There has never been a vote about which I’ve been more conflicted. For the first time in my life, I seriously considered NOT voting. The only ballots I ever missed were when there were problems with absentee ballot applications or when I was very sick.The focus this time was an extremely stupid vanity poll shoved onto New Zealand taxpayers by a bunch of far right christianist extremists who forced us to spend at least $9 million on their vanity poll, money that would be better spent on, well, just about anything.
I have nothing but utter, complete and total contempt and disgust for the extremist christianist groups behind the vanity poll that New Zealand taxpayers have just paid for. For New Zealanders who’ve been living under a rock, that means the Kiwi Party (aka Larry Balldock), “Family” First NZ and Focus on the “Family” NZ—all far-right political extremist groups based on far right christianist religious ideology.
Let me be even clearer: The question they asked was utter bullshit, specifically and deliberately designed to sucker New Zealanders into voting the way the extremists wanted; it isn’t worth the paper it was printed on. I don’t think the ballot question could be more irrelevant. The fact that a mere 54% (so far) have bothered to vote shows the contempt that other ordinary New Zealanders have for this stupid referendum.
It was obvious that no matter what the result the extremists would demand action they alone dictate, and they designed the question to further their political agenda. The low turnout will strengthen the government’s hand in, as they said beforehand, ignoring this incredibly stupid referendum.
I voted “yes” on the referendum—holding my nose—because it was the only way I could say I want the law to stay as it is (thanks to the bullshit question written by the religious extremists). However, if I had it to do over again, I would have thrown thing in the rubbish, because that’s where it belonged all along.
Still, it's not all for nothing: I’ve been alerted now to the threat to our democracy posed by these religious extremists, and I won’t be so blasé again. The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good people to do nothing. I will do something.
Update August 22, 2009: The results are in.
2 comments:
Was wondering if you'd have a post on this. The assholes who apparently want it to be legal to kill your children are already claiming victory. :-P
I didn't say anything sooner out of concern that the radical right might try to use comment against them—even from folks unaffiliated with any organisation in the 'debate"—as a weapon to smear the good guys. Even though it would've ultimately failed, I didn't want to risk "aiding and abetting the enemy", as it were. Now that the campaign has ended, I can say what I want.
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