… will be one that has effective policies to make a more equal society, will seriously address the concerns of those least well-off, and not just pander to the narrow concerns of people on, or who aspire to, (comfortable) middle incomes.
This means policies to
* increase the amount of state houses
* ensure affordable rents for those who need or want them
*ensure secure and safe housing for all
* ensure jobs are available for all who need/want them
* re-construct worker friendly and fair employment laws and policies
* rework social security so that it ensures true social security for all New Zealanders
* ensure those most at risk of living in poverty have the concerns taken seriously and relevant policies to ensure they are fully included in our community and social provisions: those at most being Maori, Pacific people, and low income women, especially those with young children.
* ensure that services provided by WINZ and ACC work for New Zealanders, and end the punitive and restrictive approach to responding to the needs of New Zealanders that have been honed by Key’s government
* acknowledge the positive contribution to society and its economy of unpaid work: such as child rearing, care of the elderly, the sick, and those with disabilities, participation in various local and community organisations
* ensure all Kiwis have sufficient income to live on, and to participate in society and local communities
* make a quality education available to all (early childhood, schools, job training, university courses, adult education) throughout their lives
* ensure that all our young people have access to quality education, work, and housing, as a basis for their future lives
* ensure independent and democratic local authorities that serve all of their communities
* ensure democratic governance at a national level
* re-construct public service broadcasting, integrated with online ondemand media and news services
* ensure democratic processes, and the protection of the rights of individuals and organisations in relation to state surveillance services
* ensure that NZ sovereignty is not over-ridden by international trade agreements – meaning that the content of the TPP needs to be made public
* end the selling of state assets and begin to work to return the powercos to the state
These are some of the most crucial in terms of influencing my party vote, with the ones in red bold having the highest priority. Other provisions support these priorities and ensure they are achievable. Economic and financial policies should follow from these highest priorities and ensure they are achievable.
So far, my party vote is still with the Greens, as they come closest to meeting my list of priorities:
* on housing;
* on policies to ensure everyone has “decent work, a living wage and [is] treated with respect”
* on advocacy for those on lowest incomes, families with children in poverty: Kevin Hague’s recent post, “Reducing child poverty is the best investment”
* on advocacy for education: Catherine Delahunty post, “Ideas from Green education forum”
The arguments for a more fair, inclusive and equitable society are already out there. They are in the book, The Spirit Level (Part Six), as reviewed by Bunji in a series of posts on The Standard in 2010. (Part One; Part Two, Part Three; Part Four; Part Five).
The arguments were addressed in E W Thomas’s Bruce Jesson lecture this year: “Reducing inequality: a strategy for a cause“.
The issue of the inequality gap was presented in a graphic and easily understood an Inside New Zealand documentary on TV3 earlier this year, Bryan Bruce’s “Mind the Gap”.
These are the kinds of policies and arguments that need to be highlighted and promoted in order for New Zealand to be a livable and secure place for the future of everyone.
And we need a slogan/phrase that can be used and re-used, in order to hang a whole raft of values and policies on. Any ideas?
Powered by WPtouch Mobile Suite for WordPress