National Party Voters: An electorate or a cult? Understanding the viciousness spat at Metiria

31
7

Young Nats posing with hilarious poverty posters in 2013

I think there is one poll that provides the most significant insight into the minds of National Party voters which directs so much of the narrative we see in the mainstream media.

It is this one that shows 70% of National Party voters don’t know anyone who is unemployed.

Just think about that for a moment.

In 2013, 70% of National voters didn’t know anyone who was unemployed. That is a staggering revelation.

As a small country, we have mistaken NZ as an equal country where people can move up through the social strata and freely interact with each other. I would suggest to you that statistic of 70% of National voters not knowing anyone unemployed actually shows that we are a highly segregated culture.

When the Left argue about social justice and inequality, it completely falls on deaf ears for National voters, they don’t experience the injustices of a hegemonic cultural and economic system biased against them, they see their individual success as a self-affirming truth of neoliberal mythology.

TDB Recommends NewzEngine.com

If you are rich – you did that all by yourself with hard work.

If you are poor, you choose to be poor. Fuck off and stop breeding.

This blinded reality helps explain the pure viciousness being spat at Metiria for having the courage to bravely knowledge that almost a quarter of a century ago she was forced to lie to feed her family.

For most National Party voters, they believe anyone can walk up to WINZ and just get a house. That is what Key said when asked about what the homeless should do, it sparked this image…

The reality of the brutal and savage policy meted out to beneficiaries is simply not understood by National voters.

National Party voters don’t understand that the neoliberal welfare state agencies are there to terrify, intimidate and break beneficiaries so that the interaction becomes so awful the poor chose to flee these agencies rather than seek them out.

That’s why the Salvation Army had to distance themselves from the Government in 2016 when the Government claimed MSD staff had tagged along with Salvation Army staff when talking to the homeless in their cars. The Salvation Army knew those most in need fear the Government and would refuse any help if they thought MSD staff were accompanying the Salvation Army.

That’s why the Government have been so surprised at the ‘hidden’ number of homeless using Motel emergency allowances because the homeless try to avoid the state departments. Now that every state agency all share information, they help chase debts that have been built up by the poor when those poor touch base with any agency.

National Party voters don’t understand that 60% of beneficiaries owe WINZ money because WINZ won’t tell them how a ‘relationship’ is defined, preferring to catch beneficiaries out in ‘relationships’ and declaring they’ve committed fraud.

This fraud then has penalties added to it.

Most beneficiraies in debt to the State will die while in debt.

They are treated little better than slaves by the neoliberal welfare state.

Take the actual application form to get a benefit. Most mortgages are a mere dozen pages long, the application for welfare is a staggering 73 pages long. Written in dense and complicated language, the goal is to intimidate and turn the poor away.

For those who never have to deal with Housing NZ, WINZ, CYFs, Corrections, Probations or MoD, they don’t see the cruelty and hopelessness neoliberal welfare agencies generate. That means they can feel no empathy or compassion and that explains the vitriolic hate spat at Metiria’s courage.

Most National voters have no idea how the Ruth Richardson benefit cuts were calculated. National in the 1990s worked out what the minimum nutritional amounts were and then set the benefit just below that in the cruel belief that hunger will motivate poor people to not be on the benefit.

When the poor can’t feed their kids on the amount they are given, there’s a very specific reason for that, it’s been designed to keep them hungry.

Most National voters have no idea how awful going to WINZ is. First you have to try and book a time via their constantly overloaded and under staffed 0800 number.

Then the beneficiary has to arrive on time, and if there has been a mistake, or they have been unable to get through on the 0800 number, there are security guards on the door to turn you away.

Let’s say you do mange to get inside, you are escorted under guard to an open floor office where you have to discuss the most intimate and painful experiences with zero privacy by staff who have all the bedside manner of brain hungry zombies on meth. Those staff are paid incentives to turn down beneficiaries and throw them off welfare so that their official stats keep the Government looking good.

 

This is why we have almost  missing million voters – many are beneficiaries who have been treated so badly by the system they have actually just disconnected from the political process all together.

For too long the Left have given up on trying to appeal to the beneficiaries within the missing million because the policy would need to be as radical as what the Greens have suggested to gain their attention.

