Make a promise and get bitten on your butt

Politicians never learn. Come election time and for a good deal of the time in between elections, politicians and their ‘wannabe’ mates make all sorts of promises. These utterances can be from those in opposition to the ‘power –clingers.’

I don’t need to search archives to bring up a few clangers, but the issue of the ‘gap’ between Australian and New Zealand incomes is never far from the front pages. Both main parties in NZ have used it to raise their profiles and both have distorted it, hiding in behind half-truths and downright lies.

Of course this then leads to accusations from either party about the outflow of New Zealanders, heading across the ditch to reap the rewards of the land of OZ. Higher incomes and lifestyle are the main attractions and the debate has raged for many years about the accuracy of the various claims.

 The National Party Government in New Zealand wants it both ways.  They claimed that NZers were heading to Aussie in ever increasing numbers, while Labour was in power and that they would turn the figures around and narrow the income gap. That has not happened; if anything the flow is looking more like a flood now. So what does the government do to reverse this outflow? --- It increases the payback rate of student loans and limits student allowance support to four years of study.

How stupid and unfair is that? Is it not making educational achievement beyond those first four years an aspirational goal only achievable for the rich? Where is the fairness in this policy? Is this not going to add to even more NZers leaving our shores, because they are cut off from financial support, just when they are about to put the cream on their qualifications? How short sighted and nasty is that?

We need to invest in our young people so that all have the opportunity to take part in all sectors of economic life. So National---shine the torch on to the land of OZ and say---‘go for it, because we are not going to assist you any further.’ What can young people think? –‘Might as well go there as soon as we finish school in NZ--- start planning for it now.’

Pull your head out of the sand, Mr Key and your advisors, or better still leave it in there--- the worms will tell you how short sighted you have become!
Maybe you should think a bit more about the promises you make--- all political parties, that is.