Key underestimates NZers apathy to changing the flag

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Select Committee rejects calls for one-off flag referendum
The Select Committee considering the process for the referendum on the flag has rejected calls for voters to be asked if they want to change the flag up front rather than waiting until a second referendum.

Normally Key can pick NZers apathy perfectly. With the help of his polling blogger David Farrar, Key knows exactly what the low horizons of most NZers are.

He knows they won’t care about State Housing privatisation, asset sales, affordable housing and welfare reforms as long as the Gold card, property bubble, pensions and middle class working for family tax credits keep rolling along, but he has underestimated the passionless people when it comes to changing the flag.

Blowing $26 million on two pointless referendums provides political smokescreen, but by requiring active critical participation, Key has underestimated NZers apathy.

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See how many ‘don’t give a fucks’ you can count in this Flag design.

Most voted National last election because it was too hard thinking about the issues Dirty Politics and Mass Surveillance raised, we like our change to be small minded, petty and usually aimed towards a sector of the community who can’t fight back. Change a Milo ingredient or end a lolly range – you know, something big and universal, then all hell cuts lose.

Changing the flag requires far too much thinking, even having to think about it as a deceptive political move takes up too much thinking.

When Seven Sharp is the benchmark, the public debate is infantile and easy to swallow.

TDB Recommends NewzEngine.com

 

37 COMMENTS

    • It’s an exercise misplaced patriotism, while New Zealand under Key is indulging in Nationalism.

      George F. Will’s statement [“Ukraine: A crisis that matters,” op-ed, Feb. 20] that “nationalism is a necessary, although insufficient impulse sustaining liberty” needs clarifying. Nationalism must be distinguished from patriotism. True Nationalism

      Patriotism is fundamental to liberty because pride in one’s nation-state, and a willingness to defend it if necessary, is the basis of national independence. Patriotism is the courage of national self-determination.

      By contrast, nationalism is patriotism transformed into a sentiment of superiority and aggression toward other countries [from behind the walls of Camp Taji]. Nationalism is the poisonous idea that one’s country is superior to somebody else’s. Nationalism is intrinsically a cause of war and imperialism.

      All hail John Key purveyor of a new flag.

  1. Yes Martyn that said it all.

    Changing the flag is a waste of money and
    unnecessary.

    How come FJK doesn’t recall he promised to listen to us?

    Oh wait silly me, he has amnesia doesn’t he as he has said “I cant remember” that many times since he promised even other things liken in 2009 when the sale of Crafer Farms came up as the largest land sale to a Chinese takeover consortium and he said “I don’t want to see us all as tenants in our own land” and here now he is breaking that promise by welcoming the sale of our state houses to overseas interests.

    So we as kiwis are growing very weary of Key’s lies to the point of perhaps now believing that he is in fact really suffering from amnesia or just a common liar and a traitor.

    • I notice that every sentence uttered by FJK as you call him is predicated with …”The reality is…” or “The truth is…” or “Most people would agree that…”

      Certainly the predicators of someone with a God complex, a glorious leader complex, or someone believing he is speaking on behalf of all New Zealand, but more likely speaking on behalf of his black ops team, the pollsters and all self-centred Natvoters in NZ.

  2. Yes, I’ve seen a couple of flag referendum adverts on the television and it all looks and feels so sad

  3. The lack of national investment in the flag debate is a curiously passive-aggressive plebiscite on the current administration. Most of us no longer want to chase after the squirrel of distraction. Contrastingly, the lack of traction being experienced by the opposition is more a result of their lack of both confidence and assertiveness than a continuing enthusiasm for our contemporary political masters.

    It is my belief that the vapidity of the government is starting to dawn on many in the media and to seep into the public consciousness.

    All that is needed now is the Left’s version of Brash’s Orewa speech to galvanize the popular mood. (Obviously I am only talking about the reset-effect of that speech, not its content).The rapid demise of the economy will further grease the slope.

    The question may be asked: “who among the opposition is in a position to give such a speech?” One would hope Andrew Little is able to give it, but I’m not sure he is comfortable in the philosophical milieu needed to underpin a reorientation of the country towards a collaborative and interventionist model. Has he got a philosophical bone in his body? Where is your David Lange when you need him? Can anyone other than the leader give the speech?

