thedailyblog--2020-06-14--Muller’s Big Speech – The Inversion Of A Copy Of A Clone Of A Success Story

I am slightly surprised that Todd Muller ’ s big speech as leader of the National Party , is summed up by the Herald as : “ A National-led Government would not increase taxes or cut benefits , its leader Todd Muller has promised .
In fact , the new opposition leader today revealed that if he is Prime Minister , National would spend more money on the “ welfare safety net ” .
He also said the previous National Government did not move fast or boldly enough on issues such as climate change and addressing New Zealand ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that ’ s necessarily bad or inaccurate – not that one necessarily trusts a National government to actually go through with any of these things should it make it into office … but that ’ s not what ’ s noteworthy about this .
Rather , it ’ s that – as my associate Josh Van Veen pointed out – basically indistinguishable from what the Labour Party is about .
Which is an interesting inversion on what we ’ ve had for much of the past nine years , wherein the Labour Party @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like the National Party … but not quite as much .
Thus reflecting the fundamental truth that Kiwi Politics has generally always been a contest for ‘ the centre ’ , with ‘ the centre ’ ( for the past 30 years , anyway ) being defined as somewhere on the neoliberal right whre ideas and vision go to die .
And “ Charisma ” means all the appeal of a slick used car salesman in a toothpaste commercial .
Nevertheless , it ’ s interesting to see the shoe on the other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to define themselves in conscious imitation ( even if they ’ d never admit it ) to Labour .
Perhaps it ’ s the logical result of seeing just how badly Simon Bridges ’ constant irascible criticism of Jacinda was playing with voters .
Perhaps it ’ s actually more sincere – and a return to Bill English style Catholic Conservatism With Its Cufflinks Rolled Up .
Perhaps it just plays well with focus-groups that ’ re still shiny about Labour following the Covid-response .
Whatever the case , it ’ s questionable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Although if there is a tide in the affairs of men – I suspect rather strongly that it ’ s just naturally gone out and shall *remain* out on National for awhile yet , meaning this is effectively going to be an Election of ‘ damage control ’ uber alles .
In any case , all of this put me in the mind of a semi-parody post-modern analysis of a video-game character somebody directed my attention to years ago : “ Waluigi is the ultimate example of the individual shaped by the signifier @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in mirror images ; lost in a hall of mirrors he is a reflection of a reflection of a reflection .
You start with Mario – the wholesome all Italian plumbing superman , you reflect him to create Luigi – the same thing but slightly less .
You invert Mario to create Wario – Mario turned septic and libertarian – then you reflect the inversion in the reflection : you create a being who can only exist in reference to others .
Waluigi is the true nowhere man , without the other characters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has no reason to exist .
Waluigi ’ s identity only comes from what and who he isn ’ t – without a wider frame of reference he is nothing .
He is not his own man .
In a world where our identities are shaped by our warped relationships to brands and commerce we are all Waluigi.
” That ’ s where National ’ s at at the moment .
Playing the deliberate role ( for what else is left to them ) of the inversion of a copy of a clone @ @ @ @

I am slightly surprised that Todd Muller’s big speech as leader of the National Party, is summed up by the Herald as:
“A National-led Government would not increase taxes or cut benefits, its leader Todd Muller has promised.
In fact, the new opposition leader today revealed that if he is Prime Minister, National would spend more money on the “welfare safety net”.
He also said the previous National Government did not move fast or boldly enough on issues such as climate change and addressing New Zealand’s social deficit.”
Now, none of that’s necessarily bad or inaccurate – not that one necessarily trusts a National government to actually go through with any of these things should it make it into office … but that’s not what’s noteworthy about this.
Rather, it’s that – as my associate Josh Van Veen pointed out – basically indistinguishable from what the Labour Party is about.
Which is an interesting inversion on what we’ve had for much of the past nine years, wherein the Labour Party was too often effectively about being kinda like the National Party … but not quite as much.
Thus reflecting the fundamental truth that Kiwi Politics has generally always been a contest for ‘the centre’, with ‘the centre’ (for the past 30 years, anyway) being defined as somewhere on the neoliberal right whre ideas and vision go to die. And “Charisma” means all the appeal of a slick used car salesman in a toothpaste commercial.
TDB Recommends NewzEngine.com
Nevertheless, it’s interesting to see the shoe on the other foot now – and the Nats choosing to define themselves in conscious imitation (even if they’d never admit it) to Labour. Perhaps it’s the logical result of seeing just how badly Simon Bridges’ constant irascible criticism of Jacinda was playing with voters. Perhaps it’s actually more sincere – and a return to Bill English style Catholic Conservatism With Its Cufflinks Rolled Up. Perhaps it just plays well with focus-groups that’re still shiny about Labour following the Covid-response.
Whatever the case, it’s questionable as a ‘winning strategy’. Although if there is a tide in the affairs of men – I suspect rather strongly that it’s just naturally gone out and shall *remain* out on National for awhile yet, meaning this is effectively going to be an Election of ‘damage control’ uber alles.
In any case, all of this put me in the mind of a semi-parody post-modern analysis of a video-game character somebody directed my attention to years ago:
“Waluigi is the ultimate example of the individual shaped by the signifier. Waluigi is a man seen only in mirror images; lost in a hall of mirrors he is a reflection of a reflection of a reflection. You start with Mario – the wholesome all Italian plumbing superman, you reflect him to create Luigi – the same thing but slightly less. You invert Mario to create Wario – Mario turned septic and libertarian – then you reflect the inversion in the reflection: you create a being who can only exist in reference to others. Waluigi is the true nowhere man, without the other characters he reflects, inverts and parodies he has no reason to exist. Waluigi’s identity only comes from what and who he isn’t – without a wider frame of reference he is nothing. He is not his own man. In a world where our identities are shaped by our warped relationships to brands and commerce we are all Waluigi.”
That’s where National’s at at the moment. Playing the deliberate role (for what else is left to them) of the inversion of a copy of a clone of a success-story.


Something Very Big.

