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notices and features - Date published:
6:10 am, December 23rd, 2016 - 107 comments
Categories: class war, human rights, quality of life, welfare -
Tags: briefing papers, charity, christmas, welfare
This year we have re-posted (with permission) some content from The Briefing Papers. Here’s another, by Alicia Sudden:
And so this is Christmas…
Christmas time comes with many certainties in New Zealand. There won’t be any snow. Every mall becomes home to a Santa Claus. There will be a variety of fake and real Christmas trees in workplaces and homes, decorated with lights that take too long to untangle and tinsel that has seen better days. Now another certainty at this time every year is that more and more people are reliant on charitable aid and foodbanks in order to make ends meet.
Most families experience tough financial struggles during the festive season. However, these decisions range in intensity. Some families make choices about how many presents they can give, or where to go on holiday. Others are forced to choose whether there will be any Christmas lunch at all.
Every December we are reminded in the media of the burgeoning number of people who line up at a foodbank for extra help over Christmas, and the charities that work hard to feed those in need yet lack the resources to provide for everyone. This grants us a glimpse at the true level of poverty and inequality in New Zealand.
This year the struggles are likely to be worse due to the additional supplies already generously provided to quake-stricken families in Kaikoura and surrounding regions. Last year we saw headlines like ‘Unprecedented demand at City Mission’ and ‘Rise in families seeking help for Christmas stress’. This year is set to continue along this line, with the Salvation Army predicting a 5.6% increase in demand from last year.
Yet this brief annual window excludes the elephant in the room: that this poverty is a consequence of our welfare system failing to provide the support it was intended to. …
Read on for the full piece on The Briefing Papers. It concludes:
I encourage you to give generously this year so we can offer some solace, as fellow citizens, to those who do not have the resources we do. But we must also remember to consider and address the causes, not just the symptoms. We have unprecedented levels of child poverty and inequality in New Zealand, a society that has enough resources to provide for everyone.
You can support your local foodbanks and homeless shelters, or if you want to make a donation online, some links are available below:
http://www.aucklandcitymission.org.nz
https://player.vimeo.com/api/player.jsKatherine Mansfield left New Zealand when she was 19 years old and died at the age of 34.In her short life she became our most famous short story writer, acquiring an international reputation for her stories, poetry, letters, journals and reviews. Biographies on Mansfield have been translated into 51 ...
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News reports tell us the NZ economy is in great shape.
RNZ 19 Dec 2017
But if there is increasing poverty & hardship, and significant wealth & income inequalities, then there is something wrong with our economy.
And there must be something wrong with the way economists and commentators are assessing the economy.
From the Briefing Papers article:
QFT
Economics has become little more than a justification of capitalism over the last few decades despite the fact that all the evidence shows that capitalism simply doesn’t work.
The “got to incentivise them to work” is a crock. Good wages, income security, lowered income inequality, and ridding New Zealand of high levels of poverty, all demand realistic benefit levels.
http://briefingpapers.co.nz/2015/03/doing-something-about-low-incomes-wages-and-benefits/
To get a measure of how far down benefit levels now are, lifting the equivalent of the DPB by 25% would provide a replacement income no higher than the 1991 levels. You would need to lift it by 45% to get it back to 1990 levels.
You would need to lift the unemployment benefit by almost 60% to get back to the 1990 level.
Welfare is good economics. More equal societies fire better economically. Instead of being wiped out by a event, people hangon to savings, family, community standing, in a more equal society. Govt dont need to find new ways to redistribute wealth so consumers can consumer keeping execs in jobs. However a society with misplaced incentives that disportionately dole out rewards to obviously already overpaid execs while wages stagnate, is also a society that rewards govt workers with bonuses for moving off benefitaries from welfare, in such a society its inevitable eventually a letter slandering a welfare receiver of owing thousands of dollars is pushed over the edge. No investigation, no bullying happen, no fraud by a public servent, no cylture of impunity that may be imbedded. Putting staff and benefitaries lives on the line from other mad or abusive individuals, whether in ashburtn or this week in the news. Seymor should resign for his slandering hotel welfare, like winz would have put up a family in a hotel unless they have jumped through every hoop, come up totally clean, never had any ecuse to be rejected for alledged leaving every home wreaked as Seymour declared.
National aint good managers of the econoy, and loath good govt as their backers want govt failures to push their neolib idealism more.
