tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8770341086445997547.post6125989677418709511..comments2023-10-07T22:37:49.244+13:00Comments on The Hand Mirror: Wellington Local Body Elections - 1 woman's viewkatyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15742280289613450293noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8770341086445997547.post-37099922126070629022010-10-08T13:25:27.724+13:002010-10-08T13:25:27.724+13:00Maia, this was actually a great help to me in my v...Maia, this was actually a great help to me in my voting. I made my own decisions but then came online to do further research around my choices, and you can't imagine how great it was to see a 'hard-left feminist perspective' post up and around. That's just my cup of tea :) I haven't read your blog in a while but used to see it linked on Pandagon or Amptoons a lot. I'll have to re-add it to my reading list. I see you may have been at the pro-choice protest this week - I was there too. It's nice seeing an online feminist voice here in Wgtn.<br /><br />Thanks for sharing your thoughts,<br />HelenAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8770341086445997547.post-87237449443115259512010-10-08T10:55:47.451+13:002010-10-08T10:55:47.451+13:00sorry for double post - the web response was "...sorry for double post - the web response was "your comment is too long" so I cut and reposted - and then found the longer version was up after all! Delete whichever you like!Celia WBhttp://celiaformayor.org.nznoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8770341086445997547.post-6761074561567737562010-10-08T10:53:29.991+13:002010-10-08T10:53:29.991+13:00A couple of comments regarding the rates. This sin...A couple of comments regarding the rates. This single aspect has been unreasonably held up as a litmus test of "progressiveness".<br /><br />How about voting for/against Hilton on waterfront? For/against <br />casino? For/against bus priority on Courtenay Place? For/against sale of Owhiro Bay sections? All these set KP and myself apart.<br /><br />Regarding the differential on the general rate between business and residents, remember that all are based on capital value so a big business pays far more than a small business and a Roseneath 5 bedroom pays more than a one-bedroom flat in Mt Victoria, for example. Rates are a TAX not a payment for services.<br /><br />I've argued strongly for sharing the costs fairly, for example, that libraries benefit businesses as much as residents. Therefore we've kept the general rate for funding libraries and many other activities - where commercial funds a total of $68 million p.a. as opposed to $63m for residents. <br /><br />Jack Yan has said he'd like to get rid of the differential - if we did that it would mean a huge jump of rates to households (about $30 to 40 million in one go).<br /><br />It may be too late for most voters to ask but I think you should ask candidates what their ideal differential is for the general rates - should it go back to 7:1 as it was nine years ago - the four that argue against the change to 2:8 to 1 never actually suggest it go back to 7:1! I suspect that several would like it to go to 1:1. I suspect that even moor would fail to understand the basis for rates differentials and calculations at all.Celia WBhttp://celiaformayor.org.nznoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8770341086445997547.post-57516738699563834352010-10-08T10:49:07.049+13:002010-10-08T10:49:07.049+13:00A couple of comments regarding the rates. This sin...A couple of comments regarding the rates. This single aspect has been unreasonably held up as a litmus test of progressiveness. <br /><br />How about for/against a casino? for/against more road tunnels? for/against Hilton hotel on outer T? All differences between incumbent's and my vote.<br /><br />Regarding the differential on the general rate between business and residents, remember that all are based on capital value so a big business pays far more than a small business and a Roseneath 5 bedroom pays more than a one-bedroom flat in Mt Victoria, for example. Wellington has done a great job of keeping the Uniform Annual Charges low - though some of right-wing would like to increase these so water and sewage are totally paid by uniform charges that take no account of the value of a property. Rates area TAX not a payment fro services so we must resist this.<br />Several of the Councillor commentators have NEVER attended a single meeting of the Finance and Activity Working Party. I've been on that and through every activity and argued strongly for sharing the costs fairly, for example, that libraries benefit businesses as much as residents. Therefore we've kept the general rate for funding libraries and many other activities - where commercial funds a total of $68 million p.a. as opposed to $63m for residents. Some past members of the working party wanted the libraries to be funded totally by the residential rates.<br /><br />Jack Yan has said he'd like to get rid of the differential - if we did that it would mean a huge jump of rates to households (about $30 to 40 million in one go). When Council looked at the issues of claimability, passing on etc, we concluded that a differential of 2.8 to 1 was reasonable and I do NOT want to go below that. We have one more year of transition till we get there. It may be too late for most voters to ask but I think you should ask candidates what their ideal differential is for the general rates - should it go back to 7:1 as it was nine years ago - the four that argue against the change to 2:8 to 1 never actually suggest it go back to 7:1! I suspect that several would like it to go to 1:1. I suspect that even moor would fail to understand the basis for rates differentials and calculations at all. <br /><br />Most Councils in the area have differentials of between 2.4 and 3, although other charges and levies e.g. Downtown levy in Wellington for tourism promotion, motel rates elsewhere etc make direct comparison difficult.<br /><br />Over-simplifying the rates issue shows how easy it is to get onto "moral high ground", i.e. “any shift in diff = bad”, “keeping diff at current ratio = good”, rather than analyse and explain the costs and benefits.