OJBs Web Site: Blog Page

Note: You are currently viewing my old web site. There is a new version with most of this content at OJB.NZ.
The new site is being updated, uses modern techniques, has higher quality media, and has a mobile-friendly version.
This old site will stay on-line for a while, but maybe not indefinitely. Please update your bookmarks. Thanks.

Add a Comment (Go Up to OJB's Blog Page)

Schadenfreude

Entry 1392, on 2012-05-22 at 12:52:45 (Rating 4, Politics)

I have some admiration for the philosophy behind libertarianism and I think it's good to have every political perspective represented in a democracy, especially one which has proportional representation like New Zealand. But I still can't help but feel a degree of satisfaction as I watch the Act Party self-destruct and sink without trace in the world of politics.

The word that describes it perfectly is "schadenfreude" (if you don't know here's the definition: pleasure derived by someone from another person's misfortune.) Yeah, I know, it sounds sort of mean, and I have already said above I have some admiration for their political perspective, but it's still true.

Act deserves to die though. The party has been a joke for years. They campaigned for greater responsibility and delivered the opposite, they wanted to avoid internal power struggles and got the worst of any party, they criticised other parties for playing politics and did far worse themselves, they denounced ideological policies and are most ideological party in the country.

They have had no credibility for a long time and the party has been effectively dead for years and only survived by being a parasite on the National Party at the last election. They represent the worst of everything politics offers and unbelievably things just keep getting worse for them, hence the schadenfreude.

The latest debacle involves donations from a complete nut job, called Louis Crimp, from my old home town of Invercargill. I feel a bit sorry for this person actually because he is obviously suffering from some cognitive or social deficiency. His interview on TV last night was just bizarre.

But that's the sort of person who supports a party like Act. Very few normal people would still want to have anything to do with Act, except when engaging in something like the corrupt and cynical political ploy which played out in Epsom at the last election.

Free speech is important but if you are going to make a point around controversial politics, especially involving race relations, it's essential that you first get your facts right, and second don't look like a rabid nutter! Unfortunately Crimp didn't follow either of these guidelines.

If the government really spent half a billion dollars per year propping up the Maori language then I think that would be worth discussing. But getting the number wrong then ranting on about "savages" is not the way to win people over to your side of the debate. Quite the opposite is true.

So those of us who support a more moderate political position should thank Crimp for exposing what many Act supporters are really like. And yes, there are many more like him I'm sure. I know one Act supporter personally who would share a very similar position on Maori issues.

So not only is Act shooting itself in the foot now but its crazed supporters are also firing randomly and killing it off even more rapidly through "friendly fire". Ah, the schadenfreude!

Comment 20 (3264) by OJB on 2012-07-10 at 12:52:13: (view earlier comments)

Yes, I support the center left. If that includes Labour then I will consider them, if not I will look elsewhere. More specifically I will look at the policies being offered and vote for the party with the best policies, but that is unlikely to be National, and very unlikely to be Act!

I don't necessarily support Labour's viewpoint and I haven't voted for them recently. I vote for the center-left. I am not a Labour supporter!

Yes, I seriously consider myself a moderate, with a bias to the left.

Comment 21 (3268) by SBFL on 2012-07-10 at 13:02:04:

Well the Greens aren't centre-left and you would never vote for the Maori Party nor United Future so I guess that means you voted for Winston First in 2011 !!

Oh dear....I would almost prefer you voted Labour!

Comment 22 (3272) by OJB on 2012-07-10 at 13:32:50:

Oh how amusing you are today! In fact I think there is some merit in many of Winston's policies but there are some pretty scary people in his party so I don't know if I could vote for him!

And I think the Greens, as they are now, are center-left. As I said earlier, they do have a few nutty extreme Greeny values but on balance I think they have a good mix of policies.

Of course where on the political spectrum different people or parties fall is very much open to interpretation. To someone fairly right of center (such as yourself) the Greens probably do look well to the left but it's all relative.

Comment 23 (3276) by SBFL on 2012-07-10 at 13:46:42:

Wow, I thought you might say that (that you think the Greens are CL). Don't take this the wrong way but I like the direction the Greens are taking (more centrist, more practical, more open to working with other parties). It's sensible politics, and I would do the same if I was Russel Norman. Why not at least do a MoU with National and gain something? It seems silly not to. Of course their economic policies are still wacky, but everyone can resonate with the environment.

Comment 24 (3279) by OJB on 2012-07-10 at 13:54:53:

Have a look at this. I'm not sure how rigorous the methodology they use it but it is an objective source which must be better than our opinion, at least. Also, try doing the quiz yourself and see where you lie not he spectrum.

You can leave comments about this entry using this form.

To add a comment: enter a name and email (both optional), type the number shown above, enter a comment, then click Add.
Note that you can leave the name blank if you want to remain anonymous.
Enter your email address to receive notifications of replies and updates to this entry.
The comment should appear immediately because the authorisation system is currently inactive.