Clinton - Gore Highway in 2017

Posted May 17th 2017 to the Otago Daily Times Newspaper Dunedin NZ

Dear ODT opinion:
Back in the day I suggested in this publication the concept of the Presidential Highway between Clinton and Gore to mark the Visit of President Bill Clinton to a Meeting here in Otago
But now it might be time to revisit the Waipahi presidential memorial and put up a new Electoral College memorial to the Lost Presidents Al Gore and Hillary Clinton which is more relevant
Today some “interp” panels  on the legacy they never had, perhaps reflect also on the tally of deaths and wars of this century that might never have happened had cooler heads prevailed.
Just a thought.

Prison Budget Blowout New Zealand

Posted October 19th 2016 to the Dominion Post Newspaper Wellington NZ

Dom Post:

NZ is a country that in not in a war zone or has great cultural conflict so why on Earth do we have so many people in prison?
Prisons are suppose to be where we put the extremely small fraction of the population who are dangerous to others.
They are not mental hospitals nor are they time-out centers for people who are simply annoying.

The Tax Payer would be less burdened if we had some better way of finding work to keep annoying or unemployable people busy.
But Private enterprise is not going to step up because it is simply someone else's problem.

Our Government has the tools to fix this and they darn well should because the very high rates of incarceration in New Zealand spell out FAILURE in large
unmistakable letters over our whole political system.

It is hard to Fathom... But Texas is more progressive in this area than NZ is.

 -------------------------------


It highlights the question that hangs over humanity what is the meaning of our existance.
amazing beings of wonder or just meat robots.

NZ Heartland: Socialism Debate

Posted 8th October 2016 to the Southland Times Newspaper Invercargill NZ

On October 7th, your corespondent Mervyn Cave pronounced firmly “when it comes to equality Socialism only ever achieves it by poverty for all” on page 6.

I don’t think Mr Cave has quite got the grasp of what Socialism is. The general idea is that we use our Government as a public Insurance broker. You Pay you Taxes and they
make sure all your Human needs are catered for.  If they don’t you kick them out. A sound Idea. However Neo Liberal Capitalism is a GAME based on LUCK being rewarded and BAD LUCK puts you into reverse or out all together!

Oddly no one owns the planet we all share it, but we now have 98 unlucky percent of the Population living on crumbs and People like myself and Mr Cave on the top half of the 1 percent are telling them what to do.  I just don’t find this level of tormenting to be a comforting thought. Also  if you have money today there is no guarantee it won’t all be gone tomorrow.

New Zealand was a very successful Socialist Country and all of us older citizens did darn well out of it especially those who cashed in Farms and Businesses or got educated by the socialist system of yesteryear.

Recently a US cartoon in a Paper explained Socialism as lending money to strangers from someone else's pocket... But Really it’s taking money from Scrooge Mc Duck & his human cousin Donald Trump and Stimulating the Economy.

True Socialism is incredibly Powerful and remains our best tool for fixing overpopulation and unlucky Climate Change problems. Unlike tried and failed Greed, Hate & Violence. 
  

 

Fiordland's South Westland Wilderness Area

Posted 7th July 2016 to the Southland Times Newspaper Invercargill NZ

 I recall writing many letters over the Years about the desire to go beyond the Hollyford Road into the wild untamed lands North of Milford Sound
I think I started around 1979 and ever since have been watching many people wanting to civilize the wilderness between Fiordland and South Westland
But as the World is constantly regretting the violation of wilderness for money yet there are many here that are ready to cash it in without hesitation.

The Thought that Wilderness is somehow of no value is perplexing, Especially as such places seem to define what it is to be a New Zealander. not economics.

That being said I could understand the desire to extend the Hollyford Road as far as the Highly Scenic shores of Lake Alabaster or maybe even Lake McKerrow
Though I would recommend it for be used for permitted or service vehicle and of course PUSHBIKES, sort of like the Wilmot Pass Road. That would give the Hollyford road a proper destination and take some pressure off Milford Sound.

If we in Southland really wants something nice for Southland  that is actually in reach, maybe we could aim for this easy goal and let South Westland sort it’s own tourism problems out.