<br /><br />A look at http://www.wellington.govt.nz/plans/annualplan/ltccp/pdfs/vol1/18fis.pdf may help show where different parts of rates come from.Celia WBhttp://celiaformayor.org.nznoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8770341086445997547.post-86559450448488903032010-10-07T16:43:03.340+13:002010-10-07T16:43:03.340+13:00Almost fourth, sweet! :) I'd like to acknowled...Almost fourth, sweet! :) I'd like to acknowledge my mum and dad for having me, my sister for well whatever, and my imaginary other half and 2.5 children for putting up with the long hours.Kris Pricehttp://www.punk.co.nz/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8770341086445997547.post-37783374127764276932010-10-07T16:41:32.466+13:002010-10-07T16:41:32.466+13:00Charles - even if Nick is a communist, so what? Ar...Charles - even if Nick is a communist, so what? Arguably the communists have done far less damage to New Zealand than Roger Douglas's extremism at the opposite end of the political spectrum. After all, it was the hard Right that gave us damn near 10% unemployment in the early 90's, not the communists.<br /><br />And while we're on the subject of extremism, it's not too long a bow to draw to point out that you radicalised the Chamber of Commerce in exactly the same way that you're accusing Nick of radicalising the Tranways Union - you're both monomaniacally arguing for the interests of the members.Clarkenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8770341086445997547.post-90387171780343963022010-10-07T16:29:57.528+13:002010-10-07T16:29:57.528+13:00Thanks Maia for your comments. I do find them a l...Thanks Maia for your comments. I do find them a little disappointing however. Your criteria for voting seems a little inconsistently applied to candidates and is an interesting one for a self-declared feminist. <br /><br />It was after feminist writers and thinkers who have rightly done a great deal to deconstruct the split between the public and the private, a split often upheld by male thinkers and legislators. <br /><br />I don't think people should have to deny they are parents and think it important that people standing for public office are well rounded people. <br /><br />I rarely mention my son (three times in public since he was born) and I think this is not only appropriate but important as making this city better for all children is a priority for me. <br /><br />I consider myself left and don't think being left is determined simply by one issue (the rating differential and I do think businesses should pay their full costs - social and environmental). A more informed commentator would also know that I've been very critical of our relationship with China on the basis of their treatment of workers and I will always support the cause of the more vulunerable. I have also walked my talk and done a lot of work in women's issues. For example, I spent 5 years in Rape Crisis working for justice for survivors of rape. <br /><br />I think it's a little disappointing that you haven't been more supportive of the women candidates. Whilst much has improved in the public sphere, it is still generally men that hold positions of power. Time to make sure that there is equal representation of women and men in all spheres.Iona Pannettnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8770341086445997547.post-60742067509492076552010-10-07T13:44:39.846+13:002010-10-07T13:44:39.846+13:00Nick is a communist - have a listen
http://ia3412...Nick is a communist - have a listen<br /><br />http://ia341206.us.archive.org/1/items/TheGreensAndMaoriPartiesAreTheyProgressive/NickKelly-TheGreensAndMaoriPartiesAreTheyProgressive.mp3<br /><br />He has taken over the Trameways Union<br /><br />And he did radicalise it.Charles Finnynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8770341086445997547.post-22516967199090944912010-10-07T10:52:36.175+13:002010-10-07T10:52:36.175+13:00Red-baiting FTW.
If you'd ever been to this b...Red-baiting FTW.<br /><br />If you'd ever been to this blog before Charles, then you'd know that I write on both this blog and Capitalism Bad; Tree Pretty - in fact it says so right there on the side bar.<br /><br />Everything you say about Nick Kelly is inaccurate, and offensive. The average bus driver vote on their employment agreements, vote on industrial action, and vote on their leaders, and I thin they know their interests better than you do.Maiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17212711843307060731noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8770341086445997547.post-6319169994737039402010-10-07T10:40:36.614+13:002010-10-07T10:40:36.614+13:00Big ups for the Campaign Against Unnecessary Capit...Big ups for the Campaign Against Unnecessary Capitals - it's tiring being typographically yelled at by people who think we should vote for them.<br /><br />And I would have voted for Charles Finney - he seems to be a completely unreconstructed class warrior who still thinks unions arguing for better pay and conditions are run by "communists". He would be worth it for the entertainment value alone, albeit his extremist right-wing policies would be a bit less fun to suffer under. And he does have the advantage of being the right age for the Greater Wellington Regional Council And Retirement Home.<br /><br />But the mayoral non-decision? I don't get that. Not voting is a tacit endorsement of Kerry, and Celia seems like someone who at least won't hand over the waterfront to tasteless developers. She's also said she's against a Wellington super-city, which for me is a key point of difference given that Kerry wants to take us there as soon as possible, via a bunch of back-room meetings no doubt.Clarkenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8770341086445997547.post-88056549272317958872010-10-07T07:57:01.892+13:002010-10-07T07:57:01.892+13:00I am not a bad person and I do not hate bus driver...I am not a bad person and I do not hate bus drivers. I do not like attempts by communist party members to take over the Trameways Union and radicalise it. I dont think that is in the interests of the average bus driver at all.<br /><br />Interesting this seems to be identical to a post on another blog entitled "Capitalism Bad"<br /><br />Regards<br /><br />Charles FinnyCharles Finnynoreply@blogger.com