It is drastic but tbf Tauranga was a basket case and the Canterbury quake rebuild was well beyond the scope of the CCCRemoving a democratically elected body is pretty drastic. Tauranga lost democracy for a long period of time, as did Canterbury.
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The thread centers on New Zealand's upcoming election, primarily debating the economic management and policy differences between the center-left Labour government and center-right National/ACT opposition. Key criticisms target Labour's fiscal stewardship, citing ballooning government expenditure #7#272, housing unaffordability, and unfulfilled promises like KiwiBuild and dental care expansion #16#12. A user #7 highlighted Labour's annual 9% spending growth versus 1.5% under previous governments, arguing this fueled inflation. National's tax-cut policy faced scrutiny over funding gaps and legality, with user #215 questioning Luxon's reliance on "trust me" assurances.
Leadership competence emerged as a critical theme, particularly in later posts. Luxon drew heavy criticism after a contentious interview where he struggled to defend policy details #194#199#211, while Willis faced backlash for her economic credentials. Hipkins garnered fleeting praise for articulation but was ultimately seen as representing poor governmental outcomes #45#119. A trusted user #308 presented expert economic analysis contradicting Treasury optimism. Infrastructure issues—like Wellington's water crisis and the dental school staffing shortage—were cited as examples of systemic mismanagement #235#12. Notable policy debates included road-user charges for EVs #220, immigration impacts on rents #299, and coalition scenarios involving NZ First #182#258. Early fringe discussions on candidates' rugby allegiances gave way to substantive policy critiques, culminating in grim Treasury forecasts discussed in posts #271#304#308. User #168 also revealed concerns about Labour rushing regulatory changes to entrench policies pre-election.
Economic Policies, Housing Crisis, Leadership Competence
It is drastic but tbf Tauranga was a basket case and the Canterbury quake rebuild was well beyond the scope of the CCCRemoving a democratically elected body is pretty drastic. Tauranga lost democracy for a long period of time, as did Canterbury.
Man Up.... needs to be retitled "Cough Up" i.e. give 10% to Brian... he needs a new Harley!!!Destiny Church has a similar program but the worry is they're just recruiting for Brian's gang.
Look to the Dutch, Norway and Sweden. Focus is on rehabilitation. They are actually reducing prison capacity or leasing it to other countries! Lol.I'd rather they spent a fraction of that money on new prisons.... and a lot more on programs to reduce reoffending rates. While I don't want to see the privisation of prisons, there are programs run in some South American prisons by Prison Fellowship which have reduced reoffending by over 60%. PROVIDED they aren't used to "evangelise" prisoners or in any way privatise the prisons, why don't we look at what they're doing and adopt what we can here?
The commissioners brought in to replace the ECC by a National government surprised me when they included David Caygill.It is drastic but tbf Tauranga was a basket case and the Canterbury quake rebuild was well beyond the scope of the CCC
I have absolutely no problem with an efficiently run public sector. Our problem is that we swing from pumping it up with huge amounts of money without being accountable to striping it back down with every change of government. Heaven forbid we should not just pump money into the public sector but also ensure the money is then used wisely.... as they also do in those three countries you mentioned. Unfortunately, our major parties want to appeal too much to the voting public (and the whims of the financial backers) than to actually do what's best for the country.Look to the Dutch, Norway and Sweden. Focus is on rehabilitation. They are actually reducing prison capacity or leasing it to other countries! Lol.
They also have massive public sectors and public sector budgets. Which most people on here think is the road to Sodom.
100% Rizzah. And that describes an ideal for me too. Backlash coming shortly - just to bring it on quicker I'll say 6 words - bring in a capital gains taxLook to the Dutch, Norway and Sweden. Focus is on rehabilitation. They are actually reducing prison capacity or leasing it to other countries! Lol.
They also have massive public sectors and public sector budgets. Which most people on here think is the road to Sodom.
Agree, the need for protection for large swathes of our core services and infrastructure from political interference of supply, funding and planning is imperative.I have absolutely no problem with an efficiently run public sector. Our problem is that we swing from pumping it up with huge amounts of money without being accountable to striping it back down with every change of government. Heaven forbid we should not just pump money into the public sector but also ensure the money is then used wisely.... as they also do in those three countries you mentioned. Unfortunately, our major parties want to appeal too much to the voting public (and the whims of the financial backers) than to actually do what's best for the country.
I'm quite surprised that ACT has allowed the government to suggest that there be a consensus on large infrastructure projects between National and Labour. Seems to go against one of their core beliefs... private over public building of assets.Agree, the need for protection for large swathes of our core services and infrastructure from political interference of supply, funding and planning is imperative.
All of that is antithesis to the neoliberal creeps.
bullets reduce reoffending 100%and a lot more on programs to reduce reoffending rates.
That worked back when they had a high trust society and mono-ethnic cultures. All three of those places have massive crime problems.Look to the Dutch, Norway and Sweden. Focus is on rehabilitation. They are actually reducing prison capacity or leasing it to other countries! Lol.
They also have massive public sectors and public sector budgets. Which most people on here think is the road to Sodom.
The efficiency argument is a massive beat up IMO. You don't cut funding to find efficiency, that fucks the whole thing up.I have absolutely no problem with an efficiently run public sector. Our problem is that we swing from pumping it up with huge amounts of money without being accountable to striping it back down with every change of government. Heaven forbid we should not just pump money into the public sector but also ensure the money is then used wisely.... as they also do in those three countries you mentioned. Unfortunately, our major parties want to appeal too much to the voting public (and the whims of the financial backers) than to actually do what's best for the country.
The principle still applies. A rehab focus is better for everyone.That worked back when they had a high trust society and mono-ethnic cultures. All three of those places have massive crime problems.
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Gang warfare propels Sweden's homicide rate among Europe's highest
The surge in gang violence in Sweden has led to one of the highest homicide rates in Europe, with official data showing that fatal shootings have more than doubled in a year. #EuropeNewswww.euronews.com
Your ideal is Norway? One of the biggest oil producers in the world. And you think it's because of a capital gains tax?100% Rizzah. And that describes an ideal for me too. Backlash coming shortly - just to bring it on quicker I'll say 6 words - bring in a capital gains tax
Your mate @wizard of Tauranga said we could be Norway a few pages back - because we were going to magically double GDP in 10 years, Lol!Your ideal is Norway? One of the biggest oil producers in the world. And you think it's because of a capital gains tax?
Im not talking general crime here. Im talking almost exclusively violent crime. Are there longitudinal studies on the health of societies who rehabilitate violent criminals?The principle still applies. A rehab focus is better for everyone.
Do those countries rehab their most violent criminals? Always exceptions to the rule and some will require long term incarceration.Im not talking general crime here. Im talking almost exclusively violent crime. Are there longitudinal studies on the health of societies who rehabilitate violent criminals?
I genuinely don't know the dataDo those countries rehab their most violent criminals? Always exceptions to the rule and some will require long term incarceration.
Remembering we have one of the highest incarceration rates in the OECD.
Neither, most of the articles talk about non-violent offenders. Which make up, certainly in NZ, a huge portion of the prison population.I genuinely don't know the data