I've said it before. I know Chippy well. I was in Parliament with him, when he and I were whips together. That's the job of rounding up the MPs to ensure voting numbers can be counted, helping decide who speaks on what and what questions are asked (in a procedures committee), pastoral care, overseeing what's happening in select committees, dealing with the staff and their union with regular meetings with delegates, keeping an eye on out of parliament staff and offices, as well as doing our own job as spokespeople on important issues. Whips are in positions of trust, voted on by the caucus. I can absolutely vouch that I never saw anything other than integrity, loyalty and Labour Party values from Chris. He is a true believer and I trust him. That said, I wouldn't have his job for quids! And for the record, Labour decides on the leader. Caucus, affiliate unions and members. Not the media.
I see a lot of derogatory comments about Chippy, on Bluesky, and I ask myself...what do these commenters want? The current government returned? Sometimes it seems that way. I doubt the motives of these commenters.
It is unfair to focus on Hipkins directly I agree. He is simply part of a system he didn't create. The frustration is often that we have Team Blue/Team Red politics with varying degrees of neo-liberal thinking. Experience in similar countries has been that even seemingly well-intentioned politicians have been drawn to the right, especially on culture war issues, when faced with the rise of parties like NZF. It would be reassuring if Hipkins could signal a bit more strongly he's going to try and buck that.
Good grief! What more do you want from him? He's always been clear, for years, that he won't tolerate racism or division. Before and during his time as PM, whilst he's been the leader of Labour, whether he's been in opposition or government, if there's one thing you can rely on, it's his integrity. The only time his personal view hasn't been broadcast for all to see was a preference for a wealth or capital gains tax before the 2023 election. And I endorse his desire to ensure that any decision there was a considered and long term view.
I think Labour has been too slow to make some big changes back to a fairer society particular with tax.It could have made a big difference to how much the country could have put into health & education I'm talking about when they were in for two terms.
I think the statement today in the Herald shows he is bucking that. No way would Labour join with NZ First. Pretty clear, even if it was in a tiny little article tucked into the bottom of the page. I agree often well intentioned politicians have seemingly been drawn to the right, but I'm not sure that is very frequent or common.
Probably trolls?!?! I can't wait for a more positive Aotearoa to emerge...🙏 With a new government it will take years for a more pleasant culture to develop....good things take time!!
Chippie doesn’t tell fibs, and that is reason enough to make him PM. Perhaps when he is no longer chasing those (fickle) middle voters he will be emboldened to make BIG changes…
Chippy is one of the best speakers and operators in parliament. He must he quietly smiling today as National falls to bits internally yet again. No-one really knows Luxon. Maybe he doesn't know himself.
Chippy appeals to every man/woman. We get him. He has faults, who doesn't, but his position is clear. Fairness for all. He is not an opaque individual.
After nearly 6 years in parliament, around 5 years as leader, coming up 3 years as PM, it's the weirdest thing to not have a handle on Christopher Luxon. Yes, we all know his CV, we all know he loved the Crusaders before they were even a team, we all know he's rich and sorted. But we still don't understand his personality, his drivers, his dreams, his motivations. Except for wealth. He's one dimensional. And the lack of insight or even stories from previous colleagues is super-weird. You'd think people would have been falling all over themselves to be a headline about working with him. "The Untold Stories of working with CL", "10 Things you didn't know about CL" "What CL is really like when the chips are down". I mean there aren't even puff pieces about his past.
Yes we do - The five main habits of a narcissist include a grandiose sense of self-importance, a constant need for validation, a severe lack of empathy, a tendency to exploit others, and the habit of projecting faults onto people around them. This is Christopher Luxon.
Thanks Nick, I am a bit of a fan of Chippy. I believe he has integrity in spades. He carefully responds to questions because he knows if he even looks like putting a foot wrong, he'll be attacked and it will divert from his core messages. He's also a leader who has built a great team to go into this election. And he's very smart and can outplay any of the oppisition with facts and truth. I'm also a supporter of the Greens, and I really want a Green/Labour/Te Pati Māori coalition. No-one is perfect, and nor should they be. I respect Chippy for being able to take responsibility when he's stuffed up, and to laugh at himself. There are a lot of bots masquerading as Labour/Left supporters who put him down and believe he should be replaced. They're not real....although I'm sure there are people who would prefer a different leader. That's their prerogative. Thanks for your kōrero today.
