Sshhh! You’ll make the economy cry

Written By: - Date published: 9:00 am, August 5th, 2009 - 29 comments
Categories: democracy under attack, economy, john key - Tags:

3310371834_2b88fd3797-speak-no-evilJohn Key says we shouldn’t be talking about the number of people going on to the dole. He reckons that mentioning the fact that thousands of people are losing there jobs will cause people to lose confidence and hurt the economy.
  1. Isn’t the real problem for the economy that thousands of people are losing their jobs, not that people are talking about it?
  2. Since when did comments by the opposition affect the economy?
  3. How can more facts on the table be a bad thing? Efficient market hypothesis, which underpins National’s economic ideology relies on markets having perfect information. However knowledge of unemployment causes people to change their behaviour (or not) that’s surely better than them acting without knowledge
  4. This is reminiscent of the Bush era when any questioning of the Government’s approach was labelled anti-patriotic and aiding the enemy. It’s simply a ham-fisted way to try to shut down dissent and stop the Government looking stupid/ineffectual.
  5. Can you imagine the reaction if Clark had said ‘the best thing you can do about unemployment is shut the hell up about it?’
  6. What does Key propose we do if not discuss rising unemployment and ways to combat it? Does he think if we all close our eyes and stick our fingers in our ears everything will be OK?
If Key wants us to stop talking about spiralling unemployment he should do something about the reality, rather than calling for self-censorship.

29 comments on “Sshhh! You’ll make the economy cry ”

  1. Tigger 1

    I love how he also told Keisha Castle-Hughes to ‘stick to acting’ – in other words, shut the fuck up. It’s akin to punching Mother Teresa. Crosby-Textor, where the heck are you? Oh right, that WAS you.

    • Marty G 1.1

      really! when was that?

      • Pascal's bookie 1.1.1

        Marty g: yesterday, in Brisbane. According to the report he brought her up in discussion in order to slap her down, which makes it fewer ok, in this bookie’s book.

        http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10588731

        • Tim Ellis 1.1.1.1

          As much as I think a lot of New Zealanders might be uncomfortable with celebrities sticking their names to political causes, I thought Mr Key’s suggestion to Keisha was blunt and unwise.

          • Bright Red 1.1.1.1.1

            Why? Why shouldn’t she voice her opinion on climate change?

            I suppose you’ll support the government releasing her IRD details too?

            Hack.

            • Tim Ellis 1.1.1.1.1.1

              There’s nothing wrong with her expressing her opinion on climate change. I think the assumption that people should give her credibility on climate change just because she’s a high profile celebrity is another issue.

              Greenpeace uses celebrities not for the expertise but their capacity to bring publicity. Excuse me, Bright Red, but that is cynical manipulation.

              If I were a hack I wouldn’t have suggested that John Key’s criticism of Keisha Castle Hughes was unwise. It is for example far more neutral than your failure to condemn Labour for anything it did in its nine years of government.

              Double hack!

          • jarbury 1.1.1.1.2

            OMG TIm Ellis not towing the party line.

            Shock horror! Someone see if his account has been hacked!

            • Tim Ellis 1.1.1.1.2.1

              You should know jarbury, it’s part of my employment agreement in the national party research bureau to criticise John Key every now and then to make myself look neutral. It is straight from the crosby textor playbook.

            • felix 1.1.1.1.2.2

              I don’t think it’s working.

        • Tigger 1.1.1.2

          PB – yes, I thought that was off. And why do it at all? What on earth did Key gain from slapping her around?

          See Mum, he’s not ‘that nice Mr Key’ at all. He was mean to Keisha!

      • BLiP 1.1.2

        Was in yesterday’s Herald too. The Goober was saying Labour was ruining confidence in the economy by repeatedly talking about 1000 people per week joining the dole queue. He said the figures were wrong but wouldn’t supply the correct figures.

    • Ianmac 1.2

      “Keep quiet Keisha or else- the IRD will be checking up on your tax return. And youse Labour whiners keep quiet or or I’ll check your Housing Allowances! It worked for Paula Benifit didn’t it?” said John Key from Brisbane today.