National’s sole purpose in life is to distribute communal assets to the rich.
Draco.
How much a year makes someone “rich” in your book?
What makes you think that income alone is what make someone rich?
Conservative parties role is to break apart stagnating industries and keep the wealth escalator going, that churns newer younger companies and displaces old tired companies. Unfortuately Conservative parties were co-opted by neolibs to fuel the financial sector profit at all costs, not just communal, but pollution, enviroment, freedom, liberty, etc. The left went along with this too, and still play the black and white while Trump peddled gray all the way to the whitehouse.
One wonders why they always protect the old industries then and always have. Perhaps it’s because they’ve got shares in them.
No,not quite, a class of Thatcher came to power who see all profit as good and it does worry about consequences, and since they are so bright and dont have to govern, as markets will all the cleanup, they could take jobs on boards after they leave office. Oxymoronically,guven how they are supposed hired for their government experience.
But its worse, cheap middle east fuelled an expansuon of a zombie financial horde of shallow leave it to the market, pocket the growth as a product of their brillance. With shallow media, shallow left took hold in opposition that would go all soft and neolib in govt.
Our economies, global, local are at odds with the needs of the people, the real economy. Unaffordable homes, nasty naff expensive food, health used to fuel advances only the rich can afford and will use to add to the gapping gap iinequality. Those born into wealth live 150 years while those not survive until 50.
This National government has given out record amounts of welfare, just not to those who need it, however. They have given it out in corporate welfare to the greedy who stuff their bank accounts with the money and take it out of circulation from the economy slowly causing it to stagnate.
The Grinch is alive and well. The economy is booming. Employment is at a record high and people are happy. Enjoy the Christmas and Summer break. Life will get even better in 2017.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delusion
Freedon crapper declares positive christmas slogan.
heres a Christmas present for you Fisi…..
http://www.successconsciousness.com/index_000009.htm
The economy is fucked courtesy of National’s policies of giving it all to the rich.
Bah humbug to you – you completely miss the message of Christmas.
Life is not booming for these people, Fisi.
But then you don’t care about the poor.
Life won’t get better for them in 2017, you wretched selfish person.
Tauranga’s homeless resort to sleeping in public toilets
Hundreds sleep outside Auckland City Mission, night after night, over the Christmas period
Fisi would’t know what an economy was if he fell over one.
But employment is at a record high. Coz – we have 70,000 extra Baristas in our fast food joints working for nothing.
And Fisi’s mates are happy…
And if you’re not run off your feet as Fizi and his mates order a latte and mudcake slice on xmas day at 4pm (when u were supposed to be off work). Just smile and be happy and remember that you only have another 10 days before you can get a day off – if you’re lucky.
So it’s all good people.
You’re not Kemrun Begry in drag are you Fizz?
Spare a thought this Christmas for those who’s medical doctors will no longer support them by signing a disability allowance form.
The wording is written i to be to the letter technically correct. However it implies that a registered health practitioner be constantly monitoring (as in 24/7) the medical condition of the applicant.
This is NOT how the legislation has been interpreted in the past. Obviously if you get additional $ for transport the doctor doesn’t watch you do that. Neither do have you needed to be hooked up to a monitoring system 24/7. What was required in the past was a periodic checking in with the registered health practitioner to adjust medication etc, etc.
“The Disability Allowance is available for reimbursement of additional costs arising from a Disability where the following criteria is met:
1. The person has a disability which is likely to continue for not less than 6 months; AND
2. The disability has resulted in a reduction of the person’s independent function to the extent that:
* The person requires ongoing support to undertake the normal functions of life; OR
* The person requires ongoing supervision or treatment by a registered health professional.”
Wondering how people don’t have enough to pay for prescriptions? This is how it’s happening. Our welfare system works with “full and complete” information. It fails abysmally when critical pieces of data are omitted.
Who will help these people?
Remember I, Daniel Blake?
Increasing poverty – the REAL effect of National’s policies.
There are some excellent papers on that Briefing Papers site.
You guys must have missed Bill English’s Christmas greeting.
As 2016 comes to an end and we head into next year, I’m looking forward to leading a Government that ensures the benefits of our strong economic growth are widely shared.
We’ll be building on some of the good progress we’ve made this year:
New Zealand now has the fourth-fastest growing economy in the developed world and 144,000 jobs have been created over the past year.
Average annual wages are up $12,000, or 25 per cent, since 2008 – double the rate of inflation.
