“Kicking the Tyres” is the John Key/Steven Joyce/Crosby Textor phrase du jour. Anything the government is doing from mining to MMP to asset sales to student loans gets the ‘tyre kicking’ into action.
Its funny when I was growing up a ‘tyre kicker’ was someone who had no idea about a car or how it worked, so they kicked the tyres in a pointless and desperate attempt to look like they knew what they were doing. Sounds about right. Of course for the Nats its about making sure that they dont do anything to risk a scrap of popularity or offend anyone.
But I have also noticed a related tactic- feigned empathy. This is where you show concern for someone’s plight or give them an encouraging word, and then do precisely nothing to help them. This might sound harsh, and I am sure National MPs have genuine concern, but if you are not prepared to do anything concrete, then for me it amounts to feigned empathy.
Last night we saw this at its worst with the response to Carol Beaumont’s Bill to curb loan sharks. Speaker after speaker from the Nats got up and told us how much they felt for people who fell victim to out of control debt, but they were not prepared to actually do something about it, by voting the Bill through to Select Committee. No real reasons were given (they are reviewing the law so we should all wait and see seemed to be the main argument). It was shameful politicing to stop Carol and Labour being seen to ‘win” something. Privately a number of National MPs are embarrased by the approach.
When it comes to the economy , if we combine John Key being “relaxed” about everything with ‘Kicking the Tyres’ it means the country has no economic plan, no step change, no “aspiration”. Is tyre kicking the extent of John Key’s ”ambition for New Zealand.”? It has gone on long enough. Its time for the government to stop kicking the tyres and actually put some petrol in the car.
“feigned empathy” ain’t that the truth!
I saw Breakfast this morning, even Paul Henry couldn’t believe that they didn’t vote for the loan shark thing!
Jacinda was good
does this mean that we are going to be treated to ron(key) and his band the rasputins bringing out their own version of said legislation soon, and claiming that they always had intention to introduce it?
Those charming NACTs operate on the principle of individual responsibilty so it wasn’t a suprise to me to see them defeat the bill.
However, hopefully once Labour is returned to power , you can get this Bill into law at the earliest opportunity.
These swine need regulation fast !
From urban dictionary
tyre kicker
(n.) A person who appears interested in buying your car, but on the day displays any of the following traits. • Does not show up • Does not bring money • Kicks the tyres and complains about even the most minor faults • Seems to know barely anything about the car • Offers stupid money (a large amount either side of what you expected) • Keeps asking if he can part exchange his rusty old Ford for your car, not wondering why anyone wouldn’t want it • Assumes the car is in fine working condition just by kicking the tyres
Apparently they even have ‘tyre kicker’ mugs, tee shirts and fridge magnets.
http://www.urbandictionary.com/products.php?term=tyre%20kicker&defid=705980
Way to go !
And this is scary – Kiwis will turn to credit if Bollard raises interest rates
http://msn.nzherald.co.nz/interest-rates/news/article.cfm?c_id=235&objectid=10660257
kick, that wasn’t a tyre , that was the stomach of an ordinary kiwi.
Hah! Thanks ghostwhowalksnz, perhaps the Nats haven’t thought closely about their “relaxed” colloquialisms. This tyre kicking has to be played up in parliament!
“Kick the tyres and light the fires” is an expression commonly used by jet pilots to mean conduct a comprehensive pre-flight inspection before starting the engines.
And not surprisingly
More Kiwis heading to Oz
http://msn.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10660304
Escaping NACTS Gulag Archzealandigo
I wish I could prove your concerns wrong Grant, but no, you’re on the money. The Nact government is showing all the vision that can be expected from a cabinent that has Gerry Brownlee as a leading light.
It was shameful politicing to stop Carol and Labour being seen to ‘win” something. Privately a number of National MPs are embarrased by the approach.
As well they should. With the right handling, a cooperative effort on this matter could have been sold by the current government as an indication of good government. Instead, they decided to go partisan on this issue, a lose/lose situation.
Can the politicians from both sides just come together now and then and do stuff which is both good for NZ’ers AND which will help pollies earn the respect of the public?
Win win win!
Or so it should be…
Anything above 25% p.a. is unjustifiable, there was no reason not to vote to select committee pending the review…
Can Private Member’s Bills be shunted down the order papaer..?
*paper
When I was growing up a ‘Labour’ was a painful event that needed to be endured. Often after it was over, people would say that once was more than enough, and they wouldn’t do it again. Sounds about right.
Would it not be more sensible to bring in legislation that makes it illegal to loan money to a person without a thorough an independent credit history check, reason for borrowing or serviceability of a loan, that would then permit a loan to be allowed?
