Monday, August 04, 2008

Strange goings-on

Yesterday three ACT candidates and other supporters protested outside the National Conference in Wellington. Our problem? National = Labour. What happened to National's principles? We made a lot of noise, in part because we were competing with young Labour, protesting asset sales (well, there wasn't much else left was there?)

I think it was Peter McAffrey who made the astute observation that the situation was quite comical.

Outside is Young Labour pretending to be Nats - dressed in suits and wearing fake National rosettes - holding a asset auction...

....while inside is National pretending to be Labour to win enough votes to win the election.

It was a bizarre experience.

8 comments:

PM of NZ said...

So Tweedledum and TweedleKey was you?

(See pic at WOBF)

Lindsay Mitchell said...

WOBF?

FAIRFACTS MEDIA said...

Whale Oil

PM of NZ said...

Sorry Lindsay, meant WOBH as FF points out.

Writing what I was thinking.

Anonymous said...

....while inside is National pretending to be Labour to win enough votes to win the election.

So if you think the Tories are only pretending to be Labour - what's the problem?

are they pretending?

or are they for real?

Lindsay Mitchell said...

I don't like it either way. Call me naive but I still have a regard for a politically rare thing called honesty.

Anonymous said...

Call me naive but I still have a regard for a politically rare thing called honesty.

OK - You're naive. The only big changes in NZ's economic management - 1985 and 1991 - were made by fiat and were certainly never telegraphed to the electorate in advance.

Why do you think any other successful reform - especially of the magnitude NZ needs now - would be any different?

Lindsay Mitchell said...

National nearly won in 2005 with Brashs' policies so the idea that a majority (albeit small) of voters would give a mandate for real change isn't crazy.

The lack of mandate caused the 80s reforms to stall before the crucial flat tax could be implemented. It'll never fly until NZers are convinced of the benefits. ACT's job.