qed’s blog

I was in NZ recently, it is a fantastic place largely unspoilt and populated by friendly people. It seems strange that our media constantly refers to their economic malaise as though that was indeed the only thing that matters. My impression was the blessings of fertile agriculture and unsurpassed tourist potential give the Kiwis a standard of living second to none in the world. Which makes the election of a socalled self made millionaire to the position of Prime Minister all the more curious.

I hope to figure this out one day but in the meantime I find the tendency of people towards adulation of those who become rich by way of the economic system slightly curious, particularly when it is the very people who are victims of inequity who seem the most adoring. Another observation about such leaders (and we have not one but two here in Oz) is that they like to talk a lot about economic policy but steer well clear of any debate about equity and egalitarianism. In a very real way, John Key’s victory speech in a casino is so very fitting given his political inclination. He got lucky but as anyone who understands gambling knows, the system is about winners and losers, a few winners and lots of losers. The only way to read the NZ result is that enough people are prepared to gamble their country’s future for the chance to strike the own personal jackpot. It looks like the same seeds of greed that took root here some years ago have crossed the Tasman in search of more fertile ground.