Watching Television.

The drug of a nation.

Some of you might’ve guessed what today’s song is already. As the top comment on YouTube says, “one of the most important records ever made by one of the most underrated bands of all time. Just as relevant today as it was when it was released.”

I’d agree with that, I’ve been listening to it for more than thirty years. My good mate Dave had flown Aotearoa early and sent us back mixtapes of the outside world. Technology was pretty different then. It’s hard to imagine today, recording tracks to a cassette, then posting it to your friend across the world.

The technology might be different but the sentiments of the song remain accurate. Nowadays you could probably replace the word “Television” with “the internet”, “social media” or “Facebook”, for many of us. But a lot of people, and in particular a lot of voters, still get much of their information from the Television.

It seems appropriate to have the song now, maybe come back to it if you don’t like to break the flow when reading.

I’ve been watching Breakfast TV more than I used to. Which to be fair was not at all, not long ago.

Weeks like this, without parliament, or with the illuminati/ATLAS alumni safely ensconced in their International Democracy Union get-together in Wellington, there isn’t much else in the way of day-to-day politics to cover.

It’s still not a lot of time, you only really need to watch one of the programmes. When Christopher Luxon does the rounds for instance, RNZ, TVNZ, Newshub, the interviews are all largely the same. He’ll have the same talking points which he’ll roll out, regardless of the questions being asked.

Much like when he does a press conference, as those present lapse into comas of deja vu realising the announcement and the words used are things they’ve heard a dozen time before. Little wonder they sometimes ask such stupid questions, although I still can’t see any justification for Jason Walls.

I’ve realised that some of the morning media are really quite good. Not Jack Tame on a good day quality, but you never know when he’s going to have one of those. Perhaps TVNZ should announce it in the promotion for the Q&A show. Today - “Jack unleashed”, or alternatively “Jack strangely subdued”. I assume they know which one they’re putting out ahead of time.

But others in the media are doing a good job at holding our government, and especially Christopher Luxon, to account. Anna Burns-Francis has been excellent, and such a contrast to the sycophancy of TVNZ political editors past and present. Jessica and Maiki both seemed rather enamoured with Mr Luxon, more concerned with how he was shown than getting to the truth. When Anna interviews Luxon she looks as if she is about to burst into laughter at the absurdity of the claims being made.

This morning it wasn’t Luxon, he’s busy back slapping with the rest of the centre right. Discussing plans to win elections and how many times you should say “centre” to show you’re not just actually a full on right wing libertarian nightmare that people might not like to know they’re electing.

Anna’s interviewees this morning were Kieran McAnulty and Chris Bishop, both potential future party leaders. Kieran seen as one to watch by many Labour supporters, where Chris, perhaps surprisingly, retains strong and unwavering support from his own reflection.

Parliamentary Cricket Team co-captains Chris Bishop, left, and Kieran McAnulty. Photo / Mark Mitchell.

Anna began by saying that the PM was delivering his government action plan - in stages. With just a hint of mocking mirth, if I wasn’t mistaken.

C’mon Anna, have a little faith. As your fellow reader, and all round good human, Darren noted with this image - the PM now has gripping hands. So that should help him grasp the situation.

Image: D Watson.

Anna said the opposition have been suggesting that Luxon is trying to run NZ Inc as a company, and not a country. She began by asking the two panellists if they’d read his latest 36 point plan. Codenamed - Moscow by Christmas.

Kieran said he had, that there were a lot of buzzwords and corporate speak. Bishop screwed up his face at that, as if deciding whether to trust a suspicious fart or not.

McAnulty pointed out that the list included things that were just going to happen anyway, like “do the budget”. That half were simply BAU activities. He compared it to making a list of things to do around the home, and the first thing you put on the list is “write a list”. It’s good to be seen to be making progress, and ticking things off.

Anna joked that starting off with a pat on the back was a good strategy and asked Chris if that was what they were doing. Unfortunately Bishop has to carry a burden that others like Luxon and Willis are spared. He actually has a sense of humour, and was laughing along at how silly it sounded.

Chris did point out that delivering a budget wasn’t just publishing a document, there’s a lot that goes into it. Presumably like where on earth to find all the money they promised, which doesn’t exist. Bishop acknowledged that the approach was a bit corporate but said NZ needed a bit of that. Kieran raised an eyebrow, in a way becoming of Billy Idol.

