I, for one, do not welcome our new overlords

[rainman]

The real issue is that Christchurch needs to be rebuilt and quickly. The fact that you wish to include other issues is irrellevent.

No, it isn't. And it is my thread, so I should know.
Besides, comprehension fail. I agree that Christchurch needs to be rebuilt, and quickly.

The remainder of your staements also give away your true agenda. My respect for your opinions has just dropped further.

Now Jantar, be honest, you don't actually have any respect for my opinions. In fact I'd suggest you are rather wedded to your own, no matter what reasonable arguments may be brought to counter them. Then again, aren't you the card-carrying science denier? I'm sure that takes a certain.... persistence.

And what, pray tell, do you think is my "true agenda"?

[Max Preload]

So, when's the march up Queen St? Democracy under attack?

Can't someone else do it?

[SPman]

So, Gerry Brownlee has exercised his dictatorial powers to make it legal for overweight and over-dimension trucks to drive on any road in the country, given police emergency powers for the next year, and removed requirements on councils to consider the consequences of their decisions.

But he hasn’t got the loos working, for Christchurch’s citizens.........

[admenk]

So, Gerry Brownlee has exercised his dictatorial powers to make it legal for overweight and over-dimension trucks to drive on any road in the country, given police emergency powers for the next year, and removed requirements on councils to consider the consequences of their decisions.

.......apart from that, he's a great bloke !

[puddytat]

Well it seems like Rainmans concerns are shared by many others.....I watched "Court Report" last night & the concerns raised there are what Rainmans been on about.
Also heard on Nat Rad today that a commission or such like is being set up by concerned academics & lawyers as they see the legislation as being "very dangerous"....
One of the main concerns is that the politicians who ok anything under this legislation are not liable, nor the companies involved & any contractors....

[SPman]

But business likes it.......

The Government’s response to the Canterbury earthquake is not only a welcome relief to local businesses, it also provides a model for the kind of legislative environment businesses want across the country, according the latest MYOB Business Monitor.

Shows you where business stands on democratic rights........

[puddytat]

Yup, legalized rape & pillage....if they deem it in our best interests.
God, Ive become such a skeptic.

[Winston001]

Well it seems like Rainmans concerns are shared by many others.....I watched "Court Report" last night & the concerns raised there are what Rainmans been on about....

Actually I agree that Rainman's essential point (suspension of legal rules by Regulation) is well made and deserves to be argued. However what has happened in this thread (and tends to happen in NZ society) is that the argument immediately changes to abuse of the politicians. The immediate reaction is blue/green/red sides are drawn up and the central issue is forgotten.

[puddytat]

And I agree with what youre saying to Winston,but its the seeming abuse of power by politicians that often brings it out in us...

[Winston001]

And I agree with what youre saying to Winston,but its the seeming abuse of power by politicians that often brings it out in us...

Its tempting to agree but I think the problem is deeper. Lets be realistic: NZ is a tiny place, not much larger population than Sydney. Our politicians aren't obviously corrupt or dishonest. They make stupid human mistakes but the stuff they have to deal with is complex and seldom easy. Consider the "anti-smacking" debate which at its core was over an insignificant piece of law to make assaulting children more difficult to explain. Yet it consumed months of discussion and a lot of anger.

And that is only one little bit of law which MPs had to deal with.

I certainly think we should all be wary of going to sleep and trusting politicians to get it right. They won't. However we are protected by a vigorous Opposition in Parliament and I do trust our system. Besides, in this case Labour supported the Government which suggests they didn't see any immediate terrors.

[Delerium]

Its tempting to agree but I think the problem is deeper. Lets be realistic: NZ is a tiny place, not much larger population than Sydney. Our politicians aren't obviously corrupt or dishonest. They make stupid human mistakes but the stuff they have to deal with is complex and seldom easy. Consider the "anti-smacking" debate which at its core was over an insignificant piece of law to make assaulting children more difficult to explain. Yet it consumed months of discussion and a lot of anger.

And that is only one little bit of law which MPs had to deal with.

I certainly think we should all be wary of going to sleep and trusting politicians to get it right. They won't. However we are protected by a vigorous Opposition in Parliament and I do trust our system. Besides, in this case Labour supported the Government which suggests they didn't see any immediate terrors.

and they STILL didnt listen to what the country wanted.