Posts by Hilary Stace
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If advertisers are so cynical and anti people over 54, why does anyone bother advertising during programmes like Coronation Street? They could just show it uninterrupted.
(Disclaimer: I'm a recent Coro St re-convert, having not watched it since Minnie Caldwell and Ena Sharples left the snug) -
Giovanni: Better still you could even go and watch Back Benches live at the Backbencher pub. A certain person in my house is really looking forward to it starting again so he can go and watch all the live action while carefully avoiding any camera coming anywhere near him. He tapes it and watches it again later so he can actually hear what was going on with the panel.
Damian: What do people over 54 not count? They still buy stuff.
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MoH DSS now part of the National Health Board - not sure of the implications but probably means more devolution, fragmentation and staff cuts.
And I probably do mean ring-fenced and capped. So can be spent on certain things not others eg vacuuming but not shopping support even if it is not what person wants (although things slowly changing), out of a limited budget pool.
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More on this fascinating story. Apparently, was the Colbert show. BTW his book 'The Value of Nothing' is a good read.
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Yes capped. So that the first thing to be considered is whether there is the funding. So it becomes a competition about who can provide the most negative 'case' and thereby win access to precious funds.
A person-centred system would look at what the person wants in order to improve their wellbeing, who they would like to be involved, what they would like them to do, and then asks how they can all work towards achieving this. When put like this, most people would prefer a system whereby didn't just see people who were paid to spend time with them but a circle of support which include friends, neighbours as well as paid caregivers. The person themself makes the decision, supported as required by some sort of independent facilitator/advocate.
The Local Area Coordination system in Western Australia has shown this sort of approach is actually cheaper than a ring fenced budgetary model.
I will be interested in how the new Whanau Ora system works out as some aspects sound similar.
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Thanks Philip, and for link to your functional diversity article.
Wondering how we got to this point and reflecting on history.
1938 Social Security Act - First Labour Govt strong on principle of taxation on ability to pay, in exchange for free care when you need it.
1972 ACC began with no fault compensation paid for by levy.
1975 Disabled Persons Community Welfare Act has intention of provision from taxation for those whose impairment not ACC related. Not ring fenced budget.
1970s deinstitutionalisation starts, poorly planned and funded
1988 Royal Commission on Social Policy has great chapter and recommendations re disability but not acted on
1990s Ruth Richardson’s Mother of All Budgets cut benefits and social spending. 'New Deal' Jenny Shipley, Simon Upton took disability support from Social Welfare to Health. Regional Needs Assessment and Service Coordination system set up within ring fenced budget, contracting system brought in, ACC provisions cut. This is also when payments for family members at same address were cut.
1996 Special Ed 2000 brought in 1% ORRS funding and only minimal support for other disabled kids
1999-2008 – Rights based NZ Disability Strategy and some tinkering of system but little structural change (ie NZDS not implemented)So for the last two decades we’ve developed a pattern of ring fenced budgets, poorly targeted and inadequate funding, distrustful contracting relationships, and huge fragmentation, leaving more responsibility and little choice for those who provide ‘natural supports’ (ie not paid) and even less for the disabled person.
The 2008 Social Services Select Committee report recommended a person centred system which gives the disabled person choices and control of the system without such budgetary constraint. Maybe this will yet happen?
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Today Jeanette Fitzsimons announced her resignation from parliament (Green politics affects everyone); Phil Goff made a speech about the rising gap between the rich and the poor (incomes are relevant to everyone).
So what does Campbelllive feature? A strange story about dead dogs.
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Tangentially about universal love and peace etc, and a bit of a metaphysical mystery. (Rationalists, don't read on as you will be infuriated).
Last year PAS ran an usual masthead ad from a group called Share International (headed by a man called Benjamin Creme) about a star that was apparently appearing around the world as the harbinger of a new messiah or maitreya, who would soon appear in a television interview. A few days ago Benjamin Creme announced that the interview had taken place in the guise of an ordinary man, but frustratingly didn't provide the YouTube link or name or place. This caused a frenzy of speculation in the blogosphere and speculation now is that author Raj Patel (a sort of UK Naomi Klein) ticks all the boxes, as he was recently interviewed about his new book The Value of Nothing. He has since replied on his blog citing Monty Python's Life of Brian.
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Just to note that there's a blue moon coming up on the 30th - the second full moon in a month.
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Wow, I actually agree with Craig for once. John Campbell should just do a proper current affairs show. Last year there was a whole run of cabinet minister no-shows. He could have got the opposition spokespeople on and had real discussions of the issues. But no, he had a little moan, skipped the topic and went on to something trivial.
John Campbell used to be an incisive journalist. Remember him exposing the Timberlands/PR story over a decade ago? Gripping stuff.
Or he could go the Jon Stewart way and do clever and witty. That would be a way to keep the @seven idea alive too.