Who will win the 2011 election?

[puddytat]

Possibly maybe...probably not.
i'd like to think the Greens, Mana,Social Credit,MacGuillicuddy,Pot Party,Maori,Dunne & any other fringers could join together & put the frightners on those who think its just about them..Labour & National that is.(yeah I know that it IS just about them)
Never going to happen though, people are too scared of change.And maybe folk think that some of the smaller parties are not worth the vote, but if they pooled thier resources & got over thier dogma & schisms ,it just might. Not.
Silly I know,i got to medicate myself a bit better'cause these utopian dreams are doin my head in .....

[rainman]

Since this is an election thread and as good a place as any to ask the question:

What do you boys and girls think the impact of the Conservative Party (Colin Craig's outfit) will be on this election?

Would be interesting if he stood in Epsom and beat Banks, thereby consigning ACT to well-deserved oblivion. Got a flyer in the mail recently. Real mixed bag of policies; some I agree strongly with, others I disagree equally strongly with!

[shrub]

Since this is an election thread and as good a place as any to ask the question:

What do you boys and girls think the impact of the Conservative Party (Colin Craig's outfit) will be on this election?

Would be interesting if he stood in Epsom and beat Banks, thereby consigning ACT to well-deserved oblivion. Got a flyer in the mail recently. Real mixed bag of policies; some I agree strongly with, others I disagree equally strongly with!

I'm actually a little surprised that National haven't pointed them at a safe blue seat, then not contesting the seat the way they are planning in Epsom and Maharia Belmont so the right wing feel obliged to vote for them. I guess the idea is that it's better to have a puppet representing a pointless and idiotic right wing party than a Labour or Green MP. It also means National secure their autonomy by getting a few bonus PS that will (kind of) follow their position, and when said MPs inevitably do something stupid or get caught being a little less than honest they can piously wash their hands and say "Not our problem".

Might book that one way ticket to Aussie....

[Winston001]

I don't know anything about Colin Craig or the new Conservative Party but I am surprised anyone is willing to try another right wing effort. We have a centrist government with slightly right leaning policies and they are popular. ACT appear to have self-destructed quite unnoticed by the general population.

I'd be surprised if there was any electoral appetite for right wing politics at all.

[oneofsix]

I don't know anything about Colin Craig or the new Conservative Party but I am surprised anyone is willing to try another right wing effort. We have a centrist government with slightly right leaning policies and they are popular. ACT appear to have self-destructed quite unnoticed by the general population.

I'd be surprised if there was any electoral appetite for right wing politics at all.

The current governing party is spun as right wing, they look like they will win the election therefore somebody is bound to think that this means the country is leaning to the right.

[shrub]

The current governing party is spun as right wing, they look like they will win the election therefore somebody is bound to think that this means the country is leaning to the right.

the old right/left cleavage dates back to the French revolution of 1789 is largely irrelevant these days, but National are kind of a right wing party under the traditional definition of being conservative, giving priority to supporting the economic elites, attributing less value to scientific development or in preservation of environmental capital. They are very populist, which people mistake for being left wing, and Key is too much of a pragmatist to engage in a hard-core neo-conservative track in the Roger Douglas way because he's smart enough to know it won't work.

[cowpoos]

If the Nats get in, then god help you lot - unless you earn over $100k a year........

Nah...Labour ain't got a clue about anything at the moment....least of all the economy. and as a matter of fact everyone got a tax cut...more than what was taken by GST hike which, GST effects high income eraners more than low ones,

and high income earners are better, smarter, work harder and contribite far more to this country that fucking whinging dumb labour voters/bludgers/idiot/union fools.

The top 10% of incomer earners pay 75% of the tax....so why scare them oversea's????

[Oakie]

By the latest poll results this thread should be re-named 'How much will National win the 2011 election by?' Something remarkable would have to happen from here for them to lose it.

My pick is that even though they could probably govern alone they will still form a coalition with the Maori Party and will cut ACT loose.

[shrub]

Nah...Labour ain't got a clue about anything at the moment....least of all the economy. and as a matter of fact everyone got a tax cut...more than what was taken by GST hike which, GST effects high income eraners more than low ones,

Not exactly, GST affected low income earners far more than high income earners because they pay a far bigger percentage of their income in GST.

and high income earners are better, smarter, work harder and contribite far more to this country that fucking whinging dumb labour voters/bludgers/idiot/union fools.

