I think a lot of people think that- that National are the more fiscally clever, the more likely to get the economy running smoothly, while Labour's more likely to "waste" a lot of money on things like health and their own social agenda.

Whereas with this government the economy's done very well, we have incredibly low unemployment, people are well-off... Michael Cullen is apparently rather good at both social and fiscal concerns. Whereas Don Brash, you know, he was head of Treasury for however long- of course he's going to be all "ooh, can't spend money, bad!" because that's the Treasury's job. But it's not the government's job; the gvt is a not-for-profit organisation, it's supposed to look after its people. Treasury experience doesn't tell you how to do that, only how to "ask Treasury for permission to set policy." as Helen said.