Will Winston decide again?
My Herald column looks at what happens if Winston decides again.
This means that Winston Peters will decide who gets to be Prime Minister of New Zealand for the third time out of six MMP elections. In 1996 he chose Jim Bolger over Helen Clark, in 2005 he chose Helen Clark over Don Brash and if he holds the balance of power in 2011, make no mistake he will choose Phil Goff over John Key, and there will be a Government that can only pass a law if it can get the Greens, Winston, Hone, and the Maori Party to all agree to it.
And imagine the blowout in spending and debt!
Again polls have shown a certain reluctance for National voters to tactically vote for ACT. I speak often to many National supporters in Epsom. To a person, they all want National to have a coalition partner to the right (economically) of National. The debate is whether ACT in its crippled state is worth saving, or whether you do the humane thing and put it to sleep with some electoral euthanasia, allowing a new party to arise phoenix like from the ashes.
The prospect of Winston Peters installing Phil Goff as Prime Minister should be sufficient to resolve that debate. If they do not vote for John Banks, then a change of Government becomes significantly more likely.
Epsom voters now have a clear choice.
MMP is perfect for demagogues such as Peters. He selects who will be on his party list, and they become MPs based on his personal popularity, despite the fact 99% of New Zealanders could not tell you who the top six candidates on his list are. Their loyalty is purely to him, not to the New Zealand public.
STV will still deliver broadly proportional results, but candidates will have to actually be someone whom voters rank high enough with their ballots, to elect to Parliament. This should result in a significant improvement of the quality of candidates, if there is no backdoor through a party list.
I will blog more fully next week on the merits of STV.
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November 18th, 2011 at 11:11 am
A barbed wire enema would be more fun than having to tolerate that prat stroking his own ego at the nations expense
November 18th, 2011 at 11:11 am
I was driving one of crew around the first time we went through this. He actually got a real rush out of everyone kowtowing to him. This would be the last situation this country deserves to go through again.
November 18th, 2011 at 11:16 am
The electorate cannot be that daft. Surely?
Does no-one remember the farce when Peters pretended to call a red mobile phone and then a blue one? Does no-one remember that the same venal Peters held the country to ransom for WEEKS whilst he negotiated a plum, ministerial job for himself – courtesy of Labour? Does no-one remember that Peters has ripped the taxpayer off to the tune of $150,000 and still hasn’t paid it back?
Jesus wept! How many more reasons do we need to DUMP the farce that is MMP, this referendum? The name ‘Peters’ is just reason #1724.
November 18th, 2011 at 11:16 am
Let’s ready those passports.
November 18th, 2011 at 11:18 am
Oh god imagine the nightmare – Flipflop Phil, the ‘gaggle of gays’, Hone, John Minto, Sue Bradford. They will make Russel Norman look quite normal by comparison. Normal Norman.
I think this is what our moronic media want. Calm, competent, no surprises government led by outstanding leaders like Key, Joyce, Ryall etc doesn’t give them enough fodder for their demented stories.
God help us.
November 18th, 2011 at 11:20 am
Six weeks in fact Elaycee, I got a lot of over time and my wife was told that of he went with labour to expect a lot of overtime herself. She worked int he money markets and they would have been processing all the money going off shore.
November 18th, 2011 at 11:21 am
1. Winston did not choose the Government in 2005. Brash could only have governed if he convince ACT and United Future and New Zealand First and the Maori Party to support him.
2. Not only do you grossly overestimate the number of New Zealand voters who could name the top 6 candidates on the NZF list, I’m not sure that 1% of New Zealanders could name the top six on the list of any party: without checking, name positions 1-6 of the Labour list. Without a fair bit of luck, I certainly couldn’t (is Dyson on there?).
November 18th, 2011 at 11:27 am
I think this is what our moronic media want.
That’s a major problem that somehow needs addressed – a significant portion of the media promote mayhem to create stories. They don’t care about the country, all they want is attention and ratings.
November 18th, 2011 at 11:27 am
No. Peters has been the PM decider just once, in 1996.
