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Saturday, April 23, 2005

My Right - rebranded and relocated 


My Right has rebranded and relocated both blog wise and physically - to the tune of a new URL and 12,000 miles respectively.

No politics to be had at the new locale - to much else to do, and in fact in truth - probably no reason to stop by. But www.kiwilog.blogspot.com will be the record of a very belated OE!

Cheers
MR

Friday, February 11, 2005

Good night, My Right 


How things change. Tickets are booked, resignation handed in and preparations are under way - My Right is off to London.

Many things to sort out - so of all the things that exhaust My Right's recreational time - unfortunately Blogging was the one that had to go.

It was an enjoyable little hobby - the to'ing and fro'ing on tax in particular. I guess there are some things in life that even ostensibly intelligent pundits will never agree on. But the ability and willingness to debate and elucidate your position says more about the person than the position they adopt at times. Hence - Jordan, you have my utmost respect - for someone that is wrong... ;-)

I do sincerely hope some things change while I am away. I am not just talking about the Government either! I do worry about National's ability to provide a viable alternative and real leadership, based on a defined vision, not politicking. Act's ability to survive, let's not go there.... At the same time - I certainly do not like the way the current administration sees it as their moral duty to impose their ideologies on us underlings.

Developing a new stratum of middle class beneficiaries will be the legacy of this Government. If, after some reflection in a few years, Maharey and co can be proud of that - then they are more out of touch than My Right thought possible.

But leaving politics aside - I hope New Zealanders (all) take note of a recent Don'ism - "what ever happened to personal responsibility?" My Right holds rather grave concerns for the general direction we are heading in as a country. For want of a better expression - I think we are getting soft. Only showing the units a student passes and ignoring the failed units on NCEA results is case in point. Failure does not have to be entirely negative - it is how you respond to a failure that counts.

Lecture over, posting over, at least for the foreseeable future.......


Thursday, February 03, 2005

Tame Iti - Prick 


OK - let us drop the argument about whether the falg is an irrelevant ugly duckling and agree that while it is in place, no prick puts a bullet through it. God this grandstanding makes me sick - lock the prick up and when his mates start kicking holes in things in protest, take them down to.

Protest or Pantomime?

My Right is keen to see how George Hawkins is going to avoid answering this question today:

QUESTIONS TO MINISTERS

1. STEPHEN FRANKS to the Minister of Police: Did it occur to him to ask the police what evidence they were still seeking when they informed him they were still investigating the Tame Iti case when Tame Iti was seen on television brandishing a shotgun, which he also discharged to shred a New Zealand flag, and what assurance can he give that all New Zealanders are treated equally under the law?



Saturday, January 29, 2005

A genuine plea 


Could someone please tell me that this is a piss take before I waste half a day venting.

For real or not? Please say no....

This is from msn conversation with a colleague yesterday(a bit disjointed - but you should follow) - a few conversations later - we still couldn't decide of it was for real. My Right could do some research - but figures Jordan will know.

Frit says:
you busy??

JONAGO says:
what's up?

Frit says:
need you to read something and tell me what you think if you have five mins

JONAGO says:
sure, e-mail it through

Frit says:
http://publicaddress.net/default,1822.sm#post1822

Frit says:
read that and tell me if you think this country is completely fucked

JONAGO says:
oh lord

JONAGO says:
ok...

JONAGO says:
ok, i've got 3/4s of the way through, but is this a piss take? sure I'd like to have some of these laws but not because I'm a prick to others!

Frit says:
what's fucking next - fine smelly people

Frit says:
if you're ugly, $50

Frit says:
public swearing, $2 per word

Frit says:
god help you if you fart in the bus

Frit says:
Grade 1 fart, room clearer, $100

Frit says:
Grade 4 fart, not smelly but audible - a tenner

Frit says:
but if you kill your baby by suffocating it - state funded therapy


Thursday, January 27, 2005

Poles apart? 


As the 'change the flag' brigade hit the pavements in search of the 300,000 signatures they need to force a referendum - My Right can't help but think that their efforts, whilst no doubt well intentioned, are slightly misdirected.

My Right is not making the assertion that all those in favour of changing the flag are necessarily republicans, but I am making the connection between some sort of identity crisis (or cultural cringe for the trendier reader) and changing the flag. Linking the identity crisis and the republic / constitution debate allows My Right to link changing the flag with the republic / constitution debate (don't try to understand the logic - just work with me).

