I'm not sure if new MPs have an initiation course these days when they first enter Parliament, but I found it extremely helpful in 2002 when I went in, not the least that it threw MPs from all parties together, ie, non partisan, non tribal. One issue which was drummed into us was that the NZ Parliament is one of the few in the world in which submitters to select committees can appear in person, remembering, of course, that select committees have considerable powers; they can compel people to appear if necessary. That said, we were instructed to treat every submitter with respect because they had given up their time to participate in the democratic process. Also, it can be quite intimidating for the public to appear before a select committee. I met Deborah Russell a couple of times at the late Bob Jones' house, at his parties, also in his office when her husband worked for him for a while. She wasn't so officious in Sir Bob's presence, but who could 'outbully' Sir Bob when it came to an argument? That aside, her bullying of submitters at select committees is a disgraceful rudeness, and totally unnecessary. She needs to take a deep breath, and remember - be careful how you treat people on the way up because you will meet them again on the way down.
Enjoyed this and will think on it some more. I've not been a reader of philosophers and appreciated your exposition. Not able to read more than ten lines of Chris Trotter's piece as it's behind a paywall. He certainly opened well and his and your descriptions of Deborah Russell's behaviour tallied with my observation of her when she appeared on the select committee hearing submissions about conversion therapy. At that time she seemed also to feel she had Might on her side and her behaviour towards submitters was possibly even more obnoxious than that described at your hearing.
I first became aware of ideas about liberty when I was a teenager and very keen follower of thoroughbred breeding lines. The Irish stallion Rousseau's Dream sired some wonderful progeny and I was curious about the name and looked it up - no Google in the early 60s. This took me to Rousseau's ideas on liberty. Curious the way things can reference into the present! Deborah Russell's over-weening self-importance obviously overtook her brain!
Thank you Sir for your firm stance on freedom. I would also aver that freedom (at its ontological level as you refer) is so fundamental that is is emphasised deliberately in the Creation narrative. The very essence of the Creation is freedom. As per the story, humanity was gifted the right to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good & evil. We are sentient beings with the knowledge of right & wrong, thus we can choose to do good or bad. Even to go against that which created us (yes, assumes a faith but atheists can simply use it as a nice philosophical starting point).
This is no small thing and this fundamental freedom naturally flows into lower tiers (freedom from tyranny, freedom to choose etc). Those who have actually lived without freedom (a la Solzhenitsyn) can surely attest to what losing that freedom does to humanity. If freedom was a gift bestowed by the Creator, who are these power hungry muppety pricks to take a different starting point?
'Liberty and freedom are not gifts bestowed by the State; they are conditions of human existence, acknowledged or obscured by political systems. Governments can nurture or threaten them, but they cannot erase the deeply rooted impulse toward autonomy and dignity'.
Perfect summary as usual. Sadly, I find myself wondering how many of the current crop of Nat and Labour MPs have ever spent any time thinking about or reading about the concept of Liberty. I fear the people of NZ and their desire for peaceful and free coexistence have been wholly overlooked by the political class for some years now.
Bravo David and thank you for making your submission while on holiday! Your work and five-minute presentation should be a powerful influence on the committee's report to Parliament. That the main opposition in New Zealand (media) failed to report the main thrust of your argument came as no surprise to me, but Trotter is one of the best bloggers in New Zealand (despite occasionally reverting to his Marxist past)!
I'm not sure if new MPs have an initiation course these days when they first enter Parliament, but I found it extremely helpful in 2002 when I went in, not the least that it threw MPs from all parties together, ie, non partisan, non tribal. One issue which was drummed into us was that the NZ Parliament is one of the few in the world in which submitters to select committees can appear in person, remembering, of course, that select committees have considerable powers; they can compel people to appear if necessary. That said, we were instructed to treat every submitter with respect because they had given up their time to participate in the democratic process. Also, it can be quite intimidating for the public to appear before a select committee. I met Deborah Russell a couple of times at the late Bob Jones' house, at his parties, also in his office when her husband worked for him for a while. She wasn't so officious in Sir Bob's presence, but who could 'outbully' Sir Bob when it came to an argument? That aside, her bullying of submitters at select committees is a disgraceful rudeness, and totally unnecessary. She needs to take a deep breath, and remember - be careful how you treat people on the way up because you will meet them again on the way down.
Enjoyed this and will think on it some more. I've not been a reader of philosophers and appreciated your exposition. Not able to read more than ten lines of Chris Trotter's piece as it's behind a paywall. He certainly opened well and his and your descriptions of Deborah Russell's behaviour tallied with my observation of her when she appeared on the select committee hearing submissions about conversion therapy. At that time she seemed also to feel she had Might on her side and her behaviour towards submitters was possibly even more obnoxious than that described at your hearing.
I first became aware of ideas about liberty when I was a teenager and very keen follower of thoroughbred breeding lines. The Irish stallion Rousseau's Dream sired some wonderful progeny and I was curious about the name and looked it up - no Google in the early 60s. This took me to Rousseau's ideas on liberty. Curious the way things can reference into the present! Deborah Russell's over-weening self-importance obviously overtook her brain!
Thank you Sir for your firm stance on freedom. I would also aver that freedom (at its ontological level as you refer) is so fundamental that is is emphasised deliberately in the Creation narrative. The very essence of the Creation is freedom. As per the story, humanity was gifted the right to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good & evil. We are sentient beings with the knowledge of right & wrong, thus we can choose to do good or bad. Even to go against that which created us (yes, assumes a faith but atheists can simply use it as a nice philosophical starting point).
This is no small thing and this fundamental freedom naturally flows into lower tiers (freedom from tyranny, freedom to choose etc). Those who have actually lived without freedom (a la Solzhenitsyn) can surely attest to what losing that freedom does to humanity. If freedom was a gift bestowed by the Creator, who are these power hungry muppety pricks to take a different starting point?
'Liberty and freedom are not gifts bestowed by the State; they are conditions of human existence, acknowledged or obscured by political systems. Governments can nurture or threaten them, but they cannot erase the deeply rooted impulse toward autonomy and dignity'.
Perfect summary as usual. Sadly, I find myself wondering how many of the current crop of Nat and Labour MPs have ever spent any time thinking about or reading about the concept of Liberty. I fear the people of NZ and their desire for peaceful and free coexistence have been wholly overlooked by the political class for some years now.
Re Audrey Young's quote from the Herald, Rousseau was Genevan and wrote in French. Germany can claim many great philosophers but not Rousseau.
… and stuff that in your pipe, smoke it, and let the heady fumes of true Freedom go to your head Dr Russell !
Bravo David and thank you for making your submission while on holiday! Your work and five-minute presentation should be a powerful influence on the committee's report to Parliament. That the main opposition in New Zealand (media) failed to report the main thrust of your argument came as no surprise to me, but Trotter is one of the best bloggers in New Zealand (despite occasionally reverting to his Marxist past)!