Filling in our future: A fourth term for Labour and what it would mean.

Over the last few months, many reporters, commentators and bloggers have speculated on what a National Government might do if it comes to power. And, indeed it is necessary to shine the brightest of lights on an agenda that would make Ruth Richardson look like a leftist.

However, all this talk about National, and what it would do might it become the government, carries a risk that the left’s only banner is one that is anti-National. Our salvation doesn’t simply lie in keeping the Tories from power, but using the power which the voters have entrusted us with to deliver along the lines of our principles.

So would Labour do, if indeed, ignoring Helen’s sympathies, with current polling being accurate, turn it around and win a fourth term. Gerhard Schroeder proved it was possible in 2003 when he defeated Edmund Stoiber of the CSU/CDU opposition, which were ahead in the polls by a substantial margin - so there is a precedent for turnaround. I obviously don’t know exactly what they will do, but I will offer my reasonably adept prediction.

N.B. Assuming the majority is made up of all parties to the left of National excluding Peter Dunne, there should be little or no problem preceding with what would be considered Labour’s core political/ideological strategy of centre-left/social democracy.

Environment:

Passing the Emissions Trading Scheme into law will give overdue effect to obligations New Zealand signed up to in 1992, but as yet has done or nothing about. The regional fuel tax, and transport emissions fuel charge will be added in at the announced delayed timeframe, but because of a moderate fall in fuel prices after the end of the Bush Administration, 91 octane will be around $1.75 - $1.90 per litre, which is 37 - 22c cheaper per litre than currently, even including new fuel taxes.

Housing

Labour needs to get its first house pilot expanded nationwide, so that young people can embrace obligations many currently see as impossible, and take ownership, quite literally, in their society. No amount of tax cuts is going to make housing more affordable. I concur with commentators who suggest a 50% of market interest rate for these buyers. The social dynamics of home ownership, coupled with a residential plan which includes the building of stylish, high-density, well connected (to public transport) urban dwellings has the potential greatly boost the living standards of all Kiwis.

Social Policy

Extending paid parental leave from 14 weeks to 6 months is the logical final step for a process which began back in the early days of 2000. It might startle some to remember, that during the 1990s, there was no paid parental leave. National certainly never supported this policy, perhaps because it believed “it would encourage employees to have children” - what a terrible thing!

In spite of this, there remains children who go to bed hungry, and to school with inadequate clothing, despite Labour’s goal of lifting all children out of poverty - a underclass certainly does exist, not just when a Tory “discovers” so. I’ve confronted poverty out when I’ve been delivering pamphlets, doorknocking, and even in some of my own life. Tackling the remaining toughest cases of institutionalised childhood poverty remains an objective to meet.

Wages

While the minimum wage and entitlements have risen under the Labour Government, in many areas in middling wages, wages have often not kept up with the sharply rising cost of living. This is one of the main reasons why Labour has felt the wrath of voters in the recent year.

It seems that in many cases, the Government’s hand is tied - they offer tax cuts to employers, corporate welfare to many, development advice, and for the most part - the preservation of a low-regulatory environment, yet employers are not coming to the party with higher wages. The only place in which wage demands are met is in the public sector. Jealousy of better treatment by the public sector of employees may be a reason behind the misdirected resentment many feel against an apparently “wasteful public sector”. And many employers are rooted to their “me only” style economics - until they realise that their industry is a “partnership” with their employees, then it is likely that this situation will continue. Some even do it for political purposes, knowing that their intransigence will simply increase the pressure on the Government.

Obviously, a remedy here would be increased bargaining powers for unions, with legal protection for otherwise wildcat strikes with 48 hours notice. Remedy employment triangles that allow companies to simply peel the profits off their franchisees, whom pay unfair rates to their long suffering staff.

It may be interesting to post some more ideas in the “Comments” section. So, tell us what you think Labour should do, should it win a 4th term in office. The day we stop believing it can happen is the day we lose.

 

Kiwiblogblog Bows Out

Kiwiblogblog went silent on the 5th of June and there was not another post until the 30th - It seemed in the making really but blogger mardypants decided to wrap it all up officially.

Kiwiblogblog was created in Septermber 2007 to serve as a counterweight to David P. Farrar’s Kiwiblog. There was a sense before then that Farrar could be considered an independant commentator but many saw obvious problems with this notion. Kiwiblogblog and others stepped in and put Farrar under the spotlight calling him when he slipped up and providing some interesting commentary centring around the EFA and the farcical “Free Speech Coalition” Farrar et al created to oppose it.

In the end Kiwiblogblog folded because of the time and numbers it takes to keep a blog running. Many don’t understand the time and commitment it takes to keep posting , it can take quite a lot out of you especially when inspiration is lacking. We wish the commentators over at KBB the best for the future.

