We’re borrowing huge amounts of money to maintain a standard of living we really cannot afford. The borrowing is underpinned by logic I find extremely questionable. Basically, it boils down to this- things are going to get better soon and we’ll pay back the money then.

I see fault in this for two main reasons. One is the assumption that the so called “good times” we experienced over the last few decades have only temporarily deserted us. We just have to get through this “recession”, and things will be rosy again. I don’t believe it. The so called good times were underpinned by credit. The credit has run out, the loans won’t be extended again, and its time to work for a living. Retaining the status quo and hoping things will get right in the end is futile. We need to restructure. People have to get off the damned public payroll and get out and produce.

The second fault is that as with any borrowing, its not only the principal that becomes problematical, its the interest on the principal. Socialism is an unsustainable house of cards that just cannot stand once the cold harsh winds of financial reality start blowing.

Now all of the above can be distilled down into something much shorter. Something like “Stop the damn spending you idiots..!!” At least in areas that clearly and unarguably bring no tangible benefit to the taxpayer. Things like this, as reported on by Andrea Vance in the Dominion Post today. (Good one Andrea)-

Former prime ministers and governors-general have racked up a $750,000 bill on taxpayer funded limousines and domestic air travel in the past three years. Former prime minister Jim Bolger topped the list, spending almost $135,000. Next was Sir Paul Reeves, governor-general from 1985-1990, on almost $97,000, and former prime minister Dame Jenny Shipley, claiming $94,508. Ex-prime minister Helen Clark, now Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme in New York, claimed $75,734 between 2008 and October 2010. [..] Sir Geoffrey Palmer claimed $92,518 between July 2007 and October 2010.

Former prime ministers are entitled to free domestic flights, a self-drive car and a chauffeur-driven car – but are not allowed to use them when travelling for commercial activities. Even after they die, their spouses can claim the benefits. [..] Lady Glen Rowling claimed $25,314. Her husband, Sir Wallace Rowling, who served as prime minister for less than a year, died in 1995 and she has since remarried. [..] Lady Norma Beattie, wife of Sir David Beattie, claimed $22,286 and Dame Thea Muldoon, married to former prime minister Sir Robert Muldoon, $27, 038. Former governor-general Sir Denis Blundell’s wife, Lady June Blundell, used $13,706 worth. And Margaret Pope, who was married to ex prime minister Sir David Lange, claimed the least – $14, 653.

This has to be stopped right now. OK, so in the scale of the billions we owe, its not much, but its a damn start. The problem is free loading. There’s far too much of it, and times have changed. The above allowances need to be halted and if they were it would be a great signal to the rest of New Zealand that the government was going to get serious about doing what needs to be done. It would be a grand lead in to the massive cuts that need to be made. Once again, Key and English seem paralyzed in respect of taking any real action at all. Take this one on fellas. Small on the economic front, its main benefit lies in opening the public’s perceptions to a wide range of further cuts. Do it. Do it now.

Andrea Vance’s article is here.