So who the f**k am I supposed to vote for then?

[Hitcher]

Voters have two real choices this election: change the government or vote for a police state, I mean for the status quo.

If you're serious about changing the government, vote for your National electorate candidate and tick National for the party vote, unless you live in Epsom, when you should vote for Rodney Hide and tick National for your party vote.

To keep the status quo and/or ensure that the roman sandal brigade continues to give voice to pseudo-science and other flat earth matters, vote for anything other than the option described above to change the government.

The only way you will get any sort of meaningful change is to change the government.

[Fatt Max]

Meh, all I want is to see some tits quite frankly.

Have a look at NZ First or United Future party candidates. I've never seen so many tits in my life...!!!

[jrandom]

Voters have two real choices this election: change the government or vote for a police state, I mean for the status quo.

If you're serious about changing the government, vote for your National electorate candidate and tick National for the party vote, unless you live in Epsom, when you should vote for Rodney Hide and tick National for your party vote.

To keep the status quo and/or ensure that the roman sandal brigade continues to give voice to pseudo-science and other flat earth matters, vote for anything other than the option described above to change the government.

The only way you will get any sort of meaningful change is to change the government.

With the sole caveat of my pet single-issue project party, I cannot but fully endorse Hitcher's words.

Take heed, folks.

And if you don't know what people are talking about when they say that Labour is eroding your freedom, do some goddamn research before it's too late.

[dipshit]

Voters have two real choices this election: change the government or vote for a police state, I mean for the status quo.

If you're serious about changing the government, vote for your National

People were saying this several years ago when National were in power. (except it was vote Labour for a real change)

to-and-fro to-and-fro decade after decade like a pack of lemmings.

[The Pastor]

all you auckland dicks should come to the election party it will be fun

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...ad.php?t=81475

[Hitcher]

People were saying this several years ago when National were in power. (except it was vote Labour for a real change)

to-and-fro to-and-fro decade after decade like a pack of lemmings.

It's a natural cycle. After a period in office, governments get stale, complacent and lazy. They have generally prosecuted their agenda of change after a couple of terms in office, and start looking for barking mad nonsense to occupy themselves. Usually voters put the poor sad fuckers out of their misery, which is what should happen on Saturday. Whether it will or not depends on whether this government's strategy of turning as many people as possible into state beneficiaries and suppressing freedom of expression translates to the ballot box.

[rainman]

...the Greens, who are oft portrayed as principled, but who in reality would screw us all in an instant if they had any modicum of power - just look at s59...

I'd be genuinely interested to understand what makes you say the Greens advanced the s59 malarkey to "screw us", rather than out of a misguided and idealistic but genuine sense of "won't someone think of the children". Which is, somewhat sadly, closer to the truth.

Voters have two real choices this election: change the government or vote for a police state, I mean for the status quo.

Oh FFS Hitcher, isn't that a bit hysterical for you? I've lived in something fecking close to a police state, and trust me, this is nothing like it. I take it you have not travelled much.

The only way you will get any sort of meaningful change is to change the government.

Duh. But will it be any better, is the 64 million dollar question. If National was a meaningful alternative and not "me-too-only-better-have-some-lollies" I would be first in the queue to vote for them. Problem is they're trapped in an ideological timewarp and lack the testicular fortitude to dare have a vision for today's world. Conservatives are seldom any use in challenging times. Seen those NZCTU ads on youtube? Silly lefty satire to be sure, but there's more than a grain of truth in them.

Have a look at NZ First or United Future party candidates. I've never seen so many tits in my life...!!!

Pure comedy gold. Bling on it's way!

[rainman]

Bling on it's way!

Damn. Apparently I've blinged you too much already.

[rodimus]

Vote National, SImply to have the most effective vote against the communist Labour party.

and National are not back tracking on abolishing the Maori seats.

[MisterD]

Oh FFS Hitcher, isn't that a bit hysterical for you? I've lived in something fecking close to a police state, and trust me, this is nothing like it. I take it you have not travelled much.

Er no, I don't believe he is being hysterical. Just look at the UK, who's Liarbour party is the source of any idea our lot ever had...now joint 1st place as the most surveilled country in the world with China, Russia and Malaysia, and that's before the national ID cards are implemented.

You have been warned.

[rainman]

Er no, I don't believe he is being hysterical. Just look at the UK, who's Liarbour party is the source of any idea our lot ever had...now joint 1st place as the most surveilled country in the world with China, Russia and Malaysia, and that's before the national ID cards are implemented.

You have been warned.

Hey, I don't think that relenteless surveillance of the populace is a good thing, by any means, and if I were in the UK I'd be making a lot of noise about it. We do have a fair few street cameras here too, of course, but this isn't what we're talking about.

