Unbundling trial balloon works a treat

You know how a trial balloon works in politics? It's a bit like slipping your toe into the water at the beachfront to see whether you can risk a dip with your whole body. A trial ballooon tests the political weather to see what you can get away with it. Unfortunately, after the rapt reaction to the trial balloon of 'unbundling' Telecom, the Clark Government now apparently think they can get away with more, much more.

Public Law expert Mai Chen, in an article to be published in the 'NZ Law Journal' next month, says the environment created by the Government's broadband package "has resulted in a push for greater regulation of monopoly or dominant incumbents in other areas such as the postal market and in airport pricing".

As The Tory The Whig says, with which I agree completely:

The minute you let the government get away with one bit of regulation, it craves more. And if Mai Chen is saying so, you know it's more than mere speculation.

How much more private property will soon be "unbundled"? And what moral high ground will Tory unbundling advocates stand on when it happens?

A fair question, isn't it David? Remember Jefferson's warning: "The government big enough to give you everything you want is big enough to take it all away again."

LINKS: Telecom reform may spur others - Dominion Post
See what you did? - The Whig

TAGS: Telecom, Politics-NZ, Politics