The Doctor
Last night I enjoyed a great film about a team of magicians who pulled off global bank robberies as part of their act. They were so far ahead in their planning that the FBI and Interpol were left fumbling around, clueless.
I can think of no better description of the international banking system led by the Bank of International Settlements. You see, banking is itself a kind of magic trick. You think you have money in your account. You could go into the bank tomorrow and draw out all your money, couldn’t you? Maybe. But if all the bank’s customers did the same, the bank would run out of money very quickly*.
But it gets worse, despite the recent protestations to the Banking Ombudsman (the lady doth protest too much) loans are indeed created “out of nothing” using the customer’s promise to pay as “money”. If that were not the case, how would new loans increase the balance sheet of the bank? If the story we are supposed to believe is true, then the new loan (asset) would be perfectly balanced with the deposit (liability) that the bank used for the loan. No increase in the balance sheet.
In any case, the key to magic is distraction. Get the audience to focus on the wand, or the waving hands or the pretty girl, meanwhile the real action is happening somewhere else.
Consider Three Waters. We totally fell for the magic trick. The magician (Nanaia Mahuta) drew you in with the entrenchment clause (via apparent innocent audience member Eugene Sage) and while the great and the good huffed and puffed about it, the actual bill itself was passed. So instead of the debate being about giving 50% of control of water assets to private entities, it became a “constitutional matter”. I even wrote about it myself.
And just when the tension of the body politic was about to blow, in comes the pretty magician’s assistant (Chris Hipkins) and saves the day. The anxiety is relieved, and everyone goes home happy. What a show.
The only problem is that the bill is passed. The assets will be transferred. And by that, I mean the control of the assets. Rich men will tell you that the aim of the game is to own nothing and control everything. Owners are liable for costs.
What is the answer? I have no faith that Uncle Fester, the Nats and ACT will change anything substantive. No doubt they will do another magic trick to make you feel as if Three Waters is repealed but replace it with something substantially the same. After all, John Key signed the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples which appears to be the fig leaf behind which this corporate heist has taken place.
I recommend taking care of your own water with rooftop harvesting. Does a corporation have the authority to charge you, a man (male or female) for water given to us by God via infrastructure that our fathers already paid for? Think about it.
While doing so, join me in not falling for the next magic trick. It is time for us (me included) to stop fumbling around, clueless.
* (the same applies if all their customers transferred money electronically to another bank. It is not limited to paper (plastic?) money).
