What the Hell are you on about?

Trying to decipher the sh*t politicians say

Welcome to the second edition of What the fuck are you TALKING about. The title comes from what I scream at my phone when I read the things politicians say. I decided instead of just being utterly confused at the nonsense being said, I’d try to decipher it.

I figured I should ask people smarter than me if they could explain what is being said. The first edition featured Nicola Willis. This time it’s David Seymour’s turn.

Te Whatu Ora Chair Rob Campbell had an in my opinion fairly relatable rant about Three Waters on Linkedin. The issue is, he’s the chair of Te Whatu Ora. And public servants must be politically neutral. For his sins he was promptly sacked.

If you’re a public servant or you work in the public service you are not allowed to highlight the stupidity of politicians. You need to save that for dinner parties and drinks at The Backbencher or your morning tea break after waiata practice.

You don’t put that view on Linkedin. I say this, despite regularly putting my views out into the world when I was a public servant because fuck them.

Campbell’s exasperated rant is probably being echoed around the country as we try to reckon with whole communities being underwater. Across the motu you’ll probably hear many people smugly say that it’s wonderful he was fired. But just quietly, some might actually think it’s a good thing that the chair of Te Whatu Ora openly and publicly acknowledges ‘deepening social inequities’.

But whatever you think - you can at least be sure that David Seymour will be Rob Campbell’s biggest supporter because David Seymour has a rock-hard boner for free speech.

I hope Stuff doesn’t sue me for using this image. It’s just simply the best photo of David Seymour.

In response to criticism of Rob Campbell, David Seymour said: “Labour tells us free speech is dangerous and must be cancelled. ‘We know best’. ACT is built on the principle that censorship is not the answer. The best antidote to bad ideas isn’t to just shout them down… But to debate and defeat them, with better ideas.”

Oh wait, he didn’t. Actually he had a tanty and said The Public Service Commissioner, Peter Hughes needs to “take a tough line” on Campbell. Who knew the Old Twerker was so keen on cancelling people for their views lol.

But seriously, Seymour is actually deeply concerned about the public sector as a whole.

“The reality is that this is just the tip of the iceberg. Much of the Wellington bureaucracy is openly sympathetic to the left and that is a real concern.” He said.

Let’s put aside that Campbell as a public servant isn’t allowed to criticise politicians. He’s been sacked so that conversation is done.

Let’s JUST consider this idea of the public service being “sympathetic to the left”.

What does it even mean to be sympathetic to The Left?

What does it mean to be sympathetic to The Right?

What does it mean???

Does he not realise many people join the public service because of a strong belief in whanaungatanga? In service, manaaki, collectivism, community, Kaitiakitanga? These are values of the left and values of the public service.

I mean it’s like asking why slumlords are right wing.

So what does it mean? Is calling out racist dog-whistling “left-wing”? Is wanting direct action about climate change “left-wing”?

I asked some folks who know more than me.

Kerry Davies, National Secretary Public Service Association rightly pointed out it’s a weird time to take a shot at public servants.

“If Mr Seymour is referring to hard working people in the public service in Wellington, then he should remember they are dedicated to making a difference for all New Zealanders. And fact check; they work all over the country looking after the health and wellbeing of Kiwis and helping our economy prosper.”

“Public service workers, like most Kiwis, have all sorts of political views. But they need to serve governments of all different hues and they need to do it in politically neutral way.”

“That means giving the best advice, worrying about the big long-term issues like climate change, and generally getting on with the job of helping Kiwis access the services that the Government needs to provide to support people.”

“At this time when public service workers across many government departments are all pulling together and working long hours to help communities hit by recent storm events, we think Mr Seymour is taking a cheap shot. We should be proud of their work. We should be backing them.”

School Strike for Climate Aotearoa’s Oscar Compton-Moen had some very wise words about attempts to make climate change a ‘left’ issue.

"Climate change is an issue that will affect every single aspect of our society whether that is the economy, crime, education, you name it.”

“It is vital that regardless of your political standings, we all take action on climate change. Climate change does not discriminate on who it affects and therefore will affect everyone no matter who you vote for.”

“The idea that people should be neutral on climate change is ignorant, we cannot continue with the status quo, we need change. Our politicians need to represent us, and do what is best for all of us by being bold and taking action."

Activist, academic, and former Green Party MP Sue Bradford had a thoughtful response. It made me consider what kind of people we want in the public service.

“I actually yearn for the days when more people working for government were embedded in community advocacy projects and more often came from activist backgrounds.  For example, I think back to some of the people who used to work for departments like Internal Affairs or the Community Employment Group.  While I was often critical of these organisations in fact some of their staff played a genuinely catalytic role in helping build organisations and capacity for change and economic development at grassroots level,” she said.

“The culture of risk adversity and the silencing of any whisper of dissent has been alive and well for far too long across decades of both Labour and National governments...[I give] props to all public servants who do speak and act from a social, economic, ecological and Te Tiriti justice kaupapa.”

Finally, I thought I’d leave the last word to recovering politician and former Dunedin mayor Aaron Hawkins. He knows a thing or two about holding a public office role and having opinions. He found Seymour’s comments as funny as I did quipping “he's clearly never met anyone at Treasury”.

“Seymour is the one who is politicising the public service here, first by trying to tie Rob Campbell's comments to the Labour Party, and then extrapolating wildly to implicate much of the public sector in some vast leftwing conspiracy.” 

“Yes public servants, particularly senior ones, should be politically neutral. But the other side of that bargain is that they should also be largely off limits for political attacks. Seymour has undermined his valid criticism of Rob Campbell by just waving his hands in the general direction of The Terrace. There are few things as corrosive as vague accusations, where the specifics around who, what, or how are just left up to your imagination. As a result, they're impossible to refute, which makes it good politics but poor governance.” 

“[Seymour’s comments] will play well in the Facebook comments section, but it's no way to behave for someone who would be a senior figure in any centre-right government. Which we currently don't have! That may be frustrating for Seymour, but saying the public service is 'sympathetic to the left' is another way of saying they're 'implementing the priorities of a centre-left government'. Exactly what he says their job should be right now.”

“There's a wider point to be made around the way right wing actors frame the things that they don't value as being 'ideological', as opposed to their priorities which are just 'common sense' - one of the most ideologically loaded phrases of all time.”

I asked AI to make me David Seymour as a clown and this is the messed up image I got.

Time will tell if we can ever get our shit together enough to stop seeing climate change action and calling out racism as a partisan issue. The shit thing is….we just don’t have enough time for this carry-on!

And on that note: The Global March for Climate Action is on Friday. And it’s in almost all areas of Aotearoa.