In Cinemas Now

John Key: Not The Sharpest Knife in the Drawer

Not only does John Key need a history lesson it seems but also a lesson in elementary english:

When ONE News asked John Key if he condoned push-polling, he mistakenly said he did condone it, before realising condone meant to agree.

http://tvnz.co.nz/view/page/536641/1883633

Now I don’t know about the rest of the country but I think an IQ of at least 100 should be a prerequisite to lead our fine nation.

PSA campaign against unaffordable tax cuts

The Public Service Association, the dominant union within the the Public Service sector, has decided that the best defence (against National’s ludicrous claims of monemental waste) is a good offense. They have launched a campaign which citing the recently released poll, echoes the sentiment that Kiwis, unequivocally, do not want cuts to the public service to fund tax cuts.

I have added their banner to this post as NewZblog’s endorsement of their campaign against michevious wreckers, who don’t explain that public service cuts will result in higher user pays.

It’s Not Your Email Servers STUPID

National has called an urgent meeting with the administrators of Parliament’s computer services after revelations on leader John Key’s meetings with Australian pollster Crosby/Textor.

http://stuff.co.nz/4603405a6160.html

You have a mole. M-O-L-E. Get it?

It’s Not Leaking - It’s Overflowing!

“It’s Not Leaking - It’s Overflowing!” - Homer Simpson regarding the pig crap he was trying to hide.

“I Don’t Need a Watch to Tell me What Time it is” - Nandor Bows Out in Style

Hat tip: The Standard

National’s Wigram candidate selection invalid

It must be hard being a National Party supporter in Canterbury-Westland. Not only does the caucus, whose individual members National Party members ‘allegedly’ elect, have the temerity to tell loyal supporters to wait until the campaign to know what policy will be on offer to promote, they also try to disintermediate the local officials by pressuring candidates to withdraw.

Roger Payne, in Selwyn, was one of the local people who were cast aside to get David Carter an electorate seat. When the furore became so great that it could backfire, Carter was pressured by Gerry Brownlee to withdraw his name, and thus open up the race for reselection. Notwithstanding Payne’s attempts, Amy Adams is now the Selwyn candidate.

But it doesn’t stop there. Wigram candidate, ex-United Future MP Marc Alexander’s selection, initially failed, because there was a lack of quorum. Many local members hadn’t in fact, turned up, because, they were again, dissatisfied that pressure had been applied in order to make candidates withdraw. When the selection failed initially, they were only a few short - some passers by, including, unbeknownst to them, a Labour Party member, were paid a small sum to sign up, and be present as to confirm Alexander as the candidate.

Of course, however, members of the National Party are not allowed, by the National Party’s constitution, “… to be members of another political party…” at the same time as they are a member of the National Party. Therefore, since they otherwise had the exact number to have quorum, the quorum of legitimate members failed by one, and hence, according to the National Party’s own constitution - Alexander was illegally selected, and thus, his candidacy for the Wigram electorate is invalid.

 

Readers Digest: Most Trusted

Invercargill Mayor Tim Shadbolt can add another title to his name — as New Zealand’s most trusted politician.

The Reader’s Digest 2008 Trust Survey has listed Mr Shadbolt in 41st equal position (with author Alan Duff), 11 places higher than last year.

Mr Shadbolt credits his high ranking to his media profile and in his live speaking circuit. “People see me on things like Dancing With The Stars and can see that I’m human. I can laugh at myself and I think everyone enjoys that.” He said a lot of other politicians were only known to New Zealanders through television or other media.

The next politician on the list, 24 places behind Mr Shadbolt, is Prime Minister Helen Clark, followed by National Party leader John Key, two positions further back.

Mr Shadbolt said it was a lonely position to be in, but he was satisfied nonetheless.

“I’m very proud to be the most trusted of a bad bunch,” he said.

According to the poll, Victoria Cross winner Corporal Willie Apiata is the most trusted person in the country, replacing the late Sir Edmund Hillary.

http://stuff.co.nz/southlandtimes/4592811a6011.html

These Readers Digest lists have always been a good indicator of public perception across a diverse range of people coming from a range of fields. While Politicians came in as one of the least trusted groups of people profession wise they still ranked on the list with Tim Shadbolt coming in 41st equal with author Alan Duff. This is unsurprising because even though he’s a politician the public do seem to perceive Tim as more of a national personality appearing in television commercials, magazines and news stories (botox anyone?).

It was nice to see the Prime Minister rank on the list two places infront of John Key. It seems that even while National are ahead in the polls there is still mistrust of Key of whom many it seems consider “slippery”.