Ever since National was elected last year (and I voted for them too), I've taken a wait and see approach. Yes, there have been a few criticisms. But those have been tempered criticisms. Until now.
John Key, after first saying that the upcoming referendum question was ambiguous (huh?), is now indicating that the Government may support Sue Bradford's quest to make it impossible for non-politically correct questions to make it as referenda.
Sue Bradford absolutely hates the referendum question with a passion because of it's complete clarity.
Because New Zealand's current law recently changed by Sue Bradford and all the useful idiots who supported her, a smack given by a parent for the purposes of correction is now a criminal offence. Just one that is not currently being vehemently pursued and prosecuted. Yet.
However, the answer of NO will send a clear message to Parliament that New Zealanders do not think that the law should criminalise smacking, therefore it would be wise of Parliament to change the law to reflect the will of the people.
For some reason, incomprehensible to this blogger, there is no political will to right the previous wrong that has been done by the last Government of this land.
But to go from not wanting to deal with the issue, to saying there's no problem with the law and the referendum is confusing, to potentially endorsing legislation that will limit the types of questions asked in referenda is politically chilling.
Every one should be worried.
That Sue Bradford, a person on the hard left vanguard of political thought in NZ is wanting to suppress freedom of speech in this country is one thing, but, to have the Prime Minister say that the Government may support such suppression is another.
The hundreds of thousands of citizens that have signed the petition for the referendum have endorsed it's wording. They knew what it meant.
If Sue Bradford gets her way, it will mean that if any issue that the Government doesn't to acknowledge or deal with can be safely ignored without recourse to referendum because all the Government has to do is say that the question is confusing or silly. And the last means of getting the Government's complete attention that the average person has right now will be gone.
Related Link: Smacking vote prompts rethink ~ Stuff
The Government will consider adopting a Green MP's bill to prevent confusing and ambiguous referendum questions, Prime Minister John Key said today.
John Key, after first saying that the upcoming referendum question was ambiguous (huh?), is now indicating that the Government may support Sue Bradford's quest to make it impossible for non-politically correct questions to make it as referenda.
Sue Bradford absolutely hates the referendum question with a passion because of it's complete clarity.
"Should a smack as part of good parental correction be a criminal offence in New Zealand?"Most people will of course answer NO. And therein lies the political problem.
Because New Zealand's current law recently changed by Sue Bradford and all the useful idiots who supported her, a smack given by a parent for the purposes of correction is now a criminal offence. Just one that is not currently being vehemently pursued and prosecuted. Yet.
However, the answer of NO will send a clear message to Parliament that New Zealanders do not think that the law should criminalise smacking, therefore it would be wise of Parliament to change the law to reflect the will of the people.
For some reason, incomprehensible to this blogger, there is no political will to right the previous wrong that has been done by the last Government of this land.
But to go from not wanting to deal with the issue, to saying there's no problem with the law and the referendum is confusing, to potentially endorsing legislation that will limit the types of questions asked in referenda is politically chilling.
Every one should be worried.
That Sue Bradford, a person on the hard left vanguard of political thought in NZ is wanting to suppress freedom of speech in this country is one thing, but, to have the Prime Minister say that the Government may support such suppression is another.
The hundreds of thousands of citizens that have signed the petition for the referendum have endorsed it's wording. They knew what it meant.
If Sue Bradford gets her way, it will mean that if any issue that the Government doesn't to acknowledge or deal with can be safely ignored without recourse to referendum because all the Government has to do is say that the question is confusing or silly. And the last means of getting the Government's complete attention that the average person has right now will be gone.
Related Link: Smacking vote prompts rethink ~ Stuff