Something to think about now and before the next election!

[SMOKEU]

So even if we get to run our own country, or get people in place that care enough to make the big decisions in regards to telling the rest of the world to fuck off, we will be held to ransom by trade agreements and pieces of paper that NZers never voted for, sorry voted for, in order to keep their economy growing so that foreign companies can take more money out of the country than they put in which in turn causes the govt to borrow from overseas entities.

Then you're going to have to come up with a system that will work irrespective of the demands of the rest of the world. Anyone have one in their back pocket?

In a few short years I wouldn't be surprised if NZ turns into an extension of China.

[mashman]

In a few short years I wouldn't be surprised if NZ turns into an extension of China.

Better start teaching mandarin at school then... no point leavin the kids behind, somebody think about the children

[mashman]

So sell it to me.

Free Local NZ Economy: You will be a slave for your country 5 hours a day, 4 days a week. In return you get to live free of charge in a society with exceptional healthcare, top notch education and next to no crime.

[puddytat]

In a few short years I wouldn't be surprised if NZ turns into an extension of China.

Events are going to overtake us Fella....things like food, water shortages, climate issues dont respect borders.Its something we are all going to have to get our heads around.When we start talking about others having more rights than some to resources we are really going to be in trouble. The thing is with capatalism is that by buying resources you are giving more rights to some & ownership.Desperate people have no choice & have nothing to lose. They generally dont die quietly.

[avgas]

Then you're going to have to come up with a system that will work irrespective of the demands of the rest of the world. Anyone have one in their back pocket?

Nah I am thinking we try "Anarchy and Chaos" for a while.
Where people have to deal with people, and you have to provide something substantial to be taken seriously.

Actually while your right and wrong. There will be a void. But whomever fills that void will be wary to keep the public on their sides. Will will need to repeat this every last few hundred years.

As mentioned earlier, you could replace the monkeys. Or you could just spray em all with water for good measure every now and then.

As a white, semi-intelligent, hardworking, family orientated, male in NZ. I have very little to lose by promoting a headless chicken country.

Now if I were Non-"NZ-Euro", female, lazy, abusive, demanding of others....... I stand to lose a lot under a system of pure trade. Instead of the "state/simon says" system. For I would have to equal my peers to be heard.

My request is simple. Let me make my own informed decisions. Let the world decide if we are worth their time.
If you want to be the government, do what the people say, be transparent with us and you can keep your employment.
If I wanted things sugar-coated.......I would have remained at the intellectual level of a 5 year old. Slaves do not need to be smart.

[avgas]

Better start teaching mandarin at school then... no point leavin the kids behind, somebody think about the children

While this is not a dumb idea.
Most of the business parts of China acknowledge that Business English is required.

[mashman]

Nah I am thinking we try "Anarchy and Chaos" for a while.
Where people have to deal with people, and you have to provide something substantial to be taken seriously.

Sounds too much like the current system to me.

My request is simple. Let me make my own informed decisions. Let the world decide if we are worth their time.

Yup, exactly like the current system.

You're a status quo'ist

[schrodingers cat]

Events are going to overtake us Fella....things like food, water shortages, climate issues dont respect borders.Its something we are all going to have to get our heads around.When we start talking about others having more rights than some to resources we are really going to be in trouble. The thing is with capatalism is that by buying resources you are giving more rights to some & ownership.Desperate people have no choice & have nothing to lose. They generally dont die quietly.

Correct. Allocation of resources will always be an issue.
Fresh (drinkable) water esp will become a global issue. This will be exerbated by climate change.

As a country with a temperate climate and a gross producer of food New Zealand is very fortunate.

Globally the greatest issue facing the human race is the amount of us.
It maybe true that if wealth were distributed equally it is possible to feed etc many more than 9 billion currently alive but you have to ask why bother?

[avgas]

Sounds too much like the current system to me.
Yup, exactly like the current system.
You're a status quo'ist

Huh?
Mine is way cheaper to start with.

