"Kiwi Party" is this upstart political party worth my vote?

[Mikkel]

I really don't get why the anti-smacking bill is getting so much attention. If you don't feel capable of raising children without having to smack them around - don't have them in the first place... It's pretty simple really.

[jrandom]

If you don't feel capable of raising children without having to smack them around - don't have them in the first place...

Raised a few kids in your time, then, eh?

[Steam]

I fully support more people voting for this Kiwi Party. The more people who waste a vote on them, the less votes National get.

[98tls]

Shame its come to that though.

[Bren]

I fully support more people voting for this Kiwi Party. The more people who waste a vote on them, the less votes National get.

and that means labour in again?

[Skyryder]

I fully support more people voting for this Kiwi Party. The more people who waste a vote on them, the less votes National get.

Yep. Go Kiwi Party...........to nowhere. Just tossers jumping on the patrotic wagon.



Skyryder

[FJRider]

As I recall, The New Zealand Party (Bob Jones) did the same thing to good result, a few years back... under MMP they would be in GOVERMENT after the election

[kave]

I would be very worried if this party got into power. The Law and Order policies are terrifyingly stupid and their tax policies seem unrealistic.

Law and order examples

Those convicted for murder and the manufacture and sale of Class A drugs should be locked up for the course of their natural life.

Class 'A' Drugs are Methamphetamine, Magic Mushrooms, Cocaine, Heroin, LSD (Acid), so if someone gets caught flogging magic mushrooms to their mates apparently they should be locked up for the rest of their life?

Change drug policy from harm minimisation to harm elimination.

And this will be done by?

Research shows that faith based and community centered models run by those with experience and neighborhood connections deliver the best results.
The Kiwi Party would promote successful community coalitions, drug testing within workplaces and schools, screening and intervening to interrupt the cycle of drug abuse, providing quality drug treatment services and establishing drug treatment courts

oh excellent! Faith based programs paid for by the state, and drug testing in workplaces and at schools.


I'd love it if they carried out this next idea, but is it even possible anymore?

Introduce separate identification of police and traffic safety officers.

While acknowledging two forces share some common purpose and so need to retain strong connections, with regards to public perception and police effectiveness, the Kiwi Party would initiate differing uniforms and patrol cars.

Then

Establish a uniformed voluntary policing force.

Establishing a uniformed voluntary policing force of retired persons similar to Maori wardens to help support police by attending to routine work and also assisting in being the “eyes and ears” in every community. We support communities who take initiative to care for themselves.

It's so retarded that it doesn't even need any comment.

And it gets even worse, their policy on property crime is to lock up as few as is possible, in direct contrast to their policy on drugs.


Then you get a hugely inflationary tax policy that includes income splitting, raising the minimum wage to $15ph (31k) increasing superannuation, doing away with gst on rates and making health insurance tax deductible.

To me it appears that this party is completely unrealistic, and attempting to appeal to the american-style god fearing, flag waving christians . I'm sure that both the party members, and anyone who votes for them will have the best of intentions, but if they do get into power it will be a disaster for this country.

I also find it concerning that their member list is packed full of qualifications such as

20 years workin as volunteers in an International Mission Agency

Financial Administrator Catholic Archdiocese of Wellington

and also that everyone I can recognise on the list would be considered by most Christians in New Zealand to be rather excessively intense (zealots) about their religon.
For example:

Simon Barnett- prone to quoting chapter and verse of the bible in daily conversation

Wyn Fountain
Author of:Thy Kingdom Come in The Other Hundred Hours and also the writer of the "Salt Shaker" series and an ex assistant pastor

And then the rest seem to be drawn from various evangelical christian groups. I have nothing against Christians, I always enjoyed hanging out with members of the clergy while I was at school, and even joined the church choir in spite of already being placed rather firmly in the camp of non-believers. I enjoy friendly relations with members of many religons, and even encourage my wife to attend church when she starts feeling that her soul may be imperiled. I just feel that this political party is based around a group of like-minded zealots, good at heart, but definately not representative of me, and quite possibly posing a great threat to the stability of new zealand if they were to gain any significant portion of political power in new zealand.