Bishop looked like he’d rolled straight out of bed and into the studio, it looked like he’d been sleeping in his clothes. He vomited up a management book worth of buzzwords that he must have swallowed in the night. Perhaps a late night snack to soak up the booze, although his bleary eyes were telling a different story.

Anna asked Kieran about the fact that National had created new ministries and had numerous associate ministers. He acknowledged the reality of coalitions, but also pointed out that their wasteful duplication was counter to all that those parties had proclaimed ahead of the election.

Bishop took to playing with his earpiece, standard behaviour for a National Minister when they don’t like what is being said. Kieran was now talking about the hundreds of job cuts which are happening right now in the public service. Bishop glowered.

Kieran talked about the knock on effect to local communities of those job losses, and of the cuts that will taken place in our public services. There is simply no credibility in claims that you can cut back office functions without impacting frontline services.

Anna pointed out to Bishop that he was also a regional MP, in an electorate where locals would be impacted. She said that she too had a government job, and she was worried about it.

Chris looked pained and acknowledged the cuts but more or less said that it was all the fault of the previous government. Anyone get Bingo at that point?

“Tough decisions”, “Tough for some people”, he blathered as if the government were taking aside an injured animal and putting it out of its misery.

Kieran wasn’t having it. He said those losing their job wouldn’t be so quick to accept that, and they’d definitely know what impact the job losses would have on the delivery of services. Bishop went back to playing with his ear piece.

The Labour man said that the economy was not as bad as had been painted, and that it was being used as a convenient excuse. He said when you look at the level of debt we have in this country, it is still considerably lower than other OECD countries.

That we were one of only a handful of countries that saw it’s credit rating improve during Covid. That the government’s justifications for such extensive cuts simply didn’t wash.

That when people see a $2.9 billion tax cut for landlords, and their job is being cut to pay for it, it doesn’t wash at all.

Bishop said the things you’d expect while ignoring the facts that Kieran had mentioned on debt levels and credit ratings.

They moved to roadside drug testing. Chris assured us that Minister Brown was going to sort it out. Anna asked Kieron if he believed that and he responded simply “No”.

Photo: D Watson.

The interview deteriorated a little after that.

Kieran said, this is “a theme we’ve seen with this government, we’re going to blame the previous government, get rid of what they’ve got set up but not have something to put in place. Oh, we’ll tell you later. Well, it’s not good enough.”

Bishop replied, “you were the guys who stuffed it up in the first place.”

At that point Anna suggested they go and have a cup of coffee, and break some bread.

I don’t know who Anna votes for, or Jack, or Tova. Based on the level of political knowledge they have, and their questioning minds, I’d be surprised if they voted for Luxon.

These people are good at their jobs and we should look closely at the politicians who claim they are not. Do you think Winston dreams of a better quality media, or just one that doesn’t question him?

Many on the left felt that mainstream media let the public down at the least election. There is a tendency to believe that our fellow citizens must surely have been misled, rather than simply having being attracted by shiny things. Like tax cuts, and presumably the sun reflecting off of Christopher Luxon.

But the media can only lead the horse to water. I know it’s hard to expect a lot from the public. Especially when they’re drinking from the fire hose of stupidity offered by ZB, the Platform or Reality Checked out long ago Radio. But the onus is on us.

Prior to the election there was plenty of information in the media, expert analysis and views highlighting the gaps in, and consequences of, National’s plan. What the likely coalition options would mean in terms of the policies Seymour and Winston would bring to the table.

Yes there was stupid hyperbole around poll results, poor presenters chosen for debates - presumably as a parting gift, not on merit, and more waffle from National than you could drown in Maple Syrup. That’s going to happen.

The media is not the problem, and having less of them as a result of the current upheaval is only going to make things worse. We should stop blaming them, there was enough information out there for people to make sensible choices.

If you need to, then I reckon forgive Chippy too. Labour would’ve lost that election if he’d gone forward with a Wealth Tax, maybe by even more than they did. If he had gone with it a Wealth Tax would now seem unthinkable and be associated with that election loss. In reality it is now a near certainty for Labour in the future.

The coalition parties made promises they would not keep, it was obvious and it shouldn’t have required the media to point blank call them liars in order for people to realise it.

This is on the people of our country who chose this government. Deliberately and with their eyes wide open. Well, as open as they go anyway.

We had the main song earlier, but here is another. With some sage advice from your old friends the Red Hot Chili Peppers…