Allowing only medical cannabis reform is merely tinkering at the edges and is an insult to the debate on Cannabis. America has strictly regulated markets now and they are incredibly successful, this should be the aim of a progressive NZ, not a cautious frightened foot dragging half step.
Admitting that the burqa is a bit scary is fine and human. Using that fear to justify a harsh and authoritarian crack down on what others wear is not fine (but is sadly pretty human).
We loved Barack because of his incredible oratory, because he voiced the vision of what we all believed we wanted America to be.
Labour must do more than not offend people if they want to be the Government. They have to offer hope and vision, and while affordable housing, education/health blah blahs and some tough on crime crap is all fine and dandy, it does nothing to inspire those living with the grim realities of debt and everyday life.
This is the legacy of 30 years of neoliberalism, this is the mythology that success is an individual pursuit that has nothing to do with the hegemonic structures of power within a society and being poor is a personal choice. This idealogical virus has infected user pays society and warped the values.
Labour and the Greens won’t touch the punitive neoliberal welfare state, but MANA and the Maori Party certainly can.
It’s the funny thing about culture in New Zealand isn’t it? At home white Kiwis seem to loath anything to do with the Maori culture because it forces us to consider the past abuses of the State which most of us have benefitted from, yet the bloody second they are drunk on their OE in Europe, they throw off the t-shirt and bust out their best Haka moves.
You all know I despise Jordan Williams and his flake David Farrar backed Taxpayer’s Union with a passion.
This is real life, not social media. You can’t just block someone or mute them, you have an obligation to interact civilly and if we as Pakeha want a day where we can celebrate being NZers, then that requires Maori to be with us enjoying the same fruits of the societal harvest.
NZ is way more formally racist than we liberals in social media bubbles acknowledge, which is why focussing on micro aggression casual racism comes across as pointless alienating self-aggrandisement.