Helen Clark, ONZ. The latest recipient of this rather presitgious Order has been quoted as saying she wouldn't have accepted a Damehood. Um, by implication this means she was expecting something. Given a CNZM (Companion of the NZ Order of Merit) would have been "too low" for a former PM leads me to the question: Why should there be any expectation of a politician receiving anything at all! If one wants to use the argument that because they are politicians, they serve the country, well hang on, how about giving an ONZ to all those that serve in the Armed Forces. This is exactly one of the reasons why I started this blog. It really fucks my noodles that politicians expect a right to anything just because they are in politics.
Another example. Jonathon Hunt. That fat pig who was Speaker of the House who was known as Minister for Wine and Cheese. Look, he spent oodles of years in public office - so what. Look at his record, what did he achieve that is OUTSTANDING to merit an ONZ. He the man who went off to be High Commissioner in London and wanted to draw the pension there. He can rot in his own outdated wine and moldy cheese, for in my view, he isn't even worth a good toss.Back to Helen, smarmy as she is, she is added to a list of ONZ politicial recipients - hardly anything to be proud of. But naturally she will accept it. Heather Simpson (H2) would have insisted (as she did with many decisions she made as proxy PM.
The ONZ should have gone to people like Peter Jackson, or Richard Hadlee or my Dad for that matter who worked his guts out building dams and houses in the 50's for a pittance but for good cause. Politicians should be banned from this prestigious Order, but in reality it won't happen. The politicians haven't the balls to exempt themselves.
It amazes me that the Greatest Living New Zealander (in my opinion) Sir Bob Charles is not on that list.
ReplyDeleteYes, I'd agree with that. He did a heck of a lot to lift NZ golf onto the world scene, and many hard hours coaching. The other thing I think about the ONZ is that its about character - real character, not flumped up plastique characters like Clark and Hunt.
ReplyDeleteSince he won the British Open in (I think) 1963 Sir Bob has given a % (5% I think) of his golf earnings/winnings to NZ Golf.
ReplyDeletealmost all of the creatures that are on the list have at some time been paid from the public purse. In most case they have been busy with their snouts in the public trough as well. It is my opinion that anyone who has been paid by the public in any form or shape for more than two years, should be automatically disqualified from recieving any award for their supposed "service".
ReplyDeleteThis wuld have two benefits. These obviously highly talented people would then be encouraged to work in the private sector where their clearly superior talents and skills would be appropriately rewarded. Secondly the Awards lists would be greatly reduced and would thus regain some of the prestige that they were intended to convey.
A further idea would be to introduce a new award. "The Golden Bullet" could be come a highly sought after award for those who have been found guilty of troughing at the public expense. Delivery system and minor technical details like that would need to be resolved but they are mere technicalities.
Finally, welcome to the blogosphere.
Memo to self, proofread before posting!
ReplyDeleteMemo to Pique Oil... no need lol i think that what goes from the mind directly to the keys is way more genuine than rehashing... esp in the blogworld... oh yeah, blogsphere, i'm a newbie to this :)
ReplyDelete