An extra $180 each week for beneficiaries while throwing out the cruel bureaucratic morality is the exact type of policy that will shake the broken, hurt and wounded into believing in hope again.

The Left resigned themselves to simply chase the votes of those who do vote, and seeing as the majority of them are property owning boomers, the policy has always fallen far short of actually dealing with poverty. It’s also fairly pointless if the base of that vote, 70% of National voters, live such culturally sealed lives that they don’t even know someone unemployed.

The real fear for the leaders of the Right is that Metiria’s authenticity and genuineness will bridge that chasm of apathy and bring hundreds of thousands of beneficiaries back to the voting booth. That’s why they spit on Metiria with such venom.

All people of conscience need this election to either vote Labour or Green and to try and reach out to as many beneficiaries as possible and let them know that this election matters to them more than any other election in NZ history.

It’s time the poorest, weakest and most vulnerable amongst us had their voice listened to because 70% of National voters are incapable of hearing them.

 

 

31 COMMENTS

  1. National voters, and even many others, who do not know anyone on a benefit, and who have never been there themselves, they believe it is a world of choices and rewards for hard work.

    Here’s the reality of what benefits look like:
    https://www.workandincome.govt.nz/products/benefit-rates/benefit-rates-april-2017.html#null

    This is what is asked for in the way of rent in Auckland, for pigeonholes and a bit more, for those who can afford it:
    http://www.trademe.co.nz/property/residential-property-to-rent/auckland

    Work out what is left of the benefit, for those renting, even if they may in Auckland get $145 for a single person or a bit more for a parent with at least one child.

    The world where you can make nice capital or valuation base gains on property you own, and earn nice salaries as a professional with a tertiary degree, it needs more than tweaking, to also provide for those less fortunate, dear Natzies.

    And if you cannot come to the senses that this better be provided for through a conciliatory, peaceful government, then, I am afraid, we will need to look at more revolutionary measures.

    I am not surprised that ram raids on retail shops all over Auckland have increased massively, some seem to see no other way available, to get some extra they perceive they need.

    So Epsonites, Remmers dwellers, and other privileged, how high a fence are you planning to build around your neat home with double garages and spa or larger pool in the back???

    • Marc, I think the example you give with the last paragraph is a perfect example of the intellect of a National voter. Epsom voters are told not to think for themselves, rather vote for another party. And there is the hypocrisy of the Act party ideology(individual freedom). They are happy to be in Government on the pretense of National party voters being “told what to do”

  2. I’ve been thinking…It’s a full-time job being homeless. It’s a full-time job being poor. Those who bitch about the underprivileged not going out and finding work fail to understand the dilemma the homeless and poor find themselves in.
    I’m no investigative journalist and I wanted to meet up with those who were struggling to survive on the streets. What is written below is a combination of such meetings. Street dwellers and the poor are workers of a sort, but more importantly, they are human beings.
    You see the homeless and the poor already have a job and that job is surviving.
    You have to get in line for food, for a place to sleep and you have to be early because if you are late you can miss out on a meal or someplace warm and dry to sleep.
    You have to carry your few possessions on your back or in a supermarket trolley. You only have so much energy to expend, because without food you lose what energy you do have.
    Most of the time you are cold and sore and if the Police find you sleeping on the street they move you on. If you are lucky the police may help you find shelter and maybe a meal.
    Each time this happens you lose a little more of your self-respect.
    Sometimes you remember who you were, you were a kid who played with other kids, you had a Mother and Father and you dreamed of being a Fireman or a soldier or an engineer. Maybe you once had a wife, you were loved and you could never have imagined that you’d end up on the street.
    Yet many of us who have never been homeless, never had to beg for food are simply so highly critical and instantly play the blame game without the full realisation and understanding that but for the hand of fate we too could find ourselves homeless and poor. And many elderly are falling into that category.
    It’s so easy to blame the individual for his or her situation when maybe we should stop being so individualistic and search for the causes of the circumstances that individuals find themselves locked into.

    • This is a fantastic piece. I suggest you consider writing up a more in-depth version, perhaps with some personal stories or quotes from those living rough (with their permission and using pseudonyms as appropriate of course), and submit it as a guest blog for this site.

