If you are left wing, progressive, green, feminist, Maori, Pacific Islander, working class, LGBT or disenfranchised, the September 20th election matters.
A lot.
If Key wins a 3rd term, the social welfare provision via corporation reforms will become cemented into place as will National’s war on Teachers. Worker rights will be eroded, our civil liberty will remain under mass surveillance and the wealthy will get a lot wealthier.
Losing 2014 and winning 2017 is a lose lose because all a progressive Government can attempt then is to stem the haemorrhaging, setting up a 2020 defeat.
What is unique about this election is the possibility that the majority is Labour, Green and MANA. If that can happen, NZ would have its first truly left wing, Green Progressive Government.
I don’t believe NZ First will get over 5%. Winston’s surge last election was based off the coat tails of the Epsom Teapot Tapes and the total failure of Phil Goff to fire as a leader during the 6 week election campaign. With NZ First positioning to be a coalition partner to the Government, Winston’s mystique is unrealised at the ballot box this time around.
Because of the yawning chasm of inequality that now fault lines its way through NZs once egalitarian base, it will be the ends of the political spectrum that decide the Government. ACT & Conservative Party against MANA.
September 20th is an ‘all in’ poker moment where the very soul of our country will be decided. The narrow minded social conservatism of the Conservatives melded with the radical free market theology of ACT right up against the communal MANA socialism of Nationalistic Maori left. The middle ground is barren.
If progressive, green, feminist, Maori, Pacific Islander, working class, LGBT, left wing or disenfranchised electorates think NZ is unjust under a John Key Government, wait till Jamie Whyte and Colin Craig join the Cabinet.
Many commentators have made the mistake of underestimating Winston Peters.
This will be Winston Peters last hurrah.
Already we have seen him getting stuck into Maori in way that a rabidly racist white politician could not dare.
Along with this his racist usual racist attack on (Asian) immigrants.
Winston Peters is pulling out all the stops.
And don’t ignore the possibility that the Right will drop into Winston Peters lap, some timely sort of exclusive scandalous inside information for Peters to release as a scoop, which will allow Peters to step into the media spotlight and stride around the national stage to pose as the honest broker, the little man’s champion.
What will it be?
A scandalous expose’ of some other politician’s financial affairs or sex life, courtesy of an anonymous tip off from the GCSB?
Another Winebox scandal that goes nowhere?
Maybe a false game of charades between John Key and Winston Peters played out for the media, where they indulge in petty name calling of each other, which will get all the headlines before the election but be quietly forgotten later.
The Left need to state loudly and clearly that a vote for Winston is a vote for Key.
I wonder if Winston’s inability (or reluctance) to speak in words that anyone can understand, works for or against him. I fear it may be the former
…is because Winston refuses to talk policy.
(Apart from divisive racist muckraking that is, which also is a tactic to avoid talking about policies)
Still got to get past the issue of, Does the average person want Cunliffe as PM? I certainly Don’t, And I Don’t want Key either… Now What? Winston? Flip a Coin?
This is the disenfranchised voter you mention.
No actually CKIWI
you need to get past the idea that a government is the popular, or otherwise, face of its leader.
Don’t look at Key vs Cunliffe vs Winston then. Look at the policies / ideals that the parties stand for. A leader is a big part of a party, but not the be all and end all. Compare incumbent portfolio holders with their possible alternatives, eg: Hekia Parata vs Chris Hipkins, Bill English vs David Cunliffe, Paula Bennett vs Jacinda Ardern etc… Good luck with your decision!
Don’t worry, I’m not looking at Key, Have never voted national and not about to start, Winston won’t get my vote either, He will ultimately go in with Key, Despite what the media is portraying and their clash of personalities a vote for Winston WILL BE a vote for Key.
Tick the Leaf? haha I kid. I’m not going to waste my vote either.
I’d prefer Russel and Metiria as PM (I assume a Job Share would be workable).
I vote based on reading policy that has been carefully prepared. That is basically why I tend to vote green or would consider voting Mana even, they both have easily available well written policy documents, the other parties all tend to have sound bites or headline grabbers, policy that exists no longer than it is in the news in what passes for media here in New Zealand. I am about to begin my searches for policy from all the parties and to read whatever policy I can find before I finally make up my mind.
For the Tories I don’t need to bother, I have their six year track record to consider, or should I say five and a half year track record, of welfare bashing [tax evasion and avoidance costs the country far more economically], tax cuts for the wealthy [while increasing GST which impacts more negatively on the poor and working classes], selling publicly owned assets into the hands of the wealthy [power costs are already climbing exponentially], and generally not delivering on the policy promises they made before they were elected that they would improve the economy for all, deliver more jobs [in fact there are less] and closing the wage and salary gap between us an Australia [it has increased]. All this without even considering the negative changes they have made in education and child wellbeing .
“If Key wins a 3rd term, the social welfare provision via corporation reforms will become cemented into place as will National’s war on Teachers. Worker rights will be eroded, our civil liberty will remain under mass surveillance and the wealthy will get a lot wealthier.
