Truth in Advertising
August 30th, 2011 at 8:00 am by David FarrarRed Alert has been showing off some videos sent in by concerned citizens, who shock horror just happen to be members of Young Labour.
Now good on them for getting involved, but it would be nice if someone pointed out to them that they are not meant to lie and deceive over what National is promising until they are MPs. Take the asset sales video.
It starts off with someone offering trains for sale. Now I wish the trains were for sale. Far from it. National is spending around $2 billion of taxpayers money on buying new trains, upgrading current stock, and electrification of lines. And their policy is for the Government to retain 100% ownership of Kiwirail.
So the advertisement starts with what can only be called a massive blatant lie. This is of course why they promote it on Red Alert.
The ad follows on with partial lies, saying people can buy power companies – they can all be yours. No mention at all that only minority stakes will be offered, and no you won’t be able to buy your own power company – you’ll just be able to buy some shares in a power company. But hey lets not facts get in the way.
Then the advertisement reverts back to a full lie. It claims Kiwibank is for sale, and at half price. Again, somewhat sadly, Kiwibank is not for sale – not even one share. National’s policy is to retain 100% ownership of Kiwibank and NZ Post.
Following the total lie, we go back to a further partial lie. That Air New Zealand must go. Air NZ already has private minority ownership. The only change is the amount may go up, but remain under 50%.
So two total blatant lies, and two partial lies. Not bad for 53 seconds.
No tag for this post.
August 30th, 2011 at 8:11 am
tell me lies tell me sweet little lies.
Vote:August 30th, 2011 at 8:12 am
It starts off with someone offering trains for sale. Now I wish the trains were for sale. Far from it. National is spending around $2 billion of taxpayers money on buying new trains, upgrading current stock, and electrification of lines. And their policy is for the Government to retain 100% ownership of Kiwirail.
And Kiwirail just announced a 100 mill profit yesterday. Good start.Once it is working as it should they can sell some shares to the train buffs.
Vote:Everybody happy.
August 30th, 2011 at 8:32 am
Just like kids have to be careful about their facebook pages, they should also worry about this sort of stuff and their future employment options…
Vote:August 30th, 2011 at 8:36 am
Damn you jaba. Repeat 1 song loop in my head for the rest of the day.
Vote:August 30th, 2011 at 8:36 am
ha ha, cry me a river.
this coming from the party of snakes.
Vote:August 30th, 2011 at 8:38 am
How does this all fit with the election advertising rules? Can Labour distribute viral videos on their blog which promote their policies without accounting for the cost of them?
[DPF: The ad complies with the electoral rules. A complaint to the ASA though would no doubt see it rules in breach]
Vote:August 30th, 2011 at 8:47 am
This is boot camp for future MPs. In a previous life I had to work with Labour ministers and found I could never trust any of them. They would say something to your face, even allow you to take a note and then the outcome would be something completely different.
Vote:One thing we know for sure – Labour will do anything to grasp or stay in power. The ugliness of their ambition is visible on their faces.
August 30th, 2011 at 8:54 am
It is a rather natural reaction. When people ignore you, you exaggerate what you are saying in a desperate effort to gain attention. The usual result is that yes, you do gain more attention, but lose credibility.
Vote:Even scientists are vulnerable to this behaviour pattern, viz global warming.
August 30th, 2011 at 9:07 am
Lying and repeating falsities seems to be a common tactic. I’ve had a spate of deliberate false attributions to how I view things at The Standard, maybe not coincidentally by what seem to be young Labour operatives who are openly supported by moderation. The only one I have had that problem with here to any degree was Redbaiter.
One prevalent tactic is to say “he didn’t say he supported this so he must support what crap I choose to apply”. They did this to a DPF post here the other day, they had a whole counter post trying that on.
Vote:August 30th, 2011 at 9:10 am
Shoddy stuff. But it wins votes and gives them power. The end.
Vote:August 30th, 2011 at 9:26 am
The video is clearly a spoof and (arguably) not intended to be taken seriously.
The sad reality is that it espouses a position that will be believed by many with the power to vote. Even sadder (and more troubling) is the fact that it is being promoted by Grant Robertson as ……. a window to the future if a National led- government is elected”.
Young Labour acolytes should not be chastised for making such a video. The dearth of political comedy in NZ means that even poor attempts such as this should be encouraged.
When a senior Labour politician promotes such a statement as a factual representation of National policy – that is a concern. Grant Robertson is deliberating misleading. If a retailer tried the same tactic promoting misleading statements about a competitor’s product – it would be actionable behaviour.
Vote:August 30th, 2011 at 9:28 am
All’s fair in kinky sex and politics
Vote:August 30th, 2011 at 9:52 am
is that $100million profit from kiwirail legit?
Or did it come after a $200million cash injection by the govt or some such?
Vote:August 30th, 2011 at 10:16 am
The ultimate irony is the the Labour government, when drowning in surpluses, did not choose to buy out the minority interest in Air NZ and make it 100@% Govt. owned.
Vote:August 30th, 2011 at 11:21 am
In before “Fake but accurate” claim from Labouristas.
Vote:August 30th, 2011 at 1:22 pm
Just another example of socialists behaving true to form.
cheers
David Prosser
Vote:August 30th, 2011 at 1:38 pm
Suddenly I have visions of dancing cossacks in my head.
Vote:August 30th, 2011 at 2:27 pm
“Now good on them for getting involved”
Not really.
Vote:August 30th, 2011 at 5:55 pm
As for Air New Zealand, the morons don’t even understand that in order for it to be designated under bilateral air service agreements, which it has to be in order to operate any international route (other than to Australia) it MUST remain substantially owned and effectively controlled by the New Zealand government or nationals of New Zealand (or a combination).
Substantial ownership is taken to mean at least 50.1%. Effective control is usually taken to mean headquartered in the designating country with senior executives being of that nationality.
The twin requirements of ‘substanial ownership’ and ‘effective control’ by nationals of the country designating the airline are the cornerstone of the international aviation system and have been since the Chicago Convention of 1944. The requirements are in almost all of New Zealand’s bilateral air services agreements and even where they are not, the ones that do require it mean that there will be no change until all nations agree otherwise, which is not going to happen.
So the next time the left try this one, you know for certain they are either stupid or lying (or both).
Vote:August 30th, 2011 at 6:55 pm
Trout: “The ultimate irony is the the Labour government, when drowning in surpluses, did not choose to buy out the minority interest in Air NZ and make it 100@% (sic) Govt. owned.”
Almost certainly that would have converted Air NZ into a loss-making “commercial” entity, totally dependent on state support.
Unlike the local electricity sector in which government-owned generators and retailers “compete” in a comfortable oligopoly, international aviation is now one of the world’s most cut-throat, competitive businesses. Air NZ has been successful over the last turbulent decade because the government of the day has largely kept its nose out of the governance and day-to-day running of the business. If the airline became 100% government-owned and no longer publicly listed, politicians and senior public servants would be unable to resist taking over the controls.
Vote:August 31st, 2011 at 8:12 am
Gee – Labour caught telling porkies again.
Who’da thought?
Vote: