Knights of the Realm

I caught some of the debate from our Ministers of Parliament today. They were discussing the Electoral Finance Bill. Rodney Hide spoke well, as usual, proving he understands the value of freedom and the respect due to the voting public. Winston Peters and others spoke of the need to stop the Exclusive Brethren, or any other group, from supporting National in future elections. It was mostly petty and small minded. But it wasn't the worst thing they said.

They attacked John Boscawen for having the temerity to spend his own money to publicize the effect of the law changes the Electoral Finance Bill will have on the political landscape. This fact enraged them, and seemingly justified every-thing they said the bill sets out to achieve - stopping him from organising political dissent.

The Greens issued a press release playing the bogeyman card.

“It is no surprise that a member of the Business Roundtable would pay someone to organise marches against campaign finance reform. Around the world, far right business groups oppose campaign finance reform because they want to be able to spend a lot of money to influence government policy,” says Dr. Russel Norman, green Party Co-leader.”

It seems that more than 7,000 people listened to what John Boscawen had to say, and agreed with him. They demonstrated this by attending the marches he helped organize around the country. He has reportedly spent around [updated 9/12/07] $180,000 of his own money. But what he did was simply pay for the 7,000 people (minimum) that appreciated some-one standing up for their rights.

If we allow the Greens their paranoia, it started out as the protest from a single man, and ended up being the protest of thousands. If it took $180,000 to bring this idea to the public arena, so what? The idea was judged and found reasonable. The reality is though, that many people were against this bill even before John Boscawen stood up. The reality is that many groups made submissions pointing out the flawed legislation in this bill.

The Greens are focusing on the Business Round Table as the bogeyman, and ignoring submissions from numerous high profile apolitical organisations that conclusively demonstrated how badly flawed the legislation was.

John Boscawen has acted like a knight of the realm. He has stood up to defend the people around him. In the old days, our knights would do battle with horses, lances, steel armor and equipment of war. It was an expensive business, it threatened their very life, but they did it. Noblesse Oblige. It continues today, this time with pamphlets and advertisements. It is still war, and it is still an expensive business. We individuals might not be able to afford the excessive costs it takes to deliver a message to all New Zealanders, but thank God we still have our knights like John Boscawen.

Another knight surfaced today. A real English Lord, Lord Ashcroft, was discussing on the radio the theft of over 100 medals from the Waiouru Army Museum. He too stepped up to the plate and offered a $200,000 reward for any information leading to the return of the medals. I look at his generosity, and the willingness to spend his own money bringing an idea to the people - an idea that these medals have value, and even strangers understand the very real need to do all they can to get them back. I'm sure there are many fellow Kiwis that would view this Knights gesture in the spirit it was intended, and praise him for putting up his own money to help us out.

The two situations are not that different, when you think about it. So when you hear the left denigrating John Boscawen for spending his own money to help restore something we treasure, think of the medals that were stolen. NZ Labour, the Greens and NZ first want to steal our national treasure. They want to steal democracy. And any Knight that stands up to take them on is mercilessly attacked.

It was therefore no surprise to me that Helen Clark and the Police were of two minds about 'accepting' the reward offered by Lord Ashcroft. They say they are worried it will lead to more thefts. Like we have any more medals to steal?

This is the default thinking from the left. Big money influences outcomes. The only people allowed to influence outcomes are the State. Therefore, don’t accept the reward. I saw 4 posters down at the Police station recently, with $50,000 reward offered for missing persons. No wonder there are more murders in New Zealand. The Police are offering rewards! Idiots.

It's not John Boscawen's private cash that they hate so much. It's that he has freely given it on behalf of the thousands of people that couldn't have mobilised without his help that the left hate. Now his spending reflects maybe $30 per person. The Electoral Finance Bill is saying that is too much, and will not be allowed!

It's not Lord Ashcroft's $200,000 they hate. It's that members of the public (and I include here the citizens of our mother country) have the temerity to take any sort of action. To the left, too many people are taking action. Too many people are expressing their own ideas. When these ideas are at odds with their master plan, we see just how underhanded they become. Anyone who thinks NZ Labour, NZ first, United Future, Jim Anderton and the Greens have handled this bill in a fair and reasonable way are deluded.

And thank you John Boscawen; thank you Lord Ashcroft. Our government may not be supporting your generous efforts, but the people are. You are Knights of the Realm.

Related Link: Lord Ashcroft - Reward for medals

Related Link: John Boscawen organises protest marches