|
Soapbox Series
 This Soapbox Series is
an opportunity for those
of you with a penchant for writing, to put down your thoughts
– on any issue you feel passionate about. Opinion
pieces should be around 500 words.
Contributions can be submitted using the Soapbox
contribution form >>>.
Readers are
encouraged to visit the NZCPR FORUM to see viewpoints, robust
debate and regular information posted throughout the day - see
FORUM
>>>.
List of contributions
(#81 - current)
13 July
08
Roadworks
Code of Compliance
By
John Carter
It is of concern that there is not a code of compliance
for road works signage.
In some situations there is signage all over the place,
no men or machinery on the road (there could be or could have
been). We are asked to slow to 30kmph and indeed if we do not
then a policeman can cite us for an infringement.
Therefore there is a responsibility toward the motorist
to provide a realistic appreciation of the danger to
themselves as well as to the safety of the personnel who work
on the road.
The real problem seems to be that in approaching road
works with no personnel or equipment apparent a driver may be
seen to not comply
with the warning signs. That is dangerous because of the cry
wolf situation when there is a danger to themselves or the
personnel working.
It is proposed that a graduated system be applied which
more truthfully reflects the situation and that a trained and
qualified person in the gang
puts the signs up according to the code of compliance.
There is the ! sign, a LSZ sign, 80, 50, 30, stop
signs.
! and the men at work sign would indicate that there is
road works ahead or the road is not secure and you may need to
slow.
Next a LSZ would indicate to proceed with caution no
personnel are present and nothing is being done but work to
the side of the road , no road markings, or the surface has
loose stones. It would also serve as
slow down to the following signs. Emphasising the catch
phrase “Drive to the conditions when they change reduce your
speed.”
80 would indicate that people are present and equipment
moving to the side of the road but not impeding the flow of
traffic, loose stones had not been swept, 50 would indicate
work on the road surface or traffic across it and diversion
likely, water damage to the road, potholes 30 would indicate
that you should be prepared to stop, major road works are
causing you to drive on a broken surface.
And stop for stop.
At night signage and diversions are universally in the
dark and that is worse if the driver is not familiar with the
route, or it is raining. I propose that any requirement to
slow to below 50 is lit with warning lights and route lights.
And when road works are completed the signs are
removed.
As part of this process of giving drivers more
responsibility, it could mean that where drivers did not
comply and obviously went through road works with no concern,
the qualified person could forward their registration number
to the police who would issue a warning; three such warnings
over a year could constitute an
infringement.
The signs would be placed say a stipulated 500m from
each relevant zone so that the driver knows he has 500 m to
comply with the roadwork signs which are 500m up the road.
Back
to top of page >>>
3 July
08
Chinese
Free Trade - Path to the New Third World
By
Frederick Van Dorestien
Democracy is a very poor form of government but
precious to citizens who value human rights; individual
rights, equal opportunity, the right of free speech and the
right to chose governments and construct democratic law.
Such vital functions of freedom have not yet been won
by the Chinese people.
The Chinese Communist Party rules with oppression and
totalitarian power that crushes any form of opposition.
A multitude of detention camps and organ transplant
hospitals are strategically placed in China to round up any
outbreak of emerging democracy and break its body and spirit.
These labour detention camps manufacture product marketed in
Australia and New Zealand.
COMMERCIAL PREPARATION...
The Communist’s aim is to gain tacit control of raw
materials vital to maintain their hold on absolute Chinese
political power and manufactured wealth provided by an
exploited and controlled labour market that is not liberated.
There is noticeable investment infiltration into New Zealand
and Australian strategic public utilities like power
generation networks, grids and large electricity generating
corporations. The Chinese Government is also currently
purchasing substantial slices of Australian mineral resource
companies and is in a hostile takeover of a leading ore
producing Australian corporation. Parliaments are politically
indifferent to these emerging trends on both sides of the
Tasman.
THE PATH TO THE NEW THIRD WORLD...
In traditional economic terms, a third world nation was
categorised by impoverishment caused by insufficient wealth
per capita for citizens to purchase basic household items.
Such circumstances prevented the development of
manufacturing industries within the country that could produce
essential items for domestic consumption.
