heather roy goywhldfnltapparliamentgovtnz heather roys diary lets real issues please election year brings worst people several commentators already predicted 2008 campaign nasty one theyre probably right especially comes labour national whose leaders came blue red corners parliament began year gloves john keys state nation speech youth crime boot camps helen clark retaliated next day sustainability keeping kids school theyre 18 vision country visible either leader assessment answers really important issues facing new zealand things havent improved since parliament returned midfebruary prime minister preoccupied fixing tagging problem health minister david cunliffe busy taking revenge hawkes bay district health board week sacked seven elected members place 72 days effectively neutered minister sacked performing well enough classic example fix problem didnt exist first place proposed tagging solution however somewhat different claytons solution look tough appear something problem worries opponents core voting block theres doubt tagging problem unsightly wilful damage peoples property needs dealt swiftly banning sale spraycans under18s isnt answer doesnt work alcohol wont work spraycans neither issuing caught 2000 fines cant afford pay wont young peers cant afford pay speeding traffic offence fines wed luck changing antisocial behaviour dressing offenders pink overalls tagger emblazoned across back making paint unsightly tagging conveniently overlooked fact law already exists prohibit wilful damage property spraycans real issue policing one wouldnt treat election year real issues debated real solutions promoted vision emerged country economy would good place start considerable international unease worlds economy worlds largest economy us people feeling significantly poorer long rise property values reversed many marginal loans performing subprime crisis top chronic balance payments deficit us dollar falling japan worlds second largest economy mired recession past 12 years political leaders seemingly unable boost production even china three decades spectacular growth facing steep fall share values economy small subject wide fluctuations influenced significantly much larger economies currencies news isnt bad new zealand prices number commodities high statement add insult injury wool farmers international food prices 50 percent year ago great food exporters part explanation many countries embraced biofuels many food stocks soya beans maize turned ethanol boost petrol supplies environmental case doubtful popular creating food shortage finance minister never explained time record prices exports run large trade deficit education another area make real difference key young people getting ahead life education long mediocrity goal noone allowed fail attitude given us ncea achieved achieved merit excellence categories students little idea really achieving top students challenged excel many end spectrum left insufficient threer skills get daily life labour philosophy nearest school students home best means many choice school yet education onesizefitsall funding followed child basic cost childs education could spent school choice real choice existed parents students competition school places would lift level education poorly performing schools would lift game compete perform well greater variety schools would emerge greater choice least child would worse best school choice means children achieve excel best abilities children deserve best succeed hollow words best isnt available children moment wealthy real school choice plenty real issues health crime starters already distractions reeled absence knowing deal new zealands serious problems thats act comes fore afraid confront real issues saying also solutions many kiwis feel time change government act agrees new zealand needs change direction well settle nothing less lest forget march 1 2002 operation anaconda began eastern afghanistan first largescale battle usled invasion since battle tora bora operation anaconda involved 2500 coalition troops including new zealands elite special air service sas antitaliban militia alqaedabacked insurgent force around 1000 result hardfought victory coalition around 500800 casualties losses taliban less 100 coalition casualties new zealand maintained presence afghanistan since initial invasion reconstruction security fledgling struggling democracy primary goal january 2008 new zealand personnel still based afghanistan consisted 107strong provincial reconstruction team based bamyan province five officers based international security assistance force headquarters two ncos based afghan national army two medical specialists canadian multinational medical unit kandahar southern afghanistan one military liaison un assistance mission ends please feel free pass others may interested heather roys diary weekly newsletter heather roy mp receive diary every week visit wwwactorgnzsubscribe information please visit wwwroyorgnz note soon using new 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