IT ’ S DOUBTFUL whether many of those applauding the current US protests grasp fully the enormity of what is happening there .
Take those six city blocks in Capitol Hill , Seattle , Washington State .
By ordering the Seattle Police to evacuate their East Precinct station-house – the city ’ s mayor effectively acquiesced in the creation of an “ Autonomous ” and “ Police-Free ” Zone in her city ’ s heart .
Not even in the wildest dreams of the Black Panthers – the black revolutionary movement of the 1960s – was such a development ever @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Fought for ?
Definitely .
Achieved ?
Never .
And , as if the creation of “ CHAZ ” – the Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone – wasn ’ t enough , the adjoining Cal Anderson Park has been converted into a “ people ’ s park ” .
This development , too , links back directly to the radical struggles of the 1960s .
In 1969 , students at the University of California at Berkeley had attempted to thwart the university authorities ’ plans to “ develop ” what had been a free @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by setting up a “ people ’ s park ” and planting a garden .
The area was cleared with considerable brutality on the orders of the then Governor of California – Ronald Reagan .
What we are witnessing in Seattle – and in a host of other cities across the United States – is an astonishing eruption of ideas and projects long since consigned to what their critics assumed was “ the dustbin of history ” .
That this is so clearly not the case raises some quite intriguing questions about what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ States .
Perhaps the most important question is whether these events , taken together , constitute a pre-revolutionary situation ?
In the CHAZ , for example , the watchword has been “ self-management ” .
The local inhabitants have collectively taken over the functions of the exiled police officers .
Health care facilities have been established , along with food distribution centres for the poor and homeless .
In short , CHAZ has taken on all the attributes of an anarchist “ commune ” – something not seen ( at least not on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ anarchists took over the Spanish city of Barcelona back in the 1930s .
( If you want to know what that was like , then read George Orwell ’ s “ Homage to Catalonia ” . )
I would be most remiss if I did not also mention the fact that Seattle , itself , has long been a city where progressive ideas and actions have flourished .
It was the famous “ Battle of Seattle ” which , 20 years ago , called a halt to the hitherto unstoppable forces of “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 80 years before that , the quasi-revolutionary Seattle General Strike , not only struck fear into the capitalists of Washington State , but also into the entire American ruling-class .
Similar terrors must now be disturbing the sleep of the USA ’ s present rulers .
In the months following the Global Financial Crisis of 2008-09 they had been perturbed , briefly , by the Occupy Movement .
The ease with which the Occupy protests were crushed , however , put them off guard .
America ’ s masters allowed their neoliberal ideologues @ @ @ @ @ @ @ America had lost all capacity to organise effectively and , accordingly , posed no serious threat to the status quo .
Their big mistake was to assume that all American youths were white and college-educated .
As we have seen over the course of the past three weeks , there are others .
More worrying still , for America ’ s rulers , must be the way so many authority figures : mayors , police chiefs , media bosses ; have openly expressed their support for the ongoing protest demonstrations and – even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ many of their demands .
Since Neoliberalism and History don ’ t really mix , the vast majority of the American ruling-class will be unaware of the ominous historical precedent in which ordinarily reliable defenders of the existing order suddenly embrace the key demands of the revolutionary masses .
On the night of 4 August 1789 , the French National Assembly , overwhelmed by the giddy elixirs fermented by the revolution then convulsing the country , voted to abolish the feudal system .
The entire edifice of aristocratic privilege came tumbling down in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the aristocrats themselves .
Watching the Minneapolis City Council vote to disband its own Police Department , or the entire Democratic Party membership of the US House of Representatives “ take a knee ” in remembrance of George Floyd , indicates just how powerful today ’ s messages of resistance have grown .
The key question , of course , is : Where will it stop ?
Or , perhaps , more darkly : Who will stop it ?
Certainly , President Donald Trump would like to stop all of it immediately .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ ugly anarchists ” be driven from Seattle ’ s streets .
The rest of the Republican Establishment : Senators , Governors , Mayors ; must similarly be asking themselves when the counter-stroke will fall .
When will law and order be restored in the streets ?
When will the revolution gathering pace across America be asphyxiated in a cloud of tear-gas – or worse .
Because there is much , much worse lurking in the shadows of American society than rogue police officers .
Those determined to Make America Great Again have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the one taking shape in the Capitol Hill district of Seattle .
Such people will be pulling out their well-thumbed copies of the murderous “ Turner Diaries ” and just waiting for the word to split-open American society like a rotten log .
That ’ s no idle boast , because , as we all know , not only are these Far-Right fanatics extremely dangerous , but they are also fearsomely well-armed .
But , they are not the only men with guns .
When the truly serious shit hits the fan it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ United States that has the final word .
Over the course of the past fortnight the world has been heartened to learn how seriously America ’ s most senior military officers take their oath to “ uphold , protect and defend ” the Constitution of the United States .
In the end , however , it is the common soldiery that will have the final say on who they will – and will not – slay .
If they decide to heed their Commander-in-Chief , then the Republic will fall .
If they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a new birth of freedom can , indeed , be expected in the USA .
In the powerful invocation of Leonard Cohen ’ s revolutionary anthem , “ Democracy ” : Sail on , sail on , oh mighty ship of state To the shores of need , past the reefs of greed , Through the squalls of hate .
Sail on , sail on , sail on .

IT’S DOUBTFUL whether many of those applauding the current US protests grasp fully the enormity of what is happening there.
Take those six city blocks in Capitol Hill, Seattle, Washington State. By ordering the Seattle Police to evacuate their East Precinct station-house – the city’s mayor effectively acquiesced in the creation of an “Autonomous” and “Police-Free” Zone in her city’s heart. Not even in the wildest dreams of the Black Panthers – the black revolutionary movement of the 1960s – was such a development ever seriously anticipated. Wanted? Yes. Fought for? Definitely. Achieved? Never.
And, as if the creation of “CHAZ” – the Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone – wasn’t enough, the adjoining Cal Anderson Park has been converted into a “people’s park”. This development, too, links back directly to the radical struggles of the 1960s.
In 1969, students at the University of California at Berkeley had attempted to thwart the university authorities’ plans to “develop” what had been a free space frequented by the local community, by setting up a “people’s park” and planting a garden. The area was cleared with considerable brutality on the orders of the then Governor of California – Ronald Reagan.
What we are witnessing in Seattle – and in a host of other cities across the United States – is an astonishing eruption of ideas and projects long since consigned to what their critics assumed was “the dustbin of history”. That this is so clearly not the case raises some quite intriguing questions about what we are actually seeing in the United States. Perhaps the most important question is whether these events, taken together, constitute a pre-revolutionary situation?
In the CHAZ, for example, the watchword has been “self-management”. The local inhabitants have collectively taken over the functions of the exiled police officers. Health care facilities have been established, along with food distribution centres for the poor and homeless. In short, CHAZ has taken on all the attributes of an anarchist “commune” – something not seen (at least not on anything approaching this scale) since the anarchists took over the Spanish city of Barcelona back in the 1930s. (If you want to know what that was like, then read George Orwell’s “Homage to Catalonia”.)
I would be most remiss if I did not also mention the fact that Seattle, itself, has long been a city where progressive ideas and actions have flourished. It was the famous “Battle of Seattle” which, 20 years ago, called a halt to the hitherto unstoppable forces of “free” trade and globalisation. And 80 years before that, the quasi-revolutionary Seattle General Strike, not only struck fear into the capitalists of Washington State, but also into the entire American ruling-class.
Similar terrors must now be disturbing the sleep of the USA’s present rulers. In the months following the Global Financial Crisis of 2008-09 they had been perturbed, briefly, by the Occupy Movement. The ease with which the Occupy protests were crushed, however, put them off guard. America’s masters allowed their neoliberal ideologues to persuade them that the youth of America had lost all capacity to organise effectively and, accordingly, posed no serious threat to the status quo. Their big mistake was to assume that all American youths were white and college-educated. As we have seen over the course of the past three weeks, there are others.
TDB Recommends NewzEngine.com
More worrying still, for America’s rulers, must be the way so many authority figures: mayors, police chiefs, media bosses; have openly expressed their support for the ongoing protest demonstrations and – even worse – indicated their willingness to meet many of their demands. Since Neoliberalism and History don’t really mix, the vast majority of the American ruling-class will be unaware of the ominous historical precedent in which ordinarily reliable defenders of the existing order suddenly embrace the key demands of the revolutionary masses.
On the night of 4 August 1789, the French National Assembly, overwhelmed by the giddy elixirs fermented by the revolution then convulsing the country, voted to abolish the feudal system. The entire edifice of aristocratic privilege came tumbling down in a single night – laid low by the aristocrats themselves.
Watching the Minneapolis City Council vote to disband its own Police Department, or the entire Democratic Party membership of the US House of Representatives “take a knee” in remembrance of George Floyd, indicates just how powerful today’s messages of resistance have grown.
The key question, of course, is: Where will it stop? Or, perhaps, more darkly: Who will stop it? Certainly, President Donald Trump would like to stop all of it immediately. He was quick to insist that the “ugly anarchists” be driven from Seattle’s streets. The rest of the Republican Establishment: Senators, Governors, Mayors; must similarly be asking themselves when the counter-stroke will fall. When will law and order be restored in the streets? When will the revolution gathering pace across America be asphyxiated in a cloud of tear-gas – or worse.
Because there is much, much worse lurking in the shadows of American society than rogue police officers. Those determined to Make America Great Again have a very different utopia in mind from the one taking shape in the Capitol Hill district of Seattle. Such people will be pulling out their well-thumbed copies of the murderous “Turner Diaries” and just waiting for the word to split-open American society like a rotten log. That’s no idle boast, because, as we all know, not only are these Far-Right fanatics extremely dangerous, but they are also fearsomely well-armed.
But, they are not the only men with guns. When the truly serious shit hits the fan it will be the armed forces of the United States that has the final word. Over the course of the past fortnight the world has been heartened to learn how seriously America’s most senior military officers take their oath to “uphold, protect and defend” the Constitution of the United States. In the end, however, it is the common soldiery that will have the final say on who they will – and will not – slay.
If they decide to heed their Commander-in-Chief, then the Republic will fall. If they decide to defend the Constitution, then a new birth of freedom can, indeed, be expected in the USA.
In the powerful invocation of Leonard Cohen’s revolutionary anthem, “Democracy”:
Sail on, sail on, oh mighty ship of state
To the shores of need, past the reefs of greed,
Through the squalls of hate.
Sail on, sail on, sail on.


