She's a bit of a heifer - But I think I love Paula Bennett

[MisterD]

but why didn't the govt let them fold?

Because the knock-on effects would have made the party of government that did so, unelectable for at least a generation.
Because it's easier to make it look like they've saved us the pain, when in reality it's a smoke-and-mirrors deal where they print the money to "save" them and we all suffer as the value of our savings devalues due to the inflation they've caused.

The fuckers should have gone to the wall, and the 'tards (yes that's you Clinton and you Obama) that created the legislative playing field that forced lending to bad risks, should have carried the electoral can for it.

[Smifffy]

http://www.immigration.govt.nz/migra...ls.htm?level=1

This is where I believe the bulk of training efforts/schemes/funding should be directed. Any students of school leaving age that want to go into any of these occupations should not be prevented from attending a class, because it isn't being offered, such as I recently heard of a young lass who wants to go into catering, but there is no class for her at the NCEA level she is now at.

Immigrants that came here on work permits and then found that the kiwi electric puha is too much for them, and subsequently end up on a sickness benefit (don't laugh, they are among us) should be returned from whence they came at the soonest opportunity.

Yes immigration is good for this country in so many ways. Using immigration to fill long term skill shortages without offering the opportunities to our own children is consigning them to the ranks of the unemployed.

[Robert Taylor]

ahhh the 50's. wasn't there also compulsory military service back then?. It was for the school leavers wasn't it?

Yep and bring it back! It would certainly correct a lot of attitude problems.

[Robert Taylor]

Rely on your family or get off ya arse and get a job or invent one or be proactive.



Cartoon reality is the welfare system we have now, time to face up and sort it asap

Im with you Quasi!

Its amazing how many people look to the Government. where does all the flipping money come from in the first place and which political party has the worst record of spending beyond our means???? We must have one of the worst ratios of dependents against taxpayers.
I hope one day that Paula Bennett is priminister, that woman has got balls.

[Smifffy]

Just look what the last PM with balls did to the country....

[cindymay]

I did , I voted National

I would be disappointed if all the revenue goes over seas, but Im not going to assume it is (as you seem to have done??) I believe Mr Key would have a bit more business acumen than that.

and We already invest in Tourisim and we have a whole industry promoting it, we need more than one string to our bow.............especially with the gravy train the Socialists have encouraged in the last 9 years

Socialists can only practice being socialists while there is a reasonable proportion of the population with the balls to risk their own money and effort to generate wealth - for the socialists to spend. NZ is now at the start of wealth generation for the next unfortunate wave of lying left wingers to waste.

Im with you Quasi!

Its amazing how many people look to the Government. where does all the flipping money come from in the first place and which political party has the worst record of spending beyond our means???? We must have one of the worst ratios of dependents against taxpayers.
I hope one day that Paula Bennett is priminister, that woman has got balls.

Spot on.

[rainman]

It's always interesting when these populist measures are introduced by governments (goes for both sides), that so few of the people they are trying to impress actually pause to think through the economic implications.
...
And if you do, the result of the above will be a sudden influx of 345,000 people into the job market who are prepared to work for peanuts
....
a). is actually the most stable and sustainable route. That $4.8 billion is the price we have to pay for a healthy free-market economy. And John Key knows that. That’s why he’s put in place a measure that will simultaneously please his voters, cost relatively little, and substantively change less.

Good comment. Where do you get 345,000 from though? Total benefits rather than just UB?.

Rely on your family or get off ya arse and get a job or invent one or be proactive.

How old are you, Quasi? Take it from me, good fortune does not last forever. What happens if you take a business risk and it doesn't work, and you get cleaned out? What happens if you get cheated by a business partner? Or any of the other circumstances that cause people to fall on hard times? Or get old? Or sick?