These inadequacies prohibited successful economic and
employment growth.
Over the last two decades parliaments have stood by and
witnessed the ongoing demolition of our manufacturing
industries. Much
of this condescension has been justified on the need to
display benevolence on the global stage due to the wealth of
first world nations compared to emerging or developing
countries.
During this period many third world nations have
exploited opportunities and mobilised ultra low cost and slave
labour into a potent means in which to develop manufacturing
industries. Thus
the third world has been reclassified as the Developing
World. These developing nations have been producing
enormous balance of trade surpluses through investment
connections with global business for the founding expertise
and capital required. Whilst
the first or developed world, including the nations of New
Zealand and Australia, have continued to produce progressively
larger balance of trade deficits.
Huge debt based, unsustainable, economic growth and
importation of basic goods manufactured in developing
countries has been the outcome.
Political indifference continues.
So what of future consequences…?
THE EQUALISATION THEORY...
“The Equalisation Theory proposes that economic
reversal is in motion between the Third World (Developing
World) and the nations of the First World.
Whilst the Developing World is engaged in progressive
development that produces constant surpluses in economic and
trade terms, the First World maintains a consistent regression
that results in the creation of unrelenting trade imbalances
causing unsustainable deficits.
The theory is further reinforced by the ongoing
transference of manufacturing industries, from the First World
to the Developing World, in a reversal sense.”…Author.
It is not feasible to consider that First
World nations can maintain sustainable economic health and
current status without an extensive manufacturing industrial
base.
THE DOWNWARD SPIRAL...
The consequences of our First World debt growth based
economies are identified with the present global “Credit
Crunch” in 2008 that has resulted in a dramatic loss of
company value on global share markets and continuing loss of
productivity. Our
politicians must face the reality that our economies cannot
compete against unfair non-free market countries.
Our modern politics simply accepts perceived
inevitability and sidesteps national interest considerations.
The future holds a continuation of the current economic
“Reversal Spiral” unless politics moves away from
the imbalances of “Free” Trade Agreements toward
bilateral agreements and importation border protection fee
structures. There
are no choices.
The “Ripples” or “Oscillations” produced
as a by-product of debt based economies are exampled in the
collapsing events of 2007 and 2008. The 2007 “oscillation”
in the developed world share markets and the “current” 2008
“oscillation” have, globally, obliterated trillions
of dollars worth of value from the share and finance
markets. Yet
economists and politicians still refuse to accept that the
path to economic failure is in motion and these “corrections”
will become more frequent, deeper and last longer with
each successive downward step of productivity regression.
CHUNKS OF POVERTY...
In Australia, poverty continues to increase.
Today, some 2.5 million people are considered as
existing below the poverty line.
Outward NZ migration by residents conceals New
Zealand’s statistics. The
undisputable point is that fundamental flaws remain in
our base economies through massive trade imbalances that are
not being addressed by political parties or governments on
either side of the Tasman.
Following the Clarke government’s, politically
motivated, Free Trade Agreement with communist China more
manufacturers are closing down their New Zealand businesses
and moving offshore to the developing world. The Free Trade
public negotiation policy has clearly failed and must be
abolished.
The New Zealand Parliament had an excellent opportunity
to start a process that would have arrested the present
downhill path by acting on behalf of the majority of voters.
Thus circumventing the Chinese Free Trade
Agreement that will continue to demolish vital
manufacturing industries.
Frederick
Van Dorestien - Political
Economic Research, Wellington
- is an assumed name in the interests of Author Privacy.
References:Canadian
Independent Investigation Report (Chinese Organ Harvest),
Melbourne Institute of Applied Research (Poverty),Wikipedia
(Poverty), Trans Tasman Media (Articles)
Back
to top of page >>>
3 July
08
Rat
bones reduce colonisation time???
By
Martin Dout
Dr Janet Wilmshurst from
Landcare Research has just published her paper purporting to
show that the Pacific rat (Rattus Exulans) has only
been in
New Zealand
since about the year 1280 AD. This finding supposedly proves
that the species was introduced by the Polynesian-Maori. The
announcement was hailed as something to celebrate by
Maori-activist, Ranginui Walker, who stated that we can
finally lay to rest the "Moriori Myth".
