Nine to Noon Politics
March 2nd, 2009 at 4:33 pm by David FarrarToday’s politics segment with Laila Harre, Matthew Hooton and Kathryn Ryan was a very interesting lesson. I enjoy it because both participants are willing to praise MPs from the otehr side of the spectrum, and disagree with MPs from their own side.
I found Laila Harre’s words today very interesting, especially as Laila has been a Minister in a Labour-led Government and is the head of the reasonably militant National Distribution Union:
I have to say sitting through the summit, I found it difficult to imagine the Labour Party under Helen Clark really taking a risk like that which was to give a group of people an open brief in a very public way to propose some ideas and solutions. …
I don’t think there was ever a willingness [by Labour] to take those kinds of risk. … Labour’s objective at the Knowledge Wave conference was to keep it as tight as possible.
I actually felt that in terms of my political experience anyway this was the first time I personally been engaged in a genuinely tripartite process at a New Zealand level … I’ve never seen anything looking like that in New Zealand.
That’s generous praise. It shows that you can disagree with some of John Key’s policies but praise him for his leadership style which is very different to what we have had in the past.
Both Hooton and Harre praise the national cycleway proposal.
Hooton also ripped into borrowing $2 billion a year to stick into a savings fund. Harre declares she has never been much of a supporter of the Fund as future superannuation provision will always depend on economic health of country. Says it is a no brainer to suspend contributions.
Hooton also says the 2010 and 2011 tax cuts should not occur if we still have large deficits. I think it all depends on how large the deficits are, and how sucessful one has been in clipping low priority spending. At this stage, it is very premature to be making declarations, as Matthew does, about the future tax cuts. The time to decide would be early 2010. And from my point of view suspending or cancelling the tax cuts would be your last resort – only if the deficit was on a track to disaster.
March 2nd, 2009 at 5:14 pm
Holy crap. A screaming lefty just acknowledged that the state of the economy has a bearing on whether or not social services can be afforded.
Maybe there is hope for us yet!
Vote:March 2nd, 2009 at 6:00 pm
“Hooton also says the 2010 and 2011 tax cuts should not occur if we still have large deficits”
Does no-one get the concept that if the economy shrinks then so should government? Too much of government spending can be placed in the nice-to-have basket but we seem to have moved away from the need-to-have concept.
Where a recession kills off the inefficient commercial organisations generated out of the previous boom then why can we not apply the same rules to government spending. It’s basic economics. It’s a recession – if you cannot justify a government spend – drop it.
If we have large deficits then the government needs to shrink in size. Keynesian economics is like most form of economics. Doubling the amount does not double the effect – there is an appropriate amount – and it’s arguable we ran a Keynesian approach for the last 9 years and have no leeway, anymore.
If the government shrinks in size the economy will grow faster – what a benefit.
Vote:March 2nd, 2009 at 6:05 pm
More than anything, it shows how openness and inclusivity can bring on change for the better than brooding and plotting.
The previous administration were handicapped by the limits of their authority by the top team.
That is why they seem so invisible now.
There is hope for NZ in these turbulent times.
As they say, the hour cometh, the man cometh.
Imagine how depressing it would have been with a fourth term Labour Despotic control.
Vote:March 2nd, 2009 at 6:06 pm
I have a fair degree of respect for Laila, she’s a very smart and reasonable commentator. However, I think she’s got this wrong.
Firstly, Labour did do something very similar in 2000 – the Business/Government forum. I’d've thought Laila was there? I was one of a couple of people from the education sector and it sounds like the Jobs Summit was very similar (though I wasn’t at the Jobs Summit). In fact, reading the outcomes, I’m struck by how similar some of them seem!
Secondly, the Knowledge Wave wasn’t Labour’s conference, it was John Hood and Auckland University’s.
Laila may see things differently but that’s my recollection.
Vote:March 2nd, 2009 at 6:14 pm
Hooton says that Parekura Horomia is looking for another job. What’s all that about?
Vote:March 2nd, 2009 at 7:34 pm
John Key is proving to be a very different PM indeed. He is still finding his feet as PM but he seems willing to try some new thinking even if Bill English has to apply the handbrake sometimes. The National Party will just adore him in a way they have never have with previous Leaders.
Vote:March 2nd, 2009 at 7:52 pm
I know the blinkered will snort but I have a lot of time for Laila Harre. I may not always agree with her, but I can’t help but admir her approach and standards.
Vote:March 2nd, 2009 at 8:07 pm
Boy just when you think you’ve got them sussed they go and say something sensible and long may it continue.
Vote:March 2nd, 2009 at 8:28 pm
I met Laila in an elevator in Bowen House. She’s beautiful. Beeeaaauuutiful.
