"Under democracy one party always devotes its chief energies to trying to prove that the other party is unfit to rule — and both commonly succeed, and are right."
— H.L. Mencken
Some (I will link to this morning's DomPost editorial, Labour shift offers voters a clear choice when it is on-line) are celebrating Labour's move to the left because it will strengthen the difference between National and Labour. I am not. As Labour moves economically left, National can stay firmly where it is. And that isn't a good place.
It's bad policy and it's not even good politics.
ReplyDeleteMoving left doesn't increase the left vote it just cannabalises the votes of likely coalition partners.
Two shades of grey are two shades of grey which is the present landscape. If Labour moves left, and I am not sure they wish to, National remains a bland semblance of a principled party.
ReplyDeleteLast weekend's Labour conference was a reactive re-mix of tired old ideas and prejudices. The fact labour is the largest Opposition party says it all about NZ politics. Sadly, I fear Labour will be elected in 2011, not for good and sincere reasons but as a reaction to National's failure to conceive and nurture policies which reflect their own constitution. Labour with the Greens and permanent flopper Dunne only require 5-6% to nail next year's election.
Cadwallader