The use of Rattus Exulans
as an indicator of "first
arrivals" was also employed fairly recently by Dr. Terry
Hunt of the
University
of
Hawaii
to prove that Polynesians were the first people to inhabit
Easter Island
. See: Late Colonization of
Easter Island
, by Hunt & Lipo, 2006. For insights into some of the
problems Hunt & Lipo failed to addressed see: http://www.celticnz.co.nz/Easter%20Island/Easter%20Island%201.htm
In
a similar vein, Wilmhurst states: "We are not
saying that Maori arrived at any different time than we
believed, but we are confirming that Maori were the first
people to settle
New Zealand
. There wasn't this other group that arrived in 200 BC. (
Christchurch
Press, June 4th, 2008).
She adds: "The
researchers are now turning their attention to other islands
in east
Polynesia
where similar controversies exist over the timing of initial
human settlement".
These
all-too-contrived statements sound suspiciously like
social-engineering and have a resounding propaganda ring to
them.
Unfortunately for Wilmhurst,
her hypothesis is in direct conflict with the careful research
of Richard N. Holdaway, Richard G. Roberts, Nancy R.
Beavan-Athfield, Jon M. Olley and Trevor H. Worthy, who proved
scientifically that the Pacific rat was in NZ at least a
1000-yrs before Maori arrived. See: Journal of the Royal
Society of
New Zealand
, Volume 32, Number 3, September 2002, pp. 463-505. This
can be downloaded from the Internet at: http://www.rsnz.org/publish/jrsnz/2002/024.php
The paper concludes with two
definitive statements:
"… hence, the presence
of Pacific rats in the
South Island
nearly 1000 years before Polynesian settlement."
"… the hypothesis that Pacific rats did not
reach the main islands of
New Zealand
until the time of Polynesian settlement about 750 years ago
must be rejected".
The insurmountable problem
for Dr. Janet Wilmhurst is that there were several stringently
imposed controls that led to this conclusion by Holdaway and
his colleagues. Two major ones were the carbon dating results
and the fact that at least one specimen of Rattus Exulans
had been found beneath undisturbed tephra ash deposits from a
volcanic explosion, the date of which was well known.
Ash band layers play a very
important part in dating the eras of
New Zealand
's unfolding history. The wonderful thing about this fairly
widely distributed tephra ash is that each band or layer
carries its own unique signature and the source location of
the ash can be identified. Coupled with that is the nature by
which volcanic ash settles. The largest and heaviest particles
fall first, so that the bottom of the band is the coarsest.
The layering gets progressively more refined until the top
layer, which can have the consistency of talcum powder. At
least one of Holdaway's 1996 Rattus Exulans specimens
came from beneath the Taupo explosion of (circa) 186 AD and it
was ascertained by very careful observation that the rat had
not burrowed down later to make a nest in the subsoil beneath
the ash band.
Holdaway comments: "most
archaeologists have never actually excavated through two feet
of ash. It seals everything underneath it. You can see every
last wormhole in it and you can see where there is damage to
it. So if something is underneath you know it was there before
the ash fell..." (See Rat Revisionist, NZ
Listener, 7th of December 1996).
Using
ash band layering, archaeologist Russell Price, in
collaboration with some of
New Zealand
’s leading scientists, uncovered clear signs of human
activity at Poukawa,
Hawkes
Bay
before the Waimihia volcanic explosion of 1320 BC.
As for the very deceptive way
in which Holdaway's comprehensive research has been obscured
or eclipsed by the press statements of Wilmhurst, he responded
to one interested party in the following irate manner:
"As usual, Landcare
misrepresented my research and results: I have never advocated
a 200 BC colonization or even visitation. In fact, I was
advocating an AD 1290 settlement before they were. That of
course leaves open the question of TRANSIENT visits (think of
Lieutenant James Cook). My data indicate some kind of visit by
transients about AD 200… during which Pacific rats were
introduced. The persistent miscitation of my data and views is
rather annoying.
