tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8442430064359197279.post4779506056748244962..comments2024-03-18T21:56:06.882+13:00Comments on Karl du Fresne: Reflections on a carefully stage-managed campaignKarl du Fresnehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05054853925940134404noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8442430064359197279.post-79046354006522913442011-12-11T19:52:01.051+13:002011-12-11T19:52:01.051+13:00The best thing that people of Maori descent could ...The best thing that people of Maori descent could do for themselves, and that the wealthy tribes could do for the people they represent (their shareholders) is to get themselves free of dependence on government handouts and embrace free market capitalism. <br /><br />To the tribal authorities: Invest those billions of dollars that I, and many others whose ancestors weren't here in 1840 (or even in 1900), worked hard to earn and were then relieved of in order to benefit your coffers, and turn them into trillions. Go for it, guys! Prove yourselves and succeed in the open market and I will be the first to applaud you.<br /><br />But regain some dignity and mana by running your own welfare system. Declare independence from the welfare state which demeans its "beneficiaries" and opens them up to taunts of welfare parasitism.Richard McGrathhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13763002401676224819noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8442430064359197279.post-91062937888314702292011-11-26T08:22:27.004+13:002011-11-26T08:22:27.004+13:00Thanks. for the blog Karl. I learnt about the corp...Thanks. for the blog Karl. I learnt about the corporate connection with the Maori party that I wasn't aware of. Another point of contention for Hone?<br />The biggest issue for me which no mainstream media has approached is the flagrant bias of the media itself. The media will not hold itself to account. This is not a fair fight in an increasingly mediated political campaign and throughout the entire Key term of office. This is unjust, unfair and anti democratic. You can fool most of the people .... Cheers Philip.Philhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07693795352088768384noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8442430064359197279.post-75893797437393197832011-11-25T11:35:22.509+13:002011-11-25T11:35:22.509+13:00I do not carry a flag for the Maori Party - why sh...I do not carry a flag for the Maori Party - why should I when I will never see any benefit from their machinations?<br /><br />I can see Sharples' point though. Why should Maori not corporatise their economic base when it is the logical and the most sensible thing to do. Want an example of that? Take a look at the ownership of the dairy industry, kiwifruit, fisheries, in fact most of the "successful" primary industries in NZ. All of them, without exception, are "owned" (in one form of the word or another) by large corporations and companies.<br /><br />Rather than criticise Maori for what can only be considered "joining the band" we should be looking hard at why this is occuring.<br /><br />Dairying is still in the hands of individual farmers, at least in theory. But then, talk to the young fellas who are trying to buy in to the business and get their own farm. When a good farm becomes available they have to compete against corporates - of whom Crafer is the only one to fail thus far - for land that is reasonably economic.<br /><br />Viniculture is owned primarily by one NZ and one overseas corporate. The private growers - and many of the smaller wine makers - are doing it real hard at present with a very depressed market for their crop. Rural Report in recent times has been recording Gisborne and Marlborough vines coming out to make way for dairying. <br /><br />Fisheries has for some years been recording the replacement of the local trawlermen and longliners being replaced by internationals who bid high for the quotas. Locals can not compete... There are now very few of them left.<br /><br />The common factor - the big boys win; the small guys get squeezed out.<br /><br />So if Maori want to gain their share of the country, can you blame them for wanting to use their economic base, the very thing that Treaty Settlements were intended to provide, as the means of achieving that objective.<br /><br />Personally, I confess to a twinge of jealousy. The only means that the common Joe like myself can get in the action is by buying my 0.0001% of the total - without borrowing.The probligohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17882103150181414348noreply@blogger.com