Posts by David Haywood
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Some interesting points, Craig. Alas now in middle if fencing (not the interesting sort), but will reply this evening - if someone doesn't beat me to it...
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Speaker: Compulsory voting and election turnout, in reply to Ian Dalziel,
For someone who presumably wants their opinions to be taken as an adult’s it seems to be a very counter-productive shtick.
I rather see Ian's point -- it does detract from the logic (or not) of the argument, as far as I'm concerned...
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Speaker: Compulsory voting and election turnout, in reply to Moz,
I’m keen on compulsory voting exactly because it negates one strategy of the powerful – discouraging voting. It also makes it harder for the powerful to use US-style techniques of making it hard or impossible to vote. Only providing facilities for half the electorate to vote is much harder to justify if everyone is required to do so.
For years I have been strongly against the concept of compulsory voting, but this is the sole argument that really made me reconsider my position.
I’m now convinced that we need to (properly) implement “compulsory voting” (EDIT: by which I actually mean “compulsory attendance at a polling place" – see below) to counteract the vote-discouraging strategies that are already being used in NZ.
“Properly” meaning with the caveat that Steven Crawford (and others) have mentioned: an I don’t want to vote option and a none of the above option.
I note that in some jurisdictions a majority of none of the above votes triggers another election (until an actual candidate beats the none of the above option).
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I don’t think it’s viable for Cunliffe to stay on after this.
I wonder if part of the reason that voters have not seen Labour as fit to govern is the number of leaders they've gone through in the past electoral term (and the internal divisions within Labour that are highlighted during each campaign for leadership).
Certainly this point been put to me by quite a few people -- though, of course, I'm not claiming it as a scientific sample of opinion..
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Excellent essay, Eric!
I've often been struck by a similar thought to that which you express so eloquently here -- that somehow the recovery has managed to find the 'un-sweet' spot between a highly-directed government response (that ploughed ahead with just getting things done) and a totally un-coordinated laissez-faire rebuild. We've somehow managed to enact the worst attributes of both approaches.
Your book of essays sounds like a fantastic idea -- I shall look forward to reading it with interest. Best of luck with the launch!
[BTW: will it be launched anywhere other than Auckland and Wellington? (Like Christchurch, he hints hopefully).]
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Southerly: Sign this Petition, in reply to ,
Yes we we be needing a boat as phase 2, after our deconstruction of the reinforced cement walls. I was just pondering on the feasibility of converting a tattoo machine to be used as a small jack hammer. I might not make much noise, and it could be set up on a jig to quietly chip away by it self.
I figure the Farklands, might be a good place to go for refuge status.
Your plan for escaping the re-education camp is genius, Steven! But I'm not so sure about the Falklands as a escape destination -- I was envisaging somewhere a little warmer. Maybe Samoa as per Robert Louis Stevenson? In anticipation of emulating Stevenson I have already begun to learn his favourite instrument, the flageolet (which is a member of the fipple flute family, in case you were wondering).
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Southerly: Sign this Petition, in reply to Marianne Elliott,
Thanks SO much for sharing this petition David – when I read that Harold signed it I confess I teared up a little.
Harold was very pleased to help a worthy cause -- and so am I!
We really appreciate the hard work you're doing, Marianne. After so many of the most repugnant people in Dirty Politics turned out to be lawyers, it's wonderful to see a lawyer who's decided to use her powers for good instead of evil. Thank you!
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Just to prove that you can be politically active while having a blood transfusion and hooked up to an oxygen machine, some further details on my grandfather (via my cousin):
[Harold saw] the dirty politics protest petition and he thought it was a great idea. He wanted to sign it, so I typed in all his details and he pushed the "sign now" button...
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Southerly: Sign this Petition, in reply to Angela Hart,
On another note my thoughts are often with Harold. I hope someone’s taking food parcels!
I am reliably informed that a shipment of stout is being delivered to his hospital room today (stout being, I believe, one of the most nutritious types of food)!
But you are very telepathic in your suspicion that Harold is beginning to tire of hospital provisions -- happened on day 2 of his stay...
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Southerly: Sign this Petition, in reply to ,
I signed, so now I’m on the governments double blowback list
Happy to share a prison cell* with you in the re-education camp, Steven. We can talk about boats.
*NOTE: This offer may not apply if re-education camp is co-ed.