tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11906042.post1584096225832957077..comments2024-03-22T11:55:50.335+13:00Comments on Not PC: John Key has learned nothing from the Christchurch disasterPeter Cresswellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10699845031503699181noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11906042.post-76153945269798967382016-11-18T09:39:40.145+13:002016-11-18T09:39:40.145+13:00Don - A lot of it certainly was that, but given th...Don - A lot of it certainly was that, but given the scale of the event, the Council and Council owned companies such as Orion (under Roger Sutton) also did very well in getting water, sewer and power back quickly with temporary solutions. In fact knowing what I do about Roger, the fact that he was so widely respected and competent at Orion, and then so ineffectual at CERA shows that it's not primarily the individuals that are the problem in these situations, but the bureaucratic system they have to work within.<br /><br />It may fit the libertarian narrative to say that it was all due to volunteers and everything the authorities did was incompetent, but it overstates the case and doesn't fit what I saw on the ground, at least in the immediate emergency phase. That doesn't change my view that the less government involvement the better, and that what followed the emergency phase was an abortion, but it's a good reminder that we shouldn't cherry pick our facts to support our case. The narrative should never override the facts, even if the narrative is better than our opponents.MarkThttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06199883270652041621noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11906042.post-33135765209873943472016-11-15T19:20:33.706+13:002016-11-15T19:20:33.706+13:00Mark, how much of the initial response was carried...Mark, how much of the initial response was carried out by volunteers rolling up their sleeves and doing their bit.? Don Walkernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11906042.post-52095948897967382642016-11-15T18:32:57.893+13:002016-11-15T18:32:57.893+13:00Wife has a couple of rentals in Lower Hutt and the...Wife has a couple of rentals in Lower Hutt and the EQ did nothing but the rain has been a bugger lately. One backs onto a gully and the saturated soil at the back of one section stopped holding hands at lunch time. The house is not in immediate danger in my view and the tenant is unconcerned which is great. We will see how EQC go but its going to be an expensive wall whoever pays. C'est la vie.<br /><br />3:16Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11906042.post-78017855899283560682016-11-15T15:08:31.702+13:002016-11-15T15:08:31.702+13:00The immediate emergency response to Christchurch f...The immediate emergency response to Christchurch for the most part was good, perhaps even 'brilliant' in some respects. I recall for instance a fear we would run out of clean water and ability to flush toilets, but for the most part urgent solutions were found. It's what happened after that as the bureaucrats started to impose their 'order' and cover their backsides that things started to go awry.MarkThttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06199883270652041621noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11906042.post-19237392527802347912016-11-15T12:28:50.153+13:002016-11-15T12:28:50.153+13:00The most terrifying words in the English language....The most terrifying words in the English language. I'M from the gov't and I'm here to help. R Reagan.Says it all.<br /> Don Walkernoreply@blogger.com