Sums it up, really

Written By: - Date published: 7:56 am, April 12th, 2013 - 134 comments
Categories: Economy, exports, jobs, privatisation, same old national - Tags:

National’s 3 quarters of the way through its time at the crease now. And what has it achieved? A record debt pile. 300,000 jobless. 100,000 underemployed. Rising poverty. 1,000 a week fleeing to Australia. A new housing bubble. A record high dollar that’s killing our businesses. And falling household incomes. A list of articles on Stuff sums it up.

national's record

How the hell are we facing another housing bubble only five years after the previous one burst? How, because Key and English didn’t do anything to change the conditions that created the first housing bubble, in fact they strengthened them.

They should have got into a government-led programme of affordable house building while putting in a capital gains tax. Instead, they scoffed at the warnings that a housing bubble would be back and did precisely nothing. Even now, English talks like he’s a mildly interested observer in the economy, rather than the joker running it.

They needed to get the OCR down to stop the flood of hot money into the country that then goes into us selling houses to each other for more and more with the only winners being the foreigners we’re paying interest to.

Which brings us to that second article. The dollar is at a record in terms of the Trade-Weighted Index. It’s heading to over 86 cents against the US – which its previously only achieved for a handful of days. It’s a massacre for exporters and manufacturers who can’t compete aboard and get undercut at home. And the Right laughs! They have this fucked up 1980s belief that manufacturing is ‘so last century’ and it’s funny to watch it dying. Meanwhile, rich countries are adding manufacturing jobs because its only by making stuff and adding value to it that you really become wealthy as a country.

Finally, there’s confirmation that National’s trying to hock off our assets to foreigners. It makes a lie of all that talk about ‘mum and dad’ investors, eh? It’s hard to believe that this is their big policy. Taking companies that are making a profit and selling them overseas. Imagine if they had made full employment their cornerstone policy and put as much effort (and taxpayer money) into that as they have into the asset sales.

134 comments on “Sums it up, really ”

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  1. King Kong 1
    12 April 2013 at 8:38 am

    In an International sense I have never been richer, my house is climbing in value daily, there will be a few interesting new companies that I can buy shares in and there is no supply pressure forcing me to pay my staff more.

    Thanks National, keep up the good work.

    • mickysavage 1.1
      12 April 2013 at 8:45 am

      In other words stuff you all I’m doing OK and who cares about the future.

    • kiwi_prometheus 1.2
      12 April 2013 at 8:55 am

      Rich prick, King Kong, doesn’t care about his fellow NZers, especially the growing number of kiwi kids living in poverty.

      In fact he thinks that is “good work” on the part of his mates in government.

      King Kong is an economic parasite.

      • King Kong 1.2.1
        12 April 2013 at 9:03 am

        I will care about those in “poverty” when they care about themselves, by packing in the fags, booze, drugs, gambling and get off their backsides to make their lot better.

        If you can’t look after your kids properly then they should be taken off you. Child “poverty”….solved.

        • mickysavage 1.2.1.1
          12 April 2013 at 9:11 am

          Mind if we increase your taxes to pay for the thousands of social workers, family homes and the myriad of support that will be required?

          • King Kong 1.2.1.1.1
            12 April 2013 at 9:16 am

            Pretty sure I could find the money from current Govt budgets though it may mean that the dyslexic lesbian hop scotch team might miss this years world champs.

            • One Anonymous Knucklehead 1.2.1.1.1.1
              12 April 2013 at 9:39 am

              Ah, so their taxes are to be “stolen” to provide for your priorities.

              What a bludger you are.

        • Ennui 1.2.1.2
          12 April 2013 at 9:12 am

          King, you will care more about poverty when your politics drag us all into the mire and the mob come to your door looking for your “wealth”.

          On your original statement on being richer…so true: what the fuck did you do to have that happen? I am sure you really did a lot to cause the US and Euro to crash and burn compared to the NZ$, I am sure you did heaps to encourage a speculative bubble in housing…well perhaps not. You are in fact a free loading carpet bagger.

          • King Kong 1.2.1.2.1
            12 April 2013 at 9:28 am

            So what you are saying is the things Eddie is decrying the National Government for dropping the ball over, were completely beyond its control.

            The property bubble is down to idiots from both sides threatening to take aim at the property market and going on about what a bad bet it was. All the while new investment gets scared off and stocks dwindle. People now need houses and there aren’t enough, quelle suprise, prices rise.

            • Ennui 1.2.1.2.1.1
              12 April 2013 at 2:47 pm

              Yeah KK I did not question your premise: what I questioned was why you and the other NACT knuckle brains took credit for engendering this scenario (when quite clearly they could not organise a piss up in a brewery)? Or why they thought it was so good?

        • freedom 1.2.1.3
          12 April 2013 at 9:14 am

          hey furry parasite, put down the koolaid and pick up a glass of unflouridated water.