Basically I believe the desire to change the flag is driven by a desire to assert and affirm our identity - the simplest way to do that - change the flag. But why not do things properly (and once) and have the debate about what New Zealand actually is?

A new written constitution, becoming a republic, installing The Treaty as our founding document, keeping the status quo - whatever. But lets have that debate, and then crown the outcome with a suitable flag at that point.

This debate seems like constitutional window dressing on a flag pole.

["crown the outcome" - that's awful - Ed]


Wednesday, January 26, 2005

Fighting the malaise - Brash speaks 


True to form - speak in clear sentences, pick a widely known topic, and tap into the sorts of things that people may be thinking - but have recently been afraid to express. Clearly this can work - seeing Clark do back flips over Orewa 1 was clear, and almost farcical, evidence of this.

But I think in all the dismissive and aggressive dissolution from the mainstream media (which My Right does not intend to link to) - I really believe they are missing the one thing that will resonate with the clichéd 'kiwi battler'. Whatever happened to personal responsibility?


Labour underestimated the general unease about race relations - it didn't show up in their polling. Would you tell a stranger on the other end of the phone that sometimes Maori extremists (translated as Maori in general when polling) piss you off? No. Brash made having concerns OK.

So I think it may be with Orewa II - and not because we want to bash beneficiaries. Because we are sick of socio-policy-paths (the 'never been in the real world new age do gooders') who are out to save the world. My Right is not advocating natural selection - but the pendulum may well have swung too far.

Jordan is typically analytical in his summation of the speech - but I think he is missing what will show in the polling come Saturday. That the base reaction may well be that Don really has a point, and has struck another nerve.

Further, at least with Don you know what he is saying (as opposed to Social Steve). Many pundits have pointed out that George W (for all of his considerable failings) came across as a straight up simpleton - "you may not agree with me - but you know my intentions".

Overall My Right didn't mind the speech - but has always seen welfare as the simple white elephant of deeper societal issues. But, if mainstream NZ view this speech as an expose of a dangerous drift away from the good old kiwi ethos, then it may be a bit more dexterous than has been acknowledged thus far.


OK - I'm back 


Maybe it took Orewa, or more particularly the way Orewa is been reported, to kick start My Right for the New Year. Mr Farrar and NZ Pundit have already pointed out some the outrageous headlines - so I won't bother. But I will have a look at some of the opinion pieces and throw some thoughts up later.

Parliament back on deck soon, media attacking Brash, Maharey speaking the kind of tosh that would have even the most seasonecd bureaucrat in hysterics.

Yes it's good to be back! Enjoy the drinks tonight Wellington folks - us Aucklanders will just have to be content BBQ'ing and watching the Government 'sponsor' a game of free advertising cricket with our hard earned....

Friday, December 24, 2004

What to do? 


Two meetings and that's it for the year. Not sure what the break will bring blogwise - but all going well, not much. It's been an interesting year - and a fun sort of a habit to develop - next year promises to be a thriller (well - we hope so anyways)....

It seems that there are enough of you out there that swing by, so My Right will be back next year, maybe even spruced up a bit.

My Right wishes every realist the least unsatisfactory New Year possible, to the rest of you, happy holidays.

M R

Thursday, December 23, 2004

'Don Brashologist' - bollocks 


Alister Barry is a self proclaimed 'Don Brashologist', which is apparently the title for someone that simply does not like the man and has access to a publisher with a similar mind set to provide him with a soapbox for sharing his views.

Kevin List (from Stoop) caught up with Alister and asked him to scare the be-jesus out of Joe Public with what he thought would happen if Don Brash was elected as Prime Minister. Kevin and Alister then proceeded to put the boot in wherever possible - it is just as well that left boots don't hurt much. But one question and answer did rankle My Right:
Scoop: National seem to be doing their best to portray Don Brash as a man of the people – although he doesn’t really seem to fit the mould of past leaders such as Jim Bolger and even Jenny Shipley?

Alister Barry: No he doesn’t actually like ordinary people – I think he’s probably scared of ordinary people – most of our successful Prime Ministers have been concerned about ordinary people and felt for them. When Don Brash was Governor of the Reserve Bank it was very interesting because he knew his own people – that is financiers and those in the upper strata of society, and gave lots of speeches around the country explaining Reserve Bank policy to them.

