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Friday, December 20, 2024

Derek Mackie: Money, money, money...


It seems hard to believe but our National-led coalition, steered by our PM and National Finance Minister, are racking up EVEN MORE debt over the next 4 years than Labour managed in their whole term in government. 
 As for the promised extensive cut-backs to our grossly overstaffed, overpaid and under-performing public sector, well…..what exactly happened to those?
We still employ almost as many civil servants as when Labour left office.

 Disappointingly, the current National crew is following the same pattern as National governments of old with watered down pledges to turn around all the bad stuff that previous Left-wing administrations enacted while in power. After some early wins this time around, driven by their coalition partners, invariably they barely scratch the surface, leaving most of the damage in place for Labour to pick up the wrecking ball where they left off. 
In fact, these days Labour and National are not so very different from each other when they get into power, even if they pretend otherwise at election time. It’s often just a matter of degree. Climate change, co-governance, public service bloat…..ballooning debt! 
Time for a change? 

 So, I turned to ABBA for a musical springboard to express my deep disappointment in Mr Luxon and Ms Willis in particular, and National in general. But which song? 
 Take a Chance on Me? I never voted National at the last election so this didn’t seem relevant.
 Gimme, gimme, gimme? Our money obviously, to service the huge debt we’re accumulating.
 Or maybe Waterloo? We certainly seem to be heading for ours, both economically and socially, and National is doing little to stop it.
 
 But since this is all about the cash, it could only be one song - Money, money money



I’ve had a year to slash the waste, but made more cuts shaving my face 
Ain't it sad? 
And still our debt it grows and grows, like king-sized, swollen, huge marrows 
That's too bad 
 Bet Labour can’t… believe their luck 
  It’s fiscal carnage…what the f__k!!! 
   A Nat who borrows even more than Robbo did the year before! 


Spendin’ money, money, money 
 Not theirs, sonny 
  It’s an MP’s world 
Throwin’ money, money, money 
 Down the dunny 
  It’s an MP’s world 
Ahaaaa-aha-aah 
Savings we promised you 
Nah… just borrow some more money 
It's an MP's world 
 Dee-dee-dee-dee-dee-dee, diddle-liddle-ee 
 Dee-dee-dee-dee-dee, diddle-liddle-ee 
It's an MP's world 


Debt like this defies belief, but public cuts spark media grief 
Don’t you see? 
While promises are tough to make, Nat’s find them easier to break 
That's history! 
 Critics say… we’re Labour Lite 
  Not quite so woke…but well Left of Right 
   Both major parties much the same, around in circles yet again 


Wastin’ money, money, money 
 On interest, honey 
  It's an MP's world 
Claimin’ money, money, money 
 For somewhere sunny 
  It's an MP's world 
Ahaaaa-aha-aah 
When one and one don’t make two 
Go on, borrow some more money 
It's an MP's world 
 Dee-dee-dee-dee-dee-dee, diddle-liddle-ee
 Dee-dee-dee-dee-dee, diddle-liddle-ee 
It's an MP's world 


When next you chance to cast your vote, look at the past and please take note 
Ain’t it sad? 
Whether Nats or Labour is your game, outcomes produced are quite the same 
That’s too bad 
 Maybe it’s time…for something fresh 
  Though, not the Greens…or those in fancy dress! 
   The old guard’s stale, they need to quit, it’s time to dig us out the shit 


Let’s save money, money, money 
 As promised, sonny 
  A balanced budget world 
Save money, money, money 
 Don’t borrow, honey 
  A balanced budget world 
Ahaaaa-aha-aah 
When two less one equals more 
Savin’ lots of public money 
A balanced budget world 
 Dee-dee-dee-dee-dee-dee, diddle-liddle-ee 
 Dee-dee-dee-dee-dee, diddle-liddle-ee 
A balanced budget world 



Derek Mackie is a former geologist with a keen interest in current affairs and a penchant for satire.

3 comments:

anonymous said...

What is costing too much? '
Be direct. Most people know the benefit bill and the increasing Super payments ( as people retire) are a toxic mix going forward - leading to ultimate failure.
The people know why this - so why do the politicians ignore this ?
A time bomb is ticking for the NZ economy

Anonymous said...

The Nats were very quick to change the bright line test though.
If your were wealthy and sorted you would appreciate the government moving quickly on this.

Bill T said...

actually the big simple one is reduce the Govt bureaucracy. It grew by 17,000 and now as a starter it needs to shrink by 17,000 saving based on the aggregate cost per person of $200k/person/yr so $3.4B/Yr.
But its better than that those folk can now work doing something of use and pay tax so the value to the books is north of $4B/Yr.