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Bart Janssen, in reply to
I’d hoped for a post here to throw some light on Russell Brown’s comment that the result seems “disastrous … for the prospects of the centre-left”. How is having a strong base with unions and Maori damaging for the projects of the ‘centre-left’? Who then is the ‘centre-left’ , and what are these ‘prospects’ which have been so tragically annihilated?
The problem I have, and I don't speak for Russell, is that Cunliffe purportedly had exactly the same backing of the unions and the party. Yet under his leadership Labour lost the party vote in safe Labour electorates and turned in a pathetic election result.
As someone who is somewhat afraid of what an unopposed National government will do to this country in the next three years I'm concerned that Little will not garner the support of the voting public sufficiently to prevent another National dictatorship in the next election.
That's why I feel the way I do about the result. I recognise that there is a significant group who strongly believe that all you need to win an election is the union and Maori vote. That group is very happy with the result.
For what it's worth I hope I'm wrong, but everything I've heard about Little suggests the next election will go very similarly to the one just past.
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nzlemming, in reply to
Less than 24 hours after the result of our leadership election has been announced? I think it’s okay to keep on talking it over for a few days.
It's not that they're talking, it's the way they're talking...
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BenWilson, in reply to
Cunliffe purportedly had exactly the same backing of the unions and the party. Yet under his leadership Labour lost the party vote in safe Labour electorates and turned in a pathetic election result.
I don't think there is an Anyone But Little party, though. It would seem that Cunliffe had serious personal antagonism issues with a great deal of the leadership. This isn't Cunliffe 2.0 yet. For starters, the guy has 3 years to do his business. But unlike Shearer in the same position, he looks good to go, rather than someone direly in need of media training, pronto.
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Katharine Moody, in reply to
Wow, he’s talking UBI. Now I officially actually like him.
Yes, nice to hear him mention Gareth Morgan and the Big Kahuna - it shows he doesn't just discount radical ideas in favour of the safer status quo.
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Craig Ranapia, in reply to
“What we won’t be doing is what he has done now for so long, which is give the appearance of a happy-go-lucky chappy but run the vilest, nastiest smear machine we have ever seen in New Zealand politics. We will be calling him out on that.”
BAM! PROVE THAT ONE DEFINITION OF INSANITY IS DOING THE SAME OLD SHIT AND EXPECTING A DIFFERENT RESULT!
National would be foolish to make the same mistake with Little that Labour did with Key, but the smartest thing he could do is sharpen up and focus. Especially when the last week or two hasn't exactly been bereft of low-hanging fruit for the Opposition -- Roger Sutton, the very bad look of Air New Zealand dumping regional services after boasting a $250 million profit (and a special dividend to its shareholders, including the Government), and that convicted murderer/child abuser who came horribly close to becoming New Zealand's answer to Ronnie Briggs.
Those aren't only things people DO care about, but which really need an Opposition who is doing its damn job.
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Grant McDougall, in reply to
Wow, he’s talking UBI. Now I officially actually like him.
What's "UBI" please ?
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Universal Basic Income.
http://www.bigkahuna.org.nz/ -
Sacha, in reply to
Universal Basic Income
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basic_income -
Andrew Little has said that the raising of Super Age and the CGT were good ideas but too many such policies were offered to the electorate during the election. Therefore fewer policies - for now. CGT and Super will still on the agenda.
And a big hooray for the UBI which should have been discussed by everyone much more when Gareth published the book Bigkahuna. If Andrew can get that in the discussion pages that would be a great effort. (Sadly it would just about wipe out the Social Welfare Department. How sad.) -
Joe Wylie, in reply to
the penicillin is mightier
than the swardThere's mould in them there pills....
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Katharine Moody, in reply to
(Sadly it would just about wipe out the Social Welfare Department. How sad.)
Yes, to my mind, its most redeeming quality! Additionally as Gareth commented when speaking on it to the NZ Society of Accountants - they too would (largely) be out of a job - were his proposal of CCT implemented.
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Paddy Gower has thought out loud that the unions are wagging the Labour dog.
I then tweeted a fair bit of stuff about trade unions and conspiracy theories, in particular about Henry Ford’s anti-Semitic beliefs about unions being a ’Jewish conspiracy’.
Gower immediately favourited and retweeted all of them. If he does irony and satire, all good… if not, then start reaching for your brown pants.
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I am just listening to Little on Radio NZ climbing into SSC and the Ian Rennie/Roger Sutton cover-up.
After six long years, we finally have a decent opposition leader.
