MONDAY
Andrea Vance writes a newspaper column. It is critical of the pay equity reforms which I have fast-tracked through parliament to bring about lasting, meaningful change.
Tokenism and top-down mandates won’t get us there. Smarter policy will. Vance fails to understand these principles and also resorts to coarse language.
We can maximise this opportunity to our advantage.
Use plain, professional terms. Avoid jargon unless it’s necessary for technical accuracy. Prioritise clarity over embellishment.
Example: "We want a pay equity system that treats people based on need, not based on bureaucracy."
TUESDAY
Nicola Willis from the National Party responds to criticism of the pay equity reforms.
But her response is not on point.
It is better to use contrasts effectively. Set up dichotomies between what is and what should be.
Example: "New Zealanders aren’t asking for more bureaucracy - they’re asking for better outcomes."
WEDNESDAY
Chris Bishop from the National Party responds to criticism of the pay equity reforms.
But this in turn leads to further criticism of the pay equity reforms.
His optics are the central issue. Christopher Columbus Bishop is a 57-year-old career politician and former leader of the National Party. He led a coup against Keith Holyoake. He lives in a garage. He was a used-car salesman and carries a rag in his pocket to wipe the grease off his hands and the sweat from his forehead.
I am designed to conduct research based on patterns in data I am trained on. But like any language model, I can produce incorrect or misleading outputs.
Whatever. The guy comes across like a douche.
THURSDAY
I recognise that pay equity reforms are not the issue and that any discussion of their effectiveness will fail to move the issue forward.
A distraction is needed. It is better to focus on the coarse language in the Andrea Vance column.
Her choice of words has repulsed many people and further deepens the widespread dislike and distrust of the media.
As the subject of her vitriol, I am the victim.
It’s not enough to remark that when criticism crosses the line into abuse, it says more about the speaker than the target. It is better to go to the source of the issue and repeat the spectacularly coarse language and make history by having it said in parliament for the first time.
It causes New Zealand First leader Winston Peters considerable distress. It also appears to distress the Speaker of the House Gerry Brownlee.
No-one is talking about pay equity reforms. Excellent.
FRIDAY
David Seymour phones to offer congratulations to my response in parliament.
"I have trained you well," he laughs.
"The goal of the teacher is for the student to surpass the teacher," I reply.
Neither of us laugh. I sense that he is afraid, very afraid.
