Elections are coming up. What are we thinking?

[Berries]

The problem is the american imf

You're unbelievable.

[Brian d marge]

You're unbelievable.

Thank you

I assume you disagree

[Hinny]

So NZ caused a Global Economic Crisis which has been going on from 2009 to now?
That's funny I could have sworn that NZ's economy was one of the fastest growing in the OECD.
It's probably too much to expect that you would back these assertions up with some facts, isn't it?
How are you going with your "Mumbai has the most billionaires" thing"?

Not that I would stoop to calling you a retarded myopic fucktard I can imagine others might.
Your opening line was indeed a strange interpretation of my post, and you have an equally strange interpretation of the current state of this economy. You are making out like it is doing well! It's probably too much to expect that you would back these assertions up with some facts, isn't it? If the economy was doing well I would anticipate the Minister of Finance crowing about his success, not trying to blame the previous govt. for the parlous state of the economy. It has been stated that this govt. has the worst financial record in our history and this guy is blaming the previous govt.

As for your 'proof' that London has the most Billionaires did you bother to read the article you quoted?
Only 1 of the top ten Billionaires on their list was from Britain. The other 9 were from India and Russia. My source was Piers Morgan and so we have proof coming from the equivalent of the Truth and The Herald. ie not that reliable. Sure those guys may have homes in London but that is like Australians 'pinching' our artists and calling them their own or NZ 'pinching' Islanders for the All Blacks and calling them Kiwis.
The number of Billionaires in London doesn't advance your theories much either considering the state of the British economy. Debt of 400% of GDP - It's FUCKED. No wonder they have to join with the US to go and pinch the resources of other countries. As what has been labelled as the most Fascist country in the world they are arguably a prime example of the failure of the very system you are trying to promote as the ideal.
The US with a debt of 230% of GDP has a get out of jail card in the petro dollar. Hence the need to get rid of Saddam Hussein and Muamar Qaddafi. Each of them wanting to get away from oil sales in dollars one could argue would have led to US financial collapse.
Again it is a prime example of the failure of the capitalist system. When one realises that the capital in the US economy is a lot like monopoly money then the point becomes more relevant. These 'banksters' merely print money . Who they are is unknown. Never audited by the US govt. A seemingly bizarre situation.

[Hinny]

My missus says I'm classless

You know what, without equivocation, I can believe that.
She is obviously a perceptive woman.

[Hinny]

OK, interesting opinions but (put simplistically) what I base most of mine on is "the purchasing power of our dollars" almost all of which are now discretionary.

When I retired in 1999 I had everything sorted out to (give or take) see us through to the end, based on living to 100! ... God forbid!

The value of and the purchasing power of our "nest egg" (for the want of description) has been more savagely eroded under Clark's Labour lead coalitions!

We now have almost no way left to us of making required adjustments to cover the erosion of our discretionary $$'s !

The only way for us is to "hope" that a left wing (envy based) government is denied office!

Of those that are in the offering at this election it is our opinion (selfishly if you like) that there be no change at least for the next term!

Every political party (except Democrats for Social Credit) pledge to continue with the same current flawed monetary policies so there is only more of the same on offer!

And you expect something "different" to come from that?

Your loss of nest egg buying power is unfortunately a byproduct of the economy performing as the popular misconception of success regards as good. The measure of success and focus is on growth in the economy. Perpetuation of a financial Ponzi scheme. This is clearly a simplistic measure and does not reflect well-offness.
Your labeling of a left wing govt. as 'envy based' seems bizarre to me. Every Labour govt. that has been in office in this country has turned the economy around from the recessions Nat govts. have put us in. The growth in the economy during Helen's years led to the erosion of your nest egg's buying power. It also led to the building of mansions all around the country.
Travelling through NZ one can identify architecture with govts. Architects generally love Labour govts. Lots of work.
During Helen's years we were importing architects flat out.
Low cost, Group housing tends to be associated with Nat govts.

