Suddenly, the most loved prime minister of all time, the one who was gifted an absolute majority at the last election, can find nowhere to go without protesters. This process started last year, after she put the entire country into Level 4 lockdown for a single case, but has accelerated enormously since the beginning of this year.
Let us not pretend that the Wellington protesters do not have a lot to do with that. Camped on the front lawn of parliament (and now on several of the surrounding streets), it is impossible for her to ignore them, no matter how hard she tries. So her plan lately has been to get out of Wellington all together (which she cannot do indefinitely), and visit schools and kindergartens in other parts of the country. This is a common tactic used by the prime minister; when the going gets tough, she gets going… in the opposite direction, away from the trouble.
On Wednesday, she visited Westport, a town affected by devastating floods last July, and that has also been threatened with more floods this month, thankfully without serious consequences. While using the cover of wanting to inspect the progress on flood recovery, I would hazard a guess that she expected a good reception in Westport. After all, the West Coast has been a Labour stronghold for a century, and Westport is, first and foremost, a mining town.
Sadly for Jacinda, even the folk of Westport don’t like her any more.
That was a surprise really. She put her head down and walked away, but we all know she doesn’t cope well with this behaviour. Jacinda likes to be adored. All this derision must be playing havoc with her mind.
Still, you reap what you sow. Refusing to listen to people’s pleas is a surefire way of making yourself unpopular, and there is no point in pretending that she doesn’t care – for herself anyway. But she refuses to talk to the protesters, she refuses to give in, staying on her high horse and no doubt reassuring herself that she is acting in everyone’s best interests really… even if they don’t see it that way.
Surely people can decide for themselves what is best for them? Yes, that used to be the case, but not with this government. They always know best. Always. Even if they don’t.
But with over 6000 cases on Thursday (cases, please note, not sick people), really, the game is up. There is no justification for continuing to segregate the unvaccinated, who are now so much in the minority that the vast majority of the cases are vaccinated people. We have a two-tier society for no good reason, and the people have spoken.
Having bombed out in Westport, the next day, she decided to go safe and visit a school. Surely that would be fine? Well, sorry Jacinda. The kids will probably leave you alone, but kids have parents… and the parents are not happy.
The protesters kept chanting – “Shame on You”. I like that. So much better than swearing or abusing. “Shame on You” has a fabulous ring to it. She has ruined people’s lives, for what now is obviously no good reason at all. She should be ashamed. “Shame on You” is the perfect call. I hope the protesters keep this up. It is powerful.
She will not back down, but the game is up. In all my time in New Zealand, I have never witnessed scenes like this aimed at a prime minister. She is lost. She is done for. And all because she thought she knew best, and became arrogant and uncompromising as a result. But above all, she has forgotten one important thing. She is there to serve the people, and she is not doing her job. Once that happens, there is only one way to go. Goodbye Jacinda… good luck, and thanks for all the fish. You have been measured, you have been weighed and you have been found too lightweight for the job. For God’s sake – go.