Got over myself and watched breakfast tv last week. Chris bishop said something not that funny and tova very nearly fell off her perch laughing hysterically. Would not watch again
I sent the letter below to you know who after I read Winston’s comment yesterday. Maybe he’s finally understanding his time as anyone relevant is up so he’s making the most of the time left in his role.
I’m all for Chippy as well. He’s one of the very few who can be trusted to do whatever he can, along with his colleagues, to make life better for his constituents and everyone else in this country. I’m not sure why anyone would bother to be badgered by Tova about anything, but Chippy always manages to keep his cool no matter how vacuous his interrogators are. I’d like to know what the inner man is thinking sometimes…🤔perhaps not……
Letter below..,
Winston Peter’s behaviour lately is unbecoming for someone whose political aspirations are presently, at best on thin ice. After his dreadful performance in the House, suggesting Lawrence Xu-Nan go back to China, he has today questioned, very unkindly, Chris Hipkins’ apparent “learning difficulties”, after Hipkins made it quite clear to a public who will be casting votes soon, that NZF is not on their radar now, nor will be due to their racially divisive views. Maybe it was to drive the message home , again.
Peters has, over the last few years, become less tolerant of anyone who questions his views and beliefs. Quite frankly, any Party which would support NZF as a candidate for coalition should review their own policies, morality and hopes for the future because right now and until election day they will be judged by the company they choose to keep. Winston should finally accept that he is no longer fit to serve our country at any level and leave the building for the good of all of us, including himself. It’s a very different world to the one he grew up in. He hasn’t adjusted to the times changing and there’s very little to suggest he ever will. Time to throw a line out and see if Shane’s left enough fish in the sea to make it worthwhile.
"Severe Learning Difficulties" is simply what comedians refer to as a "callback" to Peter's recent, disgraceful ableist use of the R-word. His supporters will know what he means and he essentially gets to use it again.
One of Chippy's strengths that stands out for me is his ability to pivot his comms style, and can crack a quip, and then give a complete answer. It shows he's listening to the question, and is confident in his ability to answer ANY question quickly. And still has the brain space to offer a light-hearted ribbing to the opposition and then answer seriously.
And one of my enduring happy memories of the last Labour govt response to covid was him descending down a bank from his parents bach - while he was holiday! - to do a media stand up. And I'm pretty sure that holiday home isn't in Te Puke.
I like the way he can give a really good speech without notes unlike Luxon who even has to read off a piece of paper to give an apology. Very sincere...not!
I like the way Chippy is across the subject of every topic he’s asked about and can answer with facts and information. That reminds me of Jacinda and Helen Clark and is what I value in a PM. Listening to the way he’s being interviewed these days, I also admire that he never gets frustrated and, as mentioned above, can pivot to reply.
The gentailers had their say ( so close to genitalias ) Winston shot back with 'Chris Hipkins has severe learning disabilities', yes Winston, it's called English.
Thanks so much for this, Nick! I know you're a supporter of the Greens, but in this piece I think you have described Chippy, in his character and his honesty, his aims, and capabilities, very well. I am so pleased to see someone who openly supports another party come out with such an honest and perceptive report about Chippy. As a longtime member of the Labour Party, and observer of Chippy, even as an opposition member way back when he had just had his first child, I have come to know just where he stands. I believe that at present he is blamed way too much for some mistakes made during Covid, and he also suffers from a general lack of exposure in our RW media at present, but for me, there is every reason to believe that Chippy is the best person to lead our country into the future, no matter what may come. Nick, I hope your writing will convince some readers to watch Chippy with a much more favourable eye, and stop criticising him for things which are beyond his control. He will lead a very good government on the left, and help this country recover from the past three years of austerity, Atlas-invoked harmful ideas, and suffering brought upon all of our people, led by the hopeless Luxon and the racist, ignorant, NZF people, and the extreme RW ACT ideologues. Thank you, again, Nick.
Nick you "can’t really say I know what sort of person Christopher Luxon is" ..... does he? does anyone? - there's nothing at all authentic about him - he's tailor made for that wonderful political insult "he's just a shiver looking for a spine to run up".
Any person who can refer to those less fortunate than themselves as " bottom feeders" without hesitation, without a blink of an eye should not be anywhere near leadership. To say it so readily indicates to me that this is the way he has always thought about those " beneath" him.