thedailyblog--2020-06-16--Covid, culture and USP’s fight to save academic freedom

Professor Armstrong told media that he gave senior staff the option of resigning if they felt “ uncomfortable ” working with him .
“ Nobody has expressed that feeling to step down , ” he said .
But he has expressed disappointment that the staff and student associations have refused to meet with him .
Conflict of interest , say critics Critics question his role as acting vice-chancellor , saying there is a conflict of interest because he was one of the people named among 33 complaints against Professor Ahluwalia .
The critics also challenge the “ full privileges ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when USP directives were given to “ change the office door locks of the [ vice-chancellor ’ s ] office ; the vice-chancellor ’ s USP email access was abruptly stopped , and USP security were sent to [ the vice-chancellor ’ s ] house to collect a laptop computer and mobile phone that were given to him for his use ” .
One of the strongest and most passionate condemnations of the handling of the current crisis came at the weekend from Associate Professor Tarcisius Kabutaulaka , director of the Centre for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hawai ’ i Manoa , giving his personal view as a former student and staff member of USP .
He accused a small group of people of “ selfishly and disrespectfully desecrated ” this “ sacred place of learning ” for the Pacific which celebrated a half century two years ago .
“ USP was the place where we learned to navigate the academic ocean ; where we tried out ideas ; where we made mistakes and learned to correct them ; where we met , got to know and befriend people from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first fell in love and made love for the first time ; where we first experienced heartbreaks ; where some met our spouses ; where some had our first child and buried their umbilical cord , ” Kabutaulaka wrote .
A petition from former staff and alumni declares they are “ dismayed ” at how the actions of pro-chancellor Thompson and his colleagues in the Fiji-based executive committee have brought the university “ into disrepute ” .
The petitioners say they are “ deeply mindful of the contribution of scores of staff and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its reputation in Oceania and beyond as well as the massive cooperative regional effort by the governments and people of its 12 member states , and Australia and New Zealand in maintaining the regional institution and its numerous campuses ” .
‘ Disturbed at failure ’ They also say they are “ disturbed at the failure ” of Thompson to comply with a May 2019 directive that he works “ cooperatively and in harmony ” with Ahluwalia for the good of the university .
• The reinstatement of Professor Ahluwalia as vice-chancellor • @ @ @ @ @ @ @ completed last August ] into the allegations against the previous university administration and a report by a three-person investigating commission ; and • Examination of whether the pro-chancellor has followed due process .
And if he is found to have not followed due process , not delivered natural justice , and undermined the vice-chancellor then the council should request his resignation and appoint a new chair .
President Aingimea clearly is not keen on this critical USP Council meeting with many participants around the region taking part virtually left solely to the control @ @ @ @ @ @ @ proposed that an independent organisation such as DFAT ( Australia ) or MFAT ( New Zealand ) organise the special meeting rather than having any USP staff support do the job .
“ For transparency and security reasons , the Zoom meeting should not be compromised by having USP staff supporting this meeting , ” he said in a letter last Friday , and the meeting has been slated for this Friday .
As Professor Kabutaulaka says , he hopes the USP Council will sort out the crisis with “ diligence , intelligence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ political prisoners Meanwhile , one of the major covid issues still facing the Pacific is the plight of Papuan political prisoners .
Former prisoner Filep Karma has criticised the failure of President Joko “ Jokowi ” Widodo to honour his pledge five years ago to free all Papuan political prisoners during his administration .
Karma says Widodo made this pledge to five of his fellow political prisoners in Jayapura , Papua when they were released in 2015 .
However , now the number of Papuan political prisoners in jail has instead grown to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ presidential term – and there are growing fears about their plight as Indonesian covid-19 infections continue to rise sharply .
The Indonesian human rights advocacy group Tapol has also beeen pushing the issue strongly .
According to the latest Johns Hopkins University statistics , 38,277 people have been infected and 2134 have died in Indonesia ( including Papua ) .
Dr David Robie is an alumni and a former head of journalism at the University of the South Pacific .

