Today’s newsletter is about things that make us ask - Why?
I don’t mean the big philosophical unknowns, like why does God let good dogs die? Clearly she’s a cat person. But we all know the world would be a better place if she preferred dogs.
You know where you are with a dog.
There’s no conspiring against you, no withholding of affection, no barely disguised contempt, as with a cat. So dastardly are these feline deceivers that they’ve convinced many, otherwise rational, people to worship them. They don’t want to be owned by god, they believe they are god.
But we’re not going to be looking at these non-human matters. There’s enough mystery in the behaviours of men to make us ask why? Without the need for gods, feline or otherwise.
Let’s start off small, then get rather big.
Why tobacco companies still sell cigarettes?
They’ve known they kill people for decades, yet they still persist. Given all that time wouldn’t you think these corporations could have transitioned to selling something else? Providing their customers with a product that’s less lethal?
They’ve hired scientists and marketing people, who could develop and promote something new. Yet they use those experts to produce advertising and reports telling us something’s fine, when everyone knows it’s not.
They thwart government regulations restricting their activities and carry on selling their dangerous product to a shrinking customer base. Finding creative ways to attract new customers. The old ones have an unfortunate habit of becoming dead, prematurely.
Surely they could’ve found something else, a product that doesn’t result in the horrendous afflictions we see on a packet of cigarettes?
They could even put nicotine in this new product, if necessary. Keep the existing customers happy and make sure the new ones are locked in with addiction.
Mind you with this government they can just keep on doing it, with no need to change.
Why is our government helping the wool industry?
During question time this week New Zealand First were boasting about intervening in the wool market.
I have no issue with the wool industry. Our environment was better off when there were 60 million sheep wandering around the hills than it is with 5 million cows, who cause more damage. But global demand for wool has fallen off a cliff and it’s some pretty Muldoonist thinking to imagine it can be turned around by the government.
In truth we all know there’s only one thing that can help bring back the glory days of the wool industry…
Mark Patterson (NZ First, Assoc Minister of Agriculture) said at question time this week, “the value of New Zealand wool exports has shrunk from $750 million in 2004 to an estimated $390 million in 2024—a dire situation where it literally costs more to shear a sheep than the income received.”
So how are they going to fix it? Well, Mark continues:
We will direct Government agencies to preference the use of woollen fibres over artificial fibres in Government buildings. Where practical and appropriate, we'll back the sustainable, natural product. No longer will rural schools be forced against their will to put in synthetic carpets. This initiative has garnered widespread support, notably Greg Smith, CEO of Bremworth carpets, that says—and I quote—”This has the potential to be one of the most significant changes in the wool industry since synthetic fibres were introduced two decades ago.”
Personally I don’t have an issue with this, in fact I’d love to see the look on Nicola Willis’ face as some more junior MP explains why more expensive carpet was used for new schools, rather than the cheapest option available.
I doubt there will be enough investment in new government buildings to turn the tide, but that seems like a pretty good thing to do. However it should be unthinkable to the free marketeers currently running the National Party, and to ACT. They believe in the divinity of the market without government regulation or intervention.
We saw that this week with a declaration of war on the environment in the form of National’s fast track consenting process. Giving Minister’s more power to sign things off without getting bogged down in the pesky bureaucracy of fully considering the impacts, which tends to slow things down a bit.
It just all seems a bit random as to which industries get support, and which are left exposed to the harsh realities of the market.
Personally I’d be taking a look at any “donations” made from this sector to a certain political party. It’s not the first time they’ve been involved in something fishy.
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Why is our government not helping the media?
The last couple of weeks have seen carnage in our news media, and it’s not just the newsroom, it’s also current affairs and documentaries. At a time when we need investigative journalism more than ever, there will now be even less.
Almost certainly our 6pm news offering is being cut in half, with some speculating it could be cut to a quarter if One News reduces to a 30 minute bulletin. There will be no current affairs show on Three at 7pm, no more Sunday programme or Paddy Gower on whatever he’s on. Miriama Kamo, the host of Sunday, posted the following:
“This is not just about job losses, which are difficult, but about what we believe is the sustained degradation of the Fourth Estate in NZ. A healthy democracy relies on the ability of experienced journalists to decipher, in-depth, the state of our country, our identity, and to hold power to account.
We are deeply concerned about what these cuts mean, especially in a time when we are facing so many unprecedented local and global challenges.
Sunday has been an agenda-setting and multi award-winning programme for over 22 years, a show on which many of our country's finest journalists have worked.
We are proud that our mahi saves lives, changes laws, uncovers corruption and celebrates the best of Aotearoa.”
In looking for a photo of Miriama this one jumped out at me because the lady to the left of her, in the red, was my boss back in 2000/01 - and a very good one she was too. Hi Doreen, thanks for the encouragement to do this. 🙂
Who will make documentaries, or take an indepth look at issues like alcohol or vaping, without these programmes? I imagine a certain government won’t be too unhappy at the news, or rather the lack thereof.
Personally I’d been hanging out for Paddy Gower on Ketamine. Maybe he’ll have to take it to YouTube or TikTok - your new home of current affairs.
It’s not only those shows which are facing the chop, but perhaps the most beloved Kiwi show of all - Fair Go.
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