MUST READ: A Fork In The Road: Which Way Should Labour Go?
THE LATEST 1NEWS/KANTAR POLL raises a host of intriguing possibilities. Though the mainstream media’s reporting of the poll’s results has concentrated on National/Act overtaking Labour/Green, there has been considerably less attention paid to the potentially pivotal role of Te Pāti Māori in deciding the 2023 General Election. If the Labour hierarchy isn’t yet contemplating a sit-down with the Greens and Te Pāti Māori on strategy and tactics, then it should do so immediately. A radical electoral coalition is in the offing – if Labour has the wit and courage to forge it.
The first thing for the Labour leadership to grasp is that the changes that can no longer be deferred – on climate change, social equity, constitutional transformation and international relations – are so fundamental, so comprehensive and so disruptive as to be completely unassimilable by the current neoliberal order. Whether they like it or not, Labour’s leaders will have to become radicals and revolutionaries – or fade into history.
The other option: standing in the way of the massive changes that loom ahead; will only hasten the moral and intellectual decay of the Labour Party. By positioning itself alongside National and Act, Labour would be abandoning the quest for transformational change to the Greens and Te Pāti Māori.
More seriously, Labour would be setting itself upon a course that could only end in the sort of Grand Coalitions that destroyed the German Social-Democratic Party as a force for progressive change.
Refusing to accept the need for radical changes might delay transformation, but conservative political resistance cannot prevent it from happening. The priority for any genuine party of the Left is to ensure that necessary change takes place in a context that expands the realm of human freedom – rather than constricting it.
Hence the urgent need for Labour to sit down with the Greens and Te Pāti Māori and sort out who does what in the formulation, presentation and implementation of a truly transformational programme.
Crucial to this process will be the identification of new sources of information and advice. A new societal agenda will require a new delivery mechanism: a creative and constantly changing constellation of “action groups” modelled on the astonishingly effective ad-hoc response to the urgent challenges of Māori vaccination against Covid-19.
Rather than policy-making being held within the narrow confines of the neoliberal mandarinate, Labour, the Greens and Te Pati Māori need to seek out the ideas and methodologies of individuals and groups hitherto regarded as operating beyond the realm of “realistic” policy formation. People and institutions able to begin immediately – utilising expertise and energies undreamt of by the official organs of the state.
A government committed to saying “yes” before it says “no”, would direct its fiscal support to transformational initiatives that have already demonstrated their ability to expand organically from one area of need to another, increasing in complexity and effectiveness as they grow. Change could thus emerge like crops in the fields – from the ground up.
Rather than congratulate itself for expanding the size of the state bureaucracy, a transformational Labour/Green/ Te Pāti Māori government would measure its success by the number of public servants it liberated from the crushing surveillance and soul-destroying discipline of the neoliberal administrative apparatus. Instead of sucking-up and taming organisational talent, the government’s goal would be to let it fall like windborne seeds into the fertile chaos of the revolution welling-up from below. As the wiser sort of trade union leader used to say: “Keep your experts on tap – not on top.”
If the recent protest encampment on Parliament Grounds had anything positive to offer the rest of New Zealand, then it was, surely, the example of people held together by a common cause, and how they managed themselves in ways that owed nothing to state or local officialdom. The way the protest community’s needs were supplied by those with the skills and resources required to meet them was genuinely inspiring. Motivated by a worthier cause: fighting climate change; delivering social and economic equity; exploring new ways of organising our politics; what could ordinary people not achieve?
Fanciful? Utopian? Not at all. Though the electorate has been given precious little evidence of its presence, there is in the 65 Labour Members of Parliament a concentration of idealism and talent which, in alliance with their colleagues in the Greens and Te Pāti Māori, is more than capable of unleashing a veritable flood of progressive change. The only thing stopping them is their collective unwillingness to believe that such an outcome is possible. Debilitating them – spiritually as well as politically – is the cancerous neoliberal lie that “there is no alternative” to the inhuman mechanism in which they have allowed themselves to become embedded.
There is no better example of this tragedy than Jacinda Ardern herself. When there is no rule-book: when History’s lightning-bolts bring horror and havoc out of clear blue sky; Jacinda has revealed her political instincts to be infallible. Her ability to find the right words: “They are Us”, “Team of Five Million”, speaks to an extraordinary level of emotional intelligence and empathy. But, on an ordinary day, with the rule-book open upon her desk, Jacinda’s performance is woeful. This superb free-spirit daily snaps the cuffs of “the way things are done” around her wrists and allows herself to be escorted quietly to the neoliberal jail.
Surely, by now, the Prime Minister understands that it is the lightning-bolt that inscribes the pages of history? That the rule-book she and her colleagues rely upon is merely the imperfect codification of all the inspired political improvisations of the past. Where was Mickey Savage’s rule-book? Where was Roger Douglas’s? They didn’t have one. All they had was the conviction that things could not go on as they were. That, for better, or for worse, changes had to be made.
