Only as long as the current Labour Government remains in power. Seems that the US had the same problem for 8 years back in the 90's.
They resemble Canadians in that having someone else care for their security for the past twenty years has made them lazy, complacent, and ungrateful to those who have been covering their backs all this time.
Uh, don't think so. Lazy?- speak for yourself. New Zealand has supplied troops and peacekeepers around the world, helping to cover others backs. Australia has been a prime recipient of New Zealand help by rotating troops through East Timor, suffering one combat casualty in the process. Australia was very concerned about Indonesia's intentions at the time. NZ shared that concern, helping to cover off Australia's Northern border for three years. New Zealand's permanent combat aircraft detachment at Nowra in Australia (before decommission) assisted with Australian forces training. Throw in all the World wars, numerous regional conflicts, and I'd say New Zealand has historically more than pulled its own weight. New Zealand is the most remote country in the world, so a degree of feeling safe, compared with most other parts of the world, goes with the territory. No nations on its borders either.
Fewer and fewer people working to support more and more people on the dole..
Don't think so. New Zealand's unemployment rate is lower than that of the USA.
while the infrastructure of transportation, education and health care borders on third world quality
Take the blinkers off.
The "Program for International Student Assessment" (PISA) was commissioned by the OECD in 2000 to assess 15yr old students in 32 countries, 28 of them members of OECD.
- New Zealand has the third highest mean score for reading literacy- beaten out by only Finland and Canada (and actual highest proportion at the top level)
- New Zealand has the third highest mean score for mathematical literacy (beaten out by only Japan and Korea)
- New Zealand has the sixth highest mean score for scientific literacy, the USA fourteenth.
Australia and the USA are consistently below NZ in the rankings, the USA woefully so.
Don't let emotion get in the way of the facts.
Yes, we did. It wasn't easy but we took care of it a couple years ago. What are the prospects of a conservative comeback in Wellington?
The "lazy" remark was uncalled for and I apologise. Heat of the moment. And I do appreciate the clarification on the government's policy regarding a UN resolution. Many if not most Americans (well, nearly everybody who posts at this site) feel anything the UN does beyond 1441 is a waste of time and an intentional obstruction. We are going to do what we feel necessary with or without the UN.
I know NZ forces have an extremely proud history from WWI and WWII, but the elimination of your air force and the seeming conversion of your military to peace-keepers-R-us gives the impression that you've all gone pacifist.
Finally, I can't argue with the academic comparisons. One problem we have here, among many, is the militancy of the teachers unions and the prevalence of "self esteem" as a substitute for knowledge. I'd have to presume your teachers still try to teach.
Finally, on a lighter note, sorry you lost the Cup, especially to a pack of compatriot merceneries.