Next Election

[solitaire]

I dont think MMP can ever work... all that end up happening is the maori part or the greens holds one of the major parties to ransom over some rubbish policy...

[Mad Murphy]

I dont think MMP can ever work... all that end up happening is the maori part or the greens holds one of the major parties to ransom over some rubbish policy...

Indeed, I've been saying this for ages. If I had my way I'd have all of them shot.

[tsoob]

Why not vote for a minority if you dont like labour or national.

Only way mmp will work properly if the minority parties get in.

good point, if you dont vote at all you give up the right to complain about any issues regarding government period

[Al]

I dont think MMP can ever work... all that end up happening is the maori part or the greens holds one of the major parties to ransom over some rubbish policy...

Ontario recently rejected MMP for their provincial elections. They must have looked at NZ and seen what not to do.

[Simon K]

Why not vote for a minority if you dont like labour or national.

Only way mmp will work properly if the minority parties get in.

good point, if you dont vote at all you give up the right to complain about any issues regarding government period

What about taxpayers? They fund the government and it's mistakes.

I believe that if all the options are crap, why waste a vote on parties that you do not feel will do the best job?

[rolla_fxgt]

I dont think MMP can ever work... all that end up happening is the maori part or the greens holds one of the major parties to ransom over some rubbish policy...

Some want the 5% threshold lowered to 1 or 2%, so there's more representation in parliament!

Can anyone imagine having the miligicarty serious party or destiny in parliament trying to make rules?

I think monkeys would make better laws

MMP could work if we raised the threshold to 5% and 1 seat or 10% whichever is reached, thus getting rid of the greens (a party vote only party), and most proberly NZ first

[method]

Why not vote for a minority if you dont like labour or national.

Only way mmp will work properly if the minority parties get in.

good point, if you dont vote at all you give up the right to complain about any issues regarding government period

What about taxpayers? They fund the government and it's mistakes.

I believe that if all the options are crap, why waste a vote on parties that you do not feel will do the best job?

Why waste a vote by not voting?

Best you could do is stop a party getting majority control.

What if a few less people voted and labour had got majority of the seats?

You're vote does not need to be used to get parties in power, you can vote to keep parties out of power. Why not cast a vote in such a way if you disagree with all parties?

Once people realise this democracy might finally start working properly.

[method]

I dont think MMP can ever work... all that end up happening is the maori part or the greens holds one of the major parties to ransom over some rubbish policy...

Some want the 5% threshold lowered to 1 or 2%, so there's more representation in parliament!

Can anyone imagine having the miligicarty serious party or destiny in parliament trying to make rules?

I think monkeys would make better laws

MMP could work if we raised the threshold to 5% and 1 seat or 10% whichever is reached, thus getting rid of the greens (a party vote only party), and most proberly NZ first

We obviously have different views on this, id say lower it to 1 or 2 %.

A party with 2% wont be able to get anything done, there is no threat.
However it will help stop larger parties pushing through legislation New Zelanders don't want! Eg anti-smacking bill

It happens that the majority of NZ is against something but the political parties still push it through, why? How is that democratic. They should be representing us, not themselvs!

[Adamal]

You're vote does not need to be used to get parties in power, you can vote to keep parties out of power. Why not cast a vote in such a way if you disagree with all parties?

Thats exactly what I was going to say. Which is the lesser evil to you?

[fivebob]

Why not vote for a minority if you dont like labour or national.

Only way mmp will work properly if the minority parties get in.

No, that's why MMP fail's. It forces the major parties with the majority of voters behind them to cave into the minority and adopt their policies if the want to get into power. Therefore the party that is most prepared to compromise their policies for the shiny baubles of power get's office. Whereas the party that stands by it's principles is forever condemned to opposition until the electorate has had enough and vote them into power in their own right.

Don’t believe me?? Then why do we have a 39c marginal tax rate (thanks Jim) or the anti smacking laws (thanks Sue).

