A member of the Indian Community in Auckland has summed up National’s successful first year in power through a few lines from Mahatma Ghandi.
Politics without principle. wealth without work. commerce without morality. pleasure without conscience. education without character. science without humanity. worship without sacrifice.
What do you think?
I don’t think much about how that quote applies to this government Mr Huo. Apart from being a member of the Indian community, can you confirm whether the person paraphrasing Ghandi was also a Labour Party supporter?
Politics without principle. wealth without work. commerce without morality. pleasure without conscience. education without character. science without humanity. worship without sacrifice.
Sounds like the Labour Party.
Definitely the Labour Party
Haven’t seen any new stuff on wealth, commerce, education or science to speak of aside from them being removed although I’m sure if they were there they would lack those things.
Happy Birthday National! @Doug, Ray and Rob. Labour was a good government!
@Rob – sorry I misread your post.
National do have principle’s. They are all based on getting into power in 2011, at any cost.
James99
If they wanted a safe return in 2011 the ETS would be scrapped.
Doug, true it’s a crap dog legged piece of legislation.
Which if they were principled at the least they would give it more time and review it. But they don’t have any principles, so they do what they want and don’t give a stuff about the consequences.
Wow, according to Stuff, Parliaments Commissioner to the Environment Jan Wright has slammed the current ETS bill; she had this to say about it.
“In its current form, the bill virtually guarantees that the ETS will not achieve its stated goal of reducing our greenhouse gas emissions. I cannot support the bill being passed as it is currently.”
National’s ETS is an absolute joke just like their MPs, so at least they are consistent with something.
What do I think? I think it bizarre for a Labourite to be quoting Gandhi. Here’s a quote from Gandhi that Labour supporters may wish to think about:
Ellis, I expect more than just yes/no from you. Justify how this isn’t our current govt. It describes them perfectly. In fact ACC and ETS alone make this quote utterly appropriate.
It’s pretty accurate… you could find examples of all of those things from just one year…. If National’s goal was to get into power again in 2011 they would pass the ETS otherwise the NZ risks being condemned by the international community… That’s what the ETS is about…For example, It is possible that Europe would cripple our export sector if we don’t have an ETS…
Quoth of Raven – If you had any knowledge about the context of the statement and if you had any knowledge about Indian history or the British Empire in Asia you would understand that you’re silly quote from Gandhi isn’t at all relevant…. Also maybe you live on an other planet, but I never recall Labour, or any other NZ government for that matter, enducing or endorsing any form of violence.
The Indian community member is a supporter of good government/political party, Mr Ellis.
n0exit – Gandhi was an pacifist and an anarchist. His views are very far removed from those of the statolatry labourites. He like many others views the state as inherently violent. I think it is who need to read up about Gandhi – try this for starters.
I am not disputing Gandhi’s views, I am just saying that what you said isn’t at all relevant to NZ. His comments were made when Birtishers were murdering Indians, when India was being stripped of it’s wealth and when it’s people were being mistreated. You can not take every statement made by Gandhi, which were appropriate for the time and place, and directly relate them to NZ. Also Gandhi opposes a centralised govt. which includes National and Labour so why imply that Labour has done something wrong by winning an election? National has won an election too. That makes both parties equally bad in Gandhi’s eyes.
Don’t distort his views to make a political point. If you have something to say, say it. Don’t hide behind quotes that don’t back up you’re point.
Mr Huo, thank you for your response, although you didn’t directly answer the question.
I think it is very relevant that the person you quoted is a Labour Party supporter. This person is not just a member of the Indian community. This person is also, as is clear because you answered the question in the way you did, a Labour Party supporter.
Mr Ellis Deletion for trolling and warning that you face a long term ban if you offend again. Trevor
n0exit – His thoughts about the state are relevant to New Zealand – his ideas were about far more than just British rule in India (just look at what he thought about western democracy). If you read my first comment you’ll see that all I want is for people to read what Gandhi said and think about it precisely because it is relevant here. here’s a couple more: I look upon an increase in the power of the State with the greatest fear, because, although while apparently doing good by minimizing exploitation, it does the greatest harm to mankind by destroying individuality which lies at the root of all progress.
In your first comment you say “I think it bizarre for a Labourite to be quoting Gandhi” and “Here’s a quote from Gandhi that Labour supporters may wish to think about”. My point is that if you are going to criticise Labour you have to criticise National because Gandhi was opposed to all western democracy. You can’t use Gandhi to criticise the left only. I am not disputing his views or beliefs. I am just saying that what you said is unfair criticism. Your final quote makes my point for me. Thanks
Good summation of capitalism.
Politics without principle. wealth without work. commerce without morality. pleasure without conscience. education without character. science without humanity. worship without sacrifice.
Maybe it’s just me, but a lot of that rings true for a recent politician, now incarcerated at Her Majesty’s pleasure.
Politics without principle – Rodney’s trip, Hone’s trip, Phillip Field
Wealth without work – again Rodney’s trip, Hone’s trip and also the ETS deal stitched up with the big iwis
Commerce without morality – Accident Compensation Corporation’s treatment of levy payers under both Labour and National.
Pleasure without conscience – Rodney, Hone
Education without character – Anne Tolley, based solely on her rat tale.
Science without humanity – Labour’s ETS. National’s ETS.
Worship without sacrifice – The Green Party
n0exit – I understand what you mean, but I thought it should go without saying that I’m critical of both.
Tim, your MO is becoming tiresome. I’m sure you are clever enough to actually engage the issue.
I don’t understand why anyone quotes Ghandi…He was racist towards Africans when he lived in South Africa as a young man.
theresaj – People quote Gandhi because he was a great man with great ideas who achieved a lot. You answered your own question when you said “as a young man”. Gandhi’s thoughts changed like that of all people. You can dredge up anything from someone’s past and use it to discredit them. It’s a common thing with political people of that period for rasicst quotes to be dug up and used to disparage their entire politics by lazy thinkers.
As I said gandhi’s views changed so here’s a quote:
Then there is Nelson Mandela:
and Martin Luther King:
Quoth the Raven,
I think almost all the greatest people are unknown…they do not seek the limelight. One of my heroes is Jeanne Jugan. How many people have heard of her? Few in NZ I would say.
No political hero has universal appeal.
Sound like the Labour Party under Helen Clark, Good to see that changing a bit now shes gone
Mr Ellis do not relitigate moderation decisions. No further correspondence will be entered into. Clare
Back to the “Congratulations on 1 year in power” post.
Some of the current themes.
Urgency without transparency
Dogma without data
Smiles without substance
and
Comfort without context