A clear choice for voters

Written By: - Date published: 9:10 am, July 14th, 2017 - 62 comments
Categories: class war, election 2017, labour, poverty, socialism - Tags: , , , , , ,

Support for Labour’s policy from an anonymous Herald editorial:

Labour could spend all National’s tax cut on the needy

Credit where it is due. It takes courage to say that if elected, you will cancel a tax cut.

Yes.

That is what the Labour Party has announced with its promise to direct the money instead to additional spending, particularly on assistance for low income families.

In doing so it has presented the voters with a clear choice which, for those without young families or earning above the income limits, will mean deciding whether to take the tax cut or give the benefit to children of the less well off.

For the well off the tax cut is a meaningless increase. The decision to help those in need should be an easy one.

Most people would gladly donate $10 or $20 a week to a fund that would alleviate child poverty, a subject we hear so much about.

Herald editorial writers “hear so much” about it, a significant proportion of our population experience it, the hard way.

They might wish Labour intended to direct all of that money to poor households rather than retain so much for largely unspecified “public services and infrastructure”.

Indeed they might. We should have a discussion about how to allow that to happen, and raise further revenue for infrastructure. How about a capital gains tax?

Anyway, good to see the message getting out. Enough with the nonsense that there is no difference between National and Labour. Voters are being offered a clear and important choice.

https://twitter.com/grantrobertson1/status/885082349716873218

https://twitter.com/grantrobertson1/status/884879654904938502

62 comments on “A clear choice for voters ”

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  1. Keith 1
    14 July 2017 at 9:22 am

    It is, I hope, the beginning of a clear choice.

    Thus far Labour have been timid, vague and utterly camouflaged in Nationals policy shadow. And missing in action lately too. They need to fight for their survival.

  2. red-blooded 2
    14 July 2017 at 10:02 am

    A commitment to build state houses and help low-middle income earners by providing (more) affordable homes; scrapping tax cuts and promising support for all babies, plus targeted child support; winter heating payments for beneficiaries and superannuitants; increased spending on public health and education; clear policies on rebalancing workplace relations… Labour’s being pretty bold, Keith, and absolutely sticking to their principals. I think most people would see this as a clear choice.

  3. patricia bremner 3
    14 July 2017 at 10:19 am

    Andrew is old Labour, he believes in a “fair go” He is honest and straight forward.
    He is also a negotiator and a thinker as well as a “DOer” GO LABOUR!!!!!

    • WILD KATIPO 3.1
      14 July 2017 at 9:54 pm

      So Who Do You Think You Are Kidding Mr English
      If You Think We’re On The Run?
      We Are The Voters Who Will Stop Your Little Game
      We Are The Voters Who Will Make You Think Again
      ‘Cause Who Do You Think You Are Kidding Mr English
      If You Think New Zealand’s Done?

      Mr Brown Goes Off To Town
      On The Waitemata Boat
      But He Comes Home Each Evening
      And He’s Ready With His Vote

      (So Who Do You Think You Are Kidding Mr English
      If You Think New Zealand’s Done?)

      So Watch Out Mr English
      You Have Met Your Match In Us
      If You Think You Can Crush Us
      We’re Afraid You’ve Missed The Bus
      ‘Cause Who Do You Think You Are Kidding Mr English
      If You Think New Zealand’s Done?

  4. Matthew Whitehead 4
    14 July 2017 at 10:53 am

    Cancelling an unnecessary tax cut isn’t courage when polls of voters consistently suggest they’d rather government spending was at an appropriate level than receive a tax cut. It’s literally just sensible policy, and the least you could do. If they want to be brave, they can announce that they’re amending the BRR and are going to raise taxes if they win to spend on critical priorities like building houses and making sure nobody else dies this year because they’re homeless.

    • Louis 4.1
      14 July 2017 at 12:50 pm

      I thought this was a self defeating comment. raise taxes? Labour doesn’t need to say that. if they win to spend on critical priorities like building houses and making sure nobody else dies? which is exactly what Labour’s policies announced thus far, no doubt with more to come, is wanting to address. This year? Got a magic wand Matthew?

