I’m listening to the excellent #juggernaut2 podcast series from #TheSpinoff about the 4th National Government.
The thing that has struck me the most so far is the absolute callous disregard that #RuthRichardson appears to have toward the vast numbers of Kiwis hurt in the welfare cuts she undertook.
#JimBolger has always been an empathetic figure given the way that he talks about his government’s cuts. He did what he believed was necessary and yet seems genuinely concerned about the wellbeing of New Zealanders.
Richardson on the other hand comes across as gleeful when talking about the enormous cuts to the welfare state. An absolute zealot who seems to not care about the human cost of pursuing “balanced books”.
And rather than being consigned to an unfortunate and socially damaging part of our history, she’s unfortunately now the chair of the astroturf “Tax Payers Union”.
https://thespinoff.co.nz/podcasts/juggernaut#6348 https://thespinoff.co.nz/podcasts/juggernaut#6348