I'm lucky in that I have some skills, and am smart enough not to have excessive debt, but it's still pretty tough out there in today's market. And for the record, my family is dead (older generation; my siblings are not in a position to support me and they're not here anyway), I've applied for a metric gazillion jobs since I was screwed over by my previous employer (I mean made redundant after a due process, whatever), and I have a small business doing what I can. So far I have managed to stay off a benefit by chewing through my retirement savings but it's a close thing. Not even thinking abut the long term at the moment... and there are a lot of people worse off than me too. If you'd happily throw them under a bus you're both ethically bankrupt and an idiot.

And the cause of the great global collapse that caused (or at least contributed) to my current lack of employment - a bunch of greedy bankers on the other side of the world. Feel free to explain how I should be responsible for myself in an economy so vulnerable to wankers from far away.

The lack of savings for old age with the expectation of a pension is clear evidence of how we think.

Not only that, our poor wages are a big contributor. Not a lot being done to fix that at the moment.

I believe Mr Key would have a bit more business acumen than that.

Bwahahahahaha!

[duckonin]

Im with you Quasi!

Its amazing how many people look to the Government. where does all the flipping money come from in the first place and which political party has the worst record of spending beyond our means???? We must have one of the worst ratios of dependents against taxpayers.
I hope one day that Paula Bennett is priminister, that woman has got balls.

Paula Bennett !..FFS..RT...

[Scorp]

I would be disappointed if all the revenue goes over seas, but Im not going to assume it is (as you seem to have done??) I believe Mr Key would have a bit more business acumen than that.

Now who's assuming? Perhaps you should delve a little deeper into where the money will really end up. Simply trusting a Key because he made money on the stockmarket is a big assumption.

and We already invest in Tourisim and we have a whole industry promoting it, we need more than one string to our bow

Tourism is many bows, not one. But will as many tourists want to come to a New Zealand happy to mine in it's most beautiful places? This tiny industry (mining) could damage a huge one (tourism). Where's the business acumen in that?

[Deano]

What happens if you take a business risk and it doesn't work, and you get cleaned out? What happens if you get cheated by a business partner? Or any of the other circumstances that cause people to fall on hard times? Or get old? Or sick?

Then you sign up for the dole, apply for jobs, go to interviews and you fulfil the criteria to continue receiving a benefit.

WTF is the problem ?

I see on 10.30 Nightline news that Paula's proposals apparently breach the bill of rights.

If it's someone's right to say - FTW, I choose not to work but bludge of others who pay taxes - then the bill of rights needs amending.

[Robert Taylor]

Just look what the last PM with balls did to the country....

Heck I forgot about that thing in the photo, something from the Adams family, only worse.

I can only imagine that right wing female politicians look better with their kit off than left wing female poloticians. As a matter of course.

[Scorp]

Good comment. Where do you get 345,000 from though? Total benefits rather than just UB?

Yes, total benefits. Based on the figure quoted by Paula Bennett in the article Tank linked. Her implied point being that they are all a drain on society to the tune of $4.8 billion. I didn't have the corresponding figures for UB only, but they would, of course be more relevant.

[frogfeaturesFZR]

I think the point the govt is trying to make is that along with a benefit of whatever type comes obligations to the state/taxpayers. And first of those is standing on your own 2 feet as soon as you can. It's meant as a short term help, not a lifestyle choice. Of course if you're on an Invalids Benefit, for a permanent or terminal disability, and you have no other means of support, then I would hope we'd agree that as a society we have a duty of care to look after our most vulnerable members. Common sense no ?

[rainman]

Then you sign up for the dole, apply for jobs, go to interviews and you fulfil the criteria to continue receiving a benefit.

WTF is the problem ?

Try to keep up. My response was to Quasi's idiotic blathering:

If you have bad luck loose your job, sure get a welfare payment for 3 months then it STOPS !!

[Smifffy]

Of course if you're on an Invalids Benefit, for a permanent or terminal disability, and you have no other means of support, then I would hope we'd agree that as a society we have a duty of care to look after our most vulnerable members. Common sense no ?

Provided of course that the disability is not "addiction to a recreational drug". Or mood/psych disorders caused/exacerbated by substances covered under the misuse of drugs act. It does happen.