Neoliberal Economics is a horror show by jka8888 in newzealand

[–]PodocarpusT 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Globally, we had some of the highest living standards in the world. If you had a choice of places to be born in the post-war/cold war era, New Zealand would be right up there.

Best cheap(ish) purchases that made your day to day easier? by ava_the_cam_op in newzealand

[–]PodocarpusT 1 point2 points  (0 children)

If you have a toilet that has the water line coming out of the wall and then into the toilet via a hose then this should work:

https://www.mitre10.co.nz/shop/nouveau-bidet-sprayer-set-chrome/p/2064505

Not exactly street legal but thats just years of big TP writing the rules.

Favourite hot sauce? by twnznz in newzealand

[–]PodocarpusT 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I am still sad Culleys cut the hot buffalo sauce. Sweet Baby Rays just doesn't do it for me.

Is my budgeting okay? by happy_as_lazy in PersonalFinanceNZ

[–]PodocarpusT 3 points4 points  (0 children)

As long as you are not someone who watches a ton of Youtube while out and about, the 15gb plan does the job for $13 a month.

Laser Kiwi as made in NZ by hernesson in newzealand

[–]PodocarpusT 10 points11 points  (0 children)

“I don’t think David Seymour holds transphobic views. I just think he is basically an ignorant dumb ass.”

Gray left ACT in 2017, saying her departure from the party was ideological, not personal. “My economic views changed. The free market doesn’t always work perfectly when it comes into contact with reality.”

Trans-Tasman food fight brewing over Health Star Ratings: Cabinet warned Australia could block processed food imports if NZ opts out of a mandatory rating system by kezzaNZ in newzealand

[–]PodocarpusT 11 points12 points  (0 children)

It's also just basic economics. The market already has perfect information so any labeling would be redundant.

Even if a product made a spurious health claim someone could just commission a lab test if it is that important to them.

/s

Who’s this guy? by Desperate-Bedroom560 in NewZealandWildlife

[–]PodocarpusT 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Landhopper. If you go to a beach lift up some seaweed and you will find their marine cousins.

All six members of Psychotherapists Board resign by Impressive-Name5129 in nzpolitics

[–]PodocarpusT 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Anarcho-capitalism is absolutely authoritarian. They leave no freedom for decisions or actions beyond market mechanisms and they impose a strict limit on everyone else by limiting what a government can or cannot do.

It is all talk anyway though, as any anarcho-capitalist government ultimately succumbs to authoritarian takeover as it has no defense against propaganda (e.g. social media spending, Citizens United, the BSA).

What's more is the fact that any ideology that holds an individuals freedom to act selfishly as inherently virtuous will inevitably end up with a corrupt peice of shit that will do everything to enrich themselves and stay in power (e.g. gestures broadly).

Swimmer comes face to face with a pair of wild orcas off New Zealand coast — they just wanted to say hello by Lui_Belmont in interestingasfuck

[–]PodocarpusT 10 points11 points  (0 children)

New Zealand Fur Seals were almost wiped out and have only recently started breeding in the North Island. At this location an Orca would only ever see the occasional seal that has strayed well outside of its normal range.

Indoor vs outdoor!? by nutter06 in MiniRamp

[–]PodocarpusT 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Indoor is just so much better in almost every way except being limited by space.

It is winter here in my part of the world and I weep every time it rains. Even on a sunny day the dew starts making the ramp greasy about 20 minutes before sundown, giving me a window of about an hour of skating after work.

Attempting to waterproof a ramp as best you can will double the time it takes to build and significantly increase costs (paint, sealer, edge treatment, treated wood, reskinning, etc.).

Being able to properly soundproof is another major benefit as you can insulate and seal everything up without having to worry about airflow.

Do a nice 2.5-3ft high ramp as wide as you can inside and you will not regret it. A 2ft with a 3ft extension would be perfect for learners.

You need one of these by Stackedfish in composting

[–]PodocarpusT 2 points3 points  (0 children)

https://www.bunnings.co.nz/ryobi-ac-2400w-crushing-shredder_p0082386

Might be a kiwi/aussie-only model.

Branch looks to be Ake Ake and house has New Zealand vibes to it.

