There seems to be no end to this government’s knee-jerking at every opportunity. Passing legislation under urgency is something that shouldn’t be done lightly but here they go again – because of course, it’s a matter of hugely significant national security. Something New Zealanders have been screaming for day in and day out for many years and something that has been at the forefront of the average person’s concerns forever. What am I talking about? It’s foreign donations to political parties! This issue is so important that Mr Little has announced that the law change will be dealt with under urgency this week.
No longer concerned about jobs, housing, crims walking the streets, health or education, the average Kiwi it would seem is so worried and obsessed about foreign donations to political parties that the government simply must step up and deal with it.
According to Stuffed, Andrew Little said:
There’s no need for anyone other than New Zealanders to donate to our political parties or seek to influence our elections. The risk of foreign interference in elections is a growing international phenomenon and can take many forms, including donations.
New Zealand is not immune from this risk
And sitting in the wings
The ban is part of Green Justice spokesperson Golriz Ghahraman’s Strengthening Democracy Members’ Bill.
“Limiting foreign donations to $50 will reduce undue influence from powerful vested interests and create a healthier and fairer system,” she said
Strengthening democracy doesn’t come from increasing regulation – it comes from free speech and freedom of expression – including how people spend their money and who they choose to support.
What exactly Little is hoping to achieve with this (which Bridges says the Nats will support – again) isn’t entirely clear. It looks very much like more of the messy tinkering with legislation that governments are prone to doing even though they should have far more important real issues to deal with.
Often these situations end up giving us more useless, unenforceable laws and regulations that achieve very little of use anyway. At the end of the day you can’t monitor every cent someone gives to others no matter where they come from or how much you might think you can. Every step like this is one step closer to totalitarian control don’t you think?
I’m sure most of us would agree that we don’t particularly want foreign interference in our democracy but restrictive legislation and bans are contrary to democracy and freedom – the very things we all want to protect aren’t they?
Bridges needs to stop playing along with everything and stand firm on something. Put a stake in the ground. Ahhh yes – except that there’s a bit of a guilty conscience around this one isn’t there. But honestly – does anybody really care?