Posted on 09/03/2002 7:13:52 PM PDT by shaggy eel
Former [New Zealand] Reserve Bank governor Don Brash worries about New Zealand's future.
Delivering his maiden speech in Parliament yesterday, 61 year old Dr Brash said he was a loyal New Zealander, proud of what New Zealanders had achieved over many decades in many walks of life. "But I also admit to being deeply worried. In 1960, the standard of living in New Zealand was closely similar to that in Australia."
"By 2000, Australia's gdp per capita was about one third greater than that in New Zealand, meaning that on average, every man, woman and child in Australia was better off to the tune of some $250 a week than the average New Zealander."
He said the government recognised the desirability of lifting economic growth, but there was little sign of policies to achieve faster growth.
A socialist in his youth, Dr Brash told Parliament his conversion to conservatism began while researching a doctorate on the role of American corporate investment in Australia at the Australian National University in Canberra.
"I started the three year study convinced - for all the reasons advanced by those who are still opposed to to multinational corporations - that American companies were raping Australia.
"I ended the study convinced I had been wrong, convinced that with very few exceptions American corporate investment in Australia had been hugely beneficial to Australia."
Dr Brash said he still believed government played a crucial role in society, but it was a "relatively limited role". I believe that for the most part in a better position to make decisions for themselves and their families than any politician or bureaucrat can."
So it is. US$23,200 versus US$17,700, according to the CIA.
A socialist in his youth, Dr Brash told Parliament his conversion to conservatism began while researching a doctorate on the role of American corporate investment in Australia at the Australian National University in Canberra.
Funny how you never hear about shifts in the other direction, from right to left. I wonder why? ;)
,,, exactly.
If they're truly socialists, why on earth are they even keeping track of this stuff? ;-)
,,, Brash, if anyone knows how to get NZ back on track if a right wing Party takes power next time round. His ranking as #3 in NATIONAL's line up is evidence of how serious the Party is to retain him.
The main issue for NATIONAL though is the election result, the worst in the Party's history. In moving forward, they have to assert clear policies and punch hard - to date this has been left to the furthest Party to the right, ACT, who have really served as a de facto opposition in Parliament. ACT is something of a mix, standing for what would equate to Libertarian and Republican values/policies.
The seriously flawed strategy to move towards the centre in order to snatch 200,000 more votes for July 27th's election is what landed NATIONAL in the cart. The strategist, Murray McCully and another [formerly senior] NATIONAL MP, Maurice Williamson, who is now in the bottom ranked slot in NATIONAL's pecking order, should be given their marching orders if NATIONAL is to move forward.
Credible policies for growth, lower taxes and sane, contained government spending are what Brash will prescribe once the Party is back on track. Their performance fragmented the right considerably and made for one of the most interesting elections in memory for me.
,,, Brash was a socialist in his younger days. A three year enquiry sent him down the path of truth and he's now an adversary of socialists. He's got the perfect track record to slot in as Minister of Finance when we return to right wing government. The outcome of July's general election, however, was better than it could have been. Klark's left wing Party [Labour] can't govern alone because of Parliament's make up under an MMP structure.
,,, hitting hard is what it's all about. Trying to exact timeframes in regard to economic issues during Parliamentary question time puts pressure on the government as they know it's a matter of record. That's quite a weapon.
,,, probably the New Zealand Institute of Economic Research, Dept of Statistics and a private research company called BERL, for starters. Even though we have a left of centre Party calling the shots, our economy is the third most deregulated in the world.
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