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On Radio NZ’s “Nine To Noon” programme, ex-Labour Party president, Mike Williams described the appointment of veteran political campaigner, Matt McCarten, as “either an act of lunacy or a stroke of brilliance“.
This blogger opts for the latter – this was a strategic master-stroke by Cunliffe and the Labour Party hierarchy. In one move, Cunliffe has;
- appointed one of the most skilled veteran political campaigners in the country,
- sent a message to Labour members that the Party is moving away from the corporate-driven neo-liberal concensus,
- chosen a political figure with a wealth of experience and who has contacts across the political spectrum,
- is highly respected by those on the Left and Right of the political spectrum.
It is hard to see who could have filled this role any better.
Judging by comments from National’s leader, John Key, the appointment has struck a raw nerve. Key is obviously worried, as his comments across the media clearly suggest,
“He [McCarten] is hard-Left.”
TV1;
“They’ve taken a long time to get their press team together, they’ve gone through now a couple of chiefs of staff, their caucus is not at all united, it’s very divided, and I think they’re going to struggle to keep control of that caucus.”
TV3;
“The tone for Labour will be much more aligned with what we see from the Greens. They’ll have a certain appeal to a small audience of New Zealanders, but most New Zealanders will know that means bad news when it comes to jobs, when it comes to economic growth, and to a competitive economy.
[…]
David Cunliffe was put into his job by the unions and this is the unions getting an even tighter grip on the direction of the Labour Party.
I really don’t think he’ll have a dog show of unifying the Labour Party.”
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References
Radio NZ: Matt McCarten tipped to be Labour’s new chief of staff (audio)
Fairfax media: Matt McCarten new Labour chief of staff
Radio NZ: McCarten taking Labour hard left – PM
TV3: Labour leans to left with McCarten – Key
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Above image acknowledgment: Francis Owen
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= fs =
David Cunliffe has put all his chips on the table, and that is the only way to play this game.
Good point, Fambo. No behind-the-scenes machinations here…
Unlike ACT in Epsom and the Conservatives god-knows-where…
John Key looks like he needs some laxatives to release some of the tension he is building up. He is getting up tight already about Matt McCartens appointment, notice he is actively playing the fear game by stating Labour as “fear of the looney left”. Statistically and factually New Zealand has always performed well under a Labour Government apart from the ACT/Roger Douglas Years where they sold NZ down the drain. We will reflect back on the Key Years as we did the Muldoon Years, and the level of indebtedness these characters racked up for NZ’s future generations.
I am far more concerned about the paranoid “Stasi Like State which now exists here in NZ” under the Fuhrer John Key, than the uncertainty of a caring Labour led Coalition. A new Government will not be able to get the country in any deeper shit than it is already in under John Key. We are already over our Overdraft Limit.
The financial markets and rating agencies disagree with you.
Who cares, Treasury figures show that NZ’s debt to GDP ratio fared better under Labour, and their annual surpluses were healthier. Also, before you reach for the strawman, note that National’s tax cuts had debt skyrocketing well before they had the excuse of seismic activity, giving the lie to the hilarious claim of fiscal neutrality.
http://www.tradingeconomics.com/new-zealand/government-debt-to-gdp
http://www.tradingeconomics.com/new-zealand/government-budget
You are well aware that the budget deficits and rise in debt was predicted BEFORE National took office and that the 2009 tax cuts were actually put in place by Labour and not National aren’t you?
National’s tax cuts took effect April 1st, 2009. And so what if rising debt was ‘predicted’; those predictions were for a decade long period of deficits, so I’m guessing they were anticipating 3 terms under National.
Ummmm… no. Treasury is not able to predict that sort of stuff. It can only base predictions on the policy variables in place a the time the projections were made. These variables were all controlled by Labour in 2008.
Only a damn fool tries to blame the GFC and recession on ” variables … controlled by Labour in 2008″.
Every time a blogpost is published, you re-hash the same arguments and selective use of Treasury commentary to prove whatever neo-liberal fantasy-trip you’re on.
Then I re-post the same rebuttals, with citations, to disprove your bullshit.
Then you repeat all over again.