Te Anau's Playground - Fiordland National Park

Posted 29th June 2016 to the Southland Advocate Newspaper Te Anau.

Dear Advocate:
The Grand Opening for the first leg of the Te Anau to Manapouri cycle trail shows that the People of the Te Anau Basin would like to go out and enjoy the Conservation Estate.

At the Moment though Cyclists can not cross the line of the National Park Boundary in lieu of Departmental Review..

Here is a though.. maybe the Department can make a dispensation for the people of the basin to have special status in all the National Park Land on the East of the Upper Waiau River
And South of the Eglinton River.. After All, It is our back Yard.  So why cant it be our play ground as well?

Still It was good to see Todd Barclay and Garry Tong came to support our community effort Cycle Trial,  uniquely well constructed and under budget with no money from Central Government
or even a wink from our cycle-trail loving Prime Minister.

The opening event  was a great moment for me as I had been suggesting Cycle-ways in the Park since the 1980s.
It also goes to show expensive over long Cycle trail are not needed if you have a lot of cool scenery and landforms in one small area.

 *Publication confirmed

Datageddon on Radio New Zealand

Posted 30th June 2016 to the Nine to Noon Program Radio NZ

 Hi Kathryn & co

Interesting Programs this Morning with Richard Watson & Robbie Allen
You Should Watch the USA TV Series “Silicon Valley” a comedic look at how the World of Tech Operates..

Also they mention “Datageddon” as a point in which all the Crap we store in the “Cloud” becomes to expensive to store and we physically cant build enough server farms to store it all..

BTW there is some evidence Youtube was doing some culling this month they seem to hit a few Liberal Progressive Channels which might we a worry for Robbie...

The News Blackout on Bernie Sanders Rallies seems to be a part of this mess in some ways...  But we didn’t expect a Google subsidiary to be in on it. 

Queenstown NZ Mayor bid 2016

Posted 28th June 2016 to the Mountain Scene Newspaper Queenstown NZ

 Jim Bolt For Mayor?
I like Jim he has a load of energy and cleverness but where is the heart? He spoke in Te Anau and said Queenstown was a terrible place when he first arrived there
But now it is wonderful thanks to Businessmen and Loads of Money. Really Jim?

Many Southlanders think Queenstown is a heartless gawd awful mess because everyone there is stabbing their neighbor in the back for a buck.
Jim is right Prosperity is nice but it has to be equitable  or it all goes to custard..

And as one of your readers pointed out development should be done the Swiss way..with attention to detail and feeling.

Any chance we can get a candidate from the Green Party... you know...  Someone with Heart...

Politics of Youtube Questioned

Posted 28th of June 2016 to This Way up Radio New Zealand National

 Hi guys

BTW this Month Youtube has been culling progressive rationalist Channels..
Odentroll, TheGetRealGuy, TeeVeeNZ all wiped off the net.
They had been around for over ten Years and one specialized in immortalizing landmark Radio NZ broadcasts
And adding humorous pictures and showing rare old NZBC clips.

Sad loss for NZ

Has Bernie Sanders spooked team Google ? What is going down ? 

Pressure on NZs Mental Health Services

Posted 7th June 2016 to Nine to Noon Radio New Zealand National.

 Dear Kathryn:
The problem with prolonged exposure to right wing Government like we have in NZ is that they
basically hate you if you are not capable of working hard and paying more taxes, so we live under a veil of fear, fear
that should we fall down we will be crushed under the feet of an uncaring World. It seriously makes some people wonder why they
where brought into existence in the first place. No one in a fragile mental state should have to live under such conditions.

Misery is no objective for an enlightened society.

I am afraid that if your not a Celebrity or a person of means then John Key and his party simply Hate you, as neglect is a form of hate.

There is one solution that if you ARE hated you should be allowed to HATE them Back... Especially at the next election !
and our media should respect descent not fear it.

