The more I watch the Labour coalition government ignore the recommendations of the working groups it has set up (at considerable cost ) the more it’s clear to me that the Ardern/Roberston government is going to make the inmates of our neoliberal prison a little more comfortable with warmer cells to rent (for example) , but they are not going to open the prison gates.
For all the talk of a “Well-being Budget “ without a fundamental change in economic policy shifting away from self -imposed austerity and trickle -down theory (to which National and ACT also subscribe) ordinary working New Zealanders are not going to be able to get ahead by working hard.
Why? Because the very wealthy are guarding the gates to our economy and our government is afraid of them.
So they tax food, keep wages low and house prices high to make sure the lower classes remain in their place .
It was not always so.
Before Labour introduced neoliberal economics in 1984 ( the ideology that benefits the wealthy few at the expense of the many) capitalism served the State. Not the other way around as it is today.
So what’s the escape plan?
My answer? Make the 10% of us who own 60% of the wealth of our country pay their fair share. There are many ways to do this – not just a Capital Gains Tax
It’s not a plan the Labour coalition shows any sign of adopting – but hey, there’s an election next year . Time to start digging some escape tunnels
Bryan Bruce is one of NZs most respected documentary makers and public intellectuals who has tirelessly exposed NZs neoliberal economic settings as the main cause for social issues.
But hey, I’m okay… so I’ll just sit here in property and pontificate. Hell, at least you’re on topic, right? Sticks and stones…
Ah? Yeah? Nah. @ CASTRO. You’re not making sense. You’re either drunk or you think there may be some kind of word quota levelled at you.
There are many ways to do this – not just a Capital Gains Tax. Really? And when are these “ways” coming? Do you really give THAT much of shit sitting in your property?
“What country can preserve its liberties if their rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance. Let them take arms.” (Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, Dec. 20, 1787, in Papers of Jefferson, ed.
Too true Bruce.
My protest vote is still up for grabs wherever it strategically will make a difference.
lets see what our options are closer to the time, at the moment the actual left is unrepresented, Labour seems to model themselves on the US Democrats, part of the neoliberal apparatus.
If there is “ no option left” then my vote will be a protest to the other team.
I’m considering ACT because despite being the party of the rich, they do believe in personal freedom. Labour and the greens while doing nothing on inequality are also going down the rabbit hole of increasing police powers and limiting free speech.
Keepcalmcarryon: “I’m considering ACT because despite being the party of the rich, they do believe in personal freedom.”
Yeah, you have a point there: that’s an option which I could consider. I’m infuriated at the current government’s lack of courage; what’s the point of accumulating political capital if they won’t use some of it to take bold action? Like many others, I have a longish list of things which need governmental attention, and either aren’t getting it, or aren’t getting enough of it.
“Labour and the greens while doing nothing on inequality are also going down the rabbit hole of increasing police powers and limiting free speech.”
Yes. Another thing that infuriates me about this government. Hands off our freedoms, say I!
It is just possible that I could sort-of tolerate the crimping of our freedoms and the increasing of surveillance, were it the case that the government had taken pointful action on inequality.
But as things stand, it looks as if we’re getting the worst of both worlds.
Seymour’s gonna think that all his birthdays have come at once, if a whole bunch of disillusioned lefty votes pitchfork him back into parliament….
Yeah i am of the same opinion but i wont hold my nose and vote for A.C.T
Unless there is a credible center left party that can make the magic 5% and that is the tough part i am not sure what to do.
I did like some of T.O.P ‘s tax policies but i was not keen on the influence of Sam Morgan who helped certain billionaires to rort the system and set up mansions in the countryside.
For the first time ever it maybe a wasted vote but then it is wasted voting for the same old neo liberal parties and that includes the Greens who are trapped and held hostage by the very system they despise with no authority whatsoever.
Maybe the New Economics party , the Pirate party , Outdoor recreation , or the old Liberal party might be appealing.Internet Mana is still around so who knows there is plenty sitting under the radar who would be happy with a tick on the ballot paper.
Mosa: “I did like some of T.O.P ‘s tax policies…”
As did I. But I didn’t like that Morgan fellow either. I think that TOP may still be around; it’d certainly be worth considering, if it’s vigorous enough to stand candidates at the next election. And the pre-election polls indicate that a vote for it wouldn’t be wasted.
The Unions have to stop supporting the Labour. We need our own political party representing workers.
With the major parties that purport to represent the Left all bought and paid for and totally subverted by other interests, the only escape tunnel of out this prison is another political vehicle.
Give automatic membership and voting rights to all existing Union members. Choose candidates (who will have the advantage of being ‘real’ people, not parachuted parasites). Offer an appropriate policy platform and start from there.
What are there?….about 400,000 union members in NZ (ref. https://figure.nz/chart/nvVfvd43iJUbwFXz) ?
Should be able to make a dent on the political landscape, yes??
This actually could work. 400,000 Unionized workers.
And how to do it?… Full page article in some local rags, and of course online social media, txt message , Union reps announcing this to workers complete with hard copy’s of what , where , when and who etc.