In 2005 Labour, the Greens, the Maori Party (which was never going to back Brash) and Jim Anderton had 61 out of 120 seats.The truth was Clark chose Peters over the Greens, not Peters chose Clark over Brash.
Appalling as it is to imagine him being the decider in 2011, I think that fear is premature. National would still win an outright majority on all three of the latest polls.
November 18th, 2011 at 11:29 am
DPF – I find it interesting that you have chosen to focus on Winston as kingmaker, rather than the Maori Party or Peter Dunne or even the Greens or ACT, all of whom will or could have a role in getting National over the line, and all of whom John Key would call before Winston (if he would call Winston at all).
Vote for Change will be loving this.
November 18th, 2011 at 11:30 am
Poor Epsom, seemingly has the choice of on the leadership of our country. They have the choice of voting for an MP that they don’t really like, or vote for their own candidate, or even just the candidate that they like and get wet blanket Goff as PM.
Democracy in action!
November 18th, 2011 at 11:30 am
PG – yep!
The Herald needs a big slap down. Hopefully with tablets becoming the norm over the next year or so, more people will read their news on those and ditch the herald & co. Maybe when their circulation falls even more they may think – shit, maybe we are over the top.
November 18th, 2011 at 11:31 am
DPF, I suggest you time your STV blog for sooner, rather than later, as many overseas voters will already be placing special votes.
November 18th, 2011 at 11:31 am
@Murray – Hell, was it 6 weeks? It seemed like an eternity at the time because night after night we endured reports of the lamestream media fawning all over Peters – salivating at his every word. And during the 6 weeks, he managed to get Head Grinch to agree to appoint him foreign minister in exchange for his assistance to get Labour on to the treasury benches.
He is a nasty, venal prick who should be forever remembered as the boil on the arse of NZ politics.
There – feeling better now.
November 18th, 2011 at 11:43 am
And with the kiwi voter having the attention span of the mayfly we may well do it all again, only difference being the size of peters ego.
November 18th, 2011 at 11:49 am
How can proponents of MMP say every vote counts when the result could be decided by the whim of one man?
November 18th, 2011 at 11:55 am
Because the vote of every person (except wasted vote because of 5% threshold) helps determine who the MPs in Parliament will be.
Because a majority of those members of Parliament will be able to pass things into law.
Why do you ask?
November 18th, 2011 at 11:59 am
FPP is horrible and STV got a Green mayor into Wellington, with less first preference votes than the incumbent (am I right, I am sure you nameless horrors will launch vicious attacks at anything you deem to be factually incorrect).
I don’t know much about SM or whatever that abbreviation is. Must be my mayfly attention span as I work my 50-60 hour week.
But MMP does look like the best option we have got, only because that is pretty much what the mainstream media has been saying to us for the last 15 or so years.
November 18th, 2011 at 12:00 pm
If that pontificating Peters gets to decide whose to be the head arse kicker shouldn’t a push for a 4 year term of government be rushed into urgency, after all the first year will be basically wasted while the prick hangs out to see who offers the best baubles.
November 18th, 2011 at 12:03 pm
Id love to see Winston get 4% again. Wipe out 4% of the idiot vote.
And lets be honest, old people are selfish. They shouldnt be allowed to vote. Take it off em at age 70
November 18th, 2011 at 12:09 pm
If enough people want him back, he’s back – this is called democracy – it’s messy at times, but it works.
November 18th, 2011 at 12:11 pm
(@dime) Nope.
November 18th, 2011 at 12:12 pm
As slippery a politician as Winston is, it cannot be denied he is standing for things that many NZers support.
Keeping assets and farms in NZ hands, getting serious about retirement savings, apprenticeships, minimum wage…
These are things National are not focused on. Hate him as much as you like, but some people do in fact vote on policy. Others vote on charisma – explains (to some at least) why Key AND Winston are popular.
November 18th, 2011 at 12:16 pm
A three legged donkey “works” Mike. Doesn’t mean its a good a racehorse though.
November 18th, 2011 at 12:21 pm
@decanker
But NZ first policies are smoke and mirrors. Spend lots on state welfare and stop people going to Aus, become isolationist and as a whole we will all prosper.