Well, let me repeat this for you; making the making crappy comments with cherry-picked info, and a few mis-representations thrown in, over and over again, doesn’t make it any less of bullshit than last time.
Gosman, you are a prize twat. Your ignorance isn’t the worst thing – it’s your willingness to expose it publicly.
The trouble with you, Mr Macskasy and Mr Bradbury is that lately you don’t seem to be able to constructively carry your side of a debate without resorting to abuse and petty name calling. I suggest you stick to the subject and resist the temptation to look like you have reached a point of desperation.
Mike… I’m mortally wounded…
*sniff*
Ok.
Over it now.
🙂
The trouble with you Mike is that you don’t see BOTH SIDES when your dishing out your judgemental crap.
How’s the Act party these days? Still polling nought point nought percent?
I suggest that you read for yourselves:
Tax cuts 2009:
http://theyworkforyou.co.nz/portfolios/prime_minister/2009/apr/01/tax_cuts_1
Tax cuts 2010:
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=10646047
5th Labour government’s approach to governing (1999-2008):
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fifth_Labour_Government_of_New_Zealand#Economic
Current government’s sabotage:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fifth_National_Government_of_New_Zealand#Economic
That is utter rubbish Gosman.
And worse still, you are repeating an inaccuracy despite me correcting you with cited information on a previous blogpost.
Are you now so bereft of rational argument that you’re stating to resort to outright lies?
Do not post this crap again.
It is not utter rubbish. you have been shown time and again that the 2008 PREFU predicted a decade of deficits. You simply choose to ignore this fact.
Gosman, are you getting pissed off? You seem to be telling the same lie over and over and it’s not becoming a truth. Remember Herr Goebbels said BIG lie – your lie is a lame ass one.
It is hardly a lie. It is in black and white set out in the 2008 PREFU. If you want to check it out it is easy to locate.
Gosman – if you make one more post on this issue, I’ll happily go back; find a relevant example of the the kind of bullshit you make (and this one was a doozy!) and re-post it here.
Do you really want me to do that? Because it will waste my time but make you look more of dick than you usually are.
Your call.
Or, you could read this little piece titled “Bloodbath changes everything”
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10536180
“Having slammed National for setting a debt-to-GDP target of 22 per cent, Cullen’s position has been undercut by the current debt ratio being forecast to balloon from 17 per cent to 24 per cent of GDP over the next four years.
If National’s tax cuts are reckless, so, by Cullen’s previous definitions, are Labour’s.
Cullen admitted as much by saying that had he known in advance what was going to happen he would have been more cautious about cutting taxes. However, he is refusing to withdraw the second and third phases of Labour’s tax package.”
@ Intrinsic Value
Perhaps – just perhaps – Mr Cullen was referring to the global financial crisis when he states “had he known in advance what was going to happen”…or do you think that the global financial crisis was caused by Labour’s fiscal policy too?
You continue to bang on about Labour’s tax cuts in 2008, yet those of right-wing persuasion, such as yourself, are going to have to do better than blame Labour for all that has gone on in the 6 years that National have been in power – to continue to do so is simply pathetic and gives the impression that this current government (and those that support them) – are not accountable and idiots to boot.
The continual blaming of the last Labour government by this current National bunch of incompetents shows this current government are not prepared to take responsibility for anything – it displays for all to see that National do not stand by their own decisions or policies – they are incompetent and unreliable twerps and I hope to see them voted out accordingly – I believe that is the only appropriate response to such spineless. baseless bleating.
Indeed, Leopard.
Furthermore; Clark’s government managed to rebalance the tax system with tax rise for top income earners; increase funding for education, health, police, etc, which National had cut in the late 1990s; reduce unemployment; pay of sovereign debt; post nine surpluses; oversee a rise in wages; and implement a tax cut (of which I’m ambivalent about) in October 2008 (not 2009, as Gosman is mistaken about).
All in nine years.
All achieved without continually blaming National for when GDP growth dipped in 2005/06.
By contrast, Key, English, and National’s sycophants continually blame Labour, the GFC, and Uncle Tom Cobbly for their mis-management of the economy.
For a Party that places great store in Personal Responsibility, they sure show an allergic aversion to showing any. Kind of like this; http://fmacskasy.wordpress.com/2013/02/05/taking-responsibility-national-style/
And now he is the real position.
