But I'm of the view that Chlöe is actually overplaying her hand here. No disrespect to her because I personally like her a lot and I really rate her as a political campaigner. But she's 32 years old and she has no business background other than a few of those fun projects you run when you're 20 and then shut down again.
I mean, literally, what are her qualifications for this job?
The reason the Nats and ACT keep going on about this, now for the third day, is because they know, like I know, that this is bad for the centre-left and the prospects of a centre-left Government.
There is polling data from Curia that I've seen a couple of times and it shows that National Party voters actually have a net positive opinion of the leaders of their coalition partners on the right, David and Winston. National Party voters do not really stress out at all about the prospect of giving jobs to Winston, giving jobs to David, and so on.
But Labour Party voters are not the same. They do not feel the same way about their left-wing coalition partners. Their opinion of the leaders on the left is negative across the board. It is unsettling for Labour voters to think of the Greens having that much influence.
Now, I can see what Chlöe is doing here. She's trying to gee up her base with the idea that if they get enough votes, they may gain some real power around the Cabinet table. She's also obviously starting the negotiations with Chippy from a very high position, so that whatever the consolation prize turns out to be, it's also significant and not just some Green-aligned portfolio like DoC.
But she might well be doing both the Green Party and the broader left some damage here. They may not make it into Government if this is the kind of thing that people freak out about.
She knows she's not going to get this portfolio, right? She hasn't got any leverage. Back when Winston got Treasurer, and really the only time Finance has gone to a coalition partner, he was negotiating with both sides. He was talking to both Helen Clark and Jim Bolger, so he could play them off against each other.
Chlöe doesn't have that ability. She is bound to Labour. She is not going to get Finance.
So I can see what she's doing and it's not all bad for the Greens. But it could be bad for the chances of the left because the thought of Chlöe as Finance Minister might just drive away some of those swing voters that Labour desperately needs.
Heather du Plessis-Allan is a journalist and radio broadcaster who hosts Newstalk ZB's weekday Drive-Time Show – where this article was sourced.
10 comments:
I thought it was an ironic joke like Rudolf Hilferding for finance minister.
But what do the greens actually bring to the party? Anything?
Oh my goodness. Finally the stupid media have finally cottoned on. No disrespect to you heather, you are the first to mention this:
Is she COMPETENT?
I have highlighted this for years now. We need competence tests to see if people are fit and proper to run countries. A psyche and competence test would ascertain this.
I very much doubt that mps would want this, as imo at least 50% would fail. It would certainly decimate the left parties whose warped ideological and racist views would be highlighted for all to see. It's exactly what we need, a return to common sense.
Then fish and chip shop wrappers from morinsville would never have a chance of becoming prime minister, I can live with that as long as a competent person is in the role.
I have at least 50 people I my larger circle who are more competent than chloe swarbrick to be minister of finance. Competence folks, competence.
The was proud to say that all she owned were her clothes and her couch.
She has never run a business !
About as qualified to run NZ finances as my dog.
Same could be said for a previous PM and many of her cabinet so what have we got to lose?
Kim Jong Un and the rest of the political elite of North Korea can hardly amass an NCEA level 1 pass in Economics between them. Running the economy is up to the bureaucracy in the Cabinet, and we do find qualified people there (albeit in Marxist economics). But the term 'technocracy' is inappropriate as the experts at Cabinet level must get all proposed economic measures ideologically vetted and cleared by the political elite before it can take effect. Even Marxist economists can recognise problem issues such as dysfunctional food distribution networks but their solutions are often ideologically unpalatable to the political elite. Severe tensions between economists and communist political elites go back to 1920s Stalinist USSR. Chloe Warbrick would probably fail an ECON100 exam if you allowed her to sit it several times and added her marks together. But the heritage the Reds woops I mean Greens draw on is that of a class of economists who do as they are told by the political upper scum.
She’s no less qualified than BA grads Nicola Willis & Grant Robertson, other than perhaps being a bit better at wasting taxpayer’s money.
Let’s hope the split-vote strategy on the centre-right works so Willis is out & WP can push for someone actually qualified to do the job, perhaps even too qualified, Craig Stobo.
Stobo + NZF & a very strong Henry & Seymour Act representation = a real chance having a small & efficient govt & a highly productive economy filled with homegrown high skilled & high-waged taxpayers. Especially now that wokey men’s rights activist Brooke has left.
National are of little use at this point, other than being slightly more tolerable than Labour. It is better for all of us if they remain on 20-25 & Act & NZF make up the difference. Whatever good the Nats bring comes at too high a price on our nationhood, democracy, freedom of speech & even economic growth. They seem to only serve as mere custodians of the least bad but still horrendous Labour policies.
It is time we all ensured we make these pollies respect our democratic rights & freedoms (I’m looking at you, Standford the B-16 rich mum mouthpiece) & the money we all work really hard for & hold their feet to the fire when they cross the line.
Yes, parliament is sovereign, but only because of our votes.
I’m with you Anon 759. I would agree, though, we must bar all political cults and their members from acceptance as MPs. A random ballot as we used to have for NSTU, then tests to ascertain suitability. A service limit is essential (say 6 years), and minimum and maximum age limits (say from 45 to 65). Then of course a dramatic reduction of numbers to max 50, with a 3 year overlap. Lots more of course but this will have to do for the comments section.
Thank you, mods, for stepping up your game over the last month. It is critical over election period that we make this a safe space for conservative views. I haven’t seen any leftie loony comments recently. It is much better than it has been over the last few years when they have infiltrated the site. We can only pray things fall how we want to.
In America they have -Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (aka AOC), a Native of New York City, elected into the House of Representative/Congress, from her "walking the beat to gain votes, to her election and since - has become the ' joke' of many in American Media, also with Political pundits on You Tube.
Has a social media following, that she uses as her greatest strength, is 'friends' with Bernie Sanders, a fellow member of Congress, who is also a Socialist of long standing.
Has become 'close' with the new Mayor of New York City.
AOC is "known' for making outlandish statements, that have no relevance, the information verbally presented is ridiculed very quickly.
Has similarities to our Chloe Swarbrick, which together would "make good friends".
In NZ no body likes Chloe, in America they ridicule AOC - yet the media (both print & TV) of both Countries allocate - column inches or video minutes, for which their "adoring fans" love and promote across their social media platforms.
Oh and we now have Quilae Wong (TOP) who again the younger masses and some older nut brains are - "throwing loves and kisses" toward her, sadly they have not read the memorandum about TOP.
Oh well she can ring AOC and have a chat, maybe Chloe can be party to that as well.
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