Lindsay Mitchell has been researching and commenting on welfare since 2001. Many of her articles have been published in mainstream media and she has appeared on radio, tv and before select committees discussing issues relating to welfare. Lindsay is also an artist who works under commission and exhibits at Wellington, New Zealand, galleries.


In the NZ Herald this morning, the ex Labour leader sort of congratulates Grant Robertson on his budget spending. Or rather, damns with faint praise really. He writes,

Housing … not just the supply but also the quality of existing stock – continues to be the elephant in the room to addressing the growing inequity in our society.

Housing is an issue. It is some people’s major issue. But…

Set me to thinking. What is mine?

It’s twofold. It’s stubborn and ignorant repetition of past policies that have never worked. 

And simultaneously charting dangerous territory with the assertions that democracy can’t work for minorities (with flavour of the day, Maori). To that end frantically throwing out bedrock democratic principles.

Democracy doesn’t work for minorities. I know. I am in one. The 5-10 per cent that genuinely crave small government, free markets and personal responsibility. It doesn’t follow I advocate for an overthrow of ‘one person, one vote’. It means my minority has to persuade the majority their way.

But back to the point of my post. 

What is your elephant in the room?

Prove my point. There are so many elephants in the room that they are now unremarkable.

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