So we got a new Government, and a new Leader

[SARGE]

I'm happy to take Alan Greenspan's word over yours. He was after all the Chairman of the Federal Reserve from 1987 to 2006.

Reagan dramatically increased government spending and cut taxes - which plunged the US Federal Budget into deficit spending. Did you never wonder why George H. W. Bush was forced to renege on his campaign promises and raise taxes after being elected? It's because Reagan really screwed things up.

But hey. I don't have to pay taxes in the US, so I guess your record budget deficits (and corresponding national debt) aren't really my problem.

first off..the Federal Reserve is neither Federal, nor Reserve..it is a private bank (google is your friend)


second..there are many reasons Reagan cranked up the spending ..Ford and Carter raped the military and left it with Vietnam era weaponry and training. the economy was in the shit, unemployment was high,interest rates were high, inflation was high..

yea, he cut taxes.. helped my family farm survive and help industry recover to the boom it became in the 80's

the USSR was also ramping up the spend on the military and the US was the only country willing and able to contain them so that dipped into the coffers..


incidentally.. i am US Tax free since 1983..little purple medal i have in my footlocker says so..

[Ixion]

..
incidentally.. i am US Tax free since 1983..little purple medal i have in my footlocker says so..

A Purple Heart gives tax free status ? That's way cool. That is one thing I respect about the US, they look after their veterans. Could be better to be sure, but at least there's an admission that they deserve something in return for putting it on the line. We don't even have a Veterans' Day. And ANZAC day has become a sort of greenie antiwar thing .

[Forest]

Hey, it worked for Pitt the Younger. Actually, deficit finance isn't inherently a bad thing. The problem is , it's like P, easy to get started on, hard as hell to come off. Reagan only screwed up with hindsight. Which raises the question, should a POTUS make decisions based on what is best for here-an-now, or what is best for an (indeterminate) future. Reagan went with here and now. So did Muldoon. Both of them got it worngA (note spellling) in terms of the future. But we only know that through hindsight.

Those are very good questions.

It's easy for me to sit here and play Arm-chair General because I have the luxury of seeing things in their historical context. The real challenge of effective leadership is in making decisions under pressure with incomplete information.

[SARGE]

A Purple Heart gives tax free status ? That's way cool. That is one thing I respect about the US, they look after their veterans. Could be better to be sure, but at least there's an admission that they deserve something in return for putting it on the line. We don't even have a Veterans' Day. And ANZAC day has become a sort of greenie antiwar thing .

i get 80% of my highest pay grade every month for life (well over US$1000/mo) on my retirement..i am eligible for free university while attending in the US,..3% guaranteed home loans (cant be turned down.. comes right out of my pension) and free major medical at a NATO facility


no depth perception but hey..evens out at 180 kph anyway

[Forest]

first off..the Federal Reserve is neither Federal, nor Reserve..it is a private bank (google is your friend)

What??? No it isn't.

The Federal Reserve is an independent institution within the Federal Government that regulates the banking system, manages the money supply, and acts as the primary interface between the US Treasury and the private banking sector.

The only link to the private banking system is that the private banks operating within the US own stock within the twelve regional Federal Reserve Banks. This gives the private banks access to the Fed's retail and wholesale payments systems, FDIC insurance on deposits, and liquidity in financial emergencies. However the private banks have to submit to regulation and supervision by the Federal Reserve to access these facilities.

[Toaster]

everything worldwide is run by the Masons and bankers anyway.. they just give you the illusion of choice..

You watch too many conpiracy movies.

As a banker and an ex-mason that is just utter bollocks.

[Toaster]

Oh well, the election is all but over, and National have won...Personally I am glad that Rodney Hyde got in as well

Hooray!!

National IN - Great - poor sods have inhertied a mess thanks to Labours tax raping, social engineering and redtape spending.

ACT IN - very good - at least there will be some right leaning accountability.

UF IN - He is indeed a good bloke and again helps with balance.

LABOUR OUT - Wasteful self serving arrogant losers who have ruled over us too long and ignored what we actually wanted and needed just to pursure personal agendas.

GREENS OUT - Sad but good to take the pressure off their anti growth policies. I like them in princicple, but they got way too much sway on things that really hurt progress. Finding more of a balance needed here now.

