Dr Jarrod Gilbert Sociologist
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Politics is bollocks because of politicians. And voters.

26/2/2014

5 Comments

 
I’d rather eat the guts out of a live kitten than vote this year. Mostly because I think it would leave a better taste in my mouth.

I have always harboured a healthy dislike for politicians but never before have I been as disinclined to vote for either of the major political parties. National is a do nothing government telling us we have a rock star economy, which might be true for the prime minister and his circle of friends, but I work in areas where deep and serious problems around poverty and social dislocation are all too real and getting worse.

Labour acknowledges these problems but its answers seem irrelevant or gimmicky and not systemic. More than this, all of the parties are just so wholly uninspiring. The recent return of Matt McCarten, Jim Anderton, and Richard Prebble is a tired tip of the hat to the old boys’ network.  A drab testimony to a complete lack of innovative thinking.

One of the problems, I think, is that we hold politicians in too high a regard. Generally we punish people when they do bad things, but I know a heap of crooks who behave in better ways than those in power. Yip, they might sell drugs or rob the odd bank, but only if you’ve never taken drugs or thought about taking money off your bank can you really throw stones.

Flippancy aside, many crimes that take an inordinate amount of focus, pale in comparison to more important problems or debates like child poverty, polluted rivers, the powers of the GCSB, policies without mandate, and the ballooning gap between rich and poor.

Furthermore, when crooks get caught they are punished, unlike politicians. John Banks can quite obviously lie and still prop up a government. The people of Epsom won’t punish his party (they didn’t when Rodney ‘Perk Buster’ Hide was busted for enjoying taxpayer perks) and return ACT to power.

And this is, at least in part, the problem. Most people feel powerless to punish errant or hopeless politicians but when we get the chance to send a message, we don’t. The problem with politics is that it often trumps principles: ‘I’ll concede on this so I can gain on something else’. We see that as ugly, but as voters we do the same. Epsom is proof of that.

We would all be better off in the long term if Epsom sent ACT – and by implication all politicians – a strong message. That being we demand better.

In fact, it’s more likely some other deal will be made that sees Colin Craig get elected. Colin Craig is without doubt an intellectually bereft idiot - one half laughable, the other half offensive. He has more place on the street selling pencils from a cup ranting about the end of the world than he does sitting in parliament.

The irony is, that if I were in those particular electorates, I’d feel like I’d have something to vote for (or at least against). As it stands I don’t feel I do. And I’m not alone. There is an increasing disillusionment with politics. This is often called apathy. The powers-that-be should hope that it is, and not a simmering disillusionment that could go pop.

I believe in voting, I will make the effort to get to the booth and I will vote for my incumbent MP because I find her excellent – but that’s in spite of her party, not because of it. The party vote I will leave blank, presumably adding to the ‘invalid’ result. Or I’ll vote for the Internet Party. Not because I think Kim Dotcom is the answer, but simply because eating the guts out of a kitten is probably not as cool as it sounds.

5 Comments
Trav
27/2/2014 12:53:53 pm

Really get a kick out of reading your blogs Jarrod. I agree with you about politics, even if we put up a fuss they just sidestep the issue, stay quiet and wait for us to lose interest in harassing them and then carry on anyway. Apathy is a good description. Ive never voted and until I start my own party properly never will due to the simple fact that our government is a broken system of failing policies.

Reply
Jarrod
28/2/2014 04:18:18 am

Thanks so much, I appreciate the feedback. I'm having fun writing them. Let me know when you start your own party. I'm in. But I think you should get along to vote and put in a blank form. It shows we care but have nothing to support.

Reply
Rob Stowell
28/2/2014 05:11:14 am

Obvious question: what WOULD you support? There's a fair array of parties on offer already. None of them have a balance of policy you'd like to put your tick to?

Reply
Jarrod
1/3/2014 12:59:36 am

That's a really fair question. It's easy to be against something and much harder to identify solutions. I have to admire the integrity of the Greens. Say what you like about their economic or foreign policies, they are a principled bunch. Ironically enough I also liked that Jamie Whyte - ACT's new leader - spoke honestly about his views on adult incestuous relationships. The answer wasn't political - it was refreshingly (and maybe a little disturbingly) honest. My real problem is that I don't feel inspired. Nobody is selling me a vision that excites. And a vision is the easy part, it's getting there that's hard. Yet we don't even have that.
That and politicians tend to be wankers.

Reply
Geoff
2/3/2014 01:01:37 pm

You try to come across as level-headed but some of your posts seem pretty schizo and pig-headed to be honest, That last comment about politicians being wankers is full of it.You know full well that's not entirely true. Sweeping generalisation.

Reply



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