[puddytat]

According to David Attenborough......at our present level of 7 billion ravenous Human,at the rate that we are using resources we really need 1 & a 1/2 planets to sustain this "Growth'' mantra at its present level . He suggests that if we totally stop our growth in both population & consuming resources & in grenhouse gases we MAY be able to stop the looming catastrophy.But,if we continue as we are we hav'nt a shit show of avoiding the greatest threat to our species in our evolution & he ,the quietly spoken man he is, is predicting it may well be by the end of this century. So much for progress huh.
I saw a very interesting programme on ,yup you guessed it TVNZ7 (no wonder they want to close it down eh) about some geezer who has been studying the subject, that on a biological level our species is displaying the same growth characteristics as CANCERS.....an organism that attacks its host & eventually kills it, & its self.

What I think fucks me off & many others I think,is that most of our major problems have really nothing to do with politics & or capatalism ,apart from causing most of them. I personally think that it is the politicians themselves who will make the problem worse not better & if we sit around waiting for them to do something then it'll just be a clusterfuck. I like the idea of taking a class action lawsuit against them for gross incompetency against humanity.
There have been 4 presidents in the US since the 1st Kyoto agreement. All have been going blal,blah,blah about doing something about it.None has actually achieved anything other than passing the buck. Just like here.

[Swoop]

Parliament is a bit like my shed, it needs a periodical "clean-out" and the 5 monkey theory sort of fits the bill.

Perhaps we should just bight the bullet and clean the shed out periodically!

Quite true, BUT we also need to kick out the parasites that infest Wellington's Circular Wind Tunnel along with the politicians. The assistants, researchers, PA's, etc that are manipulating behind the scenes are equally as dangerous.

Also, getting rid of 60% of the cages would be a good start.

[slofox]

...on a biological level our species is displaying the same growth characteristics as CANCERS.....an organism that attacks its host & eventually kills it, & its self.

.

I've been telling everyone exactly that for over a quarter of a century. So for nobody has taken any notice.

[SPman]

What I think fucks me off & many others I think,is that most of our major problems have really nothing to do with politics & or capatalism ,apart from causing most of them. I personally think that it is the politicians themselves who will make the problem worse not better & if we sit around waiting for them to do something then it'll just be a clusterfuck. I like the idea of taking a class action lawsuit against them for gross incompetency against humanity.
There have been 4 presidents in the US since the 1st Kyoto agreement. All have been going blal,blah,blah about doing something about it.None has actually achieved anything other than passing the buck. Just like here.

Come on baby, eat the rich,
Put the bite on the son of a bitch,
Don't mess up, don't you give me no switch…
C'mon baby and eat the rich,
C'mon baby and eat the rich…
C'mon honey, here’s your supper,
C'mon baby, bite that sucka!…

............

[MisterD]

According to David Attenborough......at our present level of 7 billion ravenous Human,at the rate that we are using resources we really need 1 & a 1/2 planets to sustain this "Growth'' mantra at its present level .

Most of the West is looking at population decline, certainly Europe has a birth rate of about 1.6, so the challenge is really to get the rest of the world to that point asap.

I suggest turning of the aid tap to Africa, shutting the door until they've finished killing each other (or at least run out of the bullets we sold them and are back to pointy sticks), and that should give us the breathing space to get China and India to the Western level.

[puddytat]

I've been telling everyone exactly that for over a quarter of a century. So for nobody has taken any notice.

Well most folk dont listen to grumpy old bastards do they.....they wont listen to me either. The thing is no one likes bad news or info that bursts their wee bubble so they get defensive & usually call you a cynic or depressing. Well I cant help that if the facts are depressing, & I think thats why people hate anyone that tells them .....like conservationists & the like. So they'll listen to anyone who talks about warm fluffies or offers them a packet of chewing gum( or their mate with the ute & hot missus).From my observations over the years the most hated "other" demographic in this country other than Asians & cheeky darkies would be the planet lovers & someone who has socialistic tendencies
Politics are really quite devisive I feel.....like that oldrider dude said, I reckon a mix of libertarianistas (the philosophy of which covers both the left & the right) or a group of highly paid professionals working at our request to implement referenda on all issues. This group could be appointed by either supreme court judges or a panel of suitably qualified experts in those fields maybe? Of course we'd have to make civics part of the curriculm & try & instill how necessary it is & how rewarding it can be in many other ways than financial ,to be a member of the society that we are all part of.