DomPost journalist, Tracy Watkin has written a fair piece on where ACT is at. The transformation of Rodney's physical and psychological approach to MMP politics is covered and she points out the obvious, that with National's move to the centre, an opportunity reopens for ACT but says "voters need a reason to switch back."The problem with that is it paints ACT as usual, as right, of National. Economically, correct. Socially? I hope not. With a classical liberal position consistently presented and properly understood ACT could pull voters from the left as well.
Where I wholeheartedly agree with Watkins is in her closing sentences.
"He (Rodney Hide) has, in effect, given himself the licence to start with a blank canvas. But the longer he waits to fill in the canvas with some brush strokes , the longer it will take for voters to get the picture."
7 comments:
'Where to, for ACT?' is a very pertinent question.
I'm not an ACT supporter, but have voted for Richard Prebble when he got elected for Wellington Central.
I must confess that since Richard passed the leadership to Rodney Hide - for whom I had ample time, I might add, the party has slipped and does not appear to be putting any policy forward, but fixated on image and publicity stunts. I'd love to be proven wrong on this count.
The loss of their MPs at the last election, Stephen Franks in particular, seems to have flattened the party.
The question remains: will it bounce back?
What does "Right" of National mean on economics? I suggest not much. Better to see this as a triangle with the Conservatives in one corner, socialists in another, and liberals in the third corner. This left/right thing makes no sense. People say Hitler is to the Right yet his economic policies were not far off from Labour. Don't even use the terms. It's buying into the bad language that makes understanding liberalism almost impossible.
Well said anon.Much of ACT is to the "Left" of Labour on many social issues so it makes the Left-Right line pointless as a guide...
Perhaps ACT is to the side of everyone else.
Manolo, the full article says to watch for announcements in Rodney's speech in March.
I say that too.
He is taking time to figure this one out - supporting medical marijuana may be one way. ACT is still not identifiable as being a liberal party on social issues.
"He is taking time to figure this one out - supporting medical marijuana may be one way. ACT is still not identifiable as being a liberal party on social issues."
True unfortunately. Embracing that would open up a whole new voter base and wrong foot National who think ACT is theirs for granted.I think ACT and Rodney just need to campaign on what they really believe in and see who comes to the party.Theres no future in peddeling falsehoods.....see National for that.
I think ACT is too closely associated with property developers, and people who think that the economy and environment are disconnected.
Rodney himself reffered to Peak Oil theory (Hubbard Curve) as "not a particularily good theory". Unless I have it wrong, we will all have to learn that economic growth cannot continue forever, and while we believe that it can, we act like participants in a big pyramid scheme. One day we will learn that we need to conserve, share, and excercise personal responsibility.
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