Clive Bibby: “Money is for nothing”

That old Dire Straits favourite is a “tongue in cheek” parody of what we all know from personal experience.

However, one of our enduring problems is that a large percentage of the world’s population actually believes it has a place in society which they refer to as either “affirmative action” or welfare expenditure.

And this view has become so entrenched in today’s world that governments are going bankrupt trying to implement promises made on the stump in an effort to appease the voters.
But the problem doesn’t end there.

Look what happens when the leaders of a Third world country fail in their bid to satisfy the public’s demands for a fairer redistribution of the nations wealth based on a history of being exploited by the rich and famous.

Initially the anger turns to growing public unrest and finally, if the police force is incapable of quelling the revolt, even civil war.

Unfortunately, this end result creates a vacuum that leads to the country becoming slaves to a foreign interest that will proceed to inject enough capital into the system in exchange for total control of the natural resources.

This development is becoming common place in the modern era as China (in particular) seeks to control much of mineral resources needed in the manufacture of today’s high tech utilities such as as cell phones and robots.

But it also leads to questions being asked in First World countries like ourselves in our efforts to avoid following that same road to ruin.

In my humble opinion, there is only one answer for those of us who are still in a position to maintain control of our future destiny.

And it all hinges on an attitudinal change to the way we collectively accept our individual responsibilities to the Nation’s survival.

Simply put, we can no longer indulge the pressure groups who claim to represent the minorities who, for one reason or another, are experiencing hard times.

They say that there are certain inalienable rights that should ensure every person, irrespective of their ability to participate in the work force, is protected from poverty.

I say those rights only apply to those who, through no fault of their own, are experiencing difficulty making ends meet.

Indeed, all nations have a priority responsibility to provide sufficient humanitarian aid to their genuine dependants in order that their personal dignity remains intact.

The rest of of us only have rights to equal opportunities that allow individuals to reach their true potential. And that of course will be dependant on the Government’s ability to provide those opportunities through both our education or welfare systems.

Sadly, this is where the State has too often failed the Nation.

Our education system has been infiltrated by radical extremist idealogical lecturers who have succeeded in distorting the curriculum to the extent that the graduates are carbon copies of themselves. That can only mean the new recruits in the modern economy (if they choose to seek a job) are focused too much on satisfying their own needs or idealogical pursuits rather than the people they are being paid to serve.

While not quite to the same extent, our welfare system has become a conscious supporter of those who are knowingly ripping off the State with excuses for not working that lack any sense of credibility.

So, our hope for a less dependant future will depend on a concerted effort from all of us demanding a return to a time when it was considered a privilege to live in Godzone - not a right.
Let’s do it.

Clive Bibby is a commentator, consultant, farmer and community leader, who lives in Tolaga Bay.