4 ms·

It seems 'Democracy' will be coming to NZ soon.

by ihsw 14y ago

davidw 14y ago
What are you talking about? New Zealand has a flourishing democracy. Or is this supposed to be some kind of hip/ironic comment suggesting... what, that the US is going to invade NZ? This is an example of why political articles foster commentary that is... less than stellar.
- ihsw 14y ago
  The US sphere of influence is very well maintained and the US Government will not tolerate deviation, it would be surprising to not see diplomatic pressure applied onto New Zealand. The US may not invade NZ in the sense you're thinking but NZ going to get the US Government's attention (which is rarely a good thing).
  - davidw 14y ago
    New Zealand has certainly 'deviated' in the past: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Zealand%27s_nuclear-free_zone#Nuclear-free_zone_legislation http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Zealand%27s_nuclear-free_zo... Copyright stuff is small potatoes compared to the US Navy. And yet... they didn't get invaded, did they? Hand waving makes for poor, ill-informed debate.
  - sageikosa 14y ago
    Given that New Zealand scoffed at allowing US nuclear powered vessels to harbor at their ports, it is unlikely that anything short of direct military intervention will sway the New Zealand attitude. Any politician who is seen appeasing the US would likely answer to the electorate in the next cycle.
    - lostlogin 14y ago
      Sort of. Please excuse the excess of history if you are familiar with it. Prior to changing their leader, the National party (who now govern NZ) leader said to an American senator that our nuclear policy would be 'gone by lunchtime' if the National party got into power. www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10008905 It did and Brash was elected, but Brash has somewhat cooked his goose since then. The pressure from the US remains however, and the law remains unchanged. www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10836045 Edit: spelling
sageikosa 14y ago
All that democracy provides for (in this case) is that no one is above reproach or accountability. It doesn't mean that officials are sanctified and immaculate and won't work in opposition to jurisprudential values (ie, won't be corrupt). If officials couldn't be taken to account (in an functional civil court), then you can wonder about the state of the nation. The fact that New Zealand is looking into this is proof that democracy is working there.

It seems 'Democracy' will be coming to NZ soon.

by ihsw 14y ago

It seems 'Democracy' will be coming to NZ soon.

What are you talking about? New Zealand has a flourishing democracy. Or is this supposed to be some kind of hip/ironic comment suggesting... what, that the US is going to invade NZ? This is an example of why political articles foster commentary that is... less than stellar.

ihsw 14y ago
The US sphere of influence is very well maintained and the US Government will not tolerate deviation, it would be surprising to not see diplomatic pressure applied onto New Zealand. The US may not invade NZ in the sense you're thinking but NZ going to get the US Government's attention (which is rarely a good thing).
- davidw 14y ago
  New Zealand has certainly 'deviated' in the past: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Zealand%27s_nuclear-free_zone#Nuclear-free_zone_legislation http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Zealand%27s_nuclear-free_zo... Copyright stuff is small potatoes compared to the US Navy. And yet... they didn't get invaded, did they? Hand waving makes for poor, ill-informed debate.
- sageikosa 14y ago
  Given that New Zealand scoffed at allowing US nuclear powered vessels to harbor at their ports, it is unlikely that anything short of direct military intervention will sway the New Zealand attitude. Any politician who is seen appeasing the US would likely answer to the electorate in the next cycle.
  - lostlogin 14y ago
    Sort of. Please excuse the excess of history if you are familiar with it. Prior to changing their leader, the National party (who now govern NZ) leader said to an American senator that our nuclear policy would be 'gone by lunchtime' if the National party got into power. www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10008905 It did and Brash was elected, but Brash has somewhat cooked his goose since then. The pressure from the US remains however, and the law remains unchanged. www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10836045 Edit: spelling

sageikosa 14y ago

All that democracy provides for (in this case) is that no one is above reproach or accountability. It doesn't mean that officials are sanctified and immaculate and won't work in opposition to jurisprudential values (ie, won't be corrupt). If officials couldn't be taken to account (in an functional civil court), then you can wonder about the state of the nation. The fact that New Zealand is looking into this is proof that democracy is working there.