Incidentally the discussion on shower pressure reminded me that this debate is illustrative of one of the (many) differences between Labour and the Green.  When challenged with he false right wing meme that the Government and the Greens were invading people’s bathrooms to turn down the pressure and consign them to dribbly, weak showers Jeanette and Russel responded by arguing from a point of principle and explaining what the policy actually would have meant. Shane Jones beat a quick retreat and chose the path of least resistance rather than the option best for water and energy conservation.

The Greens secret policy on showers will require armed, masked police officers to enter each person’s bathroom, one by one, and forcibly remove their showerhead.  In its place will be a piddly little dribble of warm water, somewhat reminiscent of standing under a pissing toddler.  That’s our official policy.  Of course, the way we have worded it, and indeed implemented it, is more deceptive:

Instead of mentioning the invading storm troopers and their liquored up ready-to-pee toddlers, the policy claims only to apply to as yet un-built homes or renovated homes.  And it notes installing modern new low flow showerheads is only one way of many to meet an energy efficiency standard while still having powerful warm showers.  And of course it will save households an average of $300 per year in electricity bills. In other words no one is being forced to do anything or deprived of anything.

Nanny state I say! It’s forcing (well, really more like ‘encouraging’ than ‘forcing’) people to save water and money while still assuring they will have hot showers and good water flow.  Next thing they’ll want to take away my right to breathe polluted air and swim in contaminated rivers.