John Key has been unable to turn our economy around

[shrub]

so it's time to flog the family silver:

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/ar...ectid=10702066

Power companies, Solid Energy (who control our most significant fossil fuel resource) and Air NZ today, what will go tomorrow? I suggest ACC, TVNZ, Kiwibank for a start. We already export a phenomenal amount of money offshore in the form of profits and dividents to our foreign owners - can we really afford to increase that amount?

And why would we want to follow the political and economic ideologies that have hurt us so badly in the past? Surely we should have learnt by now? Wouldn't it make more sense to build our export sector so we earn more money as a country?

As an analogy, John is spending more than he is earning at his job, so he sells his car and leases it back while he spends the money. Then he sells his house and rents it back, while Mike next door goes out and gets a better job that pays more and keeps his car and his house - and probably buys John's stuff.

[Bald Eagle]

No would be easier to sell of the family silver.

Then when the dust settle legislate to return those business back into state ownership.

Sorted.

[Banditbandit]

Not to worry - after November he won't be Prime Minister any more ...

[slofox]

What economy?

[phill-k]

Understand your comments completely shrub, I just wish I could find a person, book, thesis, or something which would give me the knowledge to understand and support the reasoning behind selling a countries vital infrastructure, because based on our past failed history it doesn't seem to work other than making a very few - Fay and cohorts very very rich, then we end up having to bail them out and buy them back.

Who are the dark coats behind national that continually push this button, I voted for the man and now will change back to the other party in the hopes that this can be stopped unless I can find the information to prove that it is indeed viable.

Fuck the lot of them, they are making me very depressed for the long term future of NZ.

As an aside we put Aussie on a pedestal, heard today that they have a tax free base of $6000, and a separate "levy" as they call it for their public health care, and are about to add to the levies one to cover the flood reconstruction, had one to cover the buy back of semi automatic firearms, wonder those that keep on about low rates of tax in Aussie take all of this into consideration.

[Swoop]

It would have been nice if that cockhead Cullen hadn't emptied the bank account on a trainset and other bollocks, moments before being forced out of office.

[Gibbo89]

I would like to see someone who can guarantee that they can turn our economy around in this current climate etc etc.

Yes Aussie are saying fuck off to the whole recession thing, but they have all those minerals that they are mining etc, we have these under the West Coast of the S.I, but everyone stated to bitch when Brownlee proposed this. Yet Aussie go plunder the land and is helping no end with their economy. Countries such as China and the like still demand coal for the coal powered power plants, so Aussie are running to the bank smiling whilst NZ and other countries are battling to a certain extent.

I understand the whole 'keep nz green' motto and image we want, but when times are tough and people blame the govt, I'd like to see some options to ACTUALLY fix the economy, not just have some theories.

On a side note, I wonder where Goff will get the money from the proposed tax cuts? I hope it isn't just some huge loan that he wants to borrow from overseas and add to our huge overseas debt from the Cullen era.

My $0.02

[shrub]

It would have been nice if that cockhead Cullen hadn't emptied the bank account on a trainset and other bollocks, moments before being forced out of office.

I wondered when someone would bring that up. Actually, that was the best investment the Labour government ever made, and as a motorcyclist I love it. Fuel is a finite resource that has increasing demand (if you don't believe me, go and check the price at the pump), and we are heavily dependent on being able to transport freight up and down NZ.

If we had left the rail in private foreign hands, either prices would have been increased making it even more expensive for our exporters to get their goods to port, or the more likely scenario, rail would have closed down. Under either scenario more precious oil would be wasted in trucks instead of made into petrol for my bike and our roads would have had even more trucks on it. And they are a pain in the arse to get past in the windies.

Rail is significantly more efficient and uses much less energy than road (and can use electricity, which we make as opposed to oil which we import), so ultimately a well run rail system will save money. Therefore because we own our rail service again, if our government is smart enough to invest in it, less oil will be wasted in trucks, the roads will need less repairs, and there will be less A trains grinding over the Hunderlees or the Lewis.

Pretty clever move if you ask me.

[mashman]

what an ignorant cunt. Someone mentioned Labour being far removed from reality... this idiot is on another planet (in this case I DON'T see the irony in an idiot calling an idiot a cunt).

"This year is about building a brighter future for New Zealanders and their families." What? By selling off their heritage? everything that countless generations of Kiwi's have fought and worked for to get this country off its ass... yes labour sucked, what a surprise, but this guy is taking the piss and you want to drink it? Worse, by default you're gonna force me to ... Think, tax cuts in a recession where those very same families were hurting, SCF, China $2 billion trade deficit, cuts in services, rises in just about every price on the market and he gave tax cuts )

That is only possible if we lift the country's economic performance, and by doing so deliver the jobs, higher incomes and better living standards New Zealanders aspire to and deserve.

Not it's not. You could start by putting taxes back up instead of cutting costs even further, affecting service and causing job losses. I can hear my employer now. JK said that if i let him sell off 50% each listed SOE that i'd receive a higher income... yeah, i'm sure they'll just give me more money. Better living standards? ... not whilst there are people running around fucking people over there won't be. Try focussing some of your time on sensible laws dickhead... like taxing the rich as they receive payment and before they write it off against their assets. If they're making a loss, they shouldn't be in business.

