Denial is a Slow Death

I cannot recall any Labour leader having served a shorter tenure than David Cunliffe and neither Phil Goff nor David Shearer is a close second.

Following Cunliffe’s much anticipated resignation yesterday he has joined the ranks of hostile incumbents such as ACT Leader Don Brash – both divisive forces from our political hinterland – both failed to deliver inconceivable outcomes. It’s about history and personality. Party size is irrelevant; the difference was that Brash went immediately.

When Cunliffe arrived, finally, at the leadership, Labour had a healthy standing in the polls. What happened?

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Labour’s a Massive Mess

Labour is no longer a political party. Yes, it is a registered party, but that’s not what I am saying.

If the election voting pattern had been slightly different Labour would have all electorate MPs and no list MPs.

Labour itself admitted that door-knocking gave them the clear message that candidates could expect their support, as they traditionally support Labour or the left, but they would not be getting their party vote.

Candidates responded accordingly and went on the defensive to ensure the best outcome for them personally; the Greens abandoned them for the prospect of working with National.

Media Terrorist

The Word and the Sword

This year (2014) might be a memorable year for its election, but it will be a year to forget for those people who have come to grief, and there have been a few casualties so far, including the media.

Jason Ede for one has sought refuge in civilisation, and like a few other people he’s not saying too much; it’s all part of the continuing fallout from our Dirty Politics saga that burst into the public eye with Nicky Hager’s latest election-campaign book-sale … and it’s not over yet.

While we have just lived through the most unusual election campaign in the democratic history of the country ‘pure evil’ as it’s been dubbed did not receive as much media attention as it might have.

Defining Equality in New Zealand

Equality will likely always be a controversial subject, but also a dangerous political beast, if we don’t treat it with respect.

That’s what the New Zealand Labour Party found out in our recent parliamentary election, when party leader David Cunliffe opened their campaign with his now infamous ‘apology for being a man’.

It would appear Labour lived with the assumption that an overt feminist campaign would be broadly accepted. How wrong they were; forced to admit by the end of the campaign that they had been abandoned by men … We Wonder Why.

Minimum Wage is No Answer

When I see minimum wage defined in terms of supply and demand I cringe – shame on economists, politicians and anyone who tries to convince us minions that there is some logic and acceptability in this practice.

Minimum wage is a legal protection against exploitation; it should never have been allowed to be made an economic consideration.  It is a minimum standard which is not a target for business to aim for as a moral exoneration or a standard of compliance.