Nothing sums up the denial of our homelessness crisis quite like the panel on The Nation last weekend. Political Editor of the terribly elitist Spinoff blog Toby Manhire and some Rich Prick from the Rich Prick association sat next to Sue Bradford debating homelessness.
Rich Prick said rich prick crap, while Toby looked frightened that Sue might rub some poverty off on his laid back hipster wear. Neither of them had any real understanding of the desperation Sue was articulating because people who read the Spinoff and watch the Nation live in the perfectly sealed bubble world of property speculators doing pretty okay thanks.
Anyone who spends time denigrating a Poverty Campaigner like Bryan Bruce for purely stylistic reasons is the perfect example of stylistic millennial nihilism run amok.
This level of denial is perfectly completed by the Government.
The Government’s despicable lack of empathy for those suffering from their housing and welfare reforms to date has been reflected in their so called solutions.
A $5000 bribe to move to bloody Ashburton, pop up housing in 10 months time and more state hoisting privatisation are sick jokes, not answers.
To boot, the Minister of Social Housing smears anyone who is actually working at the coal face of her homeless crisis. She smeared the Salvation Army by pretending that these Ministry Workers who never existed knocked on the cars of the homeless and were told that they liked living in cars.
That turned out to be a total lie. Ministry Staff never visited, yet the false answers given back spun the neoliberal myth that the poor were choosing to be poor.
Bennett then has her Office leak smears about the very Marae who are doing her job. The Government is clearly more keen to manage the media story than the actual crisis of our Homelessness problem, because it is a crisis.
These are the families who had welfare cut, who were kicked out of state housing and who can’t afford the ever increasing rent for cold houses.
This is a crisis that has been built by the National Party – but the blame game can be debated next year at the 2017 election, what is urgent is that we help these homeless NZers NOW! Send in the Army, this is a bloody civil emergency. The Army has tents, kitchens and mobile medical units – we need to send them in now to help stem this civil emergency.
While the homeless freeze, Paula Bennett and this Government fiddles.
Sorry, Martyn. The Army is far too preoccupied with extending and expanding its ‘2-yr-only’ activity in propping up the cot-case Iraqi Govt.
They are, of course , doing this to protect those ungrateful homeless people from terrible terrorism… The homeless should rejoice by singing that Fred Dagg song about how lucky we are…
MARTYN ANYTHING “EASILY FIXED” IS NOT IN NACTIONAL’S INTEREST OR GENEOLOGY, THEY LIKE FORCING HARD TIMES ONTO US ALL.
I see that. Key promised in October there would be no extension to the troops remaining in Iraq for whatever the real reason they are there but he lied. Who would have thought?
Add that lie to the 250 we have already on the keyster.
Actually according to Frank McCasky its in excess of 435 i think was the latest figure.
Not surprised with that number Geoff, I am sure Key lies every time he opens his mouth.
What about a tent city in Albert Park, accommodating the homeless, and also in Victoria Park, with a field kitchen cooking some warm soups and other stuff. I can already visualise it. But as a commentator just wrote, the army seems to be too busy with preparing the next soldiers to head off to Iraq, as our ‘Grandiose Leader Maximus Gloriosus’ has just announced to our loyal public following.
What about a tent city on SS Commandant Joyce’s 10 acre lifestyle block on the rolling hills’ north of Auckland?
See him riding his horse.
Economic Development Minister Steven Joyce rides a horse on his family’s lifestyle block north of Auckland
http://www.stuff.co.nz/travel/kiwi-traveller/75711665/Government-minister-Steven-Joyces-summer-of-horse-rides-and-vege-gardens
@ CLEANGREEN .. if a tent city isn’t possible, then there is obviously plenty of room for a “vehicle” city on the Joyce property. I’m sure he will welcome Auckland’s homeless with open arms to share in his abundant wealthy lifestyle!
Now I wonder if Steven “Lord Haw Haw” Joyce donates the plentiful produce of his land to help feed the poor? Joke of course!
Not too hard to imagine Joyce on his horse, whip in hand to keep his “staff” up to scratch, tending his land!
Ha ha Bang on MARY_
Bennett was simply awful on Checkpoint tonight. She was horribly unconvincing and frankly embarrassing.
Spinning clichés like “pulling levers” and the “community pulling together with the government pitching in”, and “I’m so proud”…. of fuck knows what. It is policy not on the hoof but just utter lies. There is no policy to help, National simply don’t give a shit, it’s a rerun of a rerun of Hosking diatribe.
She even had the barefaced audacity to say its simply a matter of popping down to WINZ and everything will be everything. What fucking ever Paula! This the same WINZ that Paula has ensured is there to block anyone in need and the same who she gleeful tells National voters how much they are cracking down on these bludgers.