          Do you have a fucking clue about how hard it is out there for working families at the moment. Mums and dads both working full time as rents are skyrocketing and food is joining it and power prices steadily rising all so fatdickheads like yourself can type a few words of cliched superiority. This country is in serious bloody trouble and the selfish ill informed propaganda hungry attitudes of people like yourself are directly responsible.

          • kiwi_prometheus 1.2.1.3.1
            12 April 2013 at 9:27 am

            “Do you have a fucking clue about how hard it is out there for working families at the moment.”

            Of course King Kong doesn’t, he is completely out of touch with ordinary New Zealanders. He tries to cheat his workers ( and their children ) of as much of their income as he can, while he engages in all kinds of tax evasion tactics to avoid paying his fair share.

            King Kong’s motto is “I just want my fair share, and that’s ALL OF IT!”.

          • Roy 1.2.1.3.2
            12 April 2013 at 10:22 am

            Not only does King Kong not have a fucking clue, he doesn’t give a fucking toss, selfish heartless ape that he is.

            • King Kong 1.2.1.3.2.1
              12 April 2013 at 10:32 am

              Wont somebody think of the children!

              For all this “caring” you lefties do and the self satisfied smugness you get from it, what was the last practical thing you did for a poor person?

              p.s. Championing socialist ideologies on the internet doesn’t qualify.

              • One Anonymous Knucklehead …
                12 April 2013 at 10:45 am

                Voting for a “Left” government does, though, and party membership is a step up again, especially if that leads to direct policy input. So many here would meet those criteria.

                Other than that, I would have to say the answer is “none of your business, ape, where did you get the notion that you’re entitled to poke around in people’s personal lives? The GCSB?”

                As for your worshipping the National Party on the basis that you have become richer, everyone from Bob Jones to the Department of Statistics says that Labour are better economic managers than National, so an objective observer would expect you to worship Labour too.

                Tell me you got poorer between 1999 and 2008 and I won’t believe you.

              • freedom …
                12 April 2013 at 11:00 am

                Wow, you really are thick as a concrete bunker if you think you can spout challenges like that and walk away. This is not KiwiBlog, humans visit here.

                “what was the last practical thing you did for a poor person?”
                (I will answer although OAK above has a valid point)

                Apart from trying to keep myself alive without assistance from the current regieme of hate spewing from the MSD as my circumstances do not fit their boxes, I looked at my increasingly barren pantry, made a loaf of bread and delivered it to a local guy I know who is even worse off than I. He is also facing a life that doesn’t fit into the MSD’s little boxes. (the crap about individual circumstances being taken into account that Bennet spouts in the House is frikkin hilarious to hear every single time)

                This small act allowed that person to grieve the loss of their job and the very real possibility of eviction staring them in the face. I have no problem with grown men breaking down into sobbing heaps but find it sickening that lack of a job and a heartless government are the reason his grief was so deep. I myself have the luxury of having paid my next month’s rent with my final paycheck, so have six more weeks before I let myself stress about eviction. I live in my studio so there is little i can offer him for accommodation.

                Now before you bleat on with the pavlov’s response ” but you are on the net, you must have money.” No, i am gambling that the hours currently spent at the workbench will deliver funds later in the month to pay that overdue account, and the overdue power and maybe some shopping for the pantry. Otherwise it will only be public library access for me and more rice dinners. Days like today though where ignorance and greed stomp over the pages we try to learn from, only keep me from the workbench as i feel my own poverty is secondary to the urgency of combatting RWNJs like you.

                KK you are an ignorant selfish and (I suspect inwardly at least) a very sad human that realises life should be fairer but because of your own lack of personal strength have decided it is too hard to be good to other people. I hope you grow to change and that change helps you to grow.

              • Tim …
                12 April 2013 at 5:41 pm

                Well more importantly … what have YOU done! A man (or woman, or whatever else) apparently with much means, obviously believing the philanthropic endeavour of those with means is superior than the ‘nenni state’ in assisting the poverty struck (only the ‘deserving poor mind you – based on a subjective judgement – and one that wouldn’t include illegals, q jumpers, ferals, and what was it? mmm dyke hopscotchers or whatever else your bigotry and paternalistic holier than thou attitude label you apply – an attitide that allows your fucked up selfness is used to make you feel comfortable). KK…. let me know in a few years if and when this site continues, how your offspring feel about you. I’m sure you’re doing a spendid job. I’m really really envious.
                Maaaaaaaaate! I think there’s time for a new addition to the lingo of spin. Halfwit doesn’t quite cut it – I’m not even sure quarterwit would!

        • kiwi_prometheus 1.2.1.4
          12 April 2013 at 9:21 am

          What are you on about, King Kong?

          Do you not read the news, just recently a young Auckland couple with a kid, he is a welder, going no where fast, mounting debt – went to Australia, can now buy a house, pay bills etc doing the same job, money left over at the end of the week.

          So much for your boyfriend Johnnie “closing the gap” with the Aussies.

          You don’t seem to understand what “good work” actually means.

