Govt is not there to make your life better – Bennett

Written By: - Date published: 12:14 pm, February 11th, 2011 - 56 comments
Categories: national/act government, unemployment - Tags: ,

The nice thing about David Bennett is he says what other Nats are smart enough to keep quiet. Remember his rant against the minimum wage? But he out did himself with his speech defending the appalling record of the National government. It turns out the brighter future Key promised was a lie – the National government is not there to make your life better.

So, there you have it.

  • Are you one of the quarter of a million jobless Kiwis thanks to the bankers’ recession and the lazy economic management of Key and English? Well, you clearly made life choices and if life isn’t good for you it must be your fault. You should have got a safer job like being a perpetual backbench MP.
  • Got no tax cut because, like 60% of households, it was all eaten up by the GST hike while the PM gets $23,000 (despite needing it so little he doesn’t really know how much it is)? That’s your fault too. If you were rich like John Key and David Bennett you would have gotten big tax cuts when John Key and David Bennett passed them. But you made your choice.
  • Suffering wage cuts, even though the government’s trumped up stats say your wages are going up? That’s your fault too… actually, it is partially your fault if you haven’t bothered to join your union and fight for better. Union members get bigger payrises.
  • Long-term unemployment breeding crime in your neighbourhood? That’s your fault for not living in a nice gated community with the likes of David Bennett.

If government isn’t there to make our lives better, one rather wonders what it is for. Maybe so our betters, like David Bennett, can rule us and enjoy the fruits of privilege?

56 comments on “Govt is not there to make your life better – Bennett ”

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  1. Bill 1
    11 February 2011 at 12:46 pm

    Government isn’t there to make our lives better. As George Monbiot points out Our ministers are not public servants. They work for the people who fund their parties, run the banks and own the newspapers, shielding them from their obligations to society, insulating them from democratic challenge.
    Our political system protects and enriches a fantastically-wealthy elite, much of whose money is, as a result of their interesting tax and transfer arrangements, effectively stolen from poorer countries and poorer citizens of their own countries. Ours is a semi-criminal money-laundering economy, legitimised by the pomp of the Lord Mayor’s show and multiple layers of defence in government. Politically irrelevant, economically invisible, the rest of us inhabit the margins of the system. Governments ensure that we are thrown enough scraps to keep us quiet, while the ultra-rich get on with the serious business of looting the global economy and crushing attempts to hold them to account.
    http://www.monbiot.com/archives/2011/02/07/a-corporate-coup-detat/#more-1329

    • Bright Red 1.1
      11 February 2011 at 12:50 pm

      it doesn’t have to be that way

      • Rex Widerstrom 1.1.1
        11 February 2011 at 2:09 pm

        Hear, hear. It’s too easy to feel that corruption (and that’s what it is, a corruption of our democratic processes and traditions, whether or not there’s actual bribery going on) is so entrenched that things will be that way forever more.

        But there’s another saying that’s apt here too: wishing doesn’t make it so. It’s the old parties who have become citadels of preference and privilege. We’ll only change things by backing new parties (of whatever stripe) where the corruption has not had time to set in or has not become endemic. Or better yet, independents.

        • Jim Nald 1.1.1.1
          12 February 2011 at 12:53 am

          “Wishing doesn’t make it so” – good point.
          People have been taken in by Key and his mates who have been spinning out fake aspirational politics. More can now see through Key’s machinations.
          I’ve got a few more comments to come when I make my way back to the country next week.

    • marsman 1.2
      11 February 2011 at 1:31 pm

      Monbiot’s words certainly describe the arrogant smug slugs pretending to run but but wrecking New Zealand at the moment.

  2. tc 2
    11 February 2011 at 12:48 pm

    ‘If government isn’t there to make our lives better, one rather wonders what it is for..’

    To enrich it’s own and it’s backers pockets, ECAN removal benefits farmers (and Dairy interest holding MP’s like carter and Sideshow John), ACC privatisation benefits insurers, PPP benefit big business, Privatisation benefits big business, EFA tweaking benefits the Nat’s, Joyce broadband benefits the incumbent crap service providers without any new technology etc etc

    IMO they’ve spent 9 yrs in opposition planning how to make as much dosh for their backers and themselves ASAP and were handed an economy lauded internationally as being in great shape (even Bliglish admitted it) so had to set about wrecking it pronto with tax cuts for the rich etc

    On top of this you’ve got Worth/Wong/PEDA/Double Dipton/hobbit/no end of crap urgency legislation and ACT so they certainly aren’t about improving anything outside of their own narrow interests with whatever means they can find…..cue basher/crusher/ayaTolley etc

  3. toad 3
    11 February 2011 at 12:55 pm

    Yep, still very much at the back of the National class, Eddie.