    • Rob 4.2
      14 July 2017 at 1:20 pm

      I don’t see a tax cut yet
      Isn’t that a bribe to vote for the Natz then hope they give you the goodies after they have been devalued by increasing costs over the next nine months.

  5. Cinny 5
    14 July 2017 at 11:17 am

    This morning Jacinda and Judith were discussing this on the AM show.

    Jacinda totally owned Judith, Judith tried and failed, Jacinda you made me feel so proud this morning, keep up the good work.

    Here’s the clip…. they start off discussing the Barry gossip and then move on to the tax cuts for the rich v’s help for those struggling.

    http://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2017/07/high-earners-don-t-want-tax-cuts-ardern.html

    • Warren Doney 5.1
      14 July 2017 at 4:26 pm

      Jacinda has gone well against Paula in interviews too. One of my big fears was that she couldn’t cut it, but she has learned a lot, and gained confidence.

    • Norfolk Traveller 5.2
      14 July 2017 at 8:16 pm

      Cinny I watched the clip and came away with a very different impression. Jacinda constantly talked over Judith (something that never works well with the public), and was weak in her responses to questioning on the Barry Coates issue.

      • WILD KATIPO 5.2.1
        14 July 2017 at 10:05 pm

        Well give her time – after all… do you remember the sniggering , guffawing and insecure Stephen Joyce not just speaking over Grant Robertson but yelling over him?

        And that was his election tactic?

        To diffuse the fatal truths about the incompetency’s of the National govt by putting on such a puerile display ?

        I will never forget that interview. Joyce came out deserving the nickname of the Dildo guy well and truly.

        • Norfolk Traveller 5.2.1.1
          15 July 2017 at 1:53 pm

          Yes it is an unfortunate characteristic of far too many politicians. But the ineptitude of the media has a lot to do with this. A competent interviewer would shut that nonsense down, whoever is doing it.

  6. Ross 6
    14 July 2017 at 1:04 pm

    “Most people would gladly donate $10 or $20 a week…”

    Alas I’m not sure that’s true. Just recently Wayne Mapp was praising Muldoon’s Superannuation folly which of course was popular with many voters. Some voters can’t see past their noses. And some well off think that those living in poverty are doing so out of choice or due to their lack of personal responsibility. I would love, however, to be proved wrong.

  7. Jenny Kirk 7
    14 July 2017 at 1:35 pm

    “Enough with the nonsense that there is no difference between National and Labour. “Voters are being offered a clear and important choice.”

    Yep – its becoming clearer and clearer – and there’s still a way to go. Labour IS different from National and its good to see someone at the Herald finally acknowledging it.

    • Enough is Enough 7.1
      14 July 2017 at 3:08 pm

      Really?

      The targeting from both parties appears to be “look how much money we will return to your back pocket”. It is asking every voter to ask themselves how they will individually be better off.

      For some people they will be better off with Labour’s bribes, with others they will be better off with National’s bribes. That is what this election is shaping up as.

      The framing is identical. With neither of the major parties looking like they intend to offer any vision or to campaign on how New Zealand as a whole will be better off.

      Party Vote Green

      • Siobhan 7.1.1
        14 July 2017 at 3:48 pm

        You could argue that the payments for poorer families will ultimately not leave them better off with no vision to radically reset the economy that takes their money.. all their money.
        Its an extension of the Accommodation Allowance. Money straight to the pockets of landlords to prop up their flawed business plan. Same with house insulation. Great and vital…but ultimately Just an excuse to put up rents.
        Show me a party that will save the average life time renter from the mercies of the landlord class and houses that are just tradable commodities and they’ll get my vote.

        • red-blooded 7.1.1.1
          14 July 2017 at 4:02 pm

          Siobhan, Labour has committed to building more state houses – that’s the only way to ensure private landlords don’t profit from things like the accommodation allowance. The fact is, though, that most rental properties are privately owned, and you’re not going to find a political party that promises to nationalise them, if that’s what you want.

          Besides, this latest set of announcements from Labour was about supporting families and giving extra funding to superannuitants and beneficiaries over winter to help with heating costs. Nothing to do with landlords.

