tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11906042.post2134014489174512479..comments2024-03-18T17:17:00.423+13:00Comments on Not PC: "A pleasant man who, without any important qualifications for the office, would very much like to be Prime Minister."Peter Cresswellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10699845031503699181noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11906042.post-20939299735037316642008-02-05T10:14:00.000+13:002008-02-05T10:14:00.000+13:00So you're still happy to have the nasty grey ones ...So you're still happy to have the nasty grey ones controlling health, education & utilities, eh.<BR/><BR/>Rather you than me, Dave. Why the hell would you want more of what doesn't work? "But it'd be different this time!", bollocks. If they're *not* generating their own income, they don't give a hoot. No matter what you did it would only ever be window-dressing. I work in the health industry, by the way. It's a mess.<BR/><BR/>And, of course, it means the grey ones decide who gets the op and who doesn't. Disgraceful. <BR/><BR/>Hanso: a good question, and one that's addressed in the FAQ's at lp.org.nz<BR/><BR/>I'm sure PC could advise of the pertinent 'Cue Card' for more info ...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11906042.post-797186316503019212008-02-05T08:55:00.000+13:002008-02-05T08:55:00.000+13:00Without tax, how would we pay for the police, army...Without tax, how would we pay for the police, army, and justice system? I've seen this question asked before, but never properly awnsered.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11906042.post-83030469757668246282008-02-05T00:32:00.000+13:002008-02-05T00:32:00.000+13:00Ummmmm....Dave, you engaged in a diatribe earlier ...Ummmmm....Dave, you engaged in a diatribe earlier about the Libertarian Party, but have just listed all our policies!<BR/><BR/>I had originally thought you and the Libertarian Party agreed on 95%<BR/>of things..(differing in presentation only)..but now realise it is 100%<BR/><BR/>Welcome aboard!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11906042.post-15658005093854893142008-02-04T23:37:00.000+13:002008-02-04T23:37:00.000+13:00I would draw the line right through (ie slash and ...I would draw the line right through (ie slash and burn) the ACC, The Labour Department (especially OSH), the Ministry of Human Development (and their spawn, the department of Social Welfare), the Conservation Department, the Waitangi Tribunal and Maori Affairs, Pacific Island Affairs and the 'Human Rights Commission' for a start... and then I would disestablish some of the more useless and meddling ministerial posts such as the Minister for Disarmament (Geez what a stupid idea that is), the Minister for Culture and heritage (another waste of time and money) and obviously the Racing Minister.<BR/><BR/>Once I had firmly drawn these elementary lines, I would then be free to start considering how I could really make an impact and save the poor long-suffering citizen from the grief and meddling that this overblown self-important governmental system has foisted upon the taxpayer.<BR/><BR/>Health, Education, care of the (actually) infirm and aged, Law and Order, Defence, Commercial Law and Order (however you want to put that) and basic infrastructure such as water, roads, sewerage etc would benefit enormously from my attention too, in that I would take it as a major objective to see to it that these areas SERVE THE PEOPLE - not the other way around.<BR/><BR/>My goal would be to halve the tax take while at the same time doubling the quality and effectiveness of vital services provided by government and I would institute a rigorous regime of accountability and responsibility.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11906042.post-74133760999250778812008-02-04T18:47:00.000+13:002008-02-04T18:47:00.000+13:00Yes Dave....please explain where your line is wher...Yes Dave....please explain where your line is where the state ceases protecting rights and begins violating them and why its justified...<BR/><BR/>Im not being nasty...just pointing out that when the State exceeds its legit role of rights protector and begins picking winners by setting some people against others that that is where we get the shit that you and I are opposed to happening...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11906042.post-31731178279116525052008-02-04T18:11:00.000+13:002008-02-04T18:11:00.000+13:00So concentrate upon what we have in common, Dave. ...So concentrate upon what we have in common, Dave. Forget about the rest for now. Big picture and all that.<BR/><BR/>Having said that, where do you see the state fitting in? Or put another way, where would you draw the line?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11906042.post-28277895164295614772008-02-04T17:35:00.000+13:002008-02-04T17:35:00.000+13:00Hi sus - well, I'm afraid it ain't gonna fly, whic...Hi sus - well, I'm afraid it ain't gonna fly, which is a huge pity, 'coz Libertarianism has a huge amount to offer.