By 2008, under Labour’s economic stewardship, the NZ economy had been moving into recession from early 2006, fully 12 months before the beginning of the GFC. Not only that, but as a result of this, and structural imbalances created by Labour, including those deriving from a variety of election bribes, the National Govt. inherited an indefinite period of projected internal deficits.
And this isn’t all. Cullen’s legacy can’t be fully understood until we factor in the disastrous decision to renationalise NZ Rail, and the white elephant that is KiwiBank.
This is a brief summary of Labour’s incompetence, and it is wrought large on the minds of most NZ’ers.
“And now he is the real position.”
Didn’t you repeat all that nonsense on other blogposts?!
And you just keep bring it up?
And as for “moving into recession” in 2006 – funny, our GDP per capita was still rising at the time; http://www.tradingeconomics.com/new-zealand/gdp-per-capita
You really are making it up as you go Frank. I posted time and again the cite to the graph showing NZ’s growth was slowing dramatically from early 2006. Actually even for a muppet like Cullen that was a remarkable feat.
Well, that’s funny you mention that, IV, because the research indicates that the NZ economy dips and rises on an irregular basis.
Facts is, the economy was not in recession in 2006 and any dip in 2006 was nowhere as bad as you make out. In fact, your exaggeration is typical of the misinformation and lies you’ve been spreading.
However, it’s given me an idea for a blogpost to illustrate National and Labour’s track-record. It will show you up as the deceptive, mendacious troll that you are.
“I posted time and again the cite to the graph showing NZ’s growth was slowing dramatically from early 2006. Actually even for a muppet like Cullen that was a remarkable feat. ”
And as I recall Frank shot your lies out of the water with the use of a few facts and figures. Epic fail, Intrinsic-act-supporter!! LOL!!!
IV, for your information regarding the period around 2006;
Source: http://www.treasury.govt.nz/economy/overview/archive/pdfs/nzefo-07.pdf
So – a high exchange rate coupled to drought conditions.
We may not have a drought at the moment, but the high Kiwi dollar has certainly impacted on our manufacturing sector;
Source: http://www.stats.govt.nz/Census/2013-census/profile-and-summary-reports/quickstats-about-national-highlights/work.aspx
The really good thing about the rubbish that you post is that it provides an opportunity for me to present a more accurate picture for readers, and to dispel some of the mis-information put about by National/ACT supporters.
Intrinsicnationalbuttkisser, having read your other comments, it’s clear that you’re a class act when it comes to telling porkies and inventing shit.
But hell, even I know that Labour left the country is a good place economically. Cullen paid down the debt that the previous Nats had built up and posted surpluses EVERY YEAR. That kind of success must really get your goat eh?
So all you can do is spin your lying bullshit ?
Sad, man, real sad.
Oh Teddy, which one of Frank’s alter ego’s are you? If you’d only take the time to read, you’d really learn something.
?!
Have a care, IV. You’re the one hiding behind a pseudonym.
LOL!!! I take that as a compliment Intrinsic-Act-man! Your scrapping the bottom of the barrel with your charachter assassination now???
“Perhaps – just perhaps – Mr Cullen was referring to the global financial crisis when he states “had he known in advance what was going to happen”… ”
Then again there is this “However, he is refusing to withdraw the second and third phases of Labour’s tax package.”
“You continue to bang on about Labour’s tax cuts in 2008, ”
Ah, no, I’m fairly sure this is the first time I’ve mentioned them.
“…yet those of right-wing persuasion, such as yourself, are going to have to do better than blame Labour for all that has gone on in the 6 years that National have been in power ”
Blame? Thee is nothing to blame about. National have been very good stewards of the economy through the GFC. They have delivered an economy with low inflation, low interest rates, reducing unemployment; they have transformed an economy heading for a eade of deficits into one in surplus inside 6 years, and all the while they have been prepared to borrow responsibly to re-build Christchurch and protect the most vulnerable from the GFC.
The record is pretty damn good.
“The record is pretty damn good.”
Yeah, sure it is.