While newly appointed acting vice-chancellor Professor Derrick Armstrong says he has the support of senior management as he fills in for his suspended boss Professor Pal Ahluwalia (who was the original whistleblower on the alleged USP rorts business and is now facing tit-for-tat counter allegations), statements from some key current and former staff suggest a different story.
Professor Armstrong told media that he gave senior staff the option of resigning if they felt “uncomfortable” working with him.
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“Nobody has expressed that feeling to step down,” he said. But he has expressed disappointment that the staff and student associations have refused to meet with him.
Conflict of interest, say critics
Critics question his role as acting vice-chancellor, saying there is a conflict of interest because he was one of the people named among 33 complaints against Professor Ahluwalia.
The critics also challenge the “full privileges” claim over the vice-chancellor’s suspension when USP directives were given to “change the office door locks of the [vice-chancellor’s] office; the vice-chancellor’s USP email access was abruptly stopped, and USP security were sent to [the vice-chancellor’s] house to collect a laptop computer and mobile phone that were given to him for his use”.
One of the strongest and most passionate condemnations of the handling of the current crisis came at the weekend from Associate Professor Tarcisius Kabutaulaka, director of the Centre for Pacific Islands Studies at the University of Hawai’i Manoa, giving his personal view as a former student and staff member of USP.
He accused a small group of people of “selfishly and disrespectfully desecrated” this “sacred place of learning” for the Pacific which celebrated a half century two years ago.
“USP was the place where we learned to navigate the academic ocean; where we tried out ideas; where we made mistakes and learned to correct them; where we met, got to know and befriend people from other parts of Oceania; where we first fell in love and made love for the first time; where we first experienced heartbreaks; where some met our spouses; where some had our first child and buried their umbilical cord,” Kabutaulaka wrote.
A petition from former staff and alumni declares they are “dismayed” at how the actions of pro-chancellor Thompson and his colleagues in the Fiji-based executive committee have brought the university “into disrepute”.
The petitioners say they are “deeply mindful of the contribution of scores of staff and thousands of graduates of USP towards building its reputation in Oceania and beyond as well as the massive cooperative regional effort by the governments and people of its 12 member states, and Australia and New Zealand in maintaining the regional institution and its numerous campuses”.
‘Disturbed at failure’
They also say they are “disturbed at the failure” of Thompson to comply with a May 2019 directive that he works “cooperatively and in harmony” with Ahluwalia for the good of the university.
The petition includes calls for:
• The reinstatement of Professor Ahluwalia as vice-chancellor
• Public release of the BDO Report [completed last August] into the allegations against the previous university administration and a report by a three-person investigating commission; and
• Examination of whether the pro-chancellor has followed due process. And if he is found to have not followed due process, not delivered natural justice, and undermined the vice-chancellor then the council should request his resignation and appoint a new chair.
President Aingimea clearly is not keen on this critical USP Council meeting with many participants around the region taking part virtually left solely to the control of the Fiji-based executive committee.
He proposed that an independent organisation such as DFAT (Australia) or MFAT (New Zealand) organise the special meeting rather than having any USP staff support do the job.
“For transparency and security reasons, the Zoom meeting should not be compromised by having USP staff supporting this meeting,” he said in a letter last Friday, and the meeting has been slated for this Friday.
As Professor Kabutaulaka says, he hopes the USP Council will sort out the crisis with “diligence, intelligence and wisdom”.
Covid and Papuan political prisoners
Meanwhile, one of the major covid issues still facing the Pacific is the plight of Papuan political prisoners.
Former prisoner Filep Karma has criticised the failure of President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo to honour his pledge five years ago to free all Papuan political prisoners during his administration.
Karma says Widodo made this pledge to five of his fellow political prisoners in Jayapura, Papua when they were released in 2015.
However, now the number of Papuan political prisoners in jail has instead grown to 46 – with Widodo into his second presidential term – and there are growing fears about their plight as Indonesian covid-19 infections continue to rise sharply. The Indonesian human rights advocacy group Tapol has also beeen pushing the issue strongly.
According to the latest Johns Hopkins University statistics, 38,277 people have been infected and 2134 have died in Indonesia (including Papua).
Dr David Robie is an alumni and a former head of journalism at the University of the South Pacific.


thedailyblog--2020-06-17--A Vigorous Rearrangement of Deck Chairs:   Heather Simpson’s Neoliberal Prescription For New Zealand

A Vigorous Rearrangement of Deck Chairs:   Heather Simpson’s Neoliberal Prescription For New Zealand’s Health System

MUCH WILL BE WRITTEN about Heather Simpson ’ s plans for the New Zealand health system .
Most of the attention , if the media ’ s coverage so far is any indication , will centre on the abolition of the system ’ s already anaemic democratic elements , along with the acceptability or otherwise of the provision made for addressing the health needs of Maori .
Virtually nothing will be written , however , about the verbal formula which signals that , in spite of all the vigorous rearrangement of deck-chairs , nothing of any real substance in our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
What is that verbal formula ?
Easy .
It ’ s the one which reassures the reader of the Report ’ s unwavering commitment to the “ efficient and effective ” management of public resources .
What ’ s wrong with efficiency and effectiveness ?
I hear you say .
In and of themselves , nothing .
Nobody in their right mind wants an inefficient and/or ineffective public health system .
( Arguably , that ’ s what we ’ ve got now ! )
It ’ s just that whenever the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ context of providing public services , they carry a meaning over and above their simple dictionary definitions .
Anyone familiar with the political and administrative history of the past 35 years will recognise immediately that that those who use this verbal formula are offering a great deal more that efficiency and effectiveness : E & E is code for : this institution is being managed according to the theories and practices of neoliberalism .
E & E stands for the “ funder/provider split ” and against the existential threat of “ provider capture @ @ @ @ @ @ @ presence of a parasitic , grotesquely over-rewarded management layer dedicated to ensuring that scientific knowledge and professional expertise is kept in its place .
E & E means the payment of generous “ performance bonuses ” to those who prove , year-in , year-out , that more “ outputs ” can always be extracted from fewer “ inputs ” .
E & E has no interest in unions , professional organisations , or democracy .
Everything else in the Report flows from this verbal ritual of obeisance to the neoliberal paradigm .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The establishment of competing centres of demand for resources and personnel .
The elimination of what little remains of popular participation – via democratic elections – in the allocation of public resources .
The assumption ( or should that be the pretence ? )
that meritocracy constitutes the fundamental organising principle of the entire system .
Everything , in short , that guarantees the system ’ s ability to go on resisting genuine and meaningful institutional change is summed-up in those two words : efficient and effective .
It was George Orwell who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ describing a regime ’ s actions by using words that describe the exact opposite .
In his chilling dystopian novel , Nineteen Eighty-Four , the “ Ministry of Truth ” was where the regime concocted its biggest lies .
The “ Ministry of Peace ” was the place from where Big Brother ’ s endless wars were planned and run .
The “ Ministry of Plenty ” managed scarcity .
And the “ Ministry of Love ” was where people were sent to be tortured .
Under neoliberalism – the world ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we find exactly the same methods at work .
What could be more inefficient and ineffective than a health system which has been starved of human and material resources for the best part of four decades ?
What could be more guaranteed to produce sub-optimal results than the insertion of a layer of decision-makers charged with second-guessing and countermanding the advice and recommendations of medical specialists , doctors , nurses , carers and para-medics ?
What better way to produce the most dire and unintended consequences than allowing managerial staff to set financial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the resources ( beds , operating theatres , ICUs ) that hospitals need to treat their patients ?
If Heather Simpson had dared to produce a report that restored to “ efficient ” and “ effective ” their true meanings , then it would have recommended the complete abolition of both the Ministry of Health and the District Health Boards , and their replacement with an all-encompassing Department of Health and Wellbeing .
This new organisation would be equipped with a state-of-the-art IT system capable of tracking every patient and the resources expended @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be run by a superintendent who was an experienced medical professional and overseen by a democratically-elected Health Review Committee .
The day-to-day management of the hospitals would be undertaken alongside and with input from the medical staff and their professional organisations .
Within the department there would be sub-departments dedicated to public health , mental health , women ’ s health , children ’ s health and Maori health , along with a special bureau dedicated to financial management , and another to the maintenance and extension of health infrastructure .
The Department @ @ @ @ @ @ @ required to present an annual , publicly available , report to the Minister of Health detailing both its achievements and its failures of the preceding 12 months , and setting forth its financial , workforce and material requirements for the coming year .
It would be understood by both the public and their parliamentary representatives that the health and well-being of the people is not only the state ’ s prime duty , but also that , in fulfilling this most fundamental of collective obligations , the sums allocated will never be enough @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their determination that “ efficiency ” and “ effectiveness ” must never again have their meanings twisted to produce a system that condemns vast swathes of the population – particularly New Zealand ’ s poorest and most vulnerable citizens – to lives that are unhealthy and unwell .
This is not the understanding which Heather Simpson ’ s report seeks to promote .
What ’ s more , it ’ s clear that the news media and other groups commenting on its content and recommendations never expected it to .
Proof , I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the ideology of neoliberalism still has us in its grip .
The Coalition Government ’ s response to the arrival of the Covid-19 virus proved beyond all doubt that when money is urgently needed to serve the common welfare , it can always be found .
If only Heather Simpson ’ s report had loudly and unequivocally proclaimed the urgency of the need to rebuild our public health system , and called upon New Zealand society to find both the money and the will to do it .
As it stands , Simpson @ @ @ @ @ @ @ neither an efficient nor an effective use of public resources .

