I have school leaver qualifications. I have limited experience in my field (less than a year). I have consistently shown throughout all my jobs that I am a trustworthy and hardworker.

One job I didn’t get paid well. I quit. I got a better paying job. It’s easy.

raising the minimum wage contributes to push up inflation, thereby effectively devaluing my raises I earned. My income becomes worth less as prices go up.

I have never had a problem surviving on a low wage, or the wage I am currently paid. I do not have any dependents, but could support them, and have put a significant amount of money into savings in case I do need to support dependents or suffer an unforseen event. People living beyond their means is a greater problem than the minimum wage.

Harawira on Agenda – Trotter covers the main thrust on policy.net.nz

Wrong guy, SP. It was Pat. I’ll leave him/her to respond.

In real terms the minimum wage reached its all-time low (at least in the lasty forty years anyway) under Muldoon. Muldoon was hardly pro-worker.

If Labour get in again I would expect them to head a bit towards the “left” on some issues although the left/right name game and divide is meaningless cak anyway it’s just more useless labelling of people.

Would be refreshing if sites/commentators judged issues on their merits rather than who proposes them and whether it’s perceived to be of the left or right.

scribe. you should hear harawira when he gets going on the tories. so he’s not afraid of criticising labour? so what?

1) Mrs. Clark, please tell us the reason for your staunch support of the “dis-honourable” Winston Peters despite his blatant (and continuous) lying to the NZ public and Privileges Committee?

It will help me to do my bit for National and get rid of this extreme left Government.

Incidentally I did see Norman on Campaign 08 last night. One thing surprised me – they said he was very similar to Rod Donald. In my mind, they couldn’t be more different – what did you think of the comment? I think it was from Plunkett.

Apart from that there was little suprise – some vague questioning, and then the media reps whip themselves up into a lather over Peters (clearly the least consequential of all the questions asked of Norman) while I yawned and went off to brush my teeth.

What did Hone have to say for himself?

Totally agree with your notion of informed voting. I’d rather someone voted NZ First because he/she agrees with its policies than vote for National or Labour “because I always have”.

Re: John Hayes, he wasn’t driving the vehicle. And at least he eventually answered the question. I suppose that’s the inexperience of someone who hasn’t been a minister and spent countless hours NOT answering questions in the House.

I was hoping that a blog like The Standard would discuss topical issues, like what Labour’s potential coalition partners had to say in the media yesterda e.g.

Russell Norman on Campaign 08.
Hone Harawira on Agenda.