17-11-2022, 02:06 PM
Two things can be counted on whenever an election looms - the National party trumpeting on how they're going to 'get tough' - usually on crime but sometimes also on beneficiaries, & Winston hitting the racism button yet again. Anything to gain votes.
Sending kids to military camps has a bit of a history here too.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politic...-boot-camp
"Troubled teens sent to government-run boot camps were abused and assaulted by military personnel tasked with turning their lives around.
Two military staff have been through formal disciplinary proceedings, one step below a full court martial, over treatment they meted out to teens on the camps.
It has drawn criticism that the boot camps are not working and should be scrapped."
National & ACT also have a history of being given large donations by wealthy rich listers, which isn't especially democratic.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/opinion/12830808...-democracy
"OPINION:┬áIn a democracy, government is supposed to be ÔÇ£of the people, by the people, for the peopleÔÇØ, in Abraham LincolnÔÇÖs famous phrase. The recent flood of donations to National and ACT, though, suggests we risk getting a government of the Rich List, by the Rich List, for the Rich List.
National has reportedly, in just one month, raised $1.8m in large donations, and┬áACT┬á$850,000. These are extraordinary sums, roughly ten times the normal amount for a non-election year. And what no-one seems to have noticed is that, in NationalÔÇÖs case, all bar one of their 17 donors are on the Rich List."
While donations can be made to all parties, I think donations from anyone at all must be both limited & no secret donations at all permitted.
Sending kids to military camps has a bit of a history here too.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politic...-boot-camp
"Troubled teens sent to government-run boot camps were abused and assaulted by military personnel tasked with turning their lives around.
Two military staff have been through formal disciplinary proceedings, one step below a full court martial, over treatment they meted out to teens on the camps.
It has drawn criticism that the boot camps are not working and should be scrapped."
National & ACT also have a history of being given large donations by wealthy rich listers, which isn't especially democratic.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/opinion/12830808...-democracy
"OPINION:┬áIn a democracy, government is supposed to be ÔÇ£of the people, by the people, for the peopleÔÇØ, in Abraham LincolnÔÇÖs famous phrase. The recent flood of donations to National and ACT, though, suggests we risk getting a government of the Rich List, by the Rich List, for the Rich List.
National has reportedly, in just one month, raised $1.8m in large donations, and┬áACT┬á$850,000. These are extraordinary sums, roughly ten times the normal amount for a non-election year. And what no-one seems to have noticed is that, in NationalÔÇÖs case, all bar one of their 17 donors are on the Rich List."
While donations can be made to all parties, I think donations from anyone at all must be both limited & no secret donations at all permitted.
in order to be old & wise, you must first be young & stupid. (I'm still working on that.)