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This week, we examine the spending promises of the political parties in the run up to the election, our NZCPR Guest Commentator Anthony Willy explains why binding public referenda are an important democratic tool for deciding fundamental constitutional matters such as the future of the Maori Seats, and in this week’s poll we invite you to make a call about which party you think will lead the next Government – National or Labour?*To read the newsletter click HERE.
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Taxing and Spending, “an addition”
“Where has all the money come from”? Answer from us all.
Regarding the question posed by Muriel Newman’s Taxing and Spending.
It would be of necessity to go with National, but with the proviso that in the very likely event of that Party having to secure a minor party to assume the reins of power, they dismiss any idea of the Maori Party as a partner. The gamble here is the Party vote assumes a great significance for both Parties; enough votes must be obtained by both to ensure such a coalition can be formed and exist.
That being the case, National will have to engage N.Z. First ( which would demand No Maori Party Blackmail) as the only reliable minor party as a partner whatever the loss of face this may entail.
In the case of the Labour Party under its vibrant new leader assuming power with the Green Party as its partner; it too, will have to adopt some policies to ensure their support. The major problem with this scenario, is that environmental issues with be a most likely portfolio that the Greens will want to dominate. It is for the Labour Party the lesser evil of the other options, and a bait that the Green party could never refuse.
The real concern in this election is noticeable for the complete lack of mention of two of the most important issues; namely our spiralling overseas debt, and the lack of any attempt to reduce this by a policy of passing the buck down to future generations.
The second is the complete avoidance of comment or an effective policy from any political party on increasing our overseas exports. This is the one method that will enable an advance in our standard of living and enable us to repay debt. With the election of a Labour/Green coalition there is little doubt that the Green Party holding power with Labour, our present Agricultural sector will be under serious threat of becoming obsolete.
This despite the very obvious factor that there is nothing in our “wardrobe of production’ that will cover the loss or reduction of this volume of exports that brings in such major export receipts. This does not concern the Greens, as extremists they are committed to a policy “that they are right and any sceptic is wrong and should be prevented from airing their viewpoint.”
In all this “Freedom of Speech” is in greater danger from extremists who have done an excellent job of producing a “State of Fear” over climate issues and “dirty “agriculture, to the detriment of our future prosperity.
Brian
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