So we should all lay down like a pig in the mud and say or do nothing then?
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Actually one of the huge problems in NZ politics is that there is a culture of pushing through very poorly-drafted and ill thought-through legislation.
One of MMP's clear advantages is that it often doesn't allow a party that has a plurality to push through its legislation without seeking the support of others to at least reach a majority.
Examples: current govt's policies towards asset sales (shambles), transport (building motorways soon to be as clogged as current), earthquake recovery (lack of leadership, insurance shambles, lack of vision in Christchurch), national telecom strategy (lack of, CNU fiasco), education (who could argue that Hekia Parata knows what she's doing?).
Ironically enough, National has relied on the support of the Maori party to push a lot of this through.
Quite right. Vodafone wouldn't care about me and Couta. But if we are the thin edge of the wedge...
A few years ago we had a major issue with State insurance. Although we had been with them for years it was enough to trigger a comparison of insurance companies and a move. By moving to AMI our insurance premiums went down (and the improvement in service was amazing)
Time to see what better deals are available with the phones/internet.
So the parties with maybe less than 5% of the votes end up being able to veto legislation and policy. Is that democracy in action or being held to ransom by fringe minority parties? The asset sales were scuppered by whom? Green/Labour policies and last minute grandstanding? Politicians threatening renationalisation with some threatening compensation only to "the deserving"? National has a telecoms policy...scuppered by an ill defined regulatory regime and minor parties whose telecoms policy consists of pork barrel politics by telling the public they are trying to get them cheaper broadband.
Oh don't get the hog wrong: anyone considering moving from Vodafone will benefit. The hog did this many years ago, and found the leaving experience to be top-notch. Couldn't get basic service from Vodafone for love nor money but when leaving, suddenly the service was exemplary.
I think it says more about the lack of a stable minor party on the right than it does about the system. This government has had it particularly tough with ACT self-destructing and Dunne getting somewhat offside. But I don't think you can blame either of those on MMP. I think Labour have generally avoided "being held to ransom" when they've been in power.
To me the asset sales have been driven by the ideology that government shouldn't be running businesses. There doesn't see to be a economic rational for it - the proceeds of the sale weren't required for anything concrete and the assets were returning more than the cost of borrowing would have been. The ideological rational is fine, but these sales don't actually achieve the goal. And rushing through 3 large sales in the same sector might not have been the best plan. So it's all been a bit ill-conceived IMHO.
This Chorus mess is really due to the scale of ComCom's cut being unexpected. A bit more foresight from both Chorus and the government could have mitigated this situation significantly.
Vodafone don't care about anyone.
Those who think Vodafone will pass on any part of a wholesale price drop are dreaming. Let's not forget they used to charge $20 per MB for roaming data when local charges where 1/100th of that. They claimed they had no control over the foreign carrier's charges, even when that foreign carrier was Vodafone Australia. When the ComCom and the ACCC announced they'd investigate suddenly the charge dropped 90%. Vodafone know how to gouge customers and they're not afraid to do it.
Hope everyone noted the crocodile tears from TUANZ and their request to meet with the Minister Amy Adams so they could facilitate the fast as possible rollout of UFB and to do anything they could to help it.
ROTFL.
They are the ones who initiated and poured petrol on this snafu and their best action would be to change sides on the copper pricing.
Presumably they are all now life members of the NZ Labour Party.