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ACT'S MOULDY POLICIES

This week’s issue is our “culture” issue, hence the delightful petri dish complete with Critic-shaped bacteria on the cover (See ODT, we can make puns too. Even if they do imply rather negative things about our hygiene).

The week before last, four politicians gathered into the Gazebo Lounge to spout rhetoric along their party lines. ACT’s Hilary Calvert of La Maison fame was the crowd favourite for all the wrong reasons (namely, her stern student-hating remarks and pro-VSM stance). In a rather roundabout way, Calvert described the formation of her ideal society (for some reason, it would take place in the Roman forum i.e. a pre-established civilisation). Calvert seemed a little hazy on the details- when one audience member questioned her on where the money for the society would come from, Calvert responded “What money? It doesn’t just…” at which point she interrupted herself and flicked her wrists into the air. Long story short, it turns out that ACT stands for the idea “that we should all have one vote, that we should all start from the same position.”

Pretty much everyone (bar those who are into the whole eugenics/Nazi thang) would agree with this sentiment. What they disagree on, however, is whether having ACT’s so-called “one law for all” policy really lets us all “start from the same position”. Given that we are all born into situations with different levels of wealth, education and support, it seems pretty silly to expect that by treating everyone equal, we’ll get equal outcomes. In fact, for the sake of giving everyone a fair start (or at least, a fairer start), sometimes a little help is necessary. This week, Charlotte Greenfield tackles the issue of affirmative action on page df, an issue that (unfortunately) seems set to become an election issue, at least for Brash and Harawira.

Charlotte isn’t alone in her fight against ACT and their policies- last week was shaped in large part by media darling Logan Edgar’s political activism against the nearing apocolypse (aka VSM). For those of you who missed it, he locked himself in a cage (see page df). If there was a metaphor with the cage, I’m not sure it would stand up to rigorous analysis/ any analysis by an English Lit student, but that was sort of beside the point. To me, Edgar’s antics demonstrated two things. First, it’s quite refreshing to have a president who actually connects with students, and cares what they think, even if his spelling leaves a bit to be desired. Second, Edgar would make a wonderful TV personality.

In short, suck on that ACT party!

See you later alligator,

Julia Hollingsworth

P.S. If you want to make a submission about the possible closure of Radio One, submissions close this Friday July 12. Send ‘em in to consultation@ousa.org.nz.