Another great korero Nick. For those who want to really understand the difference between the right and left in NZ politics they need only listen to the measured and accurate statements about what the left is proposing as opposed to the obfuscation of the right. Neither Luxon, Willis, Brown, Stanford, Goldsmith, Peters, Jones, Seymour, nor Van Velden can give a straight honest answer about anything. Luxon is a political puppet with no idea about the lives of common folk, Peters is a xenophobic, racist, bully and Jones his parrot. Then there's Seymour who appears to be bankrolled by ATLAS to do their bidding. Im not a great fan of Chippy, but compared to those others mentioned he is head and shoulders above them regarding integrity, honesty and staying on point.
“He cares about decency, fairness, and injustice, as do I.” (Nick)
Me too. But I can’t vote Labour. Even though my National electorate might just swing as it did in 2020! I stopped donating to both Greens and Labour when they fought each other and cancelled some possibly many of their votes by sharply defining their differences. The could declare now that on major issues they will join forces on specific issues. They fantasise they are still first past the post. If the declared now they will clean up taxes so as to have all the country’s resource's available to the nations economy. Education free at all levels. Health complete cover little waiting and disabilities and accidents included and universal income to at least a living wage. This is achievable. Gradually over a couple of terms. The total of wealth means Papatuanuku (Aotearoa the mother of us all make a covenant with all of us and our representatives are supposed to manage and provide) I am 91 and too old to have an opinion. But I can’t vote Labour see our system of distributing the benefit oof our land is stupid. It could work if all paid their share. No one opts out and no one misses out. Its that simple.
Certainly not too old to have an opinion, yours is as valid as anyone else's. I also wish they could have presented a united front on a number of issues, and I agree with your priorities.
As Chloe says "if you don't do politics, it will do you" and here's another little saying I am fond of; if you don't stand up, then we all fall down. So, while I would much prefer to see our progressive parties work together, and at least have Labour be a bit bolder when it comes to taxation and other policies (empty house tax please! and more social housing immediately) they are who we need in power, not this coalition who are totally cruel and inept. Get everyone enrolled and looking at policy. We can't afford to let Chris, Nicola, Louise, Winston, Shane or David destroy our country.
Sadly, one of the great conundrums for the left is aligning the practicalities of politics with the desires and dreams of their supporters. However, sometimes it's best to vote for the option that goes some of the way in the right direction because the alternative is too appalling to allow to continue. The trick then is to encourage Labour/Green MPs to screw their courage to the sticking point and take further steps to get the job done. This is best done from inside the party - as Chloe says, if you don't do politics, politics will do you.
I have voted recently for Labour Green strategically. My challenge this time is Greens will probably have no chance in my Ilam electorate. Labour might. Last time I voted and before I voted Labour electorate successful once 2020. Green Party vote. I know to vote Green for party vote. Electorate vote Labour wont do major harm - which this lot are. There are ways to pay for good things but Tax needs a major revamp. They give themselves no mandate if they don’t set out an economic plan of action that gives sufficient finance. Tax reform is needed.
The party vote governs the number of seats a party gets so that's important. If the Green's tax policy appeals, go for it. But regardless of how attractive it seems to you, we still need at least 50% of the electorate to agree with it, and that's not going to happen when the Green's core constituency is around 15%. The Greens need Labour, as Labour equally needs the Greens. There will be compromises, but we will get something more equitable than we have now, and that's a CGT, modest as it may be. Let's cement that in, then work through the rest of the tax issues. Labour brought us PAYE and GST, the latter was used as a tax credit for less well-off families which always seems fair to me. Only Labour has reformed tax and they will continue to do so, with spines stiffened by Green resolve.
Makes perfect sense. Except then Labour think they have so many votes we love their bits half measure approach. Tax reform needed with the major shifts needed to get through weather events rising seas unemployment rises. Health care rises education needs. All possible with equitable taxes and everyone pulling their weight.
Dreamer of course. My job is to dream and share dreams - it’s my time. However while your calling call Finland Norway Iceland and Denmark and see what they do. Not uniform in functional forms of economy all with good national and individual well being. Dreams only because people don't plan responsibly and see through the false narrative supporting the acceleration of wealth once you get enough to tip the scales. Super wealth is generated without work is undeserved and is gift to the few by the unconscious many. Retaining their position of low income - or successful low income to float a few to great wealth. It is just a system held on to by those it benefits. I am in waking dreams and if sufficient of you others can be woken you can dream and plan and organise from small to the turning point. Why is the government not requiring huge profit electricity companies to in vest in hydrogen development, requiring fonterra to invest in wetlands and relocation of communities from sea bound flood areas. Our voting is a wet bus ticket for a yesterdays bus. Now is important to dream and claim what is everybodies.
