There is a magic money-tree after all

Remember when Bill English called prisons "a moral and fiscal failure"? It was an example of his cautious conservativism, a recognition not just that prisons do no-one any good 9and often make people worse) and are driven by wider social failings, but also that maintaining that system costs an absolute fuck-ton of money which could be better spent elsewhere.

The attitude of the current National regime couldn't be any more different:

Facing reporters at Parliament on Tuesday, Luxon was questioned about the prison muster, which has surged to record highs and is now nearing 11,000 inmates.

"Absolutely, that's a good thing," he said. "Yep, good thing."

Luxon said the coalition would not ease up on criminals or adjust policy simply because the costs were rising.

"I understand... the financial implication of... restoring law and order in New Zealand, but we make no apologies about that," he said.

"The cost will be what the cost will be."

There's no thinking here, just the mindless "number go up so it must be good" of the mediocre middle manager promoted to his level of incompetence. As for "the cost will be what the cost will be", its a perfect example of how spending decisions illustrate real priorities. The regime dismantled the pay equity regime, putting fair pay out of reach for a generation, because "we can't afford it". It uses the same excuse for working doctors and nurses to death rather than accepting safe staffing levels, and for underpaying teachers and public servants. It is used to justify cutting Kāinga Ora's massive building program, leaving empty wastelands in our cities where once social housing stood; for shitting on beneficiaries; for cutting the vital Cook Strait ferry link; for refusing to fund decarbonisation; and for a host of other policy areas. If we need it, National says "we can't afford it". But when it comes to prisons, "the cost will be what the cost will be".

I guess there is a "magic money tree" in Wellington after all. Its just that the money can only be spent on cruelty and sadism, on ruining people and making our problems worse (and on roads, of course). As for our actual needs, our actual demands, National doesn't give a flying fuck about any of that.

We need to get rid of this corrupt dogshit regime as quickly as possible. Bring on the election!