With the run-up to the next New Zealand general election, we’ve been subjected to a lot of banter about laws passed and policies announced that get in the way of regular people. My problem is that people seem to push around a mantra that they can gather under and get support, regardless of the issue and regardless of the facts. A fine example1 appeared today on Stuff.
Taupo’s water is sourced from the lake and treated by filtering and chlorination, but the treatment does not guard against giardia or cryptosporidium.
Mayor Rick Cooper said the compliances required were “political correctness gone mad”.
It seems to me that since giardia and cryptosporidium are both water-borne infectious diseases that can result in diarrhea, this is a bit more serious than just being politically correct. I think we may need another term invoked for this sort of behaviour. Let’s call it Anti PC Madness Gone Mad.
1 Note that roughly the same argument can be said for another common Kiwi mantra: Nanny State.