It’s horseshit on a stick
November 18th, 2011 at 12:21 pm
OK, everyone vote for the Conservative party – thanks
November 18th, 2011 at 12:23 pm
Don’t let Winston decide who gets to be the next PM of all New Zealand.
Let an electorate of aucklanders decide!
November 18th, 2011 at 12:25 pm
Cross posted from Tea – Johhn Stringer:
This ridiculous tea cup affair is National’s self-inflicted wound.
The myriad of press secretaries, minders, spin doctors and hangers-on surrounding the PM should know better, much better, not to allow the recording of his private conversations.
They dropped the ball big time on this occasion, and have given oxygen to true parasites like the venal Peters.
November 18th, 2011 at 12:29 pm
ELAYCEE –
If you don’t like Party X’s list, you don’t give party X your party vote. Something you should be doing as a responsible voter is informing yourself about who is on the party lists and whether you think they are worthy.
I’m sorry but I don’t see party lists as a failing of democracy.
Surely it is more fool party X, if they put forward an unpalatble list?
[Edit: hmm, it's gone.]
November 18th, 2011 at 12:31 pm
Graeme Edgeler says: “Because the vote of every person.. ..helps determine who the MPs in Parliament will be.”
Not strictly true. List MPs are not the subject of any vote – they tag along courtesy of the Party vote. The PARTY selection committee decides on the List ranking and therefore the PARTY actually decides the MPs.
For example, why should a sot such as Andrew Williams or dissidents such as Sykes / Bradford /Minto et al, even dream of plonking their butts on the leather seats within our House of Representatives and leeching off the public teat? Simply because MMP gives them an opportunity they would never get on their own merits. If they really want to be an MP they should stand for a contestable seat and let the voters decide whether they are wanted or not. And this should equally apply to all MPs.
MMP is bloody awful.
November 18th, 2011 at 12:31 pm
@ Fletch
With all due respect, I don’t see the Conservatives getting 5% (or Rodney). So, if the Conservatives get anywhere above the 1.1% in last night’s poll, it comes off the centre-right vote.
November 18th, 2011 at 12:33 pm
@RRM: Nah – it wouldn’t allow me to edit my own comment so I just deleted / reposted.
November 18th, 2011 at 12:34 pm
Be interesting to see where the Roy Morgan and Fairfax polls have NZ1st. Will this be Peters ‘teapot tapes’ high water mark or does he have the big mo! It does highlight why I hate MMP – I voted overseas ballot for STV majorbloodnock btw. Sample size matters with small parties. Both polls are sampling between 750 and 1,000 voters. The difference between 3% and 5% could be as few as 4 voters polled saying they switched their support to Peters.
The media’s bias is becoming clearly evident. TV3′s poll showed Labour declining as much as National and yet their headline was the hit Key was taking due to the teapot tapes and how Peters was benefitting. Over at TVNZ their ONCB poll didnt show that (Nats a small blip down and Peters actually down slighty as well) and so they headlined Labour’s 10 year low.
It is clear that NZ1st is benefitting mostly from Peter’s newfound enhanced media profile that was boosted by him being able to be in the minor leader’s debate. The media relies on drama to drive ratings and sell papers and so a steady as she goes cruise to victory by National was nowhere near as sexy as a mini scandal of their own making surrounding the tapes and the prospect of a centre left bloc victory made more possible by Peters crossing the 5% threshhold. Whilst the police involvement gives the tapes story a wee bit more legs, Key and his team will be hoping that they’ve seen off the worst of it. Now in the final week if I were advising Key I’d be getting him to sharpen his message to remind voters what its like to have Winston in the drivers seat. Its time for National and Key to take the gloves off and jog NZers memories!
November 18th, 2011 at 12:34 pm
DPF. Excellent article in the Herald. I am glad you have got your priorities right. The Epsom voters can decide if New Zealand ends up like Greece. I am opposed to some of the loopy libertarian policies but they would do far less damage to the country than the coalition of the loony left.
The is no doubt about in ACT has suffered in Epsom because of the criminal behaviour of some in the media who have contempt for the law.