<BR/><BR/>The electorate would repond in a massive wave right now to the idea that (for example) government is far to big and takes upon itself far too much meddling and interference and above all has its priorities fucked. But they would shy like frightened horses from the idea that THE ONLY things that government should be involved in are Police, Defence and Justice. Its just too big a leap for most people to take and, frankly I don't agree with it.<BR/><BR/>You are advocating 'throwing the baby out with the bathwater'. That is an excellent phrase to describe it; its very old fashioned, but it serves admirably nevertheless.<BR/><BR/>You won't get anywhere at all electorally unless you modify your stance and attempt to relate to the electorate from a realistic standpoint.... which is a huge pity, because in so many areas you speak so much sense.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11906042.post-5337873229692472202008-02-04T16:38:00.000+13:002008-02-04T16:38:00.000+13:00Hi Dave .. you make some good points (& I agree en...Hi Dave .. you make some good points (& I agree entirely regarding Guy Smiley), but I would take issue with one or two.<BR/><BR/>AFAIC I have no desire to be any part of some 'coalition of the right'. I have no faith in either the "left" or the "right", because either way it's still the state. It's not a a cliche; like it or not, it's a fact.<BR/><BR/>Govt has bugger all place in my society, bar the libertarian concept of police, defence & justice. That's it. Other than those essentials, I want the nasty little grey bastards out of my life. Fuck them all.<BR/><BR/>However! I recognise that it cannot and will not happen all at once. It's a process brought about by a societal understanding of liberty - and as such, I am happy to support a gradual withdrawal.<BR/><BR/>But principles *cannot* be compromised. ACT has done that to its detriment.<BR/><BR/>I support a gradual dismantling of the state on the proviso that the process does not stop mid-way, leaving us with a half-cocked, quasi-govt situation a la the SOE's. <BR/><BR/>It is a matter of honour to be straight with the public; they deserve no less. (And God knows that would be a first, politically!)<BR/><BR/>Cheers.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11906042.post-71545556578336455422008-02-04T12:38:00.000+13:002008-02-04T12:38:00.000+13:00Thanks Elijah... hmm... I'll seriously think it ov...Thanks Elijah... hmm... I'll seriously think it over (I promise).<BR/><BR/>My biggest problem with Libertarianism is what I expect the electorate at large's problem to be; that of blanket extremism and principles taken to ridiculous lengths.<BR/><BR/>I realise that I am generalising here, but its a far cry from putting forward cogent reasons why we should reduce the meddling interference of government in people's lives to making the repetitive cry that ALL tax is theft and the state should have NO PLACE at all in people's lives.<BR/><BR/>Its a matter of degree. As far as I can judge "Libertarianism Lite" would be somewhere slightly to the right of ACT, which would be exactly what this country needs. Full strength Libertarianism would be almost as big a disaster in my view as National or Labour, but for different reasons obviously.<BR/><BR/>I think the electorate would run a mile from LibzFullStrength, which is why they are the Shiraz of NZ politics.... heady and full blooded, but with an underlying irritating peppery quality which you can't quite stomach in huge quantities and which has a slightly suspicious name to boot.<BR/><BR/>Quite a long time ago, I emailed Rodney with the suggestion that he launch a campaign to hollow out National's vote (after Brash was booted out) by stealing some of their better MPs and at the same time effect a merger with the Libertarianz in order to put in place some real policies and form a 'coalition of the right'. This suggestion was met with a polite stereotyped reply from some ACT functionary who might just as well have said "thank you but Mr Hyde is currently concentrating on perfecting his Walz technique. If and when he decides the time is right to Tango, no doubt he will get back to you... but don't hold your breath."<BR/><BR/>OK, so I am maybe a little naive politically. But here, for what its worth, is my suggestion for the future of the Libz in this country:<BR/><BR/>1) Tone down some of the extremist rhetoric and allow the possibility that government has a place in a civil society<BR/><BR/>2) Clearly enunciate to the electorate that the time has come to not only drastically cut down government meddling and bureaucracy but also to set a new direction for the country. Good government works FOR the people, not the other way around.<BR/><BR/>3) Change the name to "XXXXXXXXX". This could be shortened colloquially to a familiar name which has the same ring to it as your current name and it would serve admirably as a vehicle.