We achieved a government surplus of $1.8 billion this year, giving us choices in the future.
As well as getting the books in order, we increased benefits for families with children by $25 a week this year – the first government in 43 years to increase benefits beyond inflation.
Paid parental leave was increased to 18 weeks and we also extended its eligibility.
Our Comprehensive Housing Plan is delivering results – the number of new homes being built over the past year surpassed 30,000 for the first time in 11 years, and is double the number of homes built five years ago. In Auckland it’s almost tripled.
As part of our Comprehensive Housing Plan this year we launched a $1 billion housing infrastructure fund and increased eligibility for our HomeStart grants, with more than 15,000 people being helped into their first home.
Next year our focus will remain on achieving the best results for all New Zealanders, including the most vulnerable. We’ll also be building the roads, public transport, schools and homes needed to support a strong economy and growing population.
Yeah, one of the things that’s become absolutely clear over the years is that Blinglish and the rest of National are liars.
Bah humbug to you – you completely miss the message of Christmas.
Life is not booming for these people, Fisi.
But then you don’t care about the poor.
Life won’t get better for them in 2017, you wretched selfish person.
Average annual wages are up $12,000,
Um no that is the increase in the PM salary.
Hey fucking Zealot read this
http://www.oravida.com/newsdeitails.aspx?id=170
How about that for a brighter fucking future. For some If you are a National party crook.
More evidence of the nirvana that is New Zealand in 2016.
Paradise, fisi……
Haven’t you all realised it yet?
Fizzy is an ardent left winger, giving us a spoof of a bog standard, right wing apologist to laugh at!
I’ve given ya all enough hints
Hmmm, the “spoof” theory, explains a lot. 😊
Or maybe Fizzy is a trollbot here to regurgitate NatCorp talking points and spin.
And lets not forget our troops overseas in Iraq this Christmas… drawn into Bush and Obamas war through the 5 eyes spy network….
”GET SOME GUTS ” !!!!
Don’t worry Fisi your best mates the Nats will be out of a job by next Xmas Ho Ho Ho…
Just an observation.
The National Party shares two-thirds of their name with them also.
Let us not forget their actual party name translated to English was the “National Socialist Party”.
And now for something completely different.
Talking about Elephants, what happened to our free elephant, and the pandas, were they a big dream like the flag
Maybe Ozzy has a few clues about dreaming… but it seems more like despair…
The Left are all doom and gloom. They really think the country is in a bad way. Get out and talk to the real people who think this country is wonderful. We have a PM who will really work hard for the poorest and most disadvantaged whilst people just get their jollies carping on about the few exceptions that will be fixed soon. You do not know how lucky we are
Fizpop… you really are a dreamer , mate…
But anyways its Christmas so here’s one for you …. you ignorant ass.
I reckon kjt at 8.7 might be on to it!
For a disabled NZer on long term Invalids benefit I’ve been lucky so far, but not for much longer. I’m imminently going to lose my private rental of 20 years (I know, a real fluke to have one for this long) due to it being sold. But the reality of finding another? Strike 1- beneficiary. The brilliant vilification campaign has succeeded in tarring all of us and I’m pretty confident it’ll cancel out all my glowing references and perfect credit rating and regular secure income. Strike 2- disabled. So I’m screwed before I even start with the private market, and don’t get me started on the competition that wasn’t there when I last had to look for a flat. Qualifying for Council and HNZ housing means nothing either when so many others do as well, and half the stock has been sold off and the sell-offs continue.
My stress levels are so far through the roof as they would be for anyone. But severe stress and chronic illness do not mix. My primary illness is deteriorating and today an unrelated complaint that had been cured suddenly reappeared and several hours at a hospital acute clinic, what will be several return visits and medications, for something more than likely triggered by severe stress- how much has that unecessarily cost the hard working taxpayer??? I suspect way more than what I get given a week.
For the record, for certain persons who think we have a pretty cushy life- and remember that chronic illness involves serious ongoing medical expenses- I get the grand sum of $383.23/week. That includes maximum disability and whatever % of accom supplement I’m allowed. in 1996 I was getting $300/week. My rent then was only $10/week less (yes I”ve been bloody lucky I know). So in 20 years, I have had an increase of $83/week. For the last 3 years it’s been exactly 0c, and the year before that was 57c/week. I think everyone knows full well how much power, telcos, transport, food, GST, medical costs, pretty much everything has increased in that time? Could you live on that? Do you really think that increase over 20 years is acceptable?
