Before the last election John Key said the ‘fundamental purpose’ of his government would be to narrow the wage gap between New Zealand and Australia. How’s he doing?
(Note: you can answer more than one)
Loading ...Before the last election John Key said the ‘fundamental purpose’ of his government would be to narrow the wage gap between New Zealand and Australia. How’s he doing?
(Note: you can answer more than one)
Loading ...This entry was posted on Friday, July 30th, 2010 at 8:33 am and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
Baaaaaaaaad
I believe the Govt knows there is a growing wage gap but is unwilling to take the necessary measures for various reasons. Primarily, the ones to profit from this administration are the NACT/MP constituency who get wealthier. The rest are the work force to keep the first group serviced who get as much government support as needed to keep them servile as a work force, docile and unengaged as a democratic force.
“Don’t vote, it only encourages them” as a slogan suits them. Infotainment on TV in the media generally, and sport keeps the plebs amused. Lower public education delivery, poorer public health services, a built up prison service and more police suits the NACT/MP constituency.
Armed police, ghetto-isation and gated communities suit them. Readily available alcohol suits them so long as it doesn’t affect drivers on the roads or those working for them. Lessening of workers’ rights and the emasculation of unionism suits them. Lower pay suits them. Less tax suits them. Less government suits them, so long as they control what there is.
To do this they will lie, distort and cheat. In the final analysis they just don’t care for liberty, equality or fraternity. They just don’t care for all the people.
Talk of altering wage rates with Australia is a distraction. It gets rid of intelligent, disaffected, motivated critics and excess unemployed through emigration. It serves as an excuse for poor local performance, citing such things as a recession or Australia’s mineral wealth. If the NZ economy coincidentally gets a boost, then that too is a plus, since it would be of course a result of good government.
So, too, is poor opposition discipline a distraction. We as parties of the Centre Left, as unionists and workers, as citizens who genuinely seek a better country for all must be united, concerted and focussed on reversing the path that I fear we are being led down by this “government of the elite, for the elite, by the elite”.
The Pole had the same question twice, “is trying to pull the wool over our eyes” = “is telling the country lies about the wage gap with Australia”
The Government doesn’t give a toss – since when have the Nats and their mates had a vested interest in increasing wages – it’s counter intuitive to profit!!!
Spot on Mac 1 comparision with Aus is a distraction. We don’t hear of Ministers or Chief Execs complaining about it and they are the greedy, grabbing, self serving nose in trough.
Comparisions should be made between that lot and those who serve the public, create the wealth what we need is the fair redistribution of wealth.
Might sound a tad old fashioned but it’s an ideal who’s time has come
The truth as always is hidden in plain view. The wage gap will be closed with Australia, but not for those on under $100,000. We Key’s tax changes for the wealthy come in in October the rich will catch up. The vast majority will continue as poor cousins.
Wake up they are ri[pping us off in all directions with increased charges, Gst, bigger returns fron SOE’s, ACC etc.
What a travesty.
This Gov’t is bereft of real ideas on how to lift this country up.
All they are concerned about is being re-elected in 2011.
Surely this country deserves better !
LABOUR
BETTER
I think its highly unlikely that the wage gap *could* be closed during a recession.
Thus, It could be said that indeed there has been an attempt at wool pulling, although it could also be argued that the government never intended, nor expected to be a one term government and expects the gap to close in its second term.
Hence why i’ve chosen wool pulling and has a plan.
I picked wool over eyes – they are just spinning a good yarn
If this governement is so keen on closing the wage gap then why did they call a wage freeze for all government departments?
Maybe they think that changing the labour laws will close the gap? We all know that they got a hidden agenda.
The Govt spin i sbased on the [John Keys] philosophy that you can sell ideas worded in such a wAY THAT IT IS EASY TO MOVE OFF IN ANY DIRECTION WITH THE RESULTS
What’s the hidden agenda? The conspiracy? Redistribution of wealth…yes it is old fashioned. It failed in the past and it will fail again. That dogma is no different to the nonsense coming out of Nats mouths at the moment, just different extremes, few win. The rich, you so despise (those who just happen to be successful and want to save for their families and enjoy life and a happy retirement) instead of taking from the many for themselves (zzzzzzz…) will instead in your book be replaced by a different power/money grabbing class who will take from all and keep the money and power for a new bourgeois elite.
Blair/Browns 3rd way failed miserably in the UK but there were some good ideas behind it. Take some cues from that instead.
This whole story about the rich being ‘despised’ is a straw man.
