Comments on: Lefter 50 ~ The Good, the Bad and the Down Right Ugly

By: Mark H

Mark H — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 23:37:09 +0000

Hi, another well written reflection. I agree with it all though I feel it’s a shame you feel this way on the Greens. The proof will be in the pudding of course. (Yes, do see publications on that subject – like TV3 prior to election night and the Greens web site). All indications from Russel and Metiria is that if they are to get some concessions from the Nats, these will forward Green (and Left) interests, which is better than absolutely nothing, like getting 5-6000 new jobs for the housing insulation scheme. We took advantage of that with our house, so it has worked. I think it’s far overly simplistic and positivist to situate the Greens as pandering to National, as some on the Left have done in recent weeks, and miss-reads what both Norman and Key have said in public. Yes, National sucks the big one, but why simply just be adversarial to everything they do if they are implementing progressive Green policies here and there. At least the Greens might have the chance to put the breaks on one or two bad things from happening. The chance of there being significant deals is very slim in my view. There will only be significant deals from Norman and Turei if the Nationals make their policies like Labour’s and that aint gonna happen as Key has said, and the Green leaders are saying to us.

Also, in all irony you’ll find that Labour works with and supports the Nats more than the Greens when it comes to voting things in, for instance in things like free trade deals with China and related issues – as has happened in the past. So, I suggest you look into this as in my view Labour uses a left-wing smoke screen to cover it’s freemarket ideology. The Greens are up front about their policies at least.

By: hayespond

hayespond — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 18:47:11 +0000

Also concerning is the decreasing amount of support for people suffering from mental illness and drug addiction. The welfare reforms to come cut support for these people significantly.

What I’m most curious about, though, is who didn’t vote. Why aren’t people voting? Why aren’t young people voting? What has gone so wrong in our education system that people aren’t motivated by civic duty and the concerns facing our society? I wonder what world wide trends are in terms of the political leanings of governments that institute civic education.

By: InkEatsMan

InkEatsMan — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 10:04:19 +0000

Well said indeed.

Am glad to see the Greens add to their seats, am consoling myself with this.

“I am still troubled by Russel Norman’s entertaining of notions of working with National…”

Read ‘Government’ here for the National Party – and working with them again – like they did on the home insulation subsidies.

By: wangbo

wangbo — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 02:56:13 +0000

Well said.

I’m struggling to figure out how Labour failed so spectacularly to convert broad support for their policies into broad support for their party. Like you, I think part of the problem is there’s still too much dead wood that should’ve been cleared out long ago and not enough fresh blood.

Actually, one thing I didn’t like about Helen’s reign was that (viewed from afar, I should add) it seemed to stagnate in its third term. Helen should’ve spent that third term, right from the start, bringing the young blood up through the ranks and preparing her own departure. And even after the last election Labour didn’t get the message. Here’s hoping they learn the lesson this time round.