The Greens are soft on National:
Last week, Russel Norman and Gareth Hughes made much of the Greens’ ability to deliver no matter who is in Government.
Why would they do this? Because they have lost faith in the left – the core of which is still the urban working class – and are trying to broaden their appeal to appeal to voters from the leafy suburbs of Epsom, Khandallah, Fendalton etc, to appeal to natural National voters. Last election the Greens took over 10% of the vote in wealthy Epsom and Ilam; they got just 3% in working-class Mangere. A prominent election promise of theirs is to cut the company tax rate!
Why does this matter? In elections, politicians and voters often lose sight of the fact that it is not about policy – it is about a struggle for power. In a fight, it matters which side you are on.
The Greens are soft on the causes of National
On the left, many of the Greens policies act as a positive force. In alliance with the right, the same policies – on climate change, for examples – become excuses for austerity. Their inability to commit to the left is a real weakness. They always want to play both sides. Norman recently claimed to be more free market than the Nats. If he had limited himself to expose the Nats’ free market rhetoric as hypocrisy that would be good. But he genuinely wants to be accepted as respectable by free market economists. That is disastrous.
The free market system is what created John Key, millionaire currency trader, and his corrupt crew. The free market system is fundamentally opposed to democracy.
Mana: a strong message and strong messengers
On Saturday, you should party vote Internet Mana because they are the only party to take a clear, unequivocal stand against the free market philosophy that has been so destructive in New Zealand and around the world. Free health, free education and full employment with a living wage and . . . tax the rich! This is a strong message.
No minor party will get to implement all their policy so we as voters have to use our vote to send a strong message – and to send strong messengers to Parliament.
You can’t trust Russel Norman. Or you can trust him when he calls himself pro-market. Hone Harawira, Annette Sykes and John Minto, on the other hand, are people with decades of experience as activists outside parliament and as fighters against the system. Their track record is there for anyone to see. Business NZ chief Phil O’Reilly said of Norman: “Say what you like about Russel Norman; his willingness to engage with the business community is strong.” About Harawira the “Mood of the Boardroom” has nothing good to say: he is a “dangerous radical.” That’s an endorsement for us.
Harawira and Sykes are more than capable to take on the job and are dedicated and passionate about making change.
If you want to change the government, vote for Mana. If John Key wins three more years, ask yourself: would he rather be trapped in Parliament with softly spoken pro-market Russel Norman or veteran campaigner John Minto?
