I sat unblinking for a while when the 2014 election result thundered in. After the revelations of dirty politics and mass surveillance lies, the NZ public rallied to John Key.
I had never considered people would do that.
I couldn’t believe that we would rally to the kind of politics Key actually represents.
With all that had been exposed, no amount of ‘yeah but’ was a justification for ticking National or not bothering to vote at all.
The result left me feeling like I didn’t know or understand my fellow citizens. Like I had come out at a KKK cross burning.
The overwhelming resonance and response to the words of the young waitress who had to endure Key repeatedly touching her has however rekindled my faith in others.
We are a very casual and laid back culture. Sometimes I think our negative egalitarianism creates an anti-intellectualism and this unsecured chip on our collective shoulder causes universal shrugs when the questions prick the agreed neoliberal parameters.
When that power imbalance is in the everyday actions of a privileged bully who makes your day uneasy by the belittling and humiliating position they put you in every week, then New Zealanders all look up.
Metadata, 5 Eyes, GCSB, Cameron Slater, dirty politics, corporate hit jobs, smearing public servants – these are all big confusing ugly ideas and concepts, but the little things like someone invading your personal space, the way we interact with each other on a one to one level, those basic respects – the little things, they turn out to be the things that truly matter to us.
Knowing that Key’s Office instigated and co-ordinated a falsified smear against the Leader of the Opposition months before the 2011 election didn’t shock NZers, knowing the PM repeatedly touched a young waitress with bullying and harassing frequency has however outraged many.
The reason I think this story has resonated with so many people is because of the tens of thousands of NZers who go to work every week and get bullied and touched by privileged arseholes, recognised the authenticity of the frustration and pain of the powerlessness in her words.
We are not so jaded that we can’t recognise the truth when we read it.
Of course there are the bloke brigade who grumble and cry out that it’s ‘just jokes’ and calling it sexual harassment only belittles those who have actually been sexually harassed. To them I say grow up. Key is the Prime Minister, he can’t just go about touching staff like it’s a game. That’s behaviour beneath the role of the Prime Minister.
This is the 21st Century and you don’t touch anyone without their permission.
The PM with his security detail is a power imbalance beyond what many of us could ever respond to in person, yet this woman had the courage to do just that.
“Metadata, 5 Eyes, GCSB, Cameron Slater, dirty politics, corporate hit jobs, smearing public servants – these are all big confusing ugly ideas and concepts, but the little things like someone invading your personal space, the way we interact with each other on a one to one level, those basic respects – the little things, they turn out to be the things that truly matter to us.”
I watched a clip of John Oliver interviewing Edward Snowden. Oliver makes an interesting point. All that spy stuff is too complicated. It is only when one describes what it means in terms of a very personal matter (Dick Pics) that people get it.
https://youtu.be/XEVlyP4_11M
John Oliver is a very clever communicator. A must see each week I wonder when he will be silenced. What astounds me is how many people don’t get his style.
Many of us sat unblinking for a while when the 2014 election result thundered in. The real question, for labour especially, is how to get the non & swinging voter next time.
I would have thought they had enough ammunition by now, I mean it’s like Keys is dancing this shit in front of them saying,” I can get away with anything”! Hang on he is!
Dave Dave Dave tisk silly wabbits you actually think election votes are counted. Non voters are people who know the futility in electing the least evil demon. The fluoride must be strong in your supply.
Slavery aint so bad if you dont know your a slave.
@ MURIBABA . You pretty much summed it up. The Corporates now own our lands and resources and we’re nothing more than tenants.
Chillingly, we few left who can see that for what it is, those few romantics, lovers, poets, artists generally, story tellers, writers, photographers etc are without a Leader. We’re Leaderless. There’s not one person to whom I’d look to for guidance and a plan of attack. No one is left. Where’s Andrew Little when his counterpart has made world headlines for his weirdy hair fiddling and Game of Thrones – Joffery-esque silly girl what twiddle twaddle she claims, so off with her head-nothing to see here dismissals ?
Is he praying no one will notice that he should fuck yankee doodle psycho jonky-stiens shit right up in public ? Not just for himself but for us all? Where’s the mans balls for Gods sake ?
Have we all in fact become castrated, neutered ? Are we all just a shambling flock whiners and moaners and even if we were starving to death for their pleasure/ profit we’d still just whine and moan and lament how tough they make life for us . As if any of them gave one small, feathered, flying, fuck . And why should they ? If we let them ? Why should they just not keep taking? That is, after all , their nature. They’re not like us remember ? I’m fucking serious ! If they saw a sick man they’d think “ Cool, when he’s dead I’ll buy his stuff and shag his missus. “
We might think “ Poor bastard. I’ll buy him medicines and ask his wife if she needs help with the kids and maybe some money. “
Seriously, they are not like us humans. Yankee doodle psycho jonky-stien and his mates are fucking evil bastards.
So, what is OUR nature ? That’s the important question here in my view. Should we sit, in our ball- less underpanties and watch on as those fuckers steal the show. Our show.