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Seriatim, in reply to
Thanks for that. I am not part of the group who 'strongly believe that all you need to win an election is the union and Maori vote", and feel sure that he will broaden his support - particularly if he continues as he has started today. Talk about hit the ground running. A great interview this morning and ave just listened to his eloquent, impassioned rant about the appalling behaviour of Roger Sutton and his mates. Stirring!
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Joe Wylie, in reply to
Especially when the last week or two hasn’t exactly been bereft of low-hanging fruit for the Opposition – Roger Sutton
That would be an abrupt and apparently opportunistic change of tack. If there’s been an unspoken bipartisan agreement to treat any issue as a no go area it’s Sutton’s role with CERA. Even Ruth Dyson appeared to go along with this, despite being caught up in Sutton’s blatantly dictatorial overreaching of his powers.
Apart from her appreciation of Sutton’s apparently constructive engagement with the Council’s current CEO, Lianne Dalziel’s eulogy from early this week tapped once again into the reservoir of goodwill from Sutton’s post-quake glory days as CEO of Orion, something that’s been sadly squandered since he accepted the poison chalice of CERA.
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Sofie Bribiesca, in reply to
I am just listening to Little on Radio NZ
Can anyone put that up. Sacha, thanks for this mornings. I have a packed up house and wouls appreciate listening.
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What a bunch of anti-union horse shit from the MSM and people who should know better. How about basing opinions of Andrew Little on some sort of experience of working with the guy?
Here's my experience - for what its worth: I worked with him when I was a journalist delegate in the EPMU during a very unsettled period of labour relations. Andrew was cool - not hip - just calm, rational and inclusive. As delegates we were never bullied or manipulated by him and his team - he always came across as working for us in our best interests. His organisational skills were good - and best of all he always came across as honest. His ability to work with the most intransigent arseholes (my words not his) from the management side amazed me. He always understood that they had a business to run and that profit AND survival were their goals. He never seemed to take anything that was dished up to us all personally.
Like John Key before him...a man that to me has no charisma...you might all be surprised by what he can do. Hell...even Paula Bennett has proved herself to be an awesome politician (unfortunately).
Then again...I could be wrong...after all I'm just a unionist.
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Tom Semmens, in reply to
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And another thing. What's wrong with a Union. Unions help many who find it difficult to express themselves to superiors, just as was pointed out about the person who laid the complaint about Sutton in that fear seems to be amongst the Public service. Fear of losing a job. Unions are there for the people. For fair wages, for friggin tea breaks. We need them, to deal with zero hour contracts, a liveable wage, a voice for the people currently being undermined by this Nactional Government. What's wrong with a Union?
I don't need one and I'm not Maori but I certainly feel comfortable having Unions represent the people. To think otherwise is just stingy.
I'd also like to point out, We vote for Parties .Labour is a group of people all attempting to represent like minded people. All 4 contenders were in Labour because they believe in that Party. Surely now a leader is in place, the support by the other 3 should be a given or it will be seen as 3 who only wanted to be Leader and dam the rest of Labour. I also feel Parker has a forte in Finance and now he's not the Leader, it's a shame he doesn't consider the Partie's need for a good finance person next. It just seems sad. That was Clarke and Cullen's success. Good team work. One didn't want the other one's job. I think Little can organise Labour. I wish them the best. -
Sofie Bribiesca, in reply to
Ta
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Ben Clark 2, in reply to
That's not quite true Andrew.
The *elected* executive of the union consult with members and then make a recommendation.
Then the elected delegates of the Union Conference consult with their members locally and cast their votes taking all that into consideration.
It may not be one member, one vote - rather union solidarity - But it's not some unelected executive providing a bloc of votes either.
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Sofie Bribiesca, in reply to
What a bunch of anti-union horse shit from the MSM and people who should know better. How about basing opinions of Andrew Little on some sort of experience of working with the guy?
Oh you beat me to it and I haven’t even listened to anyone yet :)
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Anthony Behrens, in reply to
Like
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Ben Clark 2, in reply to
I'm sorry, that's just wrong.
UK Labour started a 1/3:1/3:1/3 caucus:members:affiliates voting at the start of the 80s.
Tony Blair and a number before him were elected under that system.
Until Milliband (Ed) beat Milliband (David) in 2010 all 3 parts of the electoral college voted the same way.
There Ed beat David in much the same way as Andrew beat Grant (but the margins on all 3 parts were smaller). And Ed is getting the "there because of the unions" gumph.Of course, if a leader does well, no-one will care how he was elected.
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Andrew Geddis, in reply to
It may not be one member, one vote – rather union solidarity – But it’s not some unelected executive providing a bloc of votes either.
Sure. I know the theory. But I've been in a union long enough to know the reality, too.
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