Luxon sets "nine ambitious Government Targets"; Most return measures back to pre-Covid era; None improve housing affordability, child poverty or cut emissions faster; Accountability by 2032 elections
Blame your poor and disenfranchised population for all that is wrong with your bad policies. Tell those who have the least that it is they who must work harder and do better. Reward yourself handsomely.
Do away with treasury reports. Do away with all evidence.
Implement policies based on your "very strong consultation period [with your donors] through the election period"
And lastly, and this is the crucial part, criminalise those who have the least, even the parents- especially the parents. And troll citizens on social media, children too. Nothing is off limits.
Pretend, spin, abuse and ignore.
So much for evidence based reforms.
Evidence. Evidence. Evidence.
Taxes. Taxes. Taxes.
And in case it's still not patently obvious to some....
Regarding school attendance, listened to an interesting podcast this week, plain english by Derek Thompson talking to Nat Malkus from American Enterprise Institute ( I haven't done an research on them so don't come at me if they are crazy on other things). Anywho, interesting research they are doing on chronic absenteeism in schooling over there. language they use is a bit more understanding, as Malkus says: "Chronic absenteeism may prove the harder problem to fix, as it reflects a cultural shift that stems from habits lost and priorities that changed during the pandemic."
In my mind Truancy is when your child is absent from school without parent or school permission, what they are really needing to focus is on rebuilding culture of attendance, not yelling about fining people.
More worrying are the more important things not being targeted: reducing inequality, making real climate changes rather than trying to fudge the agricultural emissions.
With his declared targets you cannot argue most of the outcomes would be welcome but magical thinking with reduced manpower and budgets. However, if overseas and NZ experience is a guide meeting the target becomes more important than actual genuine outcome changes.
Laser focused. Yeah right. Setting the targets to be measured when he is not a politician any longer but away in some fancy boardroom with a fat pay package and the title Sir before his name. Where have we seen this before?
an extremely serious problem in NZ is the high cost and unaffordability of housing which is causing many social problems.
$924,734 the average cost of a dwelling (apartment, house, etc) (latest QV house price index)
$49,560 the average gross individual income in NZ (IRD statistics (not Statistics NZ bs))
(and always remember the median/middle gross income is much less than the average because the obscenely large/massive incomes of a few greatly distort the average figure)
therefore the average price of a home is 18.5 times the average gross income which is a colossal diabolical amount/multiple and the cause of much crime, health problems and suicides in NZ.
The current government has now enacted new legislation that will greatly exacerbate crime and health problems in New Zealand.
While touting its business approach to running the government, I look forward to the exciting new product relaunch of education. If students (the customers) are not buying into attendance then it's a sign that a product update is in order along with a revamped sales and marketing program. Otherwise we will have an "Under New Management" sign with the same old menu
You can not tell customers what to buy, you must sell them, as any trainee businessperson knows.
A gutless self serving government going after the old easy targets to deflect us from the fact they are without the intelligence or imagination to grasp the real issues that are coming our way. My only hope came from hearing the wisdom, commitment and compassion for others and the planet from our wonderful students at the recent climate strike, and knowing that many of them will be turning 18 before the next election.
The promises look so grand, but, given the Coalition primary focus which we know is not these areas, for credibility we need to see this broken down time and strategy-wise. Many of the measures are already evaluated at least annually. Re the fast-tracking decisions, without usual consultation processes and assessments Sydney would have mined into its drinking water catchment area. The Coalition unchecked is terrible for all of us, including them and their voters ironically, but would not be obvious immediately. There may even be some Coalition politicians who would like means of rejecting such pressure, and enforceable regs would provide that. Regardless of that, lack of proper assessment is obscene nonsense, which this, you may have seen, helps elucidate, regarding some primary issues. Excuse my reiterating. https://www.phcc.org.nz/briefing/fast-track-bill-puts-nz-wrong-track-threatening-public-health
This dismissal by Minister Seymour of covid as a reason for not attending school (e.g. we are pretty much past covid now) does raise the question is he aware of long covid.
How am I going to judge whether this government has been any good or not:
- Meaningful action to reduce gross emissions (not just planting a bunch of pine trees).
- Teacher/ nurse/police/prison staff retention. These are vital members of our workforce who have put up with a lot of shit but remain passionate and committed. People leaving these professions/ moving overseas should be a black mark against any government
- Houses built annually in our fastest growing centres
- Numbers of children in poverty. Don't care what parents do, no kid should start life disadvantaged. We don't get to choose our parents.
It is only fair to judge performance for the relevant period (I.e. the next three years). If you turkeys think we're going to vote you in twice more, you've been sniffing Sharpies while whiteboarding your big rocks.
The sad part is that a significant part of NZ population will swallow this BS hook line and sinker! Goals with no consideration of a realistic pathway to achieve the desired outcome is electioneering but wont be presented as such by NZ media. It's a depressing outlook for the future of NZ. No wonder our brightest young people are departing in exchange for unskilled workers. NZ could be so much better.
Just four more likes and this goes wide. By the way. I’m thrilled with the quality of comments on our articles. A real pleasure to read the care and thought that has done into them.
I have now opened this up for public reading, listening and sharing after getting over the 100 likes threshold from paying subscribers giving permission and support to make it public. Thanks again.
Wholesale destruction of the future for most, for the self-benefit of some... 🤬
Definitely worth a read. Thanks.