Did you know that a far greater percentage of unversity grads around vote labour than National? And that the average university grad earns 25% more than a non-graduate? I'm also amused that the national/act supporters on this thread are the ones who whinge the most? By a long shot. And what do you have to support your argument that people who vote Labour support NZ less than people who vote National/Act?

Do you have a basis for your assertions, or is it just what Wayne down at the pub told you? After all, he has a grouse ute and hot missus, so you gotta listen to him.

[oldrider]

Did you know that a far greater percentage of unversity grads around vote labour than National? And that the average university grad earns 25% more than a non-graduate?

You have just given support to the claim that NZ state school system breeds socialist teaching and brainwashes our children!

Socialism is so entrenched into our education system and leaves our children/students devoid of original thought .... I.E. the educated brain dead!

Behold, I give to you "shrub" .... a case in point!

[cowpoos]

Not exactly, GST affected low income earners far more than high income earners because they pay a far bigger percentage of their income in GST.

The fact I have to explain this to you say something. Listen carefully!!

Have more income....spend more income....therefore pay more GST!!!

also

Have more income pay way way fucking more tax!!!

Understand now???

understand how this contributes more to society????? or do I have to explain this aswell???

Did you know that a far greater percentage of unversity grads around vote labour than National?

Yeah .... know why??? Because all the smart ones have gone overseas because labour scared them off with envy tax's and other nanny state rhetoric!!

Do you have a basis for your assertions, or is it just what Wayne down at the pub told you? After all, he has a grouse ute and hot missus, so you gotta listen to him.

my assertions are based on facts...stupid people, who are lazy, selfish, ignorant ,with no aspiration [usually whinge about not being well off but don't want to work for it...and make up suitable conspiracies to support their bollacks]. Don't get anywhere in life....don't make much money....don't deserve handouts...and they don't contribute to the society...and think society owes them something...I mean piss off. don't even try that argument!!

[cowpoos]

You have just given support to the claim that NZ state school system breeds socialist teaching and brainwashes our children!

Socialism is so entrenched into our education system and leaves our children/students devoid of original thought .... I.E. the educated brain dead!

Behold, I give to you "shrub" .... a case in point!

Your right...my girl walked in to a PPTA meeting once....guy talking start with....afternoon comrades...she left PPTA after that...but was not the only reason why!!

[Shadows]

Did you know that a far greater percentage of unversity grads around vote labour than National? And that the average university grad earns 25% more than a non-graduate?

I'm sorry, I must have missed the announcement that graduating from university automatically makes people smarter than average.

This has often been proven to not be the case in my experience.

The fact that compulsory student union membership has survived for so long speaks volumes too.

[Oscar]

The fact I have to explain this to you say something. Listen carefully!!

Have more income....spend more income....therefore pay more GST!!!

Before you go venting your spleen all over the interweb, I think you'll find he said that GST affects the low paid more, as a percentage of their income. And it does.

So take a breath and use your inside voice...

[shrub]

You have just given support to the claim that NZ state school system breeds socialist teaching and brainwashes our children!:

Explain to me how that statement proves our state school system breeds socialist teaching or brainwashes children? If well educated people are more likely to vote labour could it possibly be because they're better informed (a synonym for educated), more widely read? I am well educated, but came into it late in life and before that I started life with a trade, I was an owner/driver of a furniture truck, I have started and run businesses, worked on the tools in a workshop, made furniture and even been on the DPB when my ex walked out on me and 2 preschoolers. At university Ilearned to ask questions, challenge everything and accept nothing until I had exhausted every alternative explanation. How is that brainwashing? Or do you simply call it brainwashing because anyone who disagrees with you must be wrong? Have you ever considered that YOU might not have all the facts?

Socialism is so entrenched into our education system and leaves our children/students devoid of original thought .... I.E. the educated brain dead!

Really? I discovered something really interesting when I started to study - the more I worked my brain the better it worked. You see, a brain is like a muscle - leave it idle and at best it stagnates, but the more you use it the sharper it gets. Educated people aren't brain dead (although some are), they're people who read, study, learn and gain knowledge and understanding. And they're the people who challenge, question and go against the flow.

Behold, I give to you "shrub" .... a case in point! :mellow

Exactly.