Null Policies

One of the worrying things about this National Party under Brash, is the noticeable lack of clearly planned policies and strategies. In terms of fiscal objectives, these well documented tax cuts are really a red herring. What's not documented is the more sweeping ideological changes that such a majority government would be pushing for. Is it really self evident that privatized prisons would be better run? Where is the evidence? Until I see evidence I'm going to find it very difficult to believe, just because Dr Donald Brash and the Business Roundtable says so.

Despite what self-riteous Christian sects are loudly proclaiming at the moment, New Zealand is NOT in a state of decline. In fact, New Zealand is healthier and more prosperous than it's ever been. One of the lowest unemployment rates in the world. Thriving tourism, fashion, science, creative industries. A huge high quality export industry. If you really believe in hyper-capitalism, lots of stuff is going in the right direction. Before launching into their attacks on the NCEA system, did the right-wing critics actually stop to ask any secondary school students how they were doing, and what they thought? Of course not. When one's mind is already made up, there's no need for evidence. And yet these are the same people accusing Labour and the Greens of being dangerously ideologically driven.

The evidence for the failure of the new education curriculum is largely based on a small number of upset "high achievers", who missed out on deserved grades or some reflection of heirachical better-than. I'm sorry to say this, but this situation is not new. High achiving students have always been fucked over by the New Zealand school system. I can say this because I know. I started school when Muldoon was still in power. I experienced the shakeups of "Tomorrow's Schools" in the late 80's. I grew up watching the entire structure and fabric of New Zealand society, morphing and changing, experienced it's reflection in the education system. When I started Wellington College in 1993, it was clear that the place hadn't changed since the late 70's. By the time I left in 1997, it was completely different.

Padding behind the National banner is a pack of opportunists, baying, snapping, foaming at the mouths at the mere thought of getting their cunning little fingers wrapped around the puppet strings of the New Zealand economy. But there is a massive difference between the situation in 1984 and the situation now, in 2005. The difference is that this country is not in a crisis state, it's thriving.