I realise this woman is the face of this miserable shitty political party’s collective brain stormed social policy, or lack thereof, but she is a disgrace nevertheless.
Nationals foundation go-to policy of pretending to do something to get this off the front page will not work, it can never work. You simply can’t bullshit away homeless people, chronically sick homeless kids no less, you just can’t. This monumental abandonment of New Zealanders is not going away National and the tax cut bribe will only make it worse!
+1000 Xray
The whole situation is a train wreck that’s about to get hit by a Mack Truck.
With 70,000 more immigrants about to arrive in the next 12 months; yes folks , that’s nearly 200 every day, the housing market will continue it’s one way stratospheric direction right through till the next election.
This means more homeless people and more , much more overcrowded houses.
There is no plan. Just a reckless short sighted ideology.
And if the overcrowded houses aren’t bad enough imagine what the road congestion is going to be like.
I’m picking
National will try and lose the next election , let Lab , Greens N.Z First take the hit as they try and sort out the cluster f**k they’ve left behind, blame them for the fallout , and then try to retake power in the following election .
You heard it here first.
If anyone has any sense after the next election National will be in disarray for decades.
We Hope.
The homelessness does hit the weakest at the bottom first, and it shows. Pasifika, Maori, on very low incomes, or on benefits, with often insufficient education, health issues and slightly larger than average families, they struggle even in “good” times.
Now they are the first to feel the brunt.
But others will be hit too, it will show gradually, prepare for things to get much, much worse, and this is the stuff that may decide the next election.
Grant, the current economic mess and looming GFC 2 are both reasons that the next election could be a good one to lose.
As I said in another comment, if we happen to have a non-neoliberal govt. in power when the shite hits the fan, you can be guaranteed who’ll get the blame.
No way National are so full of it at the moment they think no one can stop them wrecking our country and leaving a mess they don’t care they are all richer for being in power for 3 elections and by the time NZers realise everything will be sold/gone and so will they
The trolls have told Key and Brownlee about this “Army” post Martyn. You want to send the army in to fix the housing problem, like they did in Christchurch after the quake.
Well Newsflash!! The army can’t be used because they are in Camp Taji for a few more years.
…and what was Brownlee’s justification for it?
“To prevent what happened in Orlando from happening here in New Zealand!”
I’m an elderly lady Martyn, but I handslapped my forehead and said “FFS!” so loudly, that my pussycat hissed.
Can you believe this government? Really Brownlee? Orlando – Otago? Really Key? ISIS in Invercargill? Really? I know they begin with the same letter but Mutt and Jeff blaming 2 more years of saber-rattling in Afghanistan to prevent an ISIL attack in NZ!
Muttering FFS as I sip my pre-bedtime cup of cocoa.
You rock Winnie!!!!!
A hissing pussycat…watch out
What I think’s fucked is that desperate homeless people here are not allowed to build shanties like homeless people in less civilised countries…. Oh wait.? That means we’re less civilised than less civilised other countries which must mean we’re one of the most uncivilised countries in the world, all things considered.
So, a person can’t knock up shelter for him/her and their kids ? On unused public land? Using skills and materials not taught and/or are illegal to use.
Who said? And why did they say it? Is it to protect Bankers and insurers against having their financial supremacy eroded? If I was homeless and had kids I’d be building a hut and a long drop with a tank and some plumbing. I’d be plugging into a power pole and I’d be digging a vegetable garden. But that’s illegal right? But who says ? Who’s that C ! Who says I can’t ?? Who dares tell me what I can or can’t fucking do IN MY OWN FUCKING COUNTRY ! Who’s that fucker ! ?
Bring him/her out ! Let them speak as the rope’s chucked over the branch!
Crude I admit. But really? Someone must point these things out.
You poor bastards ? You’re being fucked without the kissing. Time to fight back. FIGHT ! For Gods sake. Stand up for yourselves. Make fat bennett hide and pray she’s not found. Doesn’t the thought of that make you thrill ? If so? Then, that’s the spirit.
( Weird I know, but I do get the feeling that big bulbous bennett’s reading this. If so, then I’d say; ” You brought this upon yourself. ” )
Oh well, not like it hasn’t happened before, is it?
“Who dares tell me what I can or can’t fucking do IN MY OWN FUCKING COUNTRY !”
Building inspectors from the protectorate of property values and pure proper living.
(But you KNEW that…)
And skip those cold, drafty long drops. Protect the groundwater at least. Try – http://humanurehandbook.com/ or, if that’s too squirmy –
http://www.zingbokashi.co.nz/about-ecoflo-composting-toilets/
Personally – I’d prefer to give Madame Bennett a humongous student debt, no parliamentary privileges or pension, and a pitiful part time job. Plus banned from holding any public position at all for ten years. She may have repented by then – or been forced to part from her beloved so she can grovel for assistance.
I’m feeling mellow tonight…
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