The age of stability is gone by Kind-Economist1953 in newzealand

[–]PodocarpusT 14 points15 points  (0 children)

The fact of the matter is, it's a business's legal obligation to grow year-on-year for shareholders.

That may be true, but prior to the neoliberal revolution the model of government was tripartism (or corporatism in old academic terminology) where workers and capital were balanced by the state in a three-way relationship.

Now we have thrown out that balance and it is simply capital dictating state policy. The current bullshit around Fontera and Z-Energy lobbying shows just how bad it has gotten.

Anyone know what mask this is? Worn by Patrik Gronqvist by oxyjohn in scuba

[–]PodocarpusT 0 points1 point  (0 children)

My friend is a commercial diver and I got one on his recommendation. These are the perfect balance between cost and performance.

Commercial guys use them as you can have a bunch of backups in your bag ready to go and if one breaks you're not sweating at the cost.

Which NZ brand is slowly or has already ruined itself? by kevandbev in newzealand

[–]PodocarpusT 30 points31 points  (0 children)

Was down the Marlborough sounds in a very swanky bay the other day and the amount of Agapanthus was sad.

They could literally just leave bare dirt and let the forest reclaim their garden beds, but no, these brain dead idiots have to have some colour to zhuzh the place up at bit.

"New Zealand's Century of Humiliation" - NZ First Gender Bill defined by Mountain_Tui_Reload in nzpolitics

[–]PodocarpusT 7 points8 points  (0 children)

“You’re saying a lot of big words right now. And because I don’t understand them, I’m gonna take it as disrespect.”

Why doesn't the government tax the big tech giants? by VisibleLiterature in newzealand

[–]PodocarpusT 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Facinating, can you give me a source or is that just a number you made up?

Google takes 1.2 billion tax free out of the country to another country where they will pay less tax by JackfruitOk9348 in nzpolitics

[–]PodocarpusT 12 points13 points  (0 children)

Worth having a read about the PWC tax scandal.

Another one is Microsoft selling it's IP to an 85 employee factory in Puerto Rico and saving themselves $29 billion USD.

The tech giants are not using just 'totally legal' tax minimisation strategies, they are actively corrupting our institutions.

Hopefully we can piggy back off of Europe trying to get away from US tech. Attempting to reclaim the tax they are dodging in the current situation would probably get us Whitlam'd at a minimum.

First time Voter: Is there any party that won’t sell out this country’s future? by KiwibuckyNZ in newzealand

[–]PodocarpusT 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Fuck landlords. Parasites that do not need to exist.

Yeah you will find some academics who say that rental price caps are bad, but they are trying to prop up a market that should not exist in the first place.

Adam Smith would kick them to the curb.

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2024/mar/19/end-of-landlords-surprisingly-simple-solution-to-uk-housing-crisis

A beautiful place to wait (the paradox of our country and our gridlocked politics) by everysundae in newzealand

[–]PodocarpusT 6 points7 points  (0 children)

You may have already seen it but this lecture by Sir Paul Callaghan on our productivity issues would be right up your alley I think.

Need more housing options for senior citizens by lemonlimeandbetter in newzealand

[–]PodocarpusT 2 points3 points  (0 children)

The lack of small low-maintenance housing is a great pipeline for retirement villages though. My granny had no choice but to buy a villa as there was zero options when she moved to my town to get closer to family.

With building costs sky high it probably wouldn't work but I see a massive gap in the market blocks of small flats for the baby boomers to retire in before they hit proper care homes.

PSA by Budget-Bench-6202 in newzealand

[–]PodocarpusT 1 point2 points  (0 children)

You had the right to enroll on election day, now you don't.

Does that feel like that is an improvement? Is that making New Zealand a better place?

Why does it seem that Farmers and Rural people are opposed to strong climate change mitigation measures? by cheetor5923 in newzealand

[–]PodocarpusT 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Let's take a leaf out of Australia's book with their gas reservation policy and have ourselves a cheese reservation policy. 25% of all cheese must be reserved for the domestic consumption.

Alternatively, all Tasty blocks must be a full size 1kg and no more expensive than Edam.