Vote:March 2nd, 2009 at 9:38 pm
“we ran a Keynesian approach for the last 9 years and have no leeway, anymore”
JK is a Keynesian. So someone tell me how his economical thinking will be different from the last 9 years?
Because he’s not a Marxist?
Vote:March 2nd, 2009 at 9:39 pm
“I met Laila in an elevator in Bowen House. She’s beautiful. Beeeaaauuutiful.”
wow.
I have to google her image now. :p
Vote:March 2nd, 2009 at 9:50 pm
Laila is nothing more than a fruitcake so does anyone have proof she said this and not a puppet???
Vote:March 2nd, 2009 at 10:05 pm
She is not nearly as hot these days lads, the grey “granny” hair does not look good.
But a few years back!!!!!!!
Vote:March 2nd, 2009 at 10:05 pm
“The National Party will just adore him in a way they have never have with previous Leaders.”
But does what the National PArty love rub off on the rest of society.
Your statement would be hugely powerful if it was the case.
Otherwise they will be riding on the back of the Maori Party for popularity stakes.
Unless employers are paying wages to an employed economy.
Actually, I don’t see that sign here in Hamilton.
Friday night the city looked deserted. It was warm and dry. But no families, no crowds late shopping. Nothing as it was sposed to be.
Very sober and sombre atmosphere.
Vote:March 2nd, 2009 at 10:09 pm
I met Laila first time about 20 years ago and on a few occasions since. While I do not agree with her politics i found her a very pleasant and reasonable person to talk to. She is certainly not stupid. She is good looking but much more than just a pretty face.
Vote:March 2nd, 2009 at 10:16 pm
well Chuck Bird,
you also just described Jeanette Fitzsimmons.
Our good fortune is that Laila is not a Green. But you’d take her home to your grandmother and have her convertd to the Green cause in minutes :0
Vote:March 3rd, 2009 at 1:19 am
Wait until she opens her mouth, ouch. I heard her screach about full employment and unionism once at Otago. Any illusion that she was a credibly hot leftie went spiralling out the window. Don’t be fooled by her seemingly good looks – it’s only because others of her ilk make her look good!
Vote:March 3rd, 2009 at 1:51 am
“She is not nearly as hot these days lads, the grey “granny” hair does not look good.”
Says you homo!
That MILF thing has me hotter than July in the US of A! dammmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm!
and that lisp……! oh yeah baby!
“Wait until she opens her mouth,”
When that happens ya knock her front teeth out with a thrust from Mr Winkie…….!
;-0
[DPF: That is so over the line, even with the smiley. Would you say that to her face? Regardless don't say it here and 50 demerits]
Vote:March 3rd, 2009 at 8:50 am
National cannot cancel the taxcuts.
Vote:It would look just like the Liarbour Party.
As Uncle Helen said, the election was about trust.
March 3rd, 2009 at 8:56 am
In James’ case it would be literally a diminutive – a la ‘Mr Winkie’
Vote:March 3rd, 2009 at 11:41 am
Good god, a thread that starts with comments favourable of National by a former left-leaning Minister degenerates into rape fantasies! David, is James appalling commentary not sufficient to warrant your censorship?
Clint, what is it with you?
Vote:March 3rd, 2009 at 2:47 pm
Yes DPF, the comments from james are beyond the pale.
Vote:What does it take to get the boot for a while?
There are particular websites that james can visit to talk trash, and I don’t mean the stranded either.
March 3rd, 2009 at 11:20 pm
Paul, WTF are you talking about? Why are you bringing me into this?
Have you not read this thread? I mean seriously, if you want to say something I challenge you to man up and say it.
Vote:March 4th, 2009 at 10:38 am
Because you made this stupid statement:
Clint, you certainly didn’t go as far as James, who’s comment is disgusting, however you did reduce Laila’s comments to little more than a function of her looks (and in so doing, denigrating the “others of her ilk”). That’s plain sexist, it reduces a woman to her appearance. That’s WTF I’m talking about.
If that’s not clear then no amount of “manning-up” (what is this, primary school) will help you understand, I mean “seriously”.
Vote:March 4th, 2009 at 10:39 pm
What I meant was that some others mentioned her looks and I had to put them straight that what came out of her mouth will dispell their opinions that they would really like her. As they wouldn’t. James got 50 demerits, and I agree with him getting them…. bad man.
Vote:March 4th, 2009 at 11:09 pm
Clint, fair enough. I understand that Laila’s politics and yours are pretty divergent. I didn’t mean to suggest you’d made a comment comparable to James’s. I appreciate your clarification. Cheers.
Now get to work…!
Vote: