What will happen to National now?

To post in this sub-forum you must have made 100 posts or have Trust status or have completed our ID Verification

Forums › Politics › What will happen to National now?

1 | ... | 42 | 43 | 44 | 45 | 46 | 47 | 48 | 49 | 50 | 51 | 52 | ... | 111

Awrrr
18603 posts

Uber Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#2874614 25-Feb-2022 10:42

marmel:

See my comment above, they only have to compete against Labour who have a record of achieving nothing and failing in policy promises made in 2017. COVID was labours saviour in some ways as it diverted attention away that would normally be applied by the media. Come 2023 if COVID is no longer an issue there is going to be a lot more scrutiny on Labour and what they have or haven’t achieved.

Dream on. Labour is the devil we know. National is the octopus that keeps shooting itself in the foot.

Plesse igmore amd axxept applogies in adbance fir anu typos

GV27

5885 posts

Uber Geek

#2874617 25-Feb-2022 10:47

quickymart:

For transport, I really think National needs to come up with more of a plan than just "more, endless roads". Fuel prices aren't exactly on the low side at the moment, and probably won't be for a while (if ever). Who's going to drive on all their roads if they can't afford the petrol to do it?

Yup, people aren't sitting in congestion for hours extra per week and spending $$$ on fuel because they want to.

The idea that you can just MOAR ROADS your way out of the traffic issues in West Auckland is absurd, when they should be embracing the idea of rapid transit and pushing themselves as having the economic nous to actually get it built. But that's too much of an ideological pivot for the current mob, so they have the same useless quips over and over again, Labour keeps doing nothing and things keep getting worse.

I'd love for Luxon to say 'We'd back a cheap, scaled back Light Rail system that runs at surface and we think we can do it for a fraction of the cost that Labour want to' but he's going to parrot the same crap Bishop et al (A Wellington MP, I might add) has for years, which is all of our problems can be solved with a direct train to the airport, despite huge swathes of Auckland having basically no public transport at all.

antonknee

1133 posts

Uber Geek

#2874650 25-Feb-2022 11:48

Rikkitic:

marmel:

See my comment above, they only have to compete against Labour who have a record of achieving nothing and failing in policy promises made in 2017. COVID was labours saviour in some ways as it diverted attention away that would normally be applied by the media. Come 2023 if COVID is no longer an issue there is going to be a lot more scrutiny on Labour and what they have or haven’t achieved.

Dream on. Labour is the devil we know. National is the octopus that keeps shooting itself in the foot.

Covid absolutely had an impact for Labour, but let's not forget National coming into the 2020 election were in really poor shape (lost leadership, no policy, confusing positions, lots of scandal, weak team, infighting, poor public perception). And they are still largely in that same position. It remains to be seen what improvement they can make between now and 2023.

Labour has failed to deliver on many of their policies yes, but I think most people accept that things like Covid put a damper on that. I also think that if they can begin to deliver things like health reform, three waters etc then this perception will really change - and that's still with ignoring the things they have delivered. And lets not forget that many New Zealanders simply don't care about policy and policy delivery.

Labour would be strong favourites to be the next government.

OldGeek

876 posts

Ultimate Geek

ID Verified

Lifetime subscriber

#2874669 25-Feb-2022 12:02

antonknee:

Labour has failed to deliver on many of their policies yes, but I think most people accept that things like Covid put a damper on that. I also think that if they can begin to deliver things like health reform, three waters etc then this perception will really change - and that's still with ignoring the things they have delivered. And lets not forget that many New Zealanders simply don't care about policy and policy delivery.

Labour would be strong favourites to be the next government.

Lets remember that the Health Reforms and 3 Waters are about co-governance. Elimination of DHBs (Health) and fixing water quality issues (3 Waters) are the pretext deliverables, and the 3 Waters proposals are not at all popular.

Does National have what it takes to take Labour on? Opposing co-governance will require that National run the gamut of being labelled racist. I am not at all sure they have the wisdom to overcome these tactics.

--

OldGeek.

Voyager referral code: https://refer.voyager.nz/6XQR2QG9Q

Handle9

11267 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#2874936 25-Feb-2022 15:35

antonknee:
Yup, anyone who thinks National have a really good chance at the next election needs their head read. They have almost no policy positions on anything of importance, and where they do it's not clearly articulated. Their recent success in polls I think can be attributed solely to Luxon being not as bad as Collins; a realisation that actually ACT is still just the Seymour and maybe van Velden show; and some dissatisfaction with Labour.

There is a glaring lack of talent in National's caucus now, most of their MPs bring almost nothing to the table - Hipango, Brown, Lee, McClay, Bennett, Dean, Pugh, Grigg, Mooney, Simmonds. Bishop, Willis, Stanford, maybe Reti are the obvious exceptions (although Bish is decidedly unlikeable IMO).

Luxon also has a challenge around how to position National - should he play to the reactionary/conservative/grumpy farmer/rich & white/anything but Labour bases which stuck with them through the dark days or does he try and appeal to the middle swing voter? You can see this struggle in his inconsistent approach to things like mandates, the protest, Covid restrictions, etc.