Don. mate all you are describing in Finland and so on is a socialist democracy, which is WHAT NZ USED TO BE, but only DUE TO LABOUR AND THERFORE UNIONS....didn't matter what frigging party was in, if they tried to do something unfair to the working and middle class, the union of government workers would merely THREATEN TO STRIKE and thereby bring the resident government to its knees, OK? Are you a long term resident, or a recent immigrant? I'm 75, Canadian and got here in 1964....and what I am going say is this: the ONLY reason we had a socialist democracy was down to the Labour Party....National was solely for the farmers, many of who aspired to be FEUDALIST LANDED GENTRY.....and now they have been taken over by the CORPORATIONIST FASCISTI, under the influence of John Key, and his overseas FASCIST TECHBRO MATE, PETER THIELE!!!! who has his bunker mansion on Waiheke Island next door to John Key's property/retreat and simply bought his citizenship and bankrolled the disgusting RW Neoliberal government we have now!!!
And then YOU say you are not going to vote Labour....! ...so that is why I say you are a loose-minded=impractical DREAMER.
It is possible and only with a primary cohesive plan set before the people. Labour have sort of said this would be good that will be helpful. No tax strategy, no climate programme with recognition of when action is too late. They would be better to back the Greens if they cant work it out for themselves.
I've said it before. I know Chippy well. I was in Parliament with him, when he and I were whips together. That's the job of rounding up the MPs to ensure voting numbers can be counted, helping decide who speaks on what and what questions are asked (in a procedures committee), pastoral care, overseeing what's happening in select committees, dealing with the staff and their union with regular meetings with delegates, keeping an eye on out of parliament staff and offices, as well as doing our own job as spokespeople on important issues. Whips are in positions of trust, voted on by the caucus. I can absolutely vouch that I never saw anything other than integrity, loyalty and Labour Party values from Chris. He is a true believer and I trust him. That said, I wouldn't have his job for quids! And for the record, Labour decides on the leader. Caucus, affiliate unions and members. Not the media.
Darien it's good to read your lived confirmation of what I've always felt about Chippy.
Thanks, Darien, well said. Lovely to hear your opinion as a former MP!
I see a lot of derogatory comments about Chippy, on Bluesky, and I ask myself...what do these commenters want? The current government returned? Sometimes it seems that way. I doubt the motives of these commenters.
It is unfair to focus on Hipkins directly I agree. He is simply part of a system he didn't create. The frustration is often that we have Team Blue/Team Red politics with varying degrees of neo-liberal thinking. Experience in similar countries has been that even seemingly well-intentioned politicians have been drawn to the right, especially on culture war issues, when faced with the rise of parties like NZF. It would be reassuring if Hipkins could signal a bit more strongly he's going to try and buck that.
Good grief! What more do you want from him? He's always been clear, for years, that he won't tolerate racism or division. Before and during his time as PM, whilst he's been the leader of Labour, whether he's been in opposition or government, if there's one thing you can rely on, it's his integrity. The only time his personal view hasn't been broadcast for all to see was a preference for a wealth or capital gains tax before the 2023 election. And I endorse his desire to ensure that any decision there was a considered and long term view.
I think Labour has been too slow to make some big changes back to a fairer society particular with tax.It could have made a big difference to how much the country could have put into health & education I'm talking about when they were in for two terms.
I think the statement today in the Herald shows he is bucking that. No way would Labour join with NZ First. Pretty clear, even if it was in a tiny little article tucked into the bottom of the page. I agree often well intentioned politicians have seemingly been drawn to the right, but I'm not sure that is very frequent or common.
Probably trolls?!?! I can't wait for a more positive Aotearoa to emerge...🙏 With a new government it will take years for a more pleasant culture to develop....good things take time!!
Chippie doesn’t tell fibs, and that is reason enough to make him PM. Perhaps when he is no longer chasing those (fickle) middle voters he will be emboldened to make BIG changes…
Especially if he gets a second term, Keith.....?!
