Some Pearlers from the NZ Listener, May 4 and May 11 2019*

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May 4-10

"Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern's decision not to press ahead with a capital gains tax is not a reflection on the merits or otherwise of a CGT. What it shows is that no coalition party —whether left-leaning or right-leaning—can make decisions on issues of national importance within the limits of our three-year parliamentary term. 
  
What we get is an 18-month post-election period of resentment by the losers and their media allies and frustration by the winners, followed by an 18-month pre-election period when all parties compete for power in the next Parliament by raising expectations among voters that may never be fully met." -- Geoffrey Whitehead, Letter to the Editor.

                   
                                         
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"Although a popular outside perception of Israel is that of a gritty little country united in defiance of its Arab enemies, Anshel Pfeffer's book Bibi shows it as a nation of acrimonious political feuds and constantly shifting alliances — a turbulent environment in which Netanyahu is in his element... keeping the old left-wing Establishment out of power ... is a very effective way of building a coalition... Comparisons with President Donald Trump seem inevitable..." -- Karl du Fresne, Bibi in the Gun.

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(Paraphrased) A scan of the laws we already have on our statute books that deal with what is commonly called hate speech (Human Rights Act, Harmful Digital Communications Act) ...deal with racist but not religion or other incitement. Both pieces of legislation fall within the important qualification applying to all rights and freedoms: that of justified limitation. 

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These questions need to be also considered from the perspectives of minority communities who are often left disempowered in the face of abusive and discriminatory expression and practices. Questioning such limitations is not a threat to freedom of speech but a protection of it.-- Andrew Little, Minister of Justice, Letter to the Editor.

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"Two of the factors he lists as vital in determining how well a nation deals with a crisis are national identity and national core values. These are disputed concepts at the best of times, and particularly in multicultural societies. But he believes are empowering national identity depends upon bringing all groups into the fold." -- Andrew Anthony, The Need for Nationhood, a review of Jared Diamond's new book, Upheaval.

Quips and Quotes

Brian Tamaki would be hopeless in a battle, anyway,

because as a bishop he can only move diagonally -- Sanjay Patel.

I never lose. I either win or learn. -- Mark Twain.

 May 11-17

Nigel Farage..."is the man who almost single-handedly brought about the EU referendum ... For 20 years, he's been a Member of the European Parliament, one of the handsomely paid representatives in the European Parliament that he derides and has constantly campaigned Britain to leave - a well-stuffed turkey who's spent two decades voting for Christmas..." -- Andrew Anthony, Disparaging Farage
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"Every media story predicting Bridges' early demise contributes to his death by a thousand cuts, destabilising his leadership and making him appear weaker than he is. A few months ago in this column, I tossed out the line that Bridges was 'a dead man walking' and it earned me a death stare of loathing in the Koru Club from his deputy, Paula Bennett. She was right to be annoyed; wisecracks like this are yet another cut inflicted on her boss, one that could ultimately prove fatal ... Elections are won or lost in the centre of the political spectrum. Hard-left voters and their hard-right counterparts are unlikely to shift, whereas the mild-mannered centrists swing like a wind vane". -- Bill Ralston, Building Bridges.

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Quips and quotes

Faith is what someone knows to be true whether they believe it or not.

-- US comedian Flannery O'Connor.

Politicians and diapers must be changed often — and for the same reason.
 -- Historian Ron Chernow

To conclude with some Listener humour

* This is not an advertisement. The posting shows glimpses of the quality of the magazine. Also see www.noted.co.nz.  I would highly recommend  a yearly subscription.

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-- ACW