[FJRider]

I fully support more people voting for this Kiwi Party. The more people who waste a vote on them, the less votes National get.

Or LABOUR ...

[Skyryder]

I would be very worried if this party got into power. The Law and Order policies are terrifyingly stupid and their tax policies seem unrealistic.

Law and order examples


Class 'A' Drugs are Methamphetamine, Magic Mushrooms, Cocaine, Heroin, LSD (Acid), so if someone gets caught flogging magic mushrooms to their mates apparently they should be locked up for the rest of their life?


And this will be done by?

oh excellent! Faith based programs paid for by the state, and drug testing in workplaces and at schools.


I'd love it if they carried out this next idea, but is it even possible anymore?


Then

It's so retarded that it doesn't even need any comment.

And it gets even worse, their policy on property crime is to lock up as few as is possible, in direct contrast to their policy on drugs.


Then you get a hugely inflationary tax policy that includes income splitting, raising the minimum wage to $15ph (31k) increasing superannuation, doing away with gst on rates and making health insurance tax deductible.

To me it appears that this party is completely unrealistic, and attempting to appeal to the american-style god fearing, flag waving christians . I'm sure that both the party members, and anyone who votes for them will have the best of intentions, but if they do get into power it will be a disaster for this country.

I also find it concerning that their member list is packed full of qualifications such as




and also that everyone I can recognise on the list would be considered by most Christians in New Zealand to be rather excessively intense (zealots) about their religon.
For example:

Simon Barnett- prone to quoting chapter and verse of the bible in daily conversation

Wyn Fountain
Author of:Thy Kingdom Come in The Other Hundred Hours and also the writer of the "Salt Shaker" series and an ex assistant pastor

And then the rest seem to be drawn from various evangelical christian groups. I have nothing against Christians, I always enjoyed hanging out with members of the clergy while I was at school, and even joined the church choir in spite of already being placed rather firmly in the camp of non-believers. I enjoy friendly relations with members of many religons, and even encourage my wife to attend church when she starts feeling that her soul may be imperiled. I just feel that this political party is based around a group of like-minded zealots, good at heart, but definately not representative of me, and quite possibly posing a great threat to the stability of new zealand if they were to gain any significant portion of political power in new zealand.

You put more time into this than me. The bit I noticed was more money for charities. I equate that as more money for themselves at the taxpayers expense. Kiwi Party is just the political wing of the Destiny Church and its sycophants.

[Mikkel]

Raised a few kids in your time, then, eh?

Nope - however my parents raised me without using the "smacking" option on a regular basis.
I shall aspire to do the same when my time comes.

I take it you are just taking the piss though - anyone who enjoys debate the way you do would have to agree that resorting to violence is usually the first sign that you have run out of good arguments.

[oldrider]

After reading this thread, it is easy to see that New Zealand has the politicians and government that it deserves!

Don't worry, Labour will be back in some shape or form after the election, this "is" a left wing country after all. :slap:

It might be the "red" Labour party or the "blue" Labour party! (Labour,thinly disguised as National)

The so called "winning party" will be propped up by a motley mixture of left wing sycophant's anyway, that's MMP.

MMP? It's where everything changes but remains the same.

Whatever the outcome, don't expect anything to improve or change much, just more of the same old same old!

It's like rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic! It wont change the outcome. John.

[Bren]

is the mcgillugudy serious party still going? cos from what i have seen in this debate ( esp what kave dug up)has left me wondering if any vote will be any good....this is where apathy comes into the equation...

so who is there seriously left that stands up for the average Joe on the street???

[jrandom]

... resorting to violence is usually the first sign that you have run out of good arguments.

Jesus H. Christ, dude, you don't argue with kids. You train them.

[Kickaha]

Class 'A' Drugs are Methamphetamine, Magic Mushrooms, Cocaine, Heroin, LSD (Acid), so if someone gets caught flogging magic mushrooms to their mates apparently they should be locked up for the rest of their life?

I know someone who was imprisoned for class 'A' he told me that life imprisonment can already be applied as a sentence