Its not the fact of being “rich” which is objectionable. Its the fact of being a “rich ***hole” that is objectionable, and only a few in the former group, qualify to be in the latter group.
There is nothing wrong with being rich, but everything wrong with those who refuse to leave any money on the table for the rest of the community. Those who are quite happy to shaft everyone else in their mad dash to get from $10M net worth to $20M net worth.
(Anyone with only a million net worth can hardly be called rich these days, anyhows).
And you know, everyone deserves to be able to save something for their families and have a happy retirement.
But not just taking from Peter to give to Paul, see how it works both ways.
Compulsory Super.
What box do you tick if you think they have a plan but it ain’t a very good one..?
What box for
Never intended to address the wage gap and used closing the gap with australia as an overly simplistic piece of puffery.
The news is now out that the wage gap is widening and people especially blue collar workers should realise that the whole argument about closing the gap came from Crosby-Textor and not the Nats policy unit. Now the Crosby-Textor are great at PR and spin doctoring but they can’t distort official statistics, or give (shon)Key a panacea to close the wage gap.
didn’t have “Wants wages to drop” as a question.
and agree with Mac1 @ 09:15
Taking from the many is exactly what the rich do.
Don’t worry labourers the plan to close the gap will happen once John Key is re-elected
good things take time
Draco, exactly has happened in the past with the those who perpetrate to stand up for the many. Wealth redistribution also takes from the many to support the few, usually the few who hold power. Where’s the balance?
Poll seems to be busted. The percentages of votes for the different options add up to 288%.
As at 5:34pm 30/3/2010:
# doesn’t know what to do about the wage gap(61%, 193 Votes)
# knows the wage gap with Australia is getting bigger(59%, 188 Votes)
# is trying to pull the wool over our eyes (56%, 179 Votes)
# is telling the country lies about the wage gap with Australia (55%, 176 Votes)
# refuses to accept the wage gap is widening (35%, 110 Votes)
# has a plan to close the wage gap(15%, 48 Votes)
# thinks it has already solved the wage gap problem (7%, 22 Votes)
@RRM – You can vore in more than one category, which stuffs up the percentages a little I believe
@Chris – yes but those mainland dudes always get the job done
Although I voted “doesn’t know what to do” I believe that’s not entirely correct. I think he does know what to do but simply won’t do it.
I think they don’t know what to do
to get more people to believe them
when they tell lies about OZ.
The whole wage gap thing is an emotional catch cry. It whips up feelings of security that the Govt is going to do something but at a more significant level reinforces fear of falling behind.
No figures have been used by NACT to look at comparative tax across all sectors between the two countries or the cost of living and particularly food.
The gaps cry is a hollow stunt to confuse and distract as several others have pointed out.
A really good selection of posts showing a few do care and speak their mind about equity and the destruction of such.
Nact has management of such stunts planned by professionals and very consistent with similar work done by noted US agencies.
And it’s not necessarily hunky-dory across the Tasman either…
‘We can’t afford to keep Sydney running’
Sydney living becoming unaffordable
Interesting problem the Aussies have. Huge population growth and huge increased demand for services, leading to strained budgets and questions over funding.
Us, we have trouble keeping up with a near flat line.
Spud
Exactly, so John Key needs the same amount of time in power as dear leader had to get things done
and its goingto to happen
You know, you’re right
, it is going to to happen 
, when China finally buys up all our land Key’s going to be the only one prepared to run China’s southern most state! 
!
@Spud
So what govt was in power that allowed shania twain to buy up high country farms in wananka?
Off the topic but an edit function would be pretty handy on this site
We agree, but haven’t got to it yet. We will. Sorry. Clare
Maybe that was a mistake, but at least they were supporting the arts
Sorry, Clare, just want to add that edit button is great, at the standard they have a minor problem with some people altering their comments after someone has responded.
chris73,, no national govt int he last 20 years has worked to wage minimum wages in this country, their plans have been littered with wage freezes, belt tightening pleas etc. Some of us still remember aunty ruth asking us to tighten our belts and enjoy the fruits later… business owners did, but not wage earners.
National is doing nothing different to suggest wages will increase during their tenure
And Clare, while we’re at it, some buttons to auto-insert hyperlinks and formatting would be handy as well.
Regarding abuse of the edit button, a time limit helps.
Yes Spud because heaven knows multi-millionaire Canadians need more support
Oh I was thinking of the locals, you know, getting their big celebrity – could making money off tipping the paparazzi off whenever she’s in town