The left will not be stupid forever.

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Mike Moore on his old colleagues. Who truly don;t get it.

Phil Goff has the worst job in politics; trying to rebuild an opposition party. This is hard because many around him believe that the people just wanted new faces and it was a failure of public relations that put Labour out. He is pressured by stern faces, who look like they have been in a wind tunnel too long. When Maori under-achievement is put on the agenda they will argue that the subject title is racist and dodge the substance. They are addicted to self-righteous slogans and comfortable cliches. It's easier to pontificate about other people's dietary habits and carbon footprints. One told a devout Pacific Islander that God is dog spelt backwards. They don’t get it. Once they were warriors – now they are worriers.

via Mike Moore: Political year of fits, follies and foibles – page 2 