We can haz vision?

Written By: IrishBill - Date published: 3:30 pm, July 14th, 2009 - 31 comments
Categories: economy, national/act government - Tags: john key, recession, vision

johnkey180 According to NZPA John Key is going to deliver a big speech tomorrow in which he will “detail the problems and solutions for New Zealand’s economy”. I’m not holding my breath.

As I said two weeks ago when he indicated he would announce a plan to stop job losses (he still hasn’t, perhaps this will be it) I don’t expect anything other than a few fine words and a PR gesture designed to deflect building criticism that the government is sitting on its hands.

Maybe he’ll announce some “new” spending that is only repackaged old spending, like English did with his “stimulus package“. Maybe he’ll announce the “Productivity Group” which will be stacked with all the same old faces that made productivity a synonym for “pay cut” in the 1990s and probably won’t go anywhere, or maybe he’ll just waffle out some focus-group tested catchphrases like “ambitious for New Zealand” that don’t mean anything but are intended to placate the gallery and make us all feel like National are doing something.

Or maybe it will be a real announcement. With real measures. Like public-private partnerships. Like contracting out large chunks of State Owned Enterprises. Like cutting restrictions on foreign investment. Like gutting public spending and outsourcing local government to “reduce debt”^TM. Like all the crony capitalist things Fran O’Sullivan and National’s business backers have been baying for for months and still are in the Herald’s “Mood of the Boardroom” report today.

Damn, the more I think about it the sweeter Key’s empty tokenism starts to look.

31 comments on “We can haz vision? ”

Comments are now closed

So Bored 1

14 July 2009 at 3:41 pm

I await in absolute anticipation, my feet planted firmly on my bike pedals……
Bill 2

14 July 2009 at 3:55 pm

John Key on Sunrise on his speech tomorrow…. “It’s pretty high level, so don’t look for too much in it”

Draw whatever conclusions you might from that.

http://www.scoop.co.nz/multimedia/tv/politics/24402.html
- IrishBill 2.1
  
  14 July 2009 at 3:57 pm
  
  That’s like a quote from The Office.
- snoozer 2.2
  
  14 July 2009 at 4:02 pm
  
  said with that typical lack of self-awareness too.
  
  He sounds like he’s saying high level talks don’t result in anything actually happening. What I think he meant was it would be talking about the issues at a high (theoritical) level, rather than practical stuff, which is just as bad really.
  
  Of course, who knows what the hell he means when he opens his mouth. He’ll just the opposite the next day anyway.
  - Bill 2.2.1
    
    14 July 2009 at 4:09 pm
    
    I fot he woz saing we iz all too fik to get whot hez goeng to be saing.
    - ak 2.2.1.1
      
      14 July 2009 at 4:56 pm
      
      He will make a speech in Wellington tomorrow morning where he will detail the problems and solutions for New Zealand’s economy.
      
      So he’ll be higher than the biketrack summit yet providing detail. Fascinating. We might get a skatepark out of this one.
The Voice of Reason 3

14 July 2009 at 4:03 pm

Gosh, I’m excited, too. I wonder if one of the Great Roots* will be near my place? And when will the Macca’s open up?

We had a community meeting last week and decided we didn’t need recycling, street lighting or the pavement fixed, but boy, are we keen to ride on down to the burger bar to do our shift and then spend the money on the neccessities of life like hot cakes and egg mcpuffins.

I’ve seen the future and it’s got fries with it.

*must check the spelling. It may not be quite right.
mike 4

14 July 2009 at 4:15 pm

IB: I have of only half of those real measures you mentioned are carried out I would happy
jarbury 5

14 July 2009 at 4:27 pm

I wonder what idea he’s going to pinch from the Green Party this time.
Irascible 6

14 July 2009 at 4:33 pm

The picture says it all…weak, ineffectual, nervous, undecided and out of his depth. This is the picture he presents not just to NZ but to the wider world.
Ianmac 7

14 July 2009 at 5:02 pm

Helen said “Jobs,Jobs, Jobs.”
John said “Ummm. What do you want me to say? Are you rich people or workers, or are you householders, or bread munchers? Tell me so I can tell you what you want to hear.”
- mike 7.1
  
  14 July 2009 at 7:57 pm
  
  “Helen said “Jobs,Jobs, Jobs.’
  
  No matter how many times you say it Ian they don’t magically appear
  - BLiP 7.1.1
    
    14 July 2009 at 11:58 pm
    
    With the John Key National Government Inc its more of a vanishing act.
millsy 8

14 July 2009 at 5:24 pm

slash wages, welfare, sell everything, destory public health and education, bring back slavery.

There.
- Zaphod Beeblebrox 8.1
  
  14 July 2009 at 5:59 pm
  
  Its all too hard, we can’t do anything, the market controls us, our ideological blinkers means we can’t think of ways to grow the economy or improve the tax base, we can never raise taxes again as Milto Friedman told us, all those bludgers are dragging us down, Australia has too many minerals for us to compete, we`can’t see past the next six months so ther’s no point promoting science or skills. Roger and Rodney told me so. Are there any other excuses available?
craig 9

14 July 2009 at 10:33 pm

John Key :Thanks for aaah showing up Im aaah kinda relaxed about this you know aaah. So I have been talking with my peeps, you know Inga the Singa and Saint Michael and we have a new Gig we are putting together its new and you know hip, thats half of it ha ha the other half is hop. I have run it past Bill and he has said no bloody way over my dead body, so aah there you have it I reckon it would cost about 50 million just a rough kinda on the back of a napkin guess but we are gonna work it in with party central. So thats it really, my business buddies will love it cause no matter what shit I dream up I have their confidence.
ak 10

14 July 2009 at 10:36 pm

Great roots. ! By George, I think you might be onto something here, VOR old chap.
Think about it. An unknown character from nowhere with all the bland and soothing attributes of a salesman from Central Casting emerges on the cusp of a threatening economic crisis with a gilt-edged resume in finance, and just happens to have the surname Key!

