The Breaking Views blog is administered by the New Zealand Centre for Political Research at NZCPR.com. The views expressed are those of the author alone.
Another appropriate quote that could be added in today’s
corrupt political climate is one used by JFK - “the only thing necessary for
the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing!”
When these memorable lines are added together, they provide
a powerful lesson for keeping us safe.
Make no mistake, l believe that evil does exist in our
society, most of it in subtle forms that are too often overlooked because we
are encouraged to accept an environment that peacefully co-exists with the
consequences.
Let me explain.
From a personal point of view and given his attachment to the show, Stuart Nash has got to be happy with economic and regional development. Yes, he loses police and revenue but anything to do with the economy right now is as important as it gets and clearly reflects the PM’s view of his contribution.
But as for the rest of it there are a bunch of them in there that broadly you would believe they would have a clue as to what they are doing.
Robertson, Little, Parker, Hipkins, Woods and co are solid. You might not like their style of politics, but there experienced and they won’t end up like Clark or Curran or Lees-Galloway.
But in that latter is the key to all of this.
You have to commend Jacinda Ardern for the cabinet line-up she’s managed to pull together, given all the things she’s has to balance in that party.
Finally, we’ve seen the backbone we’ve been hoping for. Finally, Ardern has been brave enough to get Phil Twyford out of cabinet after wasting three years defending him and his lack of delivery.
She’s also been brave enough to give the deputy prime ministership to Grant Robertson over Kelvin Davis. Maybe it’s true that Davis told her he didn’t want the job, maybe that’s just a convenient excuse for dumping him from a job that would normally be his. But either way, that’s a loss for the very strong and very pushy Maori caucus, so regardless of the real reason, that would’ve created quite the balancing act for Ardern who would likely have had to compensate them.
Well what a relief Friday was.
The right result in the cannabis referendum – although it’s preliminary and given how this year’s gone I wouldn’t rule anything out in terms of upsets or dramatic swings... it could still tip over to a yes with specials, but it’s a very very long shot.
Chloe says she’s proud of her campaign, but critics would argue she didn’t have one – apart from her appearing on every media platform she could. For a Greens backed referendum it probably needed more Greens than just her pushing it.
When it came out the tears turned the wicked weed into a damp, non-inflammable mess.
Just over 53 per cent of you said no to legalisation while 46 per cent said yes.
By next Friday the tobacco will have dried out and the bongs will be at the ready again given there's a modicum of hope that the flame will take hold.
I have been disappointed but not surprised at the line-up of former Greens who are advising the current Greens stay out of government.
Simple question, if you are in politics what’s the point unless you’re in charge?
Their point, which is potentially partially valid, is don’t get stiffed. Don’t end up in a deal where you get to do little but carry any fall out which I suspect there will be plenty.
But the Greens have been in the game along time now and only recently really got their hands on the levers of power.
And the Keith Locke/Catherine Delahunty view of the world is a good insight or revelation into the fact that there are many in politics that sadly aren’t there for any real gains. They are there to cause trouble.
So tomorrow we get the preliminary results of the referendums.
If we believe the polls, Cannabis legalisation won’t pass and End of Life choice will.
But can we believe the polls?
And which polls? The main ones had support for the Cannabis referendum dropping, and opposition to it rising.
But then the week before we went to vote, Helen Clark and the Drug Foundation produced their own poll showing support for cannabis legalisation was up, it was ahead, that it was close, but that it would indeed get through.
So who do we believe?
Labour has secured the right to govern alone. The implementation of its policy agenda does not rely on the Greens and the handbrake in the form of New Zealand First no longer exists. This means Labour can enact the policies they campaigned on without having to make concessions to another party.
The upside for Labour is they’ve got the place to themselves.
Which is good for the markets. Markets don’t like the Greens, they don’t like the uncertainty of the Greens, and although the Greens will be there, it will be in a non-confrontational ‘don’t break the china’ kind of way.
This is FPP in all but name, and whether that’s Covid or whether that’s us deciding MMP doesn’t work who would know
But the last government was pure MMP. Three parties that muddled along with handbrakes, standoffs and the lack of progression you’d expect from a lot of behind the scenes compromise.
So the up side is you can do what you want. Down side is, do they know what they want to do really?
Despite the PM acknowledging this was a Covid election, her side kick Grant Robertson said even without Covid, they'd have won big.. because of all their delivery in their first term. Are you kidding me? Never a more delusional statement uttered. Out of step even with his own leader. But while we dissect whether to credit Labour for the win, or blame National... I can tell you that if I had a dollar for every National voter who told me they were voting Labour this time round to keep the Greens out, then I'd have made a lot of money out of this election.
Nats voters disillusioned with the omnishambles that is National right now, and freaked out by talk of a wealth tax, held their breath and ticked red on the day. Covid-fearing Kiwis ticked red, and the red ticked red, and voila - a landslide.
But the biggest surprise for me was Auckland Central.
Someone texted me yesterday with a theory that Judith Collins is a sacrificial lamb.
They said she’s been after the National leader job for years, and that the Nats have resigned themselves to losing this election for a long time. I don’t think that part’s true actually.
I think most of them put up a fight, some are undermining things and making a hash of it, but in general I don’t think they gave up per se, I think they saw a viable fight in it, but perhaps felt knee capped by Covid and the dramatic response of this country to falling in love with Jacinda as a result of seeing her as some kind of medical hero for keeping Covid largely at bay.
Here is Garrick Tremain's latest cartoon commentary!
Being on a week’s leave was weird, mainly because I didn’t have to listen to the news, or read it, or watch it, and what I discovered in having a week out of the daily news hustle, is that I didn’t miss anything. It’s all predictable at the moment.
This election build up has been one of the most boring ever. All favourable coverage has been given to the incumbent. The usual predictable stories of throngs gathering to fan girl Jacinda Ardern, much the same way Key was mobbed when he was Prime Minister.
It should come as no surprise as the election looms closer that political parties attempt to outdo each other by promising to spend more and more of voters' money.