"She cannot have been
referring to the SAME rat remains (the term 're-dating' is
completely misleading because the rat bones are totally
consumed in the dating process: dating another rat bone does
NOT re-date the first one. That would seem to be common
logic…)."
For
a larger article on this topic go to: http://www.onenzfoundation.co.nz/Rats.htm
Back
to top of page >>>
3 July
08
Qualmark's
Dark Green Agenda
Stewart Haynes
Qualmark
have bowed to political pressure by inserting an onerous
environmental criteria into its quality assurance assessment
system for accommodation providers, visitor activities,
transport and services.
This
is a knee-jerk reaction to appease political correctness and
nanny state’s broader initiative to introduce an
environmental doctrine to businesses and the public.
Qualmark New Zealand Limited is
New Zealand
tourism's official quality agency. It is a government -
private sector partnership between Tourism New
Zealand
and New Zealand Automobile Association.
Accommodation
providers undergo an assessment to become part of the Qualmark
licensing system. Properties are required to meet minimum
standards and star ratings are appraised on cleanliness,
safety, security and comfort and a range of guest
services.
Triple
bottom-line, Left wing corporate babble-speak has been
unilaterally introduced to businesses that are now expected to
“tell a story” to the public about their commitment
to “Responsible Tourism”
The
environmental criteria will focus primarily on environmental
concerns but will also measure any community activities the
operator chooses to engage in.
For
Qualmark licence holders providing motel accommodation, the
new environmental criteria will simply be inserted as a
separate section in Qualmark’s overall quality assurance
assessment criteria. This means that environmental and social
initiatives will be assessed alongside other sections of the
assessment and will be reflected in the final Qualmark star
gradings.
What
sort of weighting will Qualmark give to their new
environmental criteria? Well, it will start off at 5% and will
eventually blossom to 12% of the of the total quality
assurance assessment. The priority of importance given to
environmental issues in the assessment will eventually be
prioritised first equal with cleanliness. Properties will be
effectively forced to comply or put their star grading at
risk.
Qualmark
will impose their new environmental criteria to licence
holders from 1 August 2008. There is an assurance from
Qualmark that there will be no extra cost, however it is
unclear how long this will be able to be sustained. The
environmental criteria was seeded by government funding in
2006 with an injection of $300,000 over 2 years for research
& development. The Government have pledged further funding
of $840,000 over the next 3-years to help tourism businesses
grasp the new Qualmark standards.
What
impact will this have? Arguably accommodation providers
that introduce worm farms, compost waste and engage in feel
good community activities such as sponsoring the local cat
shelter could well boost the chances of a favourable star
rating. Arguably the opposite could also occur with
accommodation providers that have little opportunity or find
it economically unsustainable to fully embrace the new
environmental mantra. This will do nothing to advance the
accommodation industry and will erode Qualmark’s assessment
credibility with operators. Arguably this may also confuse the
public whom will face difficultly trying to decipher what the
tangible differences are between Qualmark’s star gradings.
There
is no denying that Qualmark’s environmental guidelines are
all worthy opportunities for some accommodation providers.
Most Accommodation providers already have environmental
practices based on actual consumer demand and economic
sustainability. It should be up to the individual operator as
to how their environmental practices can be furthered and
promoted.
This
initiative by Qualmark is the biggest shake up of its quality
assurance assessment criteria since its inception. Ironically
this has been announced with no direct consultation with the
very operators that this will have the greatest impact on.
There seems to be little understanding or empathy with what
impact this may have on typical Ma & Pa small tourism
businesses and will take the focus away from economic
sustainability and tangible guest services.
Stewart
Haynes is a second generation motelier that runs Teal motor
Lodge in sunny Gisborne with his wife Lynda. They also own the
business of White Heron Motor Lodge that is also situated in
Gisborne.
Stewart is a long time enthusiastic supporter of the
motel industry and has previously served on his local tourism
association and Motel Association executives. He was on the
Qualmark Industry Development Board, is the immediate past
national President of the Motel Association of NZ (MANZ) and
is currently an accredited mentor for MANZ. More recently,
Stewart has been elected to the board of Host Accommodation
NZ.