<BR/><BR/>4) As ACT won't act (so to speak), do the acting for them. Offer them the opportunity to be with you or against you and if they don't chose the former, attack them as hard as you can go by putting a good candidate against Rodney in Epsom and throwing all your resources into him (or her if you insist on PC language). ACT is finished at the next election anyway unless they revitalise and you people can be the instrument of their revitalisation if you play it properly. Either way you lose nothing and you stand to gain from the publicity alone in such a high profile seat.<BR/><BR/>5) Start a viral email awareness campaign to put forward a radical new direction for New Zealand. If a bloody underwear company can do it, you can do it.<BR/><BR/>I have not told you the party name I have in mind because a) I am not 100% sure it is available, b) I am not 100% sure you are worthy (hehehe. joke) and c)If you take this suggestion at all seriously, I'm sure you would like to keep it under wraps so that the fucking Greens or some other parasites don't grab it to prevent it being used.<BR/><BR/>If you want to discuss the name, I'm sure PC could find me.<BR/><BR/>Cheers<BR/><BR/>Dave MannAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11906042.post-74944488584548744872008-02-04T10:54:00.000+13:002008-02-04T10:54:00.000+13:00Yoo Hoo, dave! over here! *waves*libertarianz.org...Yoo Hoo, dave! over here! *<I>waves</I>*<BR/><BR/>libertarianz.org.nzAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11906042.post-56093495873261780162008-02-04T10:49:00.001+13:002008-02-04T10:49:00.001+13:00The terrible thing about John Key (and the whole N...The terrible thing about John Key (and the whole National party) is that, as you point out, they have no actual policies, philosophy or firm vision for where thy feel New Zealand's direction should be.<BR/><BR/>Much as I despise the Labour party and their feminazi eco-fuck anti-family anti-capitalist tribalist hangers on, at least one thing you can say about them is that they STAND for something. They stand firmly for the destruction of our country as a cohesive entity and they are working clearly and openly towards this goal....at least the public can understand that.<BR/><BR/>But the National party? What does the national Party stand for? Actually, it seems to stand for exactly the same thing as the Labour party if you examine their actions closely as some commentators do... but the tragedy is that the public of this poor benighted little backwater haven't got a clue what's going on. <BR/><BR/>When John Key becomes Prime Minister of this country (and he will become PM), it will be the final blow that finishes us off. The Nats will then open up a whole new can of the same old worms in their mad scramble to grab power for power's sake, except that they will be even less principled than labour and they will sway and twist with whatever pressure group threatens them most or offers them the biggest bribes. Look for the maoris and the greens in the next government; their seats at the cabinet table are being reserved already.<BR/><BR/>The public is absolutely sick of putting up with the failures of this sick socialist experiment - but instead of actually achieving a meaningful change of direction, it looks as if it will actually be worse after November as the scramble to divvy up what's left of this once proud country gathers pace.<BR/><BR/>The choice between an ugly domineering asshole and a grinning smarmy conman is not an enviable one and the country really should have a real alternative to chose from. Where is our alternative?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11906042.post-2199750037354135502008-02-04T10:49:00.000+13:002008-02-04T10:49:00.000+13:00I remember another PM in waiting of whom it was sa...I remember another PM in waiting of whom it was said he was "Sleepwalking to victory".<BR/><BR/>It's just the dynamics of elections in NZ. Brash had to recover the party from it's awful slump in 2002 and he was bold because he had no other reasonable choice.<BR/><BR/>Key, like Bolger doesn't need to do that as his opposition is folding and like Bolger, doen't know just what awaits him, so he's cautious to simply let a tired and corrupt Govt fall under it's own weight.<BR/><BR/>I've no doubt that there's policy to come but not ten months prior to the election because that simply allows Labour to divert attention from it's own failings.<BR/><BR/>JCAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11906042.post-15344794603131579032008-02-04T10:36:00.000+13:002008-02-04T10:36:00.000+13:00All the more reason for us to get stuck into him a...All the more reason for us to get stuck into him and prevent this 'confidence trick' he is trying to play on the NZ people from happening.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11906042.post-36444535642245941312008-02-04T09:19:00.000+13:002008-02-04T09:19:00.000+13:00"No bone, no spine, no heart, no guts and no visio..."No bone, no spine, no heart, no guts and no vision -- just charm, smarm and the empty vessel of managerialism."<BR/>Beautiful! And so true.KGhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01940428991630766942noreply@blogger.com