Elections are coming up. What are we thinking?

[MisterD]

I see that Pākehā culture does not make room for other cultures to participate - it's "do it our way or not at all"

Bollocks. There is no "Pakeha culture", because "Pakeha" is a nonsense concept. You can't define something as "sort of white-ish and not Maori" and expect to find a unifying culture within it.

I'm English, which is probably the dominant culture within the later settlers, and if there's one thing that characterises the English culture (apart from the drinking and fighting) it's the propensity to adopt aspects of other cultures and languages. It's been like that since the Angles and Saxons displaced the Celts and then fought the Vikings to a standstill.

[Banditbandit]

Bollocks. There is no "Pakeha culture", because "Pakeha" is a nonsense concept. You can't define something as "sort of white-ish and not Maori" and expect to find a unifying culture within it.

I'm English, which is probably the dominant culture within the later settlers, and if there's one thing that characterises the English culture (apart from the drinking and fighting) it's the propensity to adopt aspects of other cultures and languages. It's been like that since the Angles and Saxons displaced the Celts and then fought the Vikings to a standstill.

So .. the "English" culture that we have here, which, as you say, has adopted aspects from other cultures, is definitely a New Zealand-developed culture .. and what I would call Pākehā culture ... I'm sure there are many here who would not like to know they are part of "English" culture ..

And all cultures change and adapt - from contact with other cultures, from technological changes, from a variety of change agencies .. that' not unique to English culture ..

[MisterD]

So .. the "English" culture that we have here, which, as you say, has adopted aspects from other cultures, is definitely a New Zealand-developed culture .. and what I would call Pākehā culture ... I'm sure there are many here who would not like to know they are part of "English" culture ..

Nobody here is part of "English culture", but they're living in a country with a lot of English cultural influence.

English might be the dominant non-Maori culture, but we wouldn't have a wine industry without the Dallies, Otago wouldn't be the same place without Scots cultural influence...you can go on all day with that sort of stuff. There is certainly a still-evolving New Zealand culture, but that has Maori influences to - I know plenty of non-maori who happily use Maori words like "mana" or "kai moana", and it's not just try-hard bleeding heart muppets like Catherine Delahunty either.

[bogan]

I see it slightly differently - I wouldsay the voting system allows for culture to be a relevant point ..



I get your point - but I didn't mean Māori as a race was inclusive, I meant Māori culture is inclusive. Māori culture makes room for people from other cultures to participate. I mean the word as a culture not a race. "Race" is a null concept.

My idea of Pākehā culture? That's huge ... but I see it all around me .. I see that Pākehā culture does not make room for other cultures to participate - it's "do it our way or not at all"

If it is just for culture, why can't I vote on the maori electorate? Voting systems that do not discriminate by race also allow culture to be a relevant point. How does our discriminant system help in that respect?

Inclusive unless you want voting equality you mean?

That is a very racist concept, pakeha culture simply doesn't exist. Kiwi culture is all around us, foreign culture is too, you seem intent on picking out the bits you don't like to further justify your own racist beliefs. Name one thing about pakeha culture that is do it our way or not at all.

[Ocean1]

I see that Pākehā culture does not make room for other cultures to participate - it's "do it our way or not at all"

I think you'll find it's science and technology saying that. With perfect accuracy. Insisting there's a Maori way to supply either is patently absurd.

Maori health service? Yeah, whatever.

And if you still see Pakeha as exclusive then have a think about whether or not that might be a reflection on those who describe anyone not their own race as "outsiders".

[pzkpfw]

NZ First is rating high, here. Must be a few Ulysses members around.

[cowpoos]

errrr...I think we could drop the racial politics. They are just ridiculously filled with ignorance and a total lack of a considered opinion...or in short...based on a low IQ.

Every party is a group of like minded people. Supported by like minded voters.

Lets not pigeon hole them so we can point fingers at them. Shouldn't we be discussing policy, how that policy is to be funded....Election bribes or bullshit? Do we trust potential incumbents?

