For BFD readers irritated by the apparently endless fawning of the global mainstream media over Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, this week’s Spectator magazine contains a welcome breath of fresh air. New Zealand’s own Amy Brooke has penned a damning critique of Ardern’s so-called “kindness”.
Undoubtedly we now have a tightly-knit oligarchy running New Zealand, dominated by Labour Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, attracting no more than a third of the votes in the last election. Described as short on real world experiences, Ardern is the darling of our overwhelmingly left-wing commentariat, even more so now the media are largely in the government’s pocket, an allegiance encouraged by a recent $50 million bailout to strikingly biased newspapers, television and radio. When media can dip their hands into the government’s pockets the results are predictable.
Brooke turns her pen to Ardern’s media-lauded (in denial of all facts) COVID-19 response.
Initially, most New Zealanders acquiesced to what has been assessed as ‘the most significant impact on human rights in living memory’, with government imposing lockdown level four. However, the estimated number of deaths of those unable to access hospitals for scheduled cancer, kidney, heart and other urgent surgery and care is apparently going to be far greater than from Covid-19[…]This does not include the mental stress and anxiety of some who may well commit suicide, forced into financial ruin with businesses collapsing nationwide, the loss of jobs and savings being eaten away. A country facing virtual financial ruin is now saying enough is enough. Growing opinion is that there was no need for the government to strangle the economy as it has, given that the Australians, with similar results, are keeping theirs ticking over.
I suspect Brooke is at least partly wishful-thinking, here. Unless New Zealanders are arcing up harder than Australians. The constant stream of fawning and cheer-squadding for lockdown-happy governments here is sickening.
But, as Brooke says, for a “kind” and “empathic” leader, Ardern sure is acting like an old-fashioned, jack-booted, dictator.
This is partly because of the scandal arising from leaked Crown Law advice from Bronagh McKenna to the government, including Attorney-General, David Parker, and the present and previous police commissioners, showing that apparently, for the first nine days of the lockdown, our government acted ultra vires – beyond its legal power[…]
However the attorney-general and police commissioners apparently wanted this kept under wraps, possibly because anyone harassed or arrested by the police for non-compliance issues might now be able to claim damages. Ardern’s government is now accused of breaking its own laws and, by enforcing these illegal actions, behaving despotically.
Ardern’s much-vaunted “compassion” didn’t extend to the families of the ill and dying, either.
This compassion was not extended to the lonely, the ill and elderly dying in rest homes and hospitals. She is regarded as having acted far too exclusively on advice from the Ministry of Health and lacking genuine compassion or even understanding of those desperate to say farewell – I love you – and thank you for everything… to dying husbands, wives or parents.
For example, the quarantined Christchurch man pleading to see his dying wife one last time[…]Most New Zealanders think this is outrageous.
But…but…kindness!
Brooke also notes the blatant racism in the Ardern government’s relative funding of Maori versus “other” New Zealanders and the police’s tolerance of illegal Maori roadblocks.
With the public envisaging quite different action if others set up their own roadblocks, the reputation of our police force for impartiality has not been enhanced.
Finally, the long-term reckoning for the Ardern government’s belated sledgehammer approach must surely eventually dawn on even the dimmest bulbs.
The huge concern is that we now have an economic catastrophe facing this country – masquerading as a health victory – with the worst of its consequences ahead.
Let’s see what happens when even the clueless numpties in government and press realise that economies can’t just be turned off and on at a whim.
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