Chippy is one of the best speakers and operators in parliament. He must he quietly smiling today as National falls to bits internally yet again. No-one really knows Luxon. Maybe he doesn't know himself.
Chippy appeals to every man/woman. We get him. He has faults, who doesn't, but his position is clear. Fairness for all. He is not an opaque individual.
After nearly 6 years in parliament, around 5 years as leader, coming up 3 years as PM, it's the weirdest thing to not have a handle on Christopher Luxon. Yes, we all know his CV, we all know he loved the Crusaders before they were even a team, we all know he's rich and sorted. But we still don't understand his personality, his drivers, his dreams, his motivations. Except for wealth. He's one dimensional. And the lack of insight or even stories from previous colleagues is super-weird. You'd think people would have been falling all over themselves to be a headline about working with him. "The Untold Stories of working with CL", "10 Things you didn't know about CL" "What CL is really like when the chips are down". I mean there aren't even puff pieces about his past.
He is just another Hollow man that will dissipate into the world, telling anyone willing to listen, that he used to be a PM once 😢😪
Yes we do - The five main habits of a narcissist include a grandiose sense of self-importance, a constant need for validation, a severe lack of empathy, a tendency to exploit others, and the habit of projecting faults onto people around them. This is Christopher Luxon.
Thanks Nick, I am a bit of a fan of Chippy. I believe he has integrity in spades. He carefully responds to questions because he knows if he even looks like putting a foot wrong, he'll be attacked and it will divert from his core messages. He's also a leader who has built a great team to go into this election. And he's very smart and can outplay any of the oppisition with facts and truth. I'm also a supporter of the Greens, and I really want a Green/Labour/Te Pati Māori coalition. No-one is perfect, and nor should they be. I respect Chippy for being able to take responsibility when he's stuffed up, and to laugh at himself. There are a lot of bots masquerading as Labour/Left supporters who put him down and believe he should be replaced. They're not real....although I'm sure there are people who would prefer a different leader. That's their prerogative. Thanks for your kōrero today.
Got over myself and watched breakfast tv last week. Chris bishop said something not that funny and tova very nearly fell off her perch laughing hysterically. Would not watch again
It is a bit like making something out of a sow's ear.
I sent the letter below to you know who after I read Winston’s comment yesterday. Maybe he’s finally understanding his time as anyone relevant is up so he’s making the most of the time left in his role.
I’m all for Chippy as well. He’s one of the very few who can be trusted to do whatever he can, along with his colleagues, to make life better for his constituents and everyone else in this country. I’m not sure why anyone would bother to be badgered by Tova about anything, but Chippy always manages to keep his cool no matter how vacuous his interrogators are. I’d like to know what the inner man is thinking sometimes…🤔perhaps not……
Letter below..,
Winston Peter’s behaviour lately is unbecoming for someone whose political aspirations are presently, at best on thin ice. After his dreadful performance in the House, suggesting Lawrence Xu-Nan go back to China, he has today questioned, very unkindly, Chris Hipkins’ apparent “learning difficulties”, after Hipkins made it quite clear to a public who will be casting votes soon, that NZF is not on their radar now, nor will be due to their racially divisive views. Maybe it was to drive the message home , again.
Peters has, over the last few years, become less tolerant of anyone who questions his views and beliefs. Quite frankly, any Party which would support NZF as a candidate for coalition should review their own policies, morality and hopes for the future because right now and until election day they will be judged by the company they choose to keep. Winston should finally accept that he is no longer fit to serve our country at any level and leave the building for the good of all of us, including himself. It’s a very different world to the one he grew up in. He hasn’t adjusted to the times changing and there’s very little to suggest he ever will. Time to throw a line out and see if Shane’s left enough fish in the sea to make it worthwhile.
"Severe Learning Difficulties" is simply what comedians refer to as a "callback" to Peter's recent, disgraceful ableist use of the R-word. His supporters will know what he means and he essentially gets to use it again.
One of Chippy's strengths that stands out for me is his ability to pivot his comms style, and can crack a quip, and then give a complete answer. It shows he's listening to the question, and is confident in his ability to answer ANY question quickly. And still has the brain space to offer a light-hearted ribbing to the opposition and then answer seriously.
And one of my enduring happy memories of the last Labour govt response to covid was him descending down a bank from his parents bach - while he was holiday! - to do a media stand up. And I'm pretty sure that holiday home isn't in Te Puke.
