Site Meter

Sunday, June 29, 2014

Danyl on roads (and the hypocrisy of the right)


See, the thing about roads is . . .

Filed under: psuedopolitics — danylmc @ 12:44 pm



DPF has had a couple of posts up recently about environmentalists, one revealing that some Greenpeace staffer flies on a plane twice a month, the other that some Green Party candidate drives a car! The general gist is that if you argue that we should move away from a carbon based economy because of the environmental impacts you shouldn’t use any kind of carbon based transport system, which, unfortunately for environmentalists, means they’re supposed to work and campaign without travelling anywhere, because its pretty much all carbon based, which is exactly what they’re campaigning against.

Meanwhile, the National government has just announced their first policy for the election. An extra $212 million dollars on ROADS. This government loves ROADS. They announced a $12 billion dollar roading package about two years ago. I read somewhere – but can’t quite remember – that their total spend on ROADS is about $30 billion.

And here’s the thing. ROADS are SOCIALIST. They are! The government takes your tax money, some central planner decides where to spend it, they build something that the state owns and anyone can use it for free. That is the textbook definition of socialism.

So I guess I’d like to hear from DPF as to why he isn’t just a huge disgusting hypocrite for using roads, when he claims to be a classical liberal who opposes socialism and champions the free market. And I guess he’ll say something like, ‘I pay my taxes so I’m entitled to use them.’ Or ‘I’m an advocate for toll roads and public private partnerships.’ But that’s not how it works with environmentalists. They pay their plane fares, and they’re ‘advocates’ too, and they’re dirty stinking hypocrites for flying on planes, somehow. How can DPF ever travel on ROADS? Shouldn’t he be named and shamed every time he sets foot on a footpath? Isn’t it time people who care about freedom stand up for it and stay at home, forever?

More seriously, it’d also be fun to hear from the Prime Minister and Joyce as to why the dead hand of the state needs to distort the market and build so many roads? Why doesn’t the private sector intervene? The answer, of course, is that just as the private sector outperforms the state in some areas, the state is a better solution for plenty of others, and ROADS is one of them. National MPs aren’t allowed to think that though which is funny, because they really, really, really love ROADS.

8 comments:

paulinem said...

With all the political shenanigans in the media with labour and the Chinese man ...

At least this we will spend money on roading etc is getting back to talking about policy. Instead of na na they are all hypocrites etc ...and suggesting that we National we would never do what we are accusing Labour of doing

I for one would enjoy seeing on the media more political dissuasion on policy we support by ALL political parties.
...as well as these are the MPS in our party which you can support etc ..as this is what they have done in life and this is what represent which interest in the community.

robertguyton said...

Pauline - the 'shenanigans' were created and driven by National and not of Labours doing at all. Don't be fooled. Labour have been presenting policy to New Zealanders for a while now - National started only today. The Greens have been presenting their policy for some time now and have been very well received. Aside from the one you baulked at, you must have noticed? In any case, National are offering election bribes to the regions, of roads, paid fro by the sale of our assets. They should be ashamed. Don't be fooled.

Unknown said...

Havent seen the detail but bet the spend is in regions where there is political gain. Safe seats like Southland will miss out no doubt.

paulinem said...

Yeah Robert I agree re National na na at Labour ..yes I agree Labour Greens etc has been presenting policy ... I am just saying that we will do this etc etc is a good start ..most like me though are not totally fooled by the spend up as I suspect the money had to be/or would have been spent anyway as ongoing maitaince has to be done. Or it will as a DC councillor said on National Radio this morning the roads become in danger of returning to gravel if ongoing maitance is not done.

What I would like to see more discussion on the use of Asset funds to do this ....if the Govt assured we had a fair and equal taxation system we would have all the income/ money we would need to spend on such things like roading, It is estimated we are loosing SIX billion per annum in taxation avoidance or lets call it tax fraud. If the Govt spent a little legislative time closing loopholes in our laws that will stop companies like Sanatarium riping us of for millions.We would have all the money we need. If they employed more qualified accountants in the IRD to check the so called expenses etc that smart accountants are using for their customers to avoid paying tax we again would have all the money we need to spend on activities we in NZ come to expect as our right ie health care etc etc

robertguyton said...

Hi Pauline - yes indeed, a discussion on the use of the money resulting from the sale of our energy assets would be a good thing and would immediately reveal that National his making fools of us all. English and Key claimed the "profits" would be used to build schools and hospitals, not to pump up their pet roading project. Roading funds come from a fund for the purpose. Petrol tax? Yes, that's going to make our we yes water, again, and should be what's used for roading but this pork barrel behaviour, buying off the regions with money promised elsewhere - low behaviour and entirely what I'd expect from the likes of English and Key.

robertguyton said...

we yes? Eyes.

Unknown said...

And when its spent its gone. Hopefully someone is bright enough to run the debate about how we could have done the same by borrowing money against the assets that have been sold. And when the roads are built the assets are still there and probable even appreciated in value. Called investment

robertguyton said...

We won't hear that argument, Philip. You know that.