Manipulating Societies

 Manipulating Societies

We are fed the ideology that in democratically elected governments, it is the voter has the power. But that’s just politic-speak because once elected, politicians have the tenure of government to do whatever they want, with no easy way for the voter to reign them in. Their most used rhetoric is ‘it’s good for the country’, which usually means pandering to those who funded their campaign, or if that statement is too harsh, the supporters of the party, usually to the detriment of opposing parties. Many politicians have some agenda or other that may not be in the interests of the voter.

Governments have the power to do things that can affect the very fabric of a country’s society, the present flood of refugees and those wanting to migrate to various places in the world is a case in point. The makeup of people a country allows as immigrants has a flow on effect within that society. Currently New Zealand has changed its criteria to that of potential income. What does that mean and what effect will it have in ten, twenty years’ time?

It is relatively easy for a government to make vital changes which can cause dramatic downstream effects on society and usually the passing years allows them to duck from responsibility. Here’s a case in point:-

Maori were the incumbents on this land when the British arrived but the trappings of modernity, or shall we call it ‘civilization’, has not been kind to them. They make up 14.6% of the population while they are represented by 51.5% in the prison population. Only one out of every ten earns more the $50 000, which is modest in this day and age. The unemployment rate is 4.9% for European descendants, and 15.5% for Maori. It is therefore safe to say that as an ethnic group in New Zealand, Maori are disaffected.

The reasons for this depends on who you are listening to, few of the schemes to address any inequities have worked no matter how well-meaning or how much money has been poured into them. One of the causes not discussed or addressed is the social engineering by the 1984 Labour Government and a financial regime termed, ‘Rogernomics’. There was sleight of hand from the first, they had a secret agenda that was not divulged or even hinted before the election.

This was the crew that had the theory that the rich were going to help the poor by some osmosis process they termed, ‘the trickle-down theory’. They wanted to cut down on government spending so they decimated the government departments and agencies of electricity, coal, post, forestry railways, and public works among others. As well by encompassing the global economy and floating the dollar, the direct result was the loss of 76 000 manufacturing jobs. So suddenly there was massive displacement of workers effecting small communities and small community infrastructure. ‘There is social welfare available for the affected.’ Was the rhetoric. The principles that people in work return almost half their income back to government by way of taxes, that people produce stuff that also brings in revenue and that in any business, cashflow is the name of the game, was lost on them.

By introducing individual employment contracts, workers lost powerful union representation, the flow-on is still in effect today. While I was on the other side of the table to unions, I know there remains an obvious need. Professionals who have attended universities and immigrants who employ without actually working in the general workforce have no idea about the labour laws and flaunt them without even realising that they are flaunting them! Maori are among the groups who needed strong union advocacy.

This Rogernomics thing has left an indelible mark on wider society because it upset a balance that was always fragile. Granted there was a need to tinker with the economy, there always is, but they used a bulldozer when a push-hoe would probably have done the job. It was an agenda by those few, which effected a population, but turned out to be worst for Maori. They were highly represented in manufacturing, forestry, railways and public works. When they lost their jobs overnight they were introduced to welfare payments and stayed at home. Because the education system had largely failed them, and there was no longer demand for their skills. We all know the natural thing is for children to follow the example set by parents, so kids saw their parents at home on the dole, making it a natural course of events for them to follow suit. Add to the mix, the new-fangled video games, alcohol and drugs to create a social disaster that has become worse as time has gone on. Without the comradeship found in the workforce, where the new recruits are taught skills and values by the older hands, Maori youth find a similar experience in gang culture, which may or may not be associated with increasing violence, including domestic violence. Whether or not the violence has an association with gangs, there is underlying anger, which is easily fuelled by alcohol and drugs.

The intrinsic thing that is missing is pride. As a forest manager, we regularly held man management courses. Every time the question was asked, ‘Why are you in your present job?’ The overriding top-of-the-list reason was, ‘Job satisfaction.’ These days ask the same question, ‘Money.’ Is the reply. Pride has evaporated from the workforce.

The question is, ‘Is the situation fixable?’ While hope springs eternal, as we have seen, manipulating society is a risky business. Maori are a proud race but they have been displaced and they see the system as the cause. They view themselves as a special case apart from the rest of the population, which has inherent risks because the rest of the population have their own issues to resolve! I see no magic bullet and the road back will no doubt be as long as the road down has been.