MUCH WILL BE WRITTEN about Heather Simpson’s plans for the New Zealand health system. Most of the attention, if the media’s coverage so far is any indication, will centre on the abolition of the system’s already anaemic democratic elements, along with the acceptability or otherwise of the provision made for addressing the health needs of Maori. Virtually nothing will be written, however, about the verbal formula which signals that, in spite of all the vigorous rearrangement of deck-chairs, nothing of any real substance in our public health system is going to change.
What is that verbal formula? Easy. It’s the one which reassures the reader of the Report’s unwavering commitment to the “efficient and effective” management of public resources.
What’s wrong with efficiency and effectiveness? I hear you say. In and of themselves, nothing. Nobody in their right mind wants an inefficient and/or ineffective public health system. (Arguably, that’s what we’ve got now!) It’s just that whenever the two words are linked together in the context of providing public services, they carry a meaning over and above their simple dictionary definitions.
Anyone familiar with the political and administrative history of the past 35 years will recognise immediately that that those who use this verbal formula are offering a great deal more that efficiency and effectiveness:
E&E is code for: this institution is being managed according to the theories and practices of neoliberalism.
E&E stands for the “funder/provider split” and against the existential threat of “provider capture”.
E&E signals the presence of a parasitic, grotesquely over-rewarded management layer dedicated to ensuring that scientific knowledge and professional expertise is kept in its place.
E&E means the payment of generous “performance bonuses” to those who prove, year-in, year-out, that more “outputs” can always be extracted from fewer “inputs”.
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E&E has no interest in unions, professional organisations, or democracy.
E&E represents neoliberal managerialism uber alles.
Everything else in the Report flows from this verbal ritual of obeisance to the neoliberal paradigm. The breaking-up of the Ministry of Health. The establishment of competing centres of demand for resources and personnel. The elimination of what little remains of popular participation – via democratic elections – in the allocation of public resources. The assumption (or should that be the pretence?) that meritocracy constitutes the fundamental organising principle of the entire system. Everything, in short, that guarantees the system’s ability to go on resisting genuine and meaningful institutional change is summed-up in those two words: efficient and effective.
It was George Orwell who first made explicit the totalitarian practice of describing a regime’s actions by using words that describe the exact opposite. In his chilling dystopian novel, Nineteen Eighty-Four, the “Ministry of Truth” was where the regime concocted its biggest lies. The “Ministry of Peace” was the place from where Big Brother’s endless wars were planned and run. The “Ministry of Plenty” managed scarcity. And the “Ministry of Love” was where people were sent to be tortured. Under neoliberalism – the world’s most successful totalitarian ideology to date – we find exactly the same methods at work.
What could be more inefficient and ineffective than a health system which has been starved of human and material resources for the best part of four decades? What could be more guaranteed to produce sub-optimal results than the insertion of a layer of decision-makers charged with second-guessing and countermanding the advice and recommendations of medical specialists, doctors, nurses, carers and para-medics? What better way to produce the most dire and unintended consequences than allowing managerial staff to set financial “targets” achievable only by reducing the resources (beds, operating theatres, ICUs) that hospitals need to treat their patients?
If Heather Simpson had dared to produce a report that restored to “efficient” and “effective” their true meanings, then it would have recommended the complete abolition of both the Ministry of Health and the District Health Boards, and their replacement with an all-encompassing Department of Health and Wellbeing.
This new organisation would be equipped with a state-of-the-art IT system capable of tracking every patient and the resources expended in treating them. Each hospital would be run by a superintendent who was an experienced medical professional and overseen by a democratically-elected Health Review Committee.
The day-to-day management of the hospitals would be undertaken alongside and with input from the medical staff and their professional organisations. Within the department there would be sub-departments dedicated to public health, mental health, women’s health, children’s health and Maori health, along with a special bureau dedicated to financial management, and another to the maintenance and extension of health infrastructure.
The Department of Health and Wellbeing would be statutorily required to present an annual, publicly available, report to the Minister of Health detailing both its achievements and its failures of the preceding 12 months, and setting forth its financial, workforce and material requirements for the coming year.
It would be understood by both the public and their parliamentary representatives that the health and well-being of the people is not only the state’s prime duty, but also that, in fulfilling this most fundamental of collective obligations, the sums allocated will never be enough. They would also be resolute in their determination that “efficiency” and “effectiveness” must never again have their meanings twisted to produce a system that condemns vast swathes of the population – particularly New Zealand’s poorest and most vulnerable citizens – to lives that are unhealthy and unwell.
This is not the understanding which Heather Simpson’s report seeks to promote. What’s more, it’s clear that the news media and other groups commenting on its content and recommendations never expected it to. Proof, I would argue, of just how firmly the ideology of neoliberalism still has us in its grip.
The Coalition Government’s response to the arrival of the Covid-19 virus proved beyond all doubt that when money is urgently needed to serve the common welfare, it can always be found. If only Heather Simpson’s report had loudly and unequivocally proclaimed the urgency of the need to rebuild our public health system, and called upon New Zealand society to find both the money and the will to do it.
As it stands, Simpson’s $30 million report represents neither an efficient nor an effective use of public resources.


thedailyblog--2020-06-18--MUST READ: Snakes and Mirrors – National Sat On Covid-19 Infection Information For Hours Before Drop

MUST READ: Snakes and Mirrors – National Sat On Covid-19 Infection Information For Hours Before Dropping Political Bombshell In Parliament

