Wednesday 25 January 2017

GO SOUTH YOUNG MAN




There's a bit of debate going on about rich Americans bolting down to Godzone to escape the Trump presidency and or the ensuing apocalypse.




On the one hand you can see why some New Zillinders are a bit miffed at this particularly when billionaires like Peter Thiel are able to bypass the usual regulations and are granted citizenship at a time in history when millions of displaced people in the Middle East and Europe are seeking the same but are denied such luxury.

On the other hand we, as a country at the far-flung edge of the world, need wealth, investment, entrepreneurial ideas and the means of creating wealth (which leads to employment, infrastructure and social services).

I can see both sides but must park my socialist leanings here and ask what's best for the country and the average New Zillander. My belief is that isolationism isn't in our interest given that we have an export driven economy and that we need to encourage people to come here with drive, energy, ideas, connections and especially money. If all they bring is money then well and good. At least they will have to spend some of it.

 I would have thought a bit differently 30 or more years ago when we were a more egalitarian society but today, I don't care if the 'toff' dining in fancy Auckland restaurants, buying up prime New Zealand real estate or holidaying in fancy-schmancy resorts is a rich American or one of those thieving robber-baron so-called true blue Kiwi.



Come on down I say.

9 comments:

Robert Sees Things in Sky said...

So bugger our clean rivers and off shore marine reserves. Get the rich mean people in to buy up our best real estate and inflate it employing the poor labourer who is paid the minimum wage, if lucky. Though.... I could be wrong.

THE CURMUDGEON said...

Yes, you surmise rightly. You are wrong.
Maybe you should read the post in its entirety and then think about it before writing your next comment.

Richard (of RBB) said...

I'm off to practise my pTrumpet, to p precise.

Robert Sees Things in Sky said...

Go south blah blah blah
On the other hand blah blah
I can see both sides blah blah
I would have though differently 30 ....
Great post.

THE CURMUDGEON said...

OK Second, I'll create a blog that only uses maximum of two syllable words that are only found in the simple oxford dictionary for primary schools. I'll also limit the posts to a maximum of 140 characters and ........ wait a minute, on reflection, maybe you should just sign up on Twitter to receive Donald Trump's Tweets.

Robert Sees Things in Sky said...

Ok Peter I surged upstream. It was like a tributary to Taupo the Hinimaia, you know it. Deep but empty. Will appeal to John Key and Bob Johns maybe. I cast a red setter lure, Thiel seized it and yelled "I own this river".
I asked him why.
"The government wants me here to make New Zealander's rich and for your good have granted me the rights to all the natural reserves."
I said "Curmudgeon didn't say it would go this far".
He replied " Rest assured I will promise Internet Security and sell it and Ha Ha Ha see you in hell."

THE CURMUDGEON said...

See here:

http://nzh.tw/11789882

Robert Sees Things in Sky said...

It's all sad. People like us work so hard to pay taxes only to find there are a bunch of wealthy pricks who stole of the honest people .....

THE CURMUDGEON said...

Yes, I agree but ...... we've just got to get over it. The'll die at 80 + or - like the rest of us.