Elections are coming up. What are we thinking?

[mashman]

Wolves and sheeple these days.

[Woodman]

MMP. Parties should have to declare who they are willing to team up with before the election.

[oldrider]

I just pissed in the ocean for you. Did it feel warmer over there?

Well the steam created a lot of fog on the coast and caused a bad traffic day!

Later in the day it was warmer, so thank you very much! .... It's the thought that counts ... apparently!

[gjm]

A bizarre thing happened a couple of days ago.

I met Colin Craig. OK, in itself that's not actually bizarre. I'm sure other people have met him, too.

I am not a Tory. That said, I don't really have any political affiliation... Left, Right...? Who cares? It's what is done that counts.

I do intensely dislike the slimy and evasive Shonky John Key, sufficiently enough to ensure I will not vote National. However inadequate a reason that may be. I hear he is much better in person, but first impressions do tend to count, however much we know they perhaps shouldn't. (I'll not mention this again. :-) )

Colin Craig answered questions. And this is the bit that seemed odd. Straight answers. No attempt to distract, no attempt to sidetrack, no evasion. To the point. And he seemed genuinely interested in what I thought. Of course, like any politician he probably has to be a good actor, and an element of false sincerity must go with the job.

He's obviously not going to get a majority (well, it's extremely unlikely), but the parliamentary club is working overtime, and he is keen to work with whoever does hold sway. He will stand up, he will make a nuisance of himself if necessary; he will be heard. It was enough for me to look a little deeper at the policies and while I found (unsurprisingly) that I do not agree with all of them, I do agree with enough to suggest this may be a viable vote (for me).

For a Conservative party, they seem much more about New Zealand, much more 'national', than other parties. Whatever the other party names may suggest.

[Ocean1]

This site has always been pro National...

So why do they poll lower here than in the general population?

[Ocean1]

Every National voter I come across is very anti MMP - they want black and white, just 2 choices and no funny stuff. If you don't follow the herd and vote main parties, it's good the have other choices and not abstain just because.

It looks quite possible that labour may fail to remain one of those main parties.

And while not particularly happy with FPP it doesn't take much intelligence to see that there's serious problems with MMP. There possibly is with other systems too, but I think those problems with MMP completely overwhelm any advantage it might have had.

The problem with MMP is that the policies get decided by the politicians after everyone's voted, so there always an "out" for why the didn't do what they said they would when they were bidding for your vote.

Absolutely, there's a lot wrong with any system where you don't know what you're voting for.


Oh, and while I'm here: Binding referendums. Make them a fact of politics in NZ and many of the problems associated with our election system disappear. Sensible majority, though, say 60%. No limits on proposals, if someone wants to arsehole any particular policy or any other decision it should be fair game. It should be electronic and it should be this month, not at the govt's leisure, and it should be implemented soonest, no bullshit.

[Ocean1]

A bizarre thing happened a couple of days ago.

I met Colin Craig. OK, in itself that's not actually bizarre. I'm sure other people have met him, too.

I am not a Tory. That said, I don't really have any political affiliation... Left, Right...? Who cares? It's what is done that counts.

I do intensely dislike the slimy and evasive Shonky John Key, sufficiently enough to ensure I will not vote National. However inadequate a reason that may be. I hear he is much better in person, but first impressions do tend to count, however much we know they perhaps shouldn't. (I'll not mention this again. :-) )

Colin Craig answered questions. And this is the bit that seemed odd. Straight answers. No attempt to distract, no attempt to sidetrack, no evasion. To the point. And he seemed genuinely interested in what I thought. Of course, like any politician he probably has to be a good actor, and an element of false sincerity must go with the job.

He's obviously not going to get a majority (well, it's extremely unlikely), but the parliamentary club is working overtime, and he is keen to work with whoever does hold sway. He will stand up, he will make a nuisance of himself if necessary; he will be heard. It was enough for me to look a little deeper at the policies and while I found (unsurprisingly) that I do not agree with all of them, I do agree with enough to suggest this may be a viable vote (for me).

For a Conservative party, they seem much more about New Zealand, much more 'national', than other parties. Whatever the other party names may suggest.

Most people who have had much to do with politicians find the same thing, that they come across as concerned and interested in personal meetings. If you assume that's the real person and that the one people see on TV is a little distorted you can afford to give most of them the benefit of doubt: TV makes politicians look bad.

And while the conservitives aren't much like a more national national it's true that national has drifted left over the years. Their current incarnation could easily be a labour govt of the 60s or 70s.

[mstriumph]

...........................
Absolutely, there's a lot wrong with any system where you don't know what you're voting for.

Oh, and while I'm here: Binding referendums. Make them a fact of politics in NZ and many of the problems associated with our election system disappear. Sensible majority, though, say 60%. No limits on proposals, if someone wants to arsehole any particular policy or any other decision it should be fair game. It should be electronic and it should be this month, not at the govt's leisure, and it should be implemented soonest, no bullshit.

soooooo right! sooooooooooo sensible
which is why it's soooooooo likely it'll never happen

why don't you run? seriously?

[mstriumph]

MMP, the best example ever of why letting people vote is dangerous (cause we had a referendum and voted that crap system in). And what has the 40 extra MP's bought us besides the entertainment factor, SFA!!!

that's what I used to like about Joh Bjelke-Petersen ... he was the epitome of everything a politician shouldn't be but, hey, you surely got your moneys-worth entertainment-wise - he was a HOOT!

oops
sorry
wrong country

[Ender EnZed]

Colin Craig answered questions. And this is the bit that seemed odd. Straight answers. No attempt to distract, no attempt to sidetrack, no evasion. To the point. And he seemed genuinely interested in what I thought. Of course, like any politician he probably has to be a good actor, and an element of false sincerity must go with the job.

What were some of the questions that you asked?

[Katman]

Oh, and while I'm here: Binding referendums. Make them a fact of politics in NZ and many of the problems associated with our election system disappear. Sensible majority, though, say 60%. No limits on proposals, if someone wants to arsehole any particular policy or any other decision it should be fair game. It should be electronic and it should be this month, not at the govt's leisure, and it should be implemented soonest, no bullshit.

See, I always knew that we'd find something we agreed on. (Although I think the majority should probably be closer to 70%).

[Katman]

(And in case anyone's been asleep this afternoon.....)

Ding dong, the witch is dead.

[Ocean1]

why don't you run? seriously?

What, and have the great unwashed presume to tell me how to do my job?

Besides, the pay's shit.

[Ocean1]

See, I always knew that we'd find something we agreed on. (Although I think the majority should probably be closer to 70%).

By the time the various interested parties had butchered the facts you'd never get 70%.

Maybe we should have 60% support to spend less and 70% support to spend more.

[Laava]

Well the steam created a lot of fog on the coast and caused a bad traffic day!

Later in the day it was warmer, so thank you very much! .... It's the thought that counts ... apparently!

Hope you don't get acid rain in the evening!