From Ours to Mine?

Dear John Key,

The phrase ‘to mine’ something is interesting, isn’t it? Its about taking what is naturally occurring in the earth and to claim it. When you make it yours - you make it ‘mine’.

You will be hearing this a bit: “National parks are not ours to mine”. New Zealanders and their elected officials decided some time ago to preserve these special parts of New Zealand in perpetuity. That’s a long time. Forever, in fact. If there was ‘unobtainium’ in truckloads - it would still not be right to ‘mine’. Or did you miss that message in Avatar?

You have a tough task governing in a time of recession. And you want to keep the books black and your mates and the people who voted for you happy. This is one of your jobs. The other is to govern with integrity and in observance of the things that the nation holds dear to our sense of wellbeing and identity - e.g: our own public broadcaster, our natural environment.

It occurs to me that the Government needs to start innovating around revenue generation and cost-cutting. The things that you are taking to with axe and scissors are not acceptable to this nation. But that doesn’t mean that there isn’t huge amounts of revenue to be found - when you start looking in the right place.

Progressive Governments around the world are shifting towards taxing the things we don’t like, rather than taxing things we do like - like money. These Governments are finding that they can not only change undesireable behaviour in the public but generate income at the same time.

Lets start looking at the things that New Zealanders want less of - pollution, waste, congestion and start taxing these. And restrict access by to things that we want to protect like water. And
sell the surplus.

There are just a few ideas from an everyday New Zealander. I am sure if you get some fresh thinking around your cabinet table that a whole new style of governance will emerge that doesn’t involve pissing off half the people all the time. Imagine that. You would be the most liked PM EVER.

Just a few ideas.You can have them for free. And there are so many more where they came from.

Yours Sincerely,

Megan