Politicians of all shades appear to be having a brain fade when it comes to recognising the critical part agriculture plays in the economy and therefore the overall wealth of the country. Last Thursday hundreds of farmers held a protest at Parliament organised by the farming lobby group 50 Shades of Green. One of their main concerns was the amount of agricultural land being planted in trees. According to news reports they may as well not have bothered to turn up. They appeared to be treated in a very rude and brusque manner.
First up Shane Jones, Minister of Forestry and Bad Manners, called them rednecks, which he said was “absolutely appropriate” given the vitriolic and insulting nature of the protest. He inferred they had punched him on the nose and therefore would get a reciprocal one back. “I’m matua Shane Jones, if you’re going to shout at me you’re never going to win.” Just who does this loud mouth buffoon think he is? With his party at 3% in the polls he might have thought here was a chance to garner some much needed support. But, like his leader, it’s all about him. A chance to grandstand.
Next up was another hater of farmers even though he’s one himself: Damien O’Connor, who only recently treated farmers in the lower South Island with disdain. On Thursday he went one better and inferred their points were ‘fiction’ and didn’t even stay to hear what they had to say. If the big matua Jones thought the protest insulting then O’Connor responded in kind. What is it about these types? Is it an ego problem or are they just plain dumb?
While Jones and O’Connor got most of the boos, Todd Muller was also on the receiving end. I hope he was bright enough to understand why. Muller said farmers used to say there were three things to worry about; interest rates, commodity prices and the weather. He said it now appeared the Coalition Government’s policies had been added to the top. What an absolutely ironic statement to make when he and his party supported them! How he could stand there and say that beggars belief.
I would hazard a guess there’ll be no rural votes going the way of Labour or NZF and National is skating on thin ice. National are now so intent on becoming the sister urban liberal party to Labour that they have tossed the farmers aside in order to please the Grey Lynn luvvies and the rest of the young Chardonnay drinking socialists. If National think this is how to win next year they should think again. To assume the farming vote is a given is a very risky strategy and they had better wake up and realise they now have some explaining to do to the rural sector.
Deserting part of your voter base is just plain dumb.