In the words of Juan-Manuel Fangio "Brakes they only slow you down"
Y'know Mr Taylor I've always held the view that you were a bit of an arse, however I agree with a surprising bit of what you have said above. I draw a different conclusion, also based on a few facts you've left out, and I'd write the history of the last 30 years in a quite different tone - and I certainly disagree with your diagnosis of National as "least worst" - but respect to you for a reasonably clearly articulated set of views.
Agrees:
- Greater self-reliance is generally good, although it won't work for all (e.g. disabled) and we need to be realistic about transition. There is a multi-generational problem to fix and it ain't easy.
- The trap of cheap goods, consequent job losses, and retail serfdom (although we may agree on solutions here, I'd be keen to hear yours). Yes we turn a blind eye to sweatshop labour, and also to the environmental cost of our cheap shiny goods.
- ACC levies and taking greater control of your own safety (but again, short of mandating hi-vis, safety gear etc and being branded as "nanny state" I fail to see an easy solution that works)
- Scooters. Yes, but again how to fix it? You have to treat people based on medical need, otherwise you have an ethical problem. Pay a lower but survivable compo rate to those that were demostrably negligent, rather than unlucky or the victim of others' negligence? Maybe.
- Overseas competition. Although, I suspect we agree only about the problem here.
- Liberal systems are unsustainable. Funny view for you to hold, though?
Disagrees:
- it is Government's job is to pick up the pieces for lots of things: Christchurch, Rena, etc.
- Off-shore oil drilling, until we a) get our shit together and b) actually deliver the supposedly wonderful carbon-capture technologies everyone has been talking abut forever.
- The Nats are good for anything. The best they can be is harmless; but with no plan to fix our real situation other than the brain-dead asset sales idea, they need to be (but won't be) booted out office smart quick. A less radical Labour (not that they ever have been that radical), maybe in coalition with some moderating forces, is honestly the best option for NZ at the moment. We will, I suspect, live to regret our likely choice on the 26th. Our kids certainly will, although maybe they'll be having a great time in Aussie.
Maybes:
- Fairness, a very loaded term
- Consistency, overrated and famously the hobgoblin of small minds
- Mining, OKish but not in national parks, and if the externalities are paid by them that gets the profits..
Stuff not mentioned:
- The mind-blowing stupidity that is a partial sale of our energy assets at this time
- Undoing 30 years of liberalism which has led to the global situation you bemoan above
- Overseas ownership of much of what we need to be more self-reliant
- Lack of an alternative economic driver than primary produce
- Energy depletion, coming, ready or not
I support MMP (but would like some tweaks to it) but there are circumstances where your logic makes no sense either. I'm in McCully's electorate. Short of putting a whole bunch of ads in the local school newsletters he does absolutely fuck-all for this electorate - though he's utterly and completely useless so it's probably a blessing he doesn't try to be more helpful. He's the worst kind of career politician... yet he is almost guaranteed to win, thanks to the muppetry of the general population here who tend to struggle with anything more complex than "two ticks" voting. As a result, no-one bothers to stand a solid candidate against him, he wins every time, and no-one' best interests are served, except Muppet McCully's.
Redefining slow since 2006...
Yes a lot of common ground there but different ways of trying to effect solutions. Indeed it aint easy. Im busy working my arse off at present so have little time to articulate a lengthy response. But I think most Kiwis irrespective of preferred ''flavour'' of Government have a sense of fair play and that there should still be a safety net for those who cannot help themselves. If you have a analyse some of my thoughts they are in line with Greens policy but I just couldnt vote for them for many other reasons!
In response to previous posts about ACC and high vis clothing yes agreed its a two way street, make yourself visible but also beware that the other parties may still not have seen you.
[QUOTE=rainman;QUOTE]
Yes a lot of common ground there but different ways of trying to effect solutions. Indeed it aint easy. Im busy working my arse off at present so have little time to articulate a lengthy response. But I think most Kiwis irrespective of preferred ''flavour'' of Government have a sense of fair play and that there should still be a safety net for those who cannot help themselves. If you analyse some of my thoughts they are in line with Greens policy but I just couldnt vote for them for many other reasons!
In response to previous posts about ACC and high vis clothing yes agreed its a two way street, make yourself visible but also beware that the other parties may still not have seen you.
I reckon we should bring back Buck....
I have to disagree. Riding a black bike while in black gear and never had an accident, I am looking for a refund on the money I have spent on my ACC.
But, but.....
That would allow us to slash the quantity of MP's and save a shitload of money. It has been suggested on KB before, but Ferdinand from down at the university student's lounge with the cool pushbike (with the leaky tyre) and dopey unwashed hippy girlfriend says that it's a silly idea... so he should know.
TOP QUOTE: “The problem with socialism is that sooner or later you run out of other people’s money.”
Maybe then you are more attentive than most to car drivers that dont see you than many other motorcyclists? But one part of this whole equation is to assume that other road users dont see you, exacerbated by dark colours!
If we talk about ACC refunds Id like a refund for all of the out of work injuries mine and many small business's have subsidised. There is merit in user pays for especially the more dangerous sporting activities
hard one really, if there is any justice, I would like to see smith loose his job this election,for his acc debacle, I think
there is a golden oportunity, as riders to tell show our disgust at acc levies by voting anything but national.
but the problem is labour any better, somehow I cant see it, putting acc levies on petrol, is just duck shoving the problem. has Mickey mouse registered as a candidate yet?
Go soothingly on the grease mud, as there lurks the skid demon
Maybe we should ban silver car's or make them wear fluro vests too as they can be harder to see than a bike with its lights on and a rider in black
In the words of Juan-Manuel Fangio "Brakes they only slow you down"
But then the comparitively small size of motorcycles doesnt exactly make them as easy to spot as a car many times wider and longer etc. Thats a stark reality, also the need to treat every other road user as an idiot and to make them aware of your presence. Its easy to blame everything else and much of the blame is justified, but motorcyclists must also themselves do more to cut back the drain on ACC. And all those affected by ACC levies, not just motorcyclists.
Need to remember the reason that ACC levies are so high.
Over a 9 year period Labour spent the money and brought new considerations into legislation which has increase coverable injuries.
Things like gravity as an external force i.e. just bending is now an accident and causes an injury.
Labour fiddled the funding accounts by taking money from the residual account, motor vehicle account and non-earners account to prop up the earners account to make the employers levies look good.
This is the reason why ACC was in such debt when National came into power.
You may recall that National has not said they will privatise ACC that is a term that is used by Labour.
National has said they will open ACC up to competition in some of the accounts not in all accounts.
Labour has made a lot of promises which sound good but can’t state where the money will come from which will mean more borrowing and more debt for NZ.
Most of Labours election promises apply only if they are in power for more than 1 term not many apply to their first term if they win.
Last edited by Bad Biker; 9th November 2011 at 18:25. Reason: Should proof read
I confess to know everything there is to know about absolutely nothing at all!!!
“A bad tradesman blames his tools. A stupid one blames himself!!!!!!!!”
What I'm saying is a fluro vest isn't going to do fark all compared to fixing driver attitude, I can have a flashing light on my head and people will still not see me and thats not just on a bike, I get carved up in my car far more often than on my bike because sadly people are just stupid.
In the words of Juan-Manuel Fangio "Brakes they only slow you down"
Irrespective of which way people will claim to vote before the election, after the election you can ask anyone "Did you vote for the party that got 65% of the votes?"
90% will say no.
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