Held in several large school assembly halls held in key centers throughout the country . Buses provided for those Union members to the larger centers. All conducted at around the same time.
Minutes of those meetings taken , with pertinent affecting working people current issues ( such as minimum wage, Employment Relations Bill , housing, food prices ,GST , destruction of the Award Rate and undermining of Unions to name a few) on the agenda. Spokespeople from each center’s meeting then elected. A general meeting of those elected members and draft policy’s worked out among those elected members several weeks later.
One month, two months later , elected members report back to assembly members either another round of public meetings, and / or hard copy / electronic versions of their deliberations. Submissions then taken. From there policy’s refined.
Within one year or so , a new political party is then born with fleshed out policy’s, and registered under the Electoral Comission.
The ultimate aim , – by very nature of this , – is the dismantling of the neo liberal political system that created the now currently 35 year long exploitation of a very , very , very large chunk of the NZ populace by foreigners and wealthy , privileged New Zealanders.
And also, by its very nature , … would be the return of a basic type of framework of regulatory Keynesian economics, modified for NZ conditions and current global conditions. There are many very smart Economists within the NZ Trade Union movement whose ideas could be plucked then pressed into service.
This would be revolutionary , – as would the party itself.
And far more effective in its long term effects of changing the face of NZ than any ridiculous violent ‘revolution’ we think of when that term springs to mind in enabling and instilling fairness, democracy , – and a fair shake once again for all Kiwi battlers.
Its time it was done.
This would ENSURE Labour can no longer silence Trade Unions by their neo liberal caucus and that both National and Labour would have to sit up and take notice smartly if they want to survive. It would also serve to put the frights up those Union leaders who have had it far too comfortable for far too long under the neo liberal political arrangement.
They may wish to find ‘other employment’.
And I think people like Mike Treen and others just might be smiling, … if he / they read this in approval.
Thanks WK for articulating so well and ‘fleshing out’ my clumsily put suggestion 🙂
Mike Treen and others would be great for leading this.
Alas, so would have the fabulous Helen Kelly – may she rest in peace.
Wild Katipo: “This would ENSURE Labour can no longer silence Trade Unions by their neo liberal caucus and that both National and Labour would have to sit up and take notice smartly if they want to survive.”
You and Jase have proposed an alternative that could well work. I wonder if the required legwork could be done in time for the next election? Jase is right: I could see Mike Treen getting involved in this.
I’d certainly vote for such a party.
Traditionally the political parties that get actually get votes from the people at the bottom of the heap (ie. the people who don’t vote now) are the ones that were already helping people before they got into politics. The MPs of these same parties then spent most of their parliamentary salary on helping people after they got into parliament.
Does this mean we need to form a coalition of groups like the Salvation Army, CPAG, Beneficiery advocate groups?
I don’t know the answer, I’m too removed from all this and strugling with my own stuff.
The only other option is to help empower the school kids who are striking, it may well be the quicker route because Jacinda’s electoral star-dust just got a boost from the wedding announcement and under normal circumstances I would expect Labour to last the full nine years.
Moving on from the disquietingly destabilising effect of @ CASTRO…
@ BB.
The word ‘ordinary’ is an interesting one to me.
It’s been my experience that it’s within the ‘ordinary’ AO/NZ’er that extraordinary things are born.
The truly ordinary are in the Remuera McMansions and along Tauranga’s ode to 1980’s greed that is the waterfront. In there, in those big fancy plasti-houses? That’s where you’ll find ‘ordinary’. It’d be a rare thing indeed, to have an accountant, a financier, a banker or a lawyer dream up some unique and beautiful piece of creativity, for example. They could certainly find a market to make money from the art of others though.
In other words; the otherwise useless are in control and we can all see how that’s working out around the world, in particular within the so called ‘super powers’. Only made ‘super’ because they’ve sequestered the hard earned money of the ‘extraordinary’ class to build guns, bullets, bombs, killer planes and sneaky fucking submarines carrying mad men and lunatics about the place who’re brainwashed into thinking that being under the ocean with an arsenal of nuclear weapons is fun and a good story for retirement.
Politicians are particularly adept at fomenting that kind of logical fallacy bullshit at us because they’re well schooled to do so by the ‘ordinary’ riche via a secure line from their Mc Mansion as they gaze upon their law/etc degree hanging up there by the Ralph Hotere they can never understand and will never get anything back from but who cares? They only need to know it’s worth a fortune.
I can’t find a plan B for the election other than not to vote.
What do we disillusioned labour voters do? The Greens I guess as they support the CGT?
The greens are pretty awful IMO I would prefer not to vote and to be honest I am considering abstention in 2020 for the second time since I started voting.
I for one am rather hoping the greens and Winston first disappear next year.
Peters may , may have not been anti Union , … but I think one thing that he has repeatedly opposed during his political career is neo liberalism. He as instead had to work in and around it. He and Jim Anderton were about the only consistent ones who opposed it.
