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

[Tank]

.....I expect MP's no matter what political persuasion to comply with the law. It is pretty obvouse fropm your posts that you only expect Labour MP's to honour the law but if it is the Nats who break it then it's ok.

So who is the Nat that has broken the law?

[Scorp]

So, how come during the 50s 60s and most of the 70s we had insignificant unemployment (averaging < 1%), stable wages, low inflation (2-3%) and living standards among the best in the world?

There were three important factors at play back then that don't apply now.

Firstly, the words "full employment" meant full employment for men. Today, it means for men and women. Very different ball game.

Secondly, most world economies experienced similar high/full employment in the 50's as a result of post-war regeneration. NZ had massive demand for goods and very low supply. That's the perfect conditions for high employment with low inflation. Because manufacturing needs workers to produce things people have a lack of. Once supply and demand balance out, however, full employment leads to a Phillips-Like Curve of runaway inflation.

Thirdly, NZ maintained highly protectionist import controls throughout the 50's, 60's and 70's. These shielded NZ, allowing a more self-sustaining economy.

The point I'm making is about the current free-market, capitalist system. One which is quite different from the more social policy days of the 50's and 60's. Today - money comes first. The dollar has rights to travel freely all over the globe, that people do not.

And under the present form of free-market capitalism being practiced in most western democracies, and which most right-wing voters profess to love - the fact remains that full employment is undesirable because it causes runaway inflation.

In short - National are duping their own voters with a policy they know will be a). popular, and b). won't actually change anything.

For National, this is a win win situation. Nothing changes - but their voters love them for it.

[Tank]

And if Labour MP's have been rorting the system then I for one will not be condoning this any more than I have condoned Nat MP's for this.

and while we are at it - remember Field - try and find a single comment from labour saying that what he did was bad - they stood by him even when he was in jail.

[Skyryder]

So who is the Nat that has broken the law?

Re-read my post. ..............from you posts you only expect Labour MP's to honour the law this is 'my ' interpretaion of your bias. .............................but if the Nats break it then it's ok. Another interpretion on my part.............from the tone and excuses that you make for the Nats.

You have misinterpreted my post as claiming that I knew of Nat MP who had broken the law .



Thought you had me there didn't you????? Better luck in the future.


Skyryder

[Ixion]

Thirdly, NZ maintained highly protectionist import controls throughout the 50's, 60's and 70's. These shielded NZ, allowing a more self-sustaining economy.

The point I'm making is about the current free-market, capitalist system. One which is quite different from the more social policy days of the 50's and 60's. Today - money comes first. The dollar has rights to travel freely all over the globe, that people do not.

And under the present form of free-market capitalism being practiced in most western democracies, and which most right-wing voters profess to love - the fact remains that full employment is undesirable because it causes runaway inflation.

Sounds like a pretty good reason to dump free-market capitalism, then .

[MisterD]

Re-read my post.

Ok done.

You have misinterpreted my post as claiming that I knew of Nat MP who had broken the law .

Nah, you're quite clearly accusing Tank of turning a blind eye to law-breaking by Nat MPs, when such does not actually exist.

[Indiana_Jones]

Unemployment Benefit has nothing to do with PC, it is a basic necessity for the smooth running of a capitalist free-market economy.

I don't think anyone belives the benefit is PC, just the touchy touchy approach they have when dealing who people who are clearly milking the system for all they can.

The idea of the benefit is great, a safety net incase you lose your job, but it's not a fucking lifestyle choice as some see it as....

-Indy

[Scorp]

Sounds like a pretty good reason to dump free-market capitalism, then .

One among many.

[Swoop]

and while we are at it - remember Field - try and find a single comment from labour saying that what he did was bad - they stood by him even when he was in jail.

There is a picture I would love to see! All of liarbour's caucus in a jail-cell with their friend Phillip!

[scracha]

I
2. What do people on benefits spend their benefit money on? Food, drink, rent, utility bills, a small car, petrol, some modest local retail shopping. But not a lot more. Not enough to save, or to spend abroad in foreign markets. Point being, they don't actually keep their money - it goes from the government, through benefit claimants, and straight back into the NZ economy. Effectively, UB is a government subsidy for local business.

