sagenz

The truth about social democratic spending

This  The Spectator.co.uk on the legacy of Gordon Brown applies equally to the New Zealand economy and should be required reading for anybody who does not think New Zealand is on the slow path back to a low growth low income economy.

But it seems likely that in due course Brown will be marked down not as one of the greatest but instead as one of the most destructive chancellors in British history. His achievements over the past eight years have been greatly exaggerated, and the future looks full of menace. Gordon Brown is characteristically New Labour: he has brilliantly constructed his own reputation by playing fast and loose with the facts while gradually draining the British economy of its dynamism with a flood of red tape and tax hikes.

New posting policy

You may have noticed that posts have become less frequent.  That is because I got busy.  cruelty & violence towards  people who work in planning should not be a crime.

I am not promising to be back soon but will post as and when.  you will see me commenting at blogs when I get on top of current issues.

Just remember.  helen is lying , but its not her fault.

Helengrad is not competent. Straight from the horses mouth

Rodney Hide is getting helen to admit she is not competent.

RODNEY HIDE (Leader–ACT) to the Prime Minister: Does she stand by her statement that “I sometimes wonder whether I’m a victim of my own success as a popular and competent Prime Minister."; if so, why?

Rt Hon HELEN CLARK (Prime Minister): No. I no longer have time to wonder.

She has no time because she is so busy cleaning up the messes her caucus have created.

On Tamihere on the holocaust et al

It has been fascinating to read about the travails of Tamihere. I do not share the general condemnation of Tamihere’s comments regarding the holocaust, simply because of context. The original reporting in Herald on Sunday included his general revulsion and it was clear that he was making a point consistent with his views about Maori progress rather than an attack on Jews. His stated view is it is time for Maori to stop holding out the hand and to move on. The Jewish Council have objected, but in a measured way. I share that view. What he said is not the end of the world. But as with everything in the media it is easier to seize the sensationalist phrase to play the man not the issue.

UPDATE: The New Zealand Herald reports he has been let off with a slap.

Maverick MP John Tamihere was censured at the Labour Party caucus this morning but looks set to remain in the fold.

Makes sense from everybodys point of view.

It has been an interesting time to be talking to people about the government. I sense that the impression is gathering of the arrogance and bigotry of the "front bums". It remains difficult but not impossible to see the polls turning. National would need to take 10% off Labour to have a bolters chance of getting enough seats to govern.

I have seen various people picking up on the early polls idea. I suggest the confirmation of 16 July will come with the realisation that the speeding court case is 1 August. That will drag. If the 7^th offender is hung out to dry it would be exceedingly bad politics during an election campaign. So helen will want to have the election safely in the bag before that comes to court.

The problems with Tamihere will probably provide an adequate excuse for Labour to call the election early. Labour caucus is meeting as I write. I imagine he will get the cold shoulder over the next months. The best thing he could do imho is to shut his mouth until the election campaign starts. I think he is sincere in wanting to stay part of Labour. He could not join Tariana and if he keeps his head down he should get his mandate renewed.

What has been overlooked with the release of honest Johns opinions is the fact that people very close to him are going down with charges from the SFO investigation. That alone has been enough to make me revise my opinion of him. He most certainly wants another term. That would be enough for him to settle down financially and find something to move back to.

Heeeesssss baaaccccckkkkk!!!!!

gidday. Well you must be really bored if you have waited this long and are still checking the site. Thanks to both of you.  No doubt Freudian Slippers will drop me off the blogroll again after her comment "Bloggers who don't regularly update annoy the hell out of me."

We climbed Tarawera. Our 3 generational party of 8 got dropped at the outlet and did the traverse with my 80 year old father in the van. Eventually my nine year old pipped him to the top. Clear blue skies and a beautiful day. I just read Peter Cresswells comment and think he makes a very fine point. Repeated below so you do not have to bother hunting the post.

What we're missing is this: A recognition that rights in property are essentially a bundle of rights, of which many different people or groups can hold a 'stick' in that bundle. Some of those 'sticks' might represent for example harvesting rights, fishing rights, or easements for access - as perhaps they should in the Tarawera case.

As such, maybe instead of trespassing, you could explore a common law action asking for an access easement to be recognised that has been acquired over time by 'prescription' - the legal term

I did not get to sic the sister on the thugs at the top of the mountain. She has a very short fuse at the best of times and can generally be relied upon to make her views known, if you know what I mean. But it was too late in the season so there was no quad bike with goons. What I have found curious is that despite the fact my sister and her partner work in environmental protection in the south island, she is much more reluctant than me with regard to the concept of establishing rights of way. She was willing to trespass but kept telling me that I was not allowed to swear if we met the goons.   I had been looking forward to her listening respectfully for maybe 30 seconds as they threatened us with violence again and abused our heritage and came up with all sorts of inaccurate legal and historical justifications as to why we should not be there.  Then I thought she might start to make her own views known.  That would have been good entertainment, sigh, maybe next year...