In retrospect, one could almost feel sheepish about the accusations of Nanny Statism hurled at Clark in her final months. Political commentators would have it that excessive paternalism lost Clark the 2008 election.
National made a song and dance of reviewing silly and burdensome regulations but the neurotic back-saving health and safety stuff marches on. I gave you a perfect example this morning of accelerating meddling madness.
The crusades against alcohol, tobacco and obesity are only gathering momentum. Legislatively this manifested in lowering the drink/drive alcohol limits (pubs go out of business against a backdrop of a rising road toll) and ongoing tobacco tax hikes (creating a lucrative source of income for criminals and much danger for legal sellers). No relenting to sugar tax demands yet but what are the odds?
Bureaucracy is like a fungus. Growing wherever the conditions enable it. Quietly spreading. It is impervious to changes of government. Especially when the so-called political 'masters' are tired.
At this point I am quite disillusioned with National. If that is possible, when no torch was held for them at the outset.
"It just seems like failure."
1 hour ago