I have spent the last day fuming as I reflected on Luxon's dismissal of the largest demonstration I can recall in Wellington as just "Te Pati Māori" led. Who cares who organized it? Good on them. They marched with the hopes and aspirations of all decent NZ'ers empowering them. The goodwill and humor and the mix of races present said it a…
I have spent the last day fuming as I reflected on Luxon's dismissal of the largest demonstration I can recall in Wellington as just "Te Pati Māori" led. Who cares who organized it? Good on them. They marched with the hopes and aspirations of all decent NZ'ers empowering them. The goodwill and humor and the mix of races present said it all in this wonderful peaceful event as they marched on behalf of us all.
If the Glenn McConnell analysis linked to above is anything to go by, Te Pati Māori will have the last laugh if they manage to gather up to 20 seats next time we go to an election.
I agree! I think about the [imperfect] progress over my own lifetime from say Dame Whina Cooper's land march, Bastion Point, the sesqui-centenary, the various landmark settlements, the unqualified success of Māori agency in Kōhanga and Kura Kaupapa, acknowledgement and acceptance of Te Reo in everyday life in Aotearoa-New Zealand. We as a nation were finally starting to come to terms with what the Treaty means, our history and the centrality of its promises in our national life. Then the temperature cooled as substantive change seemed imminent: the still-born attempts at providing agency in health and the attempt to provide a voice at the table with local body seats and co-governance arrangements. The holders of power: landowners and big budget holders and those in the extractive industries realised the population as a whole has moved.
And now this bill.
The really dangerous thing is that Seymour knows he won't get it passed. But that is not the point. The point is to deliberately and provocatively move the conversation - to get it talked about. To embolden those (and their dollars) who still harbour a monochrome and mono-cultural view of our country. It will fail but after six months of hearings, the damage will be done. Then, as deputy PM and going into an election, Seymour will use this as a battering ram of a wedge issue, building strength from it as the more basic, crude racism comes out into the open again. The ultimate prize of course is to cannibalise the more extreme parts of the National base. Some of the doyens of the National party can start to see this now. The big question I wonder about is whether Luxon is just a complete political naif, thought he could use Seymour but has instead been royally used, or is actually really a closet ACT type.
ACT's bill is in ultimate service of a libertarian ideology that sees us all as atomised consumers rather than citizens in a shared polity and society. ACT wants to replace our obligations to each other and our manifold rights as human beings in a complex society with the sole unfettered equal right to shop.
Not own important stuff you understand. Owning stuff, owning wealth, and owning the political decision making will be for those who are bankrolling them.
This is why I - as a mid-50's pakeha - found the hikoi to Parliament this week inspiring and such a beneficial example. Because it represents not just the power of collective action but the power of the very idea of a community that shares and defends values of more than the dollar value of a thing.
Yes, but we must keep on repeating: It' is all Luxon's fault. He never needed to have the Act fascists in his coalition, if he even needed to have a coalition. They were never going to go with Labour. It all showed his political naivety and stupidity. How long is the country going to have to suffer the fool.
I remain triggered. I’m sorry, no one on earth triggers me like the dynamic duo of Luxon the ‘BS’ artist and no boats, no ideas, Willis. You’re not alone Garry.
Luxon and Willis can only be aliens who got the jobs they inhabit because somebody's father knew somebody's father. They have a leering slow motion nightmare quality. My expectations of reality must have been too narrow.
I have spent the last day fuming as I reflected on Luxon's dismissal of the largest demonstration I can recall in Wellington as just "Te Pati Māori" led. Who cares who organized it? Good on them. They marched with the hopes and aspirations of all decent NZ'ers empowering them. The goodwill and humor and the mix of races present said it all in this wonderful peaceful event as they marched on behalf of us all.
If the Glenn McConnell analysis linked to above is anything to go by, Te Pati Māori will have the last laugh if they manage to gather up to 20 seats next time we go to an election.
There is, of course, the danger that Te Paati Māori and Act will each get 20 seats in the next election, at the expense of the centrists.
I agree! I think about the [imperfect] progress over my own lifetime from say Dame Whina Cooper's land march, Bastion Point, the sesqui-centenary, the various landmark settlements, the unqualified success of Māori agency in Kōhanga and Kura Kaupapa, acknowledgement and acceptance of Te Reo in everyday life in Aotearoa-New Zealand. We as a nation were finally starting to come to terms with what the Treaty means, our history and the centrality of its promises in our national life. Then the temperature cooled as substantive change seemed imminent: the still-born attempts at providing agency in health and the attempt to provide a voice at the table with local body seats and co-governance arrangements. The holders of power: landowners and big budget holders and those in the extractive industries realised the population as a whole has moved.
And now this bill.
The really dangerous thing is that Seymour knows he won't get it passed. But that is not the point. The point is to deliberately and provocatively move the conversation - to get it talked about. To embolden those (and their dollars) who still harbour a monochrome and mono-cultural view of our country. It will fail but after six months of hearings, the damage will be done. Then, as deputy PM and going into an election, Seymour will use this as a battering ram of a wedge issue, building strength from it as the more basic, crude racism comes out into the open again. The ultimate prize of course is to cannibalise the more extreme parts of the National base. Some of the doyens of the National party can start to see this now. The big question I wonder about is whether Luxon is just a complete political naif, thought he could use Seymour but has instead been royally used, or is actually really a closet ACT type.
ACT's bill is in ultimate service of a libertarian ideology that sees us all as atomised consumers rather than citizens in a shared polity and society. ACT wants to replace our obligations to each other and our manifold rights as human beings in a complex society with the sole unfettered equal right to shop.
Not own important stuff you understand. Owning stuff, owning wealth, and owning the political decision making will be for those who are bankrolling them.
This is why I - as a mid-50's pakeha - found the hikoi to Parliament this week inspiring and such a beneficial example. Because it represents not just the power of collective action but the power of the very idea of a community that shares and defends values of more than the dollar value of a thing.
Agree with every word.
I think Luxon is a political pygmy. He just doesn't have what it takes to be a political leader.
Yes, but we must keep on repeating: It' is all Luxon's fault. He never needed to have the Act fascists in his coalition, if he even needed to have a coalition. They were never going to go with Labour. It all showed his political naivety and stupidity. How long is the country going to have to suffer the fool.
I remain triggered. I’m sorry, no one on earth triggers me like the dynamic duo of Luxon the ‘BS’ artist and no boats, no ideas, Willis. You’re not alone Garry.
Luxon and Willis can only be aliens who got the jobs they inhabit because somebody's father knew somebody's father. They have a leering slow motion nightmare quality. My expectations of reality must have been too narrow.