Snap election!

[Roj]

I don't think it makes alot of difference in the end, the politicians do what they want anyway, the majority of people don't get a lot of benefit on way or another, just the privledge of paying tax, and then not getting the services that the tax is supposed to pay for...

[WINJA]

I Saw On The News That Helens Husband Likes Sausage More Than Tacos, Wonder How That Would Effect Helen In The Polls? Shes A Stupid Corupt Cunt Anyway Time For Labour To Get A New Leader

[riffer]

Meh. Politicians. Hardly worth saying anything about. But some have (and much better than me):

Suppose you were an idiot. And suppose you were a member of Congress, but then I repeat myself.
......Mark Twain -

I contend that for a nation to try to tax itself into prosperity is like a man standing in a bucket and trying to lift himself up by the handle.
......Winston Churchil

A government which robs Peter to pay Paul can always depend on the support of Paul.
......George Bernard Shaw

Democracy must be something more than two wolves and a sheep voting on what to have for dinner.
......James Bovard, Civil Libertarian (1994)

Foreign aid might be defined as a transfer of money from poor people in rich countries to rich people in poor countries.
......Douglas Casey, Classmate of Bill Clinton at Georgetown University

Giving money and power to government is like giving whiskey and car keys to teenage boys.
......P.J. O'Rourke, Civil Libertarian

Government is the great fiction, through which everybody endeavors to live at the expense of everybody else.
......Frederic Bastiat, French Economist (1801-1850

Government's view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it
.......Ronald Reagan (1986)

I don't make jokes. I just watch the government and report the facts
.....Will Rogers

If you think health care is expensive now, wait until you see what it costs when it's free.
.....P.J. O'Rourke

In general, the art of government consists of taking as much money as possible from one party of the citizens to give to the other.
....Voltaire (1764)

Just because you do not take an interest in politics doesn't mean politics won't take an interest in you.
....Pericles (430 BC.)

No man's life, liberty, or property is safe while the Legislature is in session.
....Mark Twain (1866)

Talk is cheap, except when Congress does it.
....Unknown

The inherent vice of capitalism is the unequal sharing of the blessings. The inherent blessing of socialism is the equal sharing of misery.
....Winston Churchill

What this country needs are more unemployed politicians.
....Edward Langley, Artist (1928 - 1995)

A government big enough to give you everything you want, is strong enough to take everything you have.
...Thomas Jefferson

[Finn]

In 1999, a massive 74% of Labour's donations were anonymous - totalling $824,375. Yep almost one million dollars.

In 2002 Labour's level of anonymous donations was only $55,000 less than National.

So Labour are absolute hypocrites when they claim that these anonymous donations are bad, are wrong, and must be stopped. They have happily taken them in. They have explicitly not amended the law to stop them, as they could have done at any time since 1999.

So why are these donations suddenly a bad thing? Simply because Labour didn't get as many as National this time around. Suddenly this major funding source for Labour becomes a bad, evil thing.

So my question to bitch face is if you are now against anonymous donations so much will you hand back all the ones you have happily banked?

[Swoop]

I Saw On The News That Helens Husband Likes Sausage More Than Tacos,

That is what the media is reporting....... so far.
Let's hope they keep digging........ there is so much more to find...

[Balding Eagle]

Riffer, I love your quotes. Keep it up. Hypocrisy is the middle name of many a politician. You really do have to make sure you are squeaky clean if you are going to make accusations. Take the Exclusive Bretheren situation for example. They used their own money to make a statement. They did not give it to the National Party to put their spin on it. And so it was the opinion of a group of individuals. As a result, Helen wants to close down the opportunity for such a group of individuals to contribute towards the debate and she thinks that this is lopsided funding. Well what about the Labour movement? The Council of Trade Unions gives very substantial support to the Labour Party. Do Labour declare how much this is? I doubt that 100% of the rank and file members of the unions want to see their union fees go towards the government.

As for who I would vote for. I would vote for ACT. Although I don't agree with all their policies, they are heavily into personal responsibility and I am all for that. I indicated National on the poll but that was only for lack of choice.

[rwh]

You HAVE to be on some form of mind-altering drug to say that!!! Oh, yeah... GREEN party... riiiight...

Actually, that's one of their policies that I don't really care about either way. Never tried the stuff. The only difference it would make to me is that I'd feel less nervous about associating with friends who do use it.

She just seems more level-headed than most - except for dumb stuff like burning off her bit of the Coromandel during a fire ban ...

Richard

[idb]

I have no idea who I would vote for at this moment - it's been a long time since I could say that.
I can say that Helen Clark's (or any other politician for that matter) physical appearance will not sway me either way.

The whole political scene is getting particularly nasty at the moment.
I'm sure it hasn't been like this since Muldoon left office.