      The point you’ve raised is one that I’m sure many people wouldn’t even think of. That the effort involved in just getting through each day of a precarious life often leaves no time or energy for the longer term planning, research, and communication needed to get into a more stable situation. This is true of many situations one can find oneself in; being without a home, paid work, the right ID to open a bank account or enter a WINZ office. For those who haven’t been there, the film Time Out of Mind is a glimpse into what it’s like to live in precariousness.

  3. That poll you referred to is 4 years old.

    Wonder what the stats would be now – July 2017?

    Penny Bright

  4. I often wonder, what happened to the days of Unions, students , workers and unemployed taking to the streets… if to achieve anything , … to highlight and agitate on these very issues.

    A Saturday series of marches.

    We see Peters doing the touring thing barnstorming, other politicians have followed that formula here and overseas. It works.

    It could of been organized, but why the silence? Yes the TTPA was a more advertised event affecting a larger cross section perhaps, but the above surely would not be small in number also , these issues, homelessness for one , low wages and unlivable benefits, tax cuts for the rich…these things affect tens of thousands.

    I can only think apathy and fear inhibits it.

    • 100% Wild Katipo.

      Kiwi’s are a beaten lot aren’t we all.

      Years of Corporate media brainwashing us all can really work and has, as you point out very clearly.

      for over two years on this blog site I warned all opposition Parties to place a court injunction to seize half the public owned media for the run-up to the election and no-one took up my suggestion at all.

      apathy began with the opposition parties not us the voters and now they have disgraced us by scrapping together after Meteria opened the “racist” word.

  5. There were two sets of opinions published over the past couple of months.

    The first was a questionnaire on those things people consider important in the country with an election only a few short months away. It showed what you might expect. People were concerned about homelessness, child poverty, the environment, education and so on.

    The second was an unsubstantiated throw-away reference I heard in TV One’s Breakfast show. It was stated without surprise, disapproval or push-back, that 94% of voters make their choices based on their own private advantage.

    And there we can see the iceberg where it pierces the surface.

    We have, apparently, been progressively less altruistic and public-spirited, even among the country’s youth, since the high-watermark of the Boomer generation in the 60s and 70s (perhaps incited by a feeling of imminent destruction by nuclear holocaust, then feeding into apartheid, gender issues and egalitarian causes). But the process or ever increasing self-absorption, has become worse under the principles of neo-liberalism, culminating with John Key who beguiled a nation with a clowning, insouciant viciousness that gave a pass to those who might be temped to say “the poor are with us always. What’s for brunch?”

    It might be guessed that those interested in their own private benefit might extend their largess to their own immediate family, while the Left, in Pollyanna despair, argue that we should look to the example of Team New Zealand and treat the whole country as our wider family.

    Metira Turei’s declaration exercised the pens and voices of the ignorant, punitive and tribal Right. But they overlook a core fact. If you are a long term beneficiary you HAVE TO fiddle the system in some way, because, as you say Martyn, the benefits are not enough to sustain life, let alone allow those put in a situation of having to rely for a prolonged period on community financial assistance, to be true participants in New Zealand’s civic or cultural life.

    But needing financial aid is never the disease. It is always only a symptom of a unique set of restrictive circumstances. It matters not at all to the sufferer whether the causes were of their own doing or entirely outside their control. If the circumstances had been different, in every instance, the outcomes would also have been far more benign for the individual, and, probably the State.

    So, for me, although more money, as a short-term fix may be a necessary element of a solution, what is REALLY needed is a structure for dealing with the contributing disadvantages which empowers the individual and allows him or her to become at least one of the masters of their fate. First cab off the rank would be to go back to having a single Social Worker in SWD or WINZ, (or at worst a single specific nuclear team), so the individual can be sure that the person they are talking to knows their particular circumstances. For this, today’s Junior Clerks and their desensitized overseers, charged with policing the “Judgemental ATM” that our system has become, must be properly trained, and that the whole system be reorganized to empower their “clients and customers” as they as complacently termed.

    The people employed at WINZ are presumably capable of change and many may have good intentions. I prefer to believe in the old Lange adage “Good People, Bad System” rather than the converse. After all the Germans who opened their borders to refugees last year, even to their own disadvantage, were genetically identical to the connivers of the Final Solution.

