There is a long way to go for a section of New Zealand society but what will the Roger Douglas critics have to say about this from the Ministry of Social Development;
“This year’s report for the first time also looks at how New Zealanders’ wellbeing has changed over the last 20 years. Of the 18 indicators we can track from the mid-1980s, the majority have improved. New Zealanders are better educated, they’re healthier and more of them are in paid work.
“Since the mid-1980s, life expectancy has increased, suicide rates have reduced, and cigarette smoking has decreased. However, obesity has doubled for men and almost doubled for women, reflecting changes in diet and physical activity.
“There have been substantial increases in participation in early childhood and tertiary education, and more school leavers have higher qualifications. The unemployment rate has fallen steadily since it peaked at over 10 percent in 1992, and employment has risen."
So the economic reforms didn't ruin the country afterall.
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So the economic reforms didn't ruin the country afterall.
No, but social reforms are making up for lost time.
Classic strawman argument Lindsay. Only fools would claim the country was ruined by the '80s reform. Only a fool would claim that one man could be responsible for the improvements in 20 years.
Brian, anyone who claims that the reforms of the 1980s ruined the country is guilty of the same lazy, illinformed, ideological crap implied here.
NZ had to reform, the issue is how it was reformed and how quickly. Not floating the dollar, not deregulating, not instituting all manner of social reforms; they were only options if NZ was prepared to disconnect from the world.
But to claim that Douglas deserves all the credit, ludicrous. What about Rod Deane, John Chetwin, Alan Shick, Gary Hawke, Stan Rodger, Geoff Palmer, David Caygill... I could go on but that'll do for the moment.
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