$60 billion in debt…
Unemployment twice as high…
Child poverty increasing…
20,000+ jobs lost in manufacturing…
Housing crisis…
Harder for young people to buy a house…
Not to flash, eh, IV?
Yep, very damn good. Business confidence at a 20 year high. Lower interest and inflation rates. The internal deficit inherited from Labour eliminated.
National have brought the country out of recession with the strongest economy in over 20 years. It’s all great news!
@ Intrinsic Value 7.45pm
Your comment is a joke, no?
One expects interest rates and inflation to fall in a recession
One does not expect a competent government to pursue policies in a recession that give bonuses to the very wealthy and take away from those the least well off – which is what National have done.
National – far from creating jobs – have spent their time giving contracts to overseas outfits at the expense of local companies (and thus lost local jobs). And ‘reducing unemployment’ by kicking people off welfare doesn’t really cut it
National spend most of their time in parliament blaming all the poor effects of their own policies on the last Labour government – as you continue to do with your links to outdated predictions on this or other threads. But do please continue – you provide a good example of how backward thinking and incapable of being accountable righties are.
And all that buffoon of a leader of yours can do is witter on about flags – there could be no better illustration than this to summarize the shallowness and ‘fiddling while Rome burns’ attitude of this current government.
Really, Intrinsicallystupid? Is that all you got? Recycling Act bullshit?
Your a joke mate. Not a funny one either.
@ IV – *pffft!* An opinion piece by pro-National journo, John Armstrong? Is that really the best you can do?
Mind you, you’ve mis-used most Treasury reports and can’t use those any more, I guess…
What next – will you be quoting from Cameron Slater or Kiwiblog?
Hahaha Go Mr Macskasy, Love it when you all masterful and authoritative. Looks like Gosmans being a GOOSE.
Go ahead Frank. It will just serve to highlight how you never deal with the predicted deficit and associated rise in government debt in the 2008 PREFU and how you are obsessed by the 2011 PREFU as if that somehow supersedes the 2008 predictions when all it did was confirm that Treasury was right in 2008.
Fine.
On my Blogpost, “Radio NZ: Nine To Noon – Election year interviews – John Key” , at a post you made here (https://thedailyblog.co.nz/2014/02/20/radio-nz-nine-to-noon-election-year-interviews-john-key/#comment-191376), you went to great pains to prove that the 2008 PREFU from Treasury showed a “structural deficit”.
You even provided a link; http://www.treasury.govt.nz/budget/forecasts/prefu2008/027.htm#sthash.CwNzc9qD.dpuf
And you stated,
So I had a look and read the report you linked to.
Guess what?
There was no reference whatsoever to any “structural deficit”.
You made it up.
You deliberately attempted to mislead readers by making a statement that was not correct.
This is the sort of crap that you and Intrinsicvalue keep posting on this website; mis-information; cherry-picked data; information taken out of context – and outright lies.
There was also no reference to a “decade of deficits”.
You made that up as well (parroting Bill English’s political bullshit).
Because neither of you have anything more accurate or truthful to present, you both deliberately seek to mis-lead.
Gotcha Goosey!
Do It frank Time Gosman had a big fat egg on his face once and for all.
re Gosman’s : “The financial markets and rating agencies disagree with you.”
“Then again, here’s a quick catalogue of some of the raters’ greatest misses: Enron, a house of cards, was investment-grade rated to nearly the bitter end; the aforementioned AAA-subprime mortgage debt; Lehman Brothers’ high investment-grade rating within days of their demise; downgrading the US based (initially) on a $2 trillion mathematical faux pas (we guess that’s the “statistics” in NRSRO). Just the other day, the same S&P altered its outlook on Venezuelan debt to “Negative” from “Stable.” Which may seem a sensible move until you consider they rated Chavismo Venezuela “Stable.” There’s a fundamental logic error there.
But now, it seems S&P is just cutting out the middle man and calling its own work, “puffery.” That might seem bizarre, but to me, it’s the most sensible rating they’ve issued at any time in recent memory. The market long ago downgraded the importance of these agencies. On average, rates tend to fall after a highly rated nation is downgraded. That the raters may be catching on now is just the latest example of their opinions arriving a bit late.