Back
to top of page >>>
3 July
08
Climate
Change
By Ken Ring
By Ken Ring
The call to arms at the moment is that " we must
stop climate change ". While we are at it we might also
want to stop earthquakes, volcanoes and possibly the rotation
of Earth, for all those contribute to the change of climate.
Then there is the geographical location of countries, because
distance from the equator largely determines seasonal
temperature trends.
As the poles slowly shift over thousands of years,
countries find themselves at varying latitudes and thus
experiencing more warmed, colder, drier or wetter seasons than
in previous thousands of years. Using our state-of-art
technology we need to be able to move the equatorial line as
we require. This should be at the whim of the UN and Al Gore,
because the contentment of polar bears and seal populations is
vastly more important than the welfare of humans. We know this
because there are currently lots of laws being drafted about
species-conservation but no international recommendations of
legislative measures for the protection of threatened members
of our race, many facing extinction from colder winters.
We also need to change the movement of the sun through
the Milky Way galaxy, because solar radiation cycles that
cause ice ages are contributory to "climate change".
The chemical composition of water might also be looked at,
because at the moment the steam molecule is lighter than air
and rises to form clouds but the cooler liquid H2O molecule is
heavier than air and sinks as rain, in which amounts these
contribute to climate. The ice molecule must also be altered
to allow ice to thaw at -70C, which is the current winter
temperature at the South Pole, and even at 0C which is the
current summer temperature 1000 miles south of the North Pole.
Otherwise the pesky poles will not stay melted all year
around, and snow and ice will return each winter. The average
height of the atmosphere will also have to be altered. At
present it is only 3-4 miles high at the poles, compared with
12-15 miles at the equator, which means that presently the
cold of space always comes closer to the polar ground,
freezing everything in sight. Truth be known, the ice caps
serve no useful purpose except as freakish landscapes which
block shipping and endanger kayakers. "Climate
change" is affected by their continuing presence and
international pressure must be organised to eliminate these
barren regions. Actually anywhere that trees don't grow is a
menace, because only trees can soak up CO2 which causes
"climate change". So that means all deserts,
beaches, airport tarmacs, tennis courts, streets, bridges and
rooftops will also have to be eliminated, as their surfaces
may, by being treeless, affect and bring about "climate
change".
Then there is the shape and positioning of mountain
ranges. We must relocate these. It is rather pointless
tolerating the existence of steep barren hillsides and oceans,
all which contribute to "climate change", if no
people are prepared to live and grow forests on them. Farming,
among other practices, is counter-productive to climate and
must be halted to stop "climate change". Animals
that belch are catapaulting the planet and solar system -
because Mars and Venus are also heating up - towards a
catastrophic end for the universe. Cows and sheep take up land
that could be used for forests.
Only the Green Party know the full extent of this, such
is their advanced wisdom on the matter. Meat and dairy
production must be stopped. Nor is eating vegetables an option
either, as they need to be harvested, and that requires
exercise which produces CO2. All engines, heaters and lights
must be stopped, because they cause or contribute to
"climate change". Nor can we burn candles(wax
produces CO2), walk anywhere(puff out more CO2), or light
fires(burning wood and coal produces CO2).
Fishing is ruinous to the climate because not only is
it an industry that uses boats that have engines which burn
fuel, but it also enables people to physically work, which
produces CO2. And because it harms a species of dolphin that
already is sensitive to "climate change", closing
down fishing is an environmental necessity.
All of life produces and consumes carbon, in an endless cycle.
As carbon contributes to "climate change" we must
end life.
Many measures are now in place to achieve this. Taxes
are being introduced that are forcing people into homelessness
and bankruptcy. The health service is grinding to a halt
because it is unworkable, allowing many to die, and there is
no effective police force left to prevent or adequately punish
those who choose to murder. Those in charge of our transport
are doing a fine job of eradicating life, with many dangerous
corners now in place, especially near schools, designing cars
that go ever faster on inadequate roads and a drinking culture
that ensures plenty of driving errors. Larger loads on trucks
are now being introduced that will increase the numbers of
these accidents. Finally the world's seas, the sky, and the
troposphere, through the loss and gain of carbon dioxide
absorption and surface release of carbon dioxide, have also
been found to affect "climate change" and therefore
should be gotten rid of. We cannot tip the sea into the sea
because that has already been done. Removal of the sky also
poses problems. How to complete the task will no doubt occupy
the creative minds of generations to come. You can bet the
research grants are being applied for right now.
