John Key doesn’t need evidence. He just knows stuff. John Key just knows that Don Brash’s emails were stolen by a mysterious hacker – “but I can’t back that up”. Well of course he can’t back it up, no one can, there’s no evidence at all:
The investigation appeared to favour the theory of an inside job. An assessment of Parliamentary computer security from 2003 to 2005 found no evidence of any “hacking of any sort, no evidence of any interception or use of similar devices”. “No evidence of anything, really – in fact there was absolutely no trail to follow.”
So, Nicky Hager says it was an inside job, the police think it was an inside job, and insiders across the political spectrum are pointing the finger at Bill English. But Key would rather believe in imaginary ninja hackers.
In many ways Key’s touching faith in the imaginary should come as no surprise. Key believes that “National Standards” will raise educational achievements, despite having no evidence at all (in fact, despite evidence to the contrary). Key believes that tax cuts for the rich will save the economy, despite having no evidence at all. Key believes that having un-elected businesspeople run Auckland and trampling local democracy will be good for the city, despite having no evidence at all (again there is evidence to the contrary). Key believes that the three strikes policy will reduce crime, despite having no evidence at all. And so on, and so on. Key believes without evidence. Hell, maybe he really does believe that there are pixies at the bottom of the garden printing money.
Shouldn’t we live in a world where facts had some chance of driving policy? Shouldn’t we expect better than this from government? Shouldn’t we demand better than this?
Powered by WPtouch Mobile Suite for WordPress