NX-Files

I stumbled upon the article above.  John Key’s approach to the GEC has caught the attention of newspapers and bloggers around the world because there are a good number of people out there who crave for a John Key style leader.   So as a consequence John Key has received a disproportionate amount of coverage relative to the size of New Zealand.  Coverage I’m sure his predecessor would have died for.

Even though Key has avoided the a ‘big bang’ approach favoured by K Rudd, Brown and Obama, the New Zealand Government’s response to the GEC is the fifth biggest in the world on a per capia basis.  And the budget spend for the 2009 budget increased by over a billion dollars.

So even though Key is reprioritising spending – the reality is his approach isn’t that different from the other advanced economies. 

The difference mainly lies with his rhetoric.  He doesn’t seek to create a new world order like Rudd and Brown but rather fix flaws in the current system and move on.  It’s less dramatic and attention seeking but it’s reassuring. 

So all the Aussies, Americans & Brits out there who yearn for a John  Key – too bad.  He’s ours.