I used to be very glad I lived in a country that had a safety net but then that country -not just the politicians but many of it’s citizens- turned on me, and I honestly believe they want me dead.
OK, rant done. It’s been an awful day and I was stupid enough to read this thread knowing full well what certain commenters would say. So to them- I just hope it happens to you.
You seem to be educated and literate. Given that you could compose this post I wonder if you could double your income by getting a job. Many disabled people do manage to work. I wish you well and hope you can find a way to improve your lot. I am not in any way being critical of you.
@@
You are what is wrong with this country fisiani. Your whole bloody attitude is demeaning to us as a society.
You think there is something wrong with someone wishing that they can improve their lives?
That is really a fucked up mind you have.
He’s making Kay the problem, rather than understanding how difficult the system is making her life. Telling someone who is disabled, has a chronic illness, without easy access to an affordable place to live, to get a job is plain callous.
Even if she is up to working (which is highly questionable), what sort of job would she get? And for what sort of pay? And also considering people with jobs cannot afford to pay rent and bills.
Wrong. The way you put it is what’s fucked up as it results in people screwing over other people to become rich.
People should seek to improve society and improve their lives that way intead.
What a thoroughly vile person you are Fisiani.
I knew that someone would totally misrepresent me. I Have spent my life assisting people with disability. That is my life and you call me vile for pointing out a possible solution. I despair. I am constructive and you wallow again in poverty porn. Who is vile?
If only scum like you got what you deserve more often, Fisiani.
I NEVER told Kay to get a job! Do you and Carolyn struggle with reading? Stop wallowing in poverty porn. Stop writing people off. That is the fundamental issue that made me stop voting Labour.
Labour wants a constituency of poor to feel grateful to Labour and keep labour in power. National wants to abolish poverty and help people to get back on their feet.
Thanks for sharing that Fisiani, I get where you are coming from now. Completely wrong headed and not based on how the world actually works, but I appreciate you do want people to improve their lives.
1. Labour isn’t particularly friendly to benes, as they don’t vote. More focussed on middle class liberals and not forgetting their working class union base.
2. You did suggest that Kay think about a job. No doubt this has been bashed into her over the years by welfare agencies, as another cruel hoop to jump through
3. “Labour wants a constituency of poor…” etc. what complete idiotic trash. Labour is the party that tries to lift people out of poverty. Only under this rotten National regime has poverty and inequality been shoved under the carpet.
4. “National wants to abolish poverty” They sure have a funny way of showing it.
https://www.unicef.org.nz/learn/our-work-in-new-zealand/Child-Poverty-in-New-Zealand
http://nzccss.org.nz/work/poverty/the-real-housing-affordability-issues/homelessness-the-invisible-housing-problem/
http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/68162272/beneficiaries-scared-stiff-of-work-and-income
http://nzccss.org.nz/work/poverty/facts-about-poverty/
https://thestandard.org.nz/another-attempt-to-minimise-the-significance-of-poverty/
There’s more poverty under National, so if they want to abolish poverty (which or course they don’t – you are lying – “we’d love to see wages fall”), they are very very shit at it. Worse than Labour, even.
As for the notion that amygdala-based scum like you are qualified to speak for what Labour people believe, you’re pitiful and dishonest and very very shit at that too.
If only it were legal to deal to you appropriately.
There is less poverty now. There has been no increase in inequality. These are facts. Average annual wages are up $12,000, or 25 per cent, since 2008 – double the rate of inflation. Do you live in a parallel universe or have you just not noticed how much wealthier you have become under the best government in NZ history making us the most prosperous country in the world.
Is your last comment a threat of violence? You need help.
Deliberate and wilful ignorance it is, I see. Just because you and your mates have made shitloads doesn’t make the record queues outside the City Mission magically disappear
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/87863628/Hundreds-sleep-outside-Auckland-City-Mission-night-after-night-over-the-Christmas-period
OAB is probably suggesting that you need to open your blind eyes, stop lying to yourself and everyone else, and face up to the suffering of your fellow Kiwis.
Like the parable
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parable_of_the_Good_Samaritan
My wages have gone up 8% since 2008. Much less than housing inflation.
About equal with general inflation.
I am a rarity. I have one of the very highly skilled jobs, on the severe shortages list.
The majority of workers have had no rises for years.
