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Post election thoughts (2 of about 3)
Nov. 29th, 2011 08:14 amWinston Peters / New Zealand First
I pointed out in my previous post why this is not the miraculous resurrection it's claimed to be. The ACT/NZ First dichotomy of the 2008 election dramatically demonstrated how our MMP cap still needs moved down towards better proportional representation.
As with any democratic system it's a given that there are going to be a bunch of people you don't like elected to government (they're called politicians - [ba-doom tish]). Importantly there are going to be views that you are strongly opposed to represented, and for the more thoughtful voter this exposure provides opportunity to reflect and refine their own position.
Winston Peters may be something of a populist relic, but in having a Government determined to legislate-and-be-damned in the best traditions of governments elected under FPP it may be valuable to have someone experienced in that style of opposition. Labour does still have people from that era - where were they the last 3 years you may ask - as I see it they tried to be an MMP-style opposition ie co-operate with government towards your goals - and lost out because the NZ zeitgeist is still that except for clear emergencies the Opposition. does. not. cooperate. with. Government. ever.
If Winston would only use his oratory skills to oppose with facts rather than with rhetoric and bullshit :( I do not look forward to hearing his sound-bites on the news for the next 3 years, but he has a legitimate right to be in Parliament.
I pointed out in my previous post why this is not the miraculous resurrection it's claimed to be. The ACT/NZ First dichotomy of the 2008 election dramatically demonstrated how our MMP cap still needs moved down towards better proportional representation.
As with any democratic system it's a given that there are going to be a bunch of people you don't like elected to government (they're called politicians - [ba-doom tish]). Importantly there are going to be views that you are strongly opposed to represented, and for the more thoughtful voter this exposure provides opportunity to reflect and refine their own position.
Winston Peters may be something of a populist relic, but in having a Government determined to legislate-and-be-damned in the best traditions of governments elected under FPP it may be valuable to have someone experienced in that style of opposition. Labour does still have people from that era - where were they the last 3 years you may ask - as I see it they tried to be an MMP-style opposition ie co-operate with government towards your goals - and lost out because the NZ zeitgeist is still that except for clear emergencies the Opposition. does. not. cooperate. with. Government. ever.
If Winston would only use his oratory skills to oppose with facts rather than with rhetoric and bullshit :( I do not look forward to hearing his sound-bites on the news for the next 3 years, but he has a legitimate right to be in Parliament.
