GUEST BLOG: Bryan Bruce – We need an escape plan
The more I watch the Labour coalition government ignore the recommendations of the working groups it has set up (at considerable cost ) the more it’s clear to me that the Ardern/Roberston government is going to make the inmates of our neoliberal prison a little more comfortable with warmer cells to rent (for example) , but they are not going to open the prison gates.
For all the talk of a “Well-being Budget “ without a fundamental change in economic policy shifting away from self -imposed austerity and trickle -down theory (to which National and ACT also subscribe) ordinary working New Zealanders are not going to be able to get ahead by working hard.
Why? Because the very wealthy are guarding the gates to our economy and our government is afraid of them.
So they tax food, keep wages low and house prices high to make sure the lower classes remain in their place .
It was not always so.
Before Labour introduced neoliberal economics in 1984 ( the ideology that benefits the wealthy few at the expense of the many) capitalism served the State. Not the other way around as it is today.
So what’s the escape plan?
My answer? Make the 10% of us who own 60% of the wealth of our country pay their fair share. There are many ways to do this – not just a Capital Gains Tax
It’s not a plan the Labour coalition shows any sign of adopting – but hey, there’s an election next year . Time to start digging some escape tunnels
Bryan Bruce is one of NZs most respected documentary makers and public intellectuals who has tirelessly exposed NZs neoliberal economic settings as the main cause for social issues.
Too true Bruce.
My protest vote is still up for grabs wherever it strategically will make a difference.
lets see what our options are closer to the time, at the moment the actual left is unrepresented, Labour seems to model themselves on the US Democrats, part of the neoliberal apparatus.
If there is “ no option left” then my vote will be a protest to the other team.
I’m considering ACT because despite being the party of the rich, they do believe in personal freedom. Labour and the greens while doing nothing on inequality are also going down the rabbit hole of increasing police powers and limiting free speech.
Keepcalmcarryon: “I’m considering ACT because despite being the party of the rich, they do believe in personal freedom.”
Yeah, you have a point there: that’s an option which I could consider. I’m infuriated at the current government’s lack of courage; what’s the point of accumulating political capital if they won’t use some of it to take bold action? Like many others, I have a longish list of things which need governmental attention, and either aren’t getting it, or aren’t getting enough of it.
“Labour and the greens while doing nothing on inequality are also going down the rabbit hole of increasing police powers and limiting free speech.”
Yes. Another thing that infuriates me about this government. Hands off our freedoms, say I!
It is just possible that I could sort-of tolerate the crimping of our freedoms and the increasing of surveillance, were it the case that the government had taken pointful action on inequality.
But as things stand, it looks as if we’re getting the worst of both worlds.
Seymour’s gonna think that all his birthdays have come at once, if a whole bunch of disillusioned lefty votes pitchfork him back into parliament….
Traditionally the political parties that get actually get votes from the people at the bottom of the heap (ie. the people who don’t vote now) are the ones that were already helping people before they got into politics. The MPs of these same parties then spent most of their parliamentary salary on helping people after they got into parliament.
Does this mean we need to form a coalition of groups like the Salvation Army, CPAG, Beneficiery advocate groups?
I don’t know the answer, I’m too removed from all this and strugling with my own stuff.
The only other option is to help empower the school kids who are striking, it may well be the quicker route because Jacinda’s electoral star-dust just got a boost from the wedding announcement and under normal circumstances I would expect Labour to last the full nine years.
I can’t find a plan B for the election other than not to vote.
What do we disillusioned labour voters do? The Greens I guess as they support the CGT?
Orbital Panda: “What do we disillusioned labour voters do?”
Not the Greens, for my money; that party’s infested with the woke Left and determined to inflict upon us restrictions to our freedom of speech.
Keepcalmcarryon has commented above that they’re considering ACT: at least they value personal freedoms. In my view, that’s a strategy worth thinking about.
Any disillusion comes from the mess National left behind for Labour to clean up.
What we do is we keep going and we have faith in Aunty Jacinda because she’s doing her best with the tools she has in front of her.
It’s not going to happen overnight.
What we need is the ‘Robin Hood” effect implemented in some form.
Too dangerous for any government to consider?
Political suicide?
The idea of taking from the rich and giving to the poor seems completely foreign to any government I’ve seen in operation over the past half century.
Progressive taxation would be another way of bringing some equality to bear.
As would any system that stops the myriad (legal) Ponzi schemes that exist in society.
Train to Nowhere: “… the mess National left behind…”
In fairness to the current government, the mess is of very long standing,though the Nats didn’t help. The Lange government is initially responsible for putting in place the economic policies and settings which have in the long run led to the wrecking of the society we once had. Fixing it will also take a long time. If it can be fixed. I wonder whether the housing market can ever be fixed.
“What we do is we keep going and we have faith in Aunty Jacinda because she’s doing her best with the tools she has in front of her.”
I’d like be able to agree with you. But the past year’s platitudes and lack of substantive action have left me completely disillusioned. The two things this government could have done, which would have indicated that they’re sincere about bringing change: raise benefit levels to the point where they ought to be: an income on which it’s possible to live with dignity; and impose CGT. They’ve done neither.
Why on earth should we give them another term? If we’re just going to get more of the same, we might as well have the bloody Nats back!
We could use a government that would install the FTT, Tax on wealth and property, jobs for all, decrim cannabis and unleash the Kraken on the banks. Be bold.