          “by packing in the fags, booze, drugs, gambling and get off their backsides to make their lot better”

          You gloat about your house value ballooning, you feel “richer”, it does so because of the biggest binge in private debt in NZ history fueling a massive speculative bubble.

          Collective economic suicide.

          You are a hypocrite.

          • infused 1.2.1.4.1
            12 April 2013 at 3:01 pm

            Aussie will be short lived. It’s the only country where this is happening.

            • Colonial Viper 1.2.1.4.1.1
              12 April 2013 at 8:19 pm

              Agreed. The tide is turning in Oz. And because they have been used to the phat life for so long, they are going to take the downturn quite badly.

        • Lightly 1.2.1.5
          12 April 2013 at 11:22 am

          The families in the lower 20% of incomes spend an average of $26 a week on takeaways, restaurants, booze, fags, and drugs. The average family spends $72 a week.

          – stats nz

          • Bill 1.2.1.5.1
            12 April 2013 at 4:06 pm

            And if extortionately priced tobacco was taken out of that calculation ($33 for 30g- $55 for 50g), then that average would plummet way below $26. Meanwhile, it wouldn’t have the same dampening effect on the $72 average given that (apparently) more poor people are smokers.

            And a ban sits on effective $2 a week non-smoking alternative nicotine delivery systems…

            • just saying 1.2.1.5.1.1
              12 April 2013 at 11:02 pm

              Been a wee while since you bought tobacco, Bill?
              It’s now $40+ for $30 grams.
              I sure am glad of that $2 alternative, which is nicer than tobacco anyway.

              -Non-smoker for four days and counting…..

        • Draco T Bastard 1.2.1.6
          12 April 2013 at 1:11 pm

          I will care about those in “poverty” when they care about themselves, by packing in the fags, booze, drugs, gambling and get off their backsides to make their lot better.

          Ah, another one that’s bought into the myths that National peddle. That would prove that you’re one of the stupid ones of the right.

          If you can’t look after your kids properly then they should be taken off you. Child “poverty”….solved.

          Oh, look, a RWNJ calling for higher taxes on the rich and the family unit to be broken…

          Talk about nanny state.

        • Puddleglum 1.2.1.7
          12 April 2013 at 10:50 pm

          Hi King Kong,

          “I will care about those in “poverty” when they care about themselves, by packing in the fags, booze, drugs, gambling and get off their backsides to make their lot better.”

          How will you know that each individual person in poverty has done this? When they are not in poverty and so don’t need you to care for them? That is, when you don’t have to care?

          All that tells anyone is that you don’t ever want to care about anyone else because, by definition, if they need you to care for them they don’t deserve you to care for them.

          You can’t be serious about this – can you?

        • Dr Terry 1.2.1.8
          13 April 2013 at 9:37 am

          You are a heartless monster. Please God there are not too many like you (even though clearly you consider yourself some kind of model of perfection).

      • Tim 1.2.2
        12 April 2013 at 1:03 pm

        Whilst there’s this tacit acceptance by many of the labelling by those on the right of any number of minority groups (everything from “illegals”, “queue jumpers”, “dole bludgers”, “dyslexic lesbian hopscotch teams” , etc., etc. —->), I often wonder why the reluctance to call those labellERS what they are: FASCISTS

        • Draco T Bastard 1.2.2.1
          12 April 2013 at 1:22 pm

          Because someone called Godwin fucked it for everyone. Now telling people the truth brings about the childish reply ZOMG, Godwin!!1!!1 from the RWNJs.

          • TheContrarian 1.2.2.1.1
            12 April 2013 at 2:08 pm

            Godwins law doesn’t relate to fascism specifically, only to Hitler and/or the Nazis

          • Tim 1.2.2.1.2
            12 April 2013 at 5:56 pm

            Well of course DT, the hijacking of lingo, the normalisation of spin narrative was always part of the programme. For me though, (alive for over half a century) – the current junta is as ‘right’ a regime as NZ has EVER experienced (and the junta seems proud of it FFS!)
            A Fascist is a Fascist is a Fascist.
            At its most basic – we had JK trying to spin us a line that he struggled under a solo mum in a ‘state hess” with a daddy that died or deserted.
            Well JK … so did mine and we had shithouses in the backyard too. God it was a struggle.
            I walked 5 miles to school everyday, and 5 miles back with cardboard in the soles of my shoes ……. blah blah fukn blah. Oim a sef maid men swell.
            Tell us more about your dad aye JK ! Aw, that’s right – you hardly knew him.

            The most depressing thing for me is the way an electorate has so easily swallowed JK’s cum!
            It’s obscene!

        • Puddleglum 1.2.2.2
          12 April 2013 at 10:58 pm

          Fascism, prior to WWII, used to be a respectable word. It was advocated and used in ordinary political discourse without embarrassment.

          In a sense, the events of WWII and the reaction to those made the term unusable and, hence, it is now verboten to describe the political conditions to which it used to openly refer. ‘Fascism’ is a non-word despite the fact that it remains a popular – but now unacknowledged – political tendency on the right.

