Its about the economy stupid

Much has been written about the current meltdown of the worlds financial markets and apart from the fact that it is failure brought on by politicians interfering in the free market, rather than the favourite whipping boy of the socialists, the free market itself, it presents problems for our new government come November 8 2008-whoever gets elected.

This election is really about the economy. If it is about trust, then it is about who you would trust to manage their way through a deep recession, one that we are already in by the way.

Michael Cullen and Labour have mis-managed their way through 10s of billions of taxpayer dollars over the last 9 years.

Given that we have had the best economic conditions in generations, our economy did average to poor and the high taxes that were siphoned off during those good times has produced nothing but a bloated bureaucrat heavy unproductive nation on the brink of economic collapse.

As a voter you would have to ask yourself, where was the restraint, where was the saving for a rainy day approach? Instead we got the Robin Hood plunder the taxpayer approach to give to those who didn't earn it in the first place.

The fact is Cullen found it difficult to manage an economy with the best economic conditions in generations, with economic conditions at crisis levels he is a mere possum caught in the headlights.

All quotes are from the Granny Herald:

"New Zealand is facing a serious economic challenge..."

Aug 29

"There's a lot of factors coming together there," Dr Cullen said. "I think probably the worst is over now."

Sept 12

"...but the economy was vulnerable to an expected slowdown in the global economy.

..."

Sept 15

"...was welcome news ahead of the expected recovery in the fourth quarter of this year".

Sept 29

"...the problem could earlier be deemed a financial crisis rather than an economic one, it was getting beyond that now".

Oct 1

Michael Cullen seems more than a little schizophrenic on the state of our economy and while so unsure about it he has continued spending like a drunken bloody sailor to buy votes for the 2008 election!

The truth is Michael Cullen's only success in his nine years at the financial helm has been to overtax working kiwis and he has done that very well, he achieved his socialist goal, but when it comes to matters productive his petticoat is showing and it is in need of a damn good wash and disinfectant.

You are better off with a man who has experience in complex financial matters, not a PHD in History, as Michael Cullen is, a man who has run a business and knows about growing that business, in good times and bad.

John key is that man and his life from welfare recipient to multimillionaire through hard work and determination is evidence of that.

The 2008 Election really is about the economy and there is nothing stupid about that.

c Political Animal 2008

Key VS Cullen

Who would you rather have looking after taxpayer money?

Lost $110,000 of his own money

when he had to sell his Transrail

shares because of a perceived 

conflict of interest by the Labour

Party.

Lost $570 million when he spent more than $700 

million taxpayer dollars buying back Tranzrail when 

Treasury valued the rail company at $120 million.

The good doctor strikes out again.

Related Political Animal reading

John Key VS Michael Cullen: No contest

"Little Prick" misjudges economic turmoil

KiwiRail rolls out cutting edge technology

c Political Animal 2008

John Key VS Michael Cullen, no contest

We are currently experiencing a global financial fallout that is having effects on our Labour led mismanaged economy and we will clearly need a good person with experience and knowledge of economics and the financial markets then for the position of Prime Minister after the next election.

John Key is just that man. In fact I cant think of a more appropriate person to be at the head of an economy in recession, with unprecedented market ructions and negative consequences than a man with Key's obvious experience and qualifications:

Michael Cullen however thinks differently:

"He has got a short-term profit maximising mentality and that is what has brought Merrill Lynch and Lehmann Brothers and these other businesses to their knees.

"Do you want someone like that running the economy when we are going to be going through a difficult period."

He said he believed linking Mr Key back to the massive global company he left eight years ago was legitimate.

"Mr Key has put forward his Merrill Lynch credentials as part an important part of his narrative," he told reporters.

"That doesn't look such a good qualification any longer for running New Zealand's economy."

Of course one might like to have a look at Michael Cullen's qualifications for running an economy.

Yes of course, he has none.

Dr Cullen has a doctorate in History, so the best he can do with our economy is look back at the last 9 years in time to come and wonder how he could have gone so wrong and made so many bad decisions.

Cullen linking Key to a company that he worked for 8 years ago and somehow relating that to its collapse overnight, is desperate in the extreme and already seems to have backfired on him and his party.

Kiwis instinctively loathe this kind of senseless finger pointing but it is Cullen's style.

Instead of playing petty politics in the face of economic uncertainty, Cullen's focus should be instead on his own failures during his 9 years as finance minister and he should be pondering over why he has taxed Kiwis to the tune of 17 billion dollars above the rate of inflation during his tenure, that is $230 per week for the average family, for every week of that 9 years, of extra tax for no discernible extra service from the government.

That money would have been better back in our pockets and would have the economy to the point where New Zealand would have been in a much better position that we are now to ride out the recession.

Shame on you Mr Cullen, you are lower than a sewer rat.

Related Political Animal reading

"Little Prick", Michael Cullen misjudges market turmoil

c Political Animal 2008