  4. clandestino 4
    11 February 2011 at 1:25 pm

    This guy comes across as barely literate, he certainly doesn’t understand his own ideology fully.

    I’ve seen him in the House too, there’s a few of them at the back tasked with the shouting-down and the bullying.

  5. ianmac 5
    11 February 2011 at 1:48 pm

    What an appalling delivery! Bennett is being paid a salary? He seems to talk in sort of cliches but doesn’t support his own words with argument. Weird!
    As for its “not the Governments job to make your life better!” Marks 1 out of 10. (The worst I’ve heard.)

  6. Monty 6
    11 February 2011 at 2:07 pm

    Hey Lefties – can you please confirm what Prime Minister John Key did get in tax cuts. We have Labour MPs in the House talking about $1000 or $52,000 per annum for the Prime Minister. That is clearly a lie as above you are saying it is $23,000 per annum. Reality is that the PM Salary is about $400,000 per annum. The tax cuts were 5% less for over $70,000. so 5% x $330,000 is $16,500 per annum. Then the rumour is that he gives away most if not all of his salary – so the reality is John Key probably got no tax cut at all.

    I know you are 20% behind in the polls – but that is no excuse to lie. r being lefties can you not help yourselves?

    • orange whip? 6.1
      11 February 2011 at 2:15 pm

      Then the rumour is that he gives away most if not all of his salary

      Pure myth. Show me what you’re basing this on.

      And no, not the quote from before the election where Key speculated that he “might” give “a good part” to charity if he became PM.

      Believe me, if Key was giving anything to charity we would all know about it.

      • Oscar 6.1.1
        11 February 2011 at 3:03 pm

        Perhaps the best thing to do with all government MPs is to publish, each year, their financial accounts including what they earned, tax paid, donations made etc.

        True accountability? Perhaps, but it’s public money they’re receiving so we have a right to know what they’re spending it on.

        Or we’ll have the likes of Maryan “I love camping… in hotels” Street continuing to pretend to be one of the workers.
        Lets see whether you shop at Gucci or Glassons, Prada or Portmans. Barkers or Boss.

        Don’t like the idea? Don’t be a public official.

        • orange whip? 6.1.1.1
          11 February 2011 at 3:13 pm

          True accountability? Perhaps, but it’s public money they’re receiving so we have a right to know what they’re spending it on.

          Bollocks. It’s a salary they’re paid for the work they do. It’s no more “public money” than your salary is.

        • Bright Red 6.1.1.2
          11 February 2011 at 3:16 pm

          you don’t need to go into their personal shopping receipt by receipt but publishing tax records should be done. It is in the US.

          http://www.taxhistory.org/www/website.nsf/Web/PresidentialTaxReturns

        • logie97 6.1.1.3
          11 February 2011 at 10:27 pm

          So all government employees should declare how they spend their money
          .doctors
          .nurses
          .teachers
          .councils
          .firemen
          .police

          WTF. No, but what is more to the point, elected representatives should have to declare all of their investment interests, close all of their trusts, and more importantly, have to put on record who they are visiting or being visited by during their working hours.

          Perhaps one of the best bits of television was the Francesca Mold / John Key interview when Lord Ashcroft visited him during the election. Key was mortified that he had been caught out and denied any knowledge of the visit twice before admitting it was Key himself who was the purpose of the visit.

    • Colonial Viper 6.2
      11 February 2011 at 2:20 pm

      Hey Monty why help you understand the truth when you have no interest in the truth? You know small matters like adding in the tax cuts from the first round of NAT tax cuts, the affect of those cuts to boost Key’s investment income etc.

    • mickysavage 6.3
      11 February 2011 at 2:21 pm

      Nah Monty.

      Mr Key owns $50m. Lets presume $10m is in assets that do not produce an income. Let’s also presume the rest has a return of 4% and then let’s half this amount.

      The income would be a further $400,000 on top of his income and the tax cut would be another $40k.

      So let’s get this right, you do not know how much he earns or how much he gives away but you are convinced that the left is lying when one or more members of the left state something that you know nothing about is true??