    • The Al1en 1.3
      12 April 2013 at 9:04 am

      “I have never been richer”

      “forcing me to pay my staff more.”

      “Thanks National, keep up the good work.”

      Small business owners of the world unite. :wanker:

      • The Al1en 1.3.1
        12 April 2013 at 9:05 am

        “I will care about those in “poverty” when they care about themselves”

        “If you can’t look after your kids properly then they should be taken off you. ”

        Small minded dick heads (QOT 😉 ) of the world, unite. :wanker:

      • King Kong 1.3.2
        12 April 2013 at 9:09 am

        You will never get anywhere with that attitude, dear boy.

        You should ask yourself, is my envy and bristliness keeping me poor?

        • freedom 1.3.2.1
          12 April 2013 at 9:15 am

          if not being poor means hating on people i know nothing about, then give me poverty forever

          • Roy 1.3.2.1.1
            12 April 2013 at 10:25 am

            Me too, I’d rather be poor in money and rich in empathy and humanity than the other way around. No particular reason except that I have to live with myself and my conscience.

            • Tim 1.3.2.1.1.1
              12 April 2013 at 1:15 pm

              +1 !!!! And I’d rather not have to leave my children with a reputation they’ll be embarassed by when things turn to shit.
              Never mind though eh? King Kong’s made arrangements to take all his material wealth, his spectacular intellect and ego with him when he departs this world.

        • The Al1en 1.3.2.2
          12 April 2013 at 9:16 am

          “You will never get anywhere with that attitude, dear boy.”

          I’ve always been somewhere, and my attitudes working just fine, bruv.

          “You should ask yourself, is my envy and bristliness keeping me poor?”

          I envy no-one and you’ll have to define poor before that’ll stick.

        • Tim 1.3.2.3
          12 April 2013 at 6:14 pm

          “You will never get anywhere with that attitude, dear boy.”

          For me KK, the “dear boy” says it all! Gimme a clue tho’. How old are you?

          Approaching ‘relic’ status maybe?

    • TheContrarian 1.4
      12 April 2013 at 9:24 am

      Like K.K I am also doing very well but unlike KK I am not putting much of it down to actions of this Government and I am keenly aware of what problems others are having to make ends meet.

      • Macro 1.4.1
        12 April 2013 at 9:49 am

        Ditto!!

        • DH 1.4.1.1
          12 April 2013 at 10:02 am

          I doubt he’s really done very well for himself, if he was he wouldn’t have the need to tell everyone about it. Just a poser methinks.

          • King Kong 1.4.1.1.1
            12 April 2013 at 10:15 am

            Does the same logic apply to those screaming poverty?

            • DH 1.4.1.1.1.1
              12 April 2013 at 10:19 am

              Don’t hear many people screaming poverty, that’s usually done on their behalf by others concerned about their plight. Different part of the character anyway isn’t it. You’re trying make yourself out to be a big-noter, anyone saying they’re poor would be admitting they’re, well… poor.

            • freedom 1.4.1.1.1.2
              12 April 2013 at 10:28 am

              KingKong delivers a facepalm of such magnitude the scale of the universe crumbles into insignificance

          • Murray Olsen 1.4.1.1.2
            12 April 2013 at 2:55 pm

            I suspect KK(K) is actually a beneficiary, but has just made his way through the illustrated edition of Atlas Shrugged and thinks spouting a few trite slogans will bring him material wealth. Either that, or he is freelancing for the GCSB.

            • Tim 1.4.1.1.2.1
              12 April 2013 at 6:05 pm

              that’s a good observation Murr. If so ….. he’s ‘esprayshhhnul’ ( and probably shagging Pulla Bent on the side )

      • Tim 1.4.2
        12 April 2013 at 6:30 pm

        Beginning to realise (Contrarian), that this government is based on a firm foundation of solid bullshit huh? ( with royalties pending to Timmy dear )!

        I’m doing sufficiently ample (and my kuds doing exceptionally well) thankyou too.
        The other side of the street though are in desperation: struggling under a slum landlord (bankruped a couple of times); increasing their student debt in the name of fairly average bits of paper qulaifications which well earn them a job in the local supermarket (some/MANY about to be on yoof rates), and many about to face Pulla Bent inspired prejudice that will see them with a survival type income. (Oh how grateful they should be eh KK?)
        I’ve been telling them that a natural human response to try escapist behaviour (such as smoking a bit of pot in the back yard, or preloading on their way to a once a week/ once a month let-loose) isn’t going to get them anywhere under her who once behaved as they now do.
        Boi Kroist! jus ez wel nun of im hev kuds eh Pulla? They could find themselves in the same position of you once were and without the regime you were able to take advantage of (at its fullest extent – i.e. claiming a benefit WITH every last addon and boot fucking allowance you could find!)

        Rather, I try and convince them to stand for Yung Neshnools. On or two have.

