Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Work smarter with a Pro licence Learn More

Gordon Campbell | Parliament TV | Parliament Today | News Video | Crime | Employers | Housing | Immigration | Legal | Local Govt. | Maori | Welfare | Unions | Youth | Search

 

Political parties dodge real election issues

21 November 2011

Political parties dodge real election issues

Any intelligent overview of the current election campaign shows the deceitful way in which the parties currently in parliament concentrate on trivialities while evading meaningful discussion of the huge issues confronting New Zealand society, according to Democrats for Social Credit health spokesman David Tranter.

"Where, for example, is informed discussion of the secretive TPPA agreement which, amongst other things, will destroy Pharmac's ability to purchase low-cost drugs thereby enabling the pharmaceutical giants to control the market with huge-profit products? Further, all the current Parliamentary parties must know that the TPPA also includes provision allowing foreign private corporations to sue our government if they see any sign that the terms of the secret agreement might not be adhered to - yet they tell the public nothing" Mr. Tranter said.

"There are many other areas where the entire Parliament connives in keeping New Zealanders in the dark about crucial issues which should be at the forefront of public discussion, especially at election time. Most notably, these include the distortion of the very history which is taught in the New Zealand education system leading to the Treaty of Waitangi grievance industry which has resulted in the loss of public ownership of the coastal areas while also opening the door to an increasingly apartheid situation while more privileges are handed to the Maori corporate elites while the majority of Maori people are excluded.

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading

Are you getting our free newsletter?

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.

"And," Mr. Tranter asked, "Where do the Parliamentary parties stand regarding the obviously failed international finance/banking system whereby every time the rip-off commercial banks strike trouble, the public have to bail them out? Apart from other parties' occasional reference to "reforming" the finance system only the Democrats for Social Credit are specifying a coherent policy which, if implemented, would actually deal with the ever-growing malaise in the world's banking/finance systems. It is time for politicians to stop using the word "reform" as a cover for their lack of policy in many areas" he said.

"This election is really about whether any of the current parliamentary parties can be trusted. In the absence of any evidence to the contrary the answer is a resounding No. Only an enlightened - and better-informed - electorate can put a stop to the continuing Tweedledee/Tweedledumb governments of past decades."

ENDS

© Scoop Media

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading
 
 
 
Parliament Headlines | Politics Headlines | Regional Headlines

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

LATEST HEADLINES

  • PARLIAMENT
  • POLITICS
  • REGIONAL
 
 

InfoPages News Channels


 
 
 
 

Join Our Free Newsletter

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.