tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7380804.post111664352881590463..comments2023-09-19T19:45:50.854+12:00Comments on Spanblather: don't mention the workersSpanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16896745511007816190noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7380804.post-1117341037936866032005-05-29T16:30:00.000+12:002005-05-29T16:30:00.000+12:00I talked above of anonymity for individuals, not b...I talked above of anonymity for individuals, not businesses. If business owners or anyone else want to give their own tax paid earnings (ie wages, drawings or salaries) that is different than a business writing a cheque. I see more of an argument for transparency in the case of the latter, wasn't there some confusion about funders of Anderton's campaign??Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7380804.post-1117337179027198562005-05-29T15:26:00.000+12:002005-05-29T15:26:00.000+12:00but is a corporate donation an individual spending...but is a corporate donation an individual spending choice? if a business is donating on behalf of the business then it is doing it on behalf of shareholders, workers, etc, who must surely be looking for some kind of benefit to the company out of it? or they all buy into the concept of corporate citizenship and supporting the democratic process (in which case they should donate to all the parties, not just one or two).Spanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16896745511007816190noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7380804.post-1117238128553421462005-05-28T11:55:00.000+12:002005-05-28T11:55:00.000+12:00Caught between a rock and a hard place sometimes t...Caught between a rock and a hard place sometimes trade offs are necessary. I go for the hard place where in the interests of individual privacy about how they spend their money the public is not informed of individual spending decisions.<BR/><BR/>Searching my conscience I can establish no firm principles to guide me in this instance, and suppose there are times when things are not black and white where determinations need to be made on merit or balance. Of course, what constitutes merit may differ from individual to individual depending on respective value systems.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7380804.post-1117097049971613652005-05-26T20:44:00.000+12:002005-05-26T20:44:00.000+12:00I think it would affect votes - look at the situat...I think it would affect votes - look at the situation in the States with soft money etc? Bush's energy policy anyone?<BR/><BR/>Although I tend to think that in NZ we aren't that corrupt, maybe i'm a bit naive about it. I know that a corporate did approach the Alliance many moons ago and request a wee policy change and was told to naff off. (Mind you Matt McCarten told me that so take it with a grain of salt.)<BR/><BR/>So GPJ I'm intrigued - what about the public's right to know? Where does the right to privacy stop and the need to disclose begin?Spanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16896745511007816190noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7380804.post-1116845579553343532005-05-23T22:52:00.000+12:002005-05-23T22:52:00.000+12:00LOL, Conflict of greater transparency vs individua...LOL, <BR/><BR/>Conflict of greater transparency vs individual privacy, I suppose I go for the individual privacy.<BR/><BR/>I can't see how this information would affect any votes, but maybe it would?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7380804.post-1116832729596653122005-05-23T19:18:00.000+12:002005-05-23T19:18:00.000+12:00well GPJ that's a fascinating reason for less tran...well GPJ that's a fascinating reason for less transparency - because charities will target groups or individuals who give to political parties, we should have anonymous donations as a rule. <BR/><BR/>what about the perfect information that the market demands for good decision-making?Spanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16896745511007816190noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7380804.post-1116824673059659792005-05-23T17:04:00.000+12:002005-05-23T17:04:00.000+12:00Unions should be free to donate funds to political...Unions should be free to donate funds to political campaigns, on the conditions they are voluntary, people aren't forced to join them to get pay increases, and the donation is supported by their internal democratic structure (whether at member, executive or management level).<BR/><BR/>Collective giving is fine. So is giving by businesses and individuals. There should be less restriction on giving, and more guarantee of anonymity for individuals who rtequest it. if they are known as a funder of political causes they will get every charity and cause cap in hand at their door.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7380804.post-1116734475597176372005-05-22T16:01:00.000+12:002005-05-22T16:01:00.000+12:00My main concern, Blair, is about the business mone...My main concern, Blair, is about the business money that goes into the scare campaigns that organisations like the EMA run. <BR/><BR/>Some corporates do seem to genuinely see donations to political as string-free, which is definitely A Good Thing, but I support Caleb's suggestion - I wish political parties didn't have to rely on soft money from dodgy sources. <BR/><BR/>Especially when finances are a huge issue with getting a political party up and running and then keeping it going too (trust me, once you're outside Parliament it's a very very hard road indeed, dosh wise).Spanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16896745511007816190noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7380804.post-1116652551905490242005-05-21T17:15:00.000+12:002005-05-21T17:15:00.000+12:00Corporate donations are a bit of a red herring, si...Corporate donations are a bit of a red herring, simply because they are highly infrequent in New Zealand. And where they do occur, often they are donations to both National and Labour.<BR/><BR/>The reason for this is pretty simple: it's difficult to justify a political donation or even a political bias to shareholders who may not necessarily share the CEO's views. Most donations are made by individuals.Blairhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02865567065778234500noreply@blogger.com