Like them, Jacinda and her colleagues have come to a fork in the road. Whether their choice leads upwards to a brighter future, or down into the dark, will depend entirely upon how many people are invited to help them make it. Roger Douglas relied upon the secret neoliberal priesthood of Treasury. Mickey Savage upon the wisest and most generous spirits New Zealand had to offer – beginning with the extraordinary people contained in his own caucus.
“By their fruits shall ye know them”, says the Good Book.
Having based her government’s decisions on the Rule Book, can Jacinda honestly say that she’s satisfied with Labour’s harvest?
The only way to win anything worth having in politics is by trusting the people. In alliance with the Greens and Te Pāti Māori, Labour needs to give New Zealanders something worth voting for.
Then watch the polls change.
All so true Chris but the very reason the polls are plummeting for Labour is their lack of any real action on nearly everything they promised. I can’t see them doing those wise things you suggest…. they just haven’t got the ability or talent.
On the contrary, garibaldi, the talent and ability are there. What’s lacking is the confidence to use them. And that applies not only to the back-bench MPs, but also to the Cabinet Ministers and those closest to the PM. They do not seem to understand that their problems arise from HEEDING the advice of their neoliberal public servants – not from setting it aside.
The key lesson they have to learn is how to say “No” to their officials and “Yes” to the people.
This latest move to cut the excise tax on petrol by 25 cents is a good start. Not from the Neoliberal Rule Book at all!
“They do not seem to understand that their problems arise from HEEDING the advice of their neoliberal public servants – not from setting it aside.”
Ain’t that the bloody truth! It’s a disease that’s afflicted them for quite some time too.
The faith-based system: “I have complete faith in my officials”
Yes Chris agreed. That’s because that’s a poll driven or popular vote decision not based on the Mandarins or rule book as U describe. The public servants don’t care about the politicians life span only the Polly’s care of that. They only care about the dogma they follow or have been following for over 40 years now. So hence why the politicians come and go and the public servants stay put.
“…those wise things you suggest…. they just haven’t got the ability or talent.”
Sadly this describes National/Acf as well. Why at a time when we face such big problems do we mostly seem to have lightweights as leaders? And I’m not only talking about our country.
Labour has limited talent imo, however National & ACT are bereft of any talent, Luxton is a corporate gnome currently enjoying some Christophoria from the latest polls and Seymour Guns is an opportunist looking for the next carcass to feed on. Yucky imho ?
Garibaldi Some may have the ability and the talent, but there are human cushions in all three parties, sitting out their time on their thumbs, ready to collect their pensions and waddle off to a life of financial security unbeknown to too many out in the real world. That’s Labour. That’s National. The Greens defy rational explanation.
The failure of Labour is the lack of talent. Add to that a total inertia that should have been the Labour party core reason to live in the 9 years on the opposition benches and 5 years on the treasury benches. Come up with a plan for the future. We should really charge them with fraud or misappropriation of tax payers funds to have done no planning for the last 14 years.
Case in point being the police minister moaning about National reducing front line police numbers.
Labour had 9 years to format a response plan, 5 years to implement that plan and yet the “promised” 8oo extra police in the Winston Peters coalition never eventuated.
Why not? Was it because it was a Peters policy, not Labour?
Labour are too late to now try and choose the direction to take. They have lost the confidence and willpower to function as an effective political party and do not have the talent (except for Kiri Allan) to even see the cross roads, never mind the ability to make a decision.
Labour (except for Kiri Allan) are all career politicians, they do not make decisions, they do not how to.
Problem with career politicians is they live in a beltway bubble, fed by communication teams that call a cost of living crisis an energy crisis. Career politicians are too far removed from the people to form a strategy that benefits what the people need.
For the people, the edifice that is the empty and deserted Labour office on the Great South Road in Manurewa is a monument on what Labour thinks of the people in South Auckland. Not for them the $35M for a cycle path between gentrified suburbs, no the Manurewa to Takanini cycleway is a death trap and not use by sane cyclist.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/south-auckland-leaders-angry-over-35-million-cycleway-for-wealthy-inner-city-suburbs/IR45PBOAP35AUYNFGHHMKAWHHA/
Sounds like a bit of tall poppy syndrome coming from garibaldi pretty mean comment given we still have the lowest death rates from Covid in the OECD and our allies still have many more cases and deaths occurring daily.
It’s been a while coming – as starkly put as this, It says it all.
I assume a copy of this will quickly make its way to every Labour MP’s inbox?
It surely, surely needs to!
At least, should what’s being suggested here be actioned, the people would have a very clear binary choice – radical/transformative versus steady as she goes. There’s a credibility problem for labour though, both the dismal failure over the delivery of their aspirations and a fundamental dishonesty over their actual intentions. In particular the sleazy way He Puapua was hidden from the people at the last election. Why would they do that?
Perhaps they know something you don’t or are unwilling to admit: the people aren’t fools, these kinds of changes suggested are deeply unpopular and for good reason: they tend to be disasters full of unintended negative consequences unseen by their Utopian proponents. Of course that could be countered with actual examples of free, prosperous and just societies that have adopted them before? No, obviously that won’t help either.
