One mother apologises to Paula Bennett, the other remains defiant

Pulusea
Yes solo mothers are entitled to the student loan. The TIA is for childcare. Childcare subs are just that. Subs. $100 a week after the childcare subs is what is left to pay out of the benefit if studying full time. This would leave about 10 to feed a family of 3.

The Childcare sub is what was added onto these womans Govt help. THIS IS NOT INCOME. This is paid directly to the childcare provider, not to the beneficary. Then they have to pay the rest.

In plain simple terms, the amount that Paula Bennett gave to the public is misleading. The more someone is preceived to be receiving the less they have to live on.

This is one of the reasons she should be found guilty. It didn't add anything to the argument at all. Just mislead the public.

Bennett has the X factor...just like Shipley did. Her recourse to bullying tactics makes her the 'it' bitch to all the other bullies in this society. And, like Shipley, she will eventually be remembered as one of the most hated public figures ever.

But she is not unique in the ranks of the Nats. In fact, bullying and disadvantaging the most poor and vulnerable is the yardstick for what makes a Nat a Nat. Because they are supported by idiots like Paul Holmes (a crap parent who bashes DPB mums and whose daughter is in real trouble in her life due to his narcissistic and nuerotic influence), they can remain in blissful denial about how shameful they appear to good people who do care.

The wealthy are the real bludgers in society. Where do their profits come from? From exploitation of theird-world labour and by paying the least to those who do the most work. They want us to fight amongst ourselves (workers against DPB mums) when we should be resisting their exploitation of all of us, across the globe.

She could have payed for them from the $10000 grant she received for her cleaning company.

Not Named, perhaps that is what Fuller is upset about, it cuts into the money to pay for her hair extensions. Still $637 a week is far more than what most people earn. Geez I should be on a benefit!

i have previously been on the DPB and am glad to say if it wasn't for the TIA i would probably still be on the DBP, but thanks to their help to get my studys started i have been able to get off the benefit.
A for FULLER and her complaint, i can't understand y she is, she isnt even doing any training, she has recently been on Fairgo with problems on Hair extension..(how can someone on a benefit afford this???)
Thats my bitch

Well seems this govt. is behaving exactly as I anticipated. All National led govt.'s have led us down this track. Super city plan being shoved down our throat despite vociferous public opposition to the idea, threats to Public service employee's and bullying of the Public. What next? I thought this kind of nonsense ended with Hitler? Guess not.

I do not as a tax payer , agree, with the amounts being doled out as assistance to people on benefits but the way it has been splashed in public is not correct either. I think the departments of IRD/WINZ, etc need a real overhaul and they need to reassess all cases relating to people on benefits. People who have contributed to the Tax base are being denied assistance whilst others are enjoying at their expense? Sounds ridiculous to me.

Wow, what an uproar! I believe that it is mean spirited to talk about others negatively without first speaking with them. It is also wrong to send private information across the nation to be mocked upon and used as a negative example. Yes, to me it does seem like they get a lot of money..but i can't say that i personally know these two mothers situation. It is not easy raising children on your own..let alone with a two parented family.. people just need to learn to put themselves in others shoes and give love and respect. At the end of the day..its our children and our futures that really matter.

I believe these Mothers are entitled like we all are to a "student loan." We all have to pay back the student loans and it gives us the incentive to study hard and pass the courses.

Being an MP you are elected to represent the view, values of your constituents and the broad policy base of the political party that you represent.
It is a privilege because people that elect you have faith, trust and an expectation that you somehow will make a difference.
In parliament you need to have the discipline to accommodate and debate the views of other parties and the public that may not necessary share your view.
You must be able to make a compromise, and realise that at the end of the day, if you influence the direction of policy, you are heading in the right track.
As an MP you must show leadership, judgement and grace. Sadly I see a remarked decline in the standards of our elected representatives lately, and ask, what has happened?
Now we see a remarked increase of bullying and intimidation, as in the recent case of Nationals Paula Bennett and Acts David Garret. The notation that if you disagree with my views you will not get a job anywhere in the prison service” and Bennetts handling of the recent protest of slashing TIA for beneficiaries, “ I will publish your personal income details if you speak out.”
It seems to me that this is the sad direction that politics is turning, and we have only had a new government in 9 months.
Now what are we in for when protests to asset sales, ACC reform, and further labour reform happens.
The Auckland merger to create a super city is a good example of how bullying is used by this new government to influence policy.
Is this government going the same way as the Bush administration? Are we going to be threatened if we speak out?
Clearly in both these recent cases, the ministers have acted unethically, and the real looser is democracy.
Paula Bennett did not need to have done anything. It’s not the election year and today’s news is yesterday’s rubbish. But instead she got upset and allowed her emotions override common sense. She failed to take even the basic steps of risk mitigation before she exploded.

Re Paula Bennett. She has my 100% approval. I feel that once ANYONE goes into the public arena then if there is criticism either for or against then they just have to front up. This is public money, paid by the taxpayer, therefore there the taxpayer has every right to see just how their taxes are being spent.