    • felix 1.3

      Frankly I think Key should stick to money trading.

  2. lprent 2

    It comes up frequently in conversation these days. Perhaps clueless should start doing some work on it? Over the long term it is a structural issue around skills training, as this makes people and businesses more flexible.

    However this government seems to prefer to cut training rather than enhance it. The same attitudes in the Bolger & Shipley governments and their training cuts or bums on seats policies caused skills shortages throughout the last decade. Looks like the key government is going for the same track record.

    Pathetically short term thinkers in the nats

    • Actually Iprent,

      That’s not short term thinking at all. Educated people are critical people.
      They have a nice little club and they don’t want you or me in it.
      Not educating the great unwashed has been a mainstay of all secretive and greedy rulers throughout the centuries and it is a proven strategy.

    • Deciduous 2.2

      I thought the government just announced a whole package of youth training measures, or did you guys miss that news.

      • travellerev 2.2.1

        Yeah, military style training and stupid jobs to keep them happy and dumb.
        Can’t have too many angry teenagers. It’s the young ones stupid and angry enough to take to the street and actually start a revolution if your not careful enough.

        The old ones worn down by poverty and childcare who actually smart enough to learn and go back to school are the ones you don’t want educated. They might find out that their ruling elite is up to no good and is stealing from the countries piggy bank instead of sharing some of their loot and actually join the young ones. Now that would be really bad.

      • BLiP 2.2.2

        National Inc announced that it would be handing out more corporate welfare to private education providers to train youth and to business so they could sack older workers and take on subsidised youth at the minimum wage.

  3. Too right.
    So much for transparency eh?

  4. Tom Semmens 4

    DPB Mum’s, Keisha Castle-Hughes, WHITE BUSINESSMEN WILL NOT TOLERATE DISSENT FROM WOMEN OF ANY SORT!!!

  5. vto 5

    Key is right when he says that. Confidence is a fragile thing that can disappear in a flash. But marty you are right too to expose this oddity, especially re free market orthodoxy and the full and perfect information arm of that. I guess free market obviously doesn’t always equate to rising market. Free market can lead to freefalling market too, which, if further confidence is lost, is where we will be heading.

    • Lanthanide 5.1

      I would be curious as to what employers wouldn’t have made anyone redundant, except now that people are talking about rising unemployment they have decided to? Just because it is now a topic of conversation? Any employer who acted in that way – jumping on the bandwagon of popular discourse, rather than actually doing long-range business planning – doesn’t deserve to be in business.

      It seems to me that John is saying that all employers are morons and it’s better to keep them in the dark, rather than spook them into more redundancies, which is the only outcome of talking about unemployment.

    • BLiP 5.2

      It would seem that Key prefers the confidence to be built on lies.

  6. Zaphod Beeblebrox 6

    So its not the Governement’s fault that our economy wallows whilst everybody else recovers. its the doubter’s and realists.

    BTW I don’t thnk Keisha will shut up- she’s going to be around a lot longer than he will when the planet starts baking .

    Really bad politics- PI, Maori and young voters will all be put off by rich white guy telling us not too worry about the Pacific Ocean flooding the islands.

  7. randal 7

    confidence is another weasel word to hide the fact that capitalism has its own dynamic that must be hidden from the masses.
    go keisha. say it again and this time louder.
    make his coupons curl right off the scrip.

  8. Draco T Bastard 8

    # Isn’t the real problem for the economy that thousands of people are losing their jobs, not that people are talking about it?

    That would be true if people were rational but they aren’t. There’s a significant amount of evidence to suggest that most investors follow the herd. If things look like they’re going well investments will boom and risks shall be taken until such time as it all falls flat on its face. Then everyone will hoard money until such time as things look good again.

    The capitalist free market: Here to give you a roller coaster ride.

