tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11906042.post4836902487740167757..comments2024-03-30T00:09:27.602+13:00Comments on Not PC: National leader/new PM: Your pick? [updated]Peter Cresswellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10699845031503699181noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11906042.post-22172256705790974222016-12-08T01:25:51.868+13:002016-12-08T01:25:51.868+13:00T send money to Thailand I have to give a "re...T send money to Thailand I have to give a "reason" [ an excuse really ] to Kiwi Bank, then they stiff me about 5% of the exchange rate. English will be PM by inheritance, and blue rinse will take a 5% hit aso. Much of it to NZ First Nation hood. National pride . New Zealand . paul scotthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15675247055484136242noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11906042.post-23467728013966323842016-12-07T15:48:25.334+13:002016-12-07T15:48:25.334+13:00Apologies for typos. That was rushed.Apologies for typos. That was rushed.Mark Hubbardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02541153163041831880noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11906042.post-40104391407056685622016-12-07T14:59:51.970+13:002016-12-07T14:59:51.970+13:00We've now had one set of friends give up on tr...We've now had one set of friends give up on trying to open a bank account for their child. After three hours they left the bank in disgust.<br /><br />Worse, I'm pretty sure the Fijians and Islanders working the vineyards in Blenheim are still unable to get their money back home to their families as the intermediary companie's managing the transfers of cash couldn't comply with the legislation.<br /><br />I had a farmer purchasing a farm who solicitor is in Ashburton, and hour and a half drive for me. Even though I've known the lawyer for over 20 years under this idiot legislation he made me do the three hour trip to witness my signature (as independent trustee of client's trust with no beneficial interest in any of the assets).<br /><br />If you bank sees anything in your accounts that look out of the ordinary, including regular overseas transfers, they have to report on your to government. YOUR money and your private bank life (which is your life).<br /><br />It's insane. I think I remember reported last year that this idiot law caught just under 20 transactions that 'may' have been suspicious. (Don't hold me to that).Mark Hubbardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02541153163041831880noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11906042.post-31770720430968386122016-12-07T14:14:36.762+13:002016-12-07T14:14:36.762+13:00If you gave every criminal in the country $10,000 ...If you gave every criminal in the country $10,000 it would still be far cheaper than the compliance costs for the AML legislation. My 82 year old mother was nagged to drag herself into a bank that she had been a customer of for over 60 years so she could prove her identity to them, and that's just one of the low cost effects. twrhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10312229399327994398noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11906042.post-62833566221189659702016-12-07T11:36:55.228+13:002016-12-07T11:36:55.228+13:00English: no, can never support a theocrat. He'...English: no, can never support a theocrat. He's a major reason for Key cynically squashing the euthanasia debate. As you've said before, Peter, he's on record that the human lot is to suffer unto his monstrous (comic book) god.<br /><br />Collins: Her anti-money laundering legislation has been the most draconian legislation I've seen in my working life (worse than anything in tax). Heaven knows the cost of it on the economy (but add about $600 to the legal fee for every otherwise routine house sale). And I bet it's doing nothing re terrorism; although it'll be shoring up the tax state (it's doing the same as Modi's attack on cash in India, and look at the disaster that is).<br /><br />Coleman: he's got the voice for it. Nothing more.Mark Hubbardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02541153163041831880noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11906042.post-114569596834598832016-12-07T11:29:58.757+13:002016-12-07T11:29:58.757+13:00For what it's worth (admittedly not a lot), wh...For what it's worth (admittedly not a lot), when I saw Judith Collins on Paul Henry this morning, she did come across as a bit firmer and less wishy-washy than her opponents. But of course "firmer" can be either a good or bad thing depending on what it is you're trying to achieve.MarkThttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06199883270652041621noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11906042.post-83976710356300471892016-12-07T11:09:25.465+13:002016-12-07T11:09:25.465+13:00With the acumen of a man who built a nationwide pr...With the acumen of a man who built a nationwide private radio network, but all the charm of a cup of cold porridge, Steven Joyce as a politician is unfortunately very much a meddler. <br /><br />A very smart man but with all the dangers of most smart men in power: the illusion that his own wizardy can solve everything. (He needs to read Hayek on the illusion of political knowledge.) <br /><br />Often been National's Swiss Army Knife, but the ribbons he's cut have all too regularly been crony ones: Sky City's, Chorus's, Fletchers's. Maybe because, like his departing boss, he's always confused the phrase "govt helping business" with "govt helping *specific* businesses." (Perhaps that's why he remains so partial to bailouts like KiwiRail's -- ande even of his own former radio network!)<br /><br />And as Transport minister he revealed very early on (banning texting; mandating cameras in taxis; going wowser onblood-alcohol levels) a strong predilection for nannying; and as Tertiary minister a very strong liking for a very destructive kind of micro-management.<br /><br />He would not be anything like a good pick.<br /><br />But who would be?Peter Cresswellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10699845031503699181noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11906042.post-6471342837230534202016-12-07T09:55:53.016+13:002016-12-07T09:55:53.016+13:00There are two reasons the left-leaning commentaria...There are two reasons the left-leaning commentariat were so eager to talk up Bill English back in 2001: 1. because his "policy settings" are theirs; and 2. because he would be hopeless as leader.<br /><br />They were right on both scores.<br /><br />Still are.<br /><br />You could call him competent as a finance minister - except that, outside Keynesian circles, any finance minister who takes a $10 billion debt and multiplies it by six would never receive that accolade.<br /><br />You could say he has integrity -- except you would have to forget the entitleitis an already well-paid Sir Double Dipton displayed in his <a href="http://www.3news.co.nz/Bill-English-defends-allowance-for-Wellington-home/tabid/209/articleID/114791/cat/961/Default.aspx" rel="nofollow">claims for multiple living allowances</a>.<br /><br />And any person who says that "pain is a part of life," and therefore people should be made to suffer *by law* when they don't need to, should never be allowed anywhere near the Prime Minister's office.Peter Cresswellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10699845031503699181noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11906042.post-34660089165905284322016-12-07T09:40:35.065+13:002016-12-07T09:40:35.065+13:00I have a few randoms thoughts about the contest, w...I have a few randoms thoughts about the contest, which is mostly a variety of Blancmange v Blancmange.<br /><br />But it struck me this morning listening to Judith Collins on NatRad that a PM with grudges to settle would be a very dangerous thing. NatRad very astutely ran her after listening from Nickey Hager, at whom <a href="" rel="nofollow">she proceeded to vent</a>, in total contrast to the pacific message she was presumably there to impart.<br /><br />And I wondered: could you imagine a Judith Collins in charge of the surveillance and law-and-order apparatus that’s been quietly set up over the last decade? That could be a very scary thought.Peter Cresswellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10699845031503699181noreply@blogger.com