NZ First has many policy’s and attitudes that reflect the older, Keynesian economics pre neo liberal free market 1984 abusive reforms , – thus we may find this hypothetical new party to be strange , – but very compatible bedfellows in creating a very , very traditionally egalitarian minded New Zealand political block…
This would a party well worth investing energy in and fighting for.
I can see no other way for us to go actually, – one that avoids alienating working ( and professional ) people with ridiculous Woke Left Identity political issues , – and focuses on what really matters to a very large swathe of New Zealanders. The bread and butter issues.
Doing the job Labour was originally created for but which betrayed us all in the 194 elections.
New Right Fight – Who are the New Right?
http://www.newrightfight.co.nz/pageA.html
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… ” We don’t like extremists, – we believe in laws and policy’s that support the mass majority of New Zealanders , and not just a small elite ,… who may have gotten control of the political system and the financial funding of political party’s , … shows that in this campaign ” …
– Winston Peters.
23/9/2017.
Peters said the sell off of New Zealand interests to overseas buyers was the “continuing story of this country’s decline since the 14th of July, 1984”.
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Jays: “I am considering abstention in 2020 for the second time since I started voting.”
I’m an old lefty; I’ve never once abstained from voting in all my longish life, since I attained my majority. I don’t want to do that at the next election: but my vote won’t be going to Labour. So: I must find an alternative, and the suggestion of ACT is increasingly appealing.
Well, whether or not you philosophically agree with Seymour I have to say that he is the only politician in NZ that strikes me as basically honest.
Adern sure as shit doesn’t.
Jays: “…whether or not you philosophically agree with Seymour I have to say that he is the only politician in NZ that strikes me as basically honest.”
I’ve come to that view as well. Gawd, things have come to a pretty pass, have they not? An old Lefty expressing guarded support for Seymour! Sundry of my family members will swoon from the shock…
“Adern sure as shit doesn’t.”
I very much regret to say that I agree. What is it that Texans say? All hat, no pants. She’s a show pony.
Orbital Panda: “What do we disillusioned labour voters do?”
Not the Greens, for my money; that party’s infested with the woke Left and determined to inflict upon us restrictions to our freedom of speech.
Keepcalmcarryon has commented above that they’re considering ACT: at least they value personal freedoms. In my view, that’s a strategy worth thinking about.
Any disillusion comes from the mess National left behind for Labour to clean up.
What we do is we keep going and we have faith in Aunty Jacinda because she’s doing her best with the tools she has in front of her.
It’s not going to happen overnight.
What we need is the ‘Robin Hood” effect implemented in some form.
Too dangerous for any government to consider?
Political suicide?
The idea of taking from the rich and giving to the poor seems completely foreign to any government I’ve seen in operation over the past half century.
Progressive taxation would be another way of bringing some equality to bear.
As would any system that stops the myriad (legal) Ponzi schemes that exist in society.
Train to Nowhere: “… the mess National left behind…”
In fairness to the current government, the mess is of very long standing,though the Nats didn’t help. The Lange government is initially responsible for putting in place the economic policies and settings which have in the long run led to the wrecking of the society we once had. Fixing it will also take a long time. If it can be fixed. I wonder whether the housing market can ever be fixed.
“What we do is we keep going and we have faith in Aunty Jacinda because she’s doing her best with the tools she has in front of her.”
I’d like be able to agree with you. But the past year’s platitudes and lack of substantive action have left me completely disillusioned. The two things this government could have done, which would have indicated that they’re sincere about bringing change: raise benefit levels to the point where they ought to be: an income on which it’s possible to live with dignity; and impose CGT. They’ve done neither.
Why on earth should we give them another term? If we’re just going to get more of the same, we might as well have the bloody Nats back!
We could use a government that would install the FTT, Tax on wealth and property, jobs for all, decrim cannabis and unleash the Kraken on the banks. Be bold.
Castro’s on the right track! We need some sort of revolution otherwise we’re fecked. Like the yellow vest movement in France going 6 months now. Getting the rich to sh*t their money bricks and share for the good of all otherwise will never happen. I won’t vote next election they’re all the same shower! At least the young can emigrate. Sad to say the same crap goes everywhere now.
‘ We need some sort of revolution otherwise we’re fecked.’
Unfortunately ‘we’re already fecked’ ….well the young people of the world are. However, the vast majority of the young people don’t realise yet because they (like their parents and grandparents) are constantly fed the false narratives of empire that keep ‘everyone’ believing the system is benign and has a long-term future.
In reality, the world is in a dreadful state, and every day that passes the crucial aspects necessary for long-term survival are made worse by ‘the system’.
The latest dire warning on ecological collapse, as reported by The Guardian:
‘Human society is in jeopardy from the accelerating decline of the Earth’s natural life support systems, the world’s leading scientists have warned as they announced the results of the most thorough planetary health check ever undertaken.
From coral reefs flickering out beneath the oceans to rainforests desiccating into savannahs, nature is being destroyed at a rate that is tens to hundreds of times higher than the average over the last 10m years, according to the Global Assessment Report by the United Nations.’
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/may/06/human-society-under-urgent-threat-loss-earth-natural-life-un-report
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