For more
from Ken, see www.predictweather.com
Back
to top of page >>>
15 June
08
Working
with David: Inside the Lange Cabinet
By
Hon Michael Bassett
In
Wellington last Monday night my new book “Working with
David: Inside the Lange Cabinet” was launched by Professor
Margaret Clark of Victoria University. It was a grand family
occasion. My son Sam, an Auckland accountant, was MC, and my
wife, daughter, daughter in law and grand daughter were all
there. So too were many from the political family which pushed
through the reforms of the 1980s that freed up the economy and
eased us into the modern, globalizing world. Geoffrey Palmer,
Roger Douglas, Stan Rodger, Russell Marshall, David Butcher,
Ken Shirley and Peter Neilson rubbed shoulders with Jim McLay,
Don Brash and Bob Jones, and a number of leading Wellington
people. It was a reunion of many of the biggest contributors
to politics over the last thirty years.
“Working
with David” is drawn from the huge number of documents I
gathered during my own political career. I took notes at every
Labour caucus and cabinet meeting of my political career and
there are many notes from colleagues and personal memos
written after discussions with them. The thrust of the book is
that the Fourth Labour Government was a game of two halves.
Between 1984 and 1987 while David Lange’s health held up,
there was cooperation at the highest levels within the
cabinet. “You can’t put a cigarette paper between me and
Roger”, Lange said at one point as the ministry pushed on
with deregulation and the creation of state-owned enterprises.
The
second half of the government after Labour was returned with
an increased majority in August 1987 gradually faded off into
controversy as David Lange succumbed to a variety of illnesses
and to alcoholism. He couldn’t work out how to resolve his
relationship with his speechwriter who admits that she kept
advising him to fire Roger Douglas. “Who elected her?” the
editor of the Herald asked
tartly after Lange followed her advice and sacked Richard
Prebble and Roger Douglas. And yet the reforms continued
despite an increasingly dysfunctional ministry. The Reserve
Bank Act 1989, Bill Jeffries’ ports reforms, and my local
government reforms came into force, and charitable trusts took
over ownership of the assets of savings banks. Some
privatizations of state assets took place. That process
gradually reduced the government’s debt, thus helping bring
the rampant inflation that we had inherited in 1984 under
control.
“Working
with David” is a book about a reforming government at work.
Many students of politics will find interesting the details
about the operations of cabinet and caucus. I’m sure I have
made occasional mistakes, although I tried to be very careful
as my footnotes show. I interviewed most of my cabinet
colleagues. Maybe some more MPs from that government, and
others since, will be encouraged to write their memoirs? After
all, books of this kind are common in other countries but
surprisingly rare in New Zealand. I’d be the first to
welcome some more of them.
Back to
top of page >>>
21
April 08
No
Real Political Alternative in NZ????
By Vincent Andersen
Like
most western democracies around the world New Zealand has two
major political parties. Every three years voters go to the
polls and always it is either Labour or National who are the
majority coalition partner.
The fact that people get to vote gives the semblance of
a working Democracy but on closer inspection it seems that
there is little or no real alternative. Labour and National
are inherently the same with cosmetic differences.
With
the election 2008 approaching voters are starting to turn to
National, not because of the policy that National has
announced but because of fatigue with the current Labour
government. It is a cycle that repeats itself and is about to
do so again. When Labour won the election 1999 it was mainly
because National had alienated many voters. Now we see Labour
doing the same thing. National has not released any policy
that signals a change in direction. The status quo is
obviously not working, but National feels no need to release
any new policies that may contribute to a change in direction
in New Zealand. This is mainly because they do not need to.
They are already looking like they will be the next
government, not because of any good they have done but by the
poor job Labour has done.