    Someone needs to make a bid for the soul of the country to push us over the tipping point or the moment may yet be lost. Political considerations may yet intervene to maintain the status quo.

    • The milk powder scare was another “galvanising” terror-threat, like white powder scares around election time and now, surprisingly ‘fake bomb package’ scares in the Tron.

      Now we are being ‘electively’ galvanised into voting for a new flag. Perhaps we can have a new flag made out of the same material that the emperor’s new clothes were made of. Same outcome; made of cloth to hide bullshit and jellybeans….

      ….and while we’re on “bullshit and jellybeans” Rio Tinto should go back where it belongs, WITHOUT a $30million ,s>bribe, incentive and let it be Nationalised by the New Zealand public to earn overseas assets and income.

  4. What worries me is that the apathy will result in a new flag that no-one likes. And John Key will get his legacy. In a way apathy plays into his plans – it’s easy to push it through if no-one is interested.

    • except people will keep using the old flag…and those friends, rogues and wannabes on jonkey’s flag change committee will look pretty stupid

      surveys show young NZers emphatically dont want a flag change , nor does the RSA….and nor do most New Zealnders

      The existing flag is our heritage …Treat of Waitangi…

      Jonkey is a newcomer to NZ and stands for overseas corporate bankster rip offs

      • In truth Key isn’t even loyal to them – he’s a rag in the wind – part of the reason he lies with such facility.

      • @ CHOOKY – well said.

        I’m picking if a new flag is chosen it will be down to FJK’s choice.

        Then wait for a law to be passed behind closed doors in the dark of night, making it a criminal offence to fly our present NZ flag, punishable by a prison sentence!

        Fascism is thriving in NZ at present!

        • well maybe the courts will be flooded with NZers flying the old flag …which stood for RSA courage….the Treaty of Waitangi our founding document signed by the Old Maori Chiefs ( Tiphene O’Regan is NOT descended from one of them.)…the old flag that stood for dignity and care and decency and honesty and fair dealing ( not the rogues and trash and wannabes on the flag change committee)

          …NZ they way we want it….NZ the way it used to be where we looked after New Zealanders…and New Zealand was for new Zealanders …not jonkey’s Goldman Sachs mates

          ….I wonder how much those on jonkey’s committee are being paid out of the $26 million?

          …..money which should be going to Hone Harawira’s and Meteria Turei’s school lunch programme for hungry kids….or for the homeless while jonkey sells off state housing to his mates

    • For the first referendum write across the ballot, “Leave the flag alone and stop wasting our taxes.”
      It will make your vote invalid and invalid votes have to be counted!
      The first ballot is only to select the design to run against our flag anyway so it doesn’t matter!

      Mind you, this referendum will be unique. t will be the only referendum the government has ever taken any notice of!

      • Yes, I plan to gleefully deface my voting ballot. I’m also tempted to write, “Key is a lying liar who lies all the time.”

      • Nailed it, Gadsfly.

        The first ballot will be a useful tool for the public to make their feelings known.

        The second ballot must not be spoiled and casting a “No change” vote will be like a poke in Key’s eye. It will be akin to the public having a de facto “no confidence” vote in this government and Key’s machinations.

        Just as the 1998 Superannuation Referendum was more of an opportunity for voters to express their dis-satisfaction with the National-NZ First Coalition Government at the time.

      • I too have been thinking about “defacing” the referendum … maybe something like ” When this government takes seriously the referendum on asset sales, I will take seriously your flag referendum”.

        I would really like to have had a serious discussion on our flag, but not under FJK. The whole process, the so called panel of “experts” is worse than a joke its outright condescension …. a flagwash, to hide some of the worst “reforms’ we have seen since …. well the last time they were in government. No actually Ruthenasia looks decent against this lot.

        As a binding referendum, I fear what we will end up with …

      • @ Gadflys Dad – Yep, we in this household will be defacing our flag referendum ballot papers! Been our intention all along.

    • Alegacy is something that one could hope to look back on with pride. If the new flag is something all Kiwis strongly dislike it isnt a legacy at all. It becomes a life long embarrassment.

