Rules for the Plebs

Living Well Above the Herd

There are few things more likely to stir up cynicism and disgust than "leaders" who moralistically lecture everyone about their duties and responsibilities, whilst they themselves live irresponsibly (by their own declared rules).  Hypocrisy always has a nasty smell. 

We are all familiar with "celebrities" who hector the world about poverty, global warming, and a host of other fashionable causes, only to live ostentatious lifestyles which loudly proclaim they believe themselves to be above their particular set of moralistic rules for the rest of humanity.  We are familiar with the carbon footprint of one Al Gore--dedicated warrior against global warming--whose extravagant lifestyle and business dealings put the lie to his pontificating.  Gore is a "do as I say, not as I do" kind of chap. 

The Greens in general are notorious for this kind of dissembling.  Greenpeace has hit the news recently over just such hypocrisy.

Greenpeace's carbon footprint in mouth

By Emily Gosden

NZ Herald

One of Greenpeace's most senior executives commutes 400km each way to work by plane, the environmental group has admitted.

Pascal Husting, the programme director at Greenpeace International, said he began "commuting between Luxembourg and Amsterdam" when he took the job in 2012 and made the round trip about twice a month.
The flights, costing 250 ($390) return, are paid by Greenpeace, even though it campaigns to cut air travel, arguing the growth in flying "is ruining our chances of stopping dangerous climate change".

One volunteer described the arrangement as "almost unbelievable". Another was going to cancel their donation after a series of disclosures about financial mismanagement in documents leaked to the Guardian newspaper.  Greenpeace was forced to apologise for a "serious error of judgment" last week, after it emerged it had lost 3.75 million of public donations when a member of staff tried unauthorised currency dealing. KLM airline said each round trip Husting made would generate 142kg of carbon dioxide emissions - a carbon footprint equivalent over two years to consuming 17 barrels of oil, according to the US Environmental Protection Agency. . . .

Richard Lancaster, who said he'd been involved with Greenpeace since the 1980s, responded: "I volunteer with Greenpeace but work in the commercial world and if I took a job in another country I'd expect to move to where the job is ... I find Pascal's travel arrangements almost unbelievable." Another supporter wrote: "So disappointed. Hardly had 2 pennies to rub together but have supported GP for 35+ years. Cancelling [direct debit]."

Greenpeace has campaigned to curb air travel and end "needless" domestic flights. In a briefing on aviation the group said: "In terms of damage to the climate, flying is 10 times worse than taking the train."

Here is another example, closer to home.  Auckland City Council has been hectoring everyone for years about the need for public transport and for the public to support it, both with ever-increasing city taxes, and with their patronage.  But now it has emerged the Council is funding a private shuttle service for its staff around town because the public transport options (buses, trains) are too slow.  Let everyone else travel the slow route.  We are far too important to be reduced to travelling on buses and trains.  Yet another case of "do as I say, not as I do".  

First it was the mayor catching the train while being followed by his ratepayer-funded chauffeur-driven car.  Now, Len Brown's staff have been riding in special shuttles zipping around Auckland - apparently because it's faster than the public transport they provide to ratepayers.  Council-controlled Auckland Transport has started a shuttle bus service for its staff, surprising public transport watchers.

The Herald has discovered a second shuttle at Auckland Council and plans for a third in the works.  With Auckland Transport costing its shuttle at $122,000 for a six-month trial, it could set the bill for moving council staff around Auckland close to $700,000 a year.

What should a good citizen do?  Our advice is to Ignore the pontificating moralisers who are always trying to tell others how they should live their lives.  Step out and enjoy the free air.  Eschew hypocrisy.  Christians especially should heed such advice.  We are to be merry warriors.  We are to laugh at the foibles and hypocrisies of the world.  We are to focus, first on self-government, then on our families, and our church congregations and fellowships, then upon being a good servant to our employers, and then on our neighbours--seeking to do good to all men, but especially to those of the household of faith.  We would do well to ignore the fashionable, ephemeral moralities of the world and laugh loudly at its attempts to make us feel guilty.  In reality, "they"--the moralisers--don't believe their own press.  More fool we if we believe it, or allow ourselves to be manipulated into complying.