It all boils down to this : The timeline of latest revelations suggests National Party MPs placed their want to GET their opponents – the Ardern Government – ahead of concerns that Covid-19 was potentially un-contained and again infecting New Zealanders .
Is this a step too far for the Todd Muller-led party ?
We are debating the issue where two women , who had recently arrived from the United Kingdom and were in isolation , were released on compassionate grounds to travel freely between Auckland and Wellington to visit a dying parent – this while infected with the Covid-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Parliament on Thursday June 18 , 2020 ( the Government revealed ) National Party MP Chris Bishop had lobbied for the two women asking officials to “ expeditiously ” consider releasing the women from quarantine so they could visit their dying parent .
While Bishop was just doing his job , it set in train a failure by New Zealand officials to follow Government instructions to keep those who have recently crossed our borders isolated and quarantined .
That is , until international travellers have proved to be free of Covid-19 .
Earlier @ @ @ @ @ @ @ delivered a bombshell in Parliament .
He revealed that two women – who had recently arrived in New Zealand , who had travelled from the United Kingdom to New Zealand via Doha ( in Qatar ) and Australia – had been released early from quarantine prior to their Covid-19 status being determined .
Woodhouse revealed , citing a “ reliable but confidential source ” that the two women had now presented as Covid-19 positive , that they had borrowed a car from a friend , had got lost on the Auckland Motorway , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and had driven from Auckland to Wellington .
As Radio New Zealand reported : Woodhouse said : “ They called on acquaintances who they were in close contact with and that was rewarded with even more close contact – a kiss and a cuddle.
” The source also told him the women had borrowed the car , raising the question of whether there was further undisclosed contact .
Once in Wellington , they had visited their dying parent before tests showed they were carrying the deadly virus .
It was not clear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ come into contact with – some reports suggested up to 320 people had potentially been infected with the Covid-19 virus .
Woodhouse ’ s claims rocked the government .
Reeling and on the back-foot , Ministers , including the Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern , scrambled to gather information .
Later that afternoon , it was confirmed that Woodhouse was correct .
Health officials were summoned .
Breaches of the Government ’ s strict controls were discovered .
The Prime Minister , clearly appalled and fed up with having earlier received official assurances that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ later informed that that was not the case .
Her response ?
She ordered the military to replace public servants , that Air Commodore Digby Webb would oversee and manage the quarantine and isolation control requirements .
Throughout Wednesday National MPs , supporters , some commentators , and a tribe of social media zealots called for the resignation of the Health Minister , David Clark .
The Prime Minister refused and stood by her minister stating he was a part of efforts to fix this issue , and not a part of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not reveal , was that one of his fellow National Party MPs , Chris Bishop , had lobbied to have the two women released early so they could drive from Auckland to Wellington .
Here ’ s the crucial timeline as Bishop has now confirmed : To RadioNZ ’ s Checkpoint he said : On Friday ( June 12 ) a “ mutual friend ” sent him a Twitter message describing to him the plight of the two women who had arrived in NZ to see their dying parent but who were in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ condition was deteriorating .
“ I said [ to the mutual friend ] they should send me an email.
” “ I was contacted on Friday night by the two women via email , when I saw the email on Saturday afternoon I forwarded it to the email address provided to MPs for that purpose , and asked the officials to look at it ‘ expeditiously ’ , I think was the language used.
” Afterwards , Bishop said he emailed the women back to let them know he had passed on their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that with the pair thanking him .
Bishop added : “ I did what MPs are … obliged to do and dozens of MPs from around the Parliament will have done over the last three months or so , I ’ ve dealt with probably hundreds of inquiries and forwarded them on to the appropriate address , everything from essential businesses to immigration matters through to this case.
” Now , that may have been the case .
MPs are often compelled to act on the interests of constituents and citizens .
And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bishop is a hard working and well-respected member of Parliament .
But this is where the snakes and mirrors creeps in .
Every Tuesday morning , when Parliament sits , National MPs hold a caucus meeting where , in private , they discuss , among other things , party issues and organise what information they will raise in Parliament later that day .
It is reasonable to realise , on the morning of Tuesday June 16 , while at caucus , National ’ s MPs will have discussed the bombshell .
At caucus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would deliver the blow , a strategy would have been decided upon on how the politics of it all would be handled .
And here , it is likely , where National decided to sit on information until it set this political dynamite alight in the debating chamber .
As vital hours passed , it appears National placed political interests ahead of the public interest .
National ’ s MPs knew , as the good New Zealand public knows , that Covid-19 is the most deadly virus to have swept the world in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ offshore as you read this .
It appears , National MPs , and its leadership , willingly withheld information it had acquired from its “ reliable but confidential source ” from health officials and the Government .
As they stated later , hundreds could have caught Covid-19 in the days the two women were among our communities .
And as Radio New Zealand ’ s political editor Jane Patterson wrote : “ The next few days will be crucial .
Testing and contact tracing that will be frantically happening should give us a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to just the two women , or if the failures at the border are going to have more wide-reaching consequences.
” Time , when it comes to Covid-19 , is crucial .
Morally , on being informed of the two women having tested as Covid-19 positive , National should have immediately informed the Prime Minister ’ s office of the issue , called a press conference where it cited their informant , exposing the Government ’ s officials for having placed New Zealanders at further risk , and claimed the political highground .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the hours ticked away , while New Zealanders who may have been in contact with the infected women went about their daily tasks , contacting others , placing more people at risk .
If Covid-19 gets away on us again , New Zealand could return to lockdown .
That would cause huge strain on an already strained economy and could see more New Zealanders die .
National ’ s decision is , in my opinion , beyond dirty politics .
It exposes a party to being prepared to put New Zealander ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deliver a political hit job .
In defence of his own actions , on Thursday MP Chris Bishop said : “ This was a desperate attempt by the government to distract away from their incompetent management at the border and I think it ’ s frankly pretty disgraceful that an MP doing their job is being dragged into this.
” Bishop , in my view , on the evidence available so far , has little to apologise for .
He was doing his job .
But as for National ’ s leadership team @ @ @ @ @ @ @ resigning , decency would insist they should front-up to explain why they put Kiwis lives at risk by holding on to that crucial information .
On the information at hand , it is they , rather than the Minister of Health David Clark , who should resign .
But we all know – despite this revelation – they will not .
Ref .
Parliament TV , Oral Questions , Michael Woodhouse to the Minister of Health , June 17 , 2020 .
Ref .
Parliament TV , Oral Questions , Michael Woodhouse to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , 2020 .
Selwyn Manning is the editor of Evening Report .

