Posts by Damian Christie
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I did wonder that after years of thinking themselves terribly clever for incorporating NZ into their name, someone pointed out that NZ is actually one giant collective...
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Cracker: On the trail, pt 1., in reply to BenWilson,
The process of getting old and becoming useless is a horrible industrial offshoot
Well, sort of. Getting old in itself is kind of seen by many as a rather positive industrial offshoot. Old age/uselessness never used to happen. And still doesn't in many countries
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S'okay James, I got what you were saying. And yes, I think these days we appreciate more that just because you paid your taxes, you're not necessarily going to get paid enough to support you when you retire. Or maybe the fact we've been tricked into accepting that is what means they can pull the super rug out from under us?
@Merc - yes, all benefits are means tested apart from superannuation, that's my point.
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...or just cunning candidate selection. It's like the Green candidate for Epsom, just happens to be called David Hay (well-known former right wing Auckland councillor)
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I would like to see a means-tested superannuation, just like every other benefit. I don't think that's unreasonable, even if everyone else does.
@Danielle - if first babies average eight days overdue, why don't they just make the due date eight days later. Never understood that!
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Yeah Jesus, where did @bulbul sprout from?
Pretty much what Russ said. My $50k student loan and house deposit have never had a sniff of my babyboomer parents' income. Nor would I expect it, and I hope and pray that they live long enough that any inheritance is of more benefit to my grandkids than me.
I was being somewhat facetious with the request to drop super to 60 once the babyboomers have come and gone, but the point that seems to have flown over @bulbul's head is that when the superannuation age reaches 67 under Labour's plan, in 2033, it's not the babyboomers it affects, it's - you guessed it - my generation.
So, with respect, having had your free education, your government support to get you into an under-inflated house, and your superannuation at 65 regardless of means... STFU.
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Legal Beagle: Referendum Fact Check 4:…, in reply to Gareth Ward,
But the one thing that always gets me in these discussions is the “Winston chose the Government” line.
I agree. My position is don't blame Winston - blame both National and Labour for being so power-hungry that they'd countenance a bargain with the prick.
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Regarding Cullen and the 20%-with-no-seats-to-show-for-it call, I think he's confusing the NZ Party, which got 12% of the vote in 1984 but no seats, with Social Credit, who got 20% in 1981, but only held two seats. Both unthinkable in this post-FPP world, but as you point out, not the same thing.
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Ha - thanks Russ, everyone, I can't wait.
I should say, that baby is DUE on Wednesday, but when s/he decides to turn up is anyone's guess. And so I do have a pass to the Music Awards, and I might pop in for a couple of drinks towards the end there, but with Backbenches Auckland special on Wednesday night (all welcome), and a day-trip to New Plymouth to cover the campaign for Q+A, I might be pushing my luck somewhat, baby or no.
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Thanks Steve for your smart-arse response, although I don't know that Hokitika residents would appreciate being reduced to "Greymouth's airport".
And yes, I'm quite aware of which airports service the West Coast. However on the day in question the only flight that could get me in early enough, and out again at the end of the day were both in Westport. I was planning to drive to Greymouth and back from there.