Written By:
- Date published:
2:04 pm, October 6th, 2024 - 1 comment
Categories: Christopher Luxon, health, Privatisation, Shane Reti, Unions -
Tags: 23-October, privatisation, protest
As I spent nights and the weekend furiously drawing up different protest slogans, creating “No Privatisation” Facebook pages, organising and writing Reddit posts to advertise an upcoming 23-October NZCTU protest, I wondered to myself?
“Where are the unions to the non-union members?”
“Where are the opposition parties to the public?”
“What is happening?”
And yet I know the answer to one of those questions.
I research political developments all the time, and invariably find that the Greens and Labour have made comments about the government’s policies – often very good points – but they hardly ever make it to the media channels.
The corporatisation of media, and the earlier “promises” from David Seymour in February/March – where he warned TVNZ should pay dividends despite its financial issues and called our media “hateful” in an episode with Sean Plunkett who called for a “pogrom” ie. massacre of those who criticised the government, have had an effect, it appears.
Still – even without the media – I feel it’s important to get the message out.
This government plans to privatise healthcare.
On Friday, Luxon and Reti again spoke up about the benefits of health privatisation up after Health NZ – who is now run singularly by a Luxon appointed individual who previously championed running health as a business – “recommended” that option to the government.
Privatisation has already started in our education sectors with significant funding for charter schools, non-transparency protection to them, and allowance to take from state schools and in social housing. But that’s not all.
This government is making sure profits are made by corporates and socialising the losses e.g the oil and gas ban repeal where taxpayers are on the hook for billions of dollars of decommissioning costs, and Chris Bishop is now underwriting private developers after killing off many Kainga Ora builds – which taxpayers would have owned.
This government spent $268,000 – $3720 per page to come up with a report that said Dunedin hospital is unaffordable.
Yet that report was easily debunked by Dunedin’s Mayor – the government’s consultants had included out-of-scope items to make it look more expensive.
There are so many holes and lies in their stories, it’s becoming larger than a single planet.
So where is the oomph? Where is the participation, promotion and energy to arouse a broader coalition across the country?
Because I think our country deserves not to go down the path of the UK Tories and their demolition of England’s National Health Service under the guise of austerity i.e. no money.
Where are our opposition party’s ground roots movements and campaigns?
Where is the longer than an hour protests – and not on a weekday?
Where is the OOMPH, New Zealand?
It’s so great the NZCTU has organised this protest but can we see more of the strategic planning behind it please?
PS
There are things to be answered about the 23-October protests:
Is it possible, I wonder, that we need a refresh of energy in our collective leftist movements? Hell, I hate labels, but if I have to be called a leftie to partner, I am willing. And waiting.
So is much of the country – this is a unifying theme and we should all be paying attention to it.
The CoC is making hay while the sun shines and will continue to do so for as long as it has no opposition.
Playing devil's advocate on behalf of the swinging voter,
In my opinion, this is a good part of the CoCs free rein in unashamedly kicking the bottom 90%.
Maybe that's a bit exaggerated, but there just doesn't feel to be a coalition of a genuine opposition yet and times running out.