Recent Comments

Recent Posts

  • EV road user charges bill passes
    Transport Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed the passing of legislation to move light electric vehicles (EVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) into the road user charges system from 1 April.  “It was always intended that EVs and PHEVs would be exempt from road user charges until they reached two ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    9 hours ago
  • Bill targets illegal, unregulated fishing in international waters
    New Zealand is strengthening its ability to combat illegal fishing outside its domestic waters and beef up regulation for its own commercial fishers in international waters through a Bill which had its first reading in Parliament today. The Fisheries (International Fishing and Other Matters) Amendment Bill 2023 sets out stronger ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    10 hours ago
  • Reserve Bank appointments
    Economists Carl Hansen and Professor Prasanna Gai have been appointed to the Reserve Bank Monetary Policy Committee, Finance Minister Nicola Willis announced today. The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) is the independent decision-making body that sets the Official Cash Rate which determines interest rates.  Carl Hansen, the executive director of Capital ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    11 hours ago
  • Stronger protections for apartment owners
    Apartment owners and buyers will soon have greater protections as further changes to the law on unit titles come into effect, Housing Minister Chris Bishop says. “The Unit Titles (Strengthening Body Corporate Governance and Other Matters) Amendment Act had already introduced some changes in December 2022 and May 2023, and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    14 hours ago
  • Travel focused on traditional partners and Middle East
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters will travel to Egypt and Europe from this weekend.    “This travel will focus on a range of New Zealand’s traditional diplomatic and security partnerships while enabling broad engagement on the urgent situation in Gaza,” Mr Peters says.   Mr Peters will attend the NATO Foreign ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    14 hours ago
  • Keep safe on our roads this Easter
    Transport Minister Simeon Brown is encouraging all road users to stay safe, plan their journeys ahead of time, and be patient with other drivers while travelling around this Easter long weekend. “Road safety is a responsibility we all share, and with increased traffic on our roads expected this Easter we ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    16 hours ago
  • Cost of living support for over 1.4 million Kiwis
    About 1.4 million New Zealanders will receive cost of living relief through increased government assistance from April 1 909,000 pensioners get a boost to Superannuation, including 5000 veterans 371,000 working-age beneficiaries will get higher payments 45,000 students will see an increase in their allowance Over a quarter of New Zealanders ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    17 hours ago
  • Tenancy reviews for social housing restart
    Ensuring social housing is being provided to those with the greatest needs is front of mind as the Government restarts social housing tenancy reviews, Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka says. “Our relentless focus on building a strong economy is to ensure we can deliver better public services such as social ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    17 hours ago
  • Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary plan halted
    The Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary will not go ahead, with Cabinet deciding to stop work on the proposed reserve and remove the Bill that would have established it from Parliament’s order paper. “The Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary Bill would have created a 620,000 sq km economic no-go zone,” Oceans and Fisheries Minister ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    17 hours ago
  • Cutting all that dam red tape
    Dam safety regulations are being amended so that smaller dams won’t be subject to excessive compliance costs, Minister for Building and Construction Chris Penk says. “The coalition Government is focused on reducing costs and removing unnecessary red tape so we can get the economy back on track.  “Dam safety regulations ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    18 hours ago
  • Drought support extended to parts of North Island
    The coalition Government is expanding the medium-scale adverse event classification to parts of the North Island as dry weather conditions persist, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced today. “I have made the decision to expand the medium-scale adverse event classification already in place for parts of the South Island to also cover the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    19 hours ago
  • Passage of major tax bill welcomed
    The passing of legislation giving effect to coalition Government tax commitments has been welcomed by Finance Minister Nicola Willis.  “The Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill will help place New Zealand on a more secure economic footing, improve outcomes for New Zealanders, and make our tax system ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Lifting economy through science, tertiary sectors
    Science, Innovation and Technology Minister Judith Collins and Tertiary Education and Skills Minister Penny Simmonds today announced plans to transform our science and university sectors to boost the economy. Two advisory groups, chaired by Professor Sir Peter Gluckman, will advise the Government on how these sectors can play a greater ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government announces Budget priorities
