tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19962237.post8534863827253471478..comments2024-03-04T16:39:30.609+13:00Comments on Lindsay Mitchell: Lindsay Mitchellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04437693272797130833noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19962237.post-55191688145133558102008-04-29T16:13:00.000+12:002008-04-29T16:13:00.000+12:00employment rate of sole mothers which is 80 percen...<I> employment rate of sole mothers which is 80 percent to our 50 percent. </I><BR/><BR/>And how do you think they manage that?<BR/><BR/>State-controlled, state-mandated child "care" centres, perhaps? <BR/><BR/><I>In the short term, unless my suggestion of using the current spare caring capacity of those sole parents with just one child to provide childcare for those moving into work is adopted, the government will have to cater in some way for childcare (resource and cost) </I><BR/><BR/>precisely.<BR/><BR/>In fact, wages commensurate with productivity (our wages are only 10% lower than Aussie, but our productivity is 30% lower and dropping every day) will solve this problem - by making it more affordable to supply childcare, and in general, making it more possible to continue businesses in NZ. Childcare is affordable at $3 per hour; not at $12 (or whatever the minimum wage is now!)<BR/><BR/><BR/><BR/><I> But it wouldn't be a permanent state of affairs because once the DPB was ended, people becoming sole parents would drop off as would the demand for childcare.<BR/></I><BR/><BR/>You'll have to stop much more than the DBP to do that: effectively stopping all benefits (except the pension I guess), and taking out student "loads" and all the rest. <BR/><BR/>The aim must be to transfer the burden within the family - which is why a Singapore-style personal responsibility law would be a great innovation for NZ.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19962237.post-22219912838978694732008-04-29T14:45:00.000+12:002008-04-29T14:45:00.000+12:00It seems to me that we have a generation (or two) ...It seems to me that we have a generation (or two) who conciously (or unconciously) figure the benefit in their decision(s) to have children. People see themselves as state pets. True Green(ie)s can see that this is not a good policy... it just aint in the script.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19962237.post-80758677022263923652008-04-29T13:08:00.000+12:002008-04-29T13:08:00.000+12:00The only aspect of Sweden I mentioned was the empl...The only aspect of Sweden I mentioned was the employment rate of sole mothers which is 80 percent to our 50 percent. <BR/><BR/>In the short term, unless my suggestion of using the current spare caring capacity of those sole parents with just one child to provide childcare for those moving into work is adopted, the government will have to cater in some way for childcare (resource and cost) because low wages will not. That's the reality.<BR/><BR/>But it wouldn't be a permanent state of affairs because once the DPB was ended, people becoming sole parents would drop off as would the demand for childcare.<BR/><BR/>Our current level of all government spending is 43 percent of GDP; Ireland's is 34 and the US 36.<BR/><BR/>Where do you get your figures from?Lindsay Mitchellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04437693272797130833noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19962237.post-88732377520088763222008-04-29T10:38:00.000+12:002008-04-29T10:38:00.000+12:00I can't believe you're arguing that we should foll...I can't believe you're arguing that we should <B>follow the swedish welfare model?</B> <BR/><BR/>But that seems to be what you're saying. <BR/>Frankly, even if we wanted to, we just couldn't afford it. We lost 1000 jobs last week in just two businesses, and will lose another 1000 this week in small businesses, with 500 people, leaving to go to Australia <B>where they will receive absolutely no state benefits</B><BR/><BR/>The best example of solving this problem is of course the US (although the leftists refuse to admit it) and the problem is solved simply by not having any such welfare benefits in many states, and using food stamps and "draconian" time limits in the rest. <BR/><BR/>In NZ, all classes of government spending consume 50% of our GDP. In Ireland it is 25% and in the US about 15%. That explains why, in NZ, poverty is spiraling out of control, why Ireland is holding steady, and why the US is the only "Western" country to compete economically with China. <BR/><BR/>Adopt the Swedish model? you must be crazy!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com