I love Lord Winston

[Headbanger]

Conspiracy theorists may beg to differ.

what's your back ground?, Or do you just know everything?

[Blackbird]

As we sink lower in OECD rankings, we borrow more and more on our "quality of life" as self justification, helps to ignore things like dwindling quality of infrastructure, poor telecoms (broadband speed for instance), lower wages. We are about as close (above) to the balance point as Cook Islands are (below). (acknowledge partial pt)

Understood! I'm not arguing with you. The observation I was making is that statistical rankings such as OECD are only part of the story. Rich countries can still have severe social problems, partially due to wealth being concentrated among the relatively few. For example, America is hardly egalitarian. I'm not being critical of other countries. All I'm saying is that the "grass is greener" scenario depends partially on the circumstances of individuals. It's also a shifting line in the sand due to other factors such as climate change, energy costs, finite natural resources etc. It's an incredibly complex equation for which there is no single "right answer".

[Hitcher]

what's your back ground?, Or do you just know everything?

I was once abducted by space aliens. I still have the anal probe as proof.

[idb]

Because these foods have been tested to death in exhaustive clinical trials before commercial release. That's how.

Then you can say that according to exhaustive clinical trials carried out before commercial release there is no danger to human health from the consumption of these foods.

Not quite the same thing.

[avgas]

and yet the largest independent survey / study into quality of life etc by Mercer

Just like that time Microsoft gave us windows for free, or the time Mobil gave me free gas.
Sorry for looking a gift horse in the mouth - but independant, Mercer and free don't fit with me. If it were really the case then why isn't their head office in Auckland?
Mercer are not only the largest surveyors in the world, but probably the most savvy. I would not be surprised to see a catch like "Auckland best city in the world has direct correlation to Coffee being good for you".
You are right is saying the grass isn't greener elsewhere - but you have to question whether this is as good as it gets in NZ, and the downwards slope is looming.

[forkoil]

Understood! I'm not arguing with you. The observation I was making is that statistical rankings such as OECD are only part of the story. Rich countries can still have severe social problems, partially due to wealth being concentrated among the relatively few. For example, America is hardly egalitarian. I'm not being critical of other countries. All I'm saying is that the "grass is greener" scenario depends partially on the circumstances of individuals. It's also a shifting line in the sand due to other factors such as climate change, energy costs, finite natural resources etc. It's an incredibly complex equation for which there is no single "right answer".

Agreed. From MY standpoint, as a baby boomer (or a booming baby), the values and hopes/dreams of my "youth" for the country put the "shifting" line further up the economic prosperity parameter than is currently the fashion politically. So from where "I" sit, we are going backwards. Others, and you in particular, may have another view. Maybe I misunderstood yours to be more along the "green" scale, as these arguments tend to polarise ppl. Science was king when I was a lad, and NZers were held in high esteem, Ernest Rutherford (bit older than me tho) etc. And I love my outdoors, huntin, shootin fishin etc, but the greens have gotten into our collective psyche to the extend I believe we have become almost luddite in our national outlook. My 2 OE's so far, in my 20s in the 70's and this year, both to Europe, the contrast between the two trips has left me quite sad at how far we have dropped cf other countries...

[avgas]

Well, if everybody who realise that there is a problem leaves, the problem 'sorta' goes away I guess.

Just like Texas.......

[ManDownUnder]

I wish we had politicians brave enough to stand up and be counted on this.

We have pollies neither capable of standing up, nor counting.

We're fucked mate

[ManDownUnder]

I was once abducted by space aliens. I still have the anal probe as proof.

Carver told you it's a WHAT???

[Blackbird]

My 2 OE's so far, in my 20s in the 70's and this year, both to Europe, the contrast between the two trips has left me quite sad at how far we have dropped cf other countries...

I'm a Baby Boomer too, educated and worked in the UK until my mid 20's and now recently semi-retired. Hardly a died in the wool greenie, I'm a mechanical engineer and have spent a spell working in the States as well as travelling extensively. Only the one-eyed would claim that NZ can't learn from other countries, and I mean not only the positives, but what to avoid too.

I know it's probably a trite thing to say with the serious issues facing both NZ and the rest of the world, but every time I fly back into the country, I still get that little thrill of being "home". That doesn't happen when visiting the UK.

It's a tough world, innit?

P.S And don't get me started on politicians giving out lollies in the shape of personal tax cuts. an infinitely better proposition to spend it on health, education and the sciences if we're going to improve as a nation.

[Mikkel]

I was once abducted by space aliens. I still have the anal probe as proof.

I'm guessing post-traumatic stress has caused you to cook up that explanation for your wife's 1st year anniversary gift. While nostalgia has caused you not to just let go...

Just like Texas.......

...or Kansas. There's no place like home

[Clockwork]

The reason that farmers have to come back to Monsanto is largely due to the seeds being infertile hybrids or because the addition of GM material makes them incapable of "normal" reproduction. This is nothing sinister on Monsanto's part, it's just an outcome of the GM process.

Apparently not.

However we are slightly off topic and I'm happy to agree that there are many other areas where I would be only too happy to see NZ undertake more R&D

[Hitcher]

Apparently not.

Reread the article to which you have linked.

[Clockwork]

I read it. Just because Monsanto now say that they wont use them does nothing to prevent them or anyone else from further developing this research at any point in the future!

Anyway, I simply posted the article because you apeared to be denying such research existed.

[Headbanger]

Reread the article to which you have linked.

I hate to say it, But your lacking your god-given dose of healthy scepticism, Big business has been known to lie, especially when untold billions of dollars are involved, yet you seem to have swallowed the entire line so much you will talk in absolutes. And any conflicting view you dismiss as crackpot.