tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8770341086445997547.post5504706581102116972..comments2023-10-07T22:37:49.244+13:00Comments on The Hand Mirror: What's race got to do with it?katyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15742280289613450293noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8770341086445997547.post-375418081869416022009-01-04T11:43:00.000+13:002009-01-04T11:43:00.000+13:00I don't think the Nats have lost their faith in th...I don't think the Nats have lost their faith in the market, but rather that they've become more pragmatic/sneaky, depending on what you want to call it.<BR/><BR/>Pro-marketeers world-wide have undergone a shift since the Nats were last in government. Acknowledging market failure has become OK - but the things which are done to remedy this are 'more market', ie microfinance in developing countries, and in our own, using the carrot rather than the stick to get solo mums into the labour market, without questioning whether the labour market is actually the best destination. <BR/><BR/>I think that what Wagner is advocating - ie simply not being racist to low paid workers - is a step forward from some of the shite the Nats came out with last time (notwithstanding their efforts in the Treaty settlement area). Admitting the connection between race and low wages, and implying that low wages are undesirable (rather than the just desserts of people who don't work hard enough or upskill appropriately) is different from the last National govt - but not incompatible with global trends either.<BR/><BR/>So I'm aware that the Nats are currently trying on the lastest fashion in capitalism, but I still welcome it in comparison to their previous efforts!Annahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06076244041878300351noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8770341086445997547.post-70720205152379256222009-01-03T21:29:00.000+13:002009-01-03T21:29:00.000+13:00Personally I'd say that this does not mark a signi...Personally I'd say that this does not mark a significant progress from the 90s. I'd say any claim that National has abandoned its faith in the market is, at best, highly optimistic.<BR/><BR/>But stunts like John Carter's aside (and I'm sure there are many who share his views still within the party) National has always been big on gestures towards racial inclusiveness. And until National actually creates some legislation to address the problem Wagner is talking about, what she says is going to remain just that - a gesture.DPF:TLDRhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06372937855256319716noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8770341086445997547.post-25475226038268315132008-12-30T16:57:00.000+13:002008-12-30T16:57:00.000+13:00Yeah - maybe my hopes of progress were a bit prema...Yeah - maybe my hopes of progress were a bit premature... ;-)Annahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06076244041878300351noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8770341086445997547.post-74756239152314640912008-12-30T16:30:00.000+13:002008-12-30T16:30:00.000+13:00Perhaps Wagner could start in her own caucus by as...Perhaps Wagner could start in her own caucus by asking Lockwood Smith what size hands taxi drivers should have for maximum efficiency?Juliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08977150346842277994noreply@blogger.com