Spend abroad in foreign markers? Who do ya think owns our supermarkets, power companies and petrol stations?

And Thatcher was a cunt...end of.

[Scorp]

I don't think anyone belives the benefit is PC, just the touchy touchy approach they have when dealing who people who are clearly milking the system for all they can.

The idea of the benefit is great, a safety net incase you lose your job, but it's not a fucking lifestyle choice as some see it as....

-Indy

But what sort of lifestyle choice is it? Do you think people choose dole over status, wealth and fulfillment? Or dole over a soul destroying, crappy, dead end job that pays the same as the dole but takes 8 hours out of every precious day of your life?

And anyway, the average taxpayer is still better off footing the welfare bill, because it makes more economic (and personal) sense to give a bludger money he'll then return to the national pool of wealth, than to make him compete for someone else's job. You can't make people have jobs, without actually creating more of them. And currently I've heard there's a shortage.

[Scorp]

Spend abroad in foreign markers? Who do ya think owns our supermarkets, power companies and petrol stations?

True. But they do pay taxes here. And so the dole money comes back to the govt/the taxpayer in the end.

And Thatcher was a cunt...end of.

True. Just true.

[Skyryder]

and while we are at it - remember Field - try and find a single comment from labour saying that what he did was bad - they stood by him even when he was in jail.

No the Labour Party did not. Some electorate members did but that is not the same thing.
While we are on the subject of standing by people Clarke to her credit stood by Field untill such time where it was no longer possible. Key on the other hand dumped Worth (edited)before establishing his guilt. As it turned out Worth was innocent and no charges were laid.


There is an integrity question here. Do you support a collegue untill guilt has been establised or do you dump them for political expedediancy?

Skyryder

Skyryder

[Robert Taylor]

She was a loathsome bitch and she fucked Britain up. I'll never forget the bleak fog of despair that hung over Britain during her time. Makes what the UK is going through now seem a doddle in comparison. (Yep, I'm a POM).

Having lived and WORKED in the UK for five years in the early 80s I feel I may just be a little bit qualified to comment...

Lets not forget the reasons dear old Maggie was elected back in 79, James Callaghans disastrous Labour administration had all but bankrupted the country and they had to go cap in hand to the IMF. The unions were all dictating to the Government and remember the 3 day weeks etc? Tough medicine was neccessary and in the space of 10 years ( while not perfect ) she turned Britain around into a country that could be proud of itself again, and after several decades was starting to re-develop a work ethic.

I landed there in 81 and got a job straight away despite 3 million unemployed, one reason for that is back then Kiwis were known for a work ethic, believe me it wasnt too difficult to show up my pommy workmates as being a bunch of lazy bastards. There are good English people also of course and I say that tongue in cheek because my grandfather was English and fought as a sniper at the Somme. Im proud of my English heritage and also immensely proud that the Union Jack is part of our flag, where it should firmly remain.

The Falklands war was another one of Maggies succcesses, Galtieris timing was bad in picking an adversary like her. Had it been a blithering Michael Foot ( deceased 2 weeks ago ) Labour Government ( or perhaps Neil Kinnock the Welsh windbag ) they would have given it away despite the inhabitants being British subjects. The success of that war restored British military pride and international standing long since dented since the 56 Suez crisis where Anthony Eden ( a superb guy if ever there was ) got sold out by the Yanks.
But also thank god Ronald Reagan and Caspar Weinberger were helping out the Poms behind the scenes during the Falklands war.
Fast forward to 2010 and Britain is again an economic basket case after 13 years of another spendthrift Labour administration living a lie. ( Parallells here in NZ ) I am hoping that David Camerons Conservative party annihilate the Labour party with a landslide in the general election due within 2 months.

[MisterD]

No the Labour Party did not.

Oh come off it, Clark did everything she could to fudge the issue and set up the Ingram enquiry with limited terms of reference to try to clear him. Since he was convicted about as close as you get to admitting his corruption is "acknowledging" the verdict and "no further comment".

What was it Cullen said..."only guilty of helping his constituents" or whatever?

BC was "dumped" by John Key? What are you going on about? Clarkson was a controversy magnet unsuited for life as an MP...he was well advised by whoever hepled him decide to leave it at one term.