Published in last Friday's Truth:
Describing political beliefs as 'left' or 'right' is convenient but
problematic. An old friend recently asked, "When did you become a
right-winger?" I didn't, I replied. A right-winger is conservative
on social issues like alcohol laws, gay marriage and voluntary
euthanasia. I'm not, because I believe in individual choice and
freedom. From very young the maxim 'live and let live' resonated for
me. So when government tells me what I can and can't do, I chafe.
Local government is, in some respects, a worse offender than
central, with vast powers to dictate what can and can't be done with
private property. To demolish my garage and build a new one, I am
told I have to push it back; or turn it adjacent to the street; have
a roller-door rather than an angle-opening one despite there being
no footpath outside. The process drags on and to rub salt into the
wound, my rates fund those putting unfathomable obstacles in my
way.
Central government is a less obvious but more pervasive force with
the power to
take my property (compulsory taxes) to use in
ways not just wasteful, but actively destructive. Paying people to
have babies is a good example. Children produced as meal-tickets are
highly vulnerable.
When government robs Peter to pay Paul, it limits Peter's choices to
promote Paul's. Peter has no say in the matter except perhaps once
every three years, but even then, there isn't a lot to differentiate
National and Labour, both big spenders.
What I want from a government is less benefit spending, less
productivity-stifling regulation, less corporate and middle-class
welfare and lower, flatter taxes. And that's why I get put in the
right-wing box.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
7 comments:
It is a bit of a problem Lindsay. I was thinking the same thing recently.
I used to be comfortable with the term 'Conservative' however that term seems to have been hijacked by NZ's very own version of the bat shit crazy Tea Party types.
As a result I am no longer happy with being called a conservative. If being a conservative means that one has to bow down to the religious right and lose the hard won social freedoms because those freedoms are against what is written in the bible then they can count me out.
Yes the curse of local government. Collect the rubbish, organise the sewage and keep the streets clean - what else? The march of locals is inexorable especially since the change to 'general competence'. Central govt is downsizing but when was the last local govt downsizing? In fact they just decide what they want to spend and then simply allocate that amount around the community. There are no strictures so I'm not surprised that a local is proscribing things about your garage. You should try them with things like water consents!!
Regards
Jeremy
Spot on!
As a result I am no longer happy with being called a conservative. If being a conservative means that one has to bow down to the religious right and lose the hard won social freedoms
What "hard won social freedoms" do you perceive the "bat shit crazy Tea Party types" are trying to take away from you Big Bruv?
Bruv.....You are the one who favours shop closing laws on public holidays which violate people social rights and peoples freedom....mmmm?
James
Yes I do, for three and a half days a year.
Deal with it.
Post a Comment