#1 - Andrew 2007-08-07 10:00 - (Reply)

Hello John, Fantastic to hear such a decisive conviction on housing affordability in your speech - with the right ideas! I notice Helen Clark has made some sense when she stated "increasing funds without increasing supply will only drive up prices" but Labour, on this issue, is far too little too late. I'm concerned that their idea of housing affordability may only be for affordable units in high-density developments - that's what we will see if they impose inadequate land liberation. I think we can only trust National to sort this problem out. If Labour really gave a damn, our affordability crisis would hardly have even happened in the first place. Child abuse: In my opinion, the public has been encouraged to see prisons primarily as a system of rehabilitation. I don't believe that's what they are, or should be as such. They are primarily a system of deterrent, and that I think is how we should see them. Likewise, it makes sense to beef up the deterrent for child abuse because of its enormous cost on the child and society, if that is going to help. People can't ultimately be blamed for the urge to abuse their children, but they can be blamed for failing to exercise self-control [excluding true compulsives]. Rehabilitation is great if possible, of course, but it should not compromise the deterrent function. Maybe we can look at ways of helping people to manage themselves if they suffer from abusive tendencies? This might help too. Energy: Not directly related to your speech, but I'll take the opportunity to comment anyway: Did you see the *Pebble Bed Modular [nuclear] Reactor* on 60 minutes? I do not support traditional nuclear power because the fallout, should a meltdown occur, is beyond horrific - that kind of nuclear power should be an absolute last resort, I believe. However, these Pebble Beds [I've been familiar with them for a number of years] are very interesting, and I think we should look at this technology. In short; even if a terrorist successfully blew up a Pebble Bed reactor you would still have no real fallout and an easy, quick clean up. They can also be employed on a small scale and located just about anywhere. Not only does that make them more efficient and cheaper, but I would imagine you could use the waste-heat directly for other purposes too (because you can locate it anywhere). This is a form of nuclear power NZ might open its eyes to.