    The Budget will deliver urgently-needed tax relief to hard-working New Zealanders while putting the government’s finances back on a sustainable track, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says.  The Finance Minister made the comments at the release of the Budget Policy Statement setting out the Government’s Budget objectives. “The coalition Government intends ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government to consider accommodation solution
    The coalition Government will look at options to address a zoning issue that limits how much financial support Queenstown residents can get for accommodation. Cabinet has agreed on a response to the Petitions Committee, which had recommended the geographic information MSD uses to determine how much accommodation supplement can be ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government approves extension to Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care
    Cabinet has agreed to a short extension to the final reporting timeframe for the Royal Commission into Abuse in Care from 28 March 2024 to 26 June 2024, Internal Affairs Minister Brooke van Velden says.                                         “The Royal Commission wrote to me on 16 February 2024, requesting that I consider an ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • $18m boost for Kiwis travelling to health treatment
    The coalition Government is delivering an $18 million boost to New Zealanders needing to travel for specialist health treatment, Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says.   “These changes are long overdue – the National Travel Assistance (NTA) scheme saw its last increase to mileage and accommodation rates way back in 2009.  ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • PM’s Prizes for Space to showcase sector’s talent
    The Government is recognising the innovative and rising talent in New Zealand’s growing space sector, with the Prime Minister and Space Minister Judith Collins announcing the new Prime Minister’s Prizes for Space today. “New Zealand has a growing reputation as a high-value partner for space missions and research. I am ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Concerns conveyed to China over cyber activity
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has confirmed New Zealand’s concerns about cyber activity have been conveyed directly to the Chinese Government.     “The Prime Minister and Minister Collins have expressed concerns today about malicious cyber activity, attributed to groups sponsored by the Chinese Government, targeting democratic institutions in both New ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Independent Reviewers appointed for School Property Inquiry
    Independent Reviewers appointed for School Property Inquiry Education Minister Erica Stanford today announced the appointment of three independent reviewers to lead the Ministerial Inquiry into the Ministry of Education’s School Property Function.  The Inquiry will be led by former Minister of Foreign Affairs Murray McCully. “There is a clear need ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Brynderwyns open for Easter
    State Highway 1 across the Brynderwyns will be open for Easter weekend, with work currently underway to ensure the resilience of this critical route being paused for Easter Weekend to allow holiday makers to travel north, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “Today I visited the Brynderwyn Hills construction site, where ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Speech to the Infrastructure Funding & Financing Conference
    Introduction Good morning to you all, and thanks for having me bright and early today. I am absolutely delighted to be the Minister for Infrastructure alongside the Minister of Housing and Resource Management Reform. I know the Prime Minister sees the three roles as closely connected and he wants me ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Parliamentary network breached by the PRC
    New Zealand stands with the United Kingdom in its condemnation of People’s Republic of China (PRC) state-backed malicious cyber activity impacting its Electoral Commission and targeting Members of the UK Parliament. “The use of cyber-enabled espionage operations to interfere with democratic institutions and processes anywhere is unacceptable,” Minister Responsible for ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • NZ to provide support for Solomon Islands election
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters and Defence Minister Judith Collins today announced New Zealand will provide logistics support for the upcoming Solomon Islands election. “We’re sending a team of New Zealand Defence Force personnel and two NH90 helicopters to provide logistics support for the election on 17 April, at the request ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • NZ-EU FTA gains Royal Assent for 1 May entry to force
    The European Union Free Trade Agreement Legislation Amendment Bill received Royal Assent today, completing the process for New Zealand’s ratification of its free trade agreement with the European Union.    “I am pleased to announce that today, in a small ceremony at the Beehive, New Zealand notified the European Union ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • COVID-19 inquiry attracts 11,000 submissions
    Public consultation on the terms of reference for the Royal Commission into COVID-19 Lessons has concluded, Internal Affairs Minister Hon Brooke van Velden says.  “I have been advised that there were over 11,000 submissions made through the Royal Commission’s online consultation portal.” Expanding the scope of the Royal Commission of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Families to receive up to $75 a week help with ECE fees
