Andrew Little and the wok star economy
It was a week of food jokes, Jihadi jokes and serious US politics, writes Philip Matthews.
Food court of public opinion
Labour leader Andrew Little had what they politely call a shocker. The problem of foreign chefs coming over here, cooking our food, is apparently considered a real one within the New Zealand union movement, where semiskilled workers are understood to drive down wages and conditions, but in the full glare of the media and the food court of public opinion, it looked like he was simply having a ‘‘dog whistle’’ crack at non-white Kiwis when he said ethnic restaurants could source chefs in New Zealand. It was also an occasion for dad jokes from senior Government ministers, such as Steven Joyce who said: ‘‘The Little India restaurant should be renamed Little Invercargill and we could close this problem down immediately.’’
The Domino’s effect
In other political food news, Transport minister Simon Bridges revealed the Government is collaborating with fast food firm Domino’s to trial the delivery of pizzas by unmanned drones. Remember how Prime Minister John Key promised that we were on the cusp of something special in 2014? It turns out we were on the crust of something special. The next question is whether Labour should now campaign on using the drones to deliver discounted fruit and vegetables to underprivileged families.
Consider this a divorce
Jihadi brides and Jihadi grooms, Jihadi bridesmaids and Jihadi honeymoons, Jihadi stag nights and Jihadi hen parties. No, stop there. It’s all rubbish. The news late last year was exciting. During an Intelligence and Security Committee session, SIS boss Rebecca Kitteridge spoke of radicalised ‘‘Jihadi brides’’ lured from New Zealand. The claim was repeated by John Key. Only it was not exactly true. Reports this week revealed that no so-called ‘‘Jihadi brides’’ left from New Zealand. Details, who needs them? Many think the local Muslim community is owed an apology.
Ideas man, not a details man
On two other occasions this week the Prime Minister was asked about the specifics of something controversial and did not seem too fussed about not knowing the answer— or, as they say, not having those numbers in front of him. In Parliament on Tuesday, he said he ‘‘wouldn’t have a clue’’ how many farmers he expects to fail from the dairy downturn. He also professed to not know the full cost of the proposed flag change, which is his baby. It was also reported that even if Key’s preferred Lockwood flag wins, change will be partial. The Army, Navy, Air Force, Police, Fire Service and Customs flags will still sport the traditional Union Jack.
News quote of the week
Is it expressive of the degeneration of society, the erosion of shared values and traditions, and the increasing shallowness of 21st century life, that so many news stories seem to revolve around whether things that are not supposed to resemble penises do in fact resemble penises? This week’s example was a skate park in Rangiora. ‘‘You can’t tell it looks like a penis unless you’re looking at it from space,’’ said designer Dave North.
Bad politics
The US primaries and the presidential campaigns that follow look set to be the most violent and divisive since the dark days of 1968 and the Democratic Convention in Chicago. Republican contender Donald Trump issued bellicose threats, and not just at protesters but his own party. On the other side, a Hillary Clinton victory over Bernie Sanders looks inevitable, but Zoe Heller in the New York Review of Books voiced the growing belief that Clinton is just another mainstream career politician who wears feminism as a useful costume: ‘‘Clinton has a long-standing habit of crying sexism when she wishes to dodge or deflect perfectly legitimate criticisms or questions.’’ It will be an interesting four years either way.