Losing 2014 and winning 2017 is a lose lose because all a progressive Government can attempt then is to stem the haemorrhaging, setting up a 2020 defeat.”
Yes, and it is not just a VERY important year and election for progressive voters, it is an EXTREMELY important year for New Zealand and all New Zealanders.
The challenge for the progressive forces is to present a clear alternative to National, to present a set of clear, firm, committed and sensible, also economically viable policies, that will set New Zealand on a course for a more sustainable, smarter, better educated, more equal, fairer and united future.
People need to be able to see this, and see the significance of a true long term strategy for the country, that is not based on ever more milk from more cow udders, on the inflated real estate prices for middle and upper class homes in the major centres, that is not based on borrowing and at the same time selling more assets, that is based on developing this country, so it can become a liveable and secure and desirable place for all that choose to live here.
It is time to present to the wider public the challenges the country faces, like the need for alternative forms of transport, at least in the main centres, the need for diversifying and further developing production and service industries, the need for education and training, also for decent working conditions, and for wages and incomes that also the so far poorer can life off. People must be made to realise, the continuation of a course followed by this government is extremely short sighted and risky, and relying on dairy exports to China, that will expose the country to over dependence on one large market, for goods that are low value added and can easily be replaced by other producers, poses an unstable “boom” that can end as quickly as it started.
It is time to appeal to reason, not just emotion, to create a sense and momentum for a need of a clear change of direction, and that is the only way to get votes from those that may be unsure whether to vote, or whether to vote for Nats, ACT, Conservatives or United Future, or to return to Labour, or to give the Greens or Mana a go.
So it is perhaps time to engage in conversations, social contacts and to ask people, to talk with people, about what they feel and think, and to share our views and visions, as hearts and minds can only be won by social interaction and not just sending slogans and other messages out. The progressives will be advised to hold many events and activities and meetings, in public places, halls and elsewhere, to use social media, and be careful when talking with the MSM.
It can be done, must be done, and the time is short, so get going, New Zealand needs progress, not NatACT stagnation based on “achievements” that are not even theirs!
What would be truly scary would be a speech bubble over either Craig or Whyte saying, “Let’s allow incest and spanking”
Oops sorry if that puts ideas in anyone’s head
Seriously, Whyte demonstrates a distinct inability to think very far ahead with his suggestion that children of, say, siblings, have no more chance of birth defects than those of an older woman. Did he think that one through to the next generation of brothers and sisters who may want to repeat the exercise? Doubt it.
It’s interesting that Key announced it so early. I guess he is hoping that the other political parties will burn through their election money before we get anywhere near September.
The last live Green Party person I saw was Rod Donald…
And Labour MPs are seldom seen round the streets of their electorates. Photo ops, yes. Clinics, for sure. Becoming generally known? Who???
When Winston was cast out into Heartland NZ he made use of his time. Any breathing biped was an audience to woo. He worked for his return. Labour still isn’t working for theirs.
Some people vote on the proposed policies. Many people don’t.
Just listen to what’s said! ‘Key’s the sort of bloke you’d have a beer with’. He seems familiar…
Until Labour’s people can at least be recognised on the streets of their towns as Good Sorts who do Good Things, they’ll be ‘shtruggling’ against that affable little man from Auckland.
I so hope that McCarten and Anderton can call in the favours and mobilise what’s needed to get this marketing campaign launched and brought in successfully. Otherwise…the tanks will be empty before 2020 comes around.
As I recently wrote to the Dominion Post,
On further reflection, I believe that my error was pre-supposing that supporters of a National-led bloc and/or supporters of a Labour-led bloc would vote for Peters.
In most instances, they would not. Why should they?
The ones who would vote for Peters would be truly disaffected voters who dislike both National and Labour, and want a “brake” on whichever of the Big Two win the election.
It’s a weird situation, but there is an internal “logic” to this scenario – but only if viewed from the eyes of a “grumpy” voter; someone who curses “A Pox On Both Houses”.
Without a doubt, those “grumpy” voters exist.
That’s why Peters won’t express a preference for either National or Labour. His constituency doesn’t care either way. They’re just grumpy.
The question is; are there enough of them to push Peters over the 5% threshold?
The Greens offer a similar thing if you just want a brake on a Labour government.
The thing about the Labour party is there’s no promise they won’t do some disappointing things. I remember in one of the Citizen A episodes when I think Matthew Hooton pointed out that Phil Goff has been made trade spokesperson, and he loves the TPPA.
For many (including me), that’s not the only reason to vote for the Greens. I think the Greens take an intelligent approach while remaining quite genuine.
But for those who think the Greens are hippies, I guess NZ First are an option if you do want a brake on either party – and I guess by that we’d be meaning someone who thinks of the people during the bigger party’s more disagreeable actions.
If the TPPA does go through, who is everyone voting for in the 2017 election? I’m going to vote McDonalds. I’d consider Burger King, but I think McDonalds does a better cheeseburger.
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