arandar, How long before Crosby-Textors PR PM. John Key promises a clean out.?

How long's a piece of string, Doc?

Who'd know eh? This is a very different country now. If you've been following the discussion regarding China and US in the Pacific and NZ's reaction to that rapidly changing and challenging situation you'd know that opinion as to our readiness to react, to rise up, to defy, to demand 'whatever' from our leaders, is varied to say the least.

I think Tony Marryatt is typical; he believes he is entitled to all that he has and all he wants and, at the risk of boring you, I'll say again what I've said before...

Society's elite apparently require carrots; more money, higher salaries, lower taxes, improved conditions of work and leisure in order to be more productive.

The lower orders apparently require the stick; lower wages, higher taxes, poorer conditions at work and home in order to be more productive.

Society's elites own the carrots and the sticks, they make the rules, and we shouldn't be surprised to find they've rigged the game. Now we know and it's up to us to do something or nothing about it.

We are going to protest @ CCC on February 1stagainst Tony Marryatts obscene pay increase. When you look at 2010 fiscal year four company bosses received pay packets of more than $5 million--Westpac NZs George Frazis,Nuplex,s John Hirst,Fonterras Andrew Ferrier and Telecoms Paul Reynolds.Each of them earned in a single week more than twice what a worker earning $40,000 annually made over the entire -12 month period.

"Society's elites own the carrots and the sticks, they make the rules, and we shouldn't be surprised to find they've rigged the game. Now we know and it's up to us to do something or nothing about it."

For an example look at the Ak Waterfront dispute! There WILL be a lot more "flexing" of muscles yet! This is not just about the waterfront or the wharfies! But about whether or not the Unions still have any power in NZ!

Bryan Exactly. I have been reading the claims and counterclaims on Maritime Unions website.It is interesting how the Supercity model changed things with The Port. This is more privatisation of the workforce and the breaking down of collective power of unions to negotiate on behalf of their members. There are a lot of issues around that including Safety of workforce.

Dr. As I said in the other column we all know how the system operates.
A company makes a profit so the directors get a BIG wage increase while the workers (who all the work) get what crumbs fall off the table.
However if the company makes a loss the directors STILL get a wage increase while the workers get redundancies and work is out soured to the Philippines.
Is it any wonder we have protestors down at Hagley Park?

While I'm at it is there some thing where if the ratepayers form a petition to the council if they get enough signing it they have to act on it. Does any one know?

Always made me laugh all these Motelliers put the cost of their motels up trying cash in on the world Cup and a lot fell in over it.
If a motel was worth $100/night before why is it suddenly worth $150-200/night because of the WRC?? Talk about greed.
Why are camper van worth more too? Sorry where do I stop?
P/S My hourly rate has not changed because of the Canterbury earthquake. Am I a mug? Because I’m not greedy?