Going backwards.
Using the The average wage increase, like most statistics RWNJ’s use, is a fudge.
It has been pushed up by ridiculous rises, for a few already on wages way above their competence level. Such as politicians.
As for welfare recipients. The unemployment benefit would have to rise 60%, to be the same as pre 90’s levels.
It is an indictment of the last Labour Government that the first rise, derisory as it was, was done by this National Government.
Average wages don’t tell you how the poorest are doing … After all they often don’t have jobs. Even if they did a 1%er getting an extra million has the same effect on the average as 10000 poor people getting an extra $100 …
To make your argument valid what you need to be quoting is the median income (not wages or take home pay)
It is a cruel society NZ has become. I have had first hand experience with the medical system – I know about costs for people who don’t have insurance, even though many of us assumed our taxes would cover the necessities.
I also have first hand experience with the rental situation. It is not easy even for the healthy, able-bodied, and and paid employees.
All these things must heap stress onto an already stressful situation.
I am so sorry Kay. You are in an awful situation and I am sure the stress is not helping your medical problems. I just wanted to let you know that there are still people in this country who want to get a better deal for people like you and hopefully they will eventually be in a position to do so.
I hope you find somewhere decent to live soon.
A long shot Kay … what area are you in or looking at? I may know of a place in Northland (west) that could be coming available.
I hope you find another place to live and feel secure.
Fisiani possibly has a disorder affecting his or her grasp of reality, such as Delusional Disorder. I would not wish that on anyone.
http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/292991-overview
Fisi seems to be a reasonably functional human, apart from his lack of a conscience. Probably some cognitive dissonance and confirmation bias in the mix, to bolster his narrative of “she’ll be right”
Maybe fizpop was just trying to be understanding – but with understanding like that it seems fizpop would have the chronically ill – as the rest of us- looking just like this :
Children’s commissioner Judge Andrew Becroft says he was “shaken” by the 2016 child poverty monitor, the first to be issued since he took the advocacy role.
Produced by the University of Otago, the annual monitor, released today, shows child poverty rates are STABLE, WITH A SLIGHT DECREASE.
i.e. there is less poverty.
It seems that some people who post here get some perverse self-righteous satisfaction from poverty porn.
There is no satisfaction, only despair that Nat diehards are OK with the status quo and FJK’s broken promises.
What I find obscene & pornographic is your constant trumpeting of how great the NZ economy is going (questionable), and how you’re making shitloads of windfall capital gains (immoral), and then minimising and ignoring the fact that 1 in 4 kiwi kids lives in poverty, that we have record homelessness, and the most rampant inequality in the OECD (symptoms of systemic evil).
What the hell happened to the Pavlova Paradise?
See also
https://thestandard.org.nz/another-attempt-to-minimise-the-significance-of-poverty/
That’s the government line – just go and find a job. Where are those jobs which are disability friendly – which are part time and supportive of a worker who might not be able to work at top speed all the time and who might need regular time off to rest or go to appointments. Which are tolerant of disabled people who might need physical changes made to the work place such as ramps and accessible toilets, quiet environments or instructions in plain language. Which aren’t a long expensive bus trip away from home? Any such jobs also have a lot of non-disabled people after them so the chances of people with disabilities getting them are remote. They might get a try out for 90 days and are then fired. Then they have to go back to Work and Income and start the whole complicated process of getting back on Jobseeker allowance for about $200 a week. I suggest those people who ‘suggest’ that disabled people go and get a job go and see I Daniel Blake, instead.
And by the way there is no longer a Sickness Benefit so if you are having chemotherapy or a bout of depression you will also be considered a Jobseeker and have to keep applying for jobs or get you benefit cut, even if you are too sick to get out of bed.
Oh dear, I did go off on a bit of a rant earlier.Without directly engaging with a certain individual because he is a lost cause- I have a bachelor’s degree & vocational diploma, never been able to work full time and had to stop altogether 9 years ago. The nature of my disability makes me totally unemployable, that’s reality and there is nothing I can do to change that short of a cure which isn’t likely.
My mother gets Super and got a $10/week increase this year. My living expenses have increased just as much as hers and I have way higher medical costs. So why is it ok that super is linked to wage rates but benefits to the (alleged )CPI,i.e. rigged so they don’t have to increase them?
