Russell Coutts: Sailing Away on Hypocrisy
When it comes to bloated entitlement and privilege, those at the top of the wealth pyramid never fail to disappoint.
("Sir") Russell Coutts' declared on Thursday (17 Feb) that he would be joining the occupation of the Parliamentary/Thorndon precinct (it is no longer restricted to the grounds in front of the House.) On his Facebook page he wrote:
"I'm heading to Wellington next week to join the protest. It's the first time I've ever felt compelled to join a protest.
I'm not anti-vaccine (I'm vaccinated) but I'm definitely against forced vaccinations.
I'm also strongly opposed to the ever increasing erosion of our human rights and the growing limitations on our freedom of choice. I believe in having the freedom to be able to question so-called "expert" opinion."
I'm against discrimination and the "them and us" society that is being promoted by our current political leaders."
I'm against creating different rights, laws and privileges based on Race."
I'm also against the irrational Covid rules that are currently being mandated in New Zealand, a few examples being;
The 10 day quarantine that still remains for international travel.
The absurd rules where our kids (vaccinated and unvaccinated) can sit in the same classroom and play sport together inside the school yard, yet are prohibited from playing sport together outside the school yard.
The absurd rules that prohibit two young unvaccinated brothers, living in the same household, from sailing together in a sailing competition because they would be within two metres of each other while sailing their boat.
The rules that require one to put on a mask to walk to and from the bathroom inside a restaurant when masks have already been removed while eating and drinking.
The contradictory rules that allow unvaccinated people to take a domestic flight (with a negative Covid test) but prohibit a young unvaccinated kid from competing in their sport (outside school).
The fact that our kids are forced to wear masks at school (even when it's well known that the surgical masks most of them are wearing are highly ineffective).
Finally and perhaps most important, I'm against the fact that some of our mainstream media have received payment from the New Zealand government conditional on them promoting government policy, propaganda and spin.
So yes, I'll be joining the protest in Wellington."
What does he even mean when he demands:
"I'm against creating different rights, laws and privileges based on Race."
How on Earth does that relate to the global covid pandemic? Is Mr Coutts angling for a high-spot position on the ACT Party List? Is he listing his credentials as a "colour-blind" Libertarian?
Obviously he is concerned that the current pandemic rules might impact on the poorest, most deprived in our society:
"The absurd rules that prohibit two young unvaccinated brothers, living in the same household, from sailing together in a sailing competition because they would be within two metres of each other while sailing their boat."
Because privileged old men would be gutted if that privilege were denied their young scions. Never mind the global pandemic - sailing must be done!
Mr Coutts' strong sentiments on the government's covid pandemic follows a previous post on Facebook in November last year:
"To my Irish friends, I have to say well done in the weekend. Your team played exceptionally well. It looked like a great crowd with a fantastic atmosphere. I suspect the party afterwards was even better!
A presenter on talk back radio this morning pushed back on a comment that suggested many New Zealand journalists are a megaphone for the government. Her response was along the lines of "you might not like what we are saying but it's our own opinion, not the governments."
I certainly hope that's the case. Surely journalists should have a right to express their views, a basic human right that everyone should be afforded in any democracy.
However, in order to maintain a balance, it would seem critical that media entities and especially news media, should be free to present the facts on both sides of the story or disclose that they are unable or unwilling to do so.
For example, I would question how journalists or media entities can maintain objectivity when they have accepted a government grant that is conditional on them promoting certain government policies as has been the case with a number of major New Zealand media entities.
(For those overseas people reading this post, the NZ government created a $55 million Public Interest Journalism Fund "to support New Zealand's media to continue to produce stories that keep New Zealanders informed and engaged, and support a healthy democracy" but that funding is conditional on the media supporting and promoting certain government policies).When journalists agree to promote government policies in return for government funding, how can they possibly act to keep the government accountable, which is one of their most important and fundamental functions?
It would be nice to see broader reporting on the facts comparing New Zealand data for;
1. The suicide rates pre Covid verses post Covid.
2. The crime rates, number of murders, number of cases of domestic violence, pre Covid verses post Covid.
3. The age of people that have died with Covid
4. The statistics on people dying WITH Covid verses people dying FROM Covid (ie; were there other contributing or even more significant factors?)
5. A comparison of the number of Covid deaths verses the number of deaths due to other causes (eg cancer, heart disease, road deaths, suicides etc)
6. The recovery rates for people that catch Covid
7. The real employment figures, pre and post Covid excluding people on government subsidies or unemplyment benefits.
8. Annual figures on the number of NZ businesses that have closed.
9. Government expenditure on Covid verses government expenditure on other major health considerations such as; cardiovascular diseases, mental health and cancer treatment.It would also be informative to see;
10. A balanced report on how other countries are dealing with Covid. What are their vaccination rates? What are their MIQ policies? Are there any success stories that we could learn from? Are any of their policies working that are different to ours? What is the mood like inside those countries? Is Covid still dominating their news or have they moved into another phase where they are learning, or have learnt to live with Covid?"It would be nice to see and hear more objective reporting presenting the facts. Well done to those journalists that are already doing that and have retained their ability to report on the facts and hold the government accountable.
