I reckon there’s a mood developing. People are getting sick and tired of what feels like a government that’s got the country in reverse.
But what they’re looking for is an alternative. Increasingly people are starting to ask of the opposition “So what are you going to do differently?” They’ve asked it in relation to sow crates. They’ve asked it in relation to public servants being banned from protesting.
And I’ve just received Phil Goff’s latest email newsletter and now I’m asking it in relation to Labour’s plan for jobs. Goff says:
Job security is the number one issue for New Zealanders at the moment. My two sons are tradesmen and my daughter works in a government department. Like all parents I am concerned about the effects of the recession on jobs. With unemployment forecast to climb to more than 8 per cent, Labour is focused on keeping Kiwis in work. New Zealanders need more urgent action on jobs from the Government.
I agree the Nats don’t have a clue. Cycleway? Pitiful. McJobs? Short-sighted. But I want to know more than that the Nats are making mistakes, I want to know what Labour would do differently if it got my vote. The thing is, I’m not convinced that the centre will shift Labour’s way by ‘default’. It’s not enough to show us where the government is going wrong. Why not tell us what you’ve got in mind instead?
Maybe you’re waiting for the Right Timeâ„¢. Maybe you think they’ll nick your ideas. But so what? Neither of these is a good reason to risk squandering the goodwill of a growing number of anti-rightwing activists. It’s pretty clear that National’s honeymoon is over. People are now looking to rally behind a tangible, exciting alternative to a do-nothing Key government. The first thing you need to do is to give them one. The votes will follow.
Powered by WPtouch Mobile Suite for WordPress