Azzam Threatens New Zealand.

The Dominion Post (New Zealand) ^ | November 1, 2002 | JONATHAN MILNE and TRACY WATKINS

[Little Bill]

You Kiwi's should adopt a Republican Constition and throw the commies out.

[blackie]

Death To all Muslim Extremist's !!

Snuff Saddam, NOW !!

The Second Amendment...
America's Original Homeland Security !!

Freedom Is Worth Fighting For !!

Let's Roll !!

Molon Labe !!

[shaggy eel]

You Kiwi's should adopt a Republican Constition and throw the commies out.

,,, how did that solution help you when Billy-Jeff took the helm for two terms?

[shaggy eel]

I guess the 'Green Party' must be New Zealand's equivalent of the Democrats.

,,, no, that's way out. Democrats would equate to NATIONAL (centre right) here.

ACT - something like Republican crossed with Libertarian.

NATIONAL - something like the most right wing Democrats.

LABOUR [governing in coalition now] - socialists.

GREENS - bean eaters; Communists and airheads.

UNITED FIRST - right wing/Christian influence.

NEW ZEALAND FIRST - right wing/immigration and law and order platforms attracted votes in July 2002.

[Little Bill]

You are or you are not, we went through this early in our history. Inclusiveness leads to anarchy, take a real close look at those parlementy model.

[rmlew]

For whom do the Maori vote: Greens for the benefits or New Zeeland First because they don't want any more new commers?

[shaggy eel]

,,, traditionally Maori have voted for Labour because they're the champion Party of free lunches. National did little to change that dependency on welfare - it's a widely held perception that Labour looks after "the worker" and anyone in need as well and that any Party to the right of centre is for rich people.

The reality is that the banks, unions and the government hold hands here. Generally, remuneration is kept low, taxes are increased directly and by stealth and demands on consumer credit increases as the squeeze tightens.

Political correctness demands that all Parties push the Treaty of Waitangi agenda - the closest article we would have to a Constitution. This perpetuates the need for The Treaty of Waitangi Tribunal, now commonly recognised as a gravy train for lawyers, elite bureaucrats and a whole structure of leeches that feed off institutionalised caring. Until Maori tribes unite, they're going nowhere. The money follows the path to nowhere unfortunatley and tribes will never form a united approach. For anything to change radically, we will have to become a republic. The Treaty is essentially with the Queen of England as we're a "Dominion". The Maoris have a deal with the Queen, in essence - or the "Crown" as we call it. Once we have a republic, we will have to have a Constitution.

[shaggy eel]

,,, the parliamentary model has worked well here, by and large. Over recent terms we've run a mixed member proportional electoral system [MMP] much like the Germans use. I was a first past the post fan but after this last election I've quickly come to appreciate MMP for it's value in not allowing the Marxists to govern alone. It's an expensive, lethargic way of operating a legislature but when the votes are in it reflects an extremely accurate picture of how the electorate has voted, given the choice of many options. You can split your vote - one for the Party you want in power, the other for the person you want to represent you locally - from any Party you choose.

The inclusiveness leading to anarchy that you mentioned is resultant from shithouse immigration policy, not the parliamentary process.

[No Left Turn]

"New Zealand is seen as a small nuclear-free country opposed to an invasion of Iraq. If we weren't in Afghanistan, then the majority of people in the world, opposed to what the Americans are doing, would be more favourably disposed to us."

Is this what passes for a man in NZ these days?

[shaggy eel]

Is this what passes for a man in NZ these days?

,,, in no way am I defending Keith Locke, but I'd have to ask you to consider what passed for a US President for the two terms before Geo. W Bush took over.

[stands2reason]

Why is that the only guy they interviewed? You do have some parties to the right of Green, don't you? What party is in charge?

[stands2reason]

S'okay, you don't have to answer my questions. I kept reading. (And I told myself I wouldn't post before reading the thread again. Oh, well...)

[shaggy eel]

,,, check out post #24. I vote ACT. It's lunchtime [Friday] here - just going out to salvage some sushi.

[rintense]

Sounds like the 'oh what if they...' syndrome has hit NZ too. Shaggy, what's the general feeling in NZ regarding your involvement in the WoT?

[Little Bill]

I can see your point, coming from a family that thought Cromwell was a communist, but you have no choise, who stands for what, you have an elected Queen or King, depending on your view point.

[shaggy eel]

,,, I guess proximity determines interest. On Sept 11 we felt that we'd taken your hit too. Your President made it clear that this war would be different from others - some unsavoury people would be allies to achieve goals, a lot of it would be transacted in the shadows etc. Perhaps the most relevant point he made was that it wouldn't be played out on CNN like the Gulf war was. With snippets of carefully chosen info hitting the newspapers and other media we can only formulate opinions on what we are exposed to. There's a lot of disinformation and you should be aware of that when weighing up how other nations act, what they say etc. in regard to this war and America's initiatives.

We're removed largely by distance but this is a very portable war, as Bali has shown. I can't see us living forever in the comfort we presently enjoy. I doubt that airliners will be flown into our buildings but something along the lines of Bali may eventuate in the short to medium term. Can't rule it out.

[Oztrich Boy]

Since he is the spokesman, though not the head honcho, do his statements reflect the defense ministry's position?

No. Listen closely, it'll be in the final.

Locke is the Green Party defence spokesman. His statements relect the Green Party's position.

[shaggy eel]

but you have no choice, who stands for what, you have an elected Queen or King, depending on your view point.

,,, oh no we don't. The Queen appoints a Governor-General who rubber stamps important legislation, opens and closes Parliament, performs Knighthood ceremonies and engages in all the romantic royalist drama we endure from time to time here. We were proclaimed a "Dominion" in 1910 and although we are a member of the British Commonwealth, the Queen has zippo to do with us. We run autonomously, like Aussie or Canada.

[general_re]

I doubt that airliners will be flown into our buildings but something along the lines of Bali may eventuate in the short to medium term. Can't rule it out.

Let us hope not. Perhaps PM Clark will discover a heretofore unused bit of spine in facing up to this sort of thing.

[shaggy eel]

,,, it would mean a cut in the Arts and Heritage budget and a bit of fiscal juggling but who said war can't be an art form - an avenue of expression? Food for thought for Xao Helen.