The NZ Green Party

Opinion: The Greens have gone neoliberal

RACHEL STEWART

This was the campaign slogan that made me realise the direction the Greens were taking

Stuff,

14 September, 2015

To my chagrin I've discovered that there are still people who don't appear to have a handle on what the word 'neoliberalism' actually means.

Recently I tweeted my disgust at the Greens new climate change policy by accusing them of being the 'N' word.

Of course, the Green faithful wouldn't have a bar of it. They demanded I explain how their beloved party was exhibiting such behaviour.

Modern economic neoliberalism has recurring themes. These include an unshakeable belief in the power of the market, deregulation, trade liberalisation, starving social services of funding, blaming the poor for their situation in life, and the privatisation of public wealth into the hands of private interests.

Sure, the Greens replacing the ineffective Emissions Trading Scheme with a carbon tax on industry polluters is a reasonable stance.

What isn't reasonable though is the five-year grace period they would give farmers before having to comply. Farmers are also exempt from the current ETS.

Some of us out here in reality land would call that the 'S' word. A subsidy. You know, like how ratepayers pick up the tab for dairying's impact on rivers and taxpayers stump up for the Irrigation Acceleration Fund - whose sole purpose is to increase farming intensification.

Who profits from all of that? Private interests.

Yes folks, that's neoliberalism.

Our National Government is the textbook example of pure, unfettered neoliberalism in action.

They espouse the free market at every turn. They tell us the "invisible hand" will provide everything needed for utopia. Except when there are, you know, exceptions.

How about when Rio Tinto needed taxpayer dosh to keep it in the country.

Or when Warner Bros needed that $191 million Government sweetener for The Hobbit to be made here. Oh yes, and the little matter of instantly changing our labour laws to accommodate them? No worries.

Or the Saudi sheep bribe?

Those are more examples of that popular practice of transferring public wealth into private hands.

Deregulation's quite popular too. Anything to make the wheels of industry turn easier.

Health and Safety laws have become generally watered down – or virtually non-existent for big earners like farmers. Only worm farmers need seriously worry.

The Resource Management Act reforms are still firmly in the pipeline and are designed to further erode environmental outcomes. They will ensure polluting is easier for big business, and the public will continue to pick up the tab.

Neoliberalism historically enjoys overt patriotism. Anything to keep the masses tribal. A new flag is the ideal opportunity to enshrine a corporate logo as a national ensign. There could even be big money in it according to the Prime Minister. Billions maybe!

Rugby and patriotism go together like guns and apple pie. Our nation's fixation with the game is the supreme scenario for the neolibs. Why else name the team at Parliament?

Another thing that neoliberalism does very well is it teaches the masses to hate the poor, or downtrodden. Refugees for example. Many New Zealanders do care, but their voices are effectively drowned out by the overwhelming disdain of those who do not.

The yet-to-be signed Trans Pacific Partnership is the ultimate advert for neoliberal trade. Sign away your sovereignty, be prepared to be sued by tobacco companies or oil giants if you change the "rules" on them, and hold your nose. We're jumping in.

Because that's what neoliberalism does so well. It takes heinous, amoral, unethical acts and turns them into "opportunities" and "growth" while consistently implying trickle-down. Yet, in reality, it's gush-up.

Essentially it's a legitimised system of outright greed. The market is God, even if the market fails – which it does with monotonous regularity. The sharemarket's just a giant casino. We all know that, but choose to ignore it.

Capitalism is at huge odds with climate change. Indeed, it won't let it get in the way of profit-making.

President Obama offered up an amusing – if it wasn't so sad – moment of neoliberal clarity the other day.

After making belated speeches and proclamations about the reality of climate change, invoking the usual "grandchildren's grandchildren" lines, he quickly signed off on Shell drilling for oil in the Arctic.

He then immediately went on a three-day tour in Alaska - which included a hike across a shrinking glacier and visits to coastal communities affected by sea-level rise and erosion.

Beyond ironic.

And that's why the Greens have so disappointed me with their talk of a five-year exemption for farmers – our biggest industry contributors to climate change - from a carbon tax.

While I don't believe they'll be in a position anytime soon to actually implement the policy, it speaks volumes about their direction and openness towards the 'N' word.

While they're dicking around trying to induce farmers to join the Green Party – and we all know that'll never happen - the glaciers are literally melting.