When I read this my reaction was the same as the title of this post. If someone is insulted by you doing your own thing, clearly not offering any insult, then it really isn't worth knowing them. And really, I don't think the Japanese would be insulted to any degree that would influence how they percieve us or engage with us, any more than Western diplomats are insulted when African representatives conduct talks dressed in traditional dress, or when Muslim representatives request that no alcohol be served at a reception.
Good international relations are based on give and take between the two parties, underpinned by a sense of mutual respect. Clearly Len Brown is stuck on give mode, and he is not afraid to take from the ratepayers to do it.
I don't intend to talk much about the supercity elections, but if this is the caliber of the frontrunner, Auckland has much to be afraid of, as does the National party who will have to wear the blame for a rushed process - not to mention the thouroughly undemocratic transition set up by Rodney Hide. Supporters of this Government should ask themselves, exactly when did it become acceptable for a Government minister to set up a shadow council of good citizens to determine things for everyone else?
2 days ago
"Supporters of this Government should ask themselves, exactly when did it become acceptable for a Government minister to set up a shadow council of good citizens to determine things for everyone else?"
ReplyDeleteSupporters of this government should look to the last government in answer to this query. It became acceptable when Labour decided that the majority did not matter when it came to issues that they felt were the best for the country, whether the countries population agreed with them or not.
Also, while you make a good point that ridiculousness can ensue if you try to please everyone, I would far rather see money spent on furthering our good realtionship with Japan (considering how much damage we are doing to it with the ridiculous fuss we are making over the whale trade) than say, on a another silly "monument" to our post-modern poor taste in art...
With their current hostile attitudes, how exactly does New Zealand First intend to improve realtions with countries such as Japan? How are you marketing yourselves as being better?
Hey Yalena, I hardly think 'supporters of this Government' would be pleased to find themselves compared to the previous one and found to be on a par, which should say something to them.
ReplyDeleteAs to spending money on one thing or another, I would hope that bureaucrats in our council offices would resist the temptation to view unspent money as a bonus, and instead simply refrain from spending it and not need to raise rates the next year. (Faint hope I know).
As to how NZ First intends to improve our relations with nations such as Japan, one would note that our Party Leader Winston Peters is recognised as a skilled diplomat, our relationship with Japan is already fairly strong as we are both democratic, industrialised nations with a strong trading relationship and a long history of cultural exchange and mutual tourism, and if one can make the claim to be "better" at having a relationship with Japan, it would start by being more comfortable and firm in who we are, as I believe the relationship with Japan to be generally sound, for the reasons expressed above.