The safest country in the world for the next 50 years?

[phill-k]

if they were really trying to take away our rights and subdue us, then why haven't they made firearms illegal?
Its very hard to oppress the populus when they are armed.

Interesting comment, I was asking on another bike forum (vulcan) predominantly USA based about a threat they had relating to a "concealed carry permit" for personal firearms. Seemed a lot of the elderly bikers carried concealed handguns and part of the reason was not only personal security but they felt by the populous having multiple firearms in their possession it keeps their government in check.
Not sure how it works and how they would organise themselves but an interesting comment.

[oneofsix]

Interesting comment, I was asking on another bike forum (vulcan) predominantly USA based about a threat they had relating to a "concealed carry permit" for personal firearms. Seemed a lot of the elderly bikers carried concealed handguns and part of the reason was not only personal security but they felt by the populous having multiple firearms in their possession it keeps their government in check.
Not sure how it works and how they would organise themselves but an interesting comment.

I understand where they are coming from. There 'right' to carry firearms was related to their independence war so it is logical they see it as a way to check the government.

[Clockwork]

I have been googling away trying to find where I read it, and of course as is always the case, these things remain hidden when they are wanted.

So I hang my head in shame, unable to find my reference...

One thing I found about the article was it focuused on external threats to way of life, and liberty.

Are we sure thats where the threat will come from ?

As New Zealanders we have had stable and relatively benign government for many years, to the point we are complacent.

But it seems to me, we are rapidly building the tools of tyranny.

We have seen the end of the privy council, the end of the presumption of innocence, the end of jury trials for many crimes. We may now be subjected to random search and siezure for a wide range of offences. The government through the EGOVT ID system operated by the Department of Internal Affairs is well down the path of creating a biometric "virtual"ID card system for us. Virtual, because you dont need to carry it, computer networks will enable it to be stored and retreived when required.

http://www.e.govt.nz/plone/archive/s...ion/ivs.1.html

The NZTA have considered vehicle tracking systems that track your vehicle, and you as well by tracking your cellphone, as well as electronically managing your fines, parking and registration.

http://www.nzta.govt.nz/resources/re...7/docs/397.pdf

Many of the technologies used have legitimate reasons to be used.

But it is a basic principle that once enforcement can occur without public support, then anything can be required of the public.

Careful now, or you'll be labeled a tree hugging liberal with a persecution complex!

[Smifffy]

The best and safest place will be where the people are running the country.

Such as South Africa for example?

[Smifffy]

I sometimes feel it won't be long till there are no more of us left in our own country.

The way you say you ride, I'm not surprised.

[Swoop]

source? that is very interesting: and of course ties in with the Japanese subs in (was it?) Orklind harbour and stuff.

1942 8 March
New Zealand
An aircraft from a Japanese submarine made a reconnaissance flight over Wellington on 8 March 1942.

1942 13 March
New Zealand
A second aircraft from a Japanese submarine made a reconnaissance flight over Auckland.

From here.

[avgas]

Japan......no really

[terbang]

Then it occurred to me that Oz is potentially threatened by 238 million Indonesians who would love to move there.

Tell him he's dreaming... I lived in Indonesia for a while and after that worked for Australian Customs Coastwatch.

The Indons love their archipelago and they have absolutely no inclination to swap it for a desert. As for the illegal immigrants that we all hear about, the Indon involvement in this is really only being the couriers of the immigrants who are from many other troubled parts of the world (including Europe), but are not Indonesians.

Though I agree, Australian-Indonesian relationships can get strained and the Indons have a massive military force that the Aussies certainly do know not to fuck around with. But that is not because Indons want to go to Australia.