Hypocritical Free Speech Champion and Stuff columnist, Damien Grant, has penned the most ridiculous defence of ACTs Regulatory Standards Bill, it has to be read to be believed…
Damien Grant: ‘Regulatory Standards Bill’s a missed chance at real reform’
…if explaining is losing, this column is the biggest loser. Before we decimate what he is paying off as an argument, can we start with this bullshit?
Readers will have different subjective views on the wisdom of this policy, but shouldn’t our MPs consider both the costs of a law as well as the advantages? We banned the sale of pseudoephedrine because someone was worried that kids were getting high after criminal gangs were buying the stuff in bulk and manufacturing methamphetamine.
Eventually the state (or more accurately, Act) realised that criminal gangs worked out a substitution and the only effect was the general public was denied the only effective medication for hay fever and nasal congestion.
The ‘cost’ of allowing pseudoephedrine back on the shelves is that it has started a homebake industry in Northland…
Northland’s meth crisis: ‘There’s no magic wand for any of this’
Wastewater testing has shown methamphetamine use tripled in Northland last year, which now has the unenviable title of meth capital of New Zealand.
…the most interesting feature of the Northland meth boom is that it’s being driven by home-bake meth, not imported meth from South American Cartels or Triad contacts.
TDB argued that ACTs weird desire to bring back the meth precursor would immediately lead to robberies, and it has…
Pseudoephedrine medicines the only thing taken in Motueka pharmacy break-in
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- Unichem Motueka was burgled on Saturday, and the co-owner and pharmacist says only pseudoephedrine-containing cold and flu medicines were taken.
- Pseudoephedrine is used to relieve a blocked or stuffy nose.
- Recent law changes mean these medicines can be purchased by the public from a pharmacist without prescription.
…these thefts would immediately fuel a new home-bake industry…
Officials back planned return of pseudoephedrine sales but suggest meth production increase
Officials have advised Associate Health Minister David Seymour, who leads the Misuse of Drugs (Pseudoephedrine) Amendment Bill, that the move comes with risks including a potential increase in domestic meth production, a higher likelihood pharmacies would be ram-raided and the potential for improper use.
…this is exactly what has happened in Northland.
Allowing Pseudoephedrine to be sold back over the counter generated a new home-bake industry as smaller players locked out of global supply chains moved into the market.
ACT always claim they support small business, but supporting the local meth trade? I did not have that on my bingo card.
This isn’t social policy, it’s the plot to Breaking Bad!
According to Damien though, the Regulatory Standards Bill would have sorted all this out because it would have cost assessed making pseudoephedrine legal DESPITE the true cost it’s caused in Northland.
Unfortunately, bad laws have negative impacts; where the cost imposed by the legislation outweigh the proposed benefit. Think of the law banning cannabis. What are we trying to achieve; and once we define that, what are the costs of prohibition?
The Regulatory Standards Bill will create a panel of very vested corporate interests who will vet all law to ensure a narrow Libertarian interpretation of property rights above human rights is the only lens to view law through.
It will give this panel $20million each year to straitjacket law so that the rich and wealthy ensure their property rights are always put above the rights of the community.
It will be like the Taxpayers’ Union, but on meth.
The Regulatory Standards Bill will allow all the worst polluters and richest arseholes to gain $20million each year to calcify their stranglehold on advising the Government to de-regulate for their interests, and when anyone challenges those interests, there will be an immediate well funded campaign launched by the Panel/Taxpayers’ Union to ensure they get what they want by empowering some astroturf group to masquerade as community voices.
The Regulatory Standards Bill Panel will become the most influential power on all law because they have $20m annually to manipulate the agenda.
Why would you stupid fucking Kiwis allow a Trojan Horse Bill that empowers the rich and corporations?
This government has some outstanding ministers who wish to leave office having made a permanent difference. Achieving this requires more than changing laws. It involves changing the cultural outlook of the bureaucracy and the electorate and doing so in the face of a hostile academic and intellectual class often supported by the fourth estate.
Sadly. This cannot be achieved with memes alone.
…poor Damien.
Funnily enough he doesn’t mention ACTs hate campaign against critics of this Bill, note ACT aren’t challenging their critics arguments, they are leading a hate campaign on social media to demean them and dehumanise them.
It’s hilarious watching a forlorn Damien sob at the state of debate when the Free Speech Champion Party he supports is promoting an enemies list of critics.
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More home cooks should lower the cost of meth for the local loyal readership.
The “outstanding ministers” Duncan talks about will be remembered for making a permanent difference; they will have destroyed the economy, health, and education systems, just for a start. No safe, reliable inter-island ferry service is another consequence. There might not be anyone left to turn off the lights, although there might not be a reliable electric supply also if they happen to get another chance in government as well.
Damo is another nut job clinging onto failed neolib story .
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