          • Enough is Enough 7.1.1.1.1
            14 July 2017 at 4:55 pm

            Since where were ALL superannuitants, in need of of this kind of assistance?

            My rich parents certainly won’t even notice it landing in their bank accounts.

        • Enough is Enough 7.1.1.2
          14 July 2017 at 4:53 pm

          Exactly

          Extra cash in the hand is a waste of time, if the fundamental reason for them requiring that extra assistance is not addressed.

          I am not saying Labour’s policies are all bad. It is just disappointing that it appears the fight is going to be over convincing the punters that the red or blue team will deliver you more lollies

  8. Chris 8
    14 July 2017 at 2:50 pm

    But the baby and electricity money isn’t going to just the needy

    It’s going to everyone, including the very rich, which is what they are arguing against

    Unless I’m missing something glaringly obvious, which admittedly, wouldn’t be a first

  9. mary_a 9
    14 July 2017 at 3:01 pm

    Tax cuts for the already well off, or look after our own, particularly the vulnerable and those living in impoverishment?

    The election choice I hope will be the latter. Because that’s what a responsible government will do. I’d like to see Labour come out now with more of the same.

    Come on Labour, we’re listening.

    • WILD KATIPO 9.1
      14 July 2017 at 11:00 pm

      While they still have a remnant neo liberal caucus , it is a delicate walk for anyone wishing to advance a ‘ Corbynite’ type return to original Labour party principles. It is going to happen however ,…

      NZ politics is in a state of flux, .. and it takes times for that to work its way through,.. small population , thousands of miles from trading partners, surrounded by ocean , and easily fed bullshit by a a small insular newsmedia…

      But rest assured,.. we are influenced by what happens in England whether we like to admit it or not.

      We all want it yesterday but the facts are this : its going to happen. Maybe not for this generation but certainly for our children’s generation. There are good times ahead. NZ has a great future . It is up to us to get motivated and fall in behind these early attempts at breaking free from globalism and neo liberalism.

      And Labour has that historic mandate to lead the way.

  10. Michael who failed Civics 10
    14 July 2017 at 4:53 pm

    Labour’s policy is necessary, but not sufficient, to establish its credibility with the people. It really needs to dmeonstrate its repudiation of neoliberalism, not by destroying capitalism but by disciplining it and restraining its unregulated excesses. I’d like to see some evidence from Labour that it will tax rentier capitalism, as both Guy Standing and Robert Reich recommend.

  11. Penny Bright 11
    14 July 2017 at 5:00 pm

    UPDATE FROM HER WARSHIP – THE HAGUE 14 July 2017
    5.27 am

    (I know – I should still be sleep:(

    I ended up handing out 80 copies of my following ACTION PLAN to fellow attendees, (on the other side being the recent article by Damien Grant Sunday Star Times 9 July 2017).

    (It has been well-received.

    I have had feedback from a number of attendees that they had no idea that was the situation in New Zealand.)

    This, in my view, is the alternative to a corruption measure bring based upon ‘perception’ (ie: largely the subjective opinions of anonymous business people).

    These are objective yardsticks / milestones that can be used, in my view, to measure corruption REALITY.

    There are actually hundreds of hours of work that have gone into this ONE A4 page.)

    The question is – if New Zealand was truly ‘the least corrupt country in the world’ – wouldn’t we be the MOST transparent?

    So why doesn’t New Zealand already have the following?

    ACTION PLAN TO ENSURE ‘OPEN, TRANSPARENT AND DEMOCRATICALLY ACCOUNTABLE’ NZ GOVERNMENT AND JUDICIARY:

    1) Make ALL ‘facilitation payments’ (BRIBES) illegal.

    2) Legislate to create an NZ independent anti-corruption body, tasked with educating the public and preventing corruption.

    3) Legislate for NZ members of Parliament (who make the rules for everyone else) to have a legally enforceable ‘Code of Conduct’.

    4) Make it an offence under the Local Government Act 2002, for NZ Local Government elected representatives to breach their ‘Code of Conduct’.

    5) Make it lawful, mandatory requirement for Local Government elected representatives to complete a ‘Register of Interests’ which is available for public scrutiny.

