Rob's Rants

For the sake of democracy either citizens referendums are binding, or the MMP party threshold is lowered, government can’t have it both ways.

John Key told New Zealand that he thought citizen’s initiated referendums were to expensive, he subsequently set about changing the nations flag by way of a government referendum at a cost to tax payers of $26 million.

For $50k + gst (Spending limit on petitions) he could have had his answer on what kiwis thought about his flag idea..

In a government were the power is concentrated amongst two parties who are very much the same flavour. (Labour & National) We are dependent on smaller parties  working the fringes, feeling out policy ideas, testing public opinion, if the Nats or Labour see potential they cut a deal as a coalition partner in return for supporting a smaller party in a particular electorate, case in point would be the National & ACT arrangement in Remuera as well as previous coalition deals with the Maori party and United Future.

Since MMP has came about, the establishment parties have locked out the smaller parties at 5%, diluting there influence on government policy. Labour & National have a stranglehold on power.

Since 1999 New Zealand has had 3 controversial citizen initiated referendums.

New Zealanders were asked if we should reduce the number of MPs, 81% voted yes.

Kiwis were asked if our justice system needed reforming by placing greater emphasis on the needs of victims, providing restitution and compensation, while imposing minimum sentences and hard labour for all serious violent offences. 92% voted yes.

Parents were asked if a smack as part of parental correction be considered a criminal offence in New Zealand. 87% voted no. 

Not one of these three referendums were binding, the government effectively ignored the public.

One significant criticism of binding citizens initiated referendums (BCIR) is that they can have fiscally adverse effects, therefore the right framework work needs to be put in place to ensure adequate cost controls.

But, what is the cost on the nation by allowing establishment parties to maintain the stranglehold on power, by continuing with the status quo, failing to advance the prosperity of New Zealand and the living standards of its residents.

The government can’t have it both ways, either make way for binding referenda, or reduce the threshold for smaller parties to enter government.

Labour may hold on to the defunct dream of socialism solving the world’s problems but surely they are not entirely stupid ?

There is no reason Labour had any advantage in leaking Simon Bridges crown car expenses days before they were due to be made public.

Labour already knows that Bridges is failing to make headway with internal polling, he’s failing to resonate with the National faithful, perhaps it’s the failings of the past 9 yrs that’s clinging to Simon like a bad stench, unfortunately for him he doesn’t represent a fresh start National desperately needs.

With Bridges loosing the role of opposition leader it can only give way to a handful of likely contenders.

National are up against the media darling that is Jacinda Ardern, she also holds a not so secret weapon ‘baby neve’ whom she’s able to roll out when the pressure comes on…

“Look, it’s a baby” scream the woman’s day weekly readers.

“Go easy on our Jacinda, she’s just had a baby”  bleet the labour pacifists.

“I’d like to see you push out a human, breast feed it and run a country at the same time” roar the feminists.

Let’s face it, Simon is on a hiding to nothing.

It suits labour in the polls to have a wishy washy indecisive opposition leader who lacks the backbone to take on the accidental government armed with a baby Neve.

It raises the question, who then amongst National would be labour’s most formediable opponent ?

I ran a twitter poll to determine amongst right wing voters who would be the most effective female leader within Nationals ranks.

Overwhelmingly the most effective female National MP was Judith Collins  (aka the crusher).

A secondary poll revealed who would then be the most effective opposition leader between  Simon Bridges or Judith Collins with a clear majority in favour of Judith.

Admittedly these are small sample sizes but it does offer a critical insight and confirms what most already know, that in order for National to be effective at combatting this current government they are going to need a strong woman at the helm, a leader not afraid to call out the bull sh*t virtue signalling that labour constantly projects.

Labour knows this also, the last person they would want as opposition leader is Judith ‘Crusher’ Collins, therefore they’d have to be incredibly stupid to have leaked limo expenses.

Or maybe Labour are just incredibly stupid.