Posts by simon g
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Today "Let's Talk" about Israel Folau.
And yes, they are saying exactly what you know they are saying, with exactly the same words, you don't need to spend a moment guessing. Bingo card filled before you start.
In a primary school classroom, a good teacher will encourage creativity and originality, but not plagiarism and parroting. The Herald sets its sights lower than you would for 10 year olds.
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Stuff Comments Update:
Good news ... they've drastically cut back on the troll harvest.
Bad news ... the idiots have now migrated to the Herald/NZME and their new feature, "Let's Talk". Sample contribution (today):
Jacinda Ardern should improve her dress sense and her diction. Pronounce our English words correctly, please. And stop waving your arms to all the school children.
Yes, really.
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Hard News: Dirty Politics, in reply to John Farrell,
The original report making those unsubstantiated claims (all denied by Crusaders, not just the politicians) has been removed from the Herald website. Hmm.
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Here is a pamphlet listing 14 examples of apparent clampdowns on "free speech" after the mosque massacre.
https://twitter.com/henrycooke/status/1115003516760674305
(note: Henry is the reporter, not the author of the pamphlet!)
Of the 14 claims, only one is an action taken by a state authority (the Wairarapa arrest). It is before the court.
Many of the others are in fact examples of people exercising free speech. Criticising. Speaking up. Advocating. But ... for things the pamphleteers don't like.
We can look forward to the Free Speech Coalition defending those people's rights. Or not.
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I think this qualifies as dirty politics. And shame on Newshub for playing along.
Their lead story tonight was a poll, commissioned by Business NZ, with obvious skin in the game, asking a very loaded question about CGT. Not just are you for/against, not balanced with other tax changes, but simply ... "Do you think CGT should be a priority for the government?".
Well, I know I should go to the dentist and get that fence painted, so on balance I'm probably in favour of those things, but a priority ? No. Doesn't mean I'm against it happening at all, ever.
And what were the government's priorities when the public were polled? Why would voters suggest a CGT should not be a priority right now? Here's a clue:
The Reid-Research poll was conducted between March 15-23.
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Legal Beagle: A (non-)submission on the…, in reply to Paul Loch,
Paul, further proposals are planned for later in the year, including a review of licensing requirements (or lack of). That will be a much lengthier legislative process, according to the PM's statements on the matter.
The underlying problem here is a familiar one in politics: bend, or break. For over 20 years the "responsible gun owners" have been an obstacle to reform. If they had spoken out, if even modest changes had been supported and enacted, then there would not be the overwhelming public antipathy towards the "gun lobby" (however loosely defined). Even now, the prominent voices in the media are the likes of Tipple, Loder, and the guy who calls Ardern "dumb as a plank". And politicians love a cartoon opponent: it makes the battle for public opinion so much easier (they hug themselves with glee when the headlines say "Brian Tamaki attacks government ...").
Presumably the crackpot fringe do not represent most gun owners, but they do fill a vacuum - one created by decades of silence and indifference. If you want better laws for both gun owners and the wider public, get a much better lobby group to argue for them.
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It is not only about legal/illegal possession. "Legal" also means being able to practise freely, without hindrance, at gun clubs or in many situations for which firearms are legitimately used in public.
Currently, somebody who cannot do this in Australia can get better at doing it in NZ. Which is what happened (allegedly etc).
Anybody can own a weapon. Not everybody can use one efficiently. It is a learned skill. Reducing the opportunities to learn can save lives or better still, remove the incentive to be here in the first place.
Nobody trains openly at the Vehicular Terrorism Club. Why is that?
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Tomorrow is the last day to submit to the select committee, so please consider doing so if you support these law changes. Apparently the NRA-spam is flooding in.
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Hard News: These things we must now change, in reply to nzlemming,
"Well, I believe you may get your headlines, Mr. Ismay." ( Titanic )
Let's name and fame the reporter who delayed Seymour's arrival in the House simply by twirling her hair with her fingers, gazing at him dreamily and whispering "Ooh, David, tell us more ... ".
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David Seymour has decided to "object" in Parliament, not to prevent new gun laws being passed, but to get himself a headline before they do.
If Simon Bridges had any leadership skills or political antennae at all, he would now say: "David is free to do as he wishes, but National are not obliged to assist him, so we will be campaigning hard to win Epsom at the election. ACT will need to get over the threshold by themselves."