“The first thing for the Labour leadership to grasp is that the changes that can no longer be deferred – on climate change, social equity, constitutional transformation and international relations – are so fundamental, so comprehensive and so disruptive as to be completely unassimilable by the current neoliberal order. Whether they like it or not, Labour’s leaders will have to become radicals and revolutionaries – or fade into history”.
So erudite Chris. This and more. Fanciful? Utopian? Not at all.
Well, you are right. In light of the task ahead better to be positive, hopeful, with options in hand than be pessimistic and cynical with no solutions I applaud you for that. But that part of me that is dark and cynical would hold that only one of the Four Horseman can shift the ideological impasse that political elites find themselves in.
Vision! Conviction! Action! I do hope you’re on the right side of history.
So do I, Bozo! So do I!
Preferably into political oblivion along with National….still die hard’s will keep them going….right?
I’ve just read Verity Johnsons article in Stuff https://www.stuff.co.nz/opinion/128047599/why-i-am-thinking-of-ditching-labour
Here she outlines – in similar terms to the article above – her disappointment in the Labour government and it’s complete lack of transformational policy.
And despite being ” … part of the turmeric and charcoal scented young, urban Centre-Left” – this core left voter is considering ditching the it.
What is most fascinating and where Jonson differs from Trotter is in her decision to support National as a better option to the disappointment of supporting Labour.
In other words for the majority of middle class NZ it actually doesn’t make much difference to them day to day or even on the big issues whether they vote for Labour or National. And I don’t think they really care because the impact on their lives is minimal either way.
What Jonson doesn’t do is consider or even attempt to push for the radical transformation her original support for Labour desired – as Trotter does. Instead – there’s a shrug of the shoulders and an “oh well at least my taxes will be lower under National”.
And this, comrades, is exactly how it’s supposed to work – Verity like Adern (and all NZ voters) has the “cuffs of “the way things are done” around her wrists and allows herself to be escorted quietly to the neoliberal jail.”
This is why we don’t have a Mana Party but we do have an Act Party – the Overton window in NZ has moved along way from the days of Trotters youth of a class conscious and motivated electorate.
Nothing is more powerful than an idea whose time has come
Labour/Greens/Maori Party could work very well together if they got their heads and got rid of all the stupid shit.
Yet, why is it that when Labour ever considers immanent movement on something transformative Chris always takes to his pen and sternly warns of dire political consequences to their ability to stay in or obtain office. Suddenly it becomes a matter of poll driven pragmatism.
The ultimate see saw.
I agree Chris but the fly in the ointment is Identity Politics.
In days gone by, I would have supported Greens without a second thought if Labour had disappointed me enough. Now we have co governance and all things identity politic. The greens are woker than LINO.
And for many like me, who believe utterly in democracy, the ethno state and co-governance will not fly until we do it constitutionally by popular vote and dont get me started on that other evil of the day, limits to free speech and freedom of expression.
Ex Labour voters like myself have nowhere to go. I cant vote Labour or Greens and I despise National so its a vote for Winston or TOP or no vote at all.
All NZ parties are only the rich mans friend. Do yourself a favour and leave the parasites paradise. Vote Albo.
I have never abused children or old people for not agreeing with my views zI have not throw shit and stones at the police while doing their job . There are truly principled people with anti vax views but there were not many of them in this mob
Trevor Sennitt The protestors at Parliament may not have descended into an unruly and violent mob had they not been wound up right at the start by the hoon from Wainouiomata. That is something we may never know.
“Instead of sucking up organisational talent the government’s goal should be to let it fall like windblown seeds into the fertile chaos of the revolution welling up from below.” I learned long ago that the fruitier Trotter’s metaphors, the more likely they were to be the real point of the whole exercise and the less likely they were to relate to anything rational at all.
Harry love Sounds like you analyse all the flavour out of Trotter’s poetry, turning all to dust. It doesn’t match your mood which is depressing.
We all know Labour and Forked. They pander to the fat centre of the political bell curve. They won’t sufficiently differentiate themselves from national so the center swings back and forth. This is Neo Liberal Labour. Nothing new to see here. Nation will get them of the “delivery propaganda”. Though I have my doubts about the Nats keeping their composure.
Chris it’s obvious this government is not going to ever be transformational. It is clearly beyond them. They couldn’t even transform the tax system away from relying on taxing labour and shifting some of the burden onto capital out of fear it would cost them votes. Ditto housing, inequality, homelessness etc etc. Unfortunately the other mob think that a tax cut is the solution to every problem so I can’t see anything changing in my lifetime. It’s as if they have all run out of ideas and are floundering around in a state of myopic confusion. The only party that seems to have any fresh ideas is TOP and as they are on about 1% of support it appears that they will never see the light of day. Pity really because this country is crying out for change.
The biggest problem is apathy, caused by constant gaslighting. My friend who was at ‘te Protest’ reported committed, vibrant humans. This species would seem to be few and far between and I think a lot of them don’t vote because why? it’s always going to be same shit, different day, and as countryboy says, the industrial scale corporate raiding which has hobbled this country has still not been addressed, therefore is still happening imho. Whenever you see “strategic partnership”, right there is code for “we win, you lose, suckers,” so pucker up and kiss the benefits.