I told you the Real Estate Pimps were buying this election – the conga line of Right Wing privatisations and crony Capitalism is building

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1. True enough MB. But remember, the workings of neoliberal capitalism and the neoliberal state are so engrained in peoples’ minds that it all seems natural and inevitable – just the way things are, like the seasons. Whereas a few Maori being listened to about managing water is perceived as an outrageous upending of the natural order.
   It’s the old idea that ‘mental conceptions’ are in large part a product of normalising what just goes on in daily life. Fans of Gramsci like to show how cool they are by using the term ‘hegemony’ to describe it. Many people do not realise that we live inside a radically right-wing status quo.

   1. AB, imo, we are at the beginning of a new humanity “cycle”, not unlike post WW1/2. A few years into it now. Humanity is a bit “scattered”, so we spend some time now and “bring them back” to us all. While also allowing the scum to rise to the surface. The latter are doing that all on their own, btw. JMHO

2. Real estate mafia and other uber wealthy businesses are clearly in it to buy the election. So far so good by the looks.

3. I have been meandering, wandering in my mind – don’t know if this is much use but its mine, and its different so I’ll throw it in.

   Definitely AB the status quo, that’s the only way to go we think. Yet we are creatures of infinite duplicity if we set out minds to it. But most of us not, and just watch it at work in films or tv as if it is very distant from everyday. Once we included examining our character and looking at past history and what measures were used, we would all be wiser. We used to think we were so good in NZ/AO and that would always be the way. So Roger’s mob swept us off our feet.

   This is from a book that a young Irish fellow Patrick McGrath recently died, wrote about coming here years ago and making his life, and starting some new ways that advanced us.
   I was broken hearted when I was forced to depart from my native land many decades ago but I am content now to reside in a much-admired democracy, such as New Zealand, which fully integrates the indigenous Maori and also takes care of its poorest and feeblest citizens. [He left Ireland for ordinary economic reasons.] NZ also welcomes the most impoverished and the victims of abusive regimes. Ethnic people from all over Polynesia are also welcomed here. I remain grateful to this country that welcomed me and used my abilities.
   I have met a USA citizen who have also thought highly at one time, but found us adopting the ways they shifted here to escape. Another aspect of our character that I have heard from two Europeans is our unwillingness to be direct, to pass an honest opinion even when asked for it. Shying away is our way, though willingness to run down ‘lower orders’ is common.

   We don’t stretch our minds in a number of directions; no time as we are striving for material gain, or seeking pleasure or achievement of personal goals.. I’ve been reading some popular books from past century, and ones about the effects of the industrial revolution from a woman’s and ordinary person’s POV, and the class society’ they are interesting about education. The upper class used it as a status symbol, had libraries with fine series of bound books, possibly unread, their sons went to Oxford as a matter of course. The lower orders were discouraged from learning to write or basic reading.

   A different education is needed urgently to enable us to rise above tribulation and setbacks; perhaps the Socratic questioning and answering is needed. We may only have 20 years to learn how to think and examine so ordinary people, without specialist uni training can determine worthy measures. Such a lot of what we should know has been sidelined or replaced by something new, good but lacking some aspect.

   These regular election decisions are a farce in this complex world, a distraction that we treat seriously. we apply ourselves in a fashion , similar to a mouse seriously running round its wheel, and then return our serious consideration to other, peripheral things; holidays, sport, a car or scooter with lithium batteries. I suggest a People’s Council made up of those who have studied certain relevant university papers, perhaps held at summer schools, and gained a balance of Social Science, Human history, Practical skills and art, literature, also a study of the search for human soul, understand economics as showing human tendencies that affect business and resource usage and the importance of money as a sort of oil for us peeps.

   So many aspects of us are being ignored and we sink back to where the rascally mine owner employing 8 year olds and pregnant women down mines where they crawl along seams in darkness for many hours. Or little boys of 6 are sent up chimneys to clean those hard to reach places, sometimes with a fire burning beneath them! Perhaps we should seek to go back to Druidism, trees seem essential, mixed with a religion of respect, firmness and kindness, which is not always the description of the dogma. I fear we are losing our humanity just when there is so much prating about freedom and liberalism, etc.

   1. This is such a good essay on the state of us, losing our humanity & all; thank you.

4. Listening to Bishop carry on like a complete dick over capital gains tax is just vomit inducing. Somehow the rest of the world doesn’t see spreading the tax load over different revenue streams as evil. That’s the biggest sell out from Ardern but these wankers at National seem proud of it. I think the majority of the country probably supports CGT but I guess the donor money didn’t come from the majority

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