Ever since John Key airily picked out $500 million as the amount he wanted to ‘save’ from slashing ‘capping’ public services we have witnessed a succession of causes to which National wants to apply this funding.  From tax cuts to youth justice to managing national testing in schools, this money is now so thinly spread it is transparent.  This morning on Breakfast we saw yet another attempt- various law and order ideas, including the building and staffing of a new prison. 

In the absence of any real alternative Budget from National, the $500 million sham is being exposed. Either National will sacrifice more public services or they simply will not follow through on their promises.

We are also being treated to the political gymnastics from those who are desparate to find a way to explain that this slogan masquerading as a policy will not really damage our public services, because all the good things will be kept.  $500 million is a lot of money to find if it is just TEC that is going to change. 

This policy is an attack on the quality of our public services and those hard working New Zealanders who work for the government. I am picking up from my discussions and canvassing that voters are truly turned off by the constant belittling by National of public servants and the depiction of them as faceless, “useless” bureaucrats.