 

Fututre of New Zealands National Parks Service

Posted 24th of June 2016

 In response to your page on trying times for the Department of Conservation..
Yes Maggie Berry has got a job to do and Minister in Charge..
Unfortunately Private Enterprise in a small country such as NZ is in no position to deal with a tourism blow out
And for good or for worse the Department of Conservation is the only Government Agency that has a structure to deal with
Our Tourism Problems. But they have not recruited the people they need to make it work. They need a different breed.. The kind of people that they usually avoid .
Cleaver Ambitious, Creative people to Work in synergy with our preservationists and Greenies .
One thing is Clear the Status Quo is not working. I say the Government not only has to let D.O.C. Keep more of it’s earnings to maintain itself but give bonuses for its best people

And fill in the Gaps that private enterprise will never take a risk on.  We have plenty of campsites in Fiordland for example but almost no new DOC infrastructure for anything else.
They are not actively Showcasing their product at all. And can no until the Minister gives them some oxygen  Queenstown Says it will Take 10 Years to build up it Hotel Capacity  to
Keep up with demand if they can afford the land. And all the scenic real-estate has been given to DOC.  

 

Southland's Haast Higway problem of 2016

Posted 3rd of June 2016 to the Christchurch Press Newspaper Canterbury NZ

Dear Press gang:

The Haast - Holyford Highway rally went well in Te Anau... It really is the Donald Trump of Highways
It even has the same demographic support and charisma. “It will be BEAUTIFUL, so great, nobody make Highways like we do” “We will build it for the Chinese and make them Pay for it”.
“We will win SO many tourist we will get tired of winning... And tourists!” “We will make SO MUCH money we wont know where to invest it all” “Ngai Tahu and Queenstown will not use the Greenstone Valley Portion of the Road to steal Te Anau Tourists because WE will MAKE them behave” “Otago better not get any IDEAS because we can always put up a border fence” “We WILL make Southland Great again”. Also “We LOVE West Coasters”

Oh What a Parody.. to good to waste! too bad Regions in both regions affected are not swing voters but Solid National & Solid Labour and also Donald Trump lives in a different Country.

The SS United States Recycled ? 2016 annoucement

Posted to the New York Times Newspaper 6th February 2016

I find it surprising that Crystal Cruises is considering modernizing the Nations mothballed Flagship Liner the SS United States to go cruising again
Instead of turning it into a floating luxury Hotel at Red Hook...
Someone pointed out that transporting one passenger on a Cruise Liner uses 3 times more fuel than a Jet Airliner and one wonders if this form of transport has had its day ?

Still it will look better than all those ugly looking Floating Hotels called Cruise ships we have today and that is worth something. I don’t suppose American Workers will employed to restore the Old Girl ?
They will Probably drag her off to China for that..

When the SS United States conservancy recently announced a possible new Lease of life there was some speculation that Donald Trump might have taken the sly opportunity to step in and make the United States Great Again!

As usual and Ironically it turned out to be our Asians friends. 

Osama's Grand Plan - On Track

Posted 17th November 2015 to Morning Report Radio New Zealand.

It seems Osama Bin Laden lives on thanks to the past actions of George W Bush
Christopher Hitchins once pointed out that Bin Laden was trained as an Engineer and knew how structures work
and where and when to strike them.

The USA was pretty much going to respond to the Terrorism in a predictable way
And the dysfunctional Political Structure of the Islamic World  Bin Laden would know that the West would get dragged into a
Impossible conflict with it’s historical enemy form the Crusades.

 Popular speculation is he was aiming for the destruction of the West
But some say he was simply wanting to topple the hated Saudi Royal Family..

as for George Bush his daddy was always pushing for a new world order!
Intentions or not at this point of the prospect of never ending Terrorism from the disaffected sons of Islam means we are inching towards those goals
Every passing hour. It is a Insane Game where we are literally & figuratively playing with Fire!

Political Anxiety in New Zealand

Posted 16th of November 2015 to the Southland Times Newspaper

 Good letter from C Findlater of Ryal Bush this weekend on the state of New Zealand’s Gross national Happiness which seems to be on the decline.
Really it has to be said Thatcherist Capitalism does work well if you are Very Lucky and have the means to stay lucky and don’t mind the anxiety that one day your luck will eventually run out.

 As for our Politicians... We don’t really get to pick them, they sort of pick themselves just like all people in power today they all pick each other and we get to endorse
Someone we didn’t want in the first place in an what is jokingly called an election...

