Which Party Cares?

I'm glad Labour seemingly has its act together, finally. No matter who's in power, it's much better for everyone when there's a competent opposition to hold the government to account. Lately we've come off nearly nine years of self destruction and scrapping. I'll quite happily take a change of government. I'm utterly sick of this one. Even if Labour fell apart and limped through to the next election, I'm unsure how things could get worse than they already are. But Labour's changed everything so rapidly. I like Jacinda Ardern's attitude to being a leader, yet it's not as if all the internal factions of Labour simply vanished. Her success might neutralise them, but before that she very possibly only managed the leadership at all because of simplification of the leadership selection with an approaching election. What I'm less sure of is if a change of government would give us a strong cohesive 1999-style Clark-like Labour where its leader holds the party together with an iron fist, or a 1984 Lange-like Labour with a brilliantly charismatic leader, but who can't keep his Cabinet pit-bulls on a leash. The latter could end up being a one-term government, especially if National were to get their act together quickly again. If there's a change then I guess we'll find out.

Kreig, Yeah definitely tongue in cheek mate,its all good banter. Guess we'll be cancelling out our votes this year. Sorry about that but the thought of labour plus whoever sends a chill up my spine!

I don't think politics needs to be popularity contest, it's NZ Got Talent or a reality tv show. We're not deciding who we want to share a drink with at the pub. For me Jacinda Ardern is just a front, a PR expert, offering plenty of woolly values and vision, but little policies and ideas. She's been in Parliament 9 years, but no great record of winning any debates there. I'd didn't vote when John Key first got elected having been here a couple of months short of the necessary, though I probably would have voted him then, but haven't since having learnt more. He was very much again PR again, like Jacinda Ardern and Tony Blair in the UK. Both Blair and Key knew when the tide was turning, and got out before losing at voting booths. And co-incidentally left their Finance Ministers in charge. At least Key had achieved a few things outside Parliament, with Ardern and Labour, their front bench is weaker than the ones that have lost the last two elections. I was actually for a Capital Gains Tax, as excluding the owner's home it's a fair tax and many countries have one. However to not say how it would work this time, and leave it to working party after the election, is ridiculous, especially as the experts will be given a brief and be appointed by a Labour Govt. However speaking to an internal group the other day Labour's Phil Twyford gave an indication of what it's likely to mean.. https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/watch-national-targets-labours-taxation-policy-lets-tax-video '... in our first three years..capital gains tax will be on the table, a land value will be on the table and asset and wealth taxes' One thing that ought to go to a working party though is raising the pension age as it's unaffordable, yet we saw Jacinda Ardern last night following Key's example before of pledging not to raise the age, and making it a resignation issue. All so unnecessary, and short sighted. Most countries raised the age, over 10 years ago. Yes, sure some people might not be fit to work at 65, but that's no different to being 63 now and unable to work, they'd take sickness benefit. It needs non political working party to review it. Suffice to say this was Ardern's view on the subject, before vote buying http://www.radiolive.co.nz/Saving-Superannuation-must-be-enacted-now/tabid/721/articleID/28650/Default.aspx '....Politics can’t just be about making decisions that anger the least number of people possible, it has to be about doing the right thing'

good on Jacinda,, but... she didnt warrant the massive increase in popularity for labour, she is only one person in a large team. seems people are pretty shallow if they will shift their vote because of a charismatic leader... people should have looked at the policies of the parties and made their decisions that way... i'm not sure jacinda will make a massive difference to labour, how much is yet to be seen. but its a message for the parties, have a leader that really reasonates with the constituents, little was solid enough, but didnt carry the charisma....

If the polls are correct, and we know they are not that reliable, we will have a hung parliament with neither party able to form a government without the assistance of the grinning loon with more wrinkles than a hundred year old elephant holding sway. That will result in many months of dithering around whilst someone tries to make up their mind on what the best deal will be. Either way it is not going to do any of us any good.

Are you sure, @wayno? The increase might be more about the loss of Andrew Little and John Key than the arrival of Jacinda Ardern. Maybe all those people were fine with Labour policies (or lack of them), and it was simply the lack of a charismatic leader holding them back from supporting. Anyway, here's another one for @FrankB, published today. Same author and great insight, imho, although I can see not everyone agrees. :) https://thespinoff.co.nz/politics/06-09-2017/the-art-of-prime-ministerial-bullshit/ : ===== .... "The truth is we don’t want our prime ministers to tell us the truth. What we want is for them to convincingly perform the role of prime minister, and part of that role is to lie to us when the unwritten rules demand it and another is to reassure us that they’re always telling the truth and never lie. "Arden seems very qualified to play this role. Bill English was very good at performing the role of finance minister, dour and prudent, gruffly announcing that growth was “a bit grumpy” when we went into a double dip recession, and denouncing his opponents as spendthrifts who would crash the economy by borrowing on international markets at the same time as he was borrowing unprecedented amounts to keep the economy afloat. On Monday night he doubled down on his finance minister’s lie with gusto. He’s in his comfort zone lying about the economy and Crown fiscals. "But he hasn’t figured out how to play the role of prime minister even though this is actually his current job. His performance flickered in and out; for much of the debate it was merely Bill English up there on the stage, hesitant and clumsy, real and thus fake, outperformed and outclassed by Jacinda’s genuine prime ministerial bullshit."

in the media there were lots of comments about people saying they were going to vote for labour because ardern was in rather than because little was out. but probably a bit of both scenarios going on there

There is a lot of truth to that. I would be a labour favoring voter but willing to swing. Last 2 elections saw me vote green the one before labour and the one before that I cant remember but I have voted for National at least twice in my voting career. I would of voted green this time because although I prefer labours policies the leadership was in such turmoil that they didnt stand a chance of achieving anything. Jacinda has pulled them all together and they are all striving for the same goal for the first time since Clarke left. One can only hope that given the chance it will last. We have had a run of prime ministers who are not great politicians and I suspect Jacinda is better at leading that politicking but really thats whats required.

Jacinda Ardern uses the word comrade 15 times in just 7 minutes at the 2009 at the 2009 International Union of Socialist Youth festival (cuts out as she beckons for the singing of The Internationale) - https://youtu.be/g9rsxFaq6Ig Can't wait for that "Taxation Working Group" thingy to kick-in post-election. Water ?. Petrol by region ?. ""GUYON ESPINER: Tax was a big focus too last night, wasn’t it? Your Housing Spokesperson, Phil Twyford, has said that a land tax and a wealth tax and an asset tax are on the table in this taxing working group..."" RNZ 5/9/17

I thought you may have a change of heart Kreig considering her stance on trans Tasman relations. That tech course your doing may not be as easy for you next year.