“The Data Is Simply Not Available, Minister.”

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MaxLV

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Topic # 230320 18-Feb-2018 23:58

This might explain why so many 'commentators' are claiming the government cant do what they've promised...

The last thing the “Sir Humphrey’s” at the top of our own civil service want, deeply imbued as they are with the neoliberal economic orthodoxy which has guided New Zealand public policy for more than 30 years, is for “their” ministers to begin searching back through the historical record to discover how, forty years ago, a newly-elected Labour Government responded to the needs of its people by – of all things – fulfilling them.
https://bowalleyroad.blogspot.co.nz/2018/02/the-data-is-simply-not-available.html

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Reply # 1960107 19-Feb-2018 01:00

That's all well and good. But there was no Resource Management Act in the 1970s. No rural urban boundaries either AFAIK.

The real test of Labour, will be to see if it is willing to re enact the same housing related laws that existed in the 70s. And repeal today's straight jacket laws like the Resource Management Act.

But so far, it is looking like nothing will change. As Labour won't want to risk of annoying the baby boomers.

Fred99

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Reply # 1960122 19-Feb-2018 08:35

Kirk united his generation’s experiences of poverty with the views of idealistic baby boomers to create an aspirational vision of government and communities that were responsible for people’s basic needs so that individuals could make the choices he himself lacked. As Labour leader Kirk, immortalised voters’ needs as ‘Someone to love, somewhere to live, somewhere to work and something to hope for’ while acquiring the hippyish-endearing musical moniker ‘Big Norm.’ Coupled with health problems, Kirk’s fierce push to reinvigorate Lee’s housing rights concept (among an array of bigger reforms) hastened his death within two years. His legacy included mass state housing expansion, low-interest low-to-middle income loans, special savings accounts, better tenant rights and rent caps, and taxes on property speculation.

link to article

Geektastic

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Reply # 1960123 19-Feb-2018 08:37

Aredwood: That's all well and good. But there was no Resource Management Act in the 1970s. No rural urban boundaries either AFAIK.

The real test of Labour, will be to see if it is willing to re enact the same housing related laws that existed in the 70s. And repeal today's straight jacket laws like the Resource Management Act.

But so far, it is looking like nothing will change. As Labour won't want to risk of annoying the baby boomers.

They've enacted an extra tax grab so that they can bill you of you sell a second property within five years regardless of your intent when you bought it or the reasons for sale.

Apparently that will somehow introduce "fairness".

Rikkitic

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Reply # 1960154 19-Feb-2018 09:32

Actually, data is plural, as in, the data are not available. The singular is datum. Hard to believe Sir Humphrey would make a mistake like that. Much more believable coming from a New Zealander.

I reject your reality and substitute my own. - Adam Savage

Fred99

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Reply # 1960238 19-Feb-2018 11:20

Rikkitic:

Actually, data is plural, as in, the data are not available. The singular is datum. Hard to believe Sir Humphrey would make a mistake like that. Much more believable coming from a New Zealander.

Hmmmm...

Rikkitic

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Reply # 1960241 19-Feb-2018 11:25

I am aware of those arguments but 'data is' just sounds so wrong to me.

I reject your reality and substitute my own. - Adam Savage

Fred99

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Reply # 1960266 19-Feb-2018 11:46

Rikkitic:

I am aware of those arguments but 'data is' just sounds so wrong to me.

Here's the original text from NZ's "Sir Humphrey":

“While current levels of new house building compare favourably with the low levels of construction seen immediately after the global financial crisis, during the period 2009 to 2011, these current volumes are not historically exceptional particularly compared with the early 1970s. However, data on government involvement in the 70s boom is not available.”

I don't think there's anything wrong with the grammar in that. There is a problem though, as any idiot should be able to cobble together a fairly accurate view of how, in very different times, Kirk managed to do it. Of course that would have required interventionism, but strong interventionism was the norm (no pun intended). Post Norm, we had a decade of Muldoonism.

Geektastic

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Reply # 1960271 19-Feb-2018 11:54

Rikkitic:

I am aware of those arguments but 'data is' just sounds so wrong to me.

Not as wrong as saying 'darter' instead of 'dayta'....!

Fred99

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Reply # 1960283 19-Feb-2018 12:14

Geektastic:

Rikkitic:

I am aware of those arguments but 'data is' just sounds so wrong to me.

Not as wrong as saying 'darter' instead of 'dayta'....!

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/data?pronunciation&lang=en_us&dir=d&file=data0001

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/data?pronunciation&lang=en_us&dir=d&file=data0002

GV27

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Reply # 1960320 19-Feb-2018 12:45

I really think you nerds are missing the point here.

PS: It's datas.

Geektastic

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Reply # 1960390 19-Feb-2018 14:33

Fred99:

Geektastic:

Rikkitic:

I am aware of those arguments but 'data is' just sounds so wrong to me.

Not as wrong as saying 'darter' instead of 'dayta'....!

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/data?pronunciation&lang=en_us&dir=d&file=data0001

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/data?pronunciation&lang=en_us&dir=d&file=data0002

I don't think we need take too much notice of what an American dictionary says...they can't speak English properly.

Rikkitic

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Reply # 1960400 19-Feb-2018 14:47

I remember reading something many years ago in which someone analysed historic English pronunciation by comparing rhyming words in poems. Apparently the conclusion was that contemporary American pronunciation was much closer to the way people used to speak English than the noises the Queen makes. Of course that was before hip-hop came along.

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Fred99

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Reply # 1960401 19-Feb-2018 14:49

Geektastic:

Fred99:

Geektastic:

Rikkitic:

I am aware of those arguments but 'data is' just sounds so wrong to me.

Not as wrong as saying 'darter' instead of 'dayta'....!

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/data?pronunciation&lang=en_us&dir=d&file=data0001

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/data?pronunciation&lang=en_us&dir=d&file=data0002

I don't think we need take too much notice of what an American dictionary says...they can't speak English properly.

They can't in much of England either, apparently.

Geektastic

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Reply # 1960452 19-Feb-2018 16:55

Fred99:

Geektastic:

Fred99:

Geektastic:

Rikkitic:

I am aware of those arguments but 'data is' just sounds so wrong to me.

Not as wrong as saying 'darter' instead of 'dayta'....!

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/data?pronunciation&lang=en_us&dir=d&file=data0001

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/data?pronunciation&lang=en_us&dir=d&file=data0002

I don't think we need take too much notice of what an American dictionary says...they can't speak English properly.

They can't in much of England either, apparently.

That's a barely civilised border region....!

Fred99

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Reply # 1960580 19-Feb-2018 20:33

Geektastic:

That's a barely civilised border region....!

From closer to (your) home.

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