  5. Oh come now! There’s bound to be a hundred fervent quislings* to gush, admire, and Agree on some Grand design to droop from flagpoles. Bound to be.

    This is NZ, after all.

    *A snide reference to the Declaration of Arbroath.
    ” For as long as but a hundred of us remain alive, never will we on any conditions be brought under English rule. It is not for glory, nor riches, nor honours that we are fighting, but for freedom — for that alone, which no honest man gives up but with life itself.”

    Lasted well for 695 years…

    • Like I said above, just make the flag out of the same material as the emperor’s new clothes, then it can be everything to everyone.

      It can be the RSA flag for returned servicemen, it can be the flag of apathy for the FB generation, it can be multicolured rainbow for the Williamson brigade and it can have JK’s face on it, with “Big Brother is Watching you” beneath his face.

      See a problem? Sorted.

  6. If they couldn’t even be bothered putting a designer on their panel, why would they be bothered listening to anyone but their dinner party buddies – opp, I mean expert panel.

  7. While we were all DELIBERATELY DISTRACTED by Colin Craig’s CLAYTONS Sexual harassment case – a smokescreen – they sneak the Harmful Digital Communications bill through with NO OPPOSITION at ALL from the public.

    The FLAG is the Excuse – the DISTRACTION – needed to move us from a CONSTITUTIONAL MONARCHY to a CORPORATE Dictatorship – …….

    heard anything about the SECRET Constitution changes already in place?

    New Flag, new Currency, NWO.

    Claytons for those not around in the 1980’s was the Drink you had when you were not having a Drink……a gimic, a fiction, a deception…..

  8. Can’t wait to NOT vote on the alternative design and then just vote on keeping the old flag.

  9. [If your remark is meant to be a snide racist dig at Maori, I suggest you take it somewhere else, Jack. If I’ve mis-interpreted your comment, feel free to explain yourself more clearly. Please also use a valid email address. – ScarletMod]

  10. If people are that anti changing the flag, why don’t they turn up and make their views known?

    • If you are “exploring” the issue, it is the pro-changers who need to turn up to the meetings. Most of the country is happy with the current flag, so don’t want to turn up to meetings. Simple really.

  11. Key wants the flag change, so our bill of rights change, which makes the waitangi treaty powerless and the flood gates can open on the TPPA – without any interference from Maori.
    Definatley time for both Maori and Pakeha to come together to oust this government for the betterment of all New Zealanders.

  12. Considering that, with the rise of globalisation and trans-national corporates able to sue sovereign governments in secret Investor-State Dispute tribunals – I’m surprised Key wants a flag at all.

    If we are one global marketplace and borders no longer exist, then for proponants of the free market, flags become redundant… Nationhood has been consigned to history. Only the Consumer and Shareholder matter, in this Brave New Commercial World.

    • Well said Frank ! !
      Between the wasted money on new cars for the elite politicians and this flag debockle how can we afford to really help the starving and homeless and vets in need.

      I mean a new flag and some new (un-needed) politicians cars are so much more important. Nationalism and Patriotism is on its way out anyway as per the elitist plan to dominate and control most governments.

    • I agree Frank. Neo-liberalism is decidedly anti-nation as it represents a group that may threaten the corporate hegemonies.

      It is that that makes certain in my mind what this flag circus is about.

      DISTRACTION

  13. NZ’s don’t care because it doesn’t personally affect or enrich them. And for many the whole feeling of national pride died long ago trying to eek out a living in our low wage paradise.

  14. Yes Xray, The widening wage gap with Australia for instance!

    Do you recall when the media was constantly goading Labour in 2005-2008 over the low wage economy and our widening gap with Australia?

    So now we are under six years of National our wage gap is widening ever more but notice the lack of chirping from the MSM today?

    Funny that?

  15. Maori are now the only real force who can stop the TPPA. Because they will also be over-represented in groups who will be disadvantaged AGAIN, by colonialism (but this time by corporate colonialism), it is an important time for all Maori to really assert their sovereignty and block ALL TPPA deals…

    …whether it’s current coalition with Natz, or in a new left bloc, let’s see Maori stand for economic and trading sovereignty.

    Otherwise, just keep exporting logs to China, to promote “Made in China” Kauri taonga…

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