As may have been someone implied by my previous blog, I'm not a huge fan of the National party. In fact, every time I hear jolly John Key being referred to as our Prime Minister I block my ears and shut my eyes and yell "notlisteningnotlisteningnotfuckin
 glistening" in order to preserve my idyllic state of deep denial.

Basically, since the election, I've been sitting here waiting for them to fuck up, and lo and behold! They've come through for me! I didn't even have to wait that long!

Tax cuts. Yes. National are very fond of tax cuts, so much so that they spent a great deal of pre-election time RANTING and RAVING about BIG, BEAUTIFUL TAX CUTS. Now, aside from the fact that tax cuts are the single most inefficient way of providing a solution to any given problem (unless, of course, that problem is 'how do I win this election?'), the fact remains that National promised them, and what they promise, they must deliver, or I will personally go down to Wellington, walk into Parliament with a giant chainsaw and slaughter them all out of sheer mindnumbing fustration. So it's lucky for them that they did deliver. Kind of.

Well you see, technically, National are giving everyone a tax cut. These cuts will come into effect at the same time (and instead of) tax cuts that the previous government was already planning on putting in place. However, there are to be some changes. I won't go into all the details, but you can read them all here: http://blog.greens.org.nz/2008/12/10... but the short version is, the changes they have made give distinct favour to those earning above $100,000 whereas tax cuts to low income earners have been reduced from the last governments original plan. Which speaks volumes about the Nats really, doesn't it? I mean, we all knew that was what they were like (you knew when you voted them in) but it changes it when you've got the statistics in your hot little hand, doesn't it? Because the fact of the matter is that the Nats tax cuts leave kiwi earners with $750million less than we would have had if we'd stuck with Labour.

It's shocking, and yet, I'm not suprised.

Hate to say I told you say.
(That's a lie, I thoroughly enjoy being proved right).

Oh, and by the by, it was in that pile of new laws rushed through under urgency, thereby foregoing public debate before it was passed. Another little habit of the Nats (along with lying and general stupidity) that I'm growing a distinct dislike for...

Now, I don't have any statistical basis for my first assumption, but I doubt there'd be many who'd disagree: the majority of NZers were rooting for Obama in the US election (much like most of the world in that respect). Now what is also a fact is that a (slightly smaller) majority of NZers also supported National in our election. If there is anyone reading this who fits this category (as there must be, given that vast numbers of people this must statistically apply to), can you please please explain to me how it makes sense to be supporting a left wing govt in america, but right-wing govt here. The logic just completely fails me, I need someone to at least try to explain...

I am the girl kicked out of her home because I confided in my mother that I am a lesbian.

I am the prostitute working the streets because nobody will hire a transsexual woman.

I am the sister who holds her gay brother tight through the painful, tear-filled nights.

We are the parents who buried our daughter long before her time.

I am the man who died alone in the hospital because they would not let my partner of twenty-seven years into the room.

I am the foster child who wakes up with nightmares of being taken away from the two fathers who are the only loving family I have ever had. I wish they could adopt me.

I am one of the lucky ones, I guess. I survived the attack that left me in a coma for three weeks, and in another year I will probably be able to walk again.

I am not one of the lucky ones. I killed myself just weeks before graduating high school. It was simply too much to bear.

We are the couple who had the realtor hang up on us when she found out we wanted to rent a one-bedroom for two men.

I am the person who never knows which bathroom I should use if I want to avoid getting the management called on me.

I am the mother who is not allowed to even visit the children I bore, nursed, and raised. The court says I am an unfit mother because I now live with another woman.

I am the domestic-violence survivor who found the support system grow suddenly cold and distant when they found out my abusive partner is also a woman.

I am the domestic-violence survivor who has no support system to turn to because I am male.

I am the father who has never hugged his son because I grew up afraid to show affection to other men.

I am the home-economics teacher who always wanted to teach gym until someone told me that only lesbians do that.

I am the man who died when the paramedics stopped treating me as soon as they realized I was transsexual.

I am the person who feels guilty because I think I could be a much better person if I did not have to always deal with society hating me.

I am the person who is afraid of telling his loving Christian parents he loves another male.

I am the man who stopped attending church, not because I don't believe, but because they closed their doors to my kind.

I am the person who has to hide what this world needs most, love.

Re-post this if you believe homophobia is wrong. Please do your part to end it