    • vto 1.5
      12 April 2013 at 12:42 pm

      You stupid ding dong, your house is not climbing in value daily. Relative to other houses they are pretty much remaining static. If you think about it.

      In addition there is no advantage to wider society in high capital values of anything. All it does is pull money out of people pockets to pay interest on bank-printed money to service the debt required to purchase or own that asset.

      dumb

      dumb dumb dumb

      • Draco T Bastard 1.5.1
        12 April 2013 at 1:27 pm

        +1

        Well said.

      • freedom 1.5.2
        12 April 2013 at 3:06 pm

        My Dad, now passed, used to be a proud manager of a Post Office Bank back in the day. Nothing made him more proud than helping a family into a home. And outside of the day to day shenanigans of our not so little tribe, nothing made him more angry than when New Zealand society got the idea that debt was a way to get rich.

    • North 1.6
      12 April 2013 at 9:53 pm

      King Kong @ 1 – Troll having fun.

      Dumb Arse @ 1.1.2 – Thicko being thicko.

    • Godzilla 1.7
      13 April 2013 at 2:20 am

      Hey King Kong, when the bubble bursts, the price of your house will take a dive. You are just like the Nats, unlearned in the subject of economics.

  2. Ad 2
    12 April 2013 at 8:52 am

    Just can’t wait for that Treasury long term forecast to come out. Not that I believe in forecasts, but that it will lay stark the diverging trajectories between those who can join thinking up and those who govern for short term profit interests.

    • TightyRighty 2.1
      12 April 2013 at 8:56 am

      Who needs treasury? IMF says we are headed in the right direction. Thank you National. One more term and you’ll be able to prevent the destruction of all the good work you’ve achieved by the useless and economically illiterate left

      • Lanthanide 2.1.1
        12 April 2013 at 9:02 am

        “One more term and you’ll be able to prevent the destruction of all the good work you’ve achieved by the useless and economically illiterate left

        Yeah, just like the previous left-wing government destroyed the deficit the previous right wing government built up. Now the current right-wing government can get back to the glory days of high deficits.

      • freedom 2.1.2
        12 April 2013 at 10:37 am

        It’s not the deficit itself that is the real problem, it is where the funds that make up the deficit are being spent.

        TightyRighty, you being so clever and all, perhaps you would like to answer the following question: What exactly has forty billion plus actually been spent on in the last four years ?

    • freedom 2.2
      12 April 2013 at 9:02 am

      http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=10875572

      “The government’s net debt at $57.7 billion, or 27.6 per cent of gross domestic product as at Feb. 28, which was 1.1 per cent below forecast.”

      now that is all well and good except the Treasury forecast was for $51.3 billion (table 2.13) http://www.treasury.govt.nz/budget/forecasts/prefu2008/025.htm

      NZ maths may or may not be in trouble by my maths says those two figures are very different

  3. BM 3
    12 April 2013 at 8:58 am

    Bet Dave’s kicking himself, forgetting about all those millions stashed offshore.
    If only he’d remembered, he could have invested all that loot in the Auckland property market and made a killing.

  4. Ad 4
    12 April 2013 at 8:59 am

    The three articles also have strong Labour policy responses to them as well. Do I dare think the public are beginning to agree with Labour’s policy drivers?

  5. DH 5
    12 April 2013 at 9:01 am

    They’ve certainly been busy bees though. This second term is turning out to be a very costly one for workers, they put the machinery in place in the first term and now they’re going for gold. This business with Health Benefits Ltd is a new one to me, media haven’t covered it much;

    “Health Benefits Limited: don’t be fooled by the name”

    http://www.asms.org.nz/Site/News/Perspective/28b_Sep_2011_.aspx

    There’s that nice lady Paula Rebstock again, what would the country do without her. HBL are the ones pushing the outsourcing at hospitals, this recent article has an interesting tidbit;

    “Hospital laundries also facing overhaul”

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10876960

    This line here from that article should concern everyone;

    “Health Benefits would sign a 15-year contract with one provider, with an estimated total saving of $100-$175 million.”

    No-one signs up 15yr contracts for catering or laundry services, this is a direct and deliberate attack on democracy itself. They’re doing these long term contracts to prevent any subsequent Government reversing the outsourcing.

    • freedom 5.1
      12 April 2013 at 9:05 am

      They are just making it very expensive for any subsequent Government reversing the outsourcing,

      • DH 5.1.1
        12 April 2013 at 9:12 am

        “They are just making it very expensive for any subsequent Government reversing the outsourcing,”

        Same thing really isn’t it. It’s still a wilful attack on democracy. If a new government has no power (or money) to undo the damage of a previous Govt then we’re pretty well buggered as a democratic country aren’t we.

        • Colonial Viper 5.1.1.1
          12 April 2013 at 10:51 am

          National are smarter than Labour at locking future options down.

