Nick Smith shows what he thinks of democracy

[rainman]

I realise it's bad form to thread-dredge my own thread, but WTF?

Tim Smith said he used more colourful language.
"I told them their organisation was bloody hopeless and they were all useless bastards who should be sacked," he said.
"I also told them that with some luck my brother and Rodney Hide would do something about it.
"I'm unsure if their decision to proceed with prosecuting me and my company was motivated by my close relative. However, it is certainly a real possibility."

Tim Smith is Nick Smith's younger brother.

What a corrupt pack of wankers.

[mashman]

http://www.greens.org.nz/oralquestio...-privatisation

"Dr Russel Norman: In light of these examples from 30 years ago, does he accept that water privatisation was an abject failure in the United Kingdom; if so, why is he initiating New Zealand’s heading down that path, when he himself acknowledges it is old policy that does not work?

Hon BILL ENGLISH: No; and we are not doing so."

So privatisation is out of the window

[pete376403]

http://www.greens.org.nz/oralquestio...-privatisation

"Dr Russel Norman: In light of these examples from 30 years ago, does he accept that water privatisation was an abject failure in the United Kingdom; if so, why is he initiating New Zealand’s heading down that path, when he himself acknowledges it is old policy that does not work?

Hon BILL ENGLISH: No; and we are not doing so...

So privatisation is out of the window

Hon BILL ENGLISH: ... (sotto voce) in this parliamentary term, anyway. Ask me again after tne next election)

[avgas]

Fucking outrageous is what it is, do we have a democracy or not, a very clear choice

If you are asking the question - do you really want the answer?
What is your definition of democracy?
- No one wins?
or
- Everybody loses?
or
- Unthinking Majority Rules?

[SPman]

No...No its not....Ecan is a sham...full of idiots, pushing thier own barrows.

All of the local councils [9 of them] think Ecan is incompetent...

SO TELL me rainman....what barrow are you pushing....you seem to try and get on a the band wagon for half arsed causes??

They are pushing barrows that run contrary to the desires of most dairy farmers - with a lot of the local councils being dairy farmer biased, of course they think they are incompetent.
Dairying is not the be all and end all of agriculture use - it is water intensive and highly polluting of the ground water - just ask the people of Dunsandel if they like drinking cow piss and shit from contaminated water tables! At the current rate of intensive dairying being propogated in Canterbury, most, if not all of the Canterbury alluvial water tables will end up with serious pollution problems, within the next 2-3 yrs, at current dairy intensification rates! Ecan is a barrier to taking over water useage for big business, intensive dairying, so they have to go! And fuck peoples drinking water....which it will!

[oldrider]

About sacking the ECan councillors (from http://www.stuff.co.nz/timaru-herald/news/3531434/ECan-ndash-you-re-fired/):



Not a big fan of democracy then... I'm wary of the outcome of the next general election, can I just fire the current lot and install who I want too?

So, come on, all you "Democracy under attack" types: time for another march? No?

It seems his brother was a benefactor of the sacking action, does this smack at "conflict of interest" ? (Press today)

[rainman]

If you are asking the question - do you really want the answer?
What is your definition of democracy?
- No one wins?
or
- Everybody loses?
or
- Unthinking Majority Rules?

Beats the unthinking minority ruling.

[mashman]

It seems his brother was a benefactor of the sacking action, does this smack at "conflict of interest" ? (Press today)

His brother may well be another chip off the old block.

[mashman]

What is your definition of democracy?

Common Sense Rules All?

[mashman]

Beats the unthinking minority ruling.

It's the thinking minority that I'm concerned with. Don't get me wrong I love my no money theory and stuff... but there's a thinking minority that are at the completely opposite end my spectrum. It's the "calculating" minority I'm worried about.

[Winston001]

I realise it's bad form to thread-dredge my own thread, but WTF?



Tim Smith is Nick Smith's younger brother.

Oh dear. Ministers of the Crown must not only be independent but they must be seen to be independent. No matter what Nick Smith says, a portion of the electorate will believe he was taking revenge for his wally of a brother.

I'm not particularly bothered by the short-term removal of statutory boards. Sometimes they become dysfunctional and unable to carry out their responsibilities. We've seen it before with School Boards and Health Boards being replaced by commissioners.

What puzzles me is this event is 3 weeks old and we still don't know the specific reasons why Ecan was fired.

[oldrider]

Oh dear. Ministers of the Crown must not only be independent but they must be seen to be independent. No matter what Nick Smith says, a portion of the electorate will believe he was taking revenge for his wally of a brother.

I'm not particularly bothered by the short-term removal of statutory boards. Sometimes they become dysfunctional and unable to carry out their responsibilities. We've seen it before with School Boards and Health Boards being replaced by commissioners.

What puzzles me is this event is 3 weeks old and we still don't know the specific reasons why Ecan was fired.

It's way longer than three weeks old!

There was a problem with the previous chairman and a few councillors but the new chair and reorganisation had only got settled in and began to make some headway when this occurred!

Sort of like closing the door after the horse (or the problem) had bolted!

Feel a bit sorry for the vanquished E-can council actually, don't think I will pay my E-can rates as a consequence! Why should I?

My personal opinion of Smith, as a result of his behaviour this political term, is that he is a confused idiot!

[rainman]

My personal opinion of Smith, as a result of his behaviour this political term, is that he is a confused idiot!

And there you may have found the one issue about which all of KB will agree! Well done!

[cowpoos]

They are pushing barrows that run contrary to the desires of most dairy farmers - with a lot of the local councils being dairy farmer biased, of course they think they are incompetent.
Dairying is not the be all and end all of agriculture use - it is water intensive and highly polluting of the ground water - just ask the people of Dunsandel if they like drinking cow piss and shit from contaminated water tables! At the current rate of intensive dairying being propogated in Canterbury, most, if not all of the Canterbury alluvial water tables will end up with serious pollution problems, within the next 2-3 yrs, at current dairy intensification rates! Ecan is a barrier to taking over water useage for big business, intensive dairying, so they have to go! And fuck peoples drinking water....which it will!

Sorry missed this....Dairying only accounts 35% of irrigation in cantubury. and if the towns water usage are included in water use data....it becomes a much much small percentage.

If we want to talk about enviromental foot prints caused by various land users....we would have to try very very hard to get data from ECAN.
Because they have tryed to keep thier Core voters mis-informed. the most unsustainable and un-enviromental land use in Canturbury is Christchurch.
I think we would find similar Findings with most/all of our citys in New Zealand. So [not directed at you SPman] Townies should look at thm selves before they try and shit in farmers back yards.
The farming [agriculture and horticulture] community spend millions and millions finding ways to appease critics and yet still supply consumers what they want.

There are some irresponsible farmers... I despise them as much as the next person...

My Biggest problem with the green lobby is how they go about thier work. Pointing the finger and saying NO...is not the right way for reasoned people to do things...and they have to also realise they are a very small minority. Have your opinions...justify them all you like...its fine...we as a society do need balance...But if you object to something...lets have a discussion...open discussion with balance...not a word fight. and realise...94% of people don't agree with your opinion.

[schrodingers cat]

Mark Twain was quoted as saying ' If they thought it made any difference, they wouldn't LET us vote '


Also I think a few of you are confused as to what democracy is... http://www.albatrus.org/english/gove...0repubblic.htm

Have no doubt that we do have democracy.