It’s disturbing but not surprising to see so many progressive people who support liberal democracy calling for strong arm police action to clear the grounds of parliament and adjoining streets of the anti-vax protests.
Their frustration at what they see as an incoherent, violent rabble is overriding their common sense and their respect for fellow New Zealanders.
I’m not usually the first person to approve police action during protests, having seen too much of the strong-arm tactics so many times in the past, but I think the police are handling the Wellington protests in a sensible, largely respectful manner.
This is how it should be if we support living in a democracy. Heaven forbid THE STATE clear parliament grounds with a scorched earth approach as some suggest. Our civil rights would be the biggest casualty in such a case, long into the future.
The protests themselves are incoherent, lacking clear goals and having no strategy. Like the Occupy movement which was in a similar situation, they will inevitably fail to change any government policy.
Understanding how we got here is important. Most of those protesting are working class New Zealanders who have experienced 40 years going backwards economically and socially under Labour and National governments. They lack the traditional working-class leadership provided in the past by strong unions and even, in the distant past, the Labour Party. They have developed, quite rightly, a deep distrust of politicians and are therefore susceptible to the masses of misinformation in what one commentator calls the “rivers of hate” on social media.
We should leave the police to handle the protest as they are doing and instead of venting pathetically at the lack of a strong STATE response, put that energy into demanding our politicians force Facebook and other social media outlets to change to a subscriber model which serves the user rather than the advertiser driven model whose algorithms push people to the extremes and down never-ending rabbit holes.
Absolutely correct – good on Minto. The rabid and truly disgusting comments on some of these blogs is really appalling, 20 years ago know one would have talked about their fellow human beings in this way.
I rarely agree with John Minto as we look at the World through different glasses but he is to be applauded for standing up for the police in their handling of this current situation at Parliament . It would have been easy for him to go along with those that are knocking them. He is proving he is a man of principle.
“The protests themselves are incoherent, lacking clear goals and having no strategy.”
They are a mixture of antivaxxers, anti mandate and anti vaccine passport. I support the latter two because they are in direct breach of our human rights as enshrined in the Human Rights Act.
These people have lost their jobs, their careers and their right to enter premises thanks to this authoritarian government.
Is this not something worth protesting about?
Governments are there to make decisions for the greater good . The party that governs is elected by a majority of the people so it will always be that only some are happy with any decision made . In the case of the vaccine 92 percent endorse the decision to make it available. Those that feel they do not want it do not have to get it BUT as in all choices there are consequences which were clearly spelt out .
It is clear these protestors are being controlled by far right groups off shore who thrive on discontent and constantly are looking for another leader like Trump who was putty in their hands
Small correction. 92% of people have been vaccinated due to choice or governmnet pressure(mandates).
Dont confuse the 2.
Keep in mind the Mandates were a political ploy to get 90% of the population vaccinated.
So why are they still being promoted/enforced with 92% of population vaxxed?
Some simple research will tell you that mandates as a public health measure do not work.
This from a top Israeli Health Guy. Remember they are on 4th or 5th? jab
https://swprs.org/professor-ehud-qimron-ministry-of-health-its-time-to-admit-failure/
Come on you seem to have left a few issues out.
Anti mandate;
3 Waters
He Puapua
Anti 1080
So give there are numerous antis there what is their goal, who is their spokesperson – tricky given the range of issues.
I have to agree:
‘The protests themselves are incoherent, lacking clear goals and having no strategy.’
I am happy for them to be there, no matter how long it takes, it shouldn’t matter at all.
Let them be.
It’s an abusive, angry mob seeking to overthrow the government in emulation of America’s Jan 6 riots.
They tolerate fascist MAGA insurrectionists, defecate in public, threaten the news media, harass bystanders, and sprayed swastikas on a war memorial.
Deluded they may be, and Facebook etc are a part of it, but as NZers they also have *responsibility* for their actions. They are not innocent victims
I think you have them confused with BLM.