Women who chose to rent their vaginas than throw a brick through her political representatives window ? Us real men ? We would rather beat, fight and rape our women than stand up with them and fight those fuckers who put them into such appalling decision making positions at 4.00 am when the baby’s crying as the final demands pile up and the Bank Scum ring and ring .
Yankee doodle psycho jonky-stien’s a symptom of a greater disease. I think the collective WE are the real problem.
The NZ public didn’t rally to key by the way. The election was rigged . It was as fake as the figures they show us re Campbell Live . They lie to us , abuse us , deprive us of our rights , force us into otherwise untenable situations and we let them .
NB . Just a wee word re the seeming patronising comments re man/woman Missus , wife etc ? Respect ok x
Hmmmm….Id favor a good old – fashioned long term prison sentence for corruption and treason for these globalist neo liberal moles in our midst….
Something not quite as extreme as the French version….that was a bit over the top….just a quiet re taking over of our sovereign nation.
A few good men and women to spearhead a renaissance of justice, integrity , …with genuine altruistic motives.
It seems neo liberalism has reduced us all to survival mode and snuffed out the fire of philanthropic endeavor nowadays.
………………………………………………………………….
A song from the Beatles sums up so much about not only NZ but much of the world today…..
I look at the world and I notice its turning
while my guitar gently weeps
with every mistake we must surely be learning
still my guitar gently weeps
I don’t know how you were diverted
you were perverted too
I don’t know how you were inverted
no one alerted you
I look at you all see the love there that’s sleeping
while my guitar gently weeps
look at you all….
Still my guitar gently weeps
Actually Katipo, Treason had a punishment warranting death by hanging in the 80’s I’d have liked to have the Queen’s view on how she’d like to deal with this as it’s her country, but she doesn’t like getting politically involved anymore, even in her own country, so I’m sure she’d be silent on the matter.
Either way, it’s much too late.
Yet again Martyn Bradbury hits the nail on the head – observations and sentiments that will resonate with so many.
Well said.
In the movie of John Key’s political life is this the moment when his image in the mirror shatters, and the focus pulls back to his face as the first tremor of fear shows in his eyes? I think it might be.
And then The Little Boy called out in his clear, piping voice,
“But look, The Emperor’s got no clothes!”
The darkest era FJK has imposed on us all with his demented shit.
He is a very sick individual that has caused so much pain to the 90% of people in this land while he sets about selling it off cheap to his mates before he leaves us in total disarray.
Key’s legacy in history will record him as a merchant of misery for a great majority of us all and a traitor by selling our assets to offshore interests faster than you can say Fuck John Key.
Kick Kasual Key to the Kerb!
Thus the attitude of NZers has allowed the two pronged National policy of on one hand, having a ‘rock star’ PM like the boy next door thus allowing the other hand to get on with their agenda – thus making JK one of he most dangerous PM we have had. Sadly, the sheep have hardly lifted their heads.
All true words. But I think a lot of the election result was due to the influence of dotcom and co. Voters took the lesser of two evils since the opposition was seen as an unstable collection. Yes we knew that John Key govt was not perfect, even corrupt at some level, told lies and worse, but Key retained that ‘nice guy’ image which obviously swayed the voters into thinking that this nice guy wouldn’t do wrong. Would still support the honest, hard working person on $15/hr. Yeah, right….
So, perhaps what has occurred with the latest incident will finally put aside that clean, ‘nice guy’ image Key has which caried national over the line last time. It always did amaze me that this shallow, egotistical millionaire got as far as he has in NZ politics. Maybe this is the beginning of the end for the Key and his government.
Key didn’t get here , he was put here by corporations from USA.
Many people have heard the story of how he was drunk in a hotel and boasted he had been chosen to be PM of NZ.
He was trained in the smiling assassin way, he takes his orders from
corporations, as do other countries leaders.
He was put here to do just what hes done . Hes made NZ into a low wage society, brought in lots of immigrants to buy up and put up prices in Auckland so making homes unaffordable .
Made rules to suit overseas companies ,allowed the wealthy to come in and buy farms ,islands , large tracks of coastal land.Sold our assets etc
the list goes on .
He has made every effort to put us into TPP so we would be under the domination of corporations His “friend” and fellow puppet Obama is inching further into fast tracking the TPP.
Once the TPP is done,all the corporations can come into NZ and take
over and take what they don’t already own, Keys work will be done.
Key has ignored us thanks to our overseas owned MSM who let him do what he likes.
He’s ignored referendums, protests, he insists on changing our flag , the public in general dosnt want it changed , but he says majority want a change. it will cost close to $30million for designs set ups referendums(Which he can ignor) probably fudging it if he wants ,or agreeing ,dosnt matter it will still cost taxpayers $30 million anyway.
Key has a habit of reading public opinion in the way he wants,Hes fond of saying most people agree when they obviously don’t. Key said he lost in Northland not from his failings but because Winston was seasoned MP when his bloke was new,but before the event he said Winston has no show of winning in Northland.
