I’ll start by continuing Simon’s Pollyanna approach to what is happening at home and abroad, tinged with a little optimism. The optimist Simon believes a crisis brings out the best in us. He believes with little steps we can walk a long way. In this country, Simon believes we have good walking shoes. He lists the Treaty of Waitangi, women’s suffrage, the 40 hour week, the welfare state, the anti-nuclear movement and marriage equality as all being things we can be proud of. A leftie list if ever you saw one. Both the Treaty of Waitangi and the welfare state need to be reined in. They are both costing the country far too much.
Simon says you can add the power of kindness to that list. This is where I reach for the bucket. No doubt since the article was written Simon would like to add the appointment of a tattooed woman as Minister of Foreign Affairs. Continuing in his optimistic tone Simon believes we believe in ourselves. Sure do Simon, which is why we chose to cast our vote in a more realistic and positive direction. Simon believes, with Jacinda Ardern, that persuading the crowd to walk with you is important. Is this some veiled inference that the woman might be some sort of messiah? Again I reach for the bucket.
Simon then reverts to his Pollyanna mode saying we are not taking nearly enough of the little steps and the world isn’t either.
Here is his Pollyanna list:
- floods
- wildfires
- Pacific countries and coastal cities drowning
- wars turning people into refugees
- glaciers retreating
- ice shelves breaking up
- the Arctic permafrost melting
Simon worries that no one treats it as a catastrophe. Russia keeps digging and the EU keeps buying. He says America is determined to remain the worst polluter in the world. I wonder if Simon is having another jibe at Trump because China, who he chooses not to mention, emits twice the amount of carbon dioxide as America: 30% to 15% according to Active Sustainability.
Simon’s not happy that National not only wants to reverse the oil and gas ban but wants to supercharge the industry. He asks if America can rebuild its subverted democracy. Is there any mechanism to call oil and coal barons to account? Simon doesn’t like people who make money. Probably, in his world, George Soros is okay. He wants to know if we can convert our own economy to achieve the goals of ending poverty and eliminating carbon emissions. If the graphs for the last three years are anything to go by, Simon, the answer is a very firm no. As for walking with Jacinda, it would appear we’d be better off walking with someone else.
Simon is of the opinion that it’s Greta Thunberg abroad and the School Strike for Climate movement at home that represent a great hope for the future. He says while that might be true it’s a terrible thing to load on them. Seriously Simon! If you believe that you’re in la-la land. Greta is being used as a puppet by the likes of Soros and her parents are making big bucks out of it. As for the school strikes, they’re the result of indoctrination in the education system coupled with a day off.
If you haven’t had enough my next and final article deals with Simon’s thoughts on Ihumatao and economic matters. No prizes for guessing what they are.
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