Neither side is categorically in the right in Feds v. S&P. But on one issue, there should be little to no debate. Take S&P at its word, and take ratings (what S&P self-defines as “puffery”) with at least a grain of salt.”
Quoted from:
http://www.marketminder.com/a/fisher-investments-puffery-sp-magical-first-amendment-defense/34a57fc2-3c20-4db2-9b0a-4da5fba86565.aspx
Hardly surprising – they can’t even agree with themselves.
The “financial markets” not only led the global economy to near ruin in 2007/08 – but can’t even agree amongst themselves.
You try and go against them Frank and see what happens. BTW I note you use the rating agencies when it suits your political agenda such as when NZ ratings were downgraded early on in Nationals time in office.
And true to form, Gosman, the irony of Market Forces downgrading a pro-free market government escapes you, yet again.
Think about it…
Yeah Goosey, ain’t it a bitch that Standard and Poors downgrade NZ every time the Nats are running the country. Why is that do you think?
Are they in charge of our country now?
No doubt Jonkey will have missed the irony of a far-right PM trying to start a panic at the prospect of a nominally left wing party actually becoming left wing. I just hope McCarten kicks a few heads in the ABC camp. Metaphorically, of course…
Far-right PM. You are kidding me?
Quite Right – extreme right would better describe most of his policies. A fair number are not principled at all however, (think asset thefts) and fit better under the heading of corruption.
So if NZ has a “far right” government, where does this put Singapore and Hong Kong (which have a much lower tax rate, for example)?
Asian economies are complex and don’t fit neatly into the left/right dialectic in the same way as European derived ones do.
More, both Hong Kong and Singapore are entrepots, they enjoy unique advantages deriving from their proximity to the trade of large continental economies.
Singapore at least is a command economy, which is sensible for states too small to support a sufficiently diverse market to self-optimise.
Don’t be fooled by the low face tax rate – compulsory real estate levies on young people underwrite Singapore’s level of home ownership. Hong Kong is similarly progressive on housing.
Hong Kong and Singapore are the only countries in the world that are more right wing than New Zealand – just ask the Heritage Foundation (right wing think tank in New York) which regularly rates NZ as just behind HK and Singapore in terms of “Freedom”.
In this case freedom means the freedom of money to move about unregulated and “just behind” means third.
Nice one, Frank.
Key’s ‘relaxed’ image is going to be very hard to maintain. He’s not had it hard so far. Helen was on her last legs and too preoccupied with the process of selling out to the globalists for her plum job at the UN; Goff was too compromised to stand for anything; as for Shearer, well, who knows. Now he faces a team with a sense of purpose who have allies to their left and a voting base which is stirring from abandonment and shaking off the dust.
Cheers, CJ.
“Now he faces a team with a sense of purpose who have allies to their left and a voting base which is stirring from abandonment and shaking off the dust. “
I couldn’t have said it better, myself.
“The tone for Labour will be much more aligned with what we see from the Greens. They’ll have a certain appeal to a small audience of New Zealanders, but most New Zealanders will know that means bad news when it comes to jobs, when it comes to economic growth, and to a competitive economy.”
How would people know that the Greens way of doing things is bad news if the Greens have never been in power before? They can guess that it would be ‘bad news’, but they can’t know.
The positive achievements of the last Labour led government were Alliance pushed–paid parental leave, Kiwi bank, extra weeks annual leave etc.
Once the Alliance collapsed Labour got into “jobs jolt” penalising beneficiaries further and dragged its heels on union rights.
So hopefully with no pressing international diversions or issues apart from scuttling the TPP Matt will stick to core left politics and sending ShonKey to Hawaii.
If I were you Gozzz, I’d cast your mind back a few decades around the time Muldoon took a hit.
I feel comfortable the important bases are covered -or will be in the very near future – “financial meerkats” et al.
“…most New Zealanders will know that means bad news when it comes to jobs, when it comes to economic growth, and to a competitive economy”.
I read this as saying: “…most wealthy New Zealanders will know that means bad news when it comes to employers’ privileges, when it comes to the rich getting richer, and to an economy that serves the rich”.
“WTF? Is John Key having a melt down?!”
