Green Party leader Russel Norman says New Zealand needs to redesign its economy to live within nature's limits, and get away from its dependence on get-rich-quick schemes.
I'm not sure what get-rich -schemes Russel means, but I can only assume that as we are only truly dependant on farming, it is the 150 odd years of developing our farming industry that he refers to- generation after generation toiling away, making small incremental improvements against the back drop of weather patterns, fluctuating commodity prices, interest rate hikes and everything else thrown at them.Real get rich quick stuff.
Speaking at the party's annual meeting this morning, Dr Norman said a Green-led Government's spending would be comparatively moderate compared to what?, and much of it would come from repealing expenditure on motorways and tax cuts.
While Greens have focused in recent months on proving their economic credentials, Dr Norman's speech returned to the importance of preserving the environment.
"Our environment is our economy... and within our lifetimes, a smart, green economy will be the only economy still working.
Can anyone tell me what a smart green economy actually is? Is it the opposite of a dumb green economy?
The words roll of the tongue very easily but if the Greens want us all to live in some degree of comfort then I for one would welcome some actual detail.
"There are so many sane, economic, self-interested reasons for a clean green exporter and tourist destination like New Zealand to fight to protect its natural heritage. And I am happy to argue for this on economic grounds any day of the week."
He said National was trying to grow its way out of structural problems by investing in risky schemes such as fossil fuels, asset sales and dairy intensification.
I guess the Arabs would truly understand the folly of investing in high risk fossil fuel schemes.
Apparently flying fossil fueled planeloads of tourists halfway around the world is just fine as long as someone else is drilling the hole. The Greens would have more credibility if the demanded that all tourists must arrive via sailing ship.
Greens would instead rebalance the economy by investing in clean technology
This technology will come anyway as the market decides , it won't require some inept green government picking the winners and throwing our dollars into the pot.
and ensuring that state education was of a high-quality.
"Educating our kids isn't a get rich quick scheme, it's get rich slow scheme, an investment that is sure to last."
We have a great education system but the greens have done more than most to stuff up of what all education systems need- discipline and an ability to cull useless teachers.
The party would be "courageous" in introducing a capital gains tax to encourage investment into other productive sectors.
More bollocks - what the hell is the "other" sector because they intend on shutting them all down.
It would also introduce a price on carbon Don't you mean tax
and temporary earthquake levy to help rebuild Christchurch.
Dr Norman said the Government had been short-sighted in giving out $14 billion in tax cuts in the last four years, mostly to higher income earners.
He was also critical of National's $12 billion investment in motorways.
"At a time of record high oil prices, the National Party is locking us into our cars. The IMF's most recent forecasts are for oil prices to double permanently over the next decade.
"There are smarter ways to invest $14 billion, like world-class buses, trains, and ferries, and by making walking and cycling safer everywhere. And we'd still have plenty of change left over to pay down debt."
The greens problem is that they would happily throw $14 billion into their pet dreams but would destroy the productivity that would be required to fund it. Roads are the lifelines of efficiency. Make them as efficient as possible and let the free market work out how to run vehicles cleanly.
Yesterday, co-leader Metiria Turei spoke of Government's failure to protect women and children, and called for a cross-party consensus on fighting child poverty.
Child poverty is emotional crap. The issue is adult wealth. Adult wealth comes from hard work, discipline and responsibility.
A lower standard of living for all is the ultimate outcome of Green policy. It is an oxymoron to demand one day that we must somehow make children richer and the next take away the ability to give them the true riches they deserve.
Welcome to the world of the Fruitloops.
May 24 in history
3 hours ago
13 comments:
I think the get rich quick scheme was asset sales.
'Fruitloops' actually are quite respectable.
Greens economic policy is another story altogether.
You're lucky you are not in Australia where the Greens really are in power and are dictating policy to Labor. I've yet to see a comprehensive analyais of the billions wasted here on Green boondoggles fostered by the warmists but the figure will be gigantic.
Now they are all shitting themselves because China is slowing down and the mining boom is coming to an end.
NZ is lucky. All those little ching chong mings (Trademark Shane Jones) have to eat but they don't have to buy coal and iron.
