Voices for Freedom's local government campaign
This recent video, by Paul the Other One makes for fascinating viewing.
The video is about an attempt by Voices for Freedom to train and normalise candidates who are sympathetic to their ideals so that they are electable.
And from the looks of it there is some resource going into the effort. There is the Council Watch website which is an offshoot of Reality Check Radio, owned by the people behind Voices for Freedom.
And on the website there is a polished publicity document that has been released which sets out a compelling way for candidates to campaign and appear reasonable.
According to the booklet the key issues include these:
Māori Wards
Rates Are Out Of Control
Debt & Borrowing Blowouts
Roads, Parking & The War On Cars
Infrastructure Neglect
Water Centralisation
Fluoride Without Consent
Lost Focus On Core Services
It even thinks that climate change policies are out of control. The report claims:
Climate change is being used to justify sweeping planning reforms, new levies, and even forced relocation through “managed retreat.” Will your council protect property rights, or help push people off their land in the name of resilience?"
This is hyperbolic bunkum.
In Auckland for instance the recent buy back of properties deemed to be unsafe following the catastrophic storms that were incidentally caused by climate change were purchased voluntarily by Auckland Council.
If an owner did not want to sell they did not have to sell.
I sense no appetite let alone resources for the mass compulsory buy out of people's properties. Besides the market and insurance companies will take care of this. It seems inevitable that some properties in risky areas will have their value reduced.
The report also has this thing about walkable neighbourhoods, vibrant town centres, and less time in traffic. It rails against the “15-minute city” concept on the basis of communism or something.
I see a number of local campaigns that borrow heavily from the information in this booklet. The same talking points are repeaded ad nauseum and no solution is offered. The politics of anger is strong.
There are more than a few candidates who rely on glitzy social media and who do not turn up to meet the candidate meetings, presumably so they do not have to answer the hard questions.
The questions that seem to catch them out, at least locally, are do they believe in human induced climate change, do they believe in the science of Kauri dieback and do they believe in the utility of the Covid vaccination.
It is amazing how often candidates seem to say "no" to all three questions. A complete lack of respect for science appears to be an important feature of their campaigns.
And it is amazing to me how an aversion to road cones seems to be a gateway drug to full blown anti vaccine hysteria. One minute they are complaining about potholes, the next minute they are posting calls for Jacinda Ardern to be tried and imprisoned or worse for alleged crimes against humanity.
Voices for Freedom's funding remains an enigma. The owners also own Reality Check Radio which has significant resources behind it.
VFF's website used to say “we intend to provide basic information on finances such as to provide accountability and transparency at appropriate junctures and at least annually.” Some time after I wrote this post the promise was quietly deleted. There is no transparency about their funding. Despite their earlier promise which they now want you to forget.
If you have not voted already please do your research. Paul the Other One is doing a lot of it for you and I recommend you follow him on Youtube.
But vote carefully. And vote for science.