Nope, it's in Raumati! I remember that, too, very fondly.
I like the way he can give a really good speech without notes unlike Luxon who even has to read off a piece of paper to give an apology. Very sincere...not!
I like the way Chippy is across the subject of every topic he’s asked about and can answer with facts and information. That reminds me of Jacinda and Helen Clark and is what I value in a PM. Listening to the way he’s being interviewed these days, I also admire that he never gets frustrated and, as mentioned above, can pivot to reply.
A truly great analysis/post about Chippy, I reckon...
The electricity companies have to be nationalised. Electricity is a common good.
Hipkins has integrity far beyond anyone in the coalition.
Chloe and Marama to be deputy PM for 18 months each.
Saw loads of Loiuse Upston billboards yesterday in Waikato, made me want to crash the car into them.
Well, that was interesting...
The gentailers had their say ( so close to genitalias ) Winston shot back with 'Chris Hipkins has severe learning disabilities', yes Winston, it's called English.
And Tova fell over.
Thanks so much for this, Nick! I know you're a supporter of the Greens, but in this piece I think you have described Chippy, in his character and his honesty, his aims, and capabilities, very well. I am so pleased to see someone who openly supports another party come out with such an honest and perceptive report about Chippy. As a longtime member of the Labour Party, and observer of Chippy, even as an opposition member way back when he had just had his first child, I have come to know just where he stands. I believe that at present he is blamed way too much for some mistakes made during Covid, and he also suffers from a general lack of exposure in our RW media at present, but for me, there is every reason to believe that Chippy is the best person to lead our country into the future, no matter what may come. Nick, I hope your writing will convince some readers to watch Chippy with a much more favourable eye, and stop criticising him for things which are beyond his control. He will lead a very good government on the left, and help this country recover from the past three years of austerity, Atlas-invoked harmful ideas, and suffering brought upon all of our people, led by the hopeless Luxon and the racist, ignorant, NZF people, and the extreme RW ACT ideologues. Thank you, again, Nick.
Nick you "can’t really say I know what sort of person Christopher Luxon is" ..... does he? does anyone? - there's nothing at all authentic about him - he's tailor made for that wonderful political insult "he's just a shiver looking for a spine to run up".
Any person who can refer to those less fortunate than themselves as " bottom feeders" without hesitation, without a blink of an eye should not be anywhere near leadership. To say it so readily indicates to me that this is the way he has always thought about those " beneath" him.
Another great korero Nick. For those who want to really understand the difference between the right and left in NZ politics they need only listen to the measured and accurate statements about what the left is proposing as opposed to the obfuscation of the right. Neither Luxon, Willis, Brown, Stanford, Goldsmith, Peters, Jones, Seymour, nor Van Velden can give a straight honest answer about anything. Luxon is a political puppet with no idea about the lives of common folk, Peters is a xenophobic, racist, bully and Jones his parrot. Then there's Seymour who appears to be bankrolled by ATLAS to do their bidding. Im not a great fan of Chippy, but compared to those others mentioned he is head and shoulders above them regarding integrity, honesty and staying on point.
“He cares about decency, fairness, and injustice, as do I.” (Nick)
Me too. But I can’t vote Labour. Even though my National electorate might just swing as it did in 2020! I stopped donating to both Greens and Labour when they fought each other and cancelled some possibly many of their votes by sharply defining their differences. The could declare now that on major issues they will join forces on specific issues. They fantasise they are still first past the post. If the declared now they will clean up taxes so as to have all the country’s resource's available to the nations economy. Education free at all levels. Health complete cover little waiting and disabilities and accidents included and universal income to at least a living wage. This is achievable. Gradually over a couple of terms. The total of wealth means Papatuanuku (Aotearoa the mother of us all make a covenant with all of us and our representatives are supposed to manage and provide) I am 91 and too old to have an opinion. But I can’t vote Labour see our system of distributing the benefit oof our land is stupid. It could work if all paid their share. No one opts out and no one misses out. Its that simple.
Certainly not too old to have an opinion, yours is as valid as anyone else's. I also wish they could have presented a united front on a number of issues, and I agree with your priorities.
