A former Pm in the UK called her own right-wing Tory party the ‘nasty’ party. It is obvious from the past 30 or so years that label applies here in NZ too. Right-wing parties have the cruel, cynical policies in spades. They call out anyone who disagrees with these. The siren call we hear most Is ’We can’t afford it!’ Provably wrong.
Today we are off to the march in Dunedin. At least this will enable us to let off some steam. I wonder how many National supporters will join us?
I thought of you Tony yesterday and today as it pertains to the Dunedin hospital developments, and thought you would be at the march.
Bravo Tony !
And I hope more people will awaken to the intentional mess this lot is driving into NZ - for nothing more than personal profit and vested big money interests.
The well heeled in my circle are walking on air and taking trips abroad while their tenants look after their accreting assets. Some are Labour supporters but we know that team lost its way when the safe seaters at the top of the List did not support their captain. She wanted CGT but they let her go under a torrent of undeserved abuse that they should have shielded her from. Shame
You have hit a multitude of nails on their heads - when will the media and the 50% of voters (not of NZers) see the truth about this National vandalism
Tui I’ve had the same thoughts. If it’s true that a bad economy loses elections, Labour would have been screwed for a decade, even if they’d handled it well. Which they certainly would have handled it better, even if it was just by virtue of not cutting public spending and deepening this dive into negative growth.
Doesn’t say good things about our politics though.
I hope this hell-period will result in a country thoroughly disenchanted with National who are willing to give Labour a shot to fix this economic, democratic and infrastructure crisis. I’m not holding my breath, but I hope.
Yes, and what it shows me, sapph, is that the lies and soundbites won.
Sure, Labour were probably imperfect (I didn't pay enough attention then but from my policy reviews post-election I see that National have spent their entire term repealing Labour's work so I suspect the "Labour did nothing" motto is also a myth) - but to be hounded and lied about at every step - miscontextualized, constantly on the back foot etc - will undoubtedly cause more issues for the country. Not just Labour or Greens or TPM. Our whole entire country.
The saying goes that no party can win an election where people are suffering from a bad economy, as people are voting on the fact that things feel worse and blame the current people in power. If Labour had seen us through covid and then served a third term again with the greens, they would have had to juggle the reserve bank’s slow dropping of the ocr (which economists are suggestionibg should be pre-emptive because our data is delayed — they needed to drop it at least a quarter earlier to stave off the recession effect they’ve created). And of course Labour had put in a lot of effort to keep our previous two dips into recessions shallow, so they would have done the same with the third and not pulled huge chunks of money out of the economy to give to people to invest in the housing market (which would have remained more highly taxed and less lucrative under them). As a result we’d have more money flowing around, more people still in work, more construction going on. Even though they had plans to tighten spending it would have been at a much more reasonable scale that wouldn’t have plunged us into a shock contraction.
I also assume Hipkins wouldn’t have gone around undermining confidence in our economy.
But without a “worse” government to compare their actions to, and with all the rhetoric that existed about Labour’s “misspending” during the pandemic (that was absolutely minor missteps compared to the travesty they steered us through) the blame would have fallen squarely on their shoulders and they would have lost the next election, and probably attained a negative reputation that would effect them into the future ones too, like what happened when they introduced Rogernomics (which was partly because of that decision but also just because they’d been left to manage the nation’s financial crisis and so got blamed for a lot of things sucking.
Like all of us I guess, I often think about the "what ifs" and "if onlys", but none of it matters right now - it's for the historians to make sense of down the track.
The task is indeed to help as many people as possible to understand how egregious this government really is, because an enormous group of middle New Zealanders, for want of a better term, seem to be in a place of not-directly-affected, or lack of curiosity, or believing the "it was all Labour's fault" rhetoric or simply apathetic, not to mention blissfully ignorant ...
I live in one of the electorates with an ACT MP, one of whom has constituents in the suburb where I do shifts at the CAB where I hand out food parcels and try in vain to find emergency housing for people who turn up suddenly homeless - several in the past week. The local MSD takes their names for the register and sends them to us.
Yes we need unity and today John I spoke to a doctor who asked us for help to communicate their needs. There are connections. We just need to make them and let's continue doing so. Good weekend to you.
But next time a content warning before that UK Dr giving evidence at the UK Covid hearing 😥💔 It should be REQUIRED viewing for all those who still believe "individual freedom" should have been elevated above the all-of-community response we had in Aotearoa, but my experience of their (lack of) empathy & logic suggest they would still argue their case. For those who supported our approach, it is a reminder of how many vulnerable loved ones & community members live/lived on because we fortunately had leaders who were principled enough & brave enough to do what they believed was best in the circumstances, and with the knowledge available.