    This should be at the heart of any Left policy on the subject, rather than simply relying on the “self-interest” ideas as reported, promising more money to as many people as the budget will reach.

    • We’ve been forced to become selfish, because we know how hard it is to make a decent living these days. Neo-liberal capitalsm treats people as economic units whose very existence and worth are calculated by the profit they create for their employers. It’s hard to be kind and caring, when very few (if any) show you kindness and care. So this selfishness has permeated throughout society … but selfishness isn’t inherently human (like Richard Dawkin’s Selfish Gene tried to suggest). Humans are pack animals, we survive by working for and with eachother. Surely a society really is judged by how they treat their weakest and most vulnerable members. That doesn’t say much about our society then, does it?

    • WINZ payment system makes up for lost enforcement revenue (less meter maids, less tax people, ect) in short debt slavery was legalised by John Key in 2010.

      The function of WINZ is to load up clients with debt, which is then on sold to the US FED reserve.

      This isn’t hypocrisy. It is conflict of interest now I’m I’m sure some of the legalese types can go down the list of maximum punishment under conflict of interest laws with in NZ.

      • I would be interested in some evidence that WINZ debt is being privatized (“on sold to the US FED reserve”). But it has occurred to me that WINZ debts, as well as “payday loans” and other kinds of instant finance, are a way of shifting much the real cost of social welfare from the state to beneficiaries. In other words, by keeping benefits below living costs, the NatACTS have been slowly abolishing the social welfare system by stealth, without the political consequences of openly abolishing benefits.

        The logical end-point of current policy is that instead of being granted benefits, the unemployed and the sick have to take out state-issued loans to pay their living costs, like many students do now. Except for a few lucky ones, they then live under the shadow of these loans (“credit risk”), and service these unpayable loans for the rest of their lives. Nobody should have to borrow money to live in Aotearoa because they can’t find paid employment. The whole point of having bankruptcy laws is that it’s cruel and unusual punishment to make someone live their life in unpayable debt.

        • http://www.treasury.govt.nz/government/financialstatements/yearend/jun16/10.htm

          Copy and past, as of year ending 2016: “Crown’s Borrowing Programme
          The debt programme (Table 12) during the current year raised cash from the market of $2.8 billion. The Crown continued to issue bonds ($7.9 billion face value) while Treasury Bill issuance has returned to normal levels after being increased in the previous year to fund the April 2015 bond maturity. The proceeds of the programme are used for working capital requirements.
          Overall, once the non-market cash flows (debt issued directly to agencies within the Crown) were included, net cash proceeds from borrowing were $2.5 billion.” (See above link)

          Last year the crown borrowed 2.5 billion, mainly for budget blow outs in IT.

          New Zealand was added to the USD swap facility in 2009 giving the finance minister extraordinary access to $15 bil USD under the public Finance Act. As of 2009.

  6. I watched this documentary recently. It shows American corporates and their well lobbied politicians manipulating laws and circumstances to enable them to harvest black and brown people.
    Slavery was never abolished. It just had a different hat popped on top to make it more polite and to not arouse suspicion.

    Titled simply the ‘13th’. The 13th amendment:
    ‘ 13th. ‘ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/13th_(film)

    When I see ‘ self made rich people’ who can harvest a minority group because they have a different colour skin I get the feeling that we NZ’er/Aotearoans too are being hunted by a predatory sub human species with a talent for making plans and using the money as a result of those plans to allow them to unashamedly laugh all the way to the citadels of sub human capitalist expansion, the Banks. Because most of us are struggling, and we all know how much they like to watch us struggle, we’re easily groomed by them to become an opportunity for them to exploit. And for a free show.
    ‘ 13th’ clearly shows how easy that’s done.
    I don’t know about you, but it fucks me off.

  7. All people of conscience need this election to either vote Labour or Green and to try and reach out to as many beneficiaries as possible and let them know that this election matters to them more than any other election in NZ history.

    Indeed.

    If we all took along an extra voter who has not previously voted, we could add thousands to Labour and the Greens total.

    Which is precisely what I will be doing (as I did in 2014) on 23 September.