Are those of you who will begrudge us the ability to pay the bills because of your ideology or just plain nastiness happy for much more than that to be spent on our hopital bills or the ever expanding prison system because that’s what happens.
And Labour lost my vote after 1999.I’ve yet to see any evidence they’re interested in getting it back. Not everyone on this site is a Labour supporter.
+1000 thank you for sharing your story Kay. I hope you have a nice Christmas.
Kay, I agree that benefits should be getting much higher increases, like the super. You should also be getting medical costs paid. The country can afford to pay living incomes to all, and to care for all in need. It just needs the political will.
In today’s context, also, there just aren’t the jobs available for all – at least, not for a high number to be working full time, – and with an increasing number working part time, even when they want more hours.
It just needs the political will, and the support of collective/community values – rather than individualistic, competitive, each-person-out-for-themselves values.
Thanks for sharing your experiences. People need to know such things.
Happy Christmas , everyone !!!
Its gonna be a real blast changing the govt this year !!!
As Toby Manhire tweeted,
which was a comment added to his retweet of Donald J Trump’s tweet, which said:
Trying to get Fisi to accept that those on benefits need more financial support is like bashing your head against a brick wall.
Beneficiaries have been given the biggest ever rise and almost certainly will get another big rise in the Budget. The issue is that I know that being on a benefit is the health equivalent of smoking 20 a day. If it is possible to get off a benefit the health and wealth advantages are huge. I , like the PM am a huge fan of social investment. I would be happy for the government to spend $10,000 to assist someone to get off the tyranny of a benefit. I advocate a hand up rather than just a hand out. I want people to have dignity
Wanting it doesn’t mean a damn thing: in your dreams the shite party you shill for could get unemployment down to 2007 levels.
Working families living in cars give the lie to your assertions about health and wealth.
You are scum.
2007? Cherry picking, what? What about the level of unemployment that resulted from the recession that began under Labour in 2007?
Typical RWNJ response to a problem — blame Labour, and don’t do anything substantive to fix it
Do nothing? Like reducing the unemployment rate to under 5%? Like taking employment to record levels?
The employment figures are fake just like everything in this NatCorp government. They count as employed anyone who uses the internet; people on zero hours contracts; people who work 1 hour a week; and ignore all the people of working age who aren’t on a benefit. There are a million cracks in the system and tory assholes are pushing people through them.
Yes of course, official government data is faked…oh but only when National are in power. Hilarious.
The 5% unemployment figure wasn’t “official data” it was a skewed and unreliable statistic propagated by the Nats, that the Stats dept advised to “treat with caution” and 2 major banks cast serious doubt over.
Get some help with your cognitive problems, fool
Yes, it was official data.
http://www.tradingeconomics.com/new-zealand/unemployment-rate
🙄 Relies on cherry picked data from US website, ignores comments from Stats NZ and major banks…
w.f.weta is your garden variety bullshitter, could be John Key or Jason Ede? This national pest is wrecking NZ
https://www.nbr.co.nz/article/economists-question-sharp-drop-nz-unemployment-rate-b-184338
http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/83185833/unemployment-drops-but-underutilisation-prevalent-data-shows
Record employment levels are an inevitable consequence of increasing population.
It’s sad (and funny) that you have so little to point to that you try (and fail) to take credit for demographics. 😆
“Record employment levels are an inevitable consequence of increasing population.”
You’ve posted some really stupid comments and n the past, Bloke, but that one takes the cake.
Record employment comes from the creation of extra jobs…no in second thoughts, your off your mess so not worth the oxygen.
Take a break wellfed.
OAB is 100% correct but sadly you are too obstinately thick to get the message. Please engage brain and read this https://thestandard.org.nz/briefing-papers-and-so-this-is-christmas/#comment-1279419
I’d take official figures over your rantings any day. That goes for Bernard Hickey too.
Sore loser.
The 2007 figure neatly refutes Fisiani’s hate-based smear. If you were capable of following a conversation you might have picked up on that.
No, you cherry picked. Well done.
You need to do more homework, Maninthemiddle.
F*ck you’re offensive Fisiani !!!!
You speak as if you know something about beneficiaries when your words say you don’t know a goddamned thing about them. Your ignorance and presumptive arrogance is breathtaking.
” I know that being on a benefit is the health equivalent of smoking 20 a day”
Sure you ‘know’ that, in your own little fantasy world you know everything.
