Posts by WH
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Hard News: The Hager saga continues, in reply to Caleb D'Anvers,
We’re seeing the End of History, politically speaking, and pacé Fukuyama, it’s not liberal democratic capitalism, it’s Putinism
Bill Clinton and Obama won two terms, Tony Blair and Helen Clark won three. The UK Labour Party is leading in the polls and is currently favoured to win the 2015 election; Hillary Clinton is likely to be competitive in 2016. What you've said is beautifully crafted, but I don't think the ebb and flow of the left's fortunes is a harbinger of general decline.
While out of power, maybe the left could focus on building its own private sector influence in the way the cooperative movement did 150 years ago. The New Zealand left can always use more reliable, practical and popular public figures who embody our principles and who are capable of pulling soft support home. It's not just a job for politicians.
We haven't really given this our best shot yet.
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I hope that Labour will find a voice and agenda that's compatible with it attracting 40% - 50% support. While centre-left positioning sometimes creates friction between idealists and pragmatists, there's nothing ideal about a fourth term of a National-led government.
Given that National's policies so blatantly privilege narrow constituencies, there must be ways of talking about matters of common interest (housing, transport, jobs, wages and the economy, the cost of living, etc) that can swing 20% of the vote from blue to red.
While I'm sure there will be many opportunities to work together when highlighting the Government's failings, Labour needs to appeal to a much broader section of society that the Greens currently can.
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I don't agree , but I guess we'll just have to wait and see if it has been saved by QE etc. to infinity.
The fallout of the financial crisis was managed by Obama and Gordon Brown. It was far from perfect, but it wasn't out and out corrupt.
However far-reaching your take might be, if you want to change the structure of the economy you are going to have to win a mandate to govern.
Last night we heard on the news from Phil Twyford regarding the measley 5 houses National have built under their housing plan but nothing of the thousands they plan to sell.
Yeah - this is really disappointing. New Zealand should be a place where everyone has an affordable roof over their head and where every working couple can afford their own home.
I'm actually not hugely interested in the outcome of the leadership contest, I just want to see Labour consistently communicate with the public in ways that move the needle. I don't think its strategy has to be centrist, but it needs to be capable of influencing National's soft support.
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Can they also have a look at what Team Key are jumping all over while they figure out whose going to lead them somewhere.
National has the numbers to pass whatever it wants. Short of an unlikely mobilisation of public opinion, the Government will be able to ratify the agreement if it chooses to.
I don't know much the law of withdrawal from international agreements, but in political terms can we do much more than build the TPPA into the critique of National's economic management for use in the next election?
I think we just need to let Labour's leadership process run its course. Without knowing enough about the various viewpoints to have a favourite, I thought the advice about measuring twice and cutting once was right.
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In other words, it’s all deliberate. Robbing the poor and giving to the rich is all part of the plan.
Saving the financial system was the goal - asset price inflation was just a means to an end. Self interest is a defining feature of capitalism, even if it often shows up as a bug.
Labour has shown that it can manage the economy and consistently run surpluses. It just needs another chance to implement its ideas.
Frustration with the status quo is not going to change anything on its own - the energy needs to be channelled into something constructive. For Labour, this means focussing on people, issues and policies that meet voters where they are.
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pontification has become the new national pastime
Has it?
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It must be hard to pitch Hageresque allegations knowing that they are likely to be held in abeyance by readers already awash in a sea of unreliable opinion.
I guess you just have to build up trust in credible media sources over time.
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Speaker: An Open Letter To David Cunliffe, in reply to mark taslov,
I actually did see your suggestion that the Labour Party model itself on Robert Muldoon.
I'm going to leave it there.
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Speaker: An Open Letter To David Cunliffe, in reply to mark taslov,
Mark, you've posted more than two dozen marginally relevant or completely off topic comments. You've already been warned by the moderator. If you want people to think that you are deliberately derailing this thread, by all means carry on.
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The theory that Cunliffe is solely responsible for Labour's defeat or even its main cause seems outlandish to me.
I agree with a version of this argument, but am willing to listen to the feedback people like James and Stephen received during the campaign as well.
We're not clairvoyant, so we're not going to be able to determine who'd actually make the best leader in advance. You can only put your best foot forward.
As Sophie mentioned, I hope the process can be carried out in a way that reflects the party's goals and values.