🧐Switching to the economy, it was what they did on that front as well that provably had Aotearoa ahead of MOST nations coming out of COVID - certainly the US & the UK - who not only suffered more economically but had horrific death tolls that could have been minimised with better leadership.
😥"There is none so blind than those who WILL not see.." The right leaning individualistic ideologues who are "I'm all right mate!" under this 3-headed-Taniwha are sadly incapable of understanding the left leaning politicians who want EVERYONE to be "all right mate!"
Some of the current policy backdowns (hospital builds/restorations, school builds/restorations etc) up and down the country might FINALLY affect & open the eyes of people in those areas when jobs are lost in the associated trades, loved ones die because of lack of facilities, communities wither through higher unemployment/less spending power - perhaps? 🤔🤷
I love the power of people - and a united one. Today's Dunedin response was beautiful - and their clarity admirable.
Of course it is the very types that this government does not care for.
Anyway as usual, 100% on target and agree completely re: those that criticized a government for trying to save the lives of its own people - rich or poor...
Another hard hitting post MT, thanks. That billboard with Shane Reti…. The blatant lies, say anything to get elected. It does my head in! On another topic, Seymour’s treaty principles bill, I see Action Station have great billboards in a variety of sizes and stickers with a great logo and “together for Te Tiriti” message available for those who want to express support for the Treaty.
A former Pm in the UK called her own right-wing Tory party the ‘nasty’ party. It is obvious from the past 30 or so years that label applies here in NZ too. Right-wing parties have the cruel, cynical policies in spades. They call out anyone who disagrees with these. The siren call we hear most Is ’We can’t afford it!’ Provably wrong.
Today we are off to the march in Dunedin. At least this will enable us to let off some steam. I wonder how many National supporters will join us?
I thought of you Tony yesterday and today as it pertains to the Dunedin hospital developments, and thought you would be at the march.
Bravo Tony !
And I hope more people will awaken to the intentional mess this lot is driving into NZ - for nothing more than personal profit and vested big money interests.
I hope so too! I am heartened by the comments I have read today! Keep pushing! The tide is turning!!
Judith - the Dunedin protests today also heartened my weekend.
The well heeled in my circle are walking on air and taking trips abroad while their tenants look after their accreting assets. Some are Labour supporters but we know that team lost its way when the safe seaters at the top of the List did not support their captain. She wanted CGT but they let her go under a torrent of undeserved abuse that they should have shielded her from. Shame
You have hit a multitude of nails on their heads - when will the media and the 50% of voters (not of NZers) see the truth about this National vandalism
When they hear it Keith.
Yesterday I had a number of different questions to me:
1. Wait, did we really borrow for tax cuts (Yes)
2 Wait, why are we giving money to tobacco companies (I guess they missed it on their Facebook feed or Newstalk radio)
3. Alwyn Poole what???
Given the lack, it's up to us to do it - and Facebook is a medium that needs to be addressed.
Well said Keith! I am ashamed of those who see this Government as anything other than liars and criminals!!
Well I see them as puppets. The criminals pulling their strings will never be prosecuted and live in plain sight accreting wealth and influence
Tui I’ve had the same thoughts. If it’s true that a bad economy loses elections, Labour would have been screwed for a decade, even if they’d handled it well. Which they certainly would have handled it better, even if it was just by virtue of not cutting public spending and deepening this dive into negative growth.
Doesn’t say good things about our politics though.
I hope this hell-period will result in a country thoroughly disenchanted with National who are willing to give Labour a shot to fix this economic, democratic and infrastructure crisis. I’m not holding my breath, but I hope.
Yes, and what it shows me, sapph, is that the lies and soundbites won.
Sure, Labour were probably imperfect (I didn't pay enough attention then but from my policy reviews post-election I see that National have spent their entire term repealing Labour's work so I suspect the "Labour did nothing" motto is also a myth) - but to be hounded and lied about at every step - miscontextualized, constantly on the back foot etc - will undoubtedly cause more issues for the country. Not just Labour or Greens or TPM. Our whole entire country.