It would be a real shame for democracy if the election result is determined by the result of criminal behaviour.
November 18th, 2011 at 12:37 pm
Like in 2005 ? (and 2002, 1999, 1996, 1993 )
Don’t worry Chuck, it’s nothing a little retrospective validation can’t fix – not in the public interest to prosecute – Move on.
November 18th, 2011 at 12:45 pm
Will Winston decide again?
Good question. Depends what his next “trick” is to get NZF over 5%.
So far Winston appears to have expended the “dirt” presumably relayed to him via maybe TV3 (eg Brash = odd, Key supposedly agrees on Isaacs as leader and supposedley said the oldies voting NZF are dwindling).
So is that it?
Can he drag this same, lame, info out for another 7 days?
Or will he start “manufacturing” some other “dirt” to keep his profile up in the media (seeing truth is a word he doesn’t understand)? If so, he’d better make sure he doesn’t start to fall fowl of the media in going too far. He still has a lot to answer for (Owen Glen, the $158K etc). The media are fickle at times and a good week for Winnie this week doesn’t necessarily translate to another good week next week, depending on what the topic of the hour is then.
Also media might start asking him about the “stability’ of his NZF Candidates, judging by WhaleOil’s hillarious expose on this blog right now. Classic! And I wasn’t talking about Andrew Williams….
Once Winnie loses his cool, the media will be all over him!
November 18th, 2011 at 12:50 pm
The other day on labour radio the head of grey power was asked a question about what Peters was saying about the tapes. He replied,” if Winston said it , it will be right”. This is the sort of thinking that is out there, just a joke.
Basically only a lefty likes MMP, as nine times out of ten, a Labour led Government would be voted in. Really the majority of the NZ public only think of what is in it for them. One million New Zealanders are overseas and do not vote, majority of them are from the right. That is why the left see only John Key as the threat, and are therefore after his blood, so to speak.
November 18th, 2011 at 12:55 pm
Pete George says:- “That’s a major problem that somehow needs addressed – a significant portion of the media promote mayhem to create stories. They don’t care about the country, all they want is attention and ratings.”
So what would be an effective way to address this perceived problem Pete?
Chuck Bird says:- “It would be a real shame for democracy if the election result is determined by the result of criminal behaviour.”
So asking constituents to manipulate the MMP system and vote for a candidate who doesn’t represent you isn’t a shame for democracy?
November 18th, 2011 at 1:01 pm
Interesting DPF that you and Whale aren’t on the same page over this. Whale is pushing SM.
I hate the list and the constant overhang caused by the Maori Seats. I agree that MP’s need to be voted in, not slipstream in on the coat-tails of a single electorate MP (Peters, Harawira, Dunne, Banks/Hide).
I’m definitely voting for change, but haven’t decided whether to go for PV or STV.
As an aside, I hope that influential bloggers will encourage Parliament to nut out what changes they would make to MMP so that the electorate can make an informed decision about the MMP they would get back.
November 18th, 2011 at 1:02 pm
DPF,
Keeping out Winston is not a sufficient justification for changing an electoral system in my view. The merits of an electoral system should be based on fundamental principles such as proportionality and not be made on the basis of disenfranchising the 4.9% that like Winston. No matter how ridiculous they may be, they should be entitled to representation in Parliament.
All this bleating about the incivility of the Greens and their campaign of vandalism looks a little shallow when opinion on the political right (at least by the indications of comments on this blog) seems almost universal that NZ First supporters should not be represented in Parliament just because Winston is disliked.
Democratic representation would seem to me to be a far more fundamental and important civil right than the right not to have a billboard vandalized. People should be more concerned about our democratic system being fair than whether or not their side wins. This is what the Green Party vandals forgot and it’s what many of you here forget when you advocate for a change in electoral system simply on the basis of denying representation to that 4-5% of New Zealanders who support Winston First and which may result in a leftist government.
November 18th, 2011 at 1:04 pm
Elaycee, the electorate IS a bit daft, but that is the nature of the beast.
