One can almost pity Chris Hipkins. He leads the most moderate party of the three. His predicament with the Greens and the Māori Party reminds me of the title of the ’70’s hit song by Stealers Wheel, ‘Stuck In The Middle With You’. He is, in reality, between a rock and two, possibly three, hard places. He says he does not support many of the policies of the other parties and will rule them out. Really? I don’t think so. I doubt, even if he won the election, he would be able to form a government. And if the Māori Party sticks to its bottom lines, Hipkins is finished.
The bottom lines are the following: they want the findings of the Waitangi Tribunal legally binding on the government, to establish a Treaty Commissioner with powers to delay or challenge government policies, bills and executive decisions that breach Treaty obligations and to establish a $220 million fund dedicated to Māori-led constitutional working groups and discussions leading up to 2040. Additional non-negotiables include pushing for a Māori-funded employment strategy, restored authority in health, major housing developments and stronger protections for land and water. All of this nonsense is delusional at best and dangerous at worst.
Here’s the unenviable dilemma for Hipkins. If he doesn’t agree to the demands he won’t be able to form a government. If he does agree he will be booted out at the next election having caused unimaginable damage to the country. He will be faced with a no-win situation whichever way he jumps. This is a ‘from the frying pan into the fire’ type of calculation. He either self destructs immediately or in three years’ time. His goose is not just cooked, rather it is burnt to a cinder.
There is also the spectre of his own Willie Jackson who will be the equivalent of a ticking time bomb. Will he and his Labour Māori caucus join their brothers and sisters with their ridiculous demands? What sort of combined verbal spears will be thrown at Hipkins to coerce him into acceding to their playbook? Does Hipkins have the wherewithal to stand up to these radical insurgents? He was very quick to strut his authority during Covid but in this situation the boot is somewhat on the other foot. Now he is the one being threatened. Is he, in truth, made of granite or putty? My instinct tells me the latter. Like most on the left, when push comes to shove, they are cowards and cave.
Then we come to the Greens. They don’t have bottom lines but they do have priorities, such as a ‘fairer’ tax system (we all know what that entails), climate action (we all know what that means), upholding the Treaty and making sure Māori perspectives guide all decision making (they have to be joking) and affordable living (the loopy supermarket idea: communism at its finest). The astonishing thing is they expect us to take them seriously.
The Greens are living in their own little smoky haze and should probably be considered more benign than dangerous. During all their years in parliament they have achieved virtually nothing. Like most on the left, their clouded brains reveal a very low level grasp of economics. The Māori Party, on the other hand, present as a very different kettle of fish. Under their watch, the country would be gutted. The economic scales would be well and truly tipped into the red – hook, line and sinker. What they are demanding borders on treason.
Here is the farcical situation that will confront Hipkins should he be, under the circumstances, unlucky enough to win the election. He might have some common ground with the Greens but the Māori Party are an entirely different proposition. They will be no pushover, especially if Mr Jackson decides to throw his weight behind them. Let’s say he does form a coalition government, which he just might, because there is every chance the Māori Party could play nice just to get in the door – then the fun really starts, first with the ministerial appointments and then having their other demands met. We’ll soon find out who the adults are in the room. Probably none.
If you think the current coalition leaves a bit to be desired, wait till this lot take centre stage. It will be a circus the likes of which we’ve never seen before. I would go so far as to predict our country could well become ungovernable. Who would want to be in Hipkins’ shoes leading a cabinet incorporating a mix of incompetents, fruit loops and racists. The trend between now and the election is starting to show itself.
JC is a right-wing crusader. Reached an age that embodies the dictum only the good die young. This article was first published HERE
The bottom lines are the following: they want the findings of the Waitangi Tribunal legally binding on the government, to establish a Treaty Commissioner with powers to delay or challenge government policies, bills and executive decisions that breach Treaty obligations and to establish a $220 million fund dedicated to Māori-led constitutional working groups and discussions leading up to 2040. Additional non-negotiables include pushing for a Māori-funded employment strategy, restored authority in health, major housing developments and stronger protections for land and water. All of this nonsense is delusional at best and dangerous at worst.
Here’s the unenviable dilemma for Hipkins. If he doesn’t agree to the demands he won’t be able to form a government. If he does agree he will be booted out at the next election having caused unimaginable damage to the country. He will be faced with a no-win situation whichever way he jumps. This is a ‘from the frying pan into the fire’ type of calculation. He either self destructs immediately or in three years’ time. His goose is not just cooked, rather it is burnt to a cinder.
