Politics

I originally started this blog to moan and whine about American politics.  Politics and economics were the reasons that my family packed up and moved to Beverly New Zealand.  But instead of wasting any more time bemoaning the sorry state of affairs in the US, I decided that I would just give up politics.

Wow! what a completely enlightened idea!

My  reasoning for completely quitting was two-fold.  First, my best friend always advises me to focus on my "realm of influence" which is my own household. And it is hard to do that well when you are obsessing over news stories and making meaningless comments on political forums.  I don't want to completely give up what I can control by always worrying about what I can't control.  Second, my mother always advises me that "ignorance is bliss."  Actually, she says "fat, dumb and happy" but I don't know why "fat" is in there?  Anyway, now that I am turned off to politics, I agree wholeheartedly. I don't know what those politicians are up to---and guess what? I don't care. It may mean I  am not a very responsible citizen but I am a better mother for it. Besides, I am now a "citizen" in name only.

Plus, I have gained a few pounds and I suspect maybe the extra fat is helping me feel "dumb and happy."

I had promised myself that I would just drop American politics once we were outside the US.  Ha Ha. It wasn't quite that easy. I was addicted. It took me a few years, multiple attempts but I finally did it. Ultimately, I had to quit cold turkey.  The withdrawals were intense.  But after about 6 months, they subsided.  I still occasionally think about writing to my Congressman but then I remember--I don't have a Congressman anymore. I have a Member of Parliament. And I still have no idea about how the New Zealand government works.  I have made it a point to stay completely ignorant of the political landscape in New Zealand.  I might get upset. I might begin to write letters, protest, obsess....

No, that is not a productive path for me.  I have other things to do. Plus, I like it here.  I wouldn't want to get all upset and have to look for another country. 

Old fashioned beehive

Beehive

I like to keep it simple and shallow here. All I know is that we have a Parliament and they meet in a Beehive. Not like the hairstyle and not like my bee hives in the garden.  This is a building that looks like the old fashioned bee hives. I think this is supposed to conjure images of busy politicians?  Old fashioned busy politicians?  I like to think it is because it is filled with S.O. Bees. Get it?  Ha! (Yeah, I do think things like that are funny. Sigh.)


I actually know very little of the politicians here so I have no idea if they are S.O.Bees or not.  But they are politicians so probably they are at least liars? I dunno.

I have actually met one politician in New Zealand.  John Key, the Prime Minister.  He is the leader of New Zealand. But with a small country of only 4 million, the job itself is really more comparable to the mayor of Dallas than President.  In fact, Key is more well known for his appearance on David Letterman than for his job leading NZ (a country many Americans do not know exists).  Oh, did I mention Key is also Minister of Tourism?  (It's a small country, apparently we don't need a Prime Minister full time.) Key got a "Visit NZ" message onto Letterman so clearly he is working hard on the tourism thing.

NZ Prime Minister reading the "Top 10 Reasons to Visit New Zealand" on the David Letterman show:

What was amazing about meeting him is that I was allowed to do it.  My husband saw him at an afternoon benefit concert and said to me "Look, there is John Key."  (Before you feel sorry for my husband, I am pretty sure that he knew what was going to happen next when he said that) Yes, I darted over there to take a photo with him.  I am not the star struck type--I could care less about pop culture or movie stars. But I love politics. I mean, I USED to love politics.

Anyway, I go running (yes, I literally ran) up to John Key like an absolute lunatic waving my camera. What was amazing--to an American, anyway---was that he had NO security.  No one tackled me, no one tried to determine my intent, no one even looked at me suspiciously.  I wasn't tazed, arrested or even patted down for a weapon. I assume he had some protection somewhere?  Surely.

He was really nice (but short) and happily posed for a photo with me and my daughter.  I would post it here but then I couldn't be anonymous on the internet. And it isn't a very flattering picture of me anyway.  Besides, I told him that I would only post it on Facebook (where no American would even know who he is).

Prime Minister of New Zealand

For the record, I like John Key. He is funny, he is goofy, he is always on morning TV, he will show up for the opening of a jar of jam.  Also, he is approachable.  And he has the GREATEST Kiwi accent EVAH. 

Of course, I have no idea of his politics. He might be a real S.O.Bee.




Oh, and just for non-Kiwis, here is the "translation" of #5 in the David Letterman Top 10 video (above):



translated to American English: "Get the family together, stay in a cabin, crack open the cooler and slap on your flip flops"

Yeah, they really do talk like that here.