Politicians Say The Dumbest Things

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BlueShift

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#210276 20-Mar-2017 16:21

Its election year, so expect the pollies to be coming out of the woodwork with their best attention-grabbing sound-bites.

So far today we've had an MP in the Far North advocate bringing back corporal punishment to beat some sense into feral youngsters, and the PM of NZ tell us that charging companies who bottle water is "too hard" (it apparently isn't too hard to work out how to charge companies who bottle oil or dig for gold though).

I'm sure politicians of all stripes will come up with some brilliant brain-farts, what's the best one you've heard lately? No need to bring US politicians into it, our homegrown ones deserve their chance to shine.

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#1744642 20-Mar-2017 17:04

I'm very willing to assist Mr English in brainstorming methods for that - my very reasonable fee will be a mere $2,000 + GST per day.

scuwp

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#1744646 20-Mar-2017 17:10

So far today we've had an MP in the Far North advocate bringing back corporal punishment to beat some sense into feral youngsters, and the PM of NZ tell us that charging companies who bottle water is "too hard" (it apparently isn't too hard to work out how to charge companies who bottle oil or dig for gold though).

Silly? I actually like the idea of #1, and #2 argument goes waaaaay further than bottled water. Once you put a value on commercial use of water you have to be consistent, so that will mean all dairy, farming, water (wine, coke, beer etc) will also need to be charged. Also once water is given a value just wait and see the iwi claims start. Not saying that's a bad thing, just be careful what you ask for.

Sorry I am not seeing too much "dumb" here...I guess it depends on your perspective. "Alternative facts" has to be the dumbest and most highly used for 2017

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MikeAqua

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#1744685 20-Mar-2017 18:00

Charge for all water extraction or none - with exceptions of municipal or private domestic water supply and emergency uses like fire fighting.

I don't see how bottled water is any more eligible for being charged than irrigation or other commercial purposes?

The emotive argument about 'overseas companies' is largely irrelevant.

Split revenue between local and central govt (to be used for waterway protection) and iwi. Make users pay for metering costs.

Mike

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#1744688 20-Mar-2017 18:05

scuwp:

So far today we've had an MP in the Far North advocate bringing back corporal punishment to beat some sense into feral youngsters, and the PM of NZ tell us that charging companies who bottle water is "too hard" (it apparently isn't too hard to work out how to charge companies who bottle oil or dig for gold though).

Silly? I actually like the idea of #1, and #2 argument goes waaaaay further than bottled water. Once you put a value on commercial use of water you have to be consistent, so that will mean all dairy, farming, water (wine, coke, beer etc) will also need to be charged. Also once water is given a value just wait and see the iwi claims start. Not saying that's a bad thing, just be careful what you ask for.

Sorry I am not seeing too much "dumb" here...I guess it depends on your perspective. "Alternative facts" has to be the dumbest and most highly used for 2017

I agree on both counts.

Of course, in many European countries those businesses are paying for commercial water.

MikeAqua

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#1744698 20-Mar-2017 18:27

Businesses in NZ usually pay commercial rates for water from municipal supply. Just not from a private bore, river etc.

In principle there is no reason why a fair royalty for private use of public water (i.e. surface and ground) can't be determined and applied.

Mike

jpoc

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#1744730 20-Mar-2017 19:07

scuwp:

So far today we've had an MP in the Far North advocate bringing back corporal punishment to beat some sense into feral youngsters, and the PM of NZ tell us that charging companies who bottle water is "too hard" (it apparently isn't too hard to work out how to charge companies who bottle oil or dig for gold though).

Silly? I actually like the idea of #1, and #2 argument goes waaaaay further than bottled water. Once you put a value on commercial use of water you have to be consistent, so that will mean all dairy, farming, water (wine, coke, beer etc) will also need to be charged. Also once water is given a value just wait and see the iwi claims start. Not saying that's a bad thing, just be careful what you ask for.

Sorry I am not seeing too much "dumb" here...I guess it depends on your perspective. "Alternative facts" has to be the dumbest and most highly used for 2017

Wine? You do know how wine is made don't you?