It all boils down to this: The timeline of latest revelations suggests National Party MPs placed their want to GET their opponents – the Ardern Government – ahead of concerns that Covid-19 was potentially un-contained and again infecting New Zealanders. Is this a step too far for the Todd Muller-led party?
We are debating the issue where two women, who had recently arrived from the United Kingdom and were in isolation, were released on compassionate grounds to travel freely between Auckland and Wellington to visit a dying parent – this while infected with the Covid-19 virus.
In the latest revelations to Parliament on Thursday June 18, 2020 (the Government revealed) National Party MP Chris Bishop had lobbied for the two women asking officials to “expeditiously” consider releasing the women from quarantine so they could visit their dying parent.
While Bishop was just doing his job, it set in train a failure by New Zealand officials to follow Government instructions to keep those who have recently crossed our borders isolated and quarantined. That is, until international travellers have proved to be free of Covid-19.
Earlier this week, National MP Michael Woodhouse delivered a bombshell in Parliament. He revealed that two women – who had recently arrived in New Zealand, who had travelled from the United Kingdom to New Zealand via Doha (in Qatar) and Australia – had been released early from quarantine prior to their Covid-19 status being determined.
Woodhouse revealed, citing a “reliable but confidential source” that the two women had now presented as Covid-19 positive, that they had borrowed a car from a friend, had got lost on the Auckland Motorway, were in physical contact with that friend, and had driven from Auckland to Wellington.
As Radio New Zealand reported: Woodhouse said:
“They called on acquaintances who they were in close contact with and that was rewarded with even more close contact – a kiss and a cuddle.” The source also told him the women had borrowed the car, raising the question of whether there was further undisclosed contact.
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Once in Wellington, they had visited their dying parent before tests showed they were carrying the deadly virus. It was not clear how many New Zealanders they had actually come into contact with – some reports suggested up to 320 people had potentially been infected with the Covid-19 virus.
Woodhouse’s claims rocked the government. Reeling and on the back-foot, Ministers, including the Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, scrambled to gather information. Later that afternoon, it was confirmed that Woodhouse was correct. Health officials were summoned. Breaches of the Government’s strict controls were discovered.
The Prime Minister, clearly appalled and fed up with having earlier received official assurances that the controls were being followed, was later informed that that was not the case. Her response? She ordered the military to replace public servants, that Air Commodore Digby Webb would oversee and manage the quarantine and isolation control requirements.
Throughout Wednesday National MPs, supporters, some commentators, and a tribe of social media zealots called for the resignation of the Health Minister, David Clark. The Prime Minister refused and stood by her minister stating he was a part of efforts to fix this issue, and not a part of the problem.
BUT, what Woodhouse did not reveal, was that one of his fellow National Party MPs, Chris Bishop, had lobbied to have the two women released early so they could drive from Auckland to Wellington.
Here’s the crucial timeline as Bishop has now confirmed:
To RadioNZ’s Checkpoint he said:
On Friday (June 12) a “mutual friend” sent him a Twitter message describing to him the plight of the two women who had arrived in NZ to see their dying parent but who were in secure quarantine while their parent’s condition was deteriorating.
“I said [to the mutual friend] they should send me an email.”
“I was contacted on Friday night by the two women via email, when I saw the email on Saturday afternoon I forwarded it to the email address provided to MPs for that purpose, and asked the officials to look at it ‘expeditiously’, I think was the language used.”
Afterwards, Bishop said he emailed the women back to let them know he had passed on their request, and their correspondence ended after that with the pair thanking him.
Bishop added: “I did what MPs are … obliged to do and dozens of MPs from around the Parliament will have done over the last three months or so, I’ve dealt with probably hundreds of inquiries and forwarded them on to the appropriate address, everything from essential businesses to immigration matters through to this case.”
Now, that may have been the case. MPs are often compelled to act on the interests of constituents and citizens. And, it should be said, Chris Bishop is a hard working and well-respected member of Parliament.
But this is where the snakes and mirrors creeps in.
Every Tuesday morning, when Parliament sits, National MPs hold a caucus meeting where, in private, they discuss, among other things, party issues and organise what information they will raise in Parliament later that day.
It is reasonable to realise, on the morning of Tuesday June 16, while at caucus, National’s MPs will have discussed the bombshell. At caucus they would have decided who among them would deliver the blow, a strategy would have been decided upon on how the politics of it all would be handled.
And here, it is likely, where National decided to sit on information until it set this political dynamite alight in the debating chamber.
As vital hours passed, it appears National placed political interests ahead of the public interest.
National’s MPs knew, as the good New Zealand public knows, that Covid-19 is the most deadly virus to have swept the world in our lifetimes. The pandemic is raging offshore as you read this.
It appears, National MPs, and its leadership, willingly withheld information it had acquired from its “reliable but confidential source” from health officials and the Government.
As they stated later, hundreds could have caught Covid-19 in the days the two women were among our communities. And as Radio New Zealand’s political editor Jane Patterson wrote: “The next few days will be crucial. Testing and contact tracing that will be frantically happening should give us a better idea of whether this is limited to just the two women, or if the failures at the border are going to have more wide-reaching consequences.”
Time, when it comes to Covid-19, is crucial.
Morally, on being informed of the two women having tested as Covid-19 positive, National should have immediately informed the Prime Minister’s office of the issue, called a press conference where it cited their informant, exposing the Government’s officials for having placed New Zealanders at further risk, and claimed the political highground.
Instead, it sat quiet, while the hours ticked away, while New Zealanders who may have been in contact with the infected women went about their daily tasks, contacting others, placing more people at risk.
If Covid-19 gets away on us again, New Zealand could return to lockdown. That would cause huge strain on an already strained economy and could see more New Zealanders die.
National’s decision is, in my opinion, beyond dirty politics. It exposes a party to being prepared to put New Zealander’s lives at risk just so it can deliver a political hit job.
In defence of his own actions, on Thursday MP Chris Bishop said: “This was a desperate attempt by the government to distract away from their incompetent management at the border and I think it’s frankly pretty disgraceful that an MP doing their job is being dragged into this.”
Bishop, in my view, on the evidence available so far, has little to apologise for. He was doing his job. But as for National’s leadership team, rather than the Minister of Health resigning, decency would insist they should front-up to explain why they put Kiwis lives at risk by holding on to that crucial information. On the information at hand, it is they, rather than the Minister of Health David Clark, who should resign.
But we all know – despite this revelation – they will not.
Ref. Parliament TV, Oral Questions, Todd Muller to the Prime Minister, June 17, 2020.
Ref. Parliament TV, Oral Questions, Michael Woodhouse to the Minister of Health, June 17, 2020.
Ref. Parliament TV, Oral Questions, Michael Woodhouse to the Minister of Health, June 18, 2020.
Ref. Parliament.nz oral questions, June 17, 2020.
Selwyn Manning is the editor of Evening Report.


thedailyblog--2020-06-18--Flat Earthers: For how much longer must New Zealand be damaged by Neoliberalism’s demented perceptio

Flat Earthers: For how much longer must New Zealand be damaged by Neoliberalism’s demented perceptions of reality?