For your own benefit; The polite thing to do would have been to first ask Kay if she was capable of working before presuming she needed to get a job. You don’t know her, you don’t know shit, and you have the audacity to try and lecture her!
” I want people to have dignity”
Yet here you are constantly trying to take it away from people.
I wish you would spend a few minutes on the internet. Type in “the health benefits of work”. Then you would apologise
So a few minutes on the internet is the extent of your knowledge huh fisiani. Well at least you’re admitting it here, about time we had some confirmation of what pretty much everyone here had already figured out.
The hysteria of the Leftis beyond parody. I grew up in a place where everyone voted Labour. It seemed normal. It was in the 20th century but we live in the 21st and the need for Labour is gone. I expect budget 2017 to be the greatest help for the poorest in NZ history. It will be so amazing that many will agree that there is no longer a need forLabour.
Take a good look at this guy mods.
He’s not trying to debate with anyone. He just diverts & distracts & tries to goad people with smug, patronising, pap.
Why is he even using this site, he’s clearly not here to participate or engage in any kind of social discourse.
haha good one.
Bling’s next budget will be “the greatest help for the poorest in NZ history. It will be so amazing” only if he fully implements a combination of Green & Opportunity Party policies to smash inequality and stop the wealthy from pillaging the poor/working class. Only then will your fantasy of sending the LP to oblivion be a possibility
Especially healthy for those that are killed at work eh!
This entire post proves my point that Labour is a dinosaur that died in the 20th century but does not realise it yet. Today we read of 3.5% growth and record Christmas spending and other evidence of good times. Watch for budget 2017. South Auckland will rejoice. Politics is different now and the old cliches of the Left no longer hold sway. No matter. I wish you all a merry Christmas and a joyful New Year
Hi Fisiani, Merry Christmas, good cheer and all that.
Glad you’re enjoying your ongoing delusion about beneficiaries having their biggest pay rise ever. Miss the bit I wrote about getting exactly 0 cents increase for the last 3 years, and all of 57c/week increase before then? Oh I’m sure you read it but I’m yet to decide if you really don’t believe it, or if you think by regurgitating Natz talking points often enough then you’ll actually believe it, because those of us on the receiving end don’t. Or perhaps I have had an increase in the last few years and didn’t get the memo? If so, then I”m sure it must be some sort of buearucratic stuff-up and you’ll be more than happy to get your mates to sort it out for me, with back dated payments of course…
btw, I’ve never smoked even one cigarette in my entire life, even when they were really cheap, disgusting habit. So am I still doing myself just as much damage by daring to need financial assistance from the state? Actually, the very heavy duty medication I need to keep me alive and take twice a day every day for the last 30 years and for the rest of my life will probably kill me before my actual illness does. So maybe I should stop taking that to improve my well being? hey, it’ll save Pharmac some money in the process so that’s a win all around!
Fisi, why on earth I am trying to reason with you, or anyone else does, is a mystery. You’re just plain nasty. But read this and ponder on it- I literally woke up with my illness one morning and there was nothing on earth I could’ve done to prevent it. One of those random bad luck things that can affect anyone and anytime, including nasty right wingers and rabid Labour voters. It doesn’t discriminate. And it could happen to you, so I hope you have your health insurance all paid up because you’ll never be able to get any again (although serious conditions like these are mostly treated via the public system which you lot are running down so you’re potentially screwing yourselves); have your employment insurance paid up because you won’t have a welfare net to fall back on- you don’t believe in it, remember- and be prepare to lose your job and not be able to get another. Not just because your condition makes holding down a job impossible, but because of the rife discrimination out there.
Have an enjoyable festive season fisi, because an awful lot of your compatriats won’t be.
Fisi I’ve posted the above famous speech because you really really need to watch and listen to it. And when you have watched it please please stop thinking that just because a country registers x% gdp that that somehow magically means that the economy is functioning well. Because it doesn’t. Not even the creator of GDP thought that it did. Useful idiots like your self however fall into the trap of believing in numbers and they realy have no relationship whatsoever to reality.
A corrective to Fisiani’s lies
Bernard Hickey: Get real! Work rate drives wages
John Key resigned because he knew that his fake economy was going to crack at the seams in 2017. Even true believers like Fisi must be worried about that.
Happy Christmas , all !!!
Heres a present for fizpop, bm , alwyn , red, david c, and his bother sam c …
Our WORLD RENOWNED NEW FINANCE MINSTER !
Hope you enjoy it , guys !