Trevor.
“How is it that Nact politicians and supporters have developed into such horrible human beings – totally egocentric- greedy, self serving, money-at all-cost-worshippers, and cruel (to any but themselves), manipulators, really foul mouthed thugs (judging by Kiwiblog comments) and often out and out deceivers.”
Policy created by and for business round table, just took 9 years to find manipulative language and conservative social issues to keep farmers, small business and ‘aspirational classes’ believing that they are working for them.
“totally egocentric- greedy, self serving, money-at all-cost-worshippers, and cruel (to any but themselves), manipulators”
Charlie Chaplin saw this coming 70 years ago:
“We have developed speed but we have shut ourselves in: machinery that gives abundance has left us in want. Our knowledge has made us cynical, our cleverness hard and unkind. We think too much and feel too little: More than machinery we need humanity; More than cleverness we need kindness and gentleness. Without these qualities, life will be violent and all will be lost.”
-The Great Dictator (1940)
Have read your list several times Trevor and perhaps “4. How the cost of living is now hitting upper middle income earners.”</b? has the greatest resonance as the central everyday concern. The others are more or less interesting according to where we sit in political interest.
But the growing cost of food clothing shelter loom large in our family's mind. Who do we hold responsible and what would Labour promise for us to manage better? (When I was working full time the details of politics we hardly noticed or cared or discussed.)
Trev – I also look forward to a series of well considered posts. One subject I am especially interested in is a full and frank debate about the challenges and opportunities for Labour in the lead up to the election.
Tried that reply twice but it was whisked away by the goblins.
“More on why we really had a by-election in Botany.”
Really? Im more interested {balance deleted. That is trolling and offensive. You are warned. Next time banned, Grant}
@Monty – more chance of that than anything like Red Alert from Nats or Act,
Looking forward to #5
I am looking forward to #5, 8 and 11 – in fact, really looking forward to the debate on what someone thinks well off is – because I am pretty sure its not what the amounts that have been bandied around on this site in the past are.
And we have not had a good debate on education for a while – and the longer the Nat stds nonsense sits in our schools the bigger the messes are turning up as schools grapple with the issues. Just who was the dumb backside that thought they could work out a system by going backwards from NCEA – Because a swift kick into that particular backside is long overdue.
Trev, I am not sure I have even bothered to visit the National Blog. Certain could not tell anyone what name it has. Last I heard it was some sort of competition to see who could praise John Key the most by the National MPs. For that reason I do enjoy this blog, and enjoy the debate in this forum, even if you are too sensitive at times and a bit grumpy. God knows what you will be like if you don’t get out on your bike soon.
I think Labour need to have a bloody good lol at yourselves. Above here we have Sico essentially accusing over 50% of the population of being ego centric, greedy self serving and horrible. I could argue successfully that such descriptions are unwarranted and even an outright lie. It is thinking such as this from the left that demonstrate why your lot have failed to make any traction in the polls. It is this group that are also typically hard working, solid citizens who want the best for their families, and plan to achieve their goals without being a burden on the state.
They also understand that the current debt problems and deficits are the making of Labour not National. They are tightening their belts and getting on with life in spite on the recession.
It is bullshit to say policy is generated by the Business Round table. The public knows this and when repeated by leftists the public just turn off.
So maybe an interesting post would be on the subject of what Labour needs to do to be noticed? (and not the sort of unwelcome notice they have sadly had the past week)
Final warning. Don’t dispute the moderating decision. Clare
Hi Trevor
Your cycling has served as an inspiration, was bummed out about your accident, get well soon………and take the time to recuperate.
Something I have been intrigued with is this little $43 million deal with Mediaworks (owner of TV3 and I also understand, many of Steven Joyce’s formerly owned radio stations).
Refer to the link below for NZ Herald columnist John Drinnan’s take on this:
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10711051
This has happened while TVNZ has continued to be finanacially squeezed by the govt.
At the start of an election year I am concerned enough over the impoverished “begging bowl” status of TVNZ. Now I hear that TV3′s owner has cut a deal to “smooth over” money owed. I am sure that journalists will have the professional integrity and sense of ethics to report the election in an unbiased fashion. Nevertheless, the govt’s actions do send a few alarm bells given their natural instinct is to try to ride rough-shod over democracy where it is an inconvenience.
Worthwhile issue this $43million deal or storm in a tea-cup?
Business Roundtable Congratulates John Key
Business Roundtable chairman Rob McLeod has congratulated National Party
leader John Key for his conclusive victory in the general election.
“The current global financial crisis poses serious challenges to the incoming
government, as does the need to reverse New Zealand’s disturbing slump in
productivity growth in recent years. The Business Roundtable looks forward to
seeing decisive measures in place to address these issues, and will be pleased to
work with the new government to assist with this.”
Mr McLeod said that the Business Roundtable would also engage with other
political parties to encourage a broader consensus on pro-growth policies to close
the income gaps with Australia and other wealthier countries.
9 November 2008
For more information contact:
Rob McLeod
Chairman
Ph: +64 9 302 8563
Email: rob.mcleod@ey.com
Roger Kerr
Executive Director
Ph: +64 4 499 0790
Email: rkerr@nzbr.org.nz
http://www.nzbr.org.nz
For those who doubt what sica writes, here is a speech from Rodney Hide to the Business Roundtable in early 2009. It outlines the main actions of the government and they are all ACT policies
http://www.nzbr.org.nz/site/nzbr/files/speeches/where_to_from_here.pdf
Who or what is sica?
Ianmac, sica commented above at 2.19 p.m.
A sica is a dagger, used by Roman criminals usually, originally Illyrian, and curved to get around the side of a shield. The Sicarii were assassins in Jerusalem in Roman times. Stab and run types.
Not a true description of sica’s contribution I hasten to add.
Thanks Mac1. Obvious when I look properly.
Interesting that Matthew Hooten nominated Trevor this morning on Nine to Noon as the one who is just what Labour needs to head a red meat Left charge at the election. I expect he meant that Trevor had a bit of mongrel in him and he meant it as an asset. I think that is what he meant though who knows what Matthew’s real motives ever are.
I think that is what he meant though who knows what Matthew’s real motives ever are.
Yeah Ianmac, even Don Brash didn’t think much of Matthew Hooten brain power(for more details, see Nicky Hagar’s ‘Hollow men’)the points I’d make on this topic are:
1) Just because Matthew Hooten says something, doesn’t make it right.
2) I think that Trevor’s opinion would be more important than Hooten’s in this. And last I read on this site, Trevor wasn’t interested in the top job.
I’m not saying Trevor wouldn’t take the role if he was pushed by caucus colleagues, that I don’t know. I’m saying Trevor has enough parliamentary experience to know that being the leader of the party is a tough job, and senior ministers can achieve policy aims without being Prime Minister.
Looking forward to these proposed posts Trevor.
Once you read Hollow Men you see why the Nats were so keen and focused on shooting the messenger. he had it all there in black and white the lengths the Nats go to achieve their ends.