I see the Chinese Leaders consider themselves as “administrators”  which is really all we need , the “Game Show” of our Western elections is  really O T T if you think about it.
It should be seen as a Job of Work, not a throne.

Climate Change Oppinion - Trilobites !

Posted 7th November 2015 to the Fiordland Advocate Newspaper

John Baird of Winton has brought up a problem Scientists have with this planet, that is that it is a wonderfully complicated place
And one can not explain it’s complexity to the average person without having to make every argument a one issue problem.
Too much Co2 is not our single problem on planet Earth. Nor is the presence of Human beings, but it is a deadly certainty that
current Human Political thinking is going to choke the Planet to Death if it fails to address the Finite Nature of our resources on this pale blue dot we live on.
The Trilobites managed to Rule this Planet for 270 Million Years because they just got on with living without Wars, Agriculture, Energy Extraction, Religion or Politics..

We are way smarter than Trilobites are we not? We have 269.99 Million Years to go to beat them!

George Friedman on Europe - Darwin Perspective

Posted 12 October 2015 to the Nine to Noon Program Radio New Zealand

As you might have noticed in your Job, European Humans are Highly Strung fearful Beings !
Mr Friedman has uncovered a nasty truth... Prosperity is Power and wielding Power makes Humans Scared of retribution.

The USA would never had voted in FDR and pulled itself together if it where not for the Depression.. Ever since prosperous Politicians have been trying to pull his legacy apart

Ironically The real USA was Forged in the ashes of the Civil War, Modern Europe never had that chance as the USA always stepped in and interfered at critical conjunctures

Then there was the late great Ottoman Empire  now torn to shreds from constant interference from scared People with disproportionate amounts of Money and Power.

You can’t tell me the King of Saudi Arabia is not Haunted by the broken body of the once King of Iraq hanging from a Bagdad Power Pole.

Please Tell Me How can anyone seriously address the Climate change issue when the World is literally and figuratively on fire from conflicts...

USA Gun Violence - Options for change

Posted 24th October 2015 to the New York Times Newspaper USA

It is a strange thing to hear a large proportion of fellow American in High office stating that we should use blunt force on any people we feel are angry with the USA.
There are people running for office now who think gruesomely raining Fire on these people and their families up with high explosives is somehow a good and righteous thing if even we only think they feed terrorists.

Social Media is full of Angry People basically wanting our Commander in Chief to wipe people who don’t want to buy into the American Dream off the Map. America is awash in Anger at the Poor and the Losers
many angry confused people want to let them die with no food, Jobs or Hope..

And our Children bring guns to school to exact retribution on classmates...  We wonder where THAT comes from... I guess it is a Mental Heath Issue... The whole Nation is nuts with anger and it rubs off...  on our children.

FYI Hollywood:  Stop making guns look sexy, it’s as bad for teenage boys as smoking. And BTW, Bullet Trauma is even less sexy than cancer.

Brian Hanley - Gene therapies for ageing

Posted 2nd October 2015 to Nine to Noon Radio New Zealand

Brian Hanley the "Gene Genie" better not move to fast with giving Humans eternal Life
As they still have not figured out what to do with the limited one the have at the moment.

I can just see that People will be working for Millennium to pay for the Privilege of living and still won't be able to get a house in Auckland !

So why is the European brain programmed for eternal struggle, conflict and paranoia? Won’t prolonging life at the moment will just prolong misery, if we don't fix that first.

Tall Poppies In New Zealand

Posted 27th September 2015 to Sunday at Radio New Zealand.

In Response:

Home Truths,
Yes NZ is rubbish at celebrating it’s Movers and Shakers
Probably because our Media is Australian and our Government is Full of light-weight posers..

Take a Look at our Bank Notes...  only one academic... and he is the Guy who darn near got us all Killed.

What does that say?

Woman in the Workplace - New Zealand

Posted 27th of September 2015 to Sunday Morning Radio New Zealand

In response,
NZ Women are are really quite cleaver ..
They get their Men to be ambitious for them
Men need to be powerful because power is a sex magnate.

Men get pushed beyond their ability time and again, eventfully it kills them and the wives get all the spoils...

Isn’t that a fundamental driver of Western Civilization ?

Any why Islam is so at odds with the West?