Post by Kiwi Frontline on Sept 10, 2017 18:22:25 GMT 12
ELECTION 2017: IDEALISM VS REALISM
Last week we looked at the economic policies of the Parliamentary parties – see HERE. This week we dig deeper into the party manifestos.
While the Labour Party has changed its cheer leader, its policies and loyalties remain the same. It is proposing major reforms of the workplace to reward its trade union affiliates. While their influence within the party is clearly evident, this has received little mention in the media.
Another matter largely escaping the attention of political commentators is the extent to which Labour is undermining the Green Party, by ruthlessly appropriating Green policies and promoting them as their own.
It now appears that behind the smiling faces that announced the Memorandum of Understanding between the two parties last year, the daggers were drawn, with both planning on strengthening their position at the expense of the other.
The first to make a move was the Greens. When Labour was falling in the polls under the leadership of Andrew Little, Metiria Turei targeted their social justice supporters with her admission of benefit fraud and plans to overhaul the welfare system. Ironically it was the rising fortunes of the Green Party that led to Labour’s leadership change.
Now it is Labour that is moving into the Green Party’s territory and targeting their supporters. Clearly Labour wants to win back Green voters, so it can achieve its goal of being the first cab off the rank when it comes to post-election coalition talks.
This green and red battlefield has some parallels with the exchanges between National and New Zealand First – but more on that later.
If the polls are correct and Labour leads a new coalition Government, the country will face a significant change in direction........
Continue reading Dr Muriel Newman’s latest NZCPR newsletter here > www.nzcpr.com/idealism-versus-realism/#more-24138
Last week we looked at the economic policies of the Parliamentary parties – see HERE. This week we dig deeper into the party manifestos.
While the Labour Party has changed its cheer leader, its policies and loyalties remain the same. It is proposing major reforms of the workplace to reward its trade union affiliates. While their influence within the party is clearly evident, this has received little mention in the media.
Another matter largely escaping the attention of political commentators is the extent to which Labour is undermining the Green Party, by ruthlessly appropriating Green policies and promoting them as their own.
It now appears that behind the smiling faces that announced the Memorandum of Understanding between the two parties last year, the daggers were drawn, with both planning on strengthening their position at the expense of the other.
The first to make a move was the Greens. When Labour was falling in the polls under the leadership of Andrew Little, Metiria Turei targeted their social justice supporters with her admission of benefit fraud and plans to overhaul the welfare system. Ironically it was the rising fortunes of the Green Party that led to Labour’s leadership change.
Now it is Labour that is moving into the Green Party’s territory and targeting their supporters. Clearly Labour wants to win back Green voters, so it can achieve its goal of being the first cab off the rank when it comes to post-election coalition talks.
This green and red battlefield has some parallels with the exchanges between National and New Zealand First – but more on that later.
If the polls are correct and Labour leads a new coalition Government, the country will face a significant change in direction........
Continue reading Dr Muriel Newman’s latest NZCPR newsletter here > www.nzcpr.com/idealism-versus-realism/#more-24138