IF SOMEONE TOLD YOU they could jump off your roof and float gently to the ground , you ’ d doubt their sanity .
Gravity is something we all experience .
All of us – bar the seriously deluded – understand that it can not be overcome .
At least , not without the help of parachutes , gliders , hot-air balloons , aeroplanes and rocket-ships .
Most of us – but , bafflingly , not all of us – are similarly convinced that the earth is a sphere .
Significantly , this conviction is born of the faith we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is not something most of us are able to grasp intuitively .
Rather , it is something we trust to be true because we accept the explanations of people clever enough to prove it .
In short , most of what we believe derives from direct personal experience .
The rest we take on faith .
This can be a problem .
For example .
If someone attempts to convince a Treasury official that the performance of state institutions is improved by appointing leaders on the basis of their proven expertise and long @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and by offering state employees secure lifetime employment , then the chances are the official will respond as if you have just declared that the Earth is flat .
Since the number of state servants who can still remember how the public sector functioned before the neoliberal revolution grows smaller with every passing year , the Treasury official ’ s dismissive response will , almost certainly , be based on faith not direct experience .
Were you to suggest that the entire neoliberal ideology – from which his ideas about the best @ @ @ @ @ @ @ derived – makes no more sense than the notion of a flat Earth , he would be astonished .
He would struggle to believe that any sane person could doubt the veracity of neoliberalism .
Mentally , he would file your suggestion under “ N ” – for nuts .
The events of the past few days : the appalling failure of our neoliberalised state sector to keep our borders secure from the threat of the Covis-19 virus ; ought to produce the same reaction from its defenders as a person who , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ finds himself failing to float gently to the ground .
Certainly , it is difficult to imagine a more convincing example of the way in which neoliberalism has corroded the whole ethos of public service .
The civil servants of 50 years ago would have been a rock against which the special pleading of selfish visitors/citizens , and the asinine braying of journalists , would have broken without effect .
They would have understood that officials like themselves were all that stood between the people of New Zealand and a renewed outbreak of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ huge hole in their economy .
Unmoved by the howls of protest of people unaccustomed to being told what to do they would have enforced the rules without fear or favour .
What does it say about the state of our state that the only people who can now be relied upon to protect it are the personnel of the NZ Defence Force ?
The person I feel most sorry for is Dr Ashley Bloomfield .
His own professional training ( which , unusually in the neoliberalised state sector , actually relates to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ compassionate ” exceptions to the strict requirements of self-isolation and quarantine would be extremely unwise .
That ruthlessly defending the border against Covid-19 was the only way to eliminate the virus .
He had reckoned without the faux outrage of a news media seemingly unable to understand the need for all responsible New Zealanders to close ranks in the interests of national survival .
Day after day the journalists bleated .
“ What would you say to those who can not say farewell to the their loved ones ?
” Simply by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that they were helping to dismantle the crucial defences against a resumption of community transmission .
Would their counterparts at the time of the Blitz have asked Winston Churchill such a question ?
Would they have turned the natural grief of families caught up in a once-in-a-generation national crisis into an excuse for embarrassing the government ?
Would the journalists of 1940 have deliberately compromised the nation ’ s resistance for a cheap headline ?
Not bloody likely !
In the New Zealand of 2020 , however , after years of neoliberal corrosion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ how to break a civil servant ’ s resolve .
They are well aware of the fundamental caution which utterly pervades the state sector .
They know how determined senior members of the public service are to protect their ministers from the clamour of an aroused populace .
Evoke sufficient emotion ; enlist sufficient support from Opposition politicians ; apply sufficient pressure ; and to protect his Prime Minister even an Ashley Bloomfield will break .
This is how we got compassionate exemption .
The Gallery broke the will of the Director-General of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bend .
I hope they ’ re happy .
And , of course , they are happy : in fact they ’ re delighted .
So delighted that they ’ re still doing it .
Still asking the Prime Minister and her Director-General : “ What would you say to … ?
Don ’ t you owe an apology to … ?
What was it that Michael Caine , playing the role of Batman ’ s butler , said : “ …some men aren ’ t looking for anything logical , like money @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , bullied , reasoned , or negotiated with .
Some men just want to watch the world burn.
” Just substitute the word “ worthwhile ” for “ logical ” and replace “ money ” with “ human decency ” and you ’ ve defined the amoral narcissistic pyromania that is neoliberalism .
No matter how high the casualties pile up , broken and bleeding , on the ground below , Neoliberalism keeps pushing humanity off the roof .
Because , in their eyes , nobody is falling .
In the world defined @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all floating gently to the ground .

IF SOMEONE TOLD YOU they could jump off your roof and float gently to the ground, you’d doubt their sanity. Gravity is something we all experience. All of us – bar the seriously deluded – understand that it cannot be overcome. At least, not without the help of parachutes, gliders, hot-air balloons, aeroplanes and rocket-ships. Most of us – but, bafflingly, not all of us – are similarly convinced that the earth is a sphere. Significantly, this conviction is born of the faith we place in science. A spherical earth is not something most of us are able to grasp intuitively. Rather, it is something we trust to be true because we accept the explanations of people clever enough to prove it. In short, most of what we believe derives from direct personal experience. The rest we take on faith. This can be a problem.
For example. If someone attempts to convince a Treasury official that the performance of state institutions is improved by appointing leaders on the basis of their proven expertise and long years of experience within the relevant organisations, and by offering state employees secure lifetime employment, then the chances are the official will respond as if you have just declared that the Earth is flat. Since the number of state servants who can still remember how the public sector functioned before the neoliberal revolution grows smaller with every passing year, the Treasury official’s dismissive response will, almost certainly, be based on faith not direct experience.
Were you to suggest that the entire neoliberal ideology – from which his ideas about the best way to organise the state sector are derived – makes no more sense than the notion of a flat Earth, he would be astonished. He would struggle to believe that any sane person could doubt the veracity of neoliberalism. Mentally, he would file your suggestion under “N” – for nuts.
The events of the past few days: the appalling failure of our neoliberalised state sector to keep our borders secure from the threat of the Covis-19 virus; ought to produce the same reaction from its defenders as a person who, having jumped off a roof, mysteriously finds himself failing to float gently to the ground.
Certainly, it is difficult to imagine a more convincing example of the way in which neoliberalism has corroded the whole ethos of public service. The civil servants of 50 years ago would have been a rock against which the special pleading of selfish visitors/citizens, and the asinine braying of journalists, would have broken without effect. They would have understood that officials like themselves were all that stood between the people of New Zealand and a renewed outbreak of the disease which had already gauged a huge hole in their economy. Unmoved by the howls of protest of people unaccustomed to being told what to do they would have enforced the rules without fear or favour. What does it say about the state of our state that the only people who can now be relied upon to protect it are the personnel of the NZ Defence Force?
The person I feel most sorry for is Dr Ashley Bloomfield. His own professional training (which, unusually in the neoliberalised state sector, actually relates to public health) told him that granting “compassionate” exceptions to the strict requirements of self-isolation and quarantine would be extremely unwise. That ruthlessly defending the border against Covid-19 was the only way to eliminate the virus. He had reckoned without the faux outrage of a news media seemingly unable to understand the need for all responsible New Zealanders to close ranks in the interests of national survival.
Day after day the journalists bleated. “What would you say to those who cannot say farewell to the their loved ones?” Simply by asking that question they must have known that they were helping to dismantle the crucial defences against a resumption of community transmission.
Would their counterparts at the time of the Blitz have asked Winston Churchill such a question? Would they have turned the natural grief of families caught up in a once-in-a-generation national crisis into an excuse for embarrassing the government? Would the journalists of 1940 have deliberately compromised the nation’s resistance for a cheap headline? Not bloody likely!
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In the New Zealand of 2020, however, after years of neoliberal corrosion, the Parliamentary Press Gallery knows exactly how to break a civil servant’s resolve. They are well aware of the fundamental caution which utterly pervades the state sector. They know how determined senior members of the public service are to protect their ministers from the clamour of an aroused populace. Evoke sufficient emotion; enlist sufficient support from Opposition politicians; apply sufficient pressure; and to protect his Prime Minister even an Ashley Bloomfield will break. This is how we got compassionate exemption. The Gallery broke the will of the Director-General of Health and forced the Prime Minister to bend. I hope they’re happy.
And, of course, they are happy: in fact they’re delighted. So delighted that they’re still doing it. Still asking the Prime Minister and her Director-General: “What would you say to … ? Don’t you owe an apology to … ?
What was it that Michael Caine, playing the role of Batman’s butler, said: “…some men aren’t looking for anything logical, like money. They can’t be bought, bullied, reasoned, or negotiated with. Some men just want to watch the world burn.” Just substitute the word “worthwhile” for “logical” and replace “money” with “human decency” and you’ve defined the amoral narcissistic pyromania that is neoliberalism.
No matter how high the casualties pile up, broken and bleeding, on the ground below, Neoliberalism keeps pushing humanity off the roof. Because, in their eyes, nobody is falling. In the world defined by their demented vision, we are all floating gently to the ground.