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Search · 2008-02-01 to 2008-02-29 · Page 3
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The Dummies’ Guide to National’s wage policy
I never really understood how National planned to make wages grow because every time our man John Key is asked about our wage-gap with Australia he starts talking about cutting taxes. Here's a recent example from Morning Report: Key: Firstly we will raise wages. I…
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Getting emotional about economics
Michael Shermer of the LA Times asks: "Would you rather earn $50,000 a year while other people make $25,000, or would you rather earn $100,000 a year while other people get $250,000?" Somewhat surprisingly you might think, it turns out that most people chose the…
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Affordable housing
Not in my back yard. Alright, maybe in my back yard but only if the state isn't involved. UPDATE: No Right Turn has an interesting post on Key's privatisation plans.
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Key hopping on Hobsonville
Just spotted this statement from Maryan Street up on Scoop which suggests at least one reason why Mr Key would like the issue of housing afforability to go away. Hobsonville is turning into an embarassment for him: In June 2006 he said on National Radio:…
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Own home dream
Is tax really the answer to housing affordability? The editorial in the NZ Herald today motivated a reader to send us these observations: 'It has long been a dream for New Zealanders to own their own home and it is not a dream that we…
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For use tomorrow
Via Bureau of Communication.
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Australia says sorry
Howard couldn't bring himself to do it, instead expressing "regret". Today, Labor's Kevin Rudd said sorry in a formal statement to the stolen generations of Aboriginal people of Australia. For the pain, suffering and hurt of these Stolen Generations, their descendants and for their families…
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Is inequality closing down our concern for others?
Jenny Russel of the Guardian writes, "As the middle classes feel the pain of comparison with the super-rich, we lose all enthusiasm for the common good". The rise of the super-rich, and their capacity to outbid others in the competition for houses, schools, space and…
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Positions on tax cuts: a summary
Both the Labour-led government and National have promised income tax cuts to follow the government's family and business tax cuts. Neither has given any details except there will be multi-year programmes of cuts. The point of difference is that Labour has four conditions that their cuts will satisfy…
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National’s last moderate falls on her sword
Katherine Rich was one of only 2 women on National's front bench and its last moderate MP. The only surprise in her resignation is that she resisted the National hierarchy's pressure to leave for so long. National's all-male inner circle never had any time for…
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Rich resignation a huge blow for the Nats
The Press reports that "Senior National front-bencher Katherine Rich has resigned her education portfolio and will quit politics altogether at the election..." Rich ran the "compassionate conservative" line hard during her time in parliament. She was the more acceptable face of the the Nats on…
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Every cloud
The latest in a long line of failed protests on the Electoral Finance Act has ended badly with Steven Franks taking legal action against 3M, the maker of Packfast packing tape. The Dominion Post reports today that: "Aspiring Wellington Central MP Stephen Franks was one…
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Curia-ser and Curia-ser
You'll probably know about the rumour around the traps that blogger David Farrar is running his polling company Curia out of National Party HQ. This information first came up when Newzblog blogger James Sleep posted on a conversation he had with a young Nat in…
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Key disappoints
I've just listened to Key's reply to the PM's speech. I'm underwhelmed. Instead of using it to promote any sort of policy platform it was a rehash of tired old phrases from the National Party linebook. You'd think that having had the PM's copy for…
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Clark targets housing affordability
In her speech today, the Prime Minister announced a slate of government plans on housing affordability. New land will be freed up for housing but it will not a National-style free-for-all where land would be gobbled up by wealthy individuals and private developers for over-priced,…
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Swan to build surplus as economic stabiliser
Australian Treasurer Wayne Swan has announced that he intends to lift the target for the budget surplus, so that fiscal policy can help ease upward pressure on interest rates. He will proceed with tax cuts announced in the election campaign, but according to The Australian…
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Key conjures up cuts
John Key tells us that he would cut ‘wasteful government spending' to pay for upper-bracket tax cuts bigger than Labour's cuts. But do the facts match the rhetoric? Remember National's wastewatch website? It listed $900 million in ‘waste' since 1999 only 0.2% of government spending,…
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Roy Morgan
Roy Morgan's latest poll is out. It shows a big drop of 6.5 for National and a corresponding swing to Labour and the Greens, up 3 and 2.5 respectively. Here's a small version of their graph of the trends:
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Getting ALL the facts right
This contribution was sent through by a reader who did some digging after reading that Helen Clark's research is letting her down in terms of the National party's voting record on settlement of historical claims (NZ Herald, Political Diary, 9 Feb 2008, offline). It looks…
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Salvation Army report finds poverty in Godzone
A report out today from the Salvation Army acts as a reminder that despite a suite of policies designed to improve the lives of those most in need there's still work to be done. Major Campbell Roberts says: "As a country we have invested hugely…
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Congrats to the Conchords
Stuff reports that Wellingtonians of the year, "Jemaine Clement and Bret McKenzie, who play marginally talented folk singers struggling to make it in New York, picked up the best comedy album Grammy for The Distant Future." While we wait for the second season we'll have…
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Peters ought to stop playing the race card
Winston Peters vexes me. He has a long list of worthy achievements, including free doctor visits for under sixes and crippling the last National government when it tried to sell Wellington Airport. He has also fought for ordinary kiwis against corporate might and those who…
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Rich call for tax cuts for rich
Four associations representing wealthy New Zealanders are saying tax cuts should be in the form of making the top tax rate 30 cents in the dollar. Wouldn't that mean that their wealthy members get huge tax cuts while the 85% of us earning less than…
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Simpsons evolution
This evening's Simpsons - Best. Intro. Ever.
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Media and our National Day
The decision of TVNZ's CloseUp to pay to assist Tame Iti to travel to Waitangi this year was the focus of Media Watch this morning. Ever ready to offer an opinion the PM stepped in with her view that: "I think it is a waste…
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Say chee$e
At the supermarket earlier this week I was browsing the aisles and noticed the price of cheese. It seems now that for a kilo of this yellow gold (hold on isn't gold kinda yellow anyway?) you'll be paying $16. Now that's a lot of money…
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When politics and music video collide
From CNN earlier in the week - Jeanne Moos presents her very own Super Tuesday Political Video Awards. A good summary of some of the hottest and some of the most cringe inducing items on the download circuit. What will be our NZ equivalent? Meantime…
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Push polling
Tony Milne responds to National Party blogger, David Farrar's recent post on push polling. Tony points out that any push polling undertaken during the last election was most likely a three way affair between the National Party, the Exclusive Brethren and conservative political consultants Crosby…
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Solution to wage-gap in hands of business
Larger (but still small) numbers of kiwis are leaving for Australia and higher incomes are part of the attraction. At the same time unemployment here is at a record low, which is good but employers are complaining about a lack of workers. To keep skilled…