OPINION
Christmas brought more than presents from Santa again this year. The gift that keeps on giving is Jacinda Ardern. Wrapped in the Christmas paper of so-called kindness and without a hint of the sticky tape of humility, the opening proved interesting. Our guests from across the political spectrum were all united in their anger, grief and anxiety. The stress of this out-of-control and controlling government results in concern and suffering; in feelings of utter helplessness, of being held hostage and being unwilling participants in the takeover of New Zealand, this Aotearoa (re-named by stealth, not referendum).
Political anxiety is not a new phenomenon, but it is one that is here and now causing more of us to experience it. The level of anxiety is increasing. It is affecting mental health. It is affecting our emotional responses to normally less stressful situations – we are becoming trigger-happy and short tempered. Feelings of uncertainty are common. The lack of ability to plan, in the face of a cynical manipulation of money, of real estate, of employment, of a cost-of-living crisis (more below). Of poverty, conflated with parental neglect and ram-raiding kids. Of the uncertainty of access to health services, of the implications of the theft of our water, the spectre of mortgagee sales, of emergency and transitional housing needs, of the reckless influence in education, of re-writing history to suit the current narrative and interfering in parents’ legal ability to choose moral pathways for their children. Of the reality of the tribal takeover via a collaboration between Ardern and Mahuta. Of the Covid propaganda – indeed long Covid. This is an ever-evolving pathway of uncertainty, and it is having very real effects on each of us. We can’t even reliably buy eggs, and certainly not to throw at politicians.
Perhaps the simplest definition of anxiety is fear. And when we perceive a threat, our thinking, behaviours and relationships are transformed. A good chunk of politics is focused on telling us what we should be terrified about. It’s no secret that fear-based messages get higher ratings and are more likely to be shared on social media.
Psychology Today
The fear introduced by the government around Covid saw this empathetic, kind, utterly ruthless, and WEF, WHO and UN disciple, able to rule with her iron fist in the glove of so-called caring. And we can do nothing about it. Until the election, as yet an unknown date. Ardern does, however, seem to be on the run, and a reshuffle of roles is unlikely to save her; there is no new talent, just the same old failures in different portfolios about which they know nothing.
“It takes strength to be an empathetic leader.” Jacinda Ardern said in a BBC interview in November 2018.
“New Zealand’s Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern is known for being open and likeable.” (BBC News)
She certainly is not empathetic. Nor open. Nor likeable.
The “Live to Lead” interview popped up just before Santa made an appearance. Produced by the questionable Harry and Meghan, it gave Jacinda 30 minutes to extol her virtues, endorsed by H and M in the series featuring “leaders who have made brave choices and who have ‘given inspiration to the rest of us’”.
“Markle appeared to say the legacy Ardern is building, ‘stems from a belief of never losing her capacity for empathy’.” (Stuff)
It seems there has been a switch from kindness to empathy. Semantics maybe, but we have dined too long on the diet of her so-called kindness. A menu change to overcome the cynicism of the previous dish of kindness? Did she ever have a capacity for kindness, for empathy? Is she an “inspiration to the rest of us”?
No.
She tells us that “the world needs politicians who care”. Indeed. She is not one of them. She is hyped on hubris. But she is afraid to attend Waitangi. Afraid to appear in public unless in a tightly controlled situation. How will that work out for her on the election trail? Back in September 2022 Grant Robertson was already saying that the 2023 campaign “needs a rethink after copping public abuse”. Lamington abuse?
“The abuse and vitriol from a ‘small section of the public’ has got so intense that Labour is considering axing its ‘iconic’ walkabouts at next year’s election campaign.”
Daily Telegraph NZ
This will be an interesting year in politics.
Back to the cost-of-living crisis. It was noted while shopping pre-Christmas Day that there were supermarket trolleys piled high with soft drinks, chocolate and assorted confectionery and cigarettes. Trolleys without a mouthful of food. Sure, this is a different time, a retail bonanza, a celebration of all things except Christianity, but surely in these circumstances we would expect to see essential food rather than non-essentials? Salad, not soft drink. Full trolleys of expensive empty calories and empty bellies?
That gives pause for thought when a RNZ News headline proclaims, ‘For some kids our food is all they have’ – KidsCan appeals for new donors for 2023.
“So, we know more than ever for some kids our food is their main source of nutrition.”
According to Stats NZ, when a household is in material hardship, it could mean going without things like fresh fruit and veggies or avoiding using the heater in winter to save money.
In the year ended June 2021, 11 per cent of children (125,700) experienced material hardship.
The number was even higher in Maori tamariki with more than one in five children (60,300) experiencing material hardship.”
RNZ News
Closely followed by this headline: New Zealanders break record, spend $100m on Boxing Day sales.
New data from payment network company Worldline showed New Zealanders’ Boxing Day spending reached record heights this year, with consumers spending $100.5 million at core retail merchants, up 2.6 per cent on last year.
RNZ News
How do these two articles marry up?
We have ever-increasing jobseeker numbers while employers are unable to find employees. Hospitality venues are closed and closing. Auckland Airport has thousands of bags waiting for owners and vice-versa and there is nobody who can be employed to assist?
“As we’ve seen globally, issues like lost baggage arise during peak travel times and are compounded by a 30 per cent workforce gap. We simply can’t get enough people to fill roles,” Marren says.
Marren says he knows the problems will continue for several months but the airline is taking “immediate action”.
RNZ News
Does that immediate action mean matching actual jobseekers with actual jobs?
“All young people who go onto a benefit under the age of 20 will spend an average of 19.7 years on a benefit. This statistic comes from the MSD annual review answers to pre-hearing questions. These won’t be released until the report is tabled next year.” (The Hon Louise Upston)
This was an email response directly to me from Ms Upston on 12 December 2022 in response to my question for her following parliament on 6 December. What an appalling statistic.
The interconnectivity of all these issues cause speculation. And distress. And anxiety.
Will Jacinda Ardern experience her own political anxiety, as she is causing much of the population to suffer?