He virtually never spoke to women or Maori who were of course the people who suffered from Reserve Bank policy. Neither did he ever speak to any group of workers – for example a trade union meeting or an FOL meeting - despite the fact that he spent most of the day sitting up there in the Reserve Bank building deciding how he was going to f**k with their brains. He was trying to create a level of fear, how was he going to control their behaviour. How was he going to stop them demanding wage increases – that is what he spent his day doing and yet he was never brave enough to meet with them.

To point blank declare that Don Brash does not like people is Philistine. There is also the fact that Alister does not seem to incorporate 'financiers' and the 'upper strata' as 'ordinary people' at all (profession and wealth itself does not characterise a man).

I have meet Don Brash, engaging and pleasant man. I have seen Don Brash on the streets working a crowd of working class New Zealanders, enjoyed himself and was well received. I have seen Don Brash deliver a speech to a group of toffs, comfortable in that setting and very impressive.

News flash Alister - people spend a lot of time talking to their peers - usually whether they like it or not. Why as Reserve Bank Governer was he obliged to press flesh? Does your Bank Manager whip around the community to ask Joe Pub what effects his mortgage rates are having?


Wednesday, December 22, 2004

EML Awards 


The Eating Media Lunch annual (at least I hope it becomes annual) awards was screened last night. The entire show was good humour, but the two highlights had to be:
The desperate celebrity award - Lesley Martin, "killing your own mother and then writing a screen play about it is showing real dedication".

New Zealander of the Year - Ahmed Zaoui - enough said.
Brilliant.

Tuesday, December 21, 2004

Almost to 'clear' 


Douglas White QC has released his findings on the John Tamihere koha saga - and everything is looking a little too temperate to my mind. One Labour press statement states:
It was, of course, also alleged that John Tamihere accepted a $195,000 ‘golden handshake’ when he had previously said he would not accept it. This was not strictly a matter that Mr White was asked to consider, but the Report does make some relevant comments:

The payment was not a ‘golden handshake’ of the type that Labour campaigned against in the 1999 election.
To have a random and overtly political throw away line like that does leave the door open for people to view the report on the whole as being slightly charitable.

Labour have been quick to proclaim JT's incorruptibility - but not to the point where he can be reinstated to Cabinet. This seems a little strange.

The move to leave 2 Cabinet posts open for next years post election bartering have been well explained. But on the same day as JT is reported to be deeply hurt by the decision to leave him out in the cold - he and Hellzilla appear side by side in an uncomfortable victory dance.

With the Inland Revenue investigation still running and opposition parties still sniffing around - JT doesn't appear to be clear just yet.

Monday, December 20, 2004

It's not what you do... 


There is a good column in the NBR at the moment that sums up the year in politics, and looks at how things have panned out the way they have in terms of support. Jeff Gamlin does not unearth any great theory or science - but neatly sums up what My Right has long lamented - that Labour simply do politics better than National.

Or in his words:
"In their own ways, both prime ministers worked on the basis that how you do things in politics can be more important than what you do.

For Ms Clark, a cautious approach to how things are done can persuade voters that her policy objectives are also moderate in tone, when this may not be the case at all."
He calls Clark a "process politician", but it goes beyond that. The entire party live for politics - the game. Hence, educated adults are willing to enter the debating chamber and wave jandals around, laughing uproariously (looking like complete wankers and loving it) when mocking someone for something they themselves specialise in (makes good copy when TVNZ obligingly dine out on it though).

As Gamlin observes - nothing can better highlight the quality of the spin from Level 9 than the fact that Don Brash is the one ending the year with the "flip flop" label. "Closing the gaps" has gone, "need not race" is in - this isn't so much a u-turn as a particularly boozy waltz.

As an aside, the NBR also look at how Labour have been allowed to get away with this with almost zero impact in the electorate. Media: Why NZ media oppose business.

All a bit bleak really - or maybe just a melancholy kind of a day....

Friday, December 17, 2004

Researching 


Off to do a bit of research on the Foreshore and Seabed. Looking to confirm that Fish and Chips taste better on the beach, along with some other trifling matters.

Back Monday.