There is also the spectre of his own Willie Jackson who will be the equivalent of a ticking time bomb. Will he and his Labour Māori caucus join their brothers and sisters with their ridiculous demands? What sort of combined verbal spears will be thrown at Hipkins to coerce him into acceding to their playbook? Does Hipkins have the wherewithal to stand up to these radical insurgents? He was very quick to strut his authority during Covid but in this situation the boot is somewhat on the other foot. Now he is the one being threatened. Is he, in truth, made of granite or putty? My instinct tells me the latter. Like most on the left, when push comes to shove, they are cowards and cave.
Then we come to the Greens. They don’t have bottom lines but they do have priorities, such as a ‘fairer’ tax system (we all know what that entails), climate action (we all know what that means), upholding the Treaty and making sure Māori perspectives guide all decision making (they have to be joking) and affordable living (the loopy supermarket idea: communism at its finest). The astonishing thing is they expect us to take them seriously.
The Greens are living in their own little smoky haze and should probably be considered more benign than dangerous. During all their years in parliament they have achieved virtually nothing. Like most on the left, their clouded brains reveal a very low level grasp of economics. The Māori Party, on the other hand, present as a very different kettle of fish. Under their watch, the country would be gutted. The economic scales would be well and truly tipped into the red – hook, line and sinker. What they are demanding borders on treason.
Here is the farcical situation that will confront Hipkins should he be, under the circumstances, unlucky enough to win the election. He might have some common ground with the Greens but the Māori Party are an entirely different proposition. They will be no pushover, especially if Mr Jackson decides to throw his weight behind them. Let’s say he does form a coalition government, which he just might, because there is every chance the Māori Party could play nice just to get in the door – then the fun really starts, first with the ministerial appointments and then having their other demands met. We’ll soon find out who the adults are in the room. Probably none.
If you think the current coalition leaves a bit to be desired, wait till this lot take centre stage. It will be a circus the likes of which we’ve never seen before. I would go so far as to predict our country could well become ungovernable. Who would want to be in Hipkins’ shoes leading a cabinet incorporating a mix of incompetents, fruit loops and racists. The trend between now and the election is starting to show itself.
JC is a right-wing crusader. Reached an age that embodies the dictum only the good die young. This article was first published HERE
7 comments:
All true - the problem is too many people cannot see this. "Tax the rich" has become an obsession.
Most people I know support sensible policies concerning Maori. Why the loonie left doesn't pursue "winning" policies a mystery. For example, I support any policies that promote entrepreneurialism, small business ownership. Hundreds of empty shops in all major cities. Where are the Maori businesses? Owning and growing a small business one step towards weaning yourself from the teat of big government and endless handouts.
To say Labour is the most moderate of the left is a very big call. A bit like saying one branch of the Taliban are more moderate than the other.
They bear little resemblance to Helen Clarke's Labour in that they are a party of identity politics, post modernist, climate change disciples, believer's in no gender, trans rights, anti male, anti white and dismissive of fact over spirituality.
In other words, they are the political branch of the insane subterranean world of woke university academics, but in the daylight. Oh, and signed up useful idiots to the next click of the sovereignty ratchet, co-governance.
Yes, compared to their theological soul mates the Greens, in that crowded real estate, they don't appear quite as mad, nor do they exhibit the destructive mindless racism and hate of TPM, but Labour are not against their siblings either. They are the sum of the other two.
And TOP are merely Labour with a slightly wonky tax policy. And an actress as a leader who is deeply woke when off the set.
But to be fair to this collective destructive force is to reflect on National. And they are but a fine degree or two from Labour barring about half their MP's, who don't hold a commanding presence. And how a party who are so shit are even still rating in the late 20's.
Its a tough choice to even include National in the coalition as they smell only fractionally less than the 10 day old corpse of the left. So I will holding back the bile and tick my local useless ineffective Nat MP, but party vote NZF or ACT.
Labour has had an identity crisis ever since they stopped being the 'blue-collar working class' party in the 1970s and became the party of Political Correctness catering mostly for members of the lower professions. They have found themselves being dragged towards the totalitarian left end of the ideological spectrum and have lost a lot of support from their traditional base. They're not a 'labour[ite]' party any more and need to rebrand themselves as social democrats.
Just be honest , the left side of the Parliament are incapable of trust or probity .
This election New Zealand voters needs to Split their two votes between Electorate vote National and PARTY VOTE ACT or NZF.
New Zealand will be saved from the mad left.
“End the Waitangi tribunal” - ACT. “ Make the Waitangi Tribunal all powerful” - TPM.
Now it’s finally out there this question could fast become the major ideological tipping point of the election.
Will the ‘silent majority’ win the day?
What a choice eh? The terminally deranged left versus the comatose zombie right. Ah well, we all get the govt we deserve. Whichever, the slow-motion collapse will continue.
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