New Ideas & Other Stuff

We all need to be impressed with the World Cup in South Africa. A great show some splended facilities provided. New Zealand.

New Zealand played three games all draws in fact New Zeald is the only team who was un-defeated at the world cup.

Well it seems that almost daily there are incidents that are causing a loss of traction for the National party. The solid coalition seems much less so and as the minor parties fight to maintain their differences and agreements seem to fade into the background. The way that the PM has handled things has not impressed some of his supporters and talk back radio has expressed strong disapproval over some of the actions taken. The up coming referendum on the “smacking” bill a major issue in the last election, John Key has stated he will not be voting and there will be no change to the law as a result of the referendum. The issues around the resignation of a recent Minister has also not been well handled. People are also wondering where the assistance for jobs and working through economic situation is and in what form this assistance will be delivered.

It seems that some people never listen and read into a conversation their own wishes ideas and aspirations. Having explained with great care to a person the requirements of an item to be delivered to the house it arrived today and met none of the most important criteria. It seems that you have to be very patient and wide awake to ensure that you get what you ask for. It would seem to be most logical that if the requirements of the initial request could not be met. Then a phone call to the prospective user would be a simple step to take.

Today I smiled, and all at once things didn’t look so bad.
Today I shared with someone else, a bit of hope I had.
Today I sang a little song, and felt my heart grow light,
And walked a happy little mile, with not a cloud in sight.

Today I worked with what I had and longed for nothing more,
And what had seemed like only weeds, were flowers at my door.
Today I loved a little more and complained a little less,
And in the giving of myself, I forgot my weariness.
Author Unknown

Melissa Lee the National party candidate for the current by-election has “put the cat among the pigeons “with her inappropriate comments at an election meeting last night. Her remark that the proposed new motorway “would help keep criminals out of the area “ has upset a large sector of the community, add to this the decision by the National government to bowl hundreds of homes to build a new Motorway has divided the community. Many now feel this has opened the door for Labour to win the by-election and for the green party to gain some of the National vote.

Well the signals are going out to say the future tax cuts may not eventuate. The reason being given is the economic down turn. There seems some sort of irony in this as the tax cuts were one of the major planks put forward in the last election campaign. Another inferred justification is that the initial tax cuts which were meant to be the first of three are not stimulating the economy as it was thought they would. People have not rushed out and spent their extra money preferring to save the money or use it to service debt. I also think that many have used the money simple to help bridge the ever widening gap between the out goings and the income received.

Well the National Government has backed the Super City proposal and Auckland will become one of the biggest cities in the southern hemisphere. Many small councils will disappear. The public seem to be far from unanimous about the decision. Government has also removed the option of Maori representation. This has angered the Maori party and all in all there seems to be a lot of people dissatisfied with the decision. It seems that Auckland will be the “guinea pig” and the same process may be applied to other cities.
The whole process will be a very expensive and although there are predicted cost savings in the long term. There are some questions that can only be answered by implementation and many predicted outcomes are by no means certain. A number of prominent academics feel that in the current economic climate a decision such as this is badly timed and will not in any way assist New Zealand’s economic recovery.

April 1 is the date for the implementation of Tax Cuts. This was a major plank in the National parties election manifesto. There now seems to be a large number of low income earners who will get no tax cuts and may even face tax increases (perhaps 65%). The tax cuts are aimed at middle and high income earners and are meant to stimulate the economy.

Well the new National government has withdrawn the proposal for local tax on petrol to cover the cost up grading the Auckland Rail System. The alternative is a national petrol tax across the whole country with all tax payers paying for the Auckland rail up grades and some of the additional petrol tax being used for road and highway development. For the first time since they were elected there has been an undercurrent of dissatisfaction from the public of this proposal. Is the “Honey Moon” over?

Making overseas investment easier is also a target for the new National government. They are planning to make it easier for overseas investors to invest in New Zealand. Is this a subtle way of privation or selling off more of our assets? New Zealand has learnt the hard way from previous experience and it would seem foolish to charge of down the same road again. New Zealanders need to monitor this situation and make submissions when they are called for.
Stay awake New Zealand don’t be too trusting and suffer the consequences in the long term.

Four Day Working Week

There are a number people looking at a four day working week as way to help businesses survive the economic down turn. It has also been suggested that the fifth day be used for people to undertake training to enhance their skills or to work on large public projects and be paid by the government. At first glance the idea sounds interesting but after further consideration the following questions need to be carefully considered and answered.
Will any “Four Day Working Week” be implemented across the board or will it be on an as required basis?
Will the fifth day “training public works” be compulsory or optional?
Will fifth day pay equal current pay or be a separate payment at a different rate?
In a cost benefit analysis what are the costs and who gets the benefits?