If Winston does get over the line +5% he could possibly take a team of 5 with him into parliament. It is premature however to assume that he will go left and form a left leaning coalition. His statements on the record are that he will sit on the crossbenches and provide confidence and supply to the party who gets the most votes which may be on balance National.
There is little to no love between Winston and the left although they will probably grovel absurdly to win his confidence come Nov 26, but we will have to wait and see.
November 18th, 2011 at 1:09 pm
Elaycee,
Simply because MMP gives them an opportunity they would never get on their own merits. If they really want to be an MP they should stand for a contestable seat and let the voters decide whether they are wanted or not. And this should equally apply to all MPs.
But they have got their on their own merits. They convinced a political party to put them on the list and that party derives its legitimate authority from those who vote for that party.
While I have some limited appreciation for local electorates, there is no inherent or fundamental reason why electorate MPs are more deserving simply because their supporters are geographically in the same place as opposed to other voters who are spread out over different electorates.
Also, be a little realistic. Votes for local MPs is also heavily influenced by what party they are in and it is the party which allows them to run for a particular electorate. So lets not pretend that electorate MPs did it all by themselves. Consider NZ First in 1996. They took all Maori electorate seats. Did they take them because of the individuals in those seats? No, they took them because Maori voted for Winston. The same is true for many National and Labour candidates in local electorates.
November 18th, 2011 at 1:11 pm
All Wellington Central candidates support MMP, with the exception of National’s Paul Foster-Bell, who prefers SM.
November 18th, 2011 at 1:19 pm
# Nick R (237) Says:
November 18th, 2011 at 11:29 am
DPF – I find it interesting that you have chosen to focus on Winston as kingmaker, rather than the Maori Party or Peter Dunne or even the Greens or ACT, all of whom will or could have a role in getting National over the line, and all of whom John Key would call before Winston (if he would call Winston at all).
Maori Party can only realistically go left if Labour is able to form a coalition. They can only go right if that’s the only option otherwise I doubt their electorate will forgive them. The Greens too would have to go left if that’s an option and ACT would have to go right. I can’t see ACT supporting a Labour-led coalition.
November 18th, 2011 at 1:20 pm
David – You seem to think the criteria for choosing a political system should be about fairness and being able to select “better” candidates. But fairness in a political system is impossible to achieve (google, for example, Arrow’s theorem) and mistakes are inevitable and can be made by anyone, no matter how qualified they may appear.
The criterion by which a political system should be chosen is not fairness or getting better leaders but how easy it is to remove bad policies and bad leaders without violence. Since no political system can prevent mistakes or deliver ideal leaders we must be able to easily correct mistakes that have already happened and this is how we can actually make progress.
Proportional representation systems, by aiming for fairness or proportionality, make it harder to correct mistakes because it is difficult to vote out a third party that is willing to negotiate with the two most popular parties. One cannot cast a decisive vote to remove bad policies and bad leaders. STV, like MMP, has this problem. Coalitions can happen under FPP, too, but not so commonly and so FPP is the better system for correcting mistakes.
November 18th, 2011 at 1:22 pm
I see the kiwiblog shoal fish moving this way and that trying to divert the dogfish that is Peters.
That s what happens if you do not listen, people stop listening to you.
November 18th, 2011 at 1:23 pm
The thing with Winston deciding in 1996 was that he went with National when there were 67 seats for parties that had campaigned against them. Previously National had won in 1993 with over 60 % of the country voting against them. There was nothing in it for him to go with them unless it really was unworkable on the left due to lack of common purpose, and mutual hatred and suspicion between NZ First , Labour and the Alliance.
At the least there were other crucial players in that decision, it wasn’t all on him.
November 18th, 2011 at 1:26 pm
@jimbob said “Basically only a lefty likes MMP, as nine times out of ten, a Labour led Government would be voted in.”
Five MMP elections thus far, and it’s 2 to the Nats, 3 to Labour. This time around it’s likely to even up at 3 a piece. The facts disagree with your hyperbole.
November 18th, 2011 at 1:30 pm
So true leftyliberal, not even MMP can bring that bunch of useless throwbacks from the ’80′s back into power. I wonder if they’ll get the message this time and clean out the cobwebs.
