English hammered on ‘druggies’ smear

44 comments on “English hammered on ‘druggies’ smear ”

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1. tc 1

   1 March 2017 at 6:55 am

   Seems like the dog whistle is going to be a go to nact strategy in election year.

   An approach that works with willing shills like Watkins, trevitt, Hoskins etc on the basis that if you throw enough shit, some sticks and you get non critical thinkers following like sheep.
   • RRM 1.1

     1 March 2017 at 7:47 am

     Yeah that’s the way… even as Greens and Labour combined are polling less than Nats, the problem is the voters are dumb sheeple who can’t think properly.

     Please, don’t change anything. Your attitude is good for National and, therefore, good for the country.
     • Psycho Milt 1.1.1

       1 March 2017 at 7:49 am

       Any comment on the actual subject at hand? I’ll be astonished if you’ve anything of substance to contribute.
     • Morrissey 1.1.2

       1 March 2017 at 9:41 am

       National’s prime minister is telling lies—he calls them “anecdotes”—about Kiwi workers. You think that’s good for the country?
       • Draco T Bastard 1.1.2.1

         1 March 2017 at 10:33 am

         It’s typical of authoritarian followers to always defend their leaders no matter how unethical/immoral they are.
     • Matthew Whitehead 1.1.3

       1 March 2017 at 5:36 pm

       Just because Labour aren’t firing on all cylinders yet doesn’t mean National aren’t behaving like a tyre fire. 😉
2. You_Fool 2

   1 March 2017 at 7:06 am

   I had liked Newshrubs coverage last night. Mention the 700 odd beneficieries that have failed drugs test, put the number on screen then mention at the end that it was 0.001% but leave the big number up on screen at the same time…

   Ahh ‘fair and balanced’ news reporting….
   • dv 2.1

     1 March 2017 at 7:28 am

     OK , how does that number explain the need to import ca 30,000 immigrants to cover that shortfall?
     • michelle 2.1.1

       1 March 2017 at 9:54 am

       Do you believe there is only 30 thousand I think there is more numbers than what we are being told either way only 700 people tested positive since 2013 and 30 thousand plus immigrants to cover the shortfall someone is telling porkies here
       • Dv 2.1.1.1

         1 March 2017 at 12:48 pm

         Quick calc, as I read that 50% are returning nzer, and Aussies.
         • Kevin 2.1.1.1.1

           1 March 2017 at 3:20 pm

           Does it matter who they are or where they come from?

           30,000 is a lot of people and they all need housing and jobs.

           On one hand, you turn off the immigration tap and in very short time you have even bigger issues in housing, like falling values, people unable to service their loans and more importantly, very fucked off National voters.

           And the on the other hand you have employers looking to employ the cheapest labour they can, no longer able to turn the Islands and pay minimum wage and then garnish it for things like transport and accommodation

           National are between rock and hard place so they do what comes naturally. Lie and make shit up.
   • Psycho Milt 2.2

     1 March 2017 at 7:47 am

     The nadir of their coverage was the oaf doing the reporting standing there at the end saying English is right, because employers benefiting from the supply of exploitable migrant labour agree with him.
   • Richard Christie 2.3

     1 March 2017 at 10:28 am

     approx 0.1% , not 0.001%

     i.e approx 400 positives from approx 90,000 tests, = 0.0077 or 0.77%
     • Draco T Bastard 2.3.1

       1 March 2017 at 10:36 am

       Which proves that drug testing isn’t even worthwhile.
3. RRM 3

   1 March 2017 at 7:43 am

   English hammered? Really?

   Mr Roy Morgan suggests the transition from Key to English has cost Nats nothing.
   • ian 3.1

     1 March 2017 at 8:09 am

     Cost the Nats nothing, for now, but if Bill English keeps having these sorts of irretrievable verbal train smashes, that is going to start to change.
     • David C 3.1.1

       1 March 2017 at 8:23 am

       ian.
       More people want Winston “baubles” Peters as Prime Minister than Andrew Little.
       Maybe that is where you should be looking for change?
   • Matthew Whitehead 3.2

     1 March 2017 at 5:39 pm

     Pull the other one, they went from a recovery into numbers where they were odds-on for being the next government just before key resigned to two consecutive polls that are statistical ties between National, a Labour-Green led coalition, and the wildcard option of “NZ First Decides!”

     I’d get yourself ready for a lot of nats failing to turn out this year or voting for “anyone but Bill” if any of them have the slightest conscience, and fortunately for the country, I know quite a few who do.
4. Keith 4

   1 March 2017 at 8:20 am

   I was a bit disappointed by Andrew Little on RNZ yesterday as he didn’t seem abreast with the subject. And frankly given the festering sore it is I don’t know how he isn’t!