At the last general election he lied about the opposition and rubbished them at every opportunity,used dirty politics and blamed it on a left wing smear campaign, and continues to use that excuse constantly because he found he could get away with it .
Hes hiding away in Saudi Arabia,hoping his attack dog the Herald will excuse him, and blame the ponytail girl because she is left leaning,does that mean if she voted National she would be like all the other National sheep ,excuse it ,and let Key do as he likes as they usually do.
Key has done his dash ,its to be hoped Mr Mcready is successful in his prosecution ,so that we can get rid of the the American plant.Key can go back to Hawaii and cause trouble there ,I pity the other inhabitants,they probably don’t want him either.
Do we know of any nation leaders in the world currently who are actually very cool? Who has set the gold standard? Who is there to emulate?
If you follow alternative media, Putin is pretty much one to emulate. Wont find any positives about him in Western MSM though. Only widespread lies and demonisation.
Truth is people know a breach of the law when they see it. Especially with something so basic as common assault.
And most people still have that egalitarian value system from a long time back in our cultural history – and hardly would enjoy being treated like AB has been treated.
And I think that…and if its excused or fobbed off or played down….certainly gives a sense of unease about the state of ‘ all being equal before the law ‘ and the state of democratic health in this country.
It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see its a plain case of common assault and workplace bullying.
Simple.
I was also astounded at the election result. While coming from a small business family and spending most of my working life in commerce I uncharacteristically voted Labour in the last two elections as all my experience and qualifications said that contrary to the perception and rhetoric the Key government was economically incompetent. In addition I had come to the conclusion that from a social perspective the neoliberal experiment was a total failure resulting in high levels of existential angst and disengagement throughout the western world.
Sadly the Labour party’s here in the UK and Australia have been unable to purge themselves of the neoliberal corruption and the disengaged realise this. Mr Little and the Labour front bench may be nice people but they do not inspire or convey a vision for the future. Russel Norman was providing a level of practicality that was making many doubters think but since his departure the Greens appear to be wandering back into La la land. Until they or some alternative does provide the belief and vision there will be a continuation of ethical compromise and growing inequality.
National like to think they represent small businesses better than any other party but do they really? Actually National are pretty darned useless for small businesses. Compliance costs for things like ACC have dropped, to be sure, but it was National who raised them (too much) in the first place after inventing an ACC crisis for political brownie points. Red tape has not been significantly reduced either, even though National always boasts about how they are the red tape busters. Health and safety compliance costs and red tape have increased under National, and yet we still have unsafe industries, particularly in the ports and forestry industries. National can brag about making it easier to do provisional tax and GST but arguably these were made possible by technological advances which would have happened whoever was in government.
No, National is not really small business-friendly. It is big business and corporate friendly, especially when these are huge overseas owned. Did I say “friendly’? I meant subservient. National will do anything for them – amend or create new legislation to help them (Warner Bros), give them subsidies when these people threaten blackmail (Rio Tinto) and make them pay peanuts for royalties (oil industry).
I agree that it is actually the Greens that are most small business friendly. Many of them are small business operators themselves and they offer a range of innovative ideas, particularly around waste minimisation and low-carbon production. No other party is interested in this kind of thing.
But listening to National and ACT you would believe that the Greens and Labour are out to destroy all NZ business, big and small. Pure unadulterated codswallop. Small businesses pay a lot of tax in this country and don’t have the sophisticated tax dodges and Cayman Islands bank accounts that National’s corporate friends have. Gosman and Intrinsicvalue/Nehemia Wall…..etc might believe that National is God’s gift to small businesses but they are little more than National Party trained parrots – paid to repeat what they have heard and devoid of any thinking purpose. They might one day reflect on how National has failed to live up to its promises to the thousands of small businesses in this country and the people that work for them.
I don’t think the hair-pulling will cost Key much support in the long run – his supporters will accept his “I was just horsing around” line as another example of his down-to-earth sense of humour, and the personal apology/wine gift before the incidents were publicised works in his favour. All criticism will be characterised as politically motivated.
“I don’t think the hair-pulling will cost Key much support in the long run”
If it doesn’t appear to have cost him support, then we will know for sure we are being lied to by the people who organise opinion polls. Because there is no way on Gods earth that most people would consider his actions as anything less than disgusting and inappropriate behaviour.
“Because there is no way on Gods earth that most people would consider his actions as anything less than disgusting and inappropriate behaviour.”
In that case New Zealand must not be part of “God’s earth”.
No, you don’t understand mainstream NZ which is why you lost. And calling mainstream NZers “hobbits” doesn’t help either. The fact is most New Zealanders don’t regard pulling a ponytail as either sexual harassment or something the PM should fall on his sword over.
I have stopped seeing two lovely women friends, who are National supporters, because I can’t bear to look into their eyes when, yet again – since 2005 – they’ll try to convince me that John Key is a nice man and he’ll do great things for NZ.
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