Free at last...

...from 9 years of maternalistic, self righteous political smothering..."Helen Clark's uncharacteristic failure to read correctly the court of public opinion on Winston Peters and his party's litany of political abuses has received its jury vedict.
In sticking with NZ First to save itself Labour was guilty on all counts...When governments see power as an end to itself rather than a means to an end, voters usually withdraw it." NZ Herald 10.11.08.
Prime Minister elect John Key now needs to present the country with his timetable to implement his vision and his goals. Among those goals should be a rise in our OECD rankings, significant tax cuts, scrapping of the loathsome Electoral Finance Act, a review of MMP, a withdrawal from the Kyoto agreement and review of prison sentencing for violent crime. All up, the election result is almost perfect... if Stephen Franks had succeeded in Wellington Central total bliss would prevail...

Memo to John Key...a prayer before each Paliamentary session ?

How about this from the UK House of Commons ?

"Lord, the God of righteousness and truth, grant to our Queen and her government, to Members of Parliament and all in positions of responsibility, the guidance of your Spirit. May they never lead the nation wrongly through love of power, desire to please, or unworthy ideals but laying aside all private interests and prejudices keep in mind their responsibility to seek to improve the condition of all mankind; so may your kingdom come and your name be hallowed.Amen." More from Cranmer here...

Stephen Franks writes...

I hate what has happened to the youthful ideals of my generation, when sincerity was the virtue that trumped all others (even tolerance and certainly politeness). That generation in power has created a body of law for liars that would stun the parents we were out to shock. It rewards routine lying. Indeed it may be virtually impossible for businesses to function if they do not play the game.
I was reminded of W Peters feigned outrage before the Privileges Committee at what he considered to be Owen Glenn’s "coached evidence". I think they call it "projection".
No wonder W Peters thinks its worth spouting nonsense and H Clark can pretend she can’t act on anything less than a formal outcome of proceedings. Employment law steers people straight to lying, by forcing them to pretend they act in ways no sensible person would act, and indeed in ways no self respecting employee would want them to act...more

...it rewards routine lying...and so does our present ACC scheme. The rewards are financial for health professionals, and practical and financial (ie, free treatment) for savvy patients. Those patients who can't or won't lie, the honest elderly and others, simply don't get treated or pay a private fee or receive a different , and often lower standard of health care.(Recently the Disabled Persons Assembly took a case alleging discrimination to the High Court on this basis.)

I have protested this all my professional life, yet to my shame have continued to collaborate with this stinking system...Of course the same stink that hovers around our politicians and health care system is exactly the same pong from the same source...

Stephen Franks and William Junior Rufus Marsh

...a startling story...