Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: A Taxonomy of Poo

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  • Rob Hosking,

    I did a wee chuckle at the Muldoonist tag.

    H1 really needs to make up her mind whether Key is the second coming of Rob Muldoon or Ruth Richardson.

    South Roseneath • Since Nov 2006 • 830 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia,

    H1 really needs to make up her mind whether Key is the second coming of Rob Muldoon or Ruth Richardson.

    Well, I had to chuckle that nobody seems to have said "oh really, Helen?" when the general consensus about Mike Moore firing the M-word at Clark a year ago was "what is he on, and does it cause cancer in lab rats?" :)

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia,

    It's interesting how Labour are much keener on fiscal probity than National these days.

    Rich: If you really think either National or Labour have much credibility when it comes to 'fiscal probity', I've got a whole portfolio of bridges to sell you.

    I thought Muldoonist was quite a good description for somebody who plans to borrow money to pork-barrel the construction industry.

    OK... what planet did that come from?

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report Reply

  • Jeremy Eade,

    "Muldoonist"


    As soon as overseas borrowing came up as a political headline it was inevitable his name would reappear.

    My bet was on muldoonomics but it just didn't sound right.

    Let the numbers be crunched, we have a major point of difference
    finally.

    auckland • Since Mar 2008 • 1112 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    I thought Muldoonist was quite a good description for somebody who plans to borrow money to pork-barrel the construction industry.

    Actually I think Rich is onto something, Craig.

    Key's self-described mentor is the head of the infrastructure council. He then announces over the weekend an extra $5bn for "infrastructure" which seems to mean things that get built, and talks about wanting more private sector involvement in that work.

    We know how effective PPPs have been overseas at tranferring public money into private pockets. Much more accurate use of "pork" than the Herald's, wouldn't you say? And it does sound similar to Think Big from here.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Barnes,

    Spending on infrastructure does not create growth, especially when a great deal of our infrastructure is privately owned and borrowing for it will only slow up future growth. Infrastructure spending is only positive in cases of, either, massive recession to create employment or to alleviate bottlenecks in growth. Otherwise it is merely the icing on the cake of an already buoyant economy. We need more roads? Am I the only one that has noticed the reduction of private vehicles on the roads? High fuel prices and tightening budgets reduce the number of unnecessary journeys for most people.
    Saying we will borrow for infrastucture but not for tax cuts? oh, of course, he's talking about that "other" money, just like a trader would.

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    I welcome investment in infrastructure. Just future infrastructure like broadband and public transport, not last century's like roads. I'd be interested in hearing more about where the Infrastructure Council's priorities lie.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia,

    Actually I think Rich is onto something, Craig.

    No, Sacha, what you've done is construct an argument. Rich flung around some poo words as a substitute for doing so -- and sorry, I think squealing "Muldoonist" (like calling someone a "fascist" or "Stalinist") is designed to evoke an emotional reaction.

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    I notice there's another thread about this. See you there, perhaps.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

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