    • Lanthanide 6.4
      11 February 2011 at 3:06 pm

      Monty, there’s a whole post already explaining the numbers with the maths behind them right here: http://thestandard.org.nz/key-out-of-touch-on-tax-cuts/

    • fraser 6.5
      11 February 2011 at 3:14 pm

      “he gives away most if not all of his salary – so the reality is John Key probably got no tax cut at all.”

      by that logic if i spend all my $$ at the pub i didnt really get paid in the first place. 🙂

      How you spend money that youve received doesnt change the fact that you received it

      • Bright Red 6.5.1
        11 February 2011 at 3:22 pm

        but the difference is, fraser, that you’re not John Key, so Monty doesn’t blindly love you and doesn’t get feelings that he’s slightly unsure about when he sees you swinging your arse on a catwalk.

    • ghostwhowalksnz 6.6
      11 February 2011 at 3:30 pm

      Monty the tax cut is computed on Keys assumed total income , not just his ‘salary’ for his current job.

    • Akldnut 6.7
      11 February 2011 at 8:55 pm

      Then the rumour is that he gives away most if not all of his salary – so the reality is John Key probably got no tax cut at all.

      hahahaha Monty you’re showing how out of touch with reality you RWNJs really are!

      How does your argument base a reality on rumor moron

      Reality is based on factual evidence.

  7. stever 7
    11 February 2011 at 2:15 pm

    Ha! And the inner Dalek started coming through in his voice around 6 minutes in 🙂

  8. Colonial Viper 8
    11 February 2011 at 2:38 pm

    David Bennett is an asshat.

    He talks about giving people choices to build for the future.

    While he sells out the country from under our children.

  9. Draco T Bastard 9
    11 February 2011 at 2:53 pm

    I did like Lees-Galloway’s response.

  10. Craig Glen Eden 10
    11 February 2011 at 2:56 pm

    Is it the name Bennett that means you get that thick as pig shit gene?

    Anti spam word “blow” oh yeah

  11. Bright Red 11
    11 February 2011 at 3:03 pm

    “can you please confirm what Prime Minister John Key did get in tax cuts”

    It clearly depends what his income is. But if you just go from his PM salary of $400,500 –

    Tax in November 2008 = 330,500*0.39+30,000*0.33+26,000*0.21+14,000*.125 = $146,005

    Tax in February 2011 = 330,500*.33+22,000*0.30+34,000*.175+14,000*.105 = $123,085

    Therefore, income tax cuts on PM’s salary due to National’s tax cuts = $22,920 – basically, the $23K cited in the post.

    Every additional dollar of income above that has had a 6% tax decrease. Say his fortune makes a 2% taxable in New Zealand return, that’s $1 million, getting a $60,000 tax cut, which is the thousand a week Labour is talking about.

    If you give all your money to charity you still get a tax cut. And there’s no evidence Key does. Indeed, Key has never said he gives all his salary to charity.

  12. Tel 12
    11 February 2011 at 3:34 pm

    David Bennett’s speech just made watching the first round of American Idol look totally un-cringe worthy. But he’s right I need to get off my behind, throw away architecture as a career, go to Victoria University and get an Honours degree (clearly the bar is set pretty low!) work for a corrupt group of accountants, take some bribes and then sink all my ill gotten gains into a highly polluting dairy farm in the Waikato and kill off what is left of the Waikato River eco-system.

    I feel better already.

  13. Adrian 13
    11 February 2011 at 3:56 pm

    If Key says that he “only” got a 15k tax cut, when conservative estimates work out at 45 to 50k, has he inadvertantly (or stupidly, which is more believable) admitted to tax evasion. can we have an IRD audit immediatley please. How do you go about dobbing him in, how much info do you need or is this confession to scamming enough.

    • Lanthanide 13.1
      11 February 2011 at 5:11 pm

      lol

      On a more serious note, this is why top US politicians publish their tax returns. Given how corrupt they are over there, that’s probably a true blessing for The People.

  14. ZeeBop 14
    11 February 2011 at 5:32 pm

    F’ So if your not super silly rich then voting for National means Bennett thinls you are a moron!

    Or else its a cry for help so he doesn’t have to spend his political life with his head up someone rich blocks behind.

  15. prism 15
    11 February 2011 at 5:54 pm

    Wikipedia facts –
    Member for Hamilton East
    Assumed office 17 September 2005
    Preceded by Dianne Yates
    Majority 8,820 (26.58%)

    Bennett was born on 28 October 1970 in Hamilton. He attended St. John’s College, Hamilton before gaining an LLB and a BCA from Victoria University of Wellington. Bennett owns two dairy farms near Te Awamutu, and has also worked as an accountant for KPMG, in Auckland.

    captcha – secret as in what is his?

