I agree entirely. As a person she is fine, though I don't agree with many of her ideals.

Just if certain members feel free to turn this thread into a sh*t-stirring forum then I'll join the fun. And there's no better way to do that than by drawing a parallel between her and Trump.

Personally, I think you are better to take the high road. To my mind there is no upside to winning who can act like a bigger twit.

rjt123: Btw, can someone tell me how u reference a username in a comment? I just couldn't find anything on it...

prefix the user name with @   

@rjt123

networkn:

 

To be fair I don't think Jacinda is deranged. I think she is *massively* out of her depth. I don't even doubt she is a nice person, and wants the best for New Zealand. I just think she was naive and over promised based on her ideals rather than the reality of running a country and balancing the requirements of many different groups of people.

 

I think anyone who disagrees with this assessment is just being wilfully ignorant.  Heck, Ardern herself admitted that she was out of her depth when she was freshly appointed deputy leader of the opposition.  (And that was less than 12 months before being handed the reins of a job that she said she never wanted, and was entirely unsuited to.)  You can see evidence of this whenever there is a need for leadership from the PMs office.  Examples include:

• Youth Camp scandal
• RNZ/Curran scandal
• Haumauata scandal
• Clark/Middlemore scandal  (gagging DHB members)

None of these were dealt within an effective manner by the PM - most of them weren't even addressed by her!

More importantly, however, the Labour party as a whole look to be completely unprepared to govern.  It's like they spent "nine long years" in opposition criticising the Government but failing to do any work on building "better" solutions or policies.  You can see evidence of this in the sheer number of things that Labour have disestablished without having any viable alternative in place.  Examples include:

• National Standards.  Gone - no replacement
• Plastic Bags.  Gone - no analysis, no consultation
• Police Response Targets.  Gone - no replacement
• Oil & Gas Exploration.  Gone - no analysis, no consultation
• Charter Schools.  Gone - suppressed analysis, no consultation
• National Health Targets.  Gone - no replacement
• Better Public Service Targets - Gone - no replacement
• Forensic Pathology Services - planned to be dismantled

The sixth Labour Government really do deserve the famous Clark epithet "Wreckers & Haters" 

The Plastic Bag thing really irks me. As you mention, no consultation. It's just something that was trending and she jumped on the band wagon for a few votes. What do we replace them with? Nothing is better.

I am unsure what the solution to the plastic bags in Oceans is, obviously it can't continue, but correct disposal of them is the answer. How you enforce or compell this is pretty hard to imagine but banning so we can replace them with even more harmful things.

Agreed with the Oil and Gas exploration. On the surface it makes it look like she cares about the environment, but in reality....

The biggest failure of JA in her leadership had to be the handling of the scandal at the youth camp. She should have suspended those involved immediately pending an investigation. No way did she have enough information to give the benefit of the doubt to Andrew Kirton, who already showed an appalling lack of judgement. To declare him fit for purpose without an investigation was disgraceful. Add to this the fact he got a cushy job at Air NZ (a Government owned enterprise) on the same day Jacinda Ardern went into Labour (In case it's not obvious, to hide it), should send alarm bells ringing to end the most biased and hard core Labour supporter.

Well, I finally found a policy of the current govt that I wholeheartedly support - pay freeze for MPs.  Long overdue. 

networkn:

 

The Plastic Bag thing really irks me. As you mention, no consultation. It's just something that was trending and she jumped on the band wagon for a few votes. What do we replace them with? Nothing is better.

 

You replace most bags with exactly that - nothing.

MikeAqua:

 

Well, I finally found a policy of the current govt that I wholeheartedly support - pay freeze for MPs.  Long overdue. 

 

I agree that it's appropriate it be frozen. Better if it's reduced.

Had to laugh today at Jacinda talking about the Pay freeze. *I* will have to change the law to accomodate this.

I don't really think she understands her powers and responsibilities well.  She doesn't change the laws.

On a more positive note, I was happy to see something being done about Rogue Towies, with a hard limit being imposed of $100 for clamping. Well done to them for that.

freitasm: I haven't seen it but going by your description I'd say she was using a figure of speech.

Most people would have used the phrase "we" or "this Government. You may be right, it just sounded kinda weird.

i don't know about MP's salaries but the PM here (whoever it is) is way overpaid by international standards.

He/she earns a lot more here than the UK Prime Minister for example and I know who has the more demanding job.

SJB:

 

i don't know about MP's salaries but the PM here (whoever it is) is way overpaid by international standards.

 

He/she earns a lot more here than the UK Prime Minister for example and I know who has the more demanding job.

 

 

 

Completely agree.

She gets paid pretty much similar money to POTUS.

So, apparently you don't need insurance against Natural Disasters now? Labour offer to give $12M to Christchurch uninsured based on 2007 values. What's particularly galling, is that some of these people are apparently refusing it wanting 2018 value?

networkn:

So, apparently you don't need insurance against Natural Disasters now? Labour offer to give $12M to Christchurch uninsured based on 2007 values. What's particularly galling, is that some of these people are apparently refusing it wanting 2018 value?