Posts Tagged ‘choices’

The Speech: Active Government

Written By: - Date published: 1:16 pm, November 18th, 2012 - 27 comments

David Shearer’s speech to conference was everything that it needed to be – and more. The headlines will be about KiwiBuild, as they should be, it’s a stunning policy. But just as important for the future of the country is the strong commitment to active government.

Choices: Paid parental leave

Written By: - Date published: 10:00 am, July 26th, 2012 - 46 comments

Key loves mythical “mum and dad investors”. Real mums and dads – not so much.

Nats pay for booze for the elite, cut home insulation for families

Written By: - Date published: 11:15 am, May 30th, 2012 - 33 comments

National blew the VIP entertainment budget for the Rugby World Cup by $5 million, despite none of the promised big names actually turning up. They got the extra dosh out of Mfat’s budget. In unrelated news, the government is cutting the Greens’ Warm Up New Zealand programme, which has returned four times its costs in benefits. There’s no money, you see.

Red or blue?

Written By: - Date published: 12:00 pm, November 25th, 2011 - 31 comments

Key’s Drunken Sailor

Written By: - Date published: 4:37 pm, November 1st, 2011 - 42 comments

Key’s Drunken Sailor “joke” tells us a lot about his priorities…

Tai Poutini finds new funding stream

Written By: - Date published: 5:10 pm, July 7th, 2011 - 4 comments

Te Tai Poutini Polytechnic is receiving an additional $750 million funding from Minister Steven Joyce after changing its name to the South Western Motorway.

Choosing to be poor

Written By: - Date published: 7:32 am, May 24th, 2011 - 24 comments

Prominent  scientist Sir Paul Callaghan thinks Kiwis are choosing to be poor.  I reckon he’s right too, but we probably disagree about the reasons.

They cut, we pay

Written By: - Date published: 7:44 am, May 11th, 2011 - 49 comments

The Nats have run this country into the ground and say there’s no option but to slash Kiwisaver. The actual cuts they announce will be less than foreshadowed, and we will then be expected to be grateful. It’s the Nats’ old trick. But the reality is there’s no need for Kiwisaver cuts at all. Not while the rich keep the tax cuts National gave them.

Some are more equal than others

Written By: - Date published: 11:32 am, May 7th, 2011 - 11 comments

Gordon Campbell demolishes the Nats’ hasty excuse that the blowout in Key’s diplomatic protection costs is due to a particular threat.  He also takes Judith Collins to task for her argument that the police should have an unlimited and unaccountable protection budget , or lives could be put at risk…

Youth jobs scheme

Written By: - Date published: 12:00 pm, May 5th, 2011 - 14 comments

It’s not often that the Nats do anything praiseworthy, so I like to take note when they get it right.  Their new youth jobs scheme, even though it only partially reverses their previous cuts, is at least a step in the right direction.

Choices: Tax cuts or teachers

Written By: - Date published: 7:10 am, May 2nd, 2011 - 65 comments

You’re the ruling government.  Which do you choose, tax cuts for 47 millionaires or salaries for 121 new teachers?  It’s not a hypothetical question…

Choices, Choices

Written By: - Date published: 1:37 pm, April 7th, 2011 - 25 comments

Labour’s lineup emerges

Written By: - Date published: 1:43 pm, July 6th, 2010 - 50 comments

Labour’s lineup for the next election is emerging, the usual balance between continuity and new talent. There will be some interesting electorate selections coming up. Such personality politics is always very popular of course, but more important than the people is the policy…

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