          • Draco T Bastard 5.1.1.1.1
            12 April 2013 at 1:41 pm

            All Labour and the left leaning parties need to do is develop the chutzpah to undo whatever National has done. I’d suggest referendums because then there’s no way that National could undo it themselves.

    • Draco T Bastard 5.2
      12 April 2013 at 1:37 pm

      There’s that nice lady Paula Rebstock again, what would the country do without her.

      Probably quite well.

      No-one signs up 15yr contracts for catering or laundry services, this is a direct and deliberate attack on democracy itself. They’re doing these long term contracts to prevent any subsequent Government reversing the outsourcing.

      Bingo!

      There is no need for long term contracts. Short term would work fine – except that there’s no way that the private sector could beat the public sector on short term contracts and that proves, beyond doubt, that the private is no more efficient than the public sector. And the private contractor will find some way to up how much they’re paid over the term of the contract.

  6. johnm 6
    12 April 2013 at 9:25 am

    100% right Eddie. The Likes of King King should be ignored, it’s his type that’s turned the U$K into a festering dump of bitterness and resentment and ruin with no future prospects other than rapid poverty. The same smearing of the unemployed has been going on for decades and it’s only got them strife on the streets.

    • johnm 6.1
      12 April 2013 at 9:58 am

      I forgot: Greedy b*ggers like King Kong have made it impossible for our young couples to buy a house, no wonder they get out to Australia. And the foreign Aussie money and our greedy governments refusing to pop this false housing bubble with an effective capital gains tax. Yankee John and Double Dipton a part of a long line of greedy b@ggers. Now they want to get money off poorer people by kicking a 100,000 of benefits in 10 years so they can maintain their greedy lifestyles.Go fall off your arrogant spire King kong. !:-(!

  7. Rosie 7
    12 April 2013 at 10:15 am

    Oh dear. WTF moment number 974. Did anyone see Blinglish on 3 news last night actually gloating about our high dollar? He was standing at a podium, addressing I don’t know who saying “Look at all the cheap things you can buy at the warehouse now!!!” with barely contained glee. The obvious “not the right approach Bill” moment aside, why the fuck would you want to buy cheap shit from the warehouse?

    And, as one of those 300,000 jobless, I am today marking the 2nd year anniversary of being unemployed. Until now I had never been unemployed in my life. Here’s to you National Govt for doing all that you’ve done to support and acknowledge us. Oh wait………………

    • Ennui 7.1
      12 April 2013 at 11:20 am

      Gloating about the high dollar…..Blinglish is just like KK, he believes that he actually did something to cause this. The reality is that emotion is what makes markets / casinos hum, and the emotion in the finance casino at the moment is that the Eurozone is highly unsafe….so it dips versus the US$…which in turn is seen to be highly overvalued because they owe so much to China and themselves….and we sit at the end of the chain with nice cows and sheep which seems to emote some stability in price (until somebody gets negatively emotional about milk marketing prospects)……

      The point of this column is that a whole pile of indicators “seem wrong”. Are they? The high dollar might be seen as a good thing, it might denote economic strength on a comparative basis at the finance casino….who knows. The only indicator I care about is can we feed ourselves, clothe ourselves, house ourselves and stay healthy? I couldn’t give a toss about our consumer consumption, disposable incomes, if we have a job etc, so long as the former are in place.

      • Draco T Bastard 7.1.1
        12 April 2013 at 1:48 pm

        The only indicator I care about is can we feed ourselves, clothe ourselves, house ourselves and stay healthy?

        A lot of us can’t – a few are doing very, very well though.

        • Ennui 7.1.1.1
          12 April 2013 at 2:40 pm

          Yeah, its pretty basic stuff and if it cant be done here you have to ask the question why not? Same old story, enough for everybody’s need, but not enough for everybody’s greed.

    • infused 7.2
      12 April 2013 at 10:04 pm

      Get a job then. There are plenty around/

      • Colonial Viper 7.2.1
        12 April 2013 at 10:13 pm

        yeah there’s a tonne of $25/hr jobs out there, employers are so short of staff they’ll even provide on the job training, 5 weeks leave a year, flexi time to suit your family and lifestyle, and even overtime at 1.5x hourly rates.

      • Rosie 7.2.2
        13 April 2013 at 8:59 am

        I have a job confused. I work part time doing volunteer work for a very successful NGO. I want a paying job. If you had any idea about the job market you wouldn’t be saying daft shit like there’s plenty of jobs around. And here’s my usual disclaimer for all the tards out there: I don’t receive any govt assistance. We just struggle along on one income. Happy now?

        How does it feel to be so hateful of people you know nothing of?

  8. Roy 8
    12 April 2013 at 10:24 am

    Jonkey is comfortable with the situation.

  9. Steady Course 9
    12 April 2013 at 11:28 am

    Hey dont forget the (entirely fictional) ‘manufacturing crisis’ that the left have been spouting on about. Manufacturing is EXPANDING! lol, embarrasing much?

