ACT - Brickbats and Bouquets

I went to ACT's Auckland Regional Conference on Sunday.  On the positive side, Rodney gave an excellent speech, and guest speaker Jim Hopkins was hilarious, especially his barbs at TVNZ for "taking Nigel Roberts out of aspic" every three years.  The mood was incredibly positive, as it would be when there is such potential for ACT to finally be in government.  The strategy of Roger talking policy and Rodney talking politics is a good one.  And judging from their speeches it is clear that, while there are a few duds as there always are, we have some great candidates who would make brilliant MPs far better than any we have now.

On the downside, John Ansell's departure shows.  Wonderful politician that Rodney is, experience tells me he can't organise a piss-up in a brewery and will need someone else to take charge, as happened in 2005.  I get the impression that the candidates are somehow just supposed to "do their own thing".  I think I heard at least half a dozen disparate strategies for getting votes from the lectern.  It's likely that there is only eleven or so weeks until the election at the most, and while the 20 point plan is a brilliant policy document, what ACT needs right now is three or four good slogans to campaign on.  We got 7% of the vote in 2002 because we got out there early with simple messages on billboards and set the agenda.  Why is this not happening again?

But what was most concerning was the little Nazi speech Rodney gave at the end as to why he supported making it illegal to insult cops.  I'll repeat that:  Rodney Hide supports making it illegal to diss blue bureaucrats.  It was weird.  Completely out of character.  As if he'd been posessed by the ghost of Ron Mark.  Even worse, he got thunderous applause and a standing ovation for it, which, as we all know, is how freedom dies.

Frankly I can't think of any faster way to turn New Zealand into a jackbooted police state than to give piggies this sort of carte blanche power.  A cop will be able to do anything he likes, and if you dare to disagree, you'll be arrested for insulting a police officer.  No Rodney, you do not get respect just by putting on a blue uniform.  You get respect by doing what wearers of that uniform are supposed to do - fight crime and protect people and their property.  Which is the responsibility of every citizen anyway, not just a government employee with a badge and a silly hat.  Tell me why I should respect cops raping vulnerable teenagers?  Tell me why I should show any respect to cops who spend most of their time gathering revenue from competent and safe drivers?  Why should I respect cops who won't investigate my burglaries, who show up late, who prosecute innocent, law-abiding citizens for doing things that they should be doing or encouraging themselves?

Tell me why I should be arrested and prosecuted for pointing any of this out?

I thought Will de Cleene overreacted when he resigned from ACT recently over their law and order policy.  Now I am beginning to wonder...

Comments

[MikeE]

It pains me to say this, but the Law and Order policy scared the shit out of me.

Absolutle crap.

RICO laws, illegal to offend and officer, .... its enough to make me consider voting libertarian...

[Blair]

Well yeah, you're never going to agree with everything a political party stands for, but I could barely believe my ears when Rodney was spouting this crap about cops. It's bizarre.

[paranormal]

I think we need to take a deep breath and actually look at what the policy says. The question to Rodney was incorrect in its premise. The Zero tolerance for crime and One Law For All messages are the basis. ACT are not proposing a new law - merely the enforcement of existing law - Offensive Behaviour. Police need to be subject to the same law we all are to regain public respect.

[Lita]

Great post BPM, but now who the hell do I vote for? Jeesh. Our election choices sucks ass, in the bad way.

[Gooner]

It's illegal to assault Police. Why should it be lawful to give them the fingers and tell them to fuck off?

[Blair]

Because nobody has the right not to be offended. Not even cops.

It's also illegal to assault anybody who isn't a cop, by the way, so I don't see how that's anything approaching an argument.

[Gooner]

It's an argument because assault on police is a specific offence. In other words Parliament has decided that assaulting the cops is more important than just ordinary assault or if not then people who assault the fuzz just get charged with common assault, but they don't. Parliament has recognised through this that it is a serious thing to be abusing/assaulting the people who protect the very freedoms you enjoy. If cops are 'special' then they should enjoy the privilege of not being mooned; given the finger; or told to fuck off.

Don't get me wrong, there is a bone or two in me that respects your argument but I hav stronger bones for the counter view.

[libertyscott]

Far too many in the Police already think they are above the law - why not make an offence for insulting ambulance drivers or doctors or firefighters or nurses? All these people are arguably as important if not moreso.

Lots of people would like to carry out their jobs without someone "offending" them. Who are they meant to be serving? As long as there is no assault or obstruction, then the Police should just leave someone alone.

[cunt]

did you know that the walrus is the only mammal with a bone in its penis?

[Blair]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baculum

Goo goo g'joob. Now get back on topic.