    6) Make it a lawful, mandatory requirement for Local Government staff, responsible for property or procurement, to complete a ‘Register of Interests’ which is available for public scrutiny.

    7) Make it lawful, mandatory requirement for Local Government Council Controlled Organisation (CCO) Directors and staff, responsible for property or procurement, to complete a ‘Register of Interests’ which is available for public scrutiny.

    8) Fully implement and enforce the Public Records Act 2005, to ensure public records are available for public scrutiny.

    9) Make it a lawful requirement that a ‘cost-benefit’ analysis of NZ Central Government and Local Government public finances must be undertaken, to prove that private procurement of public services previously provided ‘in house’ is cost-effective for the public majority of tax payers and rate payers.

    10) Legislate for a legally enforceable ‘Code of Conduct’ for members of the NZ Judiciary, to ensure that they are not ‘above the law’.

    11) Legislate to provide a publicly-available NZ Judicial ‘Register of Interests’, to help prevent ‘conflicts of interest’.

    12) Ensure ALL NZ Court proceedings are recorded, with audio records available to parties who request them.

    13) Legislate for a publicly-available NZ ‘Register of Lobbyists, and ‘Code of Conduct’ for lobbyists.

    14) Legislate for a ‘post-separation employment’ (‘revolving door’ ) quarantine period from the time officials leave the public service, to take up a similar role in the private sector.

    15) Legislate to make it a lawful requirement that it is only a binding vote of the public majority that can determine whether public assets held at NZ central or local government are sold, or long-term leased via Public Private Partnerships.

    16) Legislate to make it unlawful for politicians to knowingly misrepresent their policies prior to central or local government elections.

    17) Legislate to protect individuals, NGOs and community-based organisations, who are ‘whistle-blowing’ against ‘conflicts of interest’ and and alleged corrupt practices at central and local government level and within the judiciary.

    18) Legislate to prevent ‘State Capture’ – where vested interests get what they want, at the ‘policy’ level, before laws are passed which serve their vested interests.

    ……
    _____________________________

    Which political parties in NZ
    have such an ACTION PLAN?

    What I would like to see is AS MANY political parties/ groups / organisations and individuals ‘pick up the ball’ here and ‘help themselves’ to as many of these ‘demands’ as possible – so we get AS MANY people as possible calling for genuine transparency and accountability in New Zealand.

    “Where the people lead – the politicians will follow …”

    Politically – we need to CLEAN our country up!

    On the NZ anti- corruption front – this ACTION PLAN gives a clear path forward.

    Please folks – all I ask you to do is read carefully and consider these ACTION PLAN points, and if you agree – please SHARE?

    THANKS!

    Penny Bright

    • Sacha 11.1
      14 July 2017 at 5:21 pm

      “8) Fully implement and enforce the Public Records Act 2005, to ensure public records are available for public scrutiny”

      Yet again, that is not what that law does. And now you’re embarrassing yourself on a world stage with fundamental and repeated ignorance.

      • Stunned Mullet 11.1.1
        14 July 2017 at 5:29 pm

        “Yet again, that is not what that law does. And now you’re embarrassing yourself on a world stage with fundamental and repeated ignorance.”

        To be fair, it is one of Penny’s cure competencies.

      • Andre 11.1.2
        14 July 2017 at 5:32 pm

        Penny actually experiences embarrassment?

      • Stuart Munro 11.1.3
        14 July 2017 at 5:37 pm

        The purposes of this Act are—
        (c) to enable the Government to be held accountable by—
        (i) ensuring that full and accurate records of the affairs of central and local government are created and maintained; and
        (ii) providing for the preservation of, and public access to, records of long-term value; and
        (d) to enhance public confidence in the integrity of public records and local authority records;

        Penny doesn’t seem to have missed the point at all.

        • Sacha 11.1.3.1
          14 July 2017 at 9:41 pm

          Sheesh, haven’t you seen this point here in the last year or so? The PRA is about retaining and preserving records, that is all.