   Listening to the lead up to his interview NZ Drug Detection Agency boss Kirk Hardy said about 5% of all work place testing shows up drugs I would have thought he would have had plenty of ammunition from that alone to throw back at English. In fact some follow up research from the last set of lies to justify rampant cheap labour migration by Key last year would have made me think Little would have been up to speed.

   He floundered around talking about giving people who test positive a second chance but the reality is with 5% failures 95% of workers and or their applicants are not needing second chances as the labour pool is virtually clean anyway.

   Susie Ferguson put words in his mouth that he agreed in essence with Bill English and Little didn’t refute it. Its not that I think he agrees, rather it was like he was struggling with the interview and subject.

   We all know this immigration is to provide a vast pool of cheap exploitable labour for Nationals donors and they are shit scared someone is going to turn the tap down and force them to pay better and provide better working conditions. Lying and dumping your citizens might suit them but it should never be uttered by a Prime Minister for the employers benefit.

   You need to be sharper than this Andrew because English could have been crucified with this latest bullshit but you didn’t take your chance to do so.
   • shorts 4.1

     1 March 2017 at 9:32 am

     agree – its not the first time Little hasn’t been able to just ram home how disingenuous the govt is being – these are the opportunities to show who is in command of the situation… and its a subject that has been done before and covers highly relevant topics newswire and election wise

     can do better… and will be presented with plenty of opportunities to do so I’d wager
   • Morrissey 4.2

     1 March 2017 at 9:36 am

     Little is bumbling, mealy-mouthed, and seemingly unable to speak the simplest truths in a direct manner.

     Maybe we should compete with these French morons and see if we can attract the Great Communicator to lead our Labour Party….

     https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/feb/28/oui-on-peut-petition-barack-obama-french-president
5. Pete 5

   1 March 2017 at 9:00 am

   That other cretin, David Seymour, is into it now trying to twist it to suit his agenda.
6. Robert Guyton 6

   1 March 2017 at 9:39 am

   Gareth Morgan:
   ” If we want young people to be gainfully employed, and a country filled with people with the right skills, then we need to go deeper than just implying young people are a bit useless; it does the Prime Minster and New Zealanders a disservice.”

   http://morganfoundation.org.nz/employment-policy-built-quality-evidence-reckons/

   “There is no evidence those on jobseekers can’t get work due to drug use

   When we look at the reliable numbers we do have, the unemployed are not failing drugs tests in any numbers of note.”
7. Sorrwerdna 7

   1 March 2017 at 10:02 am

   In defence of Bill’s comments relying on the failed drug test numbers only paints part of the overall picture. There will be plenty of employers who are either unwilling or unable to afford to pay for random drug testing but rather rely on their judgment as to weather the current young person they have on trial is wacked out of his head.
   • left_forward 7.1

     1 March 2017 at 1:20 pm

     Of course there will Sorrywerdna – just keep telling yourself so, after all you can’t let this influence your prejudices.
8. Morrissey 8

   1 March 2017 at 10:17 am

   Sleaze and dishonesty, as shown in their verbal trashing of Kiwi workers, are hallmarks of Bill English and his National/ACT cronies. But Labour has a pretty shameful history of outrageous behaviour as well. One of the Clark government’s most shameful deeds was its persecution of the exiled Algerian parliamentarian Ahmed Zaoui. The following exchange from 2003 features Clark’s smooth and slippery deputy Michael Cullen, plus a supportive comment by one of our Standard colleagues…

   https://home.greens.org.nz/oralquestions/question-oral-answer-ahmed-zaoui-and-sis-inquiry
9. Whispering Kate 9

   1 March 2017 at 10:19 am

   With Blinglish and this latest hypocrisy over drugged out kiwis – don’t we have a Hate Speech Law in this country – he is flying close to the wind on his non-factual statements. Why does he have such a deep rooted hatred of New Zealanders and enjoys insulting them at every opportunity.
   • Draco T Bastard 9.1

     1 March 2017 at 10:43 am

     Why does he have such a deep rooted hatred of New Zealanders and enjoys insulting them at every opportunity.

     That attitude has been an indelible part of the rich for the poor pretty much forever. This is one reason why we need to get rid of the rich.
10. John G 10

    1 March 2017 at 10:28 am

    I have a problem with the prevalence of drug testing onsite these days. I checked on a drug testing companies site. They do not test for alcohol, which I would have thought was the most common drug. With the drugs they do test for (THC opiates amphetamines etc) They test for the prescence of the drug NOT the quantity, They even state it in their FAQ that it may take weeks for traces of THC to get out of your system. I am uncomfortable with the fact that an employer can tell me what I can do in my own home. Needless to say if it affects my work that is different. But traces ?
    • Draco T Bastard 10.1

      1 March 2017 at 10:47 am

      Exactly.