Similarly,
both Parties never release a long term goal for the future
direction they wish to take this country. Neither party has
offered its goal for the long term development of New Zealand,
announced the policies required to reach that goal and
campaigned on those policies to reach that goal. Instead, they
have three types of policies, those that offer a band-aid
solution for the issue in the public arena at the time, those
that cater to their own interests, and those that bribe the
largest voter base coming up to an election.
Take
the last election when Labour was not looking like getting
back into government, they then produced the Student Loan
bribe and those not wanting to languish in the interest of a
student loan the rest of their lives lapped it up. This time
round National has offered the tax cuts bribe. Labour, who
have repeatedly refused to give a tax cut through years of
budget surpluses, have now decided, not to be outdone, that
they too will offer a tax cut. Labour tries to justify this by
saying we can afford a tax cut now, but how do they know this
if they don’t know whether they have a surplus or a deficit?
The hypocrisy beggars belief.
Labour and National both bribe the general population
with their own tax money rather than win their vote by
offering visionary forward thinking policy to build a better
country.
So
both parties have got their strategy for getting into
government sorted, wait for the other to screw up and bribe
everyone who may be sitting on the fence, but what about the
governing when they are in power? You may have heard the
saying “If it’s not broken why fix it??” our government
says “If it’s not in the media and at the attention of the
public why fix it???” When an issue is in the public arena
the government will look like it’s doing something to deal
with it by passing some new legislation and throwing more
money at the problem. Take for instance the issue of Child
Abuse and family violence that has been at the forefront of
public debate in recent months. Rather than investigate the
root causes of these problems and aim the solution at those,
the government brought out the band-aid solution that is the
anti-smacking law and aimed its solution at innocent parents.
The Anti-smacking law turns parents into criminals who may
find it necessary to use a light smack to discipline their
child; those who are abusing their children are not going to
think twice about it because the government has brought out a
new law. The law effectively solves nothing, and to justify it
the issue has turned away from child abuse to children’s
rights. Another justification is that section 59 has been used
as a defence in a case where the child was obviously abused.
Is this the law or the judiciary that is at fault here???
Other examples of these band-aid policies can be seen in Helen
Clark's 12.03.2008 statement to Parliament where she details
the steps that Labour will be taking in the coming year to
respond to various issues. In order to deal with the issues of
family violence and youth offending Helen announced a funding
windfall to be directed at NGOs who are involved in the
community sector. “The
new sustainable funding path will begin with an extra
$37.5million in 2008/09 and build to an annual increase of
$192.8million in 2011/12 and out years - that's a total of
$446 million over the next four years.”
In effect what is happening here is Labour is throwing
millions more taxpayer dollars at a system that has so far
proven ineffective and is geared up to address the symptoms of
the problem rather than the cause. Similarly, in order to deal
with youth crime Helen announced that Labour will extend to
six months the time which can be required to be spent in
residential facilities by youth offenders.
This is another stop gap measure which will do nothing
to address the root causes.
Those who are committing the crimes will not stop
because they might have to spend an extra 6 months in a youth
facility.
Labour is not alone in its band-aid solution policies. In John
Key's 29.01.2008 “A Fresh Start for New Zealand” speech,
he detailed how National is going to deal with youth crime.
Key said that “ First we’re going to extend the
jurisdiction of the youth court so it has the power to deal
with 12 and 13 year olds accused of serious offences.
Secondly, we’re going to give the Youth Court new powers for
following up on proven young offenders once they walk out the
courtroom doors. Thirdly, we’re going to create a tough new
range of sentencing options for dealing with the hardcore
group of young criminals.” This is another example of policy
that addresses the symptoms and not the cause. New Zealand is
never going to be able to solve its fundamental societal
problems unless government addresses their root causes and
National and Labour are both unwilling to do so.
