Same Old, Same Old - But We're Being Had

"NZEI National President, Colin Tarr may justifiably be feeling frustrated at the lack of interest shown by the Ministry of Education over collective employment negotiations but surely this must come as no surprise!" Said Peter Osborne, Libertarianz Spokesman for Education Deregulation, today.

"This same scenario has already been played out countless times before, yet the story stays the same: since the government has no competition, teachers and principals have no choice but to accept what the government grudgingly offers. The private sector is too heavily regulated by the State to provide any meaningful competition - and the NZEI endorses that regulation."

Osborne continues, "I must say that I have little sympathy for the teachers' and principals' plight. If they are not prepared to resist and fight against the monopoly that the state holds over education then they get what they deserve." He says, "Until a stand is made, nothing will change. This is not only an issues for teachers and principals to deal with - parents also must accept responsibility."

"New Zealanders are being forced to pay top dollar for a woefully substandard education system. In true Nanny State fashion, those actually providing the education are being fed crumbs while Trevor Mallard spends up big time in areas that will buy him votes."

"WELL NEW ZEALAND, YOU ARE BEING HAD. People can justify or rationalise our system all they like but the truth is that as a nation we are prepared to allow ourselves to be extorted from. We are also prepared to let other people decide how and what our children are to think instead of making these decisions ourselves. It is lazy and it is a copout."

Osborne concludes, "When New Zealanders are ready to take the next step and reject compulsion in whatever guise, the Ministry of Education will exist no more. Parents will be able to choose from a wide range of educational options provided by a free and unregulated market. Teachers and principals will individually be paid what they are truly worth based on their own ability. The only frustration being that we will all be spoilt for choice.

© Scoop Media

Gordon Campbell: On the Sony cyber attack

Given the layers of meta-irony involved, the saga of the Sony cyber attack seemed at the outset more like a snarky European art film than a popcorn entry at the multiplex.

Yet now with (a) President Barack Obama weighing in on the side of artistic freedom and calling for the US to make a ‘proportionate response’quickly followed by (b) North Korea’s entire Internet service going down, and with both these events being followed by (c) Sony deciding to backtrack and release The Interview film that had made it a target for the dastardly North Koreans in the first place, then ay caramba…the whole world will now be watching how this affair pans out. More>>