    Hardworking families are set to benefit from a new credit to help them meet their early childcare education (ECE) costs, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. From 1 July, parents and caregivers of young children will be supported to manage the rising cost of living with a partial reimbursement of their ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Unlocking a sustainable, low-emissions future
    A specialised Independent Technical Advisory Group (ITAG) tasked with preparing and publishing independent non-binding advice on the design of a "green" (sustainable finance) taxonomy rulebook is being established, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says.  “Comprising experts and market participants, the ITAG's primary goal is to deliver comprehensive recommendations to the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Chief of Army thanked for his service
    Defence Minister Judith Collins has thanked the Chief of Army, Major General John Boswell, DSD, for his service as he leaves the Army after 40 years. “I would like to thank Major General Boswell for his contribution to the Army and the wider New Zealand Defence Force, undertaking many different ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Minister to meet Australian counterparts and Manufacturing Industry Leaders
    25 March 2024 Minister to meet Australian counterparts and Manufacturing Industry Leaders Small Business, Manufacturing, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly will travel to Australia for a series of bi-lateral meetings and manufacturing visits. During the visit, Minister Bayly will meet with his Australian counterparts, Senator Tim Ayres, Ed ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Government commits nearly $3 million for period products in schools
    Government commits almost $3 million for period products in schools The Coalition Government has committed $2.9 million to ensure intermediate and secondary schools continue providing period products to those who need them, Minister of Education Erica Stanford announced today. “This is an issue of dignity and ensuring young women don’t ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Speech – Making it easier to build.
    Good morning, it’s great to be here.   First, I would like to acknowledge the New Zealand Institute of Building Surveyors and thank you for the opportunity to be here this morning.  I would like to use this opportunity to outline the Government’s ambitious plan and what we hope to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Pacific youth to shine from boost to Polyfest
    Minister for Pacific Peoples Dr Shane Reti has announced the Government’s commitment to the Auckland Secondary Schools Māori and Pacific Islands Cultural Festival, more commonly known as Polyfest. “The Ministry for Pacific Peoples is a longtime supporter of Polyfest and, as it celebrates 49 years in 2024, I’m proud to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • 2024 Ngarimu VC and 28th (Māori) Battalion Memorial Scholarships announced
    ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Speech to Breast Cancer Foundation – Insights Conference
    Before moving onto the substance of today’s address, I want to recognise the very significant and ongoing contribution the Breast Cancer Foundation makes to support the lives of New Zealand women and their families living with breast cancer. I very much enjoy working with you. I also want to recognise ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Kiwi research soars to International Space Station
    New Zealand has notched up a first with the launch of University of Canterbury research to the International Space Station, Science, Innovation and Technology and Space Minister Judith Collins says. The hardware, developed by Dr Sarah Kessans, is designed to operate autonomously in orbit, allowing scientists on Earth to study ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Speech to the New Zealand Planning Institute
    Introduction Thank you for inviting me to speak with you today and I’m sorry I can’t be there in person. Yesterday I started in Wellington for Breakfast TV, spoke to a property conference in Auckland, and finished the day speaking to local government in Christchurch, so it would have been ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Support for Northland emergency response centre
    The Coalition Government is contributing more than $1 million to support the establishment of an emergency multi-agency coordination centre in Northland. Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell announced the contribution today during a visit of the Whangārei site where the facility will be constructed.  “Northland has faced a number ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Celebrating 20 years of Whakaata Māori
    New Zealanders have enjoyed a broader range of voices telling the story of Aotearoa thanks to the creation of Whakaata Māori 20 years ago, says Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka. The minister spoke at a celebration marking the national indigenous media organisation’s 20th anniversary at their studio in Auckland on ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Some commercial fishery catch limits increased
    Commercial catch limits for some fisheries have been increased following a review showing stocks are healthy and abundant, Ocean and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The changes, along with some other catch limit changes and management settings, begin coming into effect from 1 April 2024. "Regular biannual reviews of fish ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago

Page generated in The Standard by Wordpress at 2024-03-28T14:01:47+00:00