Hi Saphie. Would you mind having another go at that first paragraph? I think I agree with you, but I just want to be sure 😊
The saying goes that no party can win an election where people are suffering from a bad economy, as people are voting on the fact that things feel worse and blame the current people in power. If Labour had seen us through covid and then served a third term again with the greens, they would have had to juggle the reserve bank’s slow dropping of the ocr (which economists are suggestionibg should be pre-emptive because our data is delayed — they needed to drop it at least a quarter earlier to stave off the recession effect they’ve created). And of course Labour had put in a lot of effort to keep our previous two dips into recessions shallow, so they would have done the same with the third and not pulled huge chunks of money out of the economy to give to people to invest in the housing market (which would have remained more highly taxed and less lucrative under them). As a result we’d have more money flowing around, more people still in work, more construction going on. Even though they had plans to tighten spending it would have been at a much more reasonable scale that wouldn’t have plunged us into a shock contraction.
I also assume Hipkins wouldn’t have gone around undermining confidence in our economy.
But without a “worse” government to compare their actions to, and with all the rhetoric that existed about Labour’s “misspending” during the pandemic (that was absolutely minor missteps compared to the travesty they steered us through) the blame would have fallen squarely on their shoulders and they would have lost the next election, and probably attained a negative reputation that would effect them into the future ones too, like what happened when they introduced Rogernomics (which was partly because of that decision but also just because they’d been left to manage the nation’s financial crisis and so got blamed for a lot of things sucking.
Hope that makes a bit more sense.
Yes, it does thanks Sapphie. Albeit depressing.
Like all of us I guess, I often think about the "what ifs" and "if onlys", but none of it matters right now - it's for the historians to make sense of down the track.
The task is indeed to help as many people as possible to understand how egregious this government really is, because an enormous group of middle New Zealanders, for want of a better term, seem to be in a place of not-directly-affected, or lack of curiosity, or believing the "it was all Labour's fault" rhetoric or simply apathetic, not to mention blissfully ignorant ...
I live in one of the electorates with an ACT MP, one of whom has constituents in the suburb where I do shifts at the CAB where I hand out food parcels and try in vain to find emergency housing for people who turn up suddenly homeless - several in the past week. The local MSD takes their names for the register and sends them to us.
Blissful ignorance does look very appealing!
Anthony, deepest respect 🙏
Bless you for helping people during these hard times! Let’s hope we can turn things around sooner rather than later.
👏 I'm definitely sharing this one around, pity we can't take a front page ad in The Herald with all your salient points!
We could if we were rich enough I suppose. But we just don't have the same backers as the ones who want to keep NZ in the dark.
Thanks David.
Well said Tui, you keep banging the drum and I'll keep sharing with the rednecks.
Now we just need to find the formula enabling the left parties to coalesce and present a united front. This is winnable.
Yes we need unity and today John I spoke to a doctor who asked us for help to communicate their needs. There are connections. We just need to make them and let's continue doing so. Good weekend to you.
Absolutely agree. Shared.
👍💯 As usual.
But next time a content warning before that UK Dr giving evidence at the UK Covid hearing 😥💔 It should be REQUIRED viewing for all those who still believe "individual freedom" should have been elevated above the all-of-community response we had in Aotearoa, but my experience of their (lack of) empathy & logic suggest they would still argue their case. For those who supported our approach, it is a reminder of how many vulnerable loved ones & community members live/lived on because we fortunately had leaders who were principled enough & brave enough to do what they believed was best in the circumstances, and with the knowledge available.
🧐Switching to the economy, it was what they did on that front as well that provably had Aotearoa ahead of MOST nations coming out of COVID - certainly the US & the UK - who not only suffered more economically but had horrific death tolls that could have been minimised with better leadership.
😥"There is none so blind than those who WILL not see.." The right leaning individualistic ideologues who are "I'm all right mate!" under this 3-headed-Taniwha are sadly incapable of understanding the left leaning politicians who want EVERYONE to be "all right mate!"
Some of the current policy backdowns (hospital builds/restorations, school builds/restorations etc) up and down the country might FINALLY affect & open the eyes of people in those areas when jobs are lost in the associated trades, loved ones die because of lack of facilities, communities wither through higher unemployment/less spending power - perhaps? 🤔🤷
Perhaps perhaps perhaps indeed Cindy.
I love the power of people - and a united one. Today's Dunedin response was beautiful - and their clarity admirable.
Of course it is the very types that this government does not care for.
Anyway as usual, 100% on target and agree completely re: those that criticized a government for trying to save the lives of its own people - rich or poor...
🙏
Another hard hitting post MT, thanks. That billboard with Shane Reti…. The blatant lies, say anything to get elected. It does my head in! On another topic, Seymour’s treaty principles bill, I see Action Station have great billboards in a variety of sizes and stickers with a great logo and “together for Te Tiriti” message available for those who want to express support for the Treaty.
KSJ - Thank you as always. This morning I'm also informed that the unions are organising a protest for next month too.