Why have the Conservatives jumped in the polls? Not just the poll here either.

Why do the Greens believe the are business friendly?

[mashman]

Bollocks. There is no "Pakeha culture", because "Pakeha" is a nonsense concept. You can't define something as "sort of white-ish and not Maori" and expect to find a unifying culture within it.

I'm English, which is probably the dominant culture within the later settlers, and if there's one thing that characterises the English culture (apart from the drinking and fighting) it's the propensity to adopt aspects of other cultures and languages, as long as they speak english.. It's been like that since the Angles and Saxons displaced the Celts and then fought the Vikings to a standstill.

The english have had no culture since Morris Dancing. The scots should make more of theirs imho, but hey, the english intervened. Vote for Scottish Independence (and I would vote on that).

Wee modification to that last part.

[Brian d marge]

They get my vote . . .

On the snigger side see how soft they are trying to make bruiser colins

[idb]

Cunliffes' apology for being a man made my decision a little bit easier.

[avgas]

Yes - and we expect different things in terms of ability and attitude ... we are not just looking for a technically and scientifically competent doctor or dentist .. the scientifically technically competent doctors are a product of the western world .. we want more than that. There's a host of cultural issues that you take for granted and don't see - but we experience them because they are behaviours that are foreign to us ..

Did you know that Māori men who go to the doctor with urination problems are 25% LESS likely to be diagnosed with prostate cancer than their Pākehā counterparts .. and then die from the disease ... plenty of other examples

Is it because the doctors don't care about us? Are they simply negligent when it comes to our health ? Are they racist ?

It could be a communications barrier. Old man has worked with all sorts as I grew up (he's a tunneler). He is the reason why I have a profound respect for Maori and Islanders.

They communicate differently, and doctors are shitty at picking it up. If you know what to look for - you know when a Maori fella is hurting.......but he won't tell you jack shit. Similar thing with Irish.

Everybody needs a different approach. But likewise there needs to be message out there to the Maori fella's that if they feel something is serious to actually speak out. It is better to risk your mana, not save face - and tell the doc the problem feels really serious.

The chances of the doc doing his job differently is slim. As the rest of us have had to learn the hard way.

[avgas]

Pakeha simply means "others" .... anyone other than Maori .... anyone! ... irrispective of skin colour!

Bit more than that actually.
From Pakehaka - and we are fucking magical!
(because we row our boats backwards)

[blue rider]

not that it means anything
but an interesting read anyways

http://www.horizonpoll.co.nz/attachm...urvey-repo.pdf

[gjm]

Just saw an excerpt of a 'debate' on TV... Channel surfing, and it was on.

Every time Cunliffe tried to say something, Key talked over him.

All Key could talk about was growing the economy by selling stuff overseas.

I didn't get to see if Cunliffe managed to riposte with any questions about international debt, run up by National at $450m per week. Sure, the economy has grown, and significantly, since National took power (on the back of unsustainable claims they would give tax cuts) but the really important figure, the GDP vs loan ratio, has also grown massively. Taking just that figure into account, NZ is worse off now than it was 5 years ago, despite the massive increase in export sales and GDP.

Unfortunately the national debt is now so great that there is no room for error. Current levels of GDP aren't high enough, and need to increase just to make repayments on the debt.

[mashman]

Just saw an excerpt of a 'debate' on TV... Channel surfing, and it was on.

Every time Cunliffe tried to say something, Key talked over him.

All Key could talk about was growing the economy by selling stuff overseas.

I didn't get to see if Cunliffe managed to riposte with any questions about international debt, run up by National at $450m per week. Sure, the economy has grown, and significantly, since National took power (on the back of unsustainable claims they would give tax cuts) but the really important figure, the GDP vs loan ratio, has also grown massively. Taking just that figure into account, NZ is worse off now than it was 5 years ago, despite the massive increase in export sales and GDP.

Unfortunately the national debt is now so great that there is no room for error. Current levels of GDP aren't high enough, and need to increase just to make repayments on the debt.

Should've gone with austerity