Who will win the 2011 election?

[Robert Taylor]

I don't agree. I know a few quite senior civil servants including an inlaw who has an MBA, PhD, is a qualified accountant and was at one point the preferred choice for head of CERA, and I have considered becoming one myself. The current atmosphere of instability and minimal funding means the best and most talented people don't waste their time getting paid less to do a job where they can be made redundant at the will of the government and are expected to do a better job with less money, fewer staff and less resources. You'll find that most of the really talented ones are leaving in their droves which means the ones that would find it hard to get a job in the public sector are the ones staying. Cutting the public service is not simply a matter of selectively pruning the dross and the so-called streamlining is usually done to save money ahead of deliver a better service.




Again I disagree, kind of. There are some very talented and skilled leaders out there, but a lot of them are getting frustrated with poor political leadership and packing their bags.



That I cannot disagree with.

The only civil servants we need more of are RNZAF pilots and technicians in a couple of new squadrons of strike aircraft.

[mashman]

And you expect an intelligent considered discourse??

Do you vote for those who conduct their day to day dealings with the opposition parties, in a very similar manner? I'm betting you do. And having seen the TV/Press etc... ( not the TV), they're constantly slating each other... in fact they seem to rely on it come election time.

I didn't have you "pegged" as such a delicate wall flower ...

[oldrider]

Again I disagree, kind of. There are some very talented and skilled leaders out there, but a lot of them are getting frustrated with poor political leadership and packing their bags.

Hmmm I have not made my self clear, it is the "political government team" that I want to see reduced, there are too bloody many of them!

[Swoop]

Hmmm I have not made my self clear, it is the "political government team" that I want to see reduced, there are too bloody many of them!

Unfortunately Mr Shrub believes that we have enough MP's for our nation's size. Also we need more public servants.

With an ageing population, plenty on the benefit system, etc, etc the few taxpayers in the middle are going to be royally screwed to support everything.

[shrub]

Hmmm I have not made my self clear, it is the "political government team" that I want to see reduced, there are too bloody many of them!

Why? Given our population we have one of the smallest governments in the world, especially if you factor in our landmass. I honestly don't see any valid reason for cutting back the number of representatives and there's an argument that our poor economic and social performance is in part because we are under-represented.

So what is your argument?

[shrub]

Unfortunately Mr Shrub believes that we have enough MP's for our nation's size. Also we need more public servants.

With an ageing population, plenty on the benefit system, etc, etc the few taxpayers in the middle are going to be royally screwed to support everything.

Oh good, the muppets are back. You really need to stop worrying about how you have to pay for everything with your taxes. If you aren't making ends meet I suggest you look at ways to better yourself and lift your income.

[Swoop]

If you aren't making ends meet I suggest you look at ways to better yourself and lift your income.

Truly impressive.

That is certainly not a problem area and you have clearly demonstrated what a genuine muppet looks like.

[Banditbandit]

The only civil servants we need more of are RNZAF pilots and technicians in a couple of new squadrons of strike aircraft.

You'd better at least employ some IRS people so they can collect the money to pay the pilots and buy the planes ...

[oldrider]

Why? Given our population we have one of the smallest governments in the world, especially if you factor in our landmass. I honestly don't see any valid reason for cutting back the number of representatives and there's an argument that our poor economic and social performance is in part because we are under-represented.

So what is your argument?

Decisions are made in cabinet by a small group, that's all we need, all the rest are just make work pseudo government service officers!

Either employ them in public services or get shot of them, small focussed and committed teams work better, more focussed, more efficiently and more effectively.

Not an argument, it's my experience and my stated opinion, that's all.

[Banditbandit]

Decisions are made in cabinet by a small group, that's all we need, all the rest are just make work pseudo government service officers!

I agree that is what happens. But is that democratic? I have serious doubts ...

[mashman]

Oh good, the muppets are back. You really need to stop worrying about how you have to pay for everything with your taxes. If you aren't making ends meet I suggest you look at ways to better yourself and lift your income.

ahhh. A wifffffff, of the way it is.

[mashman]

Decisions are made in cabinet by a small group, that's all we need, all the rest are just make work pseudo government service officers!

Either employ them in public services or get shot of them, small focussed and committed teams work better, more focussed, more efficiently and more effectively.

Not an argument, it's my experience and my stated opinion, that's all.

+1........ cannot spread etc...

[shrub]

Truly impressive.

That is certainly not a problem area and you have clearly demonstrated what a genuine muppet looks like.

In my experience when people complain about the cost of living (and tax is part of the cost of living) they're financially stretched, so I was giving you the benefit of the doubt and assuming you were a hard working battler trying to make ends meet.

You see, tax is what we pay for the privelege of living in this country. Me, I am quite happy about paying tax because it means our elderly are able to retire with dignity after a lifetime of working to make NZ the country it is. I'm also happy to pay tax so children can have first class educations, or so that when we get sick or injured there are free hospitals available to everyone that provide world leading medical care. I also don't mind paying for a professional police force that is equipped to go out and raise money. I don't even mind paying a little towards a fund so that when the wheels fall off peoples lives - whether losing their jobs, severe illness or, something I have personal experience of, a partner leaving them to raise children on their own.

Sure, there are a small number of people that rip the system off, that are career criminals and are just plain lazy, but if you're stupid enough to think that life on a benefit or on prison is a good lifestyle you're probably beyond help. But as a percentage, I would guess they only account for 1 or 2% of my tax bill, so I really don't care.

Obviously you resent contributing to the costs of living in one of the world's best countries, and for that I am really sorry for you. If you look at the government's books it is pretty clear that we're spending more than we're earning, and I reckon our taxes don't actually cover the cost of living in NZ, so we're living beyond our means. Might I suggest that instead of complaning about paying taxes for living here you emigrate somewhere else where tax is lower? Cambodia, Afghanistan and Angorra have a 0% personal tax rate, Uzbekistan has 9% and Bulgaria has a 10% tax rate - you'd love it there, they have no beneficiaries at all!

[Swoop]

In my experience...

I'm sure with all of your experience and answers to our countries problems, you are standing for parliament this coming election?

Or are the TradeMe message boards missing a "valued poster" at this moment in time?

[rainman]

And you expect an intelligent considered discourse??

Well, I live in hope...

I'll stand by the comment about 49% - I have said why it's a dumb idea. Feel free to persuade me I'm wrong. Note I'm not saying you are dumb, in this case - only that your idea seems really stupid to me.

And we've covered the "assets stay here" nonsense before - so you either didn't get it first time around or are peddling spin and ideology. Which is it?

Why is it all magically OK if the assets stay here, but belong to someone else who gets the returns from them?

Can't see how you'd personally take offence to my view that the tax cuts were poorly conceived...

employ contractors etc to handle the peaks and overflows

Mate, there'd be screaming about "expensive bloody contractors". And also my guess is over time the core service would get smaller and more would end up being "contractors". With no employment rights, but no large extra pay... seen that before.

I don't see anybody in our political offering that can even attempt to lead the country out of this regressive dumb and dumber decline we appear to be in!

No argument there.