Democracy down the slippery slope 
By Mandy Hager
I think it would be fair to say that if most Kiwis were asked about the state of our nation’s democracy, they would claim we are one of the most democratic and uncorrupted countries in the world. Perhaps this was once true… but I fear it’s time to reassess.
Yes, we have free and safe elections, but just who is really running the country behind closed doors? Revelations over the last few weeks make it blatantly clear that our elected politicians (from our Prime Minister down – and, sadly, not even exclusive of our new Governor General) have a far different agenda to the one they were supposedly voted in to support. And it’s clear now they are not above corruption to see it through.
Despite our belief that a government should protect the freedom, livelihoods and well-being of our country’s citizens, behind closed doors secret deals are being struck that benefit no-one other than a small elite of businessmen and corporations — while at the same time stealthily eroding the common person’s rights and welfare.
We don’t have to look far for an increasing number of examples:
- The Sky City/Pokie scam, disgraceful on so many levels;
- the propping up of overseas banks and finance companies;
- the appalling prospect of our state assets being lost;
- the cynical and short-sighted Crafar farm deal, with its underlying issues about sovereignty and the environment;
- the backroom games with Warner Brothers, undermining local contractors and unions;
- the grim determination to open up our environment to mining and oil exploration, despite peak oil and climate change;
- the hugely dangerous and secretive Trans-Pacific Partnership, which will make a mockery of any attempts to control pharmaceutical, tobacco and alcohol companies, and undermine our local producers;
- the Food Bill, which criminalises any community efforts to freely share seeds and produce;
- the push towards Super-cities, as a way to both undermine local democratic representation and lead to corporatisation of our essential services;
- the fiscally irresponsible and environmentally disastrous drive to pour billions into unnecessary roads to appease the trucking and business lobbies;
- the undermining of any steps towards real and significant efforts to reduce or mitigate climate change;
- the steady removal of funding from the wonderful grass-roots organisations and NGOs who are the backbone of community support and welfare in this country.
These examples, and others, are not based on an agenda of public good – rather they are solely for the aggrandisement and wealth accumulation of a very powerful few.
The decision to stop TVNZ7 is another of these canaries down the democratic mineshaft. Other than Maori TV (which I have grave fears will be next on the hit list), this is the only free to air channel that actually provides unbiased, non-commercial intelligent discussion about what is going on in our country. Little wonder then that National wants to close it down! A population fed a diet of junk-food-equivalent TV in the form of reality TV and cop shows (the prevalence of which makes me wonder if they’re not designed to keep the populace in a state of heightened fear) will become ever weaker and more compliant – the perfect constituency for a government who know they may only have another two years to loot us before they could be kicked out. And they’re going for it – boy, oh boy, are they going for it.
We need more informed public discussion about issues – and the excellent fare on TVNZ7 has shown us that we can produce it. Please sign the petition at http://issues.co.nz/savetvnz7/Sign+The+Petition We need to retain this vehicle for free, democratic debate – and then our next priority should be to get the content shown on TVOne as well!
Nice article. Unfortunately these things among others are just the thin end of the wedge. When the rest comes the people won’t like it but they will accept and continue to obey, just as they always have.
do yourself a favour citizens, destroy your television set!
Mandy, if ‘we’ don’t maintain the business as usual system we currently have then the Green Party sponsored and promoted savings scam – Kiwisaver will fall flat on it’s arse, so for all the Green Party voters, especially the 25 year old Russell Norman used as an example of how Kiwisaver could run for the next 40 years, National are doing just fine, if ‘we’ can’t maintain growth then Kiwisaver is dead.
And the Labour/Green government we had for 9 years over saw the destruction of much of New Zealands water ways etc, the Manawatu river comes to mind, via the mad rush to convert land to milk production.
I know National are a bunch of Psychopaths, but lets face – it they all are, and as about 90% of the general public are brain dead zombies, we get what we deserve, and that is democracy.
Great Article Mandy, I’m sure there is a bigger list of policies that we don’t even know about yet! This video is not very well produced and hard to listen to but it is worth it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t7BF7TBKRTc&feature=share
I take it you have watched ‘The Smiling Assassin’ series?
I think that NZ is being groomed as a haven for the rich and their assets, away from the potential threat of revolution in Europe/US! Easier to control the ‘young’ population here and easy to control (that’s what they think) with very extended police surveillance powers.
Well put Mandy, we ARE part of the global trend weather we want to believe it or not, and i would suggest from a glabal perspective you have just scratched the surface.
Interesting times !
I totally agree 100% with what you have written and you have nailed it in a nut shell…so glad to know that others are aware of what is ‘Really Going On” unfortunately the general population believe the propaganda that is being fed to us and have not scratched the surface to learn the real motives etc. Even though this is so horrific I feel a little better knowing I am not the only one that is aware of the true picture.