          Access is overwhelmingly controlled by our OIA and LGOIMA laws, not by the PRA. The exception is long-term archives as in (c)(ii) you cited. That is not what Penny is talking about, as she has been told many times. She is an obstinate fool and an embarrassment to progressive activists.

          • Stuart Munro 11.1.3.1.1
            14 July 2017 at 9:50 pm

            So you would say the purpose of the act is not that “government be held accountable” – which seems to be Penny’s objective.

          • WILD KATIPO 11.1.3.1.2
            14 July 2017 at 10:27 pm

            Rather harsh , – what have you done to advance so called progressive politics, – furthermore – what exactly is your definition of ‘ progressive’ ?

            Not everyone may share your perspectives btw , – what Penny Bright does is not only get out there and challenge the TINA narrative but offer some things akin to traditional Labour core values and principles… what have you done in this regard?

  12. Sanctuary 12
    14 July 2017 at 6:17 pm

    This is what happens when for a decade your caucus is full of bourgeoise show ponies, talentless and valueless careerists, and useless stuffed shirts selected because of identity and not talent.

    http://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2017/07/labour-s-confidential-polling-leaked.html

    Labour is on track to catastrophe. If they are lucky, they’ll still be the biggest party after the election. If they tank, they may well be reduced to third place. That is what happens when you have not guts, no fight, no passion and no belief in anything beyond arse kissing the vaunted “centre” and hanging on to your fat salary.

    Timid policies from visionless managerialists, tinkering policies indistinguishable in spirit from National, and a useless, complacent PLP full of no-hopers.

    What a way to go for the party of Savage, Frazer, and Kirk.

    • Ed 12.1
      14 July 2017 at 6:29 pm

      They need to tack rapidly and adopt UK Labour’s policies.

      • Norfolk Traveller 12.1.1
        14 July 2017 at 8:32 pm

        UK Labour has moved left. In NZ Labour is losing support to the Centre (NZF). How will adopting UK Labour policies stem that tide?

        • Ed 12.1.1.1
          14 July 2017 at 8:36 pm

          He got the young to turn up and vote.

          • Norfolk Traveller 12.1.1.1.1
            15 July 2017 at 1:51 pm

            You assume the young will vote left. That doesn’t necessarily follow.

            • Ed 12.1.1.1.1.1
              15 July 2017 at 2:15 pm

              I realise that.
              If there is no socialist vision then the young will look at other alternatives to neoliberalism.

              • Norfolk Traveller …
                16 July 2017 at 7:54 pm

                That’s the point – you don’t know that. How do you know the ‘young’ favour an alternative to current policy direction?

    • RedLogix 12.2
      14 July 2017 at 6:38 pm

      Well NZ1 usually pick up during the run up to an election; but those numbers strongly suggest they’ve come directly off Labour. It is of course just one poll, subject to all the usual caveats around noise etc.

      But as usual I totally agree with your sentiments; if Labour were on a roll to do well in the election, the polling ‘noise’ shouldn’t be negative like this.

      Also the makeup of the NZ electorate has permanently swung in Nationals favour over the past ten years. All the analysis I’ve seen strongly suggests that new immigrants strongly favour voting conservatively.

      • Pete George 12.2.1
        14 July 2017 at 6:46 pm

        It’s not just one poll, they include a chart of results for the year.

        The Newshub report exaggerates Labour’s drop, they compared to 4 polls ago which looks like an outlier on 34%.

        The TV report didn’t mention National but they are on 42% which is at least as newsworthy – but UMR has had them in the low forties since March which is out of step with other polls which have fluctuated a lot more.

        – National 42% (previous 6 results 43, 43, 42, 44, 42, 43)
        – Labour 26% (previous 6 results 28, 28, 34, 30, 32, 29)
        – NZ First 14% (previous 6 results 12, 12, 9, 9, 9, 11)
        – Greens 13% (previous 6 results 13, 12, 13, 13, 13, 12)

        • WILD KATIPO 12.2.1.1
          14 July 2017 at 10:31 pm

          Labour 26%
          – NZ First 14%
          – Greens 13%
          ————————

          53%

          Pike River seems more and more likely to be re – entered, Pete George.

