Remembering our personal political power

23 comments on “Remembering our personal political power ”

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1. One Anonymous Bloke 1

   27 June 2016 at 1:29 pm

   Well said Weka.

   A case in point from NRT:

   …its good to see Parliament standing up against the constitutional abuses of the National government…

   One person can have a large impact.
   • weka 1.1

     27 June 2016 at 2:17 pm

     Nice. Something that probably would go unnoticed by most too.
2. adam 2

   27 June 2016 at 1:57 pm

   I like this, it reminds people that democracy actually takes them to do some work.

   The echo chamber most relevant, I talk to right libertarians overseas all the time, as opposed to the ones here, who I find have fallen into their own echo chamber.

   I find talking or reading what the other side has to say quite useful, and keeps you grounded. Brexit was no shock to me. Nor has the aftermath, of open warfare between factions.

   It has helped solidify a view of the centre having radicals, and rather vicious ones at that. And we have had these radical centrists control politics for some time. With sections of conservatives and social democrats willing at any turn, to crush any full flowering of democracy.
   • weka 2.1

     27 June 2016 at 2:21 pm

     I’ve been especially appreciating your comments over the past few days adam.

     The centre having radicals thing is great. It’s a bit off topic, but can you say more about that? (it may be relevant to the Remain voters who consider themselves moderate too).

     “I like this, it reminds people that democracy actually takes them to do some work.”

     Yep, that’s the one. And it’s not just the politicians that need to be involved.
     • adam 2.1.1

       27 June 2016 at 4:11 pm

       Well the less politicians are involved – the better. In my opinion.

       As for radical centrist – I’m working on something, I’m going to let Bill look at.

       Funny enough it began for me as a jibe at my libertarian mates – for the way they kept getting sold out by a ‘radical centre’ of the Republicans. Then it got thrown back at me, via the actions of the DNC towards the left/socialist inside the Democrat’s. So we had a few discussions – still on going. In other words I’ve been trying to flesh it out.

       Should note, I’m not the only one who has been thinking about this. Kshama Sawant and Chris Hedges used the exact term recently, and re-reading some Murray Bookchin has really pushed me there. I think others are seeing the same thing.
       • Colonial Viper 2.1.1.1

         27 June 2016 at 5:45 pm

         Well the less politicians are involved – the better. In my opinion.

         As for radical centrist – I’m working on something, I’m going to let Bill look at.

         Please do keep in touch with me on this Adam, I am very interested. My political team is working on something as well and perhaps there are synergies between what we have in mind that could be exploited. As it were.
       • weka 2.1.1.2

         27 June 2016 at 6:01 pm

         Look forward to seeing more adam, thanks for the outline and references too.
3. mosa 3

   27 June 2016 at 3:13 pm

   Good points here Weka its all about getting involved and contributing where you can too make a difference.
   For gods sake if kiwis can get behind a rugby team in an expression of nationalisim we can get active in the ways you have suggested.
   The louder the voice the more it gets listened too and real democracy is available to anyone who wants to do their bit to advance it whatever the cause and we have plenty of those on offer.
   Thanks for the reminder, its a perfect time for a call to action.
   • Greg 3.1

     27 June 2016 at 4:11 pm

     Sometimes you just cant beat blind ideology.
     National and the TPPA for instance, the cabinet signs trade deals, and they are only answerable to Key, whose backers want a FTA with America at any cost, even if its a near worthless one.

     Ideology Trumps rationalism= https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galileo_Galilei

     Its all fine being political, but there needs to be clear consistent policy, social agenda,
     and what the Party stands for.
     Not TV sound bites, but policies of substance.

     Getting rid of Zero Hour contracts is possible there, its been done in New Zealand.
     Thats an economic victory for workers.
4. AmaKiwi 4

   27 June 2016 at 4:35 pm

   One more thing you can do:

   Get rich by becoming a lawyer specializing in EU law.

   On a serious note, with the unraveling of globalization will come strident demands for certainty (i.e., dictatorship). This is the greatest danger I see.
   • Greg 4.1

     27 June 2016 at 4:36 pm

     If the EU toothless parliament forces an early Brexit, EU law is worth what?
     • Colonial Viper 4.1.1

       27 June 2016 at 5:00 pm

       EU law still governs a huge amount of commercial, manufacturing, product and service provision within the EU.
       • Greg 4.1.1.1

         27 June 2016 at 5:12 pm

         Well, if it exists it does, dont you think its kind of a gamble now,where do lawyers change profession too?
         • Colonial Viper 4.1.1.1.1

           27 June 2016 at 5:41 pm

           Don’t panic.
           • Greg 4.1.1.1.1.1

             27 June 2016 at 6:05 pm

             Dads Army, Red Drawf, or HMS Titanic…Britain’s former colonies have a lot of great stuff to sell now, and likely pretty cheaply, and with no EU-French regulations to protect there own agriculture interests,
             • Colonial Viper …

               27 June 2016 at 6:26 pm

               Rolls Royce Trent turbofan engines.
         • Stuart Munro 4.1.1.1.2

           28 June 2016 at 1:18 am

           Parliament & city councils mostly.
     • AmaKiwi 4.1.2

       28 June 2016 at 1:11 am

       @ Greg

       Greg, do you have no sense of humor?

       My point is that untangling this Brexit mess will be a bonanza for lawyers who specialize in EU law.

       The Donald is advertising the new Trump University School of EU Law. (Greg, that’s a joke, too.)
5. McFlock 5

   27 June 2016 at 5:28 pm

   Good list.

   I think the nub of it is that it’s all well and good having discussions about things that we will never have any real control over, but we also need to keep an eye out for what little things we can do here, locally or broader than that.

   It might be a party meeting, a petition, a letter to the editor, coins in a bucket, or maybe choosing a better job over a better-paying or better-for-me job.

   I would also add one little thing about getting out of the echo chamber – get into something completely different from your main time-occupier. I’m not sporty at all, but I have a couple of physical hobbies and crafts to get me out of the keyboard-warrior mode. I can talk about more than politics at parties 🙂
6. Pat 6

   27 June 2016 at 6:53 pm

   those are the words of a very concerned individual
7. Incognito 7

   27 June 2016 at 10:12 pm

   Good post and a good list.

   One thing that seems to be taken for granted that shouldn’t is that in New Zealand about one million eligible people couldn’t be bothered to vote at all. Talking about squandering your personal political power!
   • Rocco Siffredi 7.1

     28 June 2016 at 9:16 am

     But they have voted. They voted to accept the result regardless of what it was.
     • Incognito 7.1.1

       28 June 2016 at 10:11 pm

       Many but not all voted. Apparently, millions weren’t even registered and the turnout among the younger ones was especially poor despite the fact that they had most to gain by voting and most to lose by not voting. Go figure!

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