His ten-point questions above are mostly readily discoverable on the internet. For example, his first question:
The suicide rates pre Covid verses post Covid.
The answer is no secret as Dan Satherley reported for Newshub:
Contrary to rumours that spread across social media, fewer Kiwis took their own lives during the lockdown and its aftermath than usual.
And it was a similar story across the world, with none of the 21 countries looked at in a new study reporting a rise in suicides as the pandemic hit in early 2020.
[...]
There was no evidence of any lockdown-triggered increase in any of the 21 countries, and 12 of them actually saw suicide numbers go significantly down. New Zealand had 20 percent fewer than expected, based on past trends. Australia fared almost as well
Mr Coutts also demanded to be given "a comparison of the number of Covid deaths verses the number of deaths due to other causes (eg cancer, heart disease, road deaths, suicides etc)".
As at point of writing, Aotearoa New Zealand's covid death toll has been kept remarkably low, at 53.
Other countries have not fared at well:
Sweden: 16,817
Australia: 4,834
Denmark: 4,250
Fiji: 824
Any comparison with other causes of death is utterly meaningless, simply because of the tough MIQ, lockdowns, and mandates which this government has implemented. The low number of deaths (53) is not a question - it is the answer in itself.
We could obviously reduce to road toll to near nil by cutting the speed limit on highways to 50 kph. Could the resulting numbers then be comparable to any other causative factor when all we've done is manipulate one aspect?
Had government not implemented policies that kept covid out of the country; had it been allowed "Let It Rip" (as in Sweden), our death rate would undoubtedly be much higher.
It would be helpful if someone in the media asked Mr Coutts if it was his desire to raise the covid death toll commensurate with other causes of death?
If Mr Coutts actually wanted answers, he could consult Google as I have. Or, with his estimated wealth of $65 million, he could hire someone to research the information for him.
But Mr Coutts' questions are not asked in good faith. They are rhetorical - weaponised - directed at the government for his own personal agenda.
On both occasions, Mr Coutts questioned the independence of the MSM (Main Stream Media):
For example, I would question how journalists or media entities can maintain objectivity when they have accepted a government grant that is conditional on them promoting certain government policies as has been the case with a number of major New Zealand media entities. (November, 2021)
Finally and perhaps most important, I'm against the fact that some of our mainstream media have received payment from the New Zealand government conditional on them promoting government policy, propaganda and spin. (February, 2022)
This from the man whose America's Cup yachting endeavours has been gifted millions of taxpayer dollars over the years:
"The Government's view is that we're more than happy to talk to Team New Zealand - in fact, I spoke to Dean Barker myself this morning and made that point to him - 'we're more than happy to have a discussion with you: you guys come back to us when you're in a position that you want to chat'."
Since Australian interests have already vowed to make a challenge, the question is now whether New Zealand wants to be there or not, Mr Key said, speaking in Christchurch this morning.
"If we do, probably inevitably the Government will have to put in some money," he said. - Otago Daily Times, 2 October 2013
Team New Zealand has received a handy financial boost through the awarding of a government research and development grant.
[...]
The grant gives taxpayer funding of 20 per cent of its R&D spend, up to a maximum of $5m for three years, plus GST. Companies can therefore get theoretical maximum funding of $17.25m. - NZ Herald, 3 February, 2016
The government contributed $5 million while the syndicate was preparing for this year's event. - RNZ, 27 June 2017
A New Zealand company owned by multi-billionaire America’s Cup arch-rival Larry Ellison, and which has Rich Lister yachtsman Russell Coutts on the board, is getting more taxpayer funding.
Warkworth-based Core Builders Composites, formerly known as Oracle Racing, has successfully negotiated a two-year extension to its Callaghan Innovation research and development grant. It got $1.5 million of government funding in 2016 and almost $1 million in 2017. - Newsroom, 26 September 2018
An offer of taxpayer funding, from Auckland Council and central government, of $99 million was refused by yachting defenders, Team NZ.
In 2013, veteran investigative journalist, Guyon Espiner asked whether taxpayers should be funding what is - essentially - a sport for obscenely wealthy men (and they are predominantly male):
"But I'd like to see our supposedly parsimonious Government being a little more careful with taxpayer cash. And I'd like some independent calculations of the actual benefit to New Zealand before dipping into the public purse.
On the face of it, there are more worthy uses for the millions they will throw at a cup defence than giving it to a sport dominated by the wealthy and the privileged."
In 2013, Mr Espiner presciently wrote:
On top of that, Key says, it's possible (I'd say highly likely) that Auckland's Viaduct Harbour would need an infrastructure upgrade before New Zealand could host such an event.
Sure enough, eight years later:
The council and Government spent almost $250m, mostly on infrastructure around Auckland’s waterfront in preparation for AC36, with $40m in taxpayer cash going towards event costs.
One wonders if Mr Coutts ever opposed taxpayer subsidies for his yachting hobby? He might have had concerns, clutching his man-pearls in anguish, that our taxdollars might be "conditional on them promoting government policy, propaganda and spin"?
