NZ Houses Keep Going "UP"

This cartoon might appear at first glance to be xenophobic, but it is an undeniable fact that NZ is sadly allowing its economy and land to be bought by people outside the country and putting a price on citizenship. What we need is real investment in new industries that generate wealth producing exports and a level playing field for NZ businesses competing with imports. NZ finance minister Bill English's budget does little to help out and so the inequality of opportunity for NZ businesses and labour continues to get worse as money goes into real estate instead of the productive economy - in my opinion.

Pixar's animated film "UP" appeared to say more to me than just the surface story line. It seemed also to comment on the decline of the USA in the face of a resurgent Asia. Very appropriate as a platform for this cartoon I thought - as we are behaving very much like the USA in many ways, but not all thank God. Strangely enough, I also thought "UP" was saying we can achieve goals together with all the people of every age in this World and the journey will be worth it.

In the meantime we need to change the mindset of our Government that is locked into outmoded social and economic ways of doing things. Looking at successful economies everywhere and especially in Asia will show us the way to rediscover what they learnt from us in the past and add their own recipes to our mix to bake a bigger and better cake to share.

Budgie Bill Balances Books

Collins Takes Cold Turkey Time Out

Seeing Purple

Peter Dunne, the leader of the United Party with one seat in Parliament (his own), was somewhat miffed to find that the new Internet Party had decided to use purple in their logo/trademark. Hardly worth worrying about you might think until you realize that the voting form shows a small square of colour beside each candidate. Peter sounds very concerned. It might even help him tho' if young voters, who would not usually vote, get confused and vote for him by mistake.

Taking The Bait

National's Murrio McCulliovalli certainly pulled one out of the hat when he lured Labour MP Shane Jones away from Parliament with a Pacific fishing ambassadorship. I was one of many who were completely surprised. Mind you, looking back I remember Shane having a permanent disgruntled look, which I took for being frustrated with being an Opposition MP in Parliament. It goes to show that Shane is indeed a superb political poker player or maybe duped again by his emotions. Hard to tell from here.

Lest We Forget

Sadly, the New Zealand Government has once again allowed another NZ owned company to be taken over by foreigners. This time it is the Japanese who are buying Carter Holt and its associated businesses (timber and pulp and paper). That means more profits going overseas and to make it worse, I also see that the buyout includes some funds from the Japanese Government. So what was the war last century against Japan all about then? I grew up being told it was to push back Japan extending its power to enslave us into "The Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere". I guess that is where we are heading once again and this time China, along with other Asian countries, are at the table too and buying up NZ companies and land. Sad, but true and I hope it is a hot election issue.

Legal High Street Begging