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.
5 comments:
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
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.
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.
Derek - If you (were able ) to print this article in NZ MSM (print) outlet, me thinks you would get -
[1] - many across the Nation agreeing with, all be it silently, at home, whilst they read said article - BUt if asked to speak publicly in support of - think mice!
[2] - the rampant ragers who would go ' full nuclear on you ' via Social Media, in the first instance and maybe with letters to the ED. of the newspaper, which published the article - also " going full nuclear" for publishing said article in the first place, never
mind the context of what you wrote. This is when you ask yourself about NZ education in the last 20 years- plus, especially the reading bit.
[3] - sorry always a 3rd - the ' mother hens of both Labour & National would be tut-tutting about how dare he....'.
Derek and all others, if you get the " gist of the article" that a new Political Party is required - well have been there before -
- Reform Party 1909 - 1936
- Country Party 1922 - 1938
- United Party 1927 - 1936
- Democratic Labour Party 1940 - 1949
- Social Credit 1953 - 1987 ( Vernon Cracknell the only candidate)
- Christian Heritage Party - 1990- 1999
- Alliance Party - 1991 - 2015 ( Jim Anderton) which then became the
- The Progressive Party ( left wing party )
- Liberal Party 1991 - 1998 (formed by 2 dissident Nat party MP's - then joined the Alliance Party
- NZ Conservative Party - 1994 -1996 (founded by Ross Meurant)
- Future NZ - 1994 - 1995 (Peter Dunn became United NZ)
- Christian Democrats - 1995 - 1998) est by Graeme Lee x Nats, merged with United Future
- Mauri Pacific - 1999 - 2001
- The Values Party (now the Green Party) 30.05.72 - 1990
and who could forget the -
- McGillicuddy Serious Party 1984 - 1999.
My research found we have had 91 +/- Political Parties contest National Elections since 1920.
Why did they fail-
[1] - they attracted those who assumed dissatisfaction with the main parities - it cost money to run such a party, obtaining that funding becomes difficult when the " cash well can no longer be tapped to flow such funds "
[2] - because the 2 main parties had supporters that go back years (same as UK - Tories vs Labour) and parts of society will aways support the party of Grandma - Grand dad, mum & dad which will also apply to cash donations, especially for Labour, with money from the Unions.
And the Civil Service will always continue to grow, because they will see to that function - a Minister of The Crown will always sign off on it, because it is expected of them.
And all the while, NZ loses Citizens, that with their income would assist Govt coffers, but when each Ministry/Department has " visions of largess, with potential spending (pay rises is one)", then we will be the cash strapped Nation.
Once again Derek Mackie, with his ability to put words to
" music ", which will catch out attention along with the message therein.
Bolger and Birch vociferously condemned Roger Douglas for "selling the silver" as the Labour Finance Minister ushered in the model for Privatisation.
Guess wot. First thing the erudite farmer from King Country did, was sell NZ Railways - to Wisconsin Rail - via Mikey Fay and co - opening the door for competition - but as measure of the acuity of Bolger and Birch is that they "sold the silver". That is, the rail business AND the trunk line.
The trunk line cannot be duplicated. Like Transpower - it is a monopoly, . And, too this day, Cullen and others failed to separate the two. So, if Mainfreight wanted to run a rail company, in competition with NZ Rail, Mainfreight would be screwed by having to pay NZ Rail a "use of the railway".
No wonder Bolger thought that I thought he was stupid.
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