November 18th, 2011 at 1:34 pm
Only one poll has Winston within striking distance. But this will remove any complacency in those who want a national government. So I am not worried. The pm is running it close that is for sure. I am glad he has held firm on the secret tape. The public do not like the arrogance of the media. The softness in the labour vote is what I find most interesting. The tea cup saga too labour off the airways toothier irritation.
November 18th, 2011 at 1:44 pm
“The is no doubt about in ACT has suffered in Epsom because of the criminal behaviour of some in the media”
I think the criminal behaviour of some in ACT might have had an effect, too.
November 18th, 2011 at 1:49 pm
“So asking constituents to manipulate the MMP system and vote for a candidate who doesn’t represent you isn’t a shame for democracy?”
Scott, go back and read my post. What National is doing in Epsom is not different to what Labour did for Jim Anderton. In any case there is a big difference between using the system to your advantage an serious criminal behavour.
November 18th, 2011 at 2:13 pm
dime 11:30 am Let’s hope so. Last time I was in NZ, I only read the Press in the library. I didn’t watch the TV news at all. I get my NZ news from here, No Minister, and Whale. I did read some farming mags though. They were explicitly right of center. I was pleasantly surprised.
Cheers
David Prosser
November 18th, 2011 at 2:22 pm
@Weihana says: “They convinced a political party to put them on the list and that party derives its legitimate authority from those who vote for that party.”
No they don’t. If I voted (and believe me, I haven’t) for Peters, then I have NOT voted for the piss tank Williams. But because of MMP, Williams can hang off Peters’ coat tails and make it into Parliament. And who put Williams on the list? Winston. Not any voters.
I’d suggest that if you asked any NZF voter (they can be found in most old folks homes) who is the 2nd or 3rd ranked MP on the NZF List, they wouldn’t know. But they will still vote for Peters.
Its all rather sad, really. But that’s the farce of MMP at work.
November 18th, 2011 at 2:25 pm
WP, or no WP, it’s time to dump MMP, and the racially selected seats. Replace it with STV. Add a clause to the relevant acts allowing those with at least 20 hours of paid work ot vote twice. Those on benefits ; or in the public service get one vote.
cheers
David Prosser
November 18th, 2011 at 2:52 pm
More jokes from the despicable crook: http://msn.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10766989&ref=rss
November 18th, 2011 at 3:06 pm
Elaycee,
It’s not about what you think you are voting for, it’s about what you are voting for in actuality. Under MMP we vote for parties and those parties choose the lists. When we give them our vote we are endorsing their list. Whether or not we are familiar with that list is quite irrelevant just as it is irrelevant whether or not we are familiar with the political positions of our local electorate MP. If Winston chooses a certain list candidate and you choose Winston for your party vote then you have endorsed Winston’s choice.
The basic question is do you trust the party you are voting for and therefore do you trust the vetting process they undertake to construct their list. If you give your party vote to Winston then you must trust his selections if you haven’t bothered to research the list he has chosen.
November 18th, 2011 at 3:41 pm
Key’s mask has fallen showing him to be shallow , immature and incompetent. He created the fiasco he is now paying for. The other night on TV , he could hardly speak..How can such a person be a politician? His dream run with the media is over.
People commenting on this article in the Herald were not impressed. They said it was scaremongering and that it should have been labeled a political advertisement. I agree.
November 18th, 2011 at 3:44 pm
joana, you’re not alone, there’s dozens of people making hundreds of comments on the Herald that think the same as you.
Mind you, there’s millions of people not commenting on the Herald because they don’t rate it.
November 18th, 2011 at 4:40 pm
Methinks the polls supporting Winnie are a better measure of how many people have lost their short term memory than they are of support for Winston
November 18th, 2011 at 5:44 pm
Flip flop Winnie. Snake oil salesperson.
November 18th, 2011 at 6:53 pm
What I want to know is why there has effectively been a mainstream media ‘blackout’ on my formal request to the Director of the Serious Fraud Office, Adam Feeley, that the same charges that were laid against former Director of Huljich Wealth Management (NZ) Ltd – Peter Huljich, equally be laid against fellow former Directors of Huljich Wealth Management (NZ) Ltd – Don Brash and John Banks.