But today I want to concentrate solely on the economy, because our economic performance is the most important challenge facing New Zealand.

Spoken like a true ignorant cunt. What about Poverty? Healthcare? the limp wristed Justice system? Education Programmes? It's by no means the most important challenge facing New Zealand... Someone said Goff was out of touch... this guy if from another planet.

The good news on the economy is that 2011 is expected to be a better year than 2010. Treasury is predicting growth in excess of 3 per cent this year, together with higher wages and falling unemployment.

That's just a guess. Good for whom? Already dealt with the wages and unemployment argument. The CPI is not the measure to use for this as the rich overly inflate the averages produced.

That challenge is to build a lasting recovery based on savings, exports and productive investment.

the larger portion of the country has nothing left to save and the rich send their cash off shore, where's the money gonna come from? So he's going to drive the $ down is he? that's the only way to stimulate the export market, or so they keep whining about...

If we get this right the possibilities are exciting.

You haven't so far, in fact you've gone in completely the opposite direction, so your getting it right, is most definately not going to transpire... and don't blame the recession, it doesn't wash, SCF, China deficit etc...

New Zealand is a food-producing country and world demand for food is rising. Global prices for dairy, forestry, meat and other commodities are high.

Yes, we've seen the price rises locally John. I also realise that you subsidise

But as a country we have to reach out and grasp those opportunities or we risk missing the boat.

Sales technique called Keeping up with the Jones's...

People borrowed heavily to buy houses and farms, property prices soared and New Zealanders felt wealthier as a result. They spent a lot on consumer goods, which led to a bubble of economic activity.

So you're telling us what to spend our money on?

High government and private sector consumption generated inflationary pressures, pushing up interest rates and discouraging productive investment.

But you're happy to sell SOE's to that same private sector... , because yeah, they'll have changed their business practices and will really invest heavily in NZ where they can make more money elsewhere...

High interest rates in turn led to an over-valued exchange rate which smothered the internationally-competitive sectors of the economy, like agriculture, horticulture and manufacturing.

Pot Kettle Black and you've managed it in 2 years.

I could be here a while as I'm only 1/4 down the page, wonder if anyone else is nah, i give up. We are supposed to be a Nation aren't we? even the bludgers as you need them to keep inflation down don't you? Or is your personal gain more important than having nothing left to sell when the wolf finally gets to the door?

ahhhh that makes up for last nights fuck it

[shrub]

I would like to see someone who can guarantee that they can turn our economy around in this current climate etc etc.

I don't think anyone can guarantee anything of the kind, but we need better ideas than selling OUR (yours and mine) assets and tax cuts for the rich.

How about making the NZ$ less attractive to speculative traders, thereby reducing exchange rate volatility? (worked for SIngapore)

Maybe even peg the NZ$ to that of our major trading partners?

Or introducing capital gains tax, especially on investment properties, thereby encouraging people to invest in productive investments (exporters)?

Or recognising that our single biggest unique selling point is our clean green image, and working hard to protect and develop that?

And how about encouraging diversity of exports so we are less dependent on milk powder?

Perhaps reintroduce tax breaks for R&D?

Nah, let's just sell stuff and give a few tax cuts. Just because it's never worked before doesn't mean it won't work this time. Hell, what have we got to lose?

[imdying]

Spoken like a true ignorant cunt. What about Poverty? Healthcare? the limp wristed Justice system? Education Programmes?

Steady on mate, sorting out all of those things will definitely help with the economy so they're not necessarily excluded by a economy centric focus.

[aprilia_RS250]

I can tell some of you didn't bother reading the article. It says partially sell off assets. Sorry the money is not gona come from the sky, it's like a big garage sale.

To be honest I would have been a lot happier if he had announced abolishing the doll for long term beneficiaries.

[yachtie10]

oh good another lefty bashes the right thread and as usual is blind to the real facts

I have no sympathy for right wingers that think to privatise is to solve all issues (havnt seen this work in NZ yet)

but the article has a quote in it that was conviently ignored

"In each case, the government would retain majority ownership and control, and the freed-up capital would be used to purchase other public assets, thereby reducing the government's need to borrow," Mr Key said.

[shrub]

oh good another lefty bashes the right thread and as usual is blind to the real facts

I have no sympathy for right wingers that think to privatise is to solve all issues (havnt seen this work in NZ yet)

but the article has a quote in it that was conviently ignored

"In each case, the government would retain majority ownership and control, and the freed-up capital would be used to purchase other public assets, thereby reducing the government's need to borrow," Mr Key said.

I was fully aware that he used the 'partially' sweetener, but partially selling an asset is still selling that asset, and majority ownership can be as little as 51% ownership. I'm neither a lefty nor a righty - I don't think that continuum has a lot of relevance or meaning these days - I more think of myself as a long termer and try and focus on long term benefits for all New Zealanders, as opposed to quick and dirty vote winning tactics.

[Bald Eagle]

would be used to purchase other public assets,

I wonder which previously sold public assets he wants to buy back