  16. Irascible 16
    11 February 2011 at 6:21 pm

    Is this person real?? The logic is on the level of the GOP advertisements from the USA. I note that the Nats don’t do anything just talk about it while the country is allowed to drift into social and economic bankruptcy.
    So the government isn’t there to help society according to Bennett — what is it there for? To sell the country to overseas businesses.
    I hear him say that the National govt is fundamentally unfair because it believes in putting the boot into the people.

  17. Derek 17
    11 February 2011 at 6:45 pm

    Labour drove us into recession first? What has he been reading?

    Bald knob

  18. Darien Fenton 18
    11 February 2011 at 8:29 pm

    Stop picking on David Benefit. He keeps us amused in the House and on the Transport & Industrial Relations Select Committee. He was a source of on-going astonishment during the ERA and Holidays Act Bill submissions process – just ask the people who came before him.

    • Colonial Viper 18.1
      11 February 2011 at 8:31 pm

      I’d love to know what his former KPMG colleagues thought of him.

    • pollywog 18.2
      11 February 2011 at 9:00 pm

      Getting paid shitloads by the taxpayer to amuse the House is hardly an endearing trait worth nurturing.

      On a side note, I was thinking what with Kris Fa’afoi’s background in media, he could have set up a day by day blog account of a new MP’s life in the big house.

      Demystify the corridors of power and shed light on the workload for us lesser mortals. Justify the faith Mana put in him by being seen to be doing the job.

      • QoT 18.2.1
        11 February 2011 at 11:10 pm

        Love this idea … in theory. 😛 While I’m sure Fa’afoi is a tireless worker on behalf of the good people of Mana, one is not too hopeful about a journo-turned-polly offering a completely unvarnished version of events.

    • tea 18.3
      12 February 2011 at 10:11 am

      Hi Darien,

      Are we (the nonNACTers) going to run a ‘catch up with Australia’ campaign for the election? On work rights, representation, and pay rises?

  19. Armchair Critic 19
    11 February 2011 at 8:57 pm

    Recipe for a David Bennett speech. Take one bunch of cliches, add as much bullshit as you can find (he’s truly a cow farmer), mix together and serve. To be taken with a grain of salt.

  20. peterlepaysan 20
    11 February 2011 at 9:59 pm

    Nothing much changes. I recall Maurice Williamson a decade or three back, he was a minister of health at the time, stating that a good health service was a privilege, not a right.

    No doubt one of his witty observations that JK has noted.

    No doubt this Bennet’s remarks will be passed off as “wit”, by “smile and wave”.

    About as clever as JK’s (unscripted) but oft repeated use of “bloated bureaucracy”.

    That was pure unscripted stand up comedy stuff.

    C’mon I am only joking.

  21. millsy 21
    12 February 2011 at 12:31 am

    David Bennett.

    Nasty piece of work. Stinks of upper class arrogance. What do you expect. He is in the blue team after all.

    • kriswgtn 21.1
      12 February 2011 at 7:46 am

      I was watching his speech on PT the other night and I thought *white trash*
      wtf is up with all these fukheads who think theyre better than us

      Hey listen up National fucktards

      YOU DO NOT come from a life of old money and societal privilege

      That is a true blue tory

      Youre just a bunch of selfish wankers

  22. Sookie 22
    12 February 2011 at 11:15 am

    What a douche. And he’s an electorate MP too, which means the ‘good’ people of Hamilton East actually picked him to represent them. Goes to show that the Nats could stand a mentally defective incontinent dairy cow in certain electorates and they’d still win. Depressing.

    • orange whip? 22.1
      12 February 2011 at 12:11 pm

      Hamiltonians ain’t the brightest bunch, on aggregate.

      Consider if you will that there is a large university in Bennett’s electorate.

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  • Cost of living support for low-income homeowners
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  • Government backing mussel spat project
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  • Clean energy key driver to reducing emissions
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  • Earthquake-prone buildings review brought forward
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  • Thailand and NZ to agree to Strategic Partnership
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  • Inflation coming down, but more work to do
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  • School attendance restored as a priority in health advice
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  • Unnecessary bureaucracy cut in oceans sector
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  • Opinion: It’s time for an arts and creative sector strategy
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