Civil War
Right wing junk tank leader: It'll be a bloodless revolution "if the left allows it to be"
Opinion and analysis
There’s a lot to cover, as usual, but I’d like to focus mostly on the risks to our democracy today.
First -
In New Zealand, ACT and National supporter Nick Mowbray1 wins in NZ’s richest stakes.
Another ACT/National donor, Graeme Hart, comes second, $8b behind the Mowbrays — landing at $12b.
Those on the rich list have seen their collective wealth increase by $7b - that’s $7000 million for the uninitiated.
RNZ reports that that collective wealth is equivalent to over 40% of NZ’s GDP.
i.e. It’s not small change.
Meanwhile, workers continue to struggle. Homelessness skyrockets around the country, and RNZ reports this morning that more people face permanent homelessness under this government’s policies.
This is also against the backdrop of a 10 year high for business liquidations, the construction industry making up 1/3 of that, while the industry experiences a mental health crisis.
NZ unemployment is forecast to be the worst in the Asia Pacific region - and maintaining record highs despite simultaneous record Kiwis leaving our shores. i.e. it’s much worse than the numbers show.
But that’s really not the worst news today.
Over in America, billionaire Trump has sent out the National Guard, signing an executive order, for armed forces to quell protests in California.
This is the same Donald J. Trump who backs financial compensation for jailed insurrectionist January 6 rioters that caused police deaths and injuries on Capitol Hill: "Blinded, beaten, screaming for mercy: Police officers recount Capitol riot"
Yes, police that conservatives typically say they revere and respect aren’t important if it goes up against their ideals.
Trump broke 60 years of tradition to exclude the State Governor from his executive order process, but of course he would have relished the opportunity to punch down on a Blue State - especially one as successful as California.
Gavin Newsom, California’s Governer, warns that Trump is moving to take over California’s National Guard and deploying 2000 more soldiers because “they want a spectacle..don’t give them one.”2
Newsom is right. The people who control America’s government would love the opportunity to hurt people who don’t agree with them and hold them up as an example for all.
But it’s hard to temper emotions in the face of ongoing provocation and denial of human and legal rights.
The raids in the US have also seen top union officials arrested, and hurt.3
None of this is surprising. None of it ever was.
On the day Trump won, America was no longer what it used to be - even if only superficially.4
Those who rallied against the Democrats, and said all parties were the “same” or “Republican lite” will increasingly see if this is true or not.
The “circular firing squad” of the progressives never disappoints.
Never.
We are so smart after all. We know exactly how to dissect and criticise anyone and anything.
The new alt-right aren’t so foolish - they understand unity better than anyone.
As the leader of the Atlas Network linked Heritage Foundation, backers of the Republican Party politicians, said last year:
The new American revolution will be bloodless “if the left allows it to be.”
Our primary news channels, like other writers, can only do what we do best - analyse the words and circumstances.
Back then, MSNBC called it a “cryptic threat” because that’s all responsible writers can do.
But we are not in typical times, and although it’s too late for America5, responsible journalism here must take the stride towards forceful conclusion - or at least show viewers what we’re really looking at.
Times are not typical —
It’s not here - either.
We must value reasoned analysis, and projection, as much as we value accuracy.
Here in New Zealand, David Seymour says it’s “irrelevant” that only 0.33% of submitters supported his Regulatory Standards Bill during consultation. He wants to pass a new bill that says Parliamentarians shouldn’t pass bills retroactively, and corporate power exceeds all.
Let’s state the obvious here - Seymour doesn’t care what the level of public support is. For people of his ilk - and indeed this entire right wing Coalition and Caucas - that number could be 0 for all they care.
It’s only about how they can advance their ideological agenda.
And while those on the left side of politics loudly decry the travesty of Te Pati Māori’s suspension, most Kiwis said it was appropriate and even too lenient.
i.e. There is a significant divergence of understanding and perception and TPM and the so-called “left” aren’t winning that battle.
Many middle of the road Kiwis believe Te Pati Māori is an ‘extremist’ party - perpetuated by the lies and out of context propaganda from the likes of Winston Peters and David Seymour.
And these politicans do it to weaken Labour and the Greens simultaneously.
The alt right’s moves are systematically attacking democracy and instilling a culture of two worlds and two entirely different perceptions of what is real and what isn’t - just like we see in the States.
Their backers’ and strategists’ plans and wealth are both global and formidable.
We weren’t not warned as a people. The vision of the Heritage Foundations and the like were always that of a Christo-fascist-fossil-fuel-corporate-authoritarian state, where the people will be subsumed by state-corporate power in every Western democracy that exists.
It was written in Peter Thiel’s essay many years ago where he said he does not believe democracy and freedom can co-exist. Today Thiel’s company is creating a database to track every American citizen with unparalleled powers, and his backed politicians are in power.
Gone are the days of pontification, “Well Hitler said we must care for this country and its future - there is something in that! Maybe he’s not that bad, after all!”
Sometimes you have to look past analysis and see what is coming.
There is no pleasure in accurate forecasting, but there is some pain in seeing all it all come to be.
We are not different here in New Zealand.
It’s a crisis of democracy though, and you shouldn’t let that be forgotten6.
Videos
Along with brother Tim
Trump is also going to strip unionisation rights from most Federal employees at the same time.
I wrote about that the day its fate was sealed.
Many of their journalists tried but the power of the right wing media and misinformation, as well as hate generated towards progressives, was overwhelming
Find solace and respite because the road is long
I wonder why, with around 150,000 New Zealanders unemployed, our government is now considering issuing visas to parents of the “skilled people” they want to come and work in AotearoaNZ. Surely it would be better to train those unemployed in the skills required, giving them the chance to make a decent living without having to compete with foreign workers who would demand higher incomes? It would slash the benefit outlay and offer many willing Kiwis some hope.
What we don’t need is more immigration while our own people are being forced to scrape together a meagre life, trying to find a better place for themselves and their families.
To me, this “Parent Boost” visa exercise is little more than a cynical attempt to boost the numbers in the ever dwindling National Fan Club base.
Jeremy Coleman
I find it disturbing that the Ministers at question time, are not required to provide proper answers. The questions are provided ahead of time, I thought. Although supplementary ones are not. Jack Tame holds them to a higher standard, every time! I'll be off shortly to handwrite my RSB submission ready to post.