May They Face Justice
This story has got to be one of the worst we have encountered over the past year. It is blood-boiling stuff. It involves liars, creeps, dissemblers, manipulators, and confidence tricksters. In other words, it involves the leaders of our present government.
At this point, most readers will turn the page, thinking "So, what else is new. Let's move along." But for our own sanity we feel compelled to write about this.
The issue involves the dreaded Pike River Mine, inside which the remains of 29 dead miners have been left. The mine is now sealed: flooded with methane, the risk of entry was assessed as too high. The previous government ruled that re-entry was too risky; it would endanger the safety of those entering. Therefore, the mine would be sealed. However, a small group of miner families, having lost loved ones, has pushed and pushed and pushed the government to re-enter the mine and retrieve the remains so that the families can put the tragedy to rest. The rest of the mining families have made the better decision, humbled themselves, accepted reality and moved on.
In the recent election campaign three people, who can only be described as amoral creeps, sought to exploit the situation for political gain: Winston Peters, Andrew Little, and Jacinda Ardern.
Showing posts with label Exploitation. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Exploitation. Show all posts
Wednesday, 6 December 2017
Friday, 15 April 2016
An Off-Key Note
Avaricious Mendacity, Cloaked in Faux Grievances
(Some) Maori are all up in arms over the government's decision to create a marine sanctuary around the Kermadec islands. They allege that their quota fishing rights in the area have been obliterated. The sub-allegation is that once again government has illicitly appropriated what belonged to Maori by virtue of previous Treaty of Waitangi settlements.
Maybe. For our money we always maintain a healthy scepticism towards government claims to land, wealth, and property. The State has form when it comes to acquisitive mendacity. In days now long past our parents were subjected to a government land grab by means of standover tactics, via threatening the compulsory acquisition if the family did not "consent" to sell. The forcibly-acquired land subsequently turned out to be land in excess of crown requirements. The State then sold most of the land acquired at an excessive profit back to the private sector--not those from whom it was extricated in the first place.
But we digress. Regardless of the merits and legality of the State's declaration of a marine sanctuary--which we would be glad to see tested in the Courts--the Maori action is risible. One commentator skewers the Maori position:
(Some) Maori are all up in arms over the government's decision to create a marine sanctuary around the Kermadec islands. They allege that their quota fishing rights in the area have been obliterated. The sub-allegation is that once again government has illicitly appropriated what belonged to Maori by virtue of previous Treaty of Waitangi settlements.
Maybe. For our money we always maintain a healthy scepticism towards government claims to land, wealth, and property. The State has form when it comes to acquisitive mendacity. In days now long past our parents were subjected to a government land grab by means of standover tactics, via threatening the compulsory acquisition if the family did not "consent" to sell. The forcibly-acquired land subsequently turned out to be land in excess of crown requirements. The State then sold most of the land acquired at an excessive profit back to the private sector--not those from whom it was extricated in the first place.
But we digress. Regardless of the merits and legality of the State's declaration of a marine sanctuary--which we would be glad to see tested in the Courts--the Maori action is risible. One commentator skewers the Maori position:
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