Posts by Euan Mason
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It is fascinating that the law applies a different philosophical approach to spying on domestic residents than it does to similar offences like unauthorised access to a computer. In the former case not knowing about the illegality of your action is not a defence while in the latter case it is. So, in terms of practical reasoning, when does an agent have reason for _not_ taking an action?
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We have inconsistent data, widely trumpeted as measuring schools' performances, that is actually a rough measure of students' performances in a narrow range of endeavour. These performances are influenced by students' experiences prior to school enrolment, their intellectual capacities, and only latterly by teaching quality. If kids enrol at school relatively unprepared, their standards performances are likely to be relatively poor, even with the best teaching. Some parents will be discerning enough to react appropriately, but judging by the comments on newspaper stories and the opinions expressed in the stories themselves, many will act inappropriately. Parent flight from schools where kids have achieved lower scores coupled with pressure on teachers to teach to the test will hurt our educational system. The blame for this rests with the political architects of the scheme, but also with reporters who have encouraged parents to view the standards as a measure of teaching performance.
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Parata gets a D for the NS and an E for her Chch reorganisation of schools, and those are very generous grades.
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Great article Bronwyn, and thanks for the link, Rob. Neoliberalism has always spoken about freedom, but freedom only for the rich and corporates is the intention. Ayn Rand would be proud. At heart it is directive, centralising and managerial. This is consistent with a removal of democratic process, an externally imposed re-organisation of schooling including charter schools that aren't required to have real teachers, imposed access to irrigation water for business without due consideration of environmental effects, and a Claytons ETS.
I am so sick and tired of "earthquakes!!!" being used as an excuse to turn our city into a neo-liberal playground. It's past its use by date. Enough already.
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Hard News: "Because we can", in reply to Robyn Gallagher,
A popular image of a long-term unemployed person might be a fit young dude who’d rather spend his days smoking weed with his bros than working, and could easily join a road works gang tomorrow. But the report reveals it’s more likely to be someone like a 45-year-old women who suffers from depression and stress (both of which are made worse by being on a benefit) and has an elderly parent to look after (or any selection of the many other barriers). And as much as she’d really like to have a job, there are so many things in her life making that really hard for her.
Robyn that rings so true. Thanks for the post.
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Hard News: "Because we can", in reply to Russell Brown,
And with that, Keith appeared. he says:
At Jun-12, 64,648 people on a main benefit have been on a benefit for >10 years. 69,449 for >4-10 years. Figures include people who have changed benefits over this time.
So, roughly speaking, the minister doubled the numbers. And no one called her on it.
Either Bennett has a qualifier in her statement that we are not noticing or she’s just making stuff up. It is quite frightening because she’ll get plenty of airtime, and no matter what the facts are, “everybody will know” about the “139,000 people who are stuffing up our economy”. Policy made with populist economics (should we even call it “economics”?) accompanied by carefully crafted mis-statements that appeal to the biases of a particular set of aspiring millionaires and donors. It’s hard to imagine a more damaging approach to political survival.
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The US State Department probably preferred their original version. This could become like the Treaty of Waitangi, an NZ English version and a US English version...
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Great post, Emma. Logan's arguments are appallingly shallow. The law already defines marriage, and to suggest that a law change following public opinion=Stalinism combines a strawman with reductio ad hitlerism. He should be congratulated for the combination, maybe.
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"Well, the Police are not charging Mr Banks. He will never be given the opportunity to argue his case. This is, in effect, a smear Mr Banks will never have the opportunity to defend in court."
It would be nice if we had a mechanism where in such circumstances someone could defend the charge without fear of formal punishment. I doubt Banks would dare go down such a route, but Ambrose probably would have preferred this option.
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It's got some good ideas. Challenges will be to find enough dosh to make it safe and durable on what is clearly some of the most unstable soil in Canterbury while not pricing rents beyond a sustainable level, and to integrate it with a renewal of the eastern suburbs. Without the latter it would be very divisive. Apart from that I'd like to see more for the arts, more of a focus on Maori culture, and street lights that don't ruin the night sky (please!).