Blame your poor and disenfranchised population for all that is wrong with your bad policies. Tell those who have the least that it is they who must work harder and do better. Reward yourself handsomely.
Do away with treasury reports. Do away with all evidence.
Implement policies based on your "very strong consultation period [with your donors] through the election period"
And lastly, and this is the crucial part, criminalise those who have the least, even the parents- especially the parents. And troll citizens on social media, children too. Nothing is off limits.
Pretend, spin, abuse and ignore.
So much for evidence based reforms.
Evidence. Evidence. Evidence.
Taxes. Taxes. Taxes.
And in case it's still not patently obvious to some....
Methane. Methane. Methane.
That's all.
Regarding school attendance, listened to an interesting podcast this week, plain english by Derek Thompson talking to Nat Malkus from American Enterprise Institute ( I haven't done an research on them so don't come at me if they are crazy on other things). Anywho, interesting research they are doing on chronic absenteeism in schooling over there. language they use is a bit more understanding, as Malkus says: "Chronic absenteeism may prove the harder problem to fix, as it reflects a cultural shift that stems from habits lost and priorities that changed during the pandemic."
https://www.aei.org/articles/the-lasting-effects-of-covid-on-schooling/
In my mind Truancy is when your child is absent from school without parent or school permission, what they are really needing to focus is on rebuilding culture of attendance, not yelling about fining people.
More worrying are the more important things not being targeted: reducing inequality, making real climate changes rather than trying to fudge the agricultural emissions.
With his declared targets you cannot argue most of the outcomes would be welcome but magical thinking with reduced manpower and budgets. However, if overseas and NZ experience is a guide meeting the target becomes more important than actual genuine outcome changes.
Laser focused. Yeah right. Setting the targets to be measured when he is not a politician any longer but away in some fancy boardroom with a fat pay package and the title Sir before his name. Where have we seen this before?
an extremely serious problem in NZ is the high cost and unaffordability of housing which is causing many social problems.
$924,734 the average cost of a dwelling (apartment, house, etc) (latest QV house price index)
$49,560 the average gross individual income in NZ (IRD statistics (not Statistics NZ bs))
(and always remember the median/middle gross income is much less than the average because the obscenely large/massive incomes of a few greatly distort the average figure)
therefore the average price of a home is 18.5 times the average gross income which is a colossal diabolical amount/multiple and the cause of much crime, health problems and suicides in NZ.
The current government has now enacted new legislation that will greatly exacerbate crime and health problems in New Zealand.
While touting its business approach to running the government, I look forward to the exciting new product relaunch of education. If students (the customers) are not buying into attendance then it's a sign that a product update is in order along with a revamped sales and marketing program. Otherwise we will have an "Under New Management" sign with the same old menu
You can not tell customers what to buy, you must sell them, as any trainee businessperson knows.
A gutless self serving government going after the old easy targets to deflect us from the fact they are without the intelligence or imagination to grasp the real issues that are coming our way. My only hope came from hearing the wisdom, commitment and compassion for others and the planet from our wonderful students at the recent climate strike, and knowing that many of them will be turning 18 before the next election.
The promises look so grand, but, given the Coalition primary focus which we know is not these areas, for credibility we need to see this broken down time and strategy-wise. Many of the measures are already evaluated at least annually. Re the fast-tracking decisions, without usual consultation processes and assessments Sydney would have mined into its drinking water catchment area. The Coalition unchecked is terrible for all of us, including them and their voters ironically, but would not be obvious immediately. There may even be some Coalition politicians who would like means of rejecting such pressure, and enforceable regs would provide that. Regardless of that, lack of proper assessment is obscene nonsense, which this, you may have seen, helps elucidate, regarding some primary issues. Excuse my reiterating. https://www.phcc.org.nz/briefing/fast-track-bill-puts-nz-wrong-track-threatening-public-health
This dismissal by Minister Seymour of covid as a reason for not attending school (e.g. we are pretty much past covid now) does raise the question is he aware of long covid.
Long covid is resulting in a recorded reduction in the UK workforce, for example. https://billmitchell.org/blog/?p=61652
Has Minister Seymour received any advice on long covid and school attendance? Or are his reckons enough in his view?
The Climate Central mapping tool is fascinating/alarming, image most insurance companies have this in their browser favorites...
How am I going to judge whether this government has been any good or not:
- Meaningful action to reduce gross emissions (not just planting a bunch of pine trees).
- Teacher/ nurse/police/prison staff retention. These are vital members of our workforce who have put up with a lot of shit but remain passionate and committed. People leaving these professions/ moving overseas should be a black mark against any government
- Houses built annually in our fastest growing centres
- Numbers of children in poverty. Don't care what parents do, no kid should start life disadvantaged. We don't get to choose our parents.
It is only fair to judge performance for the relevant period (I.e. the next three years). If you turkeys think we're going to vote you in twice more, you've been sniffing Sharpies while whiteboarding your big rocks.
The sad part is that a significant part of NZ population will swallow this BS hook line and sinker! Goals with no consideration of a realistic pathway to achieve the desired outcome is electioneering but wont be presented as such by NZ media. It's a depressing outlook for the future of NZ. No wonder our brightest young people are departing in exchange for unskilled workers. NZ could be so much better.
Just four more likes and this goes wide. By the way. I’m thrilled with the quality of comments on our articles. A real pleasure to read the care and thought that has done into them.
I have now opened this up for public reading, listening and sharing after getting over the 100 likes threshold from paying subscribers giving permission and support to make it public. Thanks again.