In NZ:

• I can vote for who I want (constrained by the paucity of options on offer, of course, but still)
• I can promote political groups and ideas without any meaningful hindrance
• I can start a political party representing almost any viewpoint
• We have a functioning legal system
• The press are fecking hopeless but still independent of government
• People aren't "disappeared" and killed by the police or government
• There is little or no police torture
• You can not be detained indefinitely without trial
• There are no curfews, no passes, no significant restrictions on travel
• The worst that will happen for speaking your mind freely is that someone will smack you one
• There is no state compulsion to serve in an oppressive military
• I can start a business, own property, trade with who I like
• No-one is forcibly resettled in the middle of the night
• I can satrise the government
• The police are held to account for their misdeeds
• We have freedom of association, freedom of religion, freedom of marriage, freedom of movement, freedom of just about bloody everything

I have lived in a place where none of those things were true. Friends of mine died because of those things. And when I hear you fucking spoiled whiney-brats whingeing about the "NZ police state" and the "evil communists" in Wellington it honestly makes me sick to my stomach.

Get out into the fucking real world and grow up, the lot of you. You don't know how good you have it.

[MisterD]

Hey, I don't think that relenteless surveillance of the populace is a good thing, by any means, and if I were in the UK I'd be making a lot of noise about it. We do have a fair few street cameras here too, of course, but this isn't what we're talking about.

In NZ:

• I can vote for who I want (constrained by the paucity of options on offer, of course, but still)
• I can promote political groups and ideas without any meaningful hindrance
• I can start a political party representing almost any viewpoint
• We have a functioning legal system
• The press are fecking hopeless but still independent of government
• People aren't "disappeared" and killed by the police or government
• There is little or no police torture
• You can not be detained indefinitely without trial
• There are no curfews, no passes, no significant restrictions on travel
• The worst that will happen for speaking your mind freely is that someone will smack you one
• There is no state compulsion to serve in an oppressive military
• I can start a business, own property, trade with who I like
• No-one is forcibly resettled in the middle of the night
• I can satrise the government
• The police are held to account for their misdeeds
• We have freedom of association, freedom of religion, freedom of marriage, freedom of movement, freedom of just about bloody everything

I have lived in a place where none of those things were true. Friends of mine died because of those things. And when I hear you fucking spoiled whiney-brats whingeing about the "NZ police state" and the "evil communists" in Wellington it honestly makes me sick to my stomach.

Get out into the fucking real world and grow up, the lot of you. You don't know how good you have it.

All are fair enough comments - but you know what they say about boiling frogs don't you?

We already have:
Massive politicisation of the upper echelons of the Police,
An independent public service is a thing of the past.
The EFA has "chilled" political speech in election year - and hey you have to register so the government knows who is criticising it.

Looking to the UK as our future:
They are trying to regulate free speech by bloggers,
ID cards are coming.
You can be arrested for protesting without a permit from the police.

Seriously, look at where we are going, appreciate your rights and defend them.

[James Deuce]

Get out into the fucking real world and grow up, the lot of you. You don't know how good you have it.

Wind your head in.

Just because it isn't as bad somewhere doesn't mean we let them get away with incremental change until it is just as bad Chile in the 70s.

Some of us do know how good we have and are commited to maintaining those standards, not giving in to the lowest common denominator until it's too late to fix it.

That argument was pathetic. If you truly understood the implications of what you claim to have witnessed you'd understand how important it is make sure a complacent populace doesn't fall victim to politiical agendas that limit personal freedoms, and you'd be providing a moderate supporting stance and calm counterpoint to the reactionaries.

[Manxman]

Wind your head in.

Just because it isn't as bad somewhere doesn't mean we let them get away with incremental change until it is just as bad Chile in the 70s.

Some of us do know how good we have and are commited to maintaining those standards, not giving in to the lowest common denominator until it's too late to fix it.

That argument was pathetic. If you truly understood the implications of what you claim to have witnessed you'd understand how important it is make sure a complacent populace doesn't fall victim to politiical agendas that limit personal freedoms, and you'd be providing a moderate supporting stance and calm counterpoint to the reactionaries.

Damn right.

The above statement sums it up perfectly.

[Manxman]

I'd be genuinely interested to understand what makes you say the Greens advanced the s59 malarkey to "screw us", rather than out of a misguided and idealistic but genuine sense of "won't someone think of the children". Which is, somewhat sadly, closer to the truth.

Ok, here you go. http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...ad.php?t=85049. S59 is in there somewhere and is but one example of how the Greens would "screw us".

Don't expect you to be persuaded, but hopefully your genuine interest is satisfied.

What I'd be genuinely interested in, is some stats on whether s59 has reduced the incidence of child abuse in NZ since its introduction. If this is an example of how they think they can meaningfully reduce it and is the best they can come up with, then - yup - we really are screwed.