On our weekly radio show, Minister of Ethnic Affairs and I receive questions and messages from a new form of Chinese social media istars.me. Using cloud computing, it is loosely a combination of a Chinese-language variation of Facebook, Twitter and online broadcasting.
Answering four questions last Wednesday (18 August), the Hon Pansy Wong said that exports had decreased under Labour and have increased since National came into office.
She neglected to mention that it was then Minister of Trade Phil Goff who signed the Free Trade Agreement with China. This opened the trade floodgates with China, making China our second largest trading partner. In the first year of the FTA, trade increased by 62 percent with China – National were in office for less than four months of this period.
On the issue of the spiraling Asian unemployment rate, which has just hit a record high of 10.5 percent, Ms Wong said that “although unemployment is increasing so is the rate of employment, although the speed of job creation is slower than that of the number of people who are losing their jobs.”
I’m not sure whether that statement even makes sense – but it shows you the Minister has no answer to the now more than 23,000 Asian-New Zealanders who are unemployed.
On ACC, Ms Wong stated that ACC deficits had been reversed under National.
Let’s take a look at the figures. In 2009 ACC collected $4.2billion and spent $3.1billion. This equals a $1.1billion surplus, not a deficit. You have to read the Listener article of 24-30 Oct 09 (Vol:220) to appreciate that $4.8B deficit is a farce.
And on minimum wage, she said the country may not be able to afford it should it be increased (the above is not verbatim translation).
Judging by the mood of that social media site, it is becoming increasingly painful for those National supporters that the National government is being exposed on a daily basis.
They try to shut down the quality debate by resorting to abusive comments. For example, here are the comments from the three apparent National supporters:
nzwine , 8964
2010-08-16 14:30
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CD?? 2010-08-15 23:17
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Receiving criticism and unpleasant comments is part and parcel of being an MP – it’s unavoidable. But watching “the usual business” of those National supporters who can only resort to slanging makes me feel sorry for the National Party.
While Labour supporters have displayed reasoned debate, it is unfortunate that those National supporters choose to shut it down with derogatory and insulting comments which add nothing to the subject at hand.
To translate these comments above softens the meaning. But the way they presented themselves appeared to support the suggestion that they are the same small group of people that have operated consistently and systematically since the 2008 general election.
A reason why I am posting these comments is to also alert the National Party to this. Their reputation and image is being tarnished in the Chinese community by those reckless supporters.
“A reason why I am posting these comments is to also alert the National Party to this. Their reputation and image is being tarnished in the Chinese community by those reckless supporters.”
Its kind of hard to believe that you have any sincerity in that statement Raymond.
On the bright side – the ‘labour supporters’ who keep getting rolled out for failed setups (florence and the 90 day trial), the nationals 15% gst mail-outs etc) and second rates stunts that you wont back up yourselves (axe the tax bus) are doing far more damage not just to Chinese – but the entire voting community.
Opposing National’s antiworker and pro upper-class legislative changes is actually helpful to (almost) the entire voting community
thanks chris… youv’e managed to prove raymonds point, with a bit of spare nonsenical drivel just for good measure.
if we needed any reminding of the sort of bigoted fool that this government encourages, look no further than that comment.
i hope you keep up these half witted attacks on any thing that isn’t national. people do need reminding occasionally, just how much we need to rise above that sort of thing if we are ever going to sort out important issues facing society.
Answering four questions last Wednesday (18 August), the Hon Pansy Wong said that exports had decreased under Labour
The tradeables sector did start its decline under Labour several years ago – didn’t help things.
I just realised that her name is Pansy
She is the flower growing out of the thistle filled caucus. 