      • Sanctuary 12.2.2
        14 July 2017 at 6:58 pm

        “…Also the makeup of the NZ electorate has permanently swung in Nationals favour over the past ten years. All the analysis I’ve seen strongly suggests that new immigrants strongly favour voting conservatively…”

        I totally disagree with this. For a start, only the bourgeoise see the rest as a monolithic, undifferentiated mass. There are plenty of suffering migrants, working in third world conditions and treated as badly by their own kind as surely as any imagined white oppressor could manage. Perhaps you need to take a reality check, to check those fires of socialism havn’t dimmed to a dull glow peaking out from the ashes of conformism?

        What has happened is the ruling class and it’s organs of control have become more frankly and intensely ideological than ever, and this doubling down of control of thought and limits of debate are both a conscious political and unconscious cultural reaction to the failure of capitalism and the cruel logic of class politics. The media nowadays more or less completely eschews coverage of poverty, unemployment, suicide etc etc except when these may intrude into the bubble of the ruling class talking to itself.

        And this has occurred precisely at the moment the supposed standard bearer of resistance to capitalism – the Labour party – has completed capitulated to the establishment, becoming a right wing party whose MPs are timid, law abiding members of the bourgeoise and who have zero stomach for the hard yards required to fight capitalism. Can anyone here imagine Jacinda Ardern spending a year in jail for opposing legislation, like Peter Frazer did? Hah! She’d miss Coco’s Cantina to much! Can anyone here imagine Andrew Little, on being told the unemployed had used union furniture as weapons in a riot down Queen street saying that he couldn’t imagine a better use of union property?

        None of Labour’s betrayal and move to the right would matter to tribal supporters, though, if they at least had had the fucking wit to see the centre has collapsed and the left is back in fashion, that socialism can again be spoken of proudly in the halls of power. Utimately, Labour’s imminent death won’t be because the electorate has become more right wing – it will be because when the electorate came looking for something new from the traditional party of radical change, all it found was a bunch of navel gazing fools bickering amongst themselves about sexuality, gender, identity and the nuances of tinkering with the status quo.

    • Anne 12.3
      14 July 2017 at 7:51 pm

      This is what happens when for a decade your caucus is full of bourgeoise show ponies, talentless and valueless careerists, and useless stuffed shirts selected because of identity and not talent.

      Yes, there’s some truth in ‘them thar’ comments. Labour has gone too far down the identity politics road. Plenty of people have tried to tell them over the years – including me – but it’s been a case of banging one’s head against a brick wall.

      When the “man ban” policy was raging a few years back, I tried to tell one of the women involved (not an MP) it was a mistake. My argument was based on the easily foreseeable response from Labour’s enemies (including the MSM) and I suggested it was something you got on with doing quietly and without publicity. My copybook was permanently blotted and I was forthwith dumped from any position of influence within that section of the party anyway.

      When you add the PC nature of much of their rhetoric, then it isn’t surprising they are not making headway in the popularity stakes. I’m also on record telling them to “for god’s sake get a bit mongrel” and that never went down very well either. 🙁

      • RedLogix 12.3.1
        14 July 2017 at 8:00 pm

        Your sounding like ‘him of Asian descent whose name shall not be mentioned around here anymore’. 🙂

        • Anne 12.3.1.1
          14 July 2017 at 8:16 pm

          Well ‘him whose name shall not be mentioned around here anymore’ actually had a good point there, but the problem with ‘him whose name shall not be mentioned around here anymore’ is: he took his anti-Labourism down a long, dark and dangerous road which eventually lead to Trumpism.

          • Zeroque 12.3.1.1.1
            14 July 2017 at 9:16 pm

            I’m unsure what is happening re the immigrant vote intentions. And of course that covers new and well established immigrants who may be better called NZ’ders, as could some recent arrivals if that makes sense. For some landing here I’m sure more of the same policies would look much better than what they have had and depending upon where they have come from, more government maybe instinctively good in such times but for some, less government might be viewed as desirable. Whatever the case politically it’s taking NZ from a Pakeha/Maori/polynesion society to a truly international flavour which I really think we need to get used to. But the challenge as always is to ensure a decent standard of living for all.