For once I felt for the police, yesterday there was so much hatred and stupidity emanating from this mob it could be felt through the screens of so many viewers. This was not a protest but an upwelling of hate–any cause would do. This hate has been whipped up by the anti-1080 crow and built on by the anti 5G, anti-anything that they can foment (and often make a profit from) organisers.
The problem with this protest is if/when it becomes a covid superspreader event,
how many of them will take MOH advice and self-isolate?
None would be my guess.
If governments worked for their people, we wouldn’t have this problem let alone any social media problem.
The buck stops with government, and unfortunately for the people, we don’t have enough bucks to throw at government, unlike the 1% who do. Enough of the political charade. We are living in a world, and have done so for nearly two years now, that nobody wants except for the ruling class who have made trillions out of this crisis, and who stand to instigate a vaccine-passport type, control grid that will make American slavery look like a walk in the park, at the same time.
Time to wake the fcuk up. Choose freedom, as horrid as that term has become to many these days, or choose slavery. These truly are the only two options we have – unless we stop complying! No violence, no unlawfulness, no disrespect needed, just through away the masks and all the other rubbish that our governmental puppets have never provided actual scientific evidence for. People are not going to drop like flies as a result, no, non-compliance will shatter the illusion we have all been subjected to. An illusion years in the making, created by the elite, in order to control those useless things called we, the people! Oh, and make a few trillion on the side, but that’s icing on their cake.
Huh, wonder if this rant will make it through.
Agree totally John. People are there because of government failure recent and past. Real people hurting for a lot of different reasons. Police are doing a good job. People get aggressive because they are hurting and behavioural tests going way back show that people will fight amongst themselves (identifying others as the face of the problem – like mask wearers for some) as a result. I think largely the protestors havent been that bad and I think the police havent been too bad either. Sad that they are not allowed to continue their protest on public land (If not at parliament then where?) and although I dont agree with some of the causes they represent, I applaud them for standing up for what they believe in. It is and should remain their democratic right.
“They are us”, Ardern 2020.
“You are us or else”, Ardern 2021.
“They are not us”, Ardern 2022.
I don’t recall her saying any of those things. She said “They are us” about the Islamic community after the shootings prior to 2020, but that is about as far as it goes.
I don’t recall her saying any of those things. She said “They are us” about the Islamic community after the shootings prior to 2020, but that is about as far as it goes.
I have been surprised by the vitriol thrown at the protesters from those on the left, many of whom have been on countless demonstrations and experienced police brutality. I find it deeply ironic. Especially comments from some such as but we were right and these people are idiots……
How many times do I recall seeing the general public being interviewed on the Tele about protests such as the Occupy movement or the (?) TTPA, making the same comments about those of us who protested.
Ostricizing and marginalising these people willhave very serious consequences indeed. BUT I am also deeply concerned that this will become a superspreader event and this will impact nurses and Drs, who find themselves having to offer treatment to these people. That is bloody unfair for them. And I am concerned about the local businesses song Molesworth street, who are already struggling due to covid. And the local supermarket workers who are likely to have to interact with the protesters when they shop for food.
I don’t know what the best way forward is for resolving this situation. Police appear to be doing a good job, especially when comparing it to their tactics during the Spring box tour.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/covid-19-omicron-outbreak-jack-tame-only-a-fool-wouldnt-take-some-of-those-messages-seriously/2DOPOIFUNE5PDSNKPVQOY7LA5Y/
For fucks sake, “….vitriol thrown at the protesters from those on the left…” Are you not aware that it isn’t a left/right divide but the vaxed and non-vaxed issue with a wide variance of opinion in between. Some consider it is a gang of fuckwits protesting, others appreciate the fact that some protesters are acting out of principle and there are others who hold views that are somewhere in between.
At least the dirty politics team hasn’t been able to convert John into a nasty, greedy, right wing, hate Jacinda nutter.
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