-
15-02-2018, 01:14 AM
#451
I think Bill deserves a bit of credit. He was a very good and steady Finance Minister. After taking over fast deteriorating books from the previous Government, due to their expensive election bribes, then being hit with the double whammy of the GFC and the biggest natural disaster in NZ´s history, he managed within a few years to get Government books into surplus without slashing benefits. In fact he was the first Finance Minister for decades to increase benefits in real terms.
Another big achievement for him personally has been his focus on effective social investment. Many, from across the political spectrum, admit very few have better knowledge of the real social ills facing NZ. He looked beyond meaningless statistics and focused on where the need was most critical. It is estimated that this focus in the last few years has reduced the number of children growing up in benefit dependant households by about 61,000.
That is real World stuff and real improvements in the life and possibilites of these young kids.
Shame on Labour for discontinuing it. No doubt worried about being held to account for delivery of real improvements
The 3rd thing he deserves a mention for is the huge number of Treaty of Waitangi settlements under his watch and driven by Chris Finlayson. Leaves Labour in shame on that front.
I say well done Bill and thank you. Good luck with future endeavours.
Last edited by iceman; 15-02-2018 at 02:53 AM.
Reason: Add sentence
-
15-02-2018, 08:23 AM
#452
Yes he did at least try , credit there.
"We saw that last year in other ways. He didn't seem to know there was a poverty crisis far bigger than was allowed for by the targeted reforms of social investment. He didn't seem to know, either, that Auckland housing was in crisis. Why didn't he?
Most of all, he didn't grasp that in a strong economy there is no excuse for ignoring the suffering of the most vulnerable – or, from a political point of view, of leaving yourself open to the charge that you don't care." Opinion: Bill English, the leader who wasn't
-
15-02-2018, 09:16 AM
#453
Originally Posted by 777
The only pattern was set up by Labour in the past nine years. You guys just dream this crap up.
Read the editorial, without the closed mind.
westerly
-
15-02-2018, 06:50 PM
#454
Originally Posted by westerly
Read the editorial, without the closed mind.
westerly
The commentary politely forgot about Bill's refusal to backtrack on the Todd Barclay incident, too.
Saw this article on why Simon Bridges is likely to be the new opposition leader.. despite everyone being keen on Judith Collins out in the blogosphere, maybe that's not a representative sample of voters. Anyway, money talks.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/n...ectid=11995310
-
16-02-2018, 10:34 AM
#455
-
16-02-2018, 01:23 PM
#456
Originally Posted by Joshuatree
Puke inducing if I may say so. No need to go past the photo really.
-
16-02-2018, 02:35 PM
#457
-
16-02-2018, 04:23 PM
#458
despite everyone being keen on Judith Collins out in the blogosphere,
Only amongst Labour supporters.
-
16-02-2018, 04:25 PM
#459
-
16-02-2018, 06:45 PM
#460
Originally Posted by blackcap
Puke inducing if I may say so. No need to go past the photo really.
Well I thought the article was great, gave a bit of insight into where NZ is heading from here. Blackcap, you have to think about the poor Labour supporters who have been on the sidelines for 9 years and were feeling powerless, now they have a bit of spring in their step. Time for the Nats to to a bit of navel-gazing themselves, and rue the day they were put out to pasture for probably nine years.
Sure, there are still some local Nat MPs and list MPs, being paid to run their offices and help out their constituents. But they won't get to work the levers, and fully populate all the councils and boards around the place. So yes, you might well puke at that, but you should get used to it - National is out in the cold for a while.
Posting Permissions
- You may not post new threads
- You may not post replies
- You may not post attachments
- You may not edit your posts
-
Forum Rules
|
|
Bookmarks