Do John Key's budget statements ring true?

22 Feb 2011 01:48p.m.

NotUsingMyRealName wrote:

John Key needs a harsh reality check, in my opinion. He needs to either change his expectations or to have them changed for him. Oh, he surely can talk the rhetoric and the potically expedient talk. But, the real question is, can he walk the walk?. Let's start talking about constructive reasons, instead of papering over the reality with lame observations that are mean-spirited and have little basis in actual, lived experience!. The beneficiary bashing card has been played before. If this is the best that John Key can come up with, then may some power higher than him, have mercy on all your souls!.

As an ex-pat Kiwi now living in the U.S., I feel heartily ashamed about the poverty that is being perpetuated in my homeland. The National government in New Zealand, must be modeling themselves on the Republicans here. Keeping the wealthy in positions of wealth and power, while expecting the working and lower classes to continually pay for their comfort levels, on a daily basis. All without a real adjustment for what it 'really' costs to live not quite so close to the edges of despair.

It's all very fine and large, in theory, saying if you can't afford it, then don't buy it. But, I think that the vast 'majority' of people living on fixed incomes (those on benefits and working families), just want what is dignified, fair and reasonable. Simply living without hunger and with a sense of security, would be a good start. After all, who amongst us hasn't needed a hand-UP at some point in our lives?.

Yes, I do want to help Marsha, who was featured in your news story, even from this distance. Please contact me.

Oh, and if you think that New Zealand beneficiaries and working poor have an overflated, misguided sense of 'entitlement'- there's a homeless man 'camped' right across from my house at the moment. He looks pretty contented, really. Why?. He just got given a quart of 'government' milk. I told him that he's now better off than a lot of New Zealanders. "Another day in Paradise, here, M'am", he responded. He's probably, sadly correct.

21 Feb 2011 09:00a.m.

Frances wrote:

I have a big family and never had to rely on a benefit but struggle sometimes on average wage. I love free food so have a garden and am grateful for anything given me.I cant count the times I have made big pots of soup to feed my children with scones and home made bread.
I dont think tv should take pictures of people who just want some help to feed families. It is tough at the moment but people have had it tough before and you do what you have to . Slash any extra spending,cut down and make do where you can. Cook and make instead of buying pre made food.Find old recipes for cheap ideas and 'oily rag" tips. Its a challege but we do live in a lovely country and can find lots of things that are free without feeling guilty.The modern consumer society that says we must buy ,buy,buy, is to blame for much of our troubles but ultimately we do have to live within our income and if you cant afford it , dont buy it. I remember with fondness the days of 4c pint milk and $6 a week family benefit but those days are long gone and we all need to live more simply. Food is going to keep rising in price as seen overseas and it is always the poor who suffer so let us help one another.

19 Feb 2011 08:13p.m.

Deane wrote:

What!
A lifstyle choice. Is he mad? 2000 unemployed people turn up for 200 supermarket jobs in a que.

&% of Kiwis (and I think the figure is higher than that) are uemployed because they LOST their jobs. I hardly say they had a choice in that.

Then he has shred thousands of civil servents job. I bet they had no chice.

So Key, stop thinking in the 60s and start doing what we employed you to do. That is to goven rather than making excuses.

19 Feb 2011 03:48p.m.

michele wrote:

what doesn't ring true is all the promises he made.
I cannot name one that he has kept and thousands now on benefits voted for their own demise. vote national again and the exodus to australia will mean our economy sinking further. houses have lost value and work is hard to find.
the first thing you need to buy a house is a job.
this smiling assassin has been bad medicine.

19 Feb 2011 02:02p.m.

Proud labour union activist wrote:

Hi Henry, Have we meet at a meeting.

19 Feb 2011 01:08p.m.

Barbs wrote:

Honestly their so much benefit propaganda going around at the moment people need to research and seek the truth! If people had a choice between poverty (benefits) or a job to be more financially secure, what do you think they'd choose? people are looking for work, but they are far and few at present. Some people have to stop blaming beneficiaries for our failing economy, the failing economy is what has made beneficiaries. Things are a hell of a lot tougher these days, if anyone hasn't noticed the rising cost of living, they are stupid. The ones that are hurting most are the beneficiaries. Society is judged on how we treat our most vulnerable. Grow a heart and open your eyes, just because two in a line of 100s smoke cigarettes vulnerable, doesn't mean they all do.

19 Feb 2011 11:32a.m.

davey wrote:

John Key and his mixed words,Any one on a benefit actually has a lifestyle choice.I fully agree with him,By going to the polls in November to vote National out.It is all right for him to talk like that,he was bought up in a state house,mother on a benefit,he left school no more brainy than when he started,got him self playing with other peoples money and became rich over it.Now he lives a life style that not many have in NZ,then he takes away from those the chance of ever getting back on their feet.Through raising the cost of living.Then we had fonterra put a block on any more price rises,then we heard the minister say,people should be pleased with Fonterra!s generosity.Why did they? the Government do some thing about the rising costs of milk??and step in and stop the poverty being strife all over New Zealand,This is the struggle that people are going through,this is the reason crime has hit NZ twofold over the last 2 years,building more prisons is no answer to the problem,Stuff the new BMW!s put the money to better use and create more jobs with the money.Too me John Key was a very spoilt child,and got every thing he wanted,and ate from a gold plated spoon.Went to a private school that was payed for by the then government.It is ok we have a bit of money,but those who have none,it must be cruel for them to try and bring up a family,Yes those who were once employed and had their jobs ship away over to China,Australia,India,Malaysia.you can count them on your fingers.Now they want too sell off our assets to those who are running our once own company!s.With them going off shore Key can invest in them, and does not have to disclose his interest and finance he has with that or those company!s.It is not only him but those who sit their in the National seats in parliament,have like wise.Come on NOV National out voiced.

19 Feb 2011 10:52a.m.

Sara wrote:

I am so sick of this, my life revolves around the word 'money' I am tired of stressing all the time i can never ever just go out and enjoy a coffee. Back 6 years ago $9 could afford me a box of sushi and two coffes now I get paid only $10! after tax and all i can afford now is a box of sushi. Its insane and now all I want to do is get out but I have no means to! So the question comes to "why should I bust away working when I can live off a benefit?" So benefit for those that just simply 'cannont be bothered' getting a job should be CUT!!

19 Feb 2011 07:04a.m.

Glenn wrote:

I have been put on a sickness benefit due to having cancer. I have a wife and three kids and am getting $340 a week from Winz. Gee the government is such a big help....not, it's a measly amount to try and live on with the cost of living. I agree a lot of people are wasting money on smokes, alcohol and drugs and their lives would be simpler without it but it's not the case for everyone. Unfortunately it seems to be that unless you have a high paying job then you don't fit in in this country.

18 Feb 2011 11:12p.m.

sue wrote:

"On Wednesday, Prime Minister John Key said "anyone on a benefit actually has a lifestyle choice, if one was to budget properly, one could pay ones bills." How odd then,that budget advisor's have said that the main problem facing those who go to them for help is not lack of budgeting skills,but simply an income which is insufficient to cover costs. Anyone on a benefit has to be extremely good at budgeting but regardless of how good they may be,unexpected problems such as a household appliance breaking down,can create havoc. Its amazing that our PM apparently is completely unaware of this - one CANNOT pay one's bills,if one receives insufficient income to do so. Perhaps its time to require that all our MP's (our employees,after all)must live on a benefit for six months of each year,with no other funds allowed during that time. I wonder if any of them will be talking of 'lifestyle choices' at the end of the six months?