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floydbloke

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#1744732 20-Mar-2017 19:09

Well, this topic derailed quickly.

Sometimes I use big words I don't always fully understand in an effort to make myself sound more photosynthesis.

BTR

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#1745016 21-Mar-2017 08:30

+1 for bringing back corporal punishment although I would like to see talk of harsher sentences for crime. Home detention is used far to often for serious offences.

BlueShift

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#1745038 21-Mar-2017 09:12

Seriously? Bring back corporal punishment? I'd give you pretty good odds that 90% of the kids the politician is referring to are already being bashed at home and/or by their peers, how will bashing at school make any difference?

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#1745080 21-Mar-2017 09:54

BlueShift:

Seriously? Bring back corporal punishment? I'd give you pretty good odds that 90% of the kids the politician is referring to are already being bashed at home and/or by their peers, how will bashing at school make any difference?

Ask the Singaporeans?

scuwp

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#1745094 21-Mar-2017 10:08

jpoc:

scuwp:

So far today we've had an MP in the Far North advocate bringing back corporal punishment to beat some sense into feral youngsters, and the PM of NZ tell us that charging companies who bottle water is "too hard" (it apparently isn't too hard to work out how to charge companies who bottle oil or dig for gold though).

Silly? I actually like the idea of #1, and #2 argument goes waaaaay further than bottled water. Once you put a value on commercial use of water you have to be consistent, so that will mean all dairy, farming, water (wine, coke, beer etc) will also need to be charged. Also once water is given a value just wait and see the iwi claims start. Not saying that's a bad thing, just be careful what you ask for.

Sorry I am not seeing too much "dumb" here...I guess it depends on your perspective. "Alternative facts" has to be the dumbest and most highly used for 2017

Wine? You do know how wine is made don't you?

Yep, and massive amounts of water is used in the production of it...exactly my point, just watch the cost of everything go up if water is charged for.

Lazy is such an ugly word, I prefer to call it selective participation

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scuwp

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#1745100 21-Mar-2017 10:17

BlueShift:

Seriously? Bring back corporal punishment? I'd give you pretty good odds that 90% of the kids the politician is referring to are already being bashed at home and/or by their peers, how will bashing at school make any difference?

There is a huge difference between getting the bash cause dad's a drunk a-hole, and getting a clip round the ear when the naughty cushion and cuddles don't work. There is no respect for elders or others anymore, and it's not like the anti-smacking bill has brought any quantifiable changes to our horrible child injury and death statistics has it? It's at least worth a discussion hence I don't believe it was a 'dumb' thing to say.

I am sure politicians say some really stupid things, but off the top of my head I can't think of a recent NZ example, at least not since John Key departed, and the first 2 examples...meh.

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#1745102 21-Mar-2017 10:23

To be fair, NZ is not really a tax haven.

If it was, we would all be paying a lot less. The mere fact that our taxation and trust laws are lower and less restrictive respectively does not make us a tax haven.

The curious belief that every nation in the world should tax it's residents until they bleed otherwise they are 'a tax haven' should not be allowed to gain traction.

PaulBags

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#1745118 21-Mar-2017 11:00

A) how does corperal punishment create respect?

B) helping people hide money they should have paid tax on and didn't makes us a tax haven, whether they should be charged so much tax in their home country is a seperate issue.

Fred99

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#1745153 21-Mar-2017 11:48

Just a reminder that after considerable debate and public controversy, the Crimes (Substituted Section 59) Amendment Act 2007 was passed with a 113 : 8 majority.

Trying to link ratbag crime in Northland to that is serious grasping at straws - completely ridiculous stupidity IMO.

"Oh - I won't rob a liquor store 'cause I might be smacked" ?

My guess is that if you were a kid who'd successfully pulled off a liquor store robbery, you'd be a bit of a hero amongst your peers. Probably also if you'd been caught and belted for it, you'd be bit of a tough guy.

Perhaps look at policing levels / resources, social attitudes to crime and criminality, multi-generational poverty/unemployment, education. Oh yeah - that's boring and/or might cost money.

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