Imagine if a politician were to "promote government policy, propaganda and spin" by exploiting taxpayer funding for yachting?! Mr Coutts would be outrag-
--Oh, wait...
The sheer selfishness of a man willing to accept taxpayer handouts from the State at a time when this country has ongoing critical social problems - and then complains bitterly when media accept taxpayer handouts from the State - is breathtaking hypocrisy. Especially when that same media has been generous to him - and unfailing to question/critique every aspect of this government's actions.
I hope he offers to pay all those subsidies back.
This is the man - worth $65 million - who says he will now be joining the occupiers at Parliament? Perhaps he could make the offer to repay those subsidies in front of the occupiers?
As Stuff journalist, Ellen O'Dwyer, recently reported:
"Tempers were rising, so I walked away, only to be followed later once I tried to interview others, and found myself surrounded.
[...]
Some seem to want to change a perceived negative narrative, some want to talk and share their views respectfully – but there’s also a malevolence there which is both subtle and blatant."
Having visited the occupation, briefly, on Thursday (17 Feb), I can confirm that feeling. The 'vibe' is not good.
Others have experienced the sub-surface aggression when it boiled to the surface like an unexpected Rotorua geyser:
I have participated in many protests. Environmental, anti-Tour, anti-asset sales, opposition to the secret TPPA deal, plus more. But at no time have I felt that kind 'malevolent undercurrent'.
It is not a safe place and anyone who thinks it is, will soon be shown otherwise. There is palpable anger from people who up till now have been isolated in their chat rooms and social media, venting their rage against the system in isolation.
Now those people are no longer on their devices, in their homes. They are out on the street - en masse. Their conspiracy echo-chamber has been made a giant fantasy-land of co-conspiracists - even as those conspiracies remain rooted in a splintered fantasy world. In some ways we are witnessing a Kiwi version of America's 6 January insurrection. They now feel a power denied to them up till now.
It is with many of these conspiracy groups that Police are negotiating with? Good luck with that. How do you negotiate with people who think the covid vaccines contain microchips or HIV/AIDS or both?
Do you promise that no more microchips or virus will be placed into the vaccines? That should be easy to accomplish.
This is the festering mess that Mr Coutts will be venturing into.
It won't quite be as comfortable as his multi-million dollar mansion.
My big question is: will he be staying 5-Star? Or bunking down with one of his other Rich Lister mates at their multi-million dollar mansions?
Somehow, I don't think he'll be slumming it with the mob, listening ad nauseum to their demented American conspiracy fantasies.
.
References
Sailworld: Sir Russell Coutts to join Kiwi Convoy protest demonstration outside NZ Parliament
Stuff media: Parliament protest - Anger builds at police inaction as 'significant' weekend influx expected
Facebook: Russell Coutts - 15 November 2021 at 02:13
Newshub: Coronavirus - Suicide rates went down during lockdown in NZ, Australia, other countries - study
Worldometer: Coronavirus Cases - Sweden
Worldometer: Coronavirus Cases - Australia
Worldometer: Coronavirus Cases - Denmark
Worldometer: Coronavirus Cases - Fiji
Worldometer: Coronavirus Cases - Aotearoa New Zealand
NZ Herald: Team New Zealand gets more government funding
RNZ: Too early to discuss Auckland America's Cup - PM
Newsroom: Larry Ellison yacht co gets more taxpayer funding
Stuff media: America's Cup - Government confirms no hosting deal for Auckland
Stuff media: America's Cup - Auckland hosting deal 'unlikely' to be made in next days - Grant Dalton
Stuff media: Espiner - Should we fund the America's Cup?
Otago Daily Times: Govt funding likely if NZ mounts America's Cup challenge
Stuff media: 'Trespassed' from Parliament's lawn - a firsthand account
Twitter: Mikaela Bossley - @mb_inthehutt - schoolgirls harassed - 11.2.22
Twitter: EJoy @swintersections - Russell Coutts human rights - 18.2.22
Additional
Horizon Poll: 64% support COVID-19 mandates policy
Highly Recommended
Newsroom: ‘Splintered realities’ - How NZ convoy lost its way
Other Blogs
Bowalley Road: Jones Won: Ryan & Morten Nil.
Bowalley Road: Caught In The Crossfire.
Daily Blog: Wait – what? Jacinda is now a Nazi?
Knightly Views: Unanswered questions in MIQ victim stories
Knightly Views: Copycat media abuse from ragtag bag of protesters
No Right Turn: The plague camp and "national security"
Pundit: I too am not a bit tamed
The Jackal: Parliament protest has dubious backers
The Standard: Why haven’t the police acted?
The Standard: The difference between Black Lives Matter and the Anti Mandate protest
Werewolf: Gordon Campbell on freedom, and government mandates
Previous related blogposts
The funny side of anti-vax conspiracy fantasists
The not-so-funny side of anti-vax conspiracy fantasists
The vexing trouble with anti-vaxxers
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Acknowledgement: Jeff Bell
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