The end of landlords: the surprisingly simple solution to the UK housing crisis


This is my peace offering to Lightspeed - something I think we can both agree on. Landlords - at least in the form they take today [leverage equity to outbid FHBs and hold rents high] - are parasites and society would be better off without them. Until we solve the housing affordability problem, nothing will be fixed.

Interesting revelations

Five Eyes ran spy operation out of NZ's security bureau (yesterday)

A Five Eyes partner, from 2013 you say. Obama was president from 2009 until 2017.

Barack Obama drops into No10 for surprise visit on his way through London (2 days ago)

Well that's interesting. He kinda needed to have a chat and a cup of tea. Because you know, he's not the President anymore, so of course he needs to talk to Five Eyes partners.

Then there was this from 2018:
Former Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton is coming to New Zealand


Barack Obama to visit New Zealand in March


Ah yes, John Key

Key releases GCSB documents


I remember that. I wonder what's so interesting these days that a former president needs to sort things out with the UK Prime Minister, and why we have revelations that some shit was going on in NZ?

I do know that there's a guy who claimed Obama was spying on him, who is not a fan of Hillary, and looks like he'll end up being the next President.

But I'm sure all of this is a coincidence.

It speaks volumes that Seymour is calling challenges to their tax cuts envy, rather than laying out the benefits of such tax cuts to the economy and the country.

Surely the housing affordability problem is exacerbated by asset rich landlords out bidding owner occupiers? Surely if owner occupiers were only bidding against other owner occupiers because policy says existing landlords need not apply, then prices rising will slow down, and affordability will be more likely?

It doesn't have to be a drastic big-bang change, just have it be a slowly introduced covenant of the property. If a suburbs only allows sales to owner occupiers, then you'll absolutely see change over time.

UN Security Council demands immediate Gaza ceasefire after US abstains

Goes to show how bad things are in Gaza that the US isn't standing up for Israel.

It's crazy such an orgy of violence has gone on without real challenge for so long.

Has Hamas released the Israeli hostages yet?

I wonder about the wording. Is it "all" hostages, or just those held by Hamas?

I've just come to terms with Duncan Garner's new wokeness. Didn't have Matthew Hooton defending unique Maori rights on my bingo card

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Srlv21qAA_I

Or maybe all the oxygen that Muppet Seymour is getting in the media is making me think that ignorance is the norm

I won't make any comments on your video, but I got this one recommended to me after watching yours: New Zealand: Joshua Green, not convicted because he's a Maori

Clearly I'm in living in a fucked up country where people are judged by their ancestry and not equally under the law. For shame.

The only thing more depressing than seeing this all happen, is seeing idiots defending it because social justice and the fact they have a mangina.

As you were though. You're entitled to your opinion, even if it's fucking stupid.

I'm all for people being weasles in court and using stupid defenses. That's just the legal system. But when you start conjuring up spells of mana and absolute bollocks because race relations are turning to shit, it's a sign we're heading down the wrong path, IMHO.

The problem is that your opinion isn't informed. Clearly that's not something you value.

Nevermind nuance, historical/sociopolitical context or listening to those with a high level of knowledge and understanding in complex topics. Why would you when you've done your own research.

“School Strike 4 Climate” , where schoolchildren concerned about climate change miss out on education in order to attend a Greens political rally about an interpretation of a treaty and a complex foreign conflict they don’t understand.

Sounds like a good learning experience. Kids learn more from how adults behave than from what adults tell them. They don't need to understand complex reality to have an experience of it.

And kids, like other vulnerable groups, tend to be on the hard end of political decisions. So if conditions are growing more difficult for children to grow into thriving adults, they'd be amongst the ones to be impacted first.

Of course the lesson learnt might be "our voices aren't heard no matter what we do". We'll have to see.

It's not like the kids have learned the critical skills required to question the subject matter so it's not like it really matters. Just another day off school to fuck around.

What are the absentee rates of schools again?

Chef Jose Andres says Israel targeted his aid workers 'systematically, car by car'

All going to plan. Food aid being withdrawn from Gaza, resulting in more starvation, more trauma, more fomenting anger amongst the survivors to ensure the next wave of violence.

A hostage says 'what'?

Genocide isn't going to stop you from a little easy trolling, is it?

Imagine if somehow some Kiwis managed to kidnap some Aussies and drag 'em back here, and Australia acted like Israel.

And as you raged about your dead family, your powerlessness to do anything, cause you have no idea about any hostages, the only response you got back was "gib hostages".

The population growth in Palestine doesn't fit your definition of genocide, sorry.

You also cannot make a statement as to what the borders of Israel should be, or even if Israel has a right to exist. So, meh.

Can you?

I can say it has the right to exist as its own sovereign nation, can you?

I can say it does exist? To say a country has a right to exist would require me to understand the nature of such rights, how they're assigned, etc. I don't really have that expertise.

Do you? Can you educate me? Can you say what the borders of this nation that has a right to exist should be?

lol, golden lolspeed. The religious dogma of the left means you cannot have thoughts and opinions in this. Well done

This you?

Sure thing fella, keep on twisting.

qUesTion THe SubJeCt MaTTer

New Auckland surgical building cannot open due to lack of staff

Rt Hon Winston Peters, Minister For Foreign Affairs: Speech To UN General Assembly: 66th Plenary Meeting, 78th Session

When Winston Peters is the voice of reason, you know we're in Bizarro World.

oof, so many govt agencies are getting the knife taken to them. Hope the sustainability managers retain their jobs though.

#thoughtsandprayers

I'm definitely cynical no doubt. But I'm so glad I'm not bitter. Living carrying around that shit inside me just doesn't seem worth it.