Workers

"Excessive liberty leads both nations and individuals into excessive slavery." Cicero.

New Zealand, the land of plenty is running smoothly according to the politicians. The
economy's booming, unemployment is the lowest since the full employment of the 1950's-60's and 70's, when the "experts" decided that things need to be changed to create more revenue for government by selling public owned facilities to private enterprise. The result was predictable, unemployment became a way of life and nearly four decades later many families have never held down a regular job.

But, say the "experts," government has a seven billion-dollar surplus stashed under the bed.
Therefore, all is well in Godzone. The 23% increase in bureaucrats mean something sensible is happening. Why else would the extra ballpoint specialists be needed if things were sliding backwards? There's simply no reason for workers to go on strike.

However, the Age Care Sector is a classic example of current thinking. With the NZ
minimum hourly wage of $9.50, many qualified workers with many years experience earn
between $10 and $11.50 an hour. Many retirement homes have been snapped up by
international conglomerates specialising in exploiting the longevity of Kiwis. Their homes
are run with the minimum of staff and expected to follow rules designed to save costs and
never mind the fee paying residents or the workers.

Perhaps it should be explained that if they can afford the $7-800 a week fee for their rooms
which in many cases are smaller and cruder than a jail cell, residents pay their own way. If
not, the government picks up the tab, and quite rightly so when one considers Godzone has
one of the highest effective tax rates in the civilised world.

Thus, suitable shock and horror was expressed when the workers of a large Rest Home
business decided to stage a countrywide 24 hour strike. The puzzled CEO earning thousands dollars a week scratched his head in amazement. "What on earth are the peasants protesting about? My only responsibility is to look after the interests of the shareholders."

At seven am the workers gathered outside their work places with placards and dressed at
monkeys to explain that if you pay peanuts, you get monkeys. With much tooting of car
horns the passing public supported the workers in a heartening manner. In the Wellington
area, buses were hired by the trade union to ferry the workers to a protest at Parliament
Building. Several members of the Green Party supported the workers but they were mainly
ignored or treated with contempt by the remaining power soaked politicians. As a result,
more stoppages are planned for the future.

When one considers the politicians find it necessary for one third of the population to live
below the breadline, another third can barely cope and the remaining third live in comparative luxury. Where is the equality of Godzone's so called democracy? NZ is a rich country created by the temperate climate, so why is it desirable to have such low paid workers in the vital old age care industry? The government is not exactly short of funds. Sadly, most of the workers have to work two jobs to pay their way in a very much over regulated society. Does this explain why one million (20%) Kiwis live offshore?

I simply ask that where is the old-fashioned decency, honesty and commonsense that allowed NZ to have the world's highest standard of living in the middle of the last century? Or am I being politically incorrect again?