The Labour Party has been complaining this week about National's so-called "attack on democracy" over the legislation for the future governance arragements for Auckland. And not only complain; they were quite happy to waste $10,000 PER HOUR to keep Parliament sitting under urgency whilst MP's are forced to vote on hundreds of mindless amendments. Worse still, all the Labour MP's have looked like cats who've found the cream whilst our taxpayer dollars have been flushed away.
So, the Labour Party is the guardian of democracy, right? Wrong! The Herald covers the story of the Bakers' Association criticising a change in regulations requiring bakers to add synthetic folic acid to almost all the bread we eat - have a read of this:
New Zealand Food Safety Minister Kate Wilkinson said the Government was concerned about the scheme, which it had "inherited" from Labour.
"We need to make sure the health benefits outweigh the risk," she said. "We have to make sure the evidence is science-based and not emotion-based. We are concerned and we are looking at it."
Wilkinson said Food Safety Authority officials were preparing advice on the latest research. She expected to take it to Cabinet before the end of the month, when a "course of action" would be decided.
"We have to take into account 87 per cent of New Zealanders didn't want mandatory fortification of bread with folic acid," she said.
The scheme was a favourite of former Health Minister Annette King but never went before Parliament. It was passed under special rules which do not allow the same level of public scrutiny.
That's right. This change, opposed by an overwhelming number of New Zealanders NEVER WENT BEFORE PARLIAMENT. It was snuck through, via the back door.
Yes, dear readers, that's democracy in action, Labour Party style. Just like the anti-smacking legislation; just like the Electoral Finance Act; just like the Emissions Trading Scheme. It's democracy in action at its Nanny State/we-know-what's-best-for-you worst.
And fear not dear readers - whenever the Labour Party moans about undemocratic government, we will be issuing hypocrisy alerts. Because you can't just rewrite history Annette.
6 comments:
Phil Goff has sent out a questionaire to everyone titled "The Auckland One Minute Referendum".
It has the crest on it so I assume I paid for it.
The Questions are:
1. Do you agree with the SuperCity
2. Has there been enough consultation on the proposed Super City.
3. If the Super City goes ahead how do you want your Councillors elected - locally in wards, across the how city or a mix.
4. Which do you prefer for completing the motorway connection through Waterview - a tunnel and further investment in public transport or a surface motorway.
5. Who in my party is having a BBQ this weekend to plan my demise - David Cunnliffe, Shane Jones or Ruth Dyson. (Just Kidding!!!!)
The nice people in the MOH that pushed this particular barrow also pushed the graphic health warnings on smokes the same way. They also planned to do something about the way foods with high fat contents were displayed. It would have meant cheese would be out the back in a supermarket if taken to its illogical extreme.
And all of it would be done behind closed doors.
I don't know anything about the additions of synthetic folic and acids except to ask isn't it about then when the price of bread doubled.
Secondly the bread these days is `crap' compared to what we used to eat years ago.
CB - I don't think Labour has a credible alternative to Goff at present. Cunliffe or Jones will alienate voters for sure and Dyson would be really scraping the bottom of the barrell.
F^"k the MOH. This is yet another example of them trying to impose their (and WHO) policies suitable for the 3rd world on us.
Folic acid taken before falling pregnant can reduce neural tube defects. Putting it in bread probably does not provide an adequate dose to achieve the required effect, so any woman who plans a pregnancy will still have to take their own and those who don't plan their pregnancies are still not protecting their kids.
As one who falls in the age group where cancer of the colon is prevalent, I will be either baking my own or buying 'organic' bread.
hi there KS and all, sorry to be off-topic but if anyone has a spare moment take a look at this
http://conorjoe.wordpress.com/
just racing around the blogheap for a couple of hours to spread this around, sorry if it's not too kosher
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