Thursday, December 16, 2004

The Press gives National their election campaign message 


There is a dynamite editorial in The Press today that spoon feeds National their Election message for next year. It is cogent, concise and conspicuous only for its simplicity. There are a number of themes that will resonate with the prized 'centre ground' - 'Labour are making beneficiaries of the middle class via rampant redistributionist policy' should be an easy message for National to sell.

I'll resist the temptation to reproduce the entire thing here, but here are a couple of key paragraphs:
Cullen and the Government are unabashed redistributionists. They believe in taking from the inventive, productive, enterprising participants in the economy and delivering, via an army of bureaucrats, to those who are not. Cullen's preferred method of creating a "fairer" society is to turn as many people as he can into supplicants for government benefits of some sort or another, the calculation being that the grateful beneficiaries will reward Labour with another term in office.

The buoyancy of the economy has disguised the fact that the present front-bench are traditional profligate tax and spenders.

Cullen has been spending a good deal of his time recently playing down the size of the surplus and trying to douse calls for tax cuts. He has raised the old bogey that tax cuts could only be achieved by slashing spending in areas like health and education. Voters may at last be recognising that this is nonsense.
Full Editorial - "Awash in money"

Comments from a Just Left tax post 


Comments would have to be what My Right likes most about Blogging. A blog is a nice way for a political sort to throw up some ideas, it is the reaction to those ideas that is most satisfying.

In particular My Right has enjoyed a number of exchanges with Just Left (Jordan Carter) - and hopes that he doesn't mind me lifting an exchange of comments from a recent post of his. It appears that Left and Right types frequent his site:
[original post]Australian Income Tax Rates

From 1 July 2005 the following income tax rates apply in Australia:

0 to 6,000 - 0%
6,001 to 21,600 - 17%
21,601 to 63,000 - 30%
63,001 to 80,000 - 42%
80,001+ - 47%

Interesting contrast with our system, where higher income earners pay less and lower income earners pay more. On the other hand, Australia has compulsory super payments they have to make which we don't...

[comments]The aussies have a capital gains tax as well. The medical levy is the same as the ACC levy. The company rate is 30% so I guess like in NZ self-employed people can cap their income tax to the company tax rate. Tough cheese for salary earners. In aussie you get a tax rebate if you pay your own private medical insurance. This is the way of the future as is a low income tax-free band.

While just comparing tax rates in highly successful Singapore the rates for salaried employees is

0 to 20,000 Nil
20,001 to 30,000 4%
30,001 to 40,000 6%
40,001 to 80,000 9%
80,001 to 160,000 15%
160,001 to 320,000 19%
320,000 plus 22%

Posted by: Simon | December 15, 2004 06:46 PM

I'm in Korea paying 4% tax, there are also levies for pension and health which the employer is supposed to match dollar for dollar (though my employer pays the whole lot including tax, utlities and lunch for me)

Posted by: stef | December 16, 2004 03:05 AM
Read the whole thread here...

The Tax debate is subjective and ideological - but ultimately about balance. We all want the best health care on Earth - but do we want that at the price of complete redistribution? When Jim Anderton is advocating corporate tax relief - you know the balance is way out of whack.

P.S. Jordan, your recent comment re "pissing yourself laughing" if you cut taxes on me before the Election is uncommonly encouraging. I'm pleased you can see the funny side of those evil tax cuts. So please, if you do get another term - continue to laugh it up chuckles and give me some cash back!

Wednesday, December 15, 2004

Stay staunch Dr Sullen 


Dr Cullen's steadfast refusal to acknowledge that he is over taxing every single working New Zealander has finally gotten to the point that it no longer annoys My Right!!

It was a conversation with the bro, Always Right, that lead to this 'disposition adjustment'. Always is very representative of middle New Zealand with Mrs Right, the job, the mortgage and three Junior Rights. A liberal and socialist at heart, he has disagreed with My Right on many issues - but finally we are united on Tax.

Even Always now thinks Sullen is taking the piss, and Tax is firmly on the agenda as an election issue. Or to quote exactly, "nup, fuck it mate – next year just give me a pay rise".

So there you go - My Right can now listen to Sullen bang on about 'the social wage', Helen talk about 'tax cuts being spending' and smile knowing that this philosophical refusal to acknowledge the blindingly obvious represents the best chance of a change of Government next term.

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