29 April 2014
When it comes to corruption worldwide, New Zealand has led the way for many years in worldwide ratings as the least-corrupt nation on the planet. Even arch-liberals like the Scandinavian and North European nations rate as more corrupt than New Zealand. Our officials, our police, and above all our politicians, have been mostly beyond reproach for ever.
Isn't it funny to look back at the furore created by Helen Clark's lying to the police saying she painted a painting which she didn't actually paint.
In the entire history of New Zealand as a sovereign nation, that was the peak point of a politician lying - and all in the name of charity.
Until this National Government was elected.
Key has lied and been found guilty of corrupt practice several times in his political career, with the most-glaring example of his deception surrounding the appointment of the head of GCSB, first claiming he "had met him once or twice" describing Ian Fletcher when he offered Fletcher the job, only to have to eat those words when it transpired that Key and Fletcher were lifelong friends who had played together since school. Records of some, but not all, of his previous lies and corrupt practices are included in the politics tab at the top of the page.
Then comes April 2014.
First up, Judith Collins. If you need to know what she's been up to, go read, but in any form of democracy where people cared, she would be out on her ear.
However, the most sickening piece of the puzzle was presented this week when it turns out that the employed legal advocate for the "legal high" industry is none other than Peter Dunne's son. The pigeons come home to roost.
I had long been scratching my head as to why the government was allowing sale of psychoactive substances without any research whatsoever, while being so vehemently anti-cannabis, when it all clicked into place with that piece of news. Dunne had already been convicted of his own corrupt practice and was stood down for several months as a result, but the facts around the legal high legislation are Al Capone-like in their corruption. Having his son as the main lawyer for the group should automatically have resulted in Dunne being removed, it is pure conflict of interest, which is banned in the legal world for obvious reasons. A judge may not preside in a case involving his son.
The reasons for nepotism or favouritism, call it what you will, are well known. Market research companies are involved in consumer research on services and products whose market is worth trillions globally, and they will always exclude people whose families work in industries involved in the research. The science is solid: people cannot remain impartial, no matter how impartial they are in all other aspects of their life, of which judges again form the perfect example.
Even the blinkered lovers of Key and his endless list of photo-opportunities must admit that this is a step too far.
These legal drugs which are being marketed nationally are a disgrace. Even with crystal methamphetamine and heroin, the effects are known, but these drugs could be as bad or worse. It is important to note that I believe all drugs should be legalised, so I'm not some wowser - this is an important principle of all law since Magna Carta.
Only an enormous public outcry has finally resulted in the legislation being changed, and this is legislation that I do not believe would exist in any form were it not for Key's overwhelming desire for coalition partners, just in case a miracle happens and he cannot govern alone after the next election.
The greatest irony is that he won't need them.
Meanwhile, the feeble outfit known as the opposition remain virtually invisible
Imagine what a David Lange, Richard Prebble, Helen Clark or Michael Cullen would be doing and saying right now. Then you can lament the fact that the current face of Labour is a joke.
27 April 2014
Poverty: whose fault this time?
Again I am drawn into the poverty debate, and it's another example of exactly what I've been saying, with the family self-admitting they are causing their own situation.
There has been a bit of publicity about the Houia family in the past couple of weeks - a Christchurch family that has been thrown out of their nice rented house and are being forced to live in a tent while they wait for Housing NZ to find somewhere for them to go.
Oh, the poor children!
Yet the entire situation is caused by the parents being selfish shitheads.
That is taken from
this write-up on Stuff.
Cigarettes and petrol for TWO cars?
I am bloody furious that these losers are gaining any sympathy at all. They have screwed over the landlord for five grand - Houia admits they "broke a lot of stuff" and they were undeniably two grand behind in rent, so I am definitely believing the landlord's claim.
I've cleaned homes after renters have smeared shit from end to end to piss off a landlord and it's no joke, I assure you.
The Houias are forcing their kids to live in a tent, not society.
My only wish is that the children could be removed and let live with
someone who is able to give them a better life than the selfish shitheads
they have for parents are giving them.
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You'd think that with Shane Jones - their most popular MP - leaving the fold, Labour would be trying very hard not to appear to be complete dicks.
You'd be wrong then, as the idiotic comments Darien Fenton makes about The Lego Movie referring to "Middle Zealand" show.
Meanwhile, John Key laughs all the way to the polling booths.
Copyright © Alan Charman