Maybe it would be more sensible Indiana, maybe it wouldn’t. At this point who can tell.
But if the matter of loan sharks isn’t going into into the Select Committee process, no one is going to look at the practicality of possible legislative options, and no progress to a legal solution will be made.
perhaps kicking the tires means… kicking them to see if they’re flat or perhaps
“to kick the tires means to stall–to make someone wait for a decision. It is generally well known that kicking the tires doesn’t really give any useful information about modern types of tires. Kicking them is just something that we do out of ritual or for something to do to look busy while we’re trying to make a decision–especially if a pushy salesperson is standing there trying to rush us into spending our money. “
@Jeremy. We are allowed to delay members bill once only, and Carol had already done this as she sought government support.
@Loota. There will always be differences of view between the parties and for the most part that is healthy for democracy. But on issues like the loan sharks where we all agree on the problem and the pressing nature of addressing it, we should be able to rise above partisan politics and take the opportunity.
I noted one Government line was it hadn’t worked elsewhere. Where of WHERE was this government thinking on National Standards?
From years ago working in retail PC sales, a tyre kicker was what we called someone who cam in, asked questions, played around with the PC’s and then left without buying. I always assumed this originated from car sales when someone would come to the yard, kick some tyres, maybe have a test drive or two, but not buy.
Sums it up quite well for National – lots of wasted time and no sale.
Well – 9 years and Labour did nothing – now you play politics and grandstanding.
If you think they make too much money – set up in competition and offer your cheap loans – see how long your business lasts. Clearly there is a demand – I don’t see anyone pulling people off the streets to get the cash – they do so on their own free will.
Pacfika wrote to the PM – on the other hand they chase advertising business from the “loan sharks”
Good on National and ACT – About time people became accountable for their actions – stop the Nanny State now.
With every passing week, it becomes clearer that this is a Government of missed opportunities and just talk .. blah blah blah.
Mark said
There is a demand for a lot of things which are better left unmet.
Your concept of ‘free will’ when someone is feeling backed into a corner is naive at best.
Loota, there is likely to be unintended consequences arising from the loan shark bill – namely those loan sharks currently operating out in the open will restrict their lending criteria, forcing those with bad credit ratings to borrow on the black market where interest rates will be even higher, and penalties for non-payment more brutal.
Those that previously were ‘feeling’ backed into a corner are more likely to be literally backed into a corner.
I don’t like loan sharks, but sadly they are supplying a service for which there is a high demand. Throttling the supply won’t stem the demand.
More success would be had helping these people by outlawing poker machines. It is clear that money spent on poker machines in poorer communities tends to end up being redistributed as grants in more affluent areas.
How long before Sleepy Sam comes up with the bill doing just exactly what Carol’s proposed??
@LabRat – I tried to post around 5pm but something went wrong and I lost everything. But you managed to express my feelings almost exactly.
People only use places which charge high rates of interest because they can’t get a loan elsewhere. Whilst it isn’t pleasant, isn’t getting a 50%pa (or a 100%pa) loan on the high street better than only having the option of a 500%pa or 1000%pa one in the dark alley. From someone who’ll break your legs if you default?
Loan sharks are a bit like prostitutes. Most people find them hugely distasteful, but they provide a service to the unfortunate few.
If it made any sort of commercial sense for reputable banking organisations to lend to those with no security and an appalling credit record then they’d be doing it. They wouldn’t miss out on that opportunity for making a bob or two. If those in the Labour movement disagree with that they let them set up some sort of credit union with their members’ (not taxpayers’) money, and lend to these people at whatever Carol B defines as reasonable rates. And see what happens to your funds.
I was at a youth forum the other night in Chch and listened to/watched Paula Bennett feign empathy over the plight of youth while defending policies that exacerbated the problems she claimed to care about. It was frustrating to say the least.
They do, do sanctimonious quite well
LabRat some salient points dude.
The real lesson here is for Labour to learn – that is, that when Labour gets back into power, the following is important:
- despite where in the house it comes from, if another party has a good reform in mind that is to the benefit of all kiwis, esp those who are most vulnerable, then do the right thing and support it!! I believe that kiwis will respect this approach, and it frustrates the blinking daylights out of me that party politics has to come first and the good of the country is secondary to this agenda. Its bull and everyone knows it.
So, my message to the NACTs – Come on National – grow up. Believe it or not, your popularity would grow stronger if you actually showed some common sense!
However, it suits my agenda just fine for the NACTs to keep making these stupidity calls. Keep it up – sooner or later it will be your downfall.
And as an aside, how does Gerry aka Jabba the hut Brownies keep his seat? Defies logic really.