Like the witch in the Wizard of Oz mate:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7GJcKuVGm8
If people really think our current government is “far right”, can someone give me an example of a country that you would like to emulate. Either current or past regimes will do.
If not, then why do you think that your solution will work when it has never done in the past?
EDIT: I would consider the current Australian administration much more right wing than NZ. Does this make them XXXL Far Right?
Most likely Venezuela or Cuba. Both doing rather swimmingly at the moment.
Cuba is doing alright actually. Venezuela is a total cluster fuck.
Probably because the Yanks are secretly doing everything they can to undermine Venezuela, as they’ve done for Cuba. This doesn’t prove that socialism is failing it just proves that the Americans are as dirty as the Russkies when it comes to interfering with other country’s internal affairs.
Solonian Athens:
The thetes drive economic prosperity. Real estate investment is bad for economies and must be deterred.
Rome under Sulla:
The property of corrupt public officials (like asset thieves) is seized and auctioned to repay the state.
What worries me about your post here, Frank, is that McCarten’s appointment is only a start. There is a shit load of work to do and so far there has been zero policy change to upset the neoliberal line followed by Labour for the last 30 years. There needs to be change, and I hope it happens, but I can’t help but think that social democrats are too ready to clutch at straws and celebrate before the work is done. It’s like the Warriors, who are sold as NRL favourites every year because they get some new player. No one player, not even an ex activist chief of staff, is worth that much. Let’s leave the celebrating for a while and exert pressure so that something worth celebrating will happen.
“Baby steps”, Ovicula…?
After years of no positive signals from Labour, the release of the NZ Power policy (and the hysteria it caused within the world of commerce) and the appointment of someone like Matt, is akin to a “Burning Bush” moment.
Am I being overly optimistic? Perhaps…
But the alternatives are too depressing to contemplate, and I refuse to go down that road.
I look forward to the next step. Even if it’s a baby step. 😉
Nothing wrong with optimism, as long as it’s tempered with the realisation that what we’ve got here is an opportunity rather than a great victory. A great victory still needs a lot of work, and if this appointment inspires people, well and good. I hope it does.
My main worry, which I hope is wrong, is that Labour will use this appointment to convince people that they are already on the left, before they’ve made any policy changes. I suppose I just don’t trust politicians.
Indeed, Ovicula…
Let’s leave the celebrating for a while and exert pressure so that something worth celebrating will happen.
Agreed. Chances of significant change can’t be expected with complacency. Have to keep up the pressure even with a change in government. At least a different government will lend an ear unlike the current brick wall.
Reasons John Key won’t be having a meltdown anytime soon:
1. Labour have appointed Matt McCarten as their taxpayer funded campaign manager, oops sorry, Chief of Staff.
2. Business confidence is up.
“New Zealand business confidence has risen to its highest level in almost 20 years, indicating strong economic growth this year.” http://www.news.com.au/finance/business/nz-business-confidence-at-20-year-peak/story-e6frfkur-1226840622484
3. NZ mortgage interest rates are currently at around 5.5%, compared with 9.6% in October 2008.
4. National are overseeing a strong economy.
“HSBC chief economist for Australia and New Zealand Paul Bloxham says New Zealand’s growth is set to outpace most of its developed markets peers, American news channel CNBC reported .
“We think New Zealand will be the rock star economy of 2014,” Bloxham told CNBC on Monday.”
http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/industries/9583473/New-Zealand-2014s-rock-star-economy
5. Unemployment is dropping.
“The labour market continues to improve – employment levels are slowly increasing and unemployment levels are gradually falling. This pattern is expected to continue over the next three years.”
http://www.careers.govt.nz/jobs-database/whats-happening-in-the-job-market/labour-market-situation/
6. Labour have appointed Matt McCarten as their campaign manager.
And our GDP was actually rising at the time;
2005: $108.8 billion
2006: $109.1 billion
2007: $110.5 billion
2008: $138.3 billion
Then National came to power, in November 2008;
2009: $117.8 billion
http://www.tradingeconomics.com/new-zealand/gdp
As per usual, IV, your so-called “facts” are a figment of your imagination.
(But thanks for giving me an idea for another blogpost! Good stuff!)
Nice one Frank. Puts Intrinsic in his place! LMAO!!
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