[carver]

I say libertarianz would make a change.
it would be very interesting to see, 1% tax, freedom to do what you like in YOUR private property, the freedom to do what you like with YOUR body...
Everything else is just another blend of socialisim, with the principal of "we know whats best for YOU"

[Lias]

The parties that come closest to being what I want are the National Front an the Direct Democrats. However I'll probably end up voting for national simply so that we have at least SOME sort of rightwing party as the primary power, even if they are far too centric for my liking.

Strangely enough one of the few things Labours done I approve is was mentioned by Steam in his drunken rant. I approve fully of legalising prostitution, its the worlds oldest profession after all.

The Civil union bill on the other hand is one of the worst social engineering abortions of all time. Labour forced it through despite massive public outcry, and it needs to be killed dead.

Things I want to see happen from whomevers in power.
Time restriction on benefits, and the UEB is compulsory work-for-dole. You get say 3 months max to find a new job, then you do 40 hours a week for the govt (PD style!) or no benefit.
Legalise , R18, and tax the shit out of marijuana and possibly other drugs such as ecstasy. Where a drug isnt addictive, and doesnt cause psychosis or side effects worse than alchohol/tobacco I cant really see why we shouldnt legalise and tax the shit out of it.
Vastly stricter criminal system, and for the justice system and a shift away from rehabilitating repeat offenders. By all means try and rehabilitate those who have only had minor brushes with the law, but something like 3 strikes and your out works for me. All lowrisk/low security prisoners to be put on work farms/camps, in cheap accomodation (like arizonas tent city) and forced to work to turn a profit to pay for keeping the really nasty prisoners locked in 6x3 cells for 23 hours a day. Death penalty for murder and serious sexual offender. No early parole for most prisoners, none of this serve 1/3 and out bullshit. Home D only for low risk white collar crims. Would quite like to see public executions, caning/whippings, etc introduced as a deterent and a visible punishment (Think Singapore, Saudi, etc)
Revoke civil union law and enshrine in law the fact that marriage is between a man and a woman before the the god(s) they worship.
Re-write our firearms and self defence laws. Legalise mace, tasers, stun guns etc for personal use. Make it easier for law abiding citizens to obtain firearms (criminals in NZ already have easy access to guns, citizens dont). Legalise the use of lethal force by private citizens to defend themselves, their families, and their property.
Reintroduce compulsory national service, everyone has to serve 6-24 months in the armed forced between the ages of 18 and 25. Also massively increase our GDP spent on defense, primarily as a defensive force, with a large combat air strikeforce (air superiority and anti shipping focus) and numerous new naval vessels (think PTboat / coastguard cutter rather than frigate thou). We have a lot of coastline to defend against boatpeople, dodgy asian trawlers, drug smugglers etc. Rebuild our shattered defence links with Aussie, the US, & the UK.
Allow schools/parents to choose whether they want corporal punishment in their schools.
Allow publicans to choose whether or not to have smokefree premises.
Stricter immigration laws, such as Australia has just introduced, including strict english competency tests and pledging loyalty to the country and to follow the laws and customs of NZ. Grant limited citizenship for the first 5-10 years and revoke and deport if they commit crimes etc. Dont even take refugees unless they are skilled and speak english.
Outlaw the donation of monies to foreign aid charities (unicef, tearfund, CCF etc etc), instead setup a partially govt funded aid organisation that uses all donations to improve quality of life in NZ.
Remove anti-nuclear ban, and build several nuclear power plants to put Jantar out of business by making power ultra cheap . Outlaw fossil fuel burning plants, only allow nuclear, hydro, wind & solar generation.

I'm sure I've missed things out, but hey this is a 20 minute post not a 200 page party manifesto.

[LilSel]

Revoke civil union law and enshrine in law the fact that marriage is between a man and a woman before the the god(s) they worship.

Civil Union is not just for gays...
More man-woman civil unions have prob taken place than same sex ones.

[ManDownUnder]

I'd be looking for the "least worst" party that had a reasonable alignment with my personal thoughts and beliefs regarding society.

To be honest right now I'm not sure who that is but ideally they'd be a right(ish) wing combo of the greens and ACT

[ManDownUnder]

it would be very interesting to see, 1% tax

You're right - that would be interesting... bugger roading, and other infrastructure, there'd be committees being formed up and down the countyr trying to work out who has to pay for water, sewerage, power etc...

I think a little more tax base is needed, but the current one is far too high...

User pays does appeal. And from my tax, I get to use about 3 unemployed. Can I have the cute, clean and horny women?

[cowpoos]

finn....why didn't you make the poll so you can see who voted....coz we can't lynch them for voting labour if we don't know who they are!!!!

[MSTRS:Me]

Good post Lias....bling awarded contingent on your election next time
This one particularly relevant...Allow publicans to choose whether or not to have smokefree premises.