            • Anne 12.3.1.1.1.1
              14 July 2017 at 9:30 pm

              There is one common factor especially among Chinese immigrants and that is their tendency to vote for the incumbents in power. From their perspective its better to stay on side with the governing party. Hence it is not surprising National may be the party of choice for many of them. In the event of a change of government then they would probably change their vote. It might take a generation for them to comprehend its not the way we do it in European style democracies.

              • WILD KATIPO …
                14 July 2017 at 10:39 pm

                You’re onto it.

                And cynically – this is EXACTLY why the National party are loathe to cut that lifeline to power off. And the price for that ?

                A fractured NZ society with a monied landlord class that parasites on the rest of us.

                • WILD KATIPO …
                  15 July 2017 at 12:09 am

                  And btw – I support the ‘him whose name shall not be mentioned around here anymore’ ..

                  He spoke more wisdom than a whole bunch of you Clinton Foundation supporting ‘ arms to ISIS ‘ wannabe leftists ever did.

                  You only select what fits in with your globalist brainwashed agendas – which is sad because you sell out to globalist media narratives while saying you oppose it.

                  You are the type to turn on a dime against any long term servers against fascist hierarchy dissenters who oppose your agendas- such as Wikileaks , Julian Assange , and worst of all – John Pilger.

                  Hang your heads in shame.

                  • McFlock …
                    15 July 2017 at 12:23 am

                    He also had a weird fixation with democrats eating cheese pizza.

                  • Stuart Munro …
                    15 July 2017 at 1:09 am

                    I didn’t mind most of his eccentricities – but embracing Putin is a bridge too far.

                    I think he caught the wrong edge of the fake news phenomenon and will be wiser in years to come.

              • Gabby …
                15 July 2017 at 2:10 pm

                Labour should add a bit of gold to their logo to attract good fortune at the polls.

    • Norfolk Traveller 12.4
      14 July 2017 at 8:30 pm

      Those numbers explain the Greens outbursts about NZ First in recent days. And they indicate that Labour is losing votes not to the left but to the centre.

    • WILD KATIPO 12.5
      14 July 2017 at 10:49 pm

      @ SANCTUARY.

      You may not like ‘ incrementalism ‘ , however , …

      Labours policy to introduce a Living wage first with the public sector will put pressure on the private sector to follow suit. This will strengthen the hand of Trade Unions.

      And we know this is true by the squawking and squeals of the NZ Initiative and the MBIE recently . They , … the surreptitious motivators of the National party deemed it right to emerge from the shadows and issue a public statement opposing Labour’s policy’s.

      And if they feel so motivated to do so , – I am even more motivated to vote against what they want just to fuck them up. They are the biggest cancers to ever lobby the corridors of Parliament in NZ.

      The more the NZ Initiative feels pain the greater my joy.

  13. Sanctuary 13
    15 July 2017 at 2:22 pm

    “…You may not like ‘ incrementalism ‘ , however , …

    Labours policy to introduce a Living wage first…”

    I guess what I am looking for is ONE signature policy that really sets the cat amongst the pigeons. A policy that sends a shiver down the back of the boss class. Here is a (for me) topical one, since I suffered through yet another powercut yesterday.

    NZ electricity generation and production is a mess. A dozen or so companies provide generation, distribution and retail in a forced experiment in competition that is an idiotic ideological triumph over common sense. We have gone from having some of the cheapest power in the world to some of the most expensive. The companies are laws unto themselves.

    A signature, bold, Corbyn like policy would be to announce deregulation has failed the people of New Zealand and they will all be re-nationalised, and re-tasked with new goals like sustainable production and lowest possible price. Promise to introduce winter billing caps for large families and the elderly. Have huge billboards saying that under Labour, your power bill need no longer keep you cold in winter or awake at night. That is socialism in action – freedom from worry, and freedom from want. A policy that keeps the many warm at the expense of the few. Electricity is a basic human right, and no one should fear their power bill simply because they want to keep warm. Defend it in those terms.

    THAT is a bold, left wing policy. And the neolibs would hate it.