Contradictions in politics are common but every now and then the contradiction is so blatant that it can’t be ignored. The Act and National Party say that Student Associations should be voluntary so they’re passing a law that orders Student Associations to be voluntary. This they claim is being done to give students choice. But on the other hand the Prime Minister’s suggested move to make contributions to Kiwi Saver compulsory is clearly the opposite to choice. They justify this by saying people can opt out later should they wish.

Yet Act and National both say that this is not OK for Student Associations now that is a huge contradiction in protecting so-called freedom of choice.

The government is fully aware that selling off our energy companies needs heaps of cash; the PM knows that his claim that mom and dad kiwis will buy the shares is incorrect; in fact it’s a lie. Why would Kiwi mom and dad investors buy shares in companies they already own? He knows that overseas corporations will end up owning the bulk of shares. To counter this truth he now claims that NZ mom and dad investors are represented by the Kiwi Saver fund. This implies that those who have paid into Kiwi Saver fund have some say in how and where the money is invested that is blatantly false and a lie. They do not!

How the government can justify this obvious and blatant contradiction is difficult to comprehend but no doubt they will employ all their PR spin zombies to convince us otherwise. Kiwis are not stupid and will see though this obvious double standard. The Act party of course would have no problem because it has always peddled this kind of double standard and it would seem that the Nats are being led by the nose down this same track. It’s a bit like the PM telling us that he was invited onto the David Letterman show, when in fact he paid ten thousand dollars of your money to buy his invite…so much for truth.

Richard Swainson has a column in the Manawatu Standard on the weekend and he makes a lot of good sense. This week he pointed out the stupidity of debating I Pads in schools at eight hundred dollars each [paid for by parents] and the fact that we have thousands of kids going to school without breakfast. He asks the question what would families have to cut back on so as to enable them to buy I pods’. This is a real question that many of our citizens have to make daily simply to pay school fees, buy uniforms, fund sports trips, pay the mortgage, powerbill and or buy food. Once upon a time these items were affordable but now each item needs to be balanced off against other factors. Richard poses the question at the end of his column, “Why not tax and redistribute the wealth fairly so that no child goes wanting for either food or knowledge”. This is a question we all need to answer over the next few months. It is a real question, one when stripped of all the hype and PR spin political parties need to answer. So far the Americans have failed to answer it, like wise the British…the first step is to rebalance the tax system so everyone pays their fair share. Even the socially aware wealthy agree…now it is up to us.  

Less than 1% separates potential coalitions

24 Jul 11

Less than 1% separates potential National and Labour-led coalitions

The two potential coalitions which could govern New Zealand after November's general election are less than 1% apart.

 The latest Horizon Poll of 1201 people on Friday (July 22) finds the current governing coalition (National, Act, Maori Party, United Future) would secure 44.4%.

A combination of ‘Labour, Green, New Zealand First, and Jim Anderton’s Progressives coalition’=, 44.3%, with 7.6% remaining undecided.

 The survey has a maximum margin of error of +/- 2.8%.

 Horizon Research says Labour's new capital gains tax policy appears to have consolidated traditional support for Labour, but is not triggering a significant support rise. Labour’s party vote support is up 0.9% on its May result. National is up 2.2%. National has 10.2% more support than Labour.

 However, among registered voters who will actually vote and have decided which party they would vote for if an election were held tomorrow, and those undecided who have a party preference, the current governing coalition (National, Act, Maori Party, United Future) would secure 44.4%.

 A combination of Labour, Green, New Zealand First, Jim Anderton’s Progressives coalition = 44.3%, with 7.6% remaining undecided.

 The Mana Party has 1.9%, down from 2.9% in May, the Maori Party 0.7% (1.2% in May).

 The results indicate undecided voters and those currently choosing not to vote or say how they will vote, will most likely determine the election outcome and the minor parties will determine which main party forms a government.

 The full Horizon Research Net Potential Vote results are here.