tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3612441315352179822.post3699839479558248906..comments2024-03-28T00:33:53.397+13:00Comments on Local Bodies: 15 Ethical "Fails" Under National! Dave Kennedyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12428353657153292616noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3612441315352179822.post-18412088319285593452012-08-30T11:50:08.318+12:002012-08-30T11:50:08.318+12:00How one can have a right to liberty and property, ...How one can have a right to liberty and property, and still get free education?<br /><br />Any suggestions? Its a pretty straight forward question.Shane Pleasancehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06144367923437327037noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3612441315352179822.post-46848977199920393202012-08-27T15:04:05.729+12:002012-08-27T15:04:05.729+12:00Lovely stuff, Dave.
Its ok if you do not want to...Lovely stuff, Dave. <br /><br />Its ok if you do not want to answer the question, it is your blog.<br /><br />I was just wondering how one can have a right to liberty and property, and still get free education?Shane Pleasancehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06144367923437327037noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3612441315352179822.post-32426744703718322462012-08-26T10:03:46.762+12:002012-08-26T10:03:46.762+12:00Shane-According to the research in Wilkinson and P...Shane-According to the research in Wilkinson and Pickett's "Spirit Level" the most equitable societies tend to be the most stable societies, have better health outcomes, less crime and greater productivity. It then stands to reason that one of the best ways of ensuring children who live in families that struggle financially to succeed in life and contribute well to society is to provide them with a good education. While you couldn't say that education is totally free in New Zealand the children from the most challenging circumstances can almost be guaranteed to get an education not too different from children who come from the most privileged circumstances. <br /><br />Probably Finland is the best example of a successful public education system in one of the more equitable societies: http://www.smithsonianmag.com/people-places/Why-Are-Finlands-Schools-Successful.html<br /><br />Scandinavian countries have managed to weather the world's economic downturn better than most nations because of achieving a good balance between taxation and publicly provided social services and supporting private enterprise. <br />http://www.socialwatch.org/node/9364<br /><br />The countries that have poorer public education systems tend to struggle in both social and economic outcomes. Dave Kennedyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12428353657153292616noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3612441315352179822.post-77981042705106933732012-08-25T13:03:11.175+12:002012-08-25T13:03:11.175+12:00How is free education to be provided?How is free education to be provided?Shane Pleasancehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06144367923437327037noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3612441315352179822.post-44406644601772780452012-08-22T12:13:29.287+12:002012-08-22T12:13:29.287+12:00I don't see how they are incompatible, Shane. ...I don't see how they are incompatible, Shane. You probably need to explain how you think they are.Dave Kennedyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12428353657153292616noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3612441315352179822.post-74190548488768423162012-08-22T09:56:47.238+12:002012-08-22T09:56:47.238+12:00Back to your concept of human rights, how are arti...Back to your concept of human rights, how are articles 25 & 26, for example, compatible with article 17? (or 3?)Shane Pleasancehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06144367923437327037noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3612441315352179822.post-53212011216321664272012-08-20T09:55:17.497+12:002012-08-20T09:55:17.497+12:00Thanks!Thanks!r0bnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3612441315352179822.post-18684838597573238892012-08-19T12:56:43.927+12:002012-08-19T12:56:43.927+12:00Sure can, Rob. Sorry about the email, must get on ...Sure can, Rob. Sorry about the email, must get on top of them...Dave Kennedyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12428353657153292616noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3612441315352179822.post-43242765946127452092012-08-19T10:00:04.504+12:002012-08-19T10:00:04.504+12:00Hi bsprout
I sent you email but no reply?