Yep. Mad as hatters.
I asked that question to Green Party MP on Facebook the other day, Lou - what exactly is a smart green economy? The reply I got, not from the MP, was "it's the opposite of a bumb blue economy we have now".
Says it all.
that should read "dumb blue economy".
What is actually dumb about the Green parties economic policies?
Home insulation is far cheaper than building additional generation capacity and has other benefits such as fewer sick days and other health care costs.
Car average fuel economy standards help protect not only new car buyers but the people whom have to purchase their cars 2nd and 3rd hand from the rising price of oil. Imported oil is also a huge proportion of our current account deficit.
Renewable energy generation is a major growth industry world wide. Why not support a local manufacturing base for this type of technology?
Planting trees to prevent farm runoff also would act to reduce the cost of these inputs for farmers. Nitrogen in the water isn't fertilising anyones fields and the cost of these inputs have been increasing.
Etc.
So tell me, what is actually dumb about their policies?
Richard Watts @ 4:05
Where have you been?
Australia, Europe and the US are littered with the rotting and rusting corpses of 'renewable energy generation' projects propped up with the tax payer's dime until there was no option but to move the receivers in.
And now China's biggest solar panel manufacturer has gone arse up as well.
The Greens are economic cretins who live in a utopian world which can not and will never exist. In order to exist the way they want us to they would have to exert Stalinist Government Control over peoples lives. Freedom of choice, free speech and fundamental rights would be non existent under a Green/Communist regime. This Communist party hides behind the curtain of Green Politics and in doing so plays on the naievity of those who think that by voting for them they will somehow be saving the planet from the scourges of Capitalism and those who espouse it. Wussel has always been and always will be a Communist, end of story and he and the ratbag bunch of losers who run the party should be exposed as what they truely are.
Time to crack out the AU youtube video "Why I voted for greens" by "yes we canberra". Laugh everytime.
Richard - home insulation is not an economy.
In terms of oil, of course buying Oil from overseas is part of the economy. I am thrilled to see you think we should extract our own oil and not rely on imported oil. Perhaps we can sell some overseas to reduce our current account deficit?
If you seriously think we can support a manufacturing base on a Green minimum wage of ~$17 p/h for renewable energy generation then I'm all for it. Get your party to show me how it can be done.
Planting trees to prevent farm runoff is not an economy.
An economy is making stuff and selling it to earn a living. It is measured in GDP. All that matters is our GDP increasing, per capita.
What I want is for the Green Party to show how their smart green economy will increase our GDP per capita. Spewing out platitudes like "smart green" and "caring for our kids" doesn't wash.
"...home insulation is not an economy. "
That's why I live in the backyard and keep an electric heater running the whole time to keep me warm. That and I'm a right wing retard.
Adolf:
Would you judge the National party on the actions of other parties with similar agendas around the world? If say Nationals equivalent in Greece is accused of corruption then would you accuse our own politicians of corruption simply because they hold similar socio-economic beliefs?
There is a significant difference between Europe and New Zealand Greens. In Europe they are 'green' because they are over-populated or have too few resources per capita, take your pick. They are embracing renewables because they have to and they are taking the position that everyone else ought to embrace them too as to prevent that being too much of a handicap on their economies competitiveness.
In New Zealand on the other hand no-one calls our hydro schemes a 'white elephant', nor our geothermal stations and our wind power was built without subsidy. Why not take advantage of the 'free' economic advantage of better efficiency?
Do you know what else Portugal, Ireland, Italy, Greece and Spain have in common aside from being economic basket cases? They are the biggest net importers of oil/gas in Europe, not a coincidence I would ignore personally. So I would be careful to call the Greens economically stupid with such a precedence staring you in the face when they suggest that we move off fossil fuels.
http://gailtheactuary.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/percent-of-energy-consumption-from-imported-oil-and-gas.png?w=448&h=270
If you can't afford oil you certainly can't afford most green technologies. That's not the reason that the PIGS are what they are. One day the economic lines that make alternatives sensible will cross but not anytime soon.
3:16
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