Lindsay Perigo
The Politically Incorrect Show - 02/05/2001
[Music - Die Fledermaus]
Good afternoon, Kaya Oraaa & welcome to the Politically Incorrect Show on the free speech network, Radio Pacific, for Wednesday May 2, proudly sponsored by Neanderton Nicotine Ltd., the show that says bugger the politicians & bureaucrats & all the other bossyboot busybodies who try to run our lives with our money; that stands tall for free enterprise, achievement, profit, & excellence, against the state-worshippers in our midst; that stands above all for the most sacred thing in the universe, the liberty of the human individual.
[Music up, music down!]
"The Problem with National" was the heading of a National Business Review editorial last Friday. The editorial correctly opined that "by being nice to everybody, National wins respect from almost nobody," though it contradicted itself by lamenting that the party had "lost the middle ground." It's precisely because of its obscene clamour to be seen to occupy the middle ground that National has lost respect. Labour in government has made no bones about being hard Left. Its policies are vile, but no one can fault it for disguising its agenda or not having one. National has ample opportunity to present a meaningful alternative, even though this would mean repudiating its socialistic record in government.
The problem with National is that it doesn't have the guts or integrity to do this. Gaining power was all it was ever concerned about; regaining power is all it's concerned about now. A delegate at last weekend's regional conference in Rotorua summed it up perfectly during a debate on New Zealand becoming a republic: "Forget principles. Is it a vote-catcher?" Just as bad was leader Jenny Shipley's statement, "I think often New Zealanders thought that we don't care. We care a huge amount." Yes, National DOES care a huge amount - about getting back into office. And when a politician talks about "caring" you may be sure that it's a precursor to proposals to steal more of your money to bribe voters with. Mrs Shipley is champing at the bit to outdo the government in compulsory paid parental leave policy. What she should be saying is that the whole idea is a no-no.
Her predecessor, Jim Bolger, once dismissed to my face as "bullshit" the idea that National should have a consistent philosophy underpinning all its policies. Pragmatic ad-hocery was his modus operandi, & there is no evidence to suggest that National is willing to part from that. Yet it DOES have a constitution that commits it to free enterprise & individual liberty. From such a vantage point, National could & should be having a field day with the government's evil. My guess is that few if any of its MPs are even aware of it.
"National will lose the next election," concludes the NBR, "unless it can provide voters a reason, other than the quest for political power, to exist. This means being brave & putting philosophy first."
The National Party, brave? Willing to put philosophy first? The Pope will become a Protestant before THAT happens.
It's enough to make you vote Libertarianz!
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