As Chloe says "if you don't do politics, it will do you" and here's another little saying I am fond of; if you don't stand up, then we all fall down. So, while I would much prefer to see our progressive parties work together, and at least have Labour be a bit bolder when it comes to taxation and other policies (empty house tax please! and more social housing immediately) they are who we need in power, not this coalition who are totally cruel and inept. Get everyone enrolled and looking at policy. We can't afford to let Chris, Nicola, Louise, Winston, Shane or David destroy our country.
Sadly, one of the great conundrums for the left is aligning the practicalities of politics with the desires and dreams of their supporters. However, sometimes it's best to vote for the option that goes some of the way in the right direction because the alternative is too appalling to allow to continue. The trick then is to encourage Labour/Green MPs to screw their courage to the sticking point and take further steps to get the job done. This is best done from inside the party - as Chloe says, if you don't do politics, politics will do you.
I have voted recently for Labour Green strategically. My challenge this time is Greens will probably have no chance in my Ilam electorate. Labour might. Last time I voted and before I voted Labour electorate successful once 2020. Green Party vote. I know to vote Green for party vote. Electorate vote Labour wont do major harm - which this lot are. There are ways to pay for good things but Tax needs a major revamp. They give themselves no mandate if they don’t set out an economic plan of action that gives sufficient finance. Tax reform is needed.
The party vote governs the number of seats a party gets so that's important. If the Green's tax policy appeals, go for it. But regardless of how attractive it seems to you, we still need at least 50% of the electorate to agree with it, and that's not going to happen when the Green's core constituency is around 15%. The Greens need Labour, as Labour equally needs the Greens. There will be compromises, but we will get something more equitable than we have now, and that's a CGT, modest as it may be. Let's cement that in, then work through the rest of the tax issues. Labour brought us PAYE and GST, the latter was used as a tax credit for less well-off families which always seems fair to me. Only Labour has reformed tax and they will continue to do so, with spines stiffened by Green resolve.
Makes perfect sense. Except then Labour think they have so many votes we love their bits half measure approach. Tax reform needed with the major shifts needed to get through weather events rising seas unemployment rises. Health care rises education needs. All possible with equitable taxes and everyone pulling their weight.
Don, at 91, do whatever you need to do, to vote this coalition out, for the next generation who need a future, which they don’t have at present.
Sorry to have to call it Don, but you are being just a loose-minded dreamer, I reckon...
Dreamer of course. My job is to dream and share dreams - it’s my time. However while your calling call Finland Norway Iceland and Denmark and see what they do. Not uniform in functional forms of economy all with good national and individual well being. Dreams only because people don't plan responsibly and see through the false narrative supporting the acceleration of wealth once you get enough to tip the scales. Super wealth is generated without work is undeserved and is gift to the few by the unconscious many. Retaining their position of low income - or successful low income to float a few to great wealth. It is just a system held on to by those it benefits. I am in waking dreams and if sufficient of you others can be woken you can dream and plan and organise from small to the turning point. Why is the government not requiring huge profit electricity companies to in vest in hydrogen development, requiring fonterra to invest in wetlands and relocation of communities from sea bound flood areas. Our voting is a wet bus ticket for a yesterdays bus. Now is important to dream and claim what is everybodies.
Don. mate all you are describing in Finland and so on is a socialist democracy, which is WHAT NZ USED TO BE, but only DUE TO LABOUR AND THERFORE UNIONS....didn't matter what frigging party was in, if they tried to do something unfair to the working and middle class, the union of government workers would merely THREATEN TO STRIKE and thereby bring the resident government to its knees, OK? Are you a long term resident, or a recent immigrant? I'm 75, Canadian and got here in 1964....and what I am going say is this: the ONLY reason we had a socialist democracy was down to the Labour Party....National was solely for the farmers, many of who aspired to be FEUDALIST LANDED GENTRY.....and now they have been taken over by the CORPORATIONIST FASCISTI, under the influence of John Key, and his overseas FASCIST TECHBRO MATE, PETER THIELE!!!! who has his bunker mansion on Waiheke Island next door to John Key's property/retreat and simply bought his citizenship and bankrolled the disgusting RW Neoliberal government we have now!!!
And then YOU say you are not going to vote Labour....! ...so that is why I say you are a loose-minded=impractical DREAMER.
It is possible and only with a primary cohesive plan set before the people. Labour have sort of said this would be good that will be helpful. No tax strategy, no climate programme with recognition of when action is too late. They would be better to back the Greens if they cant work it out for themselves.
Never too old Don.