Posts Tagged ‘translating tories’

Creating opportunities

Written By: - Date published: 9:14 am, November 13th, 2011 - 16 comments

The Nats admit that they’ve failed to close the gap between rich and poor.  In fact, of course, it’s getting worse.  Bill English says they’ve “created opportunities”, which is Tory speak for doing nothing at all.

Pragmatism and the limits of patience

Written By: - Date published: 9:08 am, April 13th, 2011 - 20 comments

Bill English managed to cause quite a fuss this week with his claim that New Zealand had a “competitive advantage” due to factors like our low wage economy.  Another of the factors that English cited was how “pragmatic” the public are as the Nats ram through their economic changes…

Translating Tories: “Creeping political correctness in our schools”

Written By: - Date published: 1:25 pm, February 4th, 2010 - 16 comments

I wasn’t expecting to do another in this series so soon, but then I’m much too polite to decline a clear invitation like this. John Key says that parents should not have to put up with “creeping political correctness in our schools”. So what does “creeping political correctness in our schools” mean? Its tempting to […]

Translating Tories: “Incentives to get ahead”

Written By: - Date published: 12:58 pm, February 3rd, 2010 - 49 comments

This is the first post in an occasional series that will translate Tory speak into plain language (fellow writers and guest posters are welcome to play!). Today’s exhibit is this corker from the Double Dip: “Finance Minister Bill English today confirmed Budget 2010 will be delivered on May 20 and will set out important policies […]