I’m more popular than John Key – half-wishful thinking

Well, it’s something (shameless self-promotion to come).

According to the Halfdone blog stats for April 2009, I am at number 42 in the NZ blogosphere rankings. Your prime minister, the Right hon. John Key is number 43.

Ha, that’s great, but I won’t crow too loudly.

The Tumeke rankings, which as of today [21 April] are only up for February 2009, have EM at number 58 and JK at number 54. Though, if I could be indulged just another second or two, JK is dropping (down 2 places from January) and I’m rising (up 19 places from January).

So maybe I’ve over taken him, maybe not quite yet.

A giant hat tip to all my visitors. I hope you like it.

National whistles up support for benefit bashing

So the National Party, under millionaire leader John Key, has discovered the underclass. No, they’ve discovered (or rediscovered) the art of the dog whistle.

The policy released this week that would ‘encourage’ single parents on benefits to work for up to 15 hours a week is, on the surface, about getting the country ‘back to work’.

But, as the NZ Herald editorial put it so nicely:

National’s efforts will be felt mainly by those with few skills and poor earning capacity and, frankly, Mr Key ought to have more important things to do. This policy does more to stroke the shibboleths of party supporters than meet any pressing social need. He should return to topics that count. [Inflicting pain for little gain]

The Nat’s ‘policy’  is classic dog whistling.

Think about it. Beneficiaries can earn up to $100 a week under this policy and will have to work around 15 hours. Do the math! It works out at $6.67 an hour. That’s not helping the disadvantaged or getting the economy working, it’s just about slave labour.

But it plays well in Orewa and that’s John Key’s real message.