‘ONE LAW FOR ALL’ – sort of thing?
Three years ago – when former ACT Party Leader Rodney Hide made a complaint to the SFO against NZ First – that was accompanied by MAN ON THE MOON headlines.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10529827
Although the complaint came to nothing and no charges were ever laid by the SFO against NZ First.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10536944
Spot the difference!
Could it be that in NZ, our democracy actually works according to the ‘golden rule’ (those who have the gold make the rules) and we get the government that the majority of BIG BUSINESS interests want us to have?
I believe that the majority of BIG BUSINESS interests want a National/ACT Government returned in this 2011 General Election.
The evidence upon which I am relying to substantiate this claim, is the NZ Herald On Sunday article dated 13 November 2011, “Biz leaders:policies that pass go” by Susan Edmunds.
KEY points in this article are as follows:
__________________________________________________________________________
FAVORITE POLICY: ONE
Partial sale of state-owned assets (National)
Employers and Manufacturers CE, Kim Campbell
__________________________________________________________________________
FAVORITE POLICY: ONE
Partial sale of state-owned assets (National)
Auckland Chamber of Commerce CE, Michael Barnett
_________________________________________________________________________
FAVORITE POLICY TWO:
Partial sale of state-owned assets (National)
Business Round Table Chairman, Roger Partridge
_________________________________________________________________________
LEAST-FAVOURED POLICY
National awards system (Labour)
Employers and Manufacturers CE, Kim Campbell
______________________________________________________________________
LEAST-FAVOURED POLICY
Capital Gains Tax (Labour)
Auckland Property Investors Association Head, David Whitburn
____________________________________________________________________
LEAST-FAVOURED POLICY
Lifting the minumum wage (Labour)
Business Round Table Chairman, Roger Partridge
____________________________________________________________
LEAST-FAVOURED POLICY
Extension of the Working for Families tax credit (Labour)
No GST on fruit and vegetables (Labour)
Wellington Chamber of Commerce CE, Ken Harris
____________________________________________________________
I wonder if this has had anything to do with mainstream corporate media (until VERY recently) usually portraying ex-Wall St banker and former Head of Derivatives for Merrill Lynch – John Key in the most favorable possible light, and Labour Leader Phil Goff in the worst possible light?
It’s a fair question – isn’t it?
Penny Bright
Independent Candidate for Epsom
Campaigning against ‘white collar’ CRIME, CORRUPTION (and its root cause – PRIVATISATION) and ‘CORPORATE WELFARE’
waterpressure@gmail.com
November 18th, 2011 at 7:26 pm
Penny is going to be the King maker.
November 18th, 2011 at 7:50 pm
dime (3,614) Says:
November 18th, 2011 at 12:03 pm
Id love to see Winston get 4% again. Wipe out 4% of the idiot vote.
And lets be honest, old people are selfish. They shouldnt be allowed to vote. Take it off em at age 70
dime. send us your oldies emails so we can show them what you think of them you selfish junoir upstart.
November 18th, 2011 at 7:52 pm
IMHO it woul;d be a mistake to think that NZ First is only supported by the oldies. You can look at the Labour meetings and the Nats. meetings and they are full of oldies.
Indeed National aren’t known as the party of the Blue rinses for no reason.
November 18th, 2011 at 8:10 pm
The only Water Pressure around here is someone pissing in the wind – again
November 18th, 2011 at 8:18 pm
I’ll most likely vote for Winnie in another three years. Can’t wait for my gold card and all those cheap bus rides.
Fuck transmission gully. Never liked the fuckin Lexus anyway. To many gizmos for an old prick like me. Bring on free public transport I will say.
I’m with you Penny. Just wait till I find my bloody walking stick.
I know I left it round here someplace!!
November 19th, 2011 at 2:17 am
We should be so lucky to share Belgiums experience of a pro-longed absence of active government. An experience where left alone without laws, regulations or anything else legislatable changing the country did just fine.