It is topical to say, ‘Beware the politician.’ It is true a tiny band of men kept on their path starting 1984 despite widespread protest, I was among the protesters and I wrote to Sutton, my local member of parliament outlining what I though their course of action would cause. Platitudes returned. They were like a steam train without a brake! Once these sort of people take power, common man has no influence. So perhaps, before each election, candidates need to sign a disclosure statement and if they fail to adhere to what they promise, propose or intend when they are in office, there should be a simple procedure of sacking them – without perks!

Leaders

The nearest sizable landmass to us is some four thousand kilometres away, so in the past, the vast expanse of ocean insulated and protected us. But that’s all changed now, making whatever happens elsewhere in the world to have some sort of ripple effect on us! I don’t like it! I prefer the insulation, the self-reliance and the independence we once enjoyed, all of which are being eroded by world influences and events.

In the past, I felt that I had no right to have an opinion on what might or might not go on around the world, as long as it had no direct impact our little country. But now those little ripples are becoming waves, which I reckon, gives me a right to throw my oar in to at least offer an opinion! I’ve never been a public protestor, but I have done my share of writing letters to the editor and to members of parliament. Maybe it is in my DNA because my ancestors were among the Chartists, who fought for workers’ rights. I remember from near on sixty years ago, my history lessons about the Reform Acts to enfranchise sections of the population, which were brought about not by politicians, through the pressure applied to them by students, professionals and artisans.

My favourite history teacher, Wally Mapplebeck, (I called my dog after him) told me there were three types of governance; democracy, communism and dictatorship - he also mentioned anarchy but that’s not governance. The League of Nations was supposed to prevent World War Two so its failure caused its demise and the United Nations took its place, with the goals of international cooperation, peacekeeping, human dignity and freedom. We all contribute in some way to this massive organisation so it is fair to ask the question, are getting value for our money? The answer to that question is personal, for you as an individual to consider. They, and who the hell are ‘they’ exactly? They, are trying to foist upon us this Agenda 21, which conspiracy theorists believe is the thin edge of world government. Old Wally would squirm in his box at the very thought!

So if Agenda 21 is the long term UN plan, who then would be the leader? And how does the UN work now? Is it supposed to a democratic organisation?  If so, how do the member countries with communist governments, or dictatorships, or even despotic leaders align with the idea of being democratic? Do some on the Security Council use the powerful veto just because they can? Does it rile them that someone else can come up with an idea?

Here are quotes from two friends who should know: ‘Politics is a dirty business!’ and, ‘Never trust a politician!’ There is a new General Secretary about to start his tenure at the UN. He is the leader! We watched the election with great interest because Helen Clark was standing. The method used is anything but democratic, more like an old boys’ network, which is the stuff of politics. Typically there was all the lobbying, pre-votes and the usual promises of support. What do you think happens once the person is elected? The stuff of politics again, ‘I helped you get elected, so now you help me with this little matter.’ (‘Or at least don’t stand in my way.’) So when it comes to leadership, the newbie is compromised from the start. Unless he has the true mettle that is needed for a job like his.

The United States has a new President. It remains to be seen if he will be a leader, the two are not the same. A good leader must be able to take advice from good people, must be able to recognise what is good, sound advice and what is unsound. Who can foretell what this fellow will turn out like, but it is obvious many voters believe a serious mistake has been made! From a distance it looks like their capitalistic method of voting is flawed! To become involved in politics the candidate needs to be rich or have access to wealth! It is a misconception that wealth equates to intellect, it is more likely that wealth equates to corruption – those two are good bed-fellows!

The rest of the world shouldn’t have to give a toss how the individual American votes, but here’s the thing, The United States of America by my count, holds 45.9% of the world’s nuclear warheads and that puts us all in danger! It’s enough for the rest of us to be concerned about the second amendment and the attitude that goes with that, without being concerned about the trigger finger on a nuclear arsenal! Of course the total world arsenal has the potential to blow us to little, tiny bits, but it takes only a few warheads to produce enough fallout to fry us all! Does Kim thingy know that?

Looking at the list of countries that possess nuclear warheads makes me shiver and I look at their leaders. Shivering stuff again, and it is certain that those leaders together with their cronies will have comfy protective bunkers – for the security of the country of course, or is it for personal safety? Is it good to know? In the end ruthless leaders like Hitler, Osama bin Laden, Gadhafi and Saddam Hussein slunk off like rats down a hole when their safety became compromised. They were happy to mete it out but not so keen when the worm had turned!

There are a whole bunch of world leaders that the common people have not voted for nor have any influence over. A few have inherited their role while too many are there simply through threats, force or somehow dealing to their opposition managed to get there!  But let’s not be too paranoid about all this, but we can’t afford be complacent either, world leaders, elected or not, nowadays have powers that do not befit mankind. We need to be very mindful of who represents us!