  8. Having watched Q+A this morning and its panel of WASP Muddle class sages, i had no idea as to the extent of Kerry P’s pompous, self-righteous, judgemental disposition.
    I know I may have spoken in jest in the past about things like playing dressups in Nursy uniforms, and the means by which property developers gain advantage, and probably how some boomers park their old age parents up in shoddy facilities with minimum wage workers having to wipe their bums whilst they rarely visit.
    I feel better knowing just how correct I was in my impressions of her. There goes one truly ugly, hypocritical specimen. She doth protest honesty too loudly. She probably thinks honesty is only about telling the truth.
    Ew!

    • Tim, I heard Prendergast’s comments as well. Her vile moralising about the poor/beneficiaries was about as bad as I’ve ever seen on Q+A or The Nation. She was straight out of a Charles Dickens novel.

      #iammetiria

      #uglytorymoralists

      • Or, out of the bible, a Pharisee, who is slavishly obedient to the letter of the law, but forgets any consideration of the spirit of the law. It doesn’t matter that the system is ripping off the beneficiaries – what matters is that Metiria told a fib!!! Ohhhh!
        Please hand me my smelling salts!!

        • Indeed, Vino, indeed.

          There can be no justice where the law is absolute. I can’t recall where I heard that, but it seems apropos.

          On top of which is a local tradie who I know very, very well. He has never put a single cash-job through his books. So no gst paid. I could ‘dob’ him in – but why should I climb down into the pit with ‘The Parisees’…

  9. Hopefully the missing voters will get wind of the way Metiria is being treated because the the more she is slagged off, the more they will idenitify with her. It’s kind of the same principal that the right in the US use to get renecks voting for them – every time an educated democrat talks about the “deplorables” support for the right increases. It would gbe nice to think the same princpipal migth work here

  10. We only have world poverty because the rich don’t pay the taxes that they should.
    And that includes New Zealand.

    • When the US can elect one of the biggest tax dodgers as president and we in NZ did the same in regards to Key a bullshit money trader, what hope is there for honest people who care about people…most people won’t believe that Key donated millions of taxpayers money to the Clinton campaign. But he did and smiled while he did so…

      • Peter Wheeler;

        “…most people won’t believe that Key donated millions of taxpayers money to the Clinton campaign. But he did and smiled while he did so…”

        The article – original from NBR but has paywall;
        http://www.wakeupnz.net/13-7m-nz-taxpayer-funds-donated-shady-clinton-charity/

        In comments;
        New Zealand prime minister John Key resigns | ukgovernmentwatch December 6, 2016

        John Key Resigns After Being Caught donating $13.7m Off  NZ taxpayer’s money to shady Clinton Foundation – SPIN December 23, 201

        New Zealand Prime Minister resigns after getting caught giving $13.7 million in taxpayer money to the Clinton Foundation…. Merkel gave 5 million to the Clinton Foundation during our election! – Life Event Web January 7, 2017

        Source:
        http://www.wakeupnz.net/

  11. Daniel,
    Your suggestion that the breakdown of welfare is deliberate as shown by

    1.asset stripping (state houses and lands)

    2.Putting “change Agents ” in positions of power

    3.Treating “Clients” as having no rights

    4.Under funding systems ’till they need “private” investors who buy or provide any money making aspects of the situation

    5.Fragmenting services to bemuse and exhaust “Clients” deflecting them to private providers where they incur debt

    6.Over all policies to have taxes pay costs and private entities or providers collect profits (e.g motels!!)

    7.Finally

    The “Clients” have debts.

    Private providers have profits.

    The government pays less and less …
    so they are successful in shifting debt and responsibility for welfare

    Enrol and vote for change.

  12. Danyl Stripe,
    Your suggestion that the breakdown of welfare is deliberate as shown by

    1.asset stripping (state houses and lands)

    2.Putting “change Agents ” in positions of power

    3.Treating “Clients” as having no rights

    4.Under funding systems ’till they need “private” investors who buy or provide any money making aspects of the situation

    5.Fragmenting services to bemuse and exhaust “Clients” deflecting them to private providers where they incur debt

    6.Over all policies to have taxes pay costs and private entities or providers collect profits (e.g motels!!)

    7.Finally

    The “Clients” have debts.

    Private providers have profits.

    The government pays less and less …
    so they are successful in shifting debt and responsibility for welfare

    Enrol and vote for change.

Comments are closed.