      It’s wrong and goes against every principle of personal freedom that we hold.
    • emergency mike 10.2

      1 March 2017 at 4:42 pm

      There’s no rationality here John G. Our drug laws and attitudes are based on cultural norms and decades of propaganda from corporate and political self-interest. Reality and evidence about dangers and harm not so much. As I said on the other thread, smoke a joint last week of a drug with very mild or rare dangers and that kills no one, and you can be sacked or denied employment. But get pissed as f*** on Friday night on a sedative that kills ~15 kiwis per week, and for which the relationship with violence and rape is clear, and you’re a good sort.

      Some people just don’t approve of the way some other people choose to live their lives.
    • Craig H 10.3

      2 March 2017 at 10:46 pm

      Fully agree – if you’re not under the influence at work, it shouldn’t matter.
11. Sutton's li'l helper 11

    1 March 2017 at 10:43 am

    The nats are always trying to paint labour as negative about New Zealand, well how much more negative can you get than the prime minister of NZ saying all young kiwis are hopeless druggies. Labour need to come out and say they stand up for the next generation of NZ and don’t want to see their hopes and dreams smashed by the likes of Bill English, a prime minister who only cares about a fraction of society.
12. marty mars 12

    1 March 2017 at 10:50 am

    Yep the gnats are in complete disarray, a rabble, leaderless and desperate and Bill? Bill looks more like a little bit every day. Resign now Bill before Paula or horror, judith slide the sharp point in – its over bill, the dream is over.
    • Pete 12.1

      1 March 2017 at 11:37 am

      English can smear all he likes, lie all he likes, cuddle up to mongrels from Act all he likes. You can say they are in disarray, a rabble, leaderless and desperate.

      Get the emotion out of it, be rid of the notion that most people care enough about homelessness, poverty, the housing crisis and immigration to vote against Bill’s mob. Not abstain, actually get out and vote positively to get rid of them.

      Right now what chance of them not being re-elected? 5-8%?
13. McFlock 13

    1 March 2017 at 11:34 am

    Of additional concern is if 0.1% of unemployed people going for work test drug positive (or refuse the test), but as someone said above 5% of employed workers test positive, why are NZ employers so awful that people start taking up drugs? 🙂
14. sable 14

    1 March 2017 at 2:20 pm

    The MSM call out a neo con corporati government? My what a sense of humour…….
15. rod 15

    1 March 2017 at 5:26 pm

    So, do they drug test migrant workers when they arrive and or while they are here ? Just curious. Perhaps the PM will tell us.
16. Thinkerr 16

    1 March 2017 at 8:03 pm

    The problem is plain and a seasoned politician like English should have seen it – especially after an earlier similar gaffe.

    He’s done dog-whistle politics – sent a subtle message to a minority of voters, presumably the farmers who benefit from immigrant workers and, possibly, Archie Bunker types who love to think of the young as uncooth louts.

    So far, so good, if you like your politics served that way.

    But, in sending a subtle message to a minority, he’s sent an unsubtle message to everyone else IMHO; namely, that although he’s everyone’s appointed leader, he dosn’t have much faith in or respect for the average kiwi, believing that the work ethic of immigrants is far superior.

    The nub of the problem is that swinging voters, who are the power behind winning the election, are neither the immigrant-hiring farmers or age-ist bigots., and might well be put off by the slur.

    As your article says, Key got away with it because the media diluted the unsubtle message, but that hasn’t happened for English, apparently.
17. mosa 17

    1 March 2017 at 11:46 pm

    The problem is not drugs but SHIT WAGES.

    When are we going to address the real problem in this country of slave wages and the big and small employers who hide behind every excuse not to pay a livable wage and a National government that exploits the situation to explain mass immigration.

    Of course the people coming to this country to escape a living hell in their own impoverished country will happily work for nothing and be exploited by greedy kiwi businesses because anything is better than what they are escaping from.

    Bill English once said that he wanted a LOW WAGE ECONOMY because businesses had to make money to expand, bad luck if you have no choice but too accept a wage where you can barely exist too live and feed your children as we dont value real contribution and hard work in jobs under $40.000 per year.
18. millsy 18

    1 March 2017 at 11:47 pm

    Fatigue is a bigger factor in workplace accidents, resulting in workers being under pressure to work longer and longer hours.

    Slow wage growth and high rents and power prices in this country, are the reasons as to why young people dont want to take many jobs, with the constructon, farming and horticulure industry having little or no security, and pay increased hard to come by.

    The New Zealand employer is no different to an antebellum plantation owner.
19. Philj 19

    2 March 2017 at 11:49 am

    As for Tracy Watkins article, maybe the stupid title was the editors idea? “Government fighting immigration’s tentacles on every front”
    Would not “Journalism and MSM fighting for credibility on every front”

Links to post

1. The Mendacities of Mr English: the covert agenda of high immigration « The Daily Blog: posted on 5 March 2017 at 2:33 pm
2. The Mendacities of Mr English – The covert agenda of high immigration | Frankly Speaking...: posted on 10 March 2017 at 8:01 am

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