Posts by merc
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Gloves off, http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=10813127
...andIf Mr Key and Education Minister Hekia Parata think they could have persuaded the public otherwise by more cunning political presentation, it insults the public to say so. They are allowed to change their minds. They will be harshly criticised only by those always wise in hindsight.
Most of us do not rate politicians who bend with every breeze but fair-minded folk respect those who can admit to an occasional mistake. It takes some backbone to back down gracefully.http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=10813128
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Hard News: Briefing, blaming, backing down, in reply to Ian Dalziel,
I sure don’t trust this Government enough to sign something on my behalf sight unseen…
I think trust is what it's all about.
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Hard News: Briefing, blaming, backing down, in reply to Ian Dalziel,
Jeebus Ian you're a hard man ;-) I personally over the years have lost any interest whatsoever in the activity described as construed or obligation fulfilment.
It's too late for me, I tried. -
Stoked! I seem to remember suggesting TV to you some years back ;-) You and the team do it well, TV3's gain and all that.
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Hard News: Briefing, blaming, backing down, in reply to Bart Janssen,
It really is one of the few times an individual can be involved in the justice system. We really should want to do it. That many (rightly?) don't is not great for a society that depends on a justice system.
I have discussed this at length with my longtime lawyer friend. It is a good system, it can be vastly improved, as to whether you want to do it or not, that choice thankfully is up to you. Though it is deuced hard to get out of, unless like me, you are indispensable ;-)
I have seen enough of the system to know that if you want to see it in operation, go to the courts on any given day, you are allowed, and that is very cool. Forcing people to participate in things is anathema to me when they are demonstrably better to let people decide.
The jury service thing I like the French system, ours is inherited from the people that have it so wired they need alot of violence to maintain it...insert long rant here not. I see a place for cyber courts, my lawyer friend calls me a conspiracist ;-) then I remind him how this Govt. and past ones have undermined the justice system here. -
I really don't see voting as the problem, but there you are. I am totally against compulsory voting as I am against compulsory working.
The right not to work is a powerful one. The right not to vote as well. Registration by all means compulsory, voting no.
A non-vote to me is a vote against the system. As for jury duty, it is dangerous, poorly paid and abused by the selection process, more for another day maybe. -
Hard News: Briefing, blaming, backing down, in reply to Sacha,
The system I am describing relies when the real crafty crunch comes down on much more than you describe. I am talking about upholding our constitution by really toothy watch dobermans with real teeth.
The system as it stands works, sort of, but when you have things happen that this Govt. have enabled - the list is long, well I 'd like to think they got some consequences.
Dinner with casino guys I mean sheesh, casinos don't even make money here, not one, always needing to be bailed out, and if auckland casino actually paid it's full share, it would fail.
Need I go on about the social ramifications, just not what a PM should be considering really. He will get off this faux pas too. Opposition have done a good job yeah, but there will be no consequences for JK, like the police tea party love, all bad juju seen through, Banks is staying. As for corruption, well, who audits the auditors? -
Hard News: Briefing, blaming, backing down, in reply to Bart Janssen,
I still believe that the method of selection doesn't necessarily select the best people for the job.
The system should allow for guiding them in that job transparently. No amount of help can allow for those who want to bribe.
Bribe, the word actually used in the NZ Herald comments section with regard to the casino tender bid's special status - interesting that.
The Greens use the system to great effect, Labour not so much, and is it just me or is Shearer noticeably absent from discourse, with the Greens pulling most of the weight? -
Hard News: Briefing, blaming, backing down, in reply to Sacha,
This is the main problem, we can have as many overseers as we like, if the Govt. don't respect the office, nothing is going to change. A cynic could argue that between the police and the Govt. there is not much room for any change.
Not knocking the politicians, just the way the system is weighted. -
Hard News: Briefing, blaming, backing down, in reply to Sacha,
...like the Auditor General?
Yes, but they don't appear to respect that office, and rarely does it censure seem to carry much weight.