As well as similar approaches to gaining power and governance,
National and Labour also have very similar policies. When it
comes to Foreign affairs, Trade and Defense there is no
difference in both parties’ policies. Both parties are
looking to further integrate our economy through FTAs aiming
towards a single economic market with Australia and continue
to strengthen traditional relationships with Australia, the
EU, The US and Canada. When it comes to social policies, there
is no difference again. National have stated they will retain
all benefits but try and be more stringent with who is
eligible for them. To cope with youth crime National and
Labour are both going to beef up the powers of the youth court
and extend the time required to stay in education to 18. For
law and order both parties are going to get tough on crime and
also institute early intervention policies to “deal with
anti-social behavior at a young age.” As far as immigration
is concerned both parties are going to allow skilled migrants
and those with money into New Zealand and “ensure that New
Zealand continues to meet its obligations as a good
international citizen.” Both parties have also both signaled
they will be giving long awaited tax cuts. Both parties have
signaled they will honour the Kyoto treaty and will seek to
fulfill New Zealand’s obligations towards that treaty. Both
parties’ health policies consist of funding millions in
various areas. All policy can be found on both the parties
websites see for yourself that what I’m saying is the
case.
They would have you believe that they are in opposition to
each other but their policies are the same, and they have been
known to join together to pass unpopular legislation in the
face of public opinion. Remember the anti-smacking bill??
Polls at the time showed 70% of New Zealanders opposed the
bill but National and Labour combined their vote to get the
bill passed. This shows that the parties will work together
when it suits their interests even when it goes against public
opinion. This is blatantly undemocratic and goes against all
that it is to be a democracy. But it was not the first time
that the government has shown a disdain for democracy. In 2006
there was a call for a commission of inquiry into 2005
election spending; the government then passed retrospective
legislation to legalize its activities. In 2003 against
widespread opposition, the government closed over 300 schools,
now in 2008 we have overcrowded schools. In 1999 there was a
Citizens Initiated Referendum on Law and Order. The question
asked was “Should
there be a reform of the justice system placing greater
emphasis on the needs of victims, providing restitution and
compensation for them and imposing minimum sentences and hard
labour for all serious violent offences?"
92% of the population answered yes. The government response
was to ignore the results saying that the question was
contradictory, confusing, subjective, presumptive and
arrogant. In 2003
the Supreme Court bill was passed, 80% polled wanted a
referendum but there never was one.
2008 in New Zealand is like living in the twilight zone, both
major political parties are one and the same. It doesn’t
matter if red or blue get in because both parties have the
same policies and the same methods of governance. National
give the impression that they’re a changed party with their
new fresh faced leader. Never mind that the policies Key gave
in his recent fresh start speech quoted earlier are the same
policies as in 2005 when Brash was the leader. If National win
the next election there will not be a change of direction. The
price of everyday living will continue to rise in all facets
of our lives; living will continue to get harder. The middle
class will continue to shrink as it feels the strain and crime
will increase as the hardest hit lower class suffers even
more. Home ownership will continue to stay out of reach of
most young New Zealanders. The globalist policies will
continue. Our human rights rhetoric will continue to ring
hollow. In short the status quo will remain as we the people
continue to sleep walk into our future. We are deluded into
thinking we have a say by one vote every three years that
makes no difference. People need to start looking for a new
political alternative if they want to vote for a real change
in direction and not a phony change of colour.
Back
to top of page >>>
11
April 08
Kyoto
is about to impact on NZ but who’s paying?
By Harvey Bell
As the
ink is drying on the FTA with China potentially increasing
export receipts by $200 to $300 million pa, there is a Bill
before a select Committee that proposes the expropriation of
at least $44 billion of value from private land owners.
The Climate Change Bill implements the Kyoto
Protocol obligations where it was agreed that the emission of
increasing amounts of green house gases (GHGs) is causing
global warming. These gases include CO2 (from
burning fossil fuels and other organic material), methane (CH4
from animal digestion & decomposition of organic materials
- 21 times more
harmful than CO2) and nitrous oxide (N2O
particularly from farming & industry - 310 times CO2).
Other less well known gases are even more harmful.
Collectively these are termed CO2e.
The remedial theory is that the global emissions of CO2e
at 1990 levels would not contribute to global warming. The aim
of Kyoto was to implement a framework to get the world back to
1990 net emission levels.
The first problem is that the world’s three greatest GHG
emitters, the US, China and India are not Kyoto signatories.
This means that those embracing Kyoto are going to
decrease their competitiveness against these three. Is this
economic suicide for NZ? Time will tell!
On the oth | 
