The Prime Minister is the "dopey" one. John Key's flippant response to recommendations from the expert advisory panel looking at ways to reduce child poverty tells us more about him and what lies beneath the usual high-gloss finish provided by his media minders than he realises.
His comment on the suggested introduction of a universal child payment as being "dopey" was disgraceful. There was no recognition of the realities of poverty for many children. The arrogant tone made him sound like one of those tin-pot dictators who think the best defence is to belittle others. We do not have to look far to find others who use the dual attack and ridicule tactic but they are not the Prime Minister of a small nation.
To dismiss the whole notion of even beginning to address the major social damage created by the widening the gap between the haves and the have-nots is negligent and irresponsible. There may be reason to report the Prime Minister to CYF, giving notification of this failure in his duty to provide care and protection to children "in his care". He made the "dopey" comment as if he was the sole arbiter of government policy. He acted as if he was the only person who was entitled to decide such things. Maybe he had a moment when he thought he was a king, forgetting Parliament and mixing up demagoguery with democracy.
He does have previous for firing off dismissive comments to flick aside notions that do not suit his agenda. His King Canute type comment that "no one owns water" has seen the tide of opposition to the proposed asset sales come sweeping in and drowning the process in litigation. Mind you, many people are opposed to the whole idea of asset sales and might feel that the Prime Minister shot himself in the foot before he put it in his mouth.
The need to develop a strong policy approach to the long-term effects of poverty on children becomes more urgent with every report. It is clear that we are a nation of two halves. While some children grow up with access to world-class health care, housing and education, many children live in Third World conditions where overcrowding creates risks to health, with barriers to accessing appropriate and timely health care, lacking adequate nutrition, warmth and clothing, which in turn affects the ability to learn at school, falling behind in education, becoming lost to crime, drugs or alcohol. We should be ashamed that there are children living in this "other" New Zealand. Calling those who are working to find solutions "dopey" is disgraceful.
