Voting
These are my thoughts on how I’m going to vote.
I’ve been leaning towards the Greens, but I have a couple of problems with voting for them:
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The “Repeal of Section 59 of the Crimes Act” currently making the rounds, which is an anti-smacking and “raising your children is the state’s responsibility” bill in disguise, is a Greens’ bill.
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They’ll coalesce (coalite?) with Labour, so a vote for the Greens is effectively a vote for another Labour government.
However, I don’t know that a National/United Future government will be heaps better; I have a couple of concerns:
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Don Brash seems to favour the better-off at the expense of the poor. This I cannot agree with; I think we have a pretty clear mandate to look after the poor. This doesn’t necessarily mean a welfare state, but it does mean a certain amount of care, by the state, for fringe people. Also, Right wing government scares me a little more than Left, although our Left is pretty totalitarian already.
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United Future are onto it in some areas (advocating healthy families) but I don’t like a lot of the common, conservative Christian attitude coming out of the Right; I think there are some pretty big dangers there. However, they’re not going to be calling the shots, so it might be a good idea to give them at least some say in parliament.
As of yet, I haven’t made up my mind. I’m not keen on any of the choices this time around. I’ll leave with the words of a song from South Park:
“We’ve got to make our votes count
We’ve got to make our voices heard
We’ve been given the right to choose
Between a douche and a turd.”
Vote well.
Comment by Angus • Mon 20 Jun 05, 10:25 pm #
Hmm, lessee:
Greens: I consider them a little too nutty for my delicate centrist ideologies. Some of their proposals like a “universal basic income” policy (google it up) and the rest are basically unaffordable without taxing everyone at ~40-50% (I guess). Also in the “nice but they’ll never afford it” bucket is stuff like capping tertiary fees at $1500, universal student allowances and writing off student debt yearly (source). I know Labour’d never go ahead with their crazier ideas, so that’s a moderating factor, but in the end I concur that if you’re going Left you might as well vote Labour directly.
Maori Party: Don’t write ‘em off. Could be a coalition partner yet.
Alliance/Progressives/Anderton: Netcraft confirms!
Labour: The devil we know. They’ve been nicer than National on student loans but have been screwing things up of late (viz. $1 billion on Kyoto, finding $20m for Te Wanaga o Aotearoa when my own fees went up by $1k this year, police issues, etc. etc.).
NZ First: I imagine a few people will vote to keep out ol’ Johnny Foreigner and his buddies who are overrunning our fine country, as Winston drums this issue up every three years on the dor. I, however, won’t be one of them. Sadly, Mr Peters will most likely be in power and hold the keys to a coalition once again.
United Future: Will get one seat at least I guess. I actually don’t know a lot about their policies (apart from the fact they’re pro-family and anti-”teh ghey”).
National: I think the tax cut thing might hold water. On the minus side, I’m to the left of them on things like civil liberties and so on.
ACT: Netcraft confirms!
So I’m undecided: leaning to National a little as I believe governments need to be kicked out regularly to keep ‘em on their toes. However, I might just dig out an old four-sided die for election day from somewhere ;).
Comment by IDIEEASY • Mon 20 Jun 05, 10:55 pm #
Matt, trying to let the cat out of the proverbial bag on this one eh?
I would vote Greens but for two reasons:
1) Some of thier policies are just wanky. You’ve mentioned one. The problem is that its the wanky ones labor goes for most of the time.
2) Nador. I hate everything about that guy. I especialy hate seeing his stupid ass around uni all the time, spouting his crap. Getting everybody passively stoned by walking past them. I’ve also heard some stories about him from some x-friends that just make me mad mad mad.
Anyway, I will vote for who ever I think will win. Its a no brainer for my area (Helen Clark I think… not sure exactly because I just moved here).
I just wanna be a sheep; baa baa baa baa!
Comment by Jim • Wed 22 Jun 05, 2:21 pm #
An honest politician…
never…
well, maybe…
At the political debate (hosted by our “buddies” Maxim) at parachute music festival this year, the representatives from every party disguised what they meant in way that sounded like what good ol conservative middle aged, middle classed christians who care more about their own selves than the poor, would want to hear.
However, Tandoori Nachos, while disagreeing with probably most people there, was the only one brave enough to actually have an opinion… and say what it was