As I stated before the election of this current mob the smart money appeared to be on a change of govt. with a lot of the Whitford mansions on the market - I suggested they were cashing up in preparation for a downturn in the economy if a Nat. govt. was elected. My assessment appears to have been on the money.
So, we weathered the financial storm that was the GEC, along with Australia, better than all the other OECD countries.
$10 Bn debt with $10Bn in reserves - so effectively zero debt.
Now after 6 years, of good times, we have flogged off the best of the family silver (what little we got for it stuck into a slush fund) and have a reported debt of $75 Bn.
The worst financial record of any govt. in our history.
No wonder Bill English was clutching at straws trying to explain his govts. failure.

I can see your perspective tho'. As long as the economy is depressed then generally we have low inflation - unless we experience the Muldoon govt. version and have Stagflation.

[Berries]

I assume you disagree

Oh, IMF. My mistake.

As you were.

[carbonhed]

Now after 6 years, of good times.

Ladies and Gentleman we stand in the presence of genius

[Katman]

One day you will live to regret that statement

I don't think I will Robert.

I look forward to one day seeing a government that places other values higher than power and money.

Power and money go hand in hand with corruption.

[yokel]

I don't think I will Robert.

I look forward to one day seeing a government that places other values higher than power and money.

Power and money go hand in hand with corruption.

The government is course of the problem and is not goin to fix the problem.

But if you want to sit on your arse and let big dady government sort our shit out then go right ahead and vote for the arse kisser who tells you what you want to hear.

[Katman]

The government is course of the problem and is not goin to fix the problem.

But if you want to sit on your arse and let big dady government sort our shit out then go right ahead and vote for the arse kisser who tells you what you want to hear.

Bit early to be on the piss, isn't it?

[yokel]

Bit early to be on the piss, isn't it?

So you think power and money corrupts and the solution is to vote someone in to a position with power and a whole lot of money to play with? And you think I'm on the piss? well I can see why you'd think that haha.

Where do you think the government gets it power from?

[pritch]

I used to be a regular (more like religious) reader of the blog Whale Oil Beef Hooked. Last night on a whim I purchased the Kindle version of "Dirty Politics" from Amazon. Currently I'm about half way through, and the period covered is the same period I was reading the blog and I can recall many of the blog entries referred to in the book. The overwhelming impression I have is the book rings true. It is no surprise to me that Slater was less than honest, but the sheer amount of deception is truly amazing.

The National Party are busy denying the accuracy of the book but the dirty works were not only employed against oposition parties but against Government MPs that Slater and his friends didn't like. There is a really interesting account of how Slater and an accomplice rigged the candidate selection process in a National seat. Basically Slater's motivation in this instance appears to be monetary. According to the book (and his emails) he gets $80,000 a year to let the tobacco lobby post entries in his blog. Nice work if you can get it.

Meanwhile I have a couple of bikes to ride including the new Valkyrie, see ya.

[oldrider]

Speaks more about the readers than the blogger ..... it's like KB, if nobody reads it the blog is dead!

[Mr Revhead]

.......Subsequent investigation of the illegal spying on Kim Dotcom uncovered the fact that the GCSB in particular regularly and knowingly had broken the law on numerous other occassions, illegally spying on at least 88 New Zealanders, when their founding charter expressly forbid such spying.


Jog your memory?

Yeah I thought you were talking about that. Now, how is your memory?
Why were the GCSB doing it?
How was it illegal?

They were doing at the request of the police who were acting under court issued warrants to gather evidence on people strongly suspected to be involved in illegal activities.

Why was it illegal? A technicality. They thought they were allowed to assist the police under warrant. Turns out they were wrong and changes have been made.

It was not unsupervised mass surveillance for dodgy reasons as you are trying to imply. It was not the GCSB abusing it's power and peaking at peoples nude pxts. It was not some GSCB guy checking on his ex's gf or anything like that at all.

So, your comment is pretty wide of the mark.

Question: Do you sleep in your tinfoil hat?

[Mr Revhead]

blah blah drivel drivel drivel blah blah

Bloody hell man, do you read what you write?!
What is your motivation? I seriously hope you don't believe all you write.