    [lprent: Unsubstantiated unlinked assertion removed. ]

    • freedom 9.1
      12 April 2013 at 11:35 am

      could you supply some evidence of that, please, we would love to see it, as would the manufacturing industries of Aotearoa

    • One Anonymous Knucklehead 9.2
      12 April 2013 at 11:39 am

      [citation needed]

      Sales for all manufacturing. Source: Stats NZ.

      2007Q1 19,795.700
      2007Q2 20,226.572
      2007Q3 20,888.507
      2007Q4 21,650.652
      2008Q1 22,289.650
      2008Q2 22,719.182
      2008Q3 23,027.016
      2008Q4 22,814.006
      2009Q1 21,814.092
      2009Q2 20,655.305
      2009Q3 20,086.502
      2009Q4 20,217.579
      2010Q1 20,678.698
      2010Q2 21,066.136
      2010Q3 21,389.401
      2010Q4 21,837.917
      2011Q1 22,401.772
      2011Q2 22,762.820
      2011Q3 22,927.134
      2011Q4 22,899.168
      2012Q1 22,666.818
      2012Q2 22,565.258
      2012Q3 22,743.988
      2012Q4 22,914.259

    • lprent 9.3
      12 April 2013 at 11:42 am

      Links are a more lot more convincing than a simple assertion by a simpleton. Then others can examine your source and tell you why you are so stupid and/or gullible.

      You should try links sometime. They add a credibility that you lack (unless you link to Whaleoil of course – that clown just makes shit up).

      • fender 9.3.1
        12 April 2013 at 11:53 am

        Oh that’s so cruel, there’s a fool named chris73 who ‘thinks’ Whaleoil is gospel. This revelation will most likely ruin him.

      • Steady Course 9.3.2
        12 April 2013 at 12:35 pm

        “Links are a more lot more convincing than a simple assertion by a simpleton.”

        Lecturing others on their simplicity when you have trouble stringing a cohesive sentence together. Priceless

        [lprent: It is what happens when you’re editing/writing on a tablet. Now about these links?

        Lets add some encouragement. I’ll just wipe every comment you do that contains an unlinked assertion. See your comment above. Priceless eh? ]

        • NickS 9.3.2.1
          12 April 2013 at 2:10 pm

          🙄

          Welcome to the internet, were it’s content that matters, not so much grammar or sentence structure, as long as it’s readable of course.

          And using such an attack, well, it usually indicates the poster is a fucking moron. More so when they don’t actually bother addressing the content of the post they’re attacking.

          • Steady Course 9.3.2.1.1
            12 April 2013 at 2:39 pm

            “And using such an attack, well, it usually indicates the poster is a fucking moron”

            Do you have a link for this unsubstantiated claim???

            lprent this is a unlinked assertion you need to wipe this comment

            • NickS 9.3.2.1.1.1
              12 April 2013 at 4:42 pm

              /Omnomnom

              Moron-baiting be so damn easy. As for sauce, why it comes from years of accumulated social interactions online, in which it quickly becomes apparent that morons give themselves away by a spread of behaviour. Such as ignoring content to attack tone/grammar…

              Also, you still haven’t shown that manufacturing has increased under National, i.e. we can haz time-series graph showing that, + supporting arguments for why National is responsible, rather than global economic situation? Which would be teh “null hypothesis”.

              • One Anonymous Knucklehead …
                12 April 2013 at 5:40 pm

                Steady on Nick. Please establish that SC has the cognitive tools to withstand such criticisms. These wingnuts are a bit fragile at the mo.

  10. Steady Course 10
    12 April 2013 at 11:53 am

    Business of NZ performance of manufacturing index

    http://www.businessnz.org.nz/surveys/501

    [lprent: Oh I see that you actually found a link. Removing the auto-moderation.

    As a comment… Look across the whole time series since 2008 and it has actually gone backwards. And that is before you consider the absolute figures. Basically you can get almost any desired outcome if you are selective with single figures – which is what you appear to be doing. ]

    • One Anonymous Knucklehead 10.1
      12 April 2013 at 5:38 pm

      We call that the “trend”, Steady.

      I recall Michael Cullen’s substantive criticisms of banks’ economic forecasting. That’s not to say your source is corrupt beyond redemption of course, just that it’s worth double-checking.

  11. Wayne (a different one) 11
    12 April 2013 at 12:16 pm

    Okay Eddie – lets put some balance to your left wing propoganda and spin.

    Your article will certainly resonate amongst the “great unwashed” out there, excellent brainwashing material.

    Housing bubble – correct if I’m wromg, but didn’t the previous record level for house price increases occur in 2007, which just happened coincide 8 years into Labours term in office. What did they do to fix it – nothing!!

    300,000 jobless, I don’t have the statistics for each year of Labours term – but put them up for a comparison – might make some interesting reading/comparison.

    100,000 underemployed – what does that mean and where are your facts? – again put up Labours record/figures.