[fivebob]

good point, if you dont vote at all you give up the right to complain about any issues regarding government period

Complete and utter sanctimonious bullshit

How does the fact I do not vote diminish my ability to have a valid opinion about the quality of government?

[tsoob]

good point, if you dont vote at all you give up the right to complain about any issues regarding government period

Complete and utter sanctimonious bullshit

How does the fact I do not vote diminish my ability to have a valid opinion about the quality of government?

because you have done absolutley nothing towards putting some one in power or removing someone from power, your opinion my friend is worthless until you at least cast a vote, that it the whole point of a democratic society, everyone has their right to voice their opinion, that is done with your vote.

[fivebob]

because you have done absolutley nothing towards putting some one in power or removing someone from power, your opinion my friend is worthless until you at least cast a vote, that it the whole point of a democratic society, everyone has their right to voice their opinion, that is done with your vote.

Yet more sanctimonious bullshit

I have exercised my right not to vote, the result is the same

The correct answer to the rhetorical question I asked is that someone’s opinion on the quality of government is not diminished by the fact that they refuse to waste their time voting.

In fact it could possibly be said that people who do not vote have an opinion that is of a higher quality because they have no bias, they hate all of them equally. Whereas it could also be said that anyone who voted for the government has no right to complain because they were partly responsible for the mess created

Of course I don't subscribe to either these ways of thinking, but they are at least more palatable, and far more in line with the idea of democracy, than your banal idea that people must vote in order to have a valid point of view.

And if you think that voting has a great affect on the direction the country takes, then I’m afraid to say that you are sadly mistaken. Whilst the government of the day does have some degree influence, it’s the bureaucrats that have the real power and last time I looked there wasn’t any way for voting them in or out. There’s an old saying that sums it up quite succinctly… "Don’t vote, governments always win"

[zEpHyRiNe]

Undecided.
Will have to read some policies and get back to ya

[Bling]

policies? I thought you just picked your favourite colour? I like blue

[Si]

National for me.


* Backing community groups. A mixture of detailed tax and funding changes to help boost community groups.

* Setting national standards in reading, writing and numeracy. They will describe all the things children should be able to do by a particular age or year at school.

* Trades training in schools. A package of measures, including piloting a school-based apprenticeships scheme, funding select schools to run trades academies, and giving schools flexibility to run trades training classes outside their school gates.

* Police. Introduce Tasers, subject to positive evaluation of the trial. Require DNA samples to be taken from all those arrested for offences punishable by imprisonment. Give police ability to issue temporary, on the spot protection orders.

* Gangs and drugs. Various law changes, including strengthening provisions that make it illegal to be a member of a criminal organisation. Amending laws to make police surveillance on gangs easier, and changing sentencing laws to make gang membership an aggravating factor.

* Broadband. A commitment to spend up to $1.5 billion over six years to help fund an ultra-high speed fibre network.

* Public service. Cap the number of core civil servants at 36,000, delivering savings of up to $500 million over three years.

* Youth guarantee. To provide a universal education entitlement for all aged 16 and 17, allowing them to access free study towards school-level qualifications at approved institutions.

* Youth justice. Measures including extending Youth Court's jurisdiction to deal with 12- and 13-year-olds accused of serious offences. Boot camp-style programmes for youths who aren't bad enough to be put in a residential facility but who need intervention. Longer sentences in residential facilities for worst offenders.

* Victims levy. Anyone who breaks the law will have to pay $50 towards victims' costs such as travel to court and counselling.

* Student loans. Adoption of Labour's interest-free student loans policy. Introduce an incentive to get people to pay back loans faster. Give a 10 per cent bonus for voluntary lump-sum payments of $500 or more.

* SOEs. No state asset sales or partial selldowns in first term of a National Government.

* Leave nuclear-free law as is, target aid at Pacific region, write a White Paper on defence budget and military equipment requirements in first-term.

* Housing. State house dwellers can buy their homes. Maintain state housing numbers. Tax cuts, removal of red tape, changes to Resource Management Act to free up land and help affordability.