NZF OUT - lazy and a liar. Policies were very good though, just the leader was living the highlife at our expense and only ever did anything in election years. Ron Mark is a real loss to issues around defence/police/crime.

JIMMY - should have retired back in the 1800's I think. Nice old Grandad but past his use by date a long time ago.

Maoris - Preferential treatment and they still grizzle. HTFU and move on.

[portokiwi]

Only time will tell.

[paturoa]

Sarge! - you old dog you, welcome back.

Yep will be quite interesting to see the media spin (backlash?) over the next few days with the core Nat Act comming togeather (I was tempted to spell that "cuming"). I though several of them were going to cry last night when their parties were loosing.

Woo hoo, the chief thief is a gone burger.

I've felt for the last few years that the harder I work and the more I earn, the more other people benefit.

But anyway, now will we see an emphasis on, here are policies to encourage more people to put in the work and drive growth, or lets circle the wagons cos the global situation is crap?

On the Obama thing, how many global nutters will be looking to or supporting the local merkin nutters to have a go at him? or will there be a subtle shift to softer targets. In the last 10 years we've seen, political and civil targets but bugger all economic targets. Many would currently be weak.

[trustme]

Ding,dong , the witch is dead.

[Wasp27]

Not entirely unexpected other than the Maori Party not figuring as expected. Seats don't suggest a long term Govt. With a new Labour leader combined with a drop of a couple of Nat seats along with ACT, and Labour could be back '12.



Skyryder

Surely S/R....what you meant to say was...'Congatulations John, you and your team have done a fantastic job....in spite of all that shite!!!!! I, along with my fellow Labour cohorts will do all in our powers to ensure a smooth transition (tui)
You could also go outside and take a deep breath....I'm sure you'll agree, the sky is so much clearer this morning... at least it is where we are

[Quasievil]

Well done National Im very pleased!!

I think all of you commenting the change has only got rid of one set of cheats and liars for another set of cheats and liars really really need to get a LIFE !
give them a fucking chance, your baging them before they even get out of the starting blocks, after a year go for it but for now dont say that crap.

Im wishing them the very best im im certain NZ will be a better place for it.

[James Deuce]

UF IN - He is indeed a good bloke and again helps with balance.

Peter Dunne is a lying two-faced sleaze bag. He isn't a good bloke. He's captured the findamentalist Christian vote and the lazy fat middle class people I'm surrounded by who just vote for the same guy who was in last time. He jumped to National 3 weeks ago, after brokering confidence for the Revenue Minister's position with Labour. If it looks like it's going pear shaped with National next election he'll mount the scuppers and head down the rat lines quick smart. For all that they're the embodiment of everything I loathe in Parliamentary representatives, the Greens had the principles to stick with Labour and went down with them. Unless of course they start sucking up to National.

Fuck it, I want Principled people in Parliament. Not Teachers and Money Traders and career butt lickers. BIll Andersen was one of my best school mate's Uncle. He used to visit and lecture the crap out of us about why we should care about Politics and why the Character of the individuals in Parliement was important. His politics aren't mine, and he used to stress that it was OK for people to have different Political views provided they respected each other, and each other's attitudes. I can't help but think that basing an election result on an electorate's desire for "change" is the political equivalent of a nappy change. I went to a couple of the candidate meetings and there were 50 odd people at them. What do you guys base your decisions on if you don't meet them and grill them?

[James Deuce]

Well done National Im very pleased!!

I think all of you commenting the change has only got rid of one set of cheats and liars for another set of cheats and liars really really need to get a LIFE !
give them a fucking chance, your baging them before they even get out of the starting blocks, after a year go for it but for now dont say that crap.

Im wishing them the very best im im certain NZ will be a better place for it.

You're a businessman. It will get better for you.

John Key is a money trader. He has no principles. I know he will not prove me wrong. Those kind of people always have a handy justification for why there are people living in the street and it never has anything to do with them. National didn't win the election Labour lost it, and the vast majority of people voted how the media told them to.

[MisterD]

and the vast majority of people voted how the media told them to.

Que? Duncan Garner and Fran Mouldy should come with labour party authoristation statements...