Opposition parties don’t release policy 20 months before an election. That would be stupid. Policy gets announced when it can create an impact, in the run into an election.

If inflation stays high and quality of living continues to decline National will win, if the economy stabilises then Labour will win. It’s likely that simple.

antonknee

1133 posts

Uber Geek

#2875246 26-Feb-2022 11:59

I don't mean they should release policy now - I mean they should be actively developing policy ready for the election. Right now, they should be articulating clear, coherent positions on current issues (they really aren't - eg is Luxon pro-mandate or anti?).

quickymart

13779 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

#2875255 26-Feb-2022 12:27

I think he was pro, but said they had a time and place and could probably be removed now or soon (similar to what David Seymour was saying).

Samsung

Shop now on Samsung phones, tablets, TVs and more (affiliate link).

GV27

5885 posts

Uber Geek

#2875259 26-Feb-2022 12:29

I can infer their policy positions on a bunch of stuff from the comments made by various spokespeople.

Making Simeon Brown transport spokesperson shows they're not really interested in visionary or quality policy development given that he's one of the least inspiring or visionary Nats on the benches at the moment.

It's really something given the ongoing own-goal that is Light Rail for Labour, that National won't just commit to a rapid transit across Auckland and keep their engineering/construction donors happy for decades to come.

quickymart

13779 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

#2875266 26-Feb-2022 12:45

GV27:

Making Simeon Brown transport spokesperson shows they're not really interested in visionary or quality policy development given that he's one of the least inspiring or visionary Nats on the benches at the moment.

"More roads" is their only vision when it comes to anything to do with transport.

Handle9

11267 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#2875317 26-Feb-2022 15:43

antonknee:
I don't mean they should release policy now - I mean they should be actively developing policy ready for the election. Right now, they should be articulating clear, coherent positions on current issues (they really aren't - eg is Luxon pro-mandate or anti?).

You don’t think they are developing policy? Pretty much all parties are continually developing policies. Whether they are any good is a different story.

Handle9

11267 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#2875318 26-Feb-2022 15:44

GV27:
I can infer their policy positions on a bunch of stuff from the comments made by various spokespeople.

Making Simeon Brown transport spokesperson shows they're not really interested in visionary or quality policy development given that he's one of the least inspiring or visionary Nats on the benches at the moment.

It's really something given the ongoing own-goal that is Light Rail for Labour, that National won't just commit to a rapid transit across Auckland and keep their engineering/construction donors happy for decades to come.

He’s quite good if you want someone who looks like he’s 16 but acts like he’s 61.

quickymart

13779 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

#2875588 27-Feb-2022 07:58

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/hayden-munro-christopher-luxon-bows-to-pressure-from-protesters/W6NBE3O25LCLMFAFRESNX3VOE4/ (paywalled)

Talks about how Luxon was against the protesters and their actions last week, yet this week he spoke about a "divided" country.

quickymart

13779 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

#2879693 6-Mar-2022 12:13

https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2022/03/christopher-luxon-s-full-state-of-the-nation-speech-as-he-vows-to-repeal-labour-s-tax-grab.html

Christopher Luxon's state of the nation speech. Awfully long - are these things usually this long? (I have no idea).
He talks about the great plans he has for the country if they get back into power. Mind you, a lot can happen between now and the next election.

marmel

1924 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Trusted

#2879694 6-Mar-2022 12:17

quickymart:
https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2022/03/christopher-luxon-s-full-state-of-the-nation-speech-as-he-vows-to-repeal-labour-s-tax-grab.html

Christopher Luxon's state of the nation speech. Awfully long - are these things usually this long? (I have no idea).
He talks about the great plans he has for the country if they get back into power. Mind you, a lot can happen between now and the next election.

I think he makes some good points about Labours spending and policy failures but his pledge to remove the 39% top tax rate and investment property taxes are a big mistake in my view. How many of the centre block voters are going to be earning more than $180k? Almost none I suspect. The centre block vote wins elections and I don’t think removing those taxes will appeal at all.

ezbee

2371 posts

Uber Geek

#2879744 6-Mar-2022 14:46

So we have the longer term bills from pandemic to pay.
Not least the support to business who may not make profits to pay back much for years.

Problems of lack of Healthcare infrastructure laid bare. A curse on both sides of the House here.
Sewage in walls saves on heating, and we don't have queues or backlogs because we don't put people on queues.

Heck a friend was advised re a family history of a certain treatable cancer elsewhere.
Get a decent job in Australia , or save a substantial amount to go private in Australia if you stay here, to assure survival.

Plus we now know in a 10 year cycle we may meet another foe like this again so more need for long term infrastructure.

As much as our commodities are great earners from high prices, cost increases in imports, everything form Oil to technology.

You are not being straight with public if you first reaction is lets reduce taxes ?

1 | ... | 42 | 43 | 44 | 45 | 46 | 47 | 48 | 49 | 50 | 51 | 52 | ... | 111