Policy Free Zone?
Cut Your Hair has some great analysis of who is the “policy free zone” that Key is claiming the left is…
policy
Green’s campaign launch
I’m heading off to get some lunch before going to the Green’s campaign launch. It is (for those like me who forgot) at The […]
Local Bodies: Politics, Sharks and Voter Apathy
I had a conversation at our farmer’s market this morning about how my election campaign was going and the person I was speaking to had the view that all politicians don’t actually do much, apart from talking. I find that this thinking is actually fairly common, many people talk about the nonsense that goes on in Parliament and how all politicians are as bad as each other, “It doesn’t matter who you vote for, nothing really changes.” I find this view really frustrating, but at the same time I can see why people may feel this way.
Polity: A paucity of vision?
Hey, we won’t get in the way of a good stoush on the net about Labour’s policies, in fact we will encourage it. Here is Rob Salmond’s response to Idiot Savant’s post at No Right Turn. We’d also suggest that people look at Mike Smith’s post from this morning and last night (that probably has the nuttier conspiracy theorists going by now) for a third point of view.
Comments please…
A party finds its voice
After Labour’s Conference a lot of media attention has focused on the constitutional changes relating to leadership. But other changes were even more important. Members will develop policy, and the process has become much more effective and more open. The policy platform will be binding on MPs – and is the package that will be taken to the electorate.
National policy manifesto
National declines to discuss policy
RNZ has a great Policy Q&A site up. Labour and the Greens have replied to the questions (most parties have or will do so), so you can find out where they stand on the issues. But National’s non-participation shows that they’re too arrogant to even bother engaging on policy.
Labour’s jobs policy
Now that we’re all over Nice Mr Key, maybe we can focus on minor details like the environment, the economy, assets, and jobs…
Labour on the environment
I was going to write about the release of Labour’s environmental policy – and the resounding silence from National – but NRT has done a great job aleady.
Economic credibility – mote and beam
The focus of attention has moved on to costing the policies, promises and projections of the major parties. The Nats’ are desperate to have the media focus stay on the mote in Labour’s eye, and ignore the beam in their own. In the interests of informed choice, let’s hear both sides of the story…
Campaigning on policy – what a concept!
Labour has once again broken the mould and chosen to focus its election campaign on policy. As a country we’ve been saying for a long time that elections should be about policies and not personalities. Now we’ve got a chance to try it. If the media is up to the challenge, of course.
National Policy?
John Pagani has an excellent piece on the lack of National substance in the lead-up to this election.
Like last election we’re seeing Labour say what they would do, presenting one alternative, as National fail to present theirs; relying on that nice man John Key’s image over any policy substance.
Labour’s plan for Christchurch
Today Labour released another substantial policy, a plan for recovery in Christchurch. It’s a policy that works for ordinary people, and a much needed helping hand for displaced red-zone residents.
What we owe policy wonks
Yesterday William commented to Cuts and Consequences to the effect that who needs policy analyst and that big private companies don’t bother with them […]
Substance vs style
A couple of polls have now confirmed that on key issues voters prefer Labour policy over National. When push comes to shove in November, will Kiwis vote for the style that they like, or the substance that they want?
Who has the ideas?
Last week we had National’s budget and Labour’s conference. A chance for both parties to set out their ideas for the future. National’s do-nothing budget went down like a lead balloon, while Labour started setting out promising new policy. Looks like the 2011 election campaign will be a contest between ideas and schoolboy mockery.
What is important to voters?
DPF reckons “that issues of policy are less important to voters than issues of competence”. What an impoverished view of democracy! Perhaps he should look a little deeper than last week’s poll…
Choices are becoming clear
The choices between Labour and National are becoming clearer by the day. Next election the public is going to be offered two very different futures for New Zealand. Not between Labour and a dissembling “Labour Lite”, but between Labour and the true National agenda exposed.
What we need in the Budget
We need to keep paying into the Superannuation Fund. Never heard anything so dumb as the idea of stopping making payments right now. […]
Culture of secrecy
It’s 4.45 on a Friday afternoon and National has just released its Outdoor Recreation policy. It’s another one page wonder, only this time […]
You call that policy? This is policy
National has released a brochure, laying out all its policies. They take up two A4 pages of double-spaced bullet points. That’s incredibly lightweight. […]
National’s policy vacuum
From the editorial in the ODT today we learn that Bill English is keen to dampen down concern within the party at the […]
Grueling
Nats announce launch release consider rural doctors bonding scheme. Here’s the link, but honestly, don’t bother.
Show us ya policy
Steve posted this morning that even Granny Herald’s patience appears to be wearing thin waiting for National and Key to announce some policy […]
Even Granny’s patience can wear thin
With a loving smack that would have brought a smile to Bob McCoskrie’s face, the Herald‘s editorial today rebukes John Key in the […]
Telling porkies
The Herald and National have started attacking every piece of government spending as pork-barrelling. Here’s some of what they’re calling ‘wasteful, needless spending’: […]
National still won’t say what they’d do
Seemingly content to coast along on the “time for a change” sentiment, the National Party are still refusing to offer any substantive details […]
Right answer, wrong question
It’s not often National gets something right but their latest flip-flop, on bio-fuels, is a good policy (well, partially and for the wrong […]
Dull
I haven’t had time to do a thorough analysis of Clark’s speech but from a quick once-over I can say with certainty that […]
National: policy free zone
From Morning Report (full audio) earlier today: Sean Plunket: Final question when do we get to see your party’s ah local government policy? […]