And of the few defining differences our ingratiating Mr “Key” makes to the electorate, most resonant are the promise of tax-cuts in excess of $50/week and a cycle track.

Message to the swinging voter: The Key gives free money and great roots!

Happy coincidence for the well-heeled party of marketeers whose venality has historically met no bounds? Or the most devious and cunning subliminal advertising campaign yet seen in this fair and virginal land!

Prediction: when next the polls reflect a wavering in the public mood, The Key will announce a courageous personal campaign to liberate a poor, wrongfully-incarcerated victim of the justice system. Surname Piss.
the sprout 11

14 July 2009 at 11:10 pm

god he’s so out of his depth it’d be funny if it weren’t so sad.
- Razorlight 11.1
  
  15 July 2009 at 6:40 am
  
  yet he remains the most popular leader in New Zealand. A position he has held for well over 12 months.
  
  How do you explain that.
  
  I just can’t work out why this government is the most polular in modern history???
  - Craig Glen Eden 11.1.1
    
    15 July 2009 at 7:03 am
    
    McDonald’s has more restaurants than any other company in the world, its food is shit try explaining that Razorlight. Yep you guessed it they both have clowns fronting for them and sell shit little toys made out to be more than they are.
    - Razorlight 11.1.1.1
      
      15 July 2009 at 7:16 am
      
      yes and McDonalds is one of the most succesful restaurants/companies in the world.
      
      Are you using their success as an anology for this sucessful goverment?
      - Craig Glen Eden 11.1.1.1.1
        
        15 July 2009 at 7:55 am
        
        Yes it all depends how you view success. I suspect Gorden Ramsey and Jamie Oliver would probably not view McDonald’s as great food either, but hey what would they know about food or running restaurants. As far as good Government management for me it goes lowest employment/ highest employment since the 30s, economy growth of about a 2.4%, paying back government debt down 18% from 35 to 17%, decreasing child poverty. Then as far as political success goes I would have to say success would be making the opposition adopt all your major policies ( some call that swallowing dead fish).
        Popularity does not rate that high on my agenda when you are in the first year of a three year term. But when you Govern by focus groups and thats all the policy you have then I suppose it would mean the world to you.
        
        Razorlight 11.1.1.1.1.1
        
        15 July 2009 at 8:01 am
        
        Just out of interest
        
        do you think employment rates have more to do with the international economy and success/failure of companies like McDonalds. or is more to do with visionaries like Michael Cullen
  - Mark M 11.1.2
    
    15 July 2009 at 7:06 am
    
    because the previous government and PM set such a low standard
Craig Glen Eden 12

15 July 2009 at 8:23 am

Razorlight, McDonalds does absolutley nothing for the NZ economy. Why? because they don’t produce anything much in NZ and then sell it overseas to earn overseas currency.
Cullen on the other hand had enough vision to pay of Government debt and encourage NZers to save, all affecting the balance of payments deficit figures in a positive way.So in terms of politicians, Cullen was visionary.I certainly don’t think a cycle tract is visionary in political terms nor party central but hey you probably do.
.
Razorlight 13

15 July 2009 at 8:40 am

Sorry but can you explain what the hell you mean by

‘because they don’t produce anything much in NZ and then sell it overseas to earn overseas currency’
- Craig Glen Eden 13.1
  
  15 July 2009 at 11:12 am
  
  Your point was I think that MCDs employs people and that employment is effected by the Overseas economy., then you made a point about whats more important these companies or Micheal Cullen and his vision.
  My points are the vision of the finance minister is important it sets the playing field for business to do business.Cullen was mindful of this and he tried to correct some structural stuff in our economy. He actually was visionary. Two McDonalds does not make any thing and sell it overseas, they don’t earn NZ inc a thing. They are not helping our balance of payments.
  On the other hand anyone who sells NZ product off shore is visionary eg farmers are important because they earn overseas currency they have had to adapt and create new products in a changing world.The more we can sell overseas ( earn overseas currency) the greater chance we have of increasing NZ wealth and therefore NZers standard of living.So McDonalds is not visionary in my view they simply followed Henry Fords example and applied that to Burgers. Is there product good (debatable) is it good for our health (no ) do they earn export dollars for NZ (No). Equals not very visionary.
Brickley Paiste 14

15 July 2009 at 9:14 am

Wanna bet it’s about Industrial Relations? Changes to industrial laws to “boost productivity”. Just a guess.
- Craig Glen Eden 14.1
  
  15 July 2009 at 11:20 am
  
  Changes to industrial law does not bring about true productivity growth in an economy.
  This is one of Nationals major flawed ideologies. Poor employment law just lets bad employers get away with bad practice.
  Its easy to address poor performance, however some employers are to stupid to do it.
Roy 15

15 July 2009 at 12:58 pm

Tis great the results in the latest Morgan Poll for National has the public firmly behind him.