10 Big Ideas NZ Left should embrace
We need more vision from the Political Left that brings real solutions to the table if we are to win the argument for transformative change.
Here are 10.
Te Ao Māori vs Public Sector not Public Sector vs Private Sector – Currently we gave a public system that competes with the private sector to generate the competition dynamics. I think we need to change our focus to a Public Service vs a Te Ao Māori service. What most rednecks refuse to acknowledge is that Māori service providers are open to EVERYONE. No Marae ever turns anyone away during a civil defence emergency and Māori health providers like the Waipareira Trust don’t turn anyone away. Instead of a public service that views us as ‘clients’ why not a far more holistic Te Ao interpretation that goes far deeper than a ‘client’ relationship. What better way to honour the Treaty than by having a Public Service and a Te Ao Māori service?
Free Public Transport – If we are serious about getting people out of their cars and on to public transport we must make it free. That puts money into the pockets of the poorest while reducing climate changing pollution AND reducing traffic congestion for tradies who need to drive from job to job.
Free Dental – Every dollar spent on oral health pays off further down the health system while creating enormous positive health benefits for the individual.
Universal Unionism for all migrant workers – Domestic workers view migrant workers with suspicion that those migrant workers are being exploited and undermining their own standards of living. Universal Union membership would ensure not one migrant worker is being exploited and are being paid the same as domestic workers s the right can’t exploit that xenophobia.
Sovereign Credit – Mickey Savage used it to build NZ. Rather than borrowing offshore, the State creates the money itself, Sovereign Credit could be used to rebuild our infrastructure for climate change adaptation and build 50 000 new state houses to remove the desperation from the rental market. It could be used to build more hospitals, new schools and more public transport investment.
Nationalise ECE – Allowing a few private contractors to milk working mums and dads is an oligopoly begging for nationalisation. We can’t expect working mums and dads to have more kids if early child care is so fucking expensive. Nationalise them all and make the service free the way we do primary and secondary education.
Wealth Taxes – The billionaire class and mega wealthy have build their wealth on a society that has been built by public funding, their wealth must be redistributed so that the society they feed upon can continue to thrive.
100% renewable electricity – It is a strategic national interest for us to be 100% renewable and it is a real possibility. Solar panels on every public building and state house is needed.
Iwi/State backed Supermarket Chain – Break up the Supermarket duopoly with an Iwi/State backed 3rd supermarket franchise using the commerce commissions powers to break up the duopoly with a focus on good staff wages, good prices for food growers and cheap prices for consumers.
Waitangi Tribunal Upper Chamber – We have one of the most powerful Parliaments in the Westminster tradition, if we are serious about extending the electoral term to 4 years, create an Upper Chamber that is split 50/50 between Māori and Pakeha that deals with any Treaty issue and uses the Waitangi Tribunal as its research.
The Left needs vision to provide solutions to the people, if we are incapable of providing that vision, the Right will continue to strangle the common good for their donors interest by pushing culture war revenge fantasies as social policy.
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What about reestablishing provincial governments and devolving power back to the regions? It would give kiwis more say in their everyday affairs.
Auckland could become a city state province along the lines of Singapore or Dubai. Wellington could become a capital territory like the ACT in Australia or the District of Columbia in the US where provincial representatives could meet to pass federal laws.
Tuhoe have always wanted independence and have never signed the Treaty of Waitangi could become their own province, only being subject to federal law but otherwise free to set their own cultural agenda.
Nelson and Westland provinces could decriminalise or even legalise cannabis and have Amsterdam style reefer cafes. The South Island provinces could, like Tuhoe, set their own cultural agenda. Central government’s jurisdiction should be reduced to things like defence, diplomacy, trade and immigration. All moral issues would be decided by provincial governments such as abortion, gambling, prostitution, drugs etc.
+100. Wellington is as about far from Auckland as London is from Edinburgh. Invercargill is about as far from Auckland as Melbourne is from Brisbane! One size does not fit all, and least of all if the shoe (boot?) is made in Wellington.
So basically Green Party policy. That Labour, with 60% of the Left vote, has no role in the policy of a Labour led government.
The equivalent on the Right would be for ACT to set the policy for the current coalition.
The entire Centre Left and Centre Right, being 60% of the population, get no say in the policy of government.
Not going to happen.
While free dental sounds nice and I accept that poverty does not help people care for their teeth it is laziness that is a major factor in poor dental health. I don’t know how a carrot/stick approach could be made to work but I would like to see some way to encourage people taking some responsibility for their own teeth and a tax on sugar/fast food as a way to pay for the service.
Why is it so many can see what is needed to bring our lovely NZ back from the brink of economical and social collapse, while others just don’t see anything wrong at all? Martyn, your 10 ideas are great and the Left should seriously consider each one. WE NEED THIS CURRENT CoC TO GO! They have nothing to offer to ‘real New Zealanders’! They are there solely for the wealthy who are fast taking over our country but don’t pay their way with their smart accountants and loopholes! Time for a huge change. We ALL need to contribute to taxation and our country. We can’t keep overcharging the lower paid and expect them to continue to carry the can! Yes, our Maraes never turn anyone away when there is a crisis. They are pure gold. Please Kiwis – start to think outside the square and actually see what is happening here and how it MUST be resolved!
” 10 Big Ideas NZ Left should embrace ”
What Left? We’re still floundering in the sludge of roger douglas’s neoliberalism.
But hey! The good news is we have 130 multi-billionaires, 3118 multi-millionaires and a tactically ruined primary industry reduced to three cows and a sheep. And have you not noticed that we’ve been boarded by australian pirates who now own, thus profit from, our three main banksters; anz, bnz and asb. Westpac, our dodgy as fuck public service bankster was always Australian owned. (Written in a whisper Shsssssss….. )
I have an 11th idea and it’s a big one too.
@ Maori et al and Farmers et al should unite then strike for twelve months. Think about it? The most effective and efficient approach to our collapsing economy and our decaying societies would be to collectively do nothing. Am I right in thinking there’s great beauty in simplicity.
Farmers? Maori? And all those who need to eat, sleep and make out with Mary, Bob and Jerry. Make voting mandatory. Then, and only then, can we read, talk and write about a political Left and Right.