If National wins ...

[Baa_Baa]

But of course this is all pretty irrelevant history now. You should be alking about Labour´s policies for the future. Sadly voters don´t seem to be listening to Little and Labour.

Too true, focusing on the past has little bearing on the future which doesn't look bright for Labour.

Little and his entourage seem to be struggling, putting together a coalition before the election which will confuse and demean the Labour cause.

The result if one looks towards stable government isn't working out very well for Labour and its miss mash of cohorts and obscure policy, indistinguishable from National except in minor details.

[elZorro]

Are you serious ? No Government changes course the next day with immediate results to the Government accounts. The fact is that Labour under Clark and Cullen ran down budget surpluses and turned them into huge deficits in their desperation of retaining power at the end of their 3rd term. Of course their populist and very expensive polcies have been largely maintained under National as you have often pointed out, simply because voters think about little other than their own pockets and getting rid of policies that give people large amounts of money for nothing in return, would be political suicide. This applies particularly to Working For Families which is a crazy middle class welfare policy that gives people money they haven´t earned (in many instances) and don´t deserve. Much simpler and cheaper to reduce their tax rates and leave the money with those who earn it in the first place.

But of course this is all pretty irrelevant history now. You should be talking about Labour´s policies for the future. Sadly voters don´t seem to be listening to Little and Labour.

Sorry, have a look at the actual real data and show me where Labour "ran down" budget surpluses, Iceman. They trended down a bit from a massive peak, they must have done at least twice as well as National did over their three terms beforehand, and they never went negative. National, on the other hand, had a massive dip into negative territory after they took over. They've been extremely lucky that interest rates internationally are so low, but even then, the interest the crown now have to pay on about $100,000mill of loans is about $3000mill, the size of a good budget surplus, which of course they're not posting. Those loans have to be repaid sometime, preferably soon.

If we judged a government on the ability to repay old debts and not just "borrow and hope" like Muldoon did, then this govt of yours gets an E, and Labour gets an A+ for their efforts.

[iceman]

Sorry, have a look at the actual real data and show me where Labour "ran down" budget surpluses, Iceman. They trended down a bit from a massive peak, they must have done at least twice as well as National did over their three terms beforehand, and they never went negative. National, on the other hand, had a massive dip into negative territory after they took over. They've been extremely lucky that interest rates internationally are so low, but even then, the interest the crown now have to pay on about $100,000mill of loans is about $3000mill, the size of a good budget surplus, which of course they're not posting. Those loans have to be repaid sometime, preferably soon.

If we judged a government on the ability to repay old debts and not just "borrow and hope" like Muldoon did, then this govt of yours gets an E, and Labour gets an A+ for their efforts.

We will see whether voters agree with you in September. I suggest you're far out on a fringe compared to a large majority of voters and being stuck in historical arguments has little relevance to most voters this year. But your tone is the same as the tone Labour leadership is sounding, hence their dismal failure to connect. And with The Greens having all but disappeared in the media and nobody thinking or talking about them (inexperience with all the new trendy young candidates??), your dream of a Left wing Government later in the year is already doomed !

[elZorro]

We will see whether voters agree with you in September. I suggest you're far out on a fringe compared to a large majority of voters and being stuck in historical arguments has little relevance to most voters this year. But your tone is the same as the tone Labour leadership is sounding, hence their dismal failure to connect. And with The Greens having all but disappeared in the media and nobody thinking or talking about them (inexperience with all the new trendy young candidates??), your dream of a Left wing Government later in the year is already doomed !

That's what I find most amusing about right-wingers - when their historical argument is demolished with facts, they revert to saying "that's all in the past, we're moving on", and then steadfastly refuse to comment about all the stupid stuff that a National govt is doing in the present. Then you're left with only one point of view, something along the lines of there being some sort of disorganised rabble on the left.

So let's take a look at National's chances at the moment. Todd Barclay has to step down in disgrace, who knows what's coming out on his actions in the near future. Bill English and John Key are knee deep in that one too. Those National party signs that are coming out, don't seem to feature any head shots of Bill English.

Labour, on the other hand, has a pretty useful line-up, as do the Greens. A swing of 2-3% in the polls will make a huge difference to the look leading up to the elections, and of late, NZ First has been much more aligned with Labour's policies and team than usual.

We're in with a very good chance this time.

[blackcap]

Labour, on the other hand, has a pretty useful line-up, as do the Greens. .

Are you making me laugh? Bunch of imbecilles most of them. I mean Andrew Little... really? Whats his name the spokesman for finance? Jacinda who cannot handle the stress. And then Meteria of McGillicuddy serious fame who is a huge millstone around the green's neck and talks a lot of nonsense.
Do not get me wrong, I am in no way a Bill English supporter and think National can do better, also do not like the Labour Lite direction they are going but no way are the Labour Green coalition going to get enough to get over 50%. You can forget about Winston ElZorro, no way is he going with that bunch of rag tag.

[fungus pudding]

That's what I find most amusing about right-wingers - when their historical argument is demolished with facts, they revert to saying "that's all in the past, we're moving on", and then steadfastly refuse to comment about all the stupid stuff that a National govt is doing in the present. Then you're left with only one point of view, something along the lines of there being some sort of disorganised rabble on the left.

So let's take a look at National's chances at the moment. Todd Barclay has to step down in disgrace, who knows what's coming out on his actions in the near future. Bill English and John Key are knee deep in that one too. Those National party signs that are coming out, don't seem to feature any head shots of Bill English.

Labour, on the other hand, has a pretty useful line-up, as do the Greens. A swing of 2-3% in the polls will make a huge difference to the look leading up to the elections, and of late, NZ First has been much more aligned with Labour's policies and team than usual.

We're in with a very good chance this time.

Yes, of course you are eZ.

[westerly]

Fairyland stuff. eZ. Say hi to Tinkerbell and the crowd from me.

You are well in with the faeries then?

westerly

[Joshuatree]

It is hardly the Government´s resonsibility to fund a very expensive racing/sailing syndicate and their multi million dollar salary packages.

Can you verify that; it was run on a shoestring and arguably Dalton was the only one earning decent money.

Un/Fortunately for our PM he isn't a slippery/teflon/Key like individual who trained voters to lose int and stick with the status quo bro don't even think about it ; everything he did was simply to stay in power at least he was transparent there. Don't mess with the housing situ just fiddle around the edges until the prob gets too big to fix; so many national faithful own rental houses Ayyy. No our pm doesn't know how to coverup but gives it a go; theres the difference, between honesty and fake honesty exposed.

[craic]

Voters like size. Who was the tallest PM and who was the shortest?

[fungus pudding]

Voters like size. Who was the tallest PM and who was the shortest?

Lange wins hands down for size. Rowling was probably the closest to the ground.