Can I ...Hi bsprout<br /><br />I sent you email but no reply?<br /><br />Can I repost this post on The Standard?<br /><br />Cheers<br />r0br0bnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3612441315352179822.post-35347896105489514302012-08-18T19:04:41.348+12:002012-08-18T19:04:41.348+12:00Anonymous, ethical standards should be applied at ...Anonymous, ethical standards should be applied at any level of governance, just because the law at local government level was weak doesn't justify the behaviour of someone who barely scraped through on a legal technicality. Banks' behaviour was worse than others as not only did he knowingly abuse the rules for personal gain but his behaviour and convenient memory losses when outed were extraordinary. Surely we should expect better than that from a Minister of the Crown.<br /><br />I'm relieved you agree that Paula Bennett went too far. The Government and employers have a responsibility for setting high standards of behaviour and any dispute should managed within the parameters of the disagreement. Using personal details to undermine individuals is despicable behaviour and cannot be condoned no matter what the provocation. <br /><br />It was unfortunate that you used the POAL dispute as an example to support your argument. The MUNZ worker that you referred to had every right to question the change of his employment conditions and just because his employer had supported him in the past (as it should have done as a good employer) doesn't mean he has no right to complain at a later stage. <br /><br />Employers benefit from the work of their employees (it is a symbiotic relationship) both should have rights and responsibilities. I get quite frustrated when I see hard working and generally loyal employees exploited and not valued by some employers. The POAL workers had lifted their productivity considerably and made the Auckland the 2nd most efficient port in Australasia. They did not deserve to lose their job security so that Auckland city could extract even greater profits from a business that already achieved excellent returns.<br /><br /> <br />Dave Kennedyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12428353657153292616noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3612441315352179822.post-12872624836362848592012-08-18T17:39:14.413+12:002012-08-18T17:39:14.413+12:00Banks was accused of breaching inadequate local Go...Banks was accused of breaching inadequate local Government rules in the Auckland Mayoralty contest. The acquital suggests that the law is the ass. Chasing Banks is politically motivated as those inadequate laws allowed other contestants to use them in a similar way, yet such scrutiny of their activities has never been raised. Demanding the standing down of Banks in another sphere, namely Central Government, simply highlights the political agenda of his accusers.<br /><br />Bennett crossed a line that she should not have.<br />The person that Bennett outed was poor-mouthing the system that was shown to be assisting her generously.<br />A similar situation occured when a MUNZ striker bad-mouthed the POAL as an employer, but was shown to have been very well treated by the employer.<br />Ewen MacDonald was portrayed in Court to be an ordinary everyday bloke. Subsequent disclosures of fact have left many NZers aghast at his activities, even though his acquital was the only lawful result based on the evidence presented at his trial.<br />Bennett just has to put up with beneficiaries bagging the welfare system, and her as Minister. The POAL similarly has to stand by and take the flak from employees. Transparency and good process is not an even-handed tool, and those in their position just have to grin and bear it.<br />The voting public is not entirely unaware of the political agendae at play.<br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3612441315352179822.post-38688061107255826312012-08-18T16:03:40.629+12:002012-08-18T16:03:40.629+12:00You make a reasonable point, Anonymous, but social...You make a reasonable point, Anonymous, but social responsibility and appropriate decision making are two principles from our Charter. http://www.greens.org.nz/charter<br /><br />While we are still human, and sometimes fail to meet the standards we set ourselves, at least we do have these principles that guide our political activities. We also think that these principles should be adopted by others if we want decent and fair governance.<br /><br />There is always the danger that we could be painted as the painful "goody goods" and killjoys that sit at the front of the class, but parliament is not a primary classroom and some standards should be expected from our elected representatives. The speaker should not have to continually reprimand MPs and have cause to compare them with 3 year olds. <br /><br />Paula Bennett crossed the line when she released private details, John Banks should not still be in parliament after his appalling lack of honesty and transparency, the "holier than thou" impression is probably an unfortunate result of others being so incredibly otherwise. <br /><br />Dave Kennedyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12428353657153292616noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3612441315352179822.post-70859671541948313472012-08-18T14:36:13.494+12:002012-08-18T14:36:13.494+12:00The Greens promoting transparency and good process...The Greens promoting transparency and good process is, on its own, admirable enough.<br /><br />It is the "holier-than-thou" attitude that trips the Greens up.<br /><br />Your second paragraph <i>"It is a sad fact that because the Greens promote transparency and good process, we are under close scrutiny and any wrong doing, no matter how minor, is held up as evidence that we are hypocrites. Whereas the fact that misinformation, fudging, lying and coverups are so common with other parties it is almost accepted as normal practice and quickly forgotten."</i> is a good example.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3612441315352179822.post-92095217683618848912012-08-18T12:10:50.452+12:002012-08-18T12:10:50.452+12:00Quite true, we Greens also get things wrong. Howev...Quite true, we Greens also get things wrong. However we didn't need to have it discovered by someone else to address it and we learn from our mistakes. The billboard defacing was another example of how Greens try to deal with unfortunate situations-transparency, honesty and putting things right as soon as possible. <br /><br />It is a sad fact that because the Greens promote transparency and good process, we are under close scrutiny and any wrong doing, no matter how minor, is held up as evidence that we are hypocrites. Whereas the fact that misinformation, fudging, lying and coverups are so common with other parties it is almost accepted as normal practice and quickly forgotten.<br /><br /><br /><br />Dave Kennedyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12428353657153292616noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3612441315352179822.post-83738009029574870202012-08-18T12:01:29.317+12:002012-08-18T12:01:29.317+12:00Minister talks over education professionals<a href="http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10760043" rel="nofollow">Minister talks over education professionals</a>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3612441315352179822.post-41168787775511977422012-08-17T21:11:26.864+12:002012-08-17T21:11:26.864+12:00Te Green Futures super fund owning property that i...Te Green Futures super fund owning property that is rented to Green MPs for which they claim an accommodation allowance.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3612441315352179822.post-9080566567835549122012-08-17T16:22:50.184+12:002012-08-17T16:22:50.184+12:00Pretty much these, Shane:
http://www.un.org/en/doc...Pretty much these, Shane:<br />http://www.un.org/en/documents/udhr/Dave Kennedyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12428353657153292616noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3612441315352179822.post-14482515236314592412012-08-17T14:59:42.324+12:002012-08-17T14:59:42.324+12:00I am curious, Dave, what are your thoughts on thos...I am curious, Dave, what are your thoughts on those 'human rights'? What are they?Shane Pleasancehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06144367923437327037noreply@blogger.com