This article is the most powerful I have read recently. It illustrates the pain about to be inflicted on us, even those nice people who voted for them.
Having lived through the Thatcher years in the UK, I watched with horror from afar as the UK coalition did it all again, only this time much worse and much longer. In NZ we are entering an…
This article is the most powerful I have read recently. It illustrates the pain about to be inflicted on us, even those nice people who voted for them.
Having lived through the Thatcher years in the UK, I watched with horror from afar as the UK coalition did it all again, only this time much worse and much longer. In NZ we are entering another round as you say Austerity 2.0, but the rich, entitled, privileged people with lots of money from house flipping and rentals will be fine.
Talking to people at a recent local gala, all I heard was "I didn't expect them to do that first. (smokefree) or "if I had known Seymour and Peters would be running things, I would not have voted for them." (Treaty referendum etc) and finally and frankly most devastating, 'When will I get my tax cuts because it’s difficult to feed a family when the cost of living is through the roof." (buyers remorse)
I have some rich relatives, lifestyle property, rentals, big pension funds, previously high paid employment or contracts. They are over the moon a new government is in power because they know they will benefit from tax cuts already announced. Their properties will increase in value more than previously. And so on. I had audacity to ask why their government chose to stop smokefree as one of its first moves. A policy that will effect poorer households the most. Their staple answer I have heard for ever is,
‘It’s a lifestyle choice. Its their responsibility to earn more, get a better job, be more responsible citizens.’
Or, ‘Maybe the government doesn’t really want to do this and might change the policy.’
Good one that!
And finally which I have to say took the biscuit,
‘Everyone has the same chance, the same education and its not our fault they don’t make the most of it.’
My niece works for the local womens refuge having been a social worker before her children came along. The stories she tells of the family violence, absolute fear some women have of men, children withdrawn and unable to learn, moved from school to school. They are desperate for more room because more women need their help. It will only get worse as councils run out of money and donations to run the refuge dry up.
Our food banks are under immense pressure as the demand is increasing. Local food wastage is just ridiculous.
Is this a poor area like Northland? Hell no! This is our second city on the South Island!
But don’t worry, restaurants are full, new cars are rushing out of the showrooms, farmers complain as usual but buy ever bigger Ute’s and tractors. We are getting a nice new hospital, at least we will if this government can find a rich, asset management company to fund most of it. Hey, just call your Atlas Network friends and the Infrastructure Management outfits who will pay for it and then bleed the public purse even dryer as they have done around the world.
This article is the most powerful I have read recently. It illustrates the pain about to be inflicted on us, even those nice people who voted for them.
Having lived through the Thatcher years in the UK, I watched with horror from afar as the UK coalition did it all again, only this time much worse and much longer. In NZ we are entering another round as you say Austerity 2.0, but the rich, entitled, privileged people with lots of money from house flipping and rentals will be fine.
Talking to people at a recent local gala, all I heard was "I didn't expect them to do that first. (smokefree) or "if I had known Seymour and Peters would be running things, I would not have voted for them." (Treaty referendum etc) and finally and frankly most devastating, 'When will I get my tax cuts because it’s difficult to feed a family when the cost of living is through the roof." (buyers remorse)
I have some rich relatives, lifestyle property, rentals, big pension funds, previously high paid employment or contracts. They are over the moon a new government is in power because they know they will benefit from tax cuts already announced. Their properties will increase in value more than previously. And so on. I had audacity to ask why their government chose to stop smokefree as one of its first moves. A policy that will effect poorer households the most. Their staple answer I have heard for ever is,
‘It’s a lifestyle choice. Its their responsibility to earn more, get a better job, be more responsible citizens.’
Or, ‘Maybe the government doesn’t really want to do this and might change the policy.’
Good one that!
And finally which I have to say took the biscuit,
‘Everyone has the same chance, the same education and its not our fault they don’t make the most of it.’
My niece works for the local womens refuge having been a social worker before her children came along. The stories she tells of the family violence, absolute fear some women have of men, children withdrawn and unable to learn, moved from school to school. They are desperate for more room because more women need their help. It will only get worse as councils run out of money and donations to run the refuge dry up.
Our food banks are under immense pressure as the demand is increasing. Local food wastage is just ridiculous.
Is this a poor area like Northland? Hell no! This is our second city on the South Island!
But don’t worry, restaurants are full, new cars are rushing out of the showrooms, farmers complain as usual but buy ever bigger Ute’s and tractors. We are getting a nice new hospital, at least we will if this government can find a rich, asset management company to fund most of it. Hey, just call your Atlas Network friends and the Infrastructure Management outfits who will pay for it and then bleed the public purse even dryer as they have done around the world.
Tony, So true. As Nick says they are "Leeches"