The Inevitable Fruits of Government-Worship

Naked Ugly Truth

Baal is cracking and tottering before our eyes.  But devotion to government as the saviour and redeemer of the world remains as strong as ever.  In fact, the more Baal crumbles, the more frenetic and desperate the people become.

Every day in New Zealand we are assailed by prayers, pleas, and cries to the Gummint to "do something" to solve the crises d'jour.  On the other hand, we see at every hand, indications that statism is a bankrupt and failing religion.

Here is today's smorgasbord.

Firstly, the cyclical price of dairy milk continues to--well--cycle.  Currently it is going downwards.  The opposition pollies are crying and lamenting and cutting themselves.  The government has to "do something".  Apparently, since the State is our deity, it ought to start acting like one.  [NZ Herald]

Secondly, a growing number of children are coming to school, ready to kill. 

Principals said 5-year olds damaged by abusive families were arriving at school angry at the world, threatening to kill, unable to learn, and unsafe around other children without a minder.  The association's president Pat Newman said under-resourcing was now a health and safety issue for many schools. [RadioNZ  reporting upon a recent survey conducted in Northland schools.]

Government intervention is called for.  These time-bomb kids are (apparently) easily identifiable.  Baal must step in and intervene in these kids lives from the outset.  Each of these violent crime-bent children needs a minder.  The government must provide money to ensure it is so.

We do not doubt the reality of the peril being described.  It's just that the solution (more Baalist intervention) is actually doubling down on what has destroyed our society in the first place.  New Zealand is one of the most secular countries in the West.  Since the late nineteenth century it has celebrated that secularism, which necessarily has meant a deep and abiding devotion to the State as the providential superintendent and deliverer of all things good.   One of the fruits--a hundred years or so later--is five year olds turning up at school primed and ready to kill.

Thirdly, teenagers are running amok on our roads and in our cities.

Three teenagers in a stolen car led police in a dangerous chase the wrong way on the country's busiest motorway, and then posted a video of their exploits on Facebook.  Several police cars, a dog unit and the Eagle helicopter were needed to stop the youths, as they drove into oncoming traffic on Auckland's southern motorway late last night.

Police are furious at the teens, saying their behaviour was extremely dangerous and they clearly have no regard for the safety of others.  "We are becoming increasingly frustrated at a lack of accountability on behalf of the parents and caregivers of these young people," said inspector Bruce O'Brien, the Area Prevention Manager for the Manurewa police.  "We've seen seen an increase in this sort of behaviour in the past nine to 12 months. They are committing serious offending and placing the community, themselves and police at risk"  "It's only a matter of time until someone gets killed." . . .

He said teens were meeting up online and then stealing multiple vehicles, travelling in convoys and carrying out serious crimes such as ram raids, assaults and aggravated robberies.  "We see them travelling around Auckland and meeting up with other offenders. They're coming from as far afield as the Waikato," Mr O'Brien said.  "We are doing everything we can but the message is that parents and caregivers need to take responsibility."  He said the teens should be at school. "I want to know why not? Who is holding them to account."  [NZ Herald]

So, parents and caregivers are not taking responsibility.  One suspects that part of the animus for this neglect lies in the belief held by politicians, bureaucrats, and citizens alike that the State is the uber-parent.  Since the State has taken it upon itself increasingly to rule and regulate and fund family life, whilst the people have cheered and bowed, it is to be expected that parents and caregivers become irresponsible.  After all, they are as nothing when compared to the omni-competence of government.

It's becoming increasingly obvious that Baal has no clothes on.