National has a new leader.

[McDuck]

It's a shame UK had to give up HK and the writing been on the wall ever since. Taiwan's days are probably numbered too. I can see China grabbing them within the next couple of years.
…..
cheers,

Donna

Did you know that Britain took the island during the opium wars?
China just wanted to stop the drug trade from destroying it's people.
They had the death penalty for opium smuggling at the time.
But Britian just wanted to keep pumping it in to China.
It was Britain's superior technology that allowed it to force it's will.

China may have dirty rivers now,
but that's the price they were willing to pay to get superior technology,
and a never ending stream of trained scientists to keep it that way.

[McDuck]

we do 40% trade with China
there can not be a recovery unless that market is restored? This is the reality of the real world

Personally, I'd like to see a little more wisdom in our interaction with China.
I'm sure most of the junk in the two dollar shops could be produced here for example.
Giving jobs to many low expectation members of our society.

That would pipe more cash back into our local system.

Conversely, many sophisticated electronics are best done offshore.
For example, those nanometre CPU masks don't suit backyard production volumes.

[Anthonyacat]

Personally, I'd like to see a little more wisdom in our interaction with China.
I'm sure most of the junk in the two dollar shops could be produced here for example.
Giving jobs to many low expectation members of our society.

It's incredibly difficult to make anything in this country for less than $2. Our labour is cheap, but not China-cheap. And we don't have the scale of demand (local or export) to hit peak production like they do. If suddenly they become $5-10 shops, would people still buy the crap? I am pretty certain they wouldn't, given simple inflation should have done just that over the last 25 years but hasn't.

[McDuck]

It's incredibly difficult to make anything in this country for less than $2. Our labour is cheap, but not China-cheap. And we don't have the scale of demand (local or export) to hit peak production like they do. If suddenly they become $5-10 shops, would people still buy the crap? I am pretty certain they wouldn't, given simple inflation should have done just that over the last 25 years but hasn't.

lol.

How ever would we survive without cheap crap in our lives.

[Nick G]

A MAGA hat? Really? SMH

[John the builder]

what wrong with a MAGA hat ? Is supporting 'greatness' a crime?

[Frezzinghot]

what wrong with a MAGA hat ? Is supporting 'greatness' a crime?

Nothing, its just the commie supporting media trying to get some dirt on Muller! I like him because he seems like a real man that won't take any of Jacindas crap! Go National!!!

[McDuck]

The words on the hat are not the issue.
The hat has taken on a new cultural meaning.
It now means, I support Donald Trump style politics.

Which many see as immature and ineffective, to put it very kindly.

Another example of a tainted symbol, is the ancient sun wheel symbol.
All about life and progress,
however, the swastika can't really be worn anymore.

[donna]

Todd and Nikki have had a bad start and they can only get better. National can rebuild and while their election chances are slim hopefully they can win enough seats to avoid a landslide and NZ going down the rabbit hole for the next 3 years.

[jimO]

The words on the hat are not the issue.
The hat has taken on a new cultural meaning.
It now means, I support Donald Trump style politics.

Which many see as immature and ineffective, to put it very kindly.

Another example of a tainted symbol, is the ancient sun wheel symbol.
All about life and progress,
however, the swastika can't really be worn anymore.

i have a ww 2 SS badge does that make me a nazi

[John the builder]

i have a ww 2 SS badge does that make me a nazi

in some countries it does? (Germany I think?)

McD

It now means, I support Donald Trump style politics.

and that is a crime? Isnt this attack really just trying to demonize republican supporters?

what would Judith Colins say?

[McDuck]

i have a ww 2 SS badge does that make me a nazi

Nope.

I just wouldn't advise wearing it on your hat if you were trying to get elected.

[McDuck]

in some countries it does? (Germany I think?)

McD


and that is a crime? Isnt this attack really just trying to demonize republican supporters?

what would Judith Colins say?

Not a crime.
Probably a badge of honor in some parts of America.
Yes, just people looking for something to pick on.

[AlFa]

Did you know that Britain took the island during the opium wars?
China just wanted to stop the drug trade from destroying it's people.
They had the death penalty for opium smuggling at the time.
But Britian just wanted to keep pumping it in to China.
It was Britain's superior technology that allowed it to force it's will.

China may have dirty rivers now,
but that's the price they were willing to pay to get superior technology,
and a never ending stream of trained scientists to keep it that way.

wow-wow... easy on comrade... how dare you doubt the shear greatness and utter sinless of the King and the Country... I swear I hear Russian and Chinese notes in your voice... </sarcasm off>

[McDuck]

wow-wow... easy on comrade... how dare you doubt the shear greatness and utter sinless of the King and the Country... I swear I hear Russian and Chinese notes in your voice... </sarcasm off>

lol.

Well, to be fair, the fact that silver was a global currency at the time, combined with the way china was sucking it out of the rest of the world at an incredible rate, almost forced surrounding Empires to come up with some sort of product that many chinese would be interested in.

Pity that it wasn't something more harmless, like Tea for example.
Of course you need to look at the East India Company records too.