What Exactly Are National's Policies?

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GV27

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#257113 16-Sep-2019 09:17

I thought a thread about the opposition would help us stop screwing up the the Government thread.

Inspired by an interview with Paul Goldsmith at Interest.co.nz:

https://www.interest.co.nz/business/101671/shadow-finance-minister-paul-goldsmith-how-hes-yet-be-convinced-bank-conduct-needs

I'm really struggling to understand what National thinks should happen? They seem dead-set against things like Light Rail or foreign buyer bans but aren't really offering any real solutions to the problems these things address. A strong opposition is in everyone's interest, but we're heading towards a 'hold your nose and vote' election of choosing between the lesser of two evils.

Rikkitic

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#2318383 16-Sep-2019 10:01

This describes my dilemma perfectly. I favour 'progressive' politics and cannot imagine myself ever voting for National or a coalition led by it. I dislike their ideas, such as they are. I disagree with their priorities (more roads, more roads, more roads). I don't like most of their people, at least the public personas.

Yet the left isn't much better. Politics in this country is like a Keystone Kops comedy, with everyone running in circles and bashing into each other. Most of our politicians, with just a few notable exceptions, seem incompetent and useless. I have never voted Labour, because I don't like that party any better than National, though I respect Jacinda Ardern (and will continue to do so unless she is shown to have lied over the current scandal, which I don't think she has). In the last election I voted Greens, and may do so again at the next one, but I am not a Greens supporter either. As you so aptly put it, I am just holding my nose and voting for the least awful choice. But I sure wish we did have a better one. I am really tired of our crap politicians and their crap performance.

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GV27

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#2318390 16-Sep-2019 10:06

I've also seen a crazy trend of National MPs tireless campaigning for something in their electorate, but opposing the same urgently-needed-yet-inexplicably-delayed things happening at a national level (i.e. in Auckland). I can't quite get my head around what the actual plan is for the country. YIMBYism might make you a good local MP when it comes to infrastructure, but if you oppose building stuff in other places that also badly need it then it comes across as a bit weird.

Mahon

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#2318395 16-Sep-2019 10:17

I have seen a couple of major policy announcements from the Opposition including their Cancer Plan and some taxation plans. As is usual less 2 years into a term, most election polices are not released until closer to the the election. Why would they release their polices any sooner when they cannot implement them. I would assume all parties are having endless backroom meetings formulating policies/strategies for the election 12 months away. Lets just hope the next government puts a lot more thought into their election promises than the current government did.

sir1963

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#2318471 16-Sep-2019 13:05

GV27:

I thought a thread about the opposition would help us stop screwing up the the Government thread.

Inspired by an interview with Paul Goldsmith at Interest.co.nz:

https://www.interest.co.nz/business/101671/shadow-finance-minister-paul-goldsmith-how-hes-yet-be-convinced-bank-conduct-needs

I'm really struggling to understand what National thinks should happen? They seem dead-set against things like Light Rail or foreign buyer bans but aren't really offering any real solutions to the problems these things address. A strong opposition is in everyone's interest, but we're heading towards a 'hold your nose and vote' election of choosing between the lesser of two evils.

All I see is Simon Bridges saying he would do it differently than Jacinda did, and promptly offering nothing.

I find it annoying how National is making all the noise about Health, education, etc when they clearly undervalued, understaffed, and underfunded those same entities for a decade.

GV27

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#2318627 16-Sep-2019 16:49

Mahon:

I have seen a couple of major policy announcements from the Opposition including their Cancer Plan and some taxation plans. As is usual less 2 years into a term, most election polices are not released until closer to the the election. Why would they release their polices any sooner when they cannot implement them. I would assume all parties are having endless backroom meetings formulating policies/strategies for the election 12 months away. Lets just hope the next government puts a lot more thought into their election promises than the current government did.

The point is they are pegging themselves into a corner by opposing a lot of stuff. It's not leaving much room for them to move when it comes to policy.

Handle9

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#2318867 17-Sep-2019 06:59

GV27:
Mahon:

I have seen a couple of major policy announcements from the Opposition including their Cancer Plan and some taxation plans. As is usual less 2 years into a term, most election polices are not released until closer to the the election. Why would they release their polices any sooner when they cannot implement them. I would assume all parties are having endless backroom meetings formulating policies/strategies for the election 12 months away. Lets just hope the next government puts a lot more thought into their election promises than the current government did.

The point is they are pegging themselves into a corner by opposing a lot of stuff. It's not leaving much room for them to move when it comes to policy.

It's always the dilemma for an opposition. How do you differentiate without being loopy. Ultimately people want to vote for something rather than just against something.

Given that both parties are very close together on policy they tend to differentiate on nonsense.

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GV27

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#2318876 17-Sep-2019 07:09

Handle9:

Given that both parties are very close together on policy they tend to differentiate on nonsense.

Yup. It's magnified by having local MPs clamouring for things that they argue aren't being built so other things in other areas can be, despite those things not being built at all and also being badly needed.

I believe that sort of thing made Labour 'not fit to govern' when they were in opposition.

tdgeek

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#2318884 17-Sep-2019 07:49

Your OP pretty much nails it. Labour has been shown up with lack of experience and a policy that got votes but was not delivered, KB. While they have added other good things, and a stable financial position, those factors wont get air time. National is always light on policy, its vote for us we are better. But being conservative and protecting their voters, it will be spend little, don't upset our voters, just attend Parliament. If any complaints, just smile and ignore (gosh I hate that). Eventually they will add funds to whatever sector is ailing and they cannot delay. Forget Climate Change policies , clean river policies.

Lesser of two evils is correct. One that cannot, one that will not. I think the masses will see that and just vote for the expected tax bribe and be dumb with it, so National will be victorious. Then its just forget politics, nothing to see here