There was a period when I experienced wokeness on a grand scale; even more remarkably it occurred amongst people proclaiming themselves (falsely) to be “politically incorrect” and “free thinkers” including having a magazine and radio show. Sure babe, whatever. Until the ‘real thing’ comes along and says it like it is; then all hell breaks loose. Marxist behaviour reared its head on a grand scale: all to my great amusement.
Even funnier was the ballyhooing about capitalism: safe ground you’d have thought. Except no one seemed to have ever engaged in a profit-making undertaking, or had three bucks in their pocket. As for “thinking” – rather than just mindlessly spouting dogma in cult-like fashion – well that reached breathtaking proportions: once again in a highly amusing way.
There was all the Mexican-Wave rapture about the concept of self made business tycoons; all well and good. I then proffered the observation rich businessmen will die one day and leave their fortunes to their children, who in turn wouldn’t need to work. Oh boy. Ohhhhhhhhhhh boy. Did that get the Marxism flowing (their natural state – ‘capitalism’ tub thumping, and ‘freedom’ being all an act); horror was quickly expressed at such a notion. Labour Party 101 stuff. I am not making this up folks; it “genuinely” didn’t compute with any of these (ahem) intellectuals. I shall refrain from suggesting these are the dumbest New Zealanders who’ve ever lived, but God knows what they think happens to rich people’s fortunes when they die.
Anyhoo, fast forward to last Tuesday and – against my better judgement – I finally ran out of excuses, headed to the Capital (ugh!), and enjoyed morning tea with a certain newbie Tory MP who’s been seeking propinquity for weeks. Over a nice cup of tea and muffins (the cheap bastard only gave me two!) I asked “What shall we talk about?” and he raised the topic of the money proposed for Corrections: new prisons.
I suggested it should be part of a package; not only new prisons but a new addition to the school curriculum for children – a new class teaching about prison life: how to behave, what will be expected of them; how to make a shiv; how to con the parole board bunnies; how to reoffend the day you’re released without getting caught. Well, he did ask.
Needless to say, this was greeted with stunned, speechless horror. I broke the silence by asking such questions as “So what are you building new prisons for if not to fill them up?” The spluttering continued. As did my clarifying questioning, “So will grandmothers, or wealthy farmers, or bank clerks be heading to prison?” The lack of logic is what always intrigues me with other people: 810 new prison beds but not associating that with actual criminals to fill them, then getting shocked and uncomfortable when someone asks about it. Bizarre.
Capitalist is a simple country boy from the deep south who seeks nothing less than the destruction of socialism and collectivism in New Zealand. This article was first published HERE
Even funnier was the ballyhooing about capitalism: safe ground you’d have thought. Except no one seemed to have ever engaged in a profit-making undertaking, or had three bucks in their pocket. As for “thinking” – rather than just mindlessly spouting dogma in cult-like fashion – well that reached breathtaking proportions: once again in a highly amusing way.
There was all the Mexican-Wave rapture about the concept of self made business tycoons; all well and good. I then proffered the observation rich businessmen will die one day and leave their fortunes to their children, who in turn wouldn’t need to work. Oh boy. Ohhhhhhhhhhh boy. Did that get the Marxism flowing (their natural state – ‘capitalism’ tub thumping, and ‘freedom’ being all an act); horror was quickly expressed at such a notion. Labour Party 101 stuff. I am not making this up folks; it “genuinely” didn’t compute with any of these (ahem) intellectuals. I shall refrain from suggesting these are the dumbest New Zealanders who’ve ever lived, but God knows what they think happens to rich people’s fortunes when they die.
Anyhoo, fast forward to last Tuesday and – against my better judgement – I finally ran out of excuses, headed to the Capital (ugh!), and enjoyed morning tea with a certain newbie Tory MP who’s been seeking propinquity for weeks. Over a nice cup of tea and muffins (the cheap bastard only gave me two!) I asked “What shall we talk about?” and he raised the topic of the money proposed for Corrections: new prisons.
I suggested it should be part of a package; not only new prisons but a new addition to the school curriculum for children – a new class teaching about prison life: how to behave, what will be expected of them; how to make a shiv; how to con the parole board bunnies; how to reoffend the day you’re released without getting caught. Well, he did ask.
Needless to say, this was greeted with stunned, speechless horror. I broke the silence by asking such questions as “So what are you building new prisons for if not to fill them up?” The spluttering continued. As did my clarifying questioning, “So will grandmothers, or wealthy farmers, or bank clerks be heading to prison?” The lack of logic is what always intrigues me with other people: 810 new prison beds but not associating that with actual criminals to fill them, then getting shocked and uncomfortable when someone asks about it. Bizarre.
Capitalist is a simple country boy from the deep south who seeks nothing less than the destruction of socialism and collectivism in New Zealand. This article was first published HERE
2 comments:
This conversation kinda reminds me of events that unfolded in the 80s under Langes tenure.
There had been a spate of murders of Asian students during gang related home invasions, looking for the bags of cash they were apparently somehow bringing into the country, culminating in an elderly couple being murdered in a case of mistaken identity. Naturally NZers went batshit crazy & there were calls demanding the reintroduction of the death sentence. Lange brushed off his Public Defenders hat & came up with a brilliant idea which was...
Sure, we in govt have no problem with instituting a referendum on this topic, but...we will be selecting the executioner from the electoral roll the same as we select for jury duty. Needless to say, the referendum failed miserably...
"Everybody wants to go to heaven, but nobody wants to die".
I found the recent publicity about the hours in their cell disturbing. One would think the prospect of a monstrous deterent. Personally I would prefer old style hard labour breaking stones, or an American style chain gang prefereble to idleness. Maybe years unemployed and in a state unit with all maintenace provided supplies the necesary conditoning.
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