by Melissa O’Hagan

It’s been said that leftism is the worship of the self.

There is no doubt this can be true. I’ve thought for a long time that some hard-core socialists align with that description, with a ‘what’s in it for me’ attitude. Some have become activists for radical causes they feel they believe in, but perhaps know little about. Their convictions can be to the point they refuse to accept differing opinion. The expectation is that everyone should think like them. There’s a viciousness to their reaction should someone not fall into line.

Perhaps it’s borne out of a sense of deep insecurity. You often find these sorts of people in safe, well-paid, government jobs – secure, nondescript, with no fear of having to produce anything of significance themselves. Just tick the required boxes and talk in politically-correct statements while projecting their insecurities via hypocrisy and self-importance.

With the worship of the self comes a sense of entitlement; an air of arrogance and superiority. You won’t find a more solid example of this type of being than in our very own government. It has not been a surprise this batch of comrades entered Parliament without a shred of real understanding, leadership or business savvy. It has, however, been a shock to many, the extent to which they have brazenly wreaked havoc on our beautiful little country in such a short time.

The last few governments had their faults, there’s no denying that, but by God, what have we done to deserve this current lot?

It has become evident over the past few years that we have a prime minister whose leadership style has become more dictatorial and authoritarian in nature. How has this come about? How did someone with such limited political — or real life for that matter — experience end up in such an important position?

We know Jacinda Ardern has deep roots in socialism with her beginnings as President of the International Union for Socialist Youth movement. The infamous videos of her spouting ‘comrade’ multiple times have done the rounds.

On the 15 of June 2017, mere weeks before becoming leader of the Labour Party, then shortly after that, Prime Minister of New Zealand, Ardern gave an interview in Next magazine, where she described herself as a ‘risk-averse person’.

Ardern said, “It’s me knowing myself and knowing that actually, when you’re a bit of an anxious person, and you constantly worry about things, there comes a point where certain jobs are just really bad for you. I hate letting people down. I hate feeling like I’m not doing the job as well as I should. I’ve got a pretty big weight of responsibility right now; I can’t imagine doing much more than that.”

That’s our Prime Minister before she voluntarily took on the Labour leadership. There’s that insecurity mentioned earlier that socialists seem to have. I couldn’t think of a worse trait for a prime minister- in-waiting to suffer from.

On why she’s risk-averse, Ardern continues, “I always have been. Which is why politics is such a terrible place for me to be! I’m constantly anxious about making mistakes.”

Yikes!

Jacinda finally admits, “Clarke really tries to pull me back from the precipice of anxiety a lot, but it’s just who I am.”

Now, I’d never denigrate a person because of their anxiety – it’s a normal human emotion, and one that many people suffer terribly from. My unease is that if you are fully aware that your anxiety overwhelms you, should you take on the role of being a country’s prime minister?

The answer is a hard ‘no.’ So why did she do it, after openly admitting that being in politics is a terrible place for her to be?

Because of self-entitlement, arrogance, and the worship of the self – leftism. This figure acknowledged publicly that she wouldn’t be able to live up to the job, yet gave it a crack anyway. That’s not bravery or self-confidence, that’s utterly irresponsible with a profound lack of judgment. It is self-indulgence at the expense of the population. It is madness.

The decision lacked thought and regard for the citizens of this country who deserved a strong, resilient, and experienced leader to make good decisions on their behalf. Instead, she soaked up the adoration and fame that came with the position, the Vogue covers and international acclaim: revelling in the glory of becoming a mother whilst in political office, all the while leaving the hard task of resolving New Zealand’s worsening social and financial issues in the dust.

We have ended up with someone who has, due to their insecurities turning into self-righteous superiority, become so dictatorial that she lifts her nose in the air and refuses to engage. Does ‘I reject the premise of the question’ ring any bells?

A reactionary ruler, who won’t listen or take advice, crosses boundaries no politician should, and appears to enjoy punishing dissenting voices.

Ardern takes matters so personally that she simply cannot cope when asked to account for her decisions. You can see it on her face when she’s confronted by media or the opposition. When you have no real understanding or personal fortitude, you run your agenda based on ideology alone. When that’s challenged, you have nothing to put forth, but personal disdain for even being asked. That is how the ‘leader’ of this country behaves. The audacity is breath-taking.

Sadly New Zealand has a prime minister who holds so much contempt for those who dare disagree; a woman with such bitter indignation when asked to account for her radical blanket decisions; a dictator who staunchly repudiates absolutely any criticisms of her leadership.

Yet, all the while, places a mask of ‘kindness’ over her face to fool those who don’t understand, that she is compassionate, charitable, and yes, will ‘govern for every New Zealander’.

Never has New Zealand been in the grip of such an authoritarian. What a transformation – from anxious underling to tyrant in just five years. It’s certainly not the type of ‘transformation’ we were told we were getting.

Perhaps the 2017 magazine interview was in fact nothing but clever propaganda from the get-go.

The people of this country have always seemed a pretty reasonable lot – so Ardern was accepted as the leader, despite many not agreeing with Labour Party policies. It came, however, as a shock to most to see this politician and her cohorts vehemently shove their radical ideology onto the population with absolutely no regard for how it would turn out for the everyday Kiwi. We were told not to question and be kind. We were told there was only one source of truth. In other words, shut up and do as you’re told.

Do we deserve better? Hell yes. Will we be brave enough to say so? Maybe. Will we stand up for ourselves and do something about it? I truly hope enough of us do.

I’ll leave you with a well-known quote: “all power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.”