To date, Cullen has patted himself on the back over his “prudent fiscal management” of the nation and the way it has brought record low levels of unemployment, sustained growth, etc, etc.

No, it’s got nothing to do with riding a wave of global prosperity — it’s all down to his exceptional skills as a manager.

But now things are starting to turn rather ugly. Of course that’ll all be due to things beyond his control. “When America sneezes the world catches cold” etc, etc.

Funny how quickly the buck gets passed when things go wrong isn’t it?

These people are paid *very* well ($350K base for the Commissioner) and have armies of accountants and lawyers to help them yet their stuff-ups are passed off as “human error” when the average hard-working self-employed Kiwi who might be in a hand-to-mouth situation and has to do all the paperwork on his own can not use “an honest mistake” as any kind of defense against incurring massive penalties and interest if they stuff-up.

Once again we see the duplicity and hypocrisy of those who wield power over us.

And 4 million sheep….

Right?

Excuse me Brokeback Paul, caustic Kullen is a disgrace because a chimpanzee could have managed our economy better than the dribbling sullen prick has . You lefty communist creeps are so deranged that you have no ability to criticize this insidious and totally incompetent government . Go on you twits give me some more thumbs down, because that’s all you can do. What pathetic wimps. Gutless spineless jellyfish . Scared frightened twits. IRD is your typical dysfunctional government department and all our ministers are never accountable . The twisted sods and the bent mongrels that can’t lie straight in bed make me want to puke over Mount Bullshit. If it’s not corruption it’s incompetence.

It’s more like we’ve been floating down a lovely meandering river for the last 8 years in our little yacht mostly constructed in the late 80s and early 90s. Since then, it’s had little in the way of upgrades, but who needs it with this gentle current? We’ve just gone along with the international economic flow, enjoying the sun, admiring the scenery, doing a spot of fishing, fooling ourselves Captain Cullen and crew were navigating the river with purpose, skill and experience.

But do you see the water starting to flow a little faster, a little rougher? Can you hear the logs and rocks starting to bump and scrape against the hull? Feel our vessel heave and rock more and more beneath our feet from the strengthening undercurrent? Those whirlpools seem to be getting bigger and stronger! Why can’t Captain Cullen steer around them? What’s that? He’s not actually a captain, he’s never learned how to helm a boat? WHAT?

Shh, listen! An ominous roaring sound in the distance….. it’s getting louder! A waterfall? Captain Cullen never told us there was a waterfa- What? He’s never actuallly studied any navigational charts? B-b-but Captain Cullen said the leisurely cruise was thanks to his superb handling! He MUST know what to do! Oh no, he’s slipped into the churning foaming water and just flailing his arms about….. What? He can’t swim, either? WHAT? WE’RE MEANT TO KNOW HOW, TOO?

Cullen and crew – asleep at the helm, or asleep at the rudder? Same diff.

Yeah Cullen’s a f**k-up. this country has been run to the ground over the last 8 years, the economic good times that we have all enjoyed have been an aberration, in true spirit of the mystical lords of the empire, “this is not the economic good times you see before you”, but you’ve got to say that with an Alec Guinness accent.

I love it, a department stuff up and Cullen’s the one still for the chop. You people are Ruthless (get it). Still nice to be one of the bean counters who actually made the cock up, to know that you lot aren’t coming for them.

Money boys and girls, you know the ones, of your ilk, your brethren (exclusive or not) are the ones that made this mistake not Cullen.

glad to see Dad has once again directed the spittle at the wrong person.

http://monkeyswithtypewriter.blogspot.com/2008/03/property-crash-cullens-fault.html

JC

They have become politicised under Labour (another good reason for a clean out) and big and lazy – yet all powerfull as they extend their tentacles into our lives.

Monty:

The IRD will be my friends for life if they make a similar FUBAR in my favour. But snark aside, I thought Bill English had it right on Checkpoint this evening: It’s beyond credibility that this was anything more than a fuck up, but what a fuck up! (Naturally, I’m paraphrasing) If we are going to end up in a recession, a couple of hundred million dollars either way could make all the difference between a spending commitment that’s merely fiscally irresponsible and one that’s going to be broken before the ink is dry on the press release.

I don’t know about anyone else, but I’ve got a reasonably accurate idea of what state the financials are in at any given time. If I got a bank statement that said I was a couple of grand overdrawn, when I expected to have a reasonably healthy credit then I’d be going through the bills and receipts with a fine tooth comb.

I have a funny feeling the IRD is going to be having a few ‘please explain how this happened – and how you’re making sure it will not happen again’ meetings, and someone better not even dream of getting their performance pay this year.

Any chance we can bring the election forward to say next week? Save everyone the boredom of having to listen to any more bilge from the socialists

IRD has vacated lots of space in recent years with changes to business methods.

Goverment Departments and other organisations are prepared to pay a premium for offices with large floor plates and provision for technology – they consider it economic when increased efficiency is taken into account (although perhaps one could take a cynical view of the costings).

If the Deaprtment was leaner and smarter then these mistakes would not happen. It is instead fat andd lazy. John Key needs to send this and many other Government Department off to the fat farm to lose some blubber.

Dime – you missed out “pricks” at the end.