    1,000 fleeing to Australia per week – they were also fleeing under the Labour regime. You also don’t put up the counter of how may are returning. There will always be an inflow/outflow of migration. I also suspect may of these migrants are earlier immigrants to NZ who came here because they couldn’t get into Australia initially and now they have a NZ Passport, are off.

    Rising Poverty – that is just such a “throw away” cheap commentary. O course you would claim there was no poverty under Labour and thay had the problem (if there is one) fixed.

    Poverty is not abouty money – it’s about a state of mind. If you think poor you will always be poor. If you want to lift the bar, then its up to each individual to make it happen (I think its called pride and self determination), not the bloody state holding your hand from craddle to grave.

    • Lanthanide 11.1
      12 April 2013 at 12:50 pm

      “300,000 jobless, I don’t have the statistics for each year of Labours term – but put them up for a comparison – might make some interesting reading/comparison.”

      It’s been done before. Search on this site and I’m sure you’ll find posts on it.

      Just to save you the bother: unemployment dropped to it’s lowest levels ever under the last Labour government, after Bill English had said in 1999 prior to the election that “getting unemployment below 6% is a con”.

      “1,000 fleeing to Australia per week – they were also fleeing under the Labour regime. ”
      Yes, but it’s risen to record levels under National, after they campaigned in 2008 to “say goodbye to high taxes, not your loved ones”.

      “I also suspect may of these migrants are earlier immigrants to NZ who came here because they couldn’t get into Australia initially and now they have a NZ Passport, are off.”
      Except they’re not, because being an NZ citizen doesn’t give you any extra help becoming citizens in Australia.

      “Rising Poverty – that is just such a “throw away” cheap commentary. O course you would claim there was no poverty under Labour and thay had the problem (if there is one) fixed.”

      If you read the posts on this site, you’ll find most (all?) of the authors saying Labour didn’t do enough. National is actively going backwards.

      • Draco T Bastard 11.1.1
        12 April 2013 at 1:54 pm

        Just to save you the bother: unemployment dropped to it’s lowest levels ever under the last Labour government, after Bill English had said in 1999 prior to the election that “getting unemployment below 6% is a con”.

        Not according to this graph unless you’re only talking about times since the 4th Labour government started screwing over the economy.

      • Green machine UpandComer 11.1.2
        13 April 2013 at 2:30 pm

        Labour had record numbers on disability benefits. Labour also grossly inflated the public service. That helps with unemployment.

        It’s interesting that the same number of people were leaving under the ‘good time’s as under the world recession isn’t it.

        Labour put forward a lot of rhetoric on poverty, but just giving beneficiaries more money isn’t curing poverty.

    • rosy 11.2
      12 April 2013 at 6:04 pm

      “100,000 underemployed – what does that mean and where are your facts?”

      In part, it means this:

      This casual employment contract covers all legal requirements for information to be given to an employee. It is a superb framework for fair and full protection of the employer and compliance with organisational requirements…

      – Casual work contract complying with current law
      – Employer has no obligation to provide work

      I’d be interested to see how many people get this type of contract in the new hospital kitchens and laundries.

  12. Draco T Bastard 12
    12 April 2013 at 1:02 pm

    Meanwhile, rich countries are adding manufacturing jobs because its only by making stuff and adding value to it that you really become wealthy as a country.

    QFT

    But there’s another aspect as well – it’s physically impossible to export ourselves to wealth. What exporting really does is export the resources we have to other countries leaving us with nothing but money – and money is nothing. Then there’s the new study out showing that international trade leaves the world worse off unless interest rates are at zero or less.

    No, we need to be building up diversity in our economy to increase our living standard and not looking to export our wealth to other countries. We need to stop thinking that having money in the bank makes us wealthy as it doesn’t.

    It’s called self sufficiency. Something that both the right and the left supposedly support and yet they then go on about how we are dependent upon trade.

    Finally, there’s confirmation that National’s trying to hock off our assets to foreigners.

    That was always been the case. National aren’t here for NZers but rich people and the richest people don’t live in NZ – they just want to own it and make serfs of NZers.

  13. johnm 13
    12 April 2013 at 5:14 pm

    Yankee John and Double Dipton are clueless bastards. Enjoy you fuckwit greedy kiwis who voted this shower in, you’ll reap your reward be sure of that scum.

    • One Anonymous Knucklehead 13.1
      12 April 2013 at 5:43 pm

      Clueless fuckwits deserve sympathy, not punishment. Please give generously to the Wingnut Trust

    • Draco T Bastard 13.2
      12 April 2013 at 7:53 pm

      Yankee John and Double Dipton are clueless bastards.

      No they’re not – they’re screwing over NZ to enrich their rich mates exactly as planned.

      • Colonial Viper 13.2.1
        12 April 2013 at 8:12 pm

        Yep. A series of ‘incompetent coincidences’ each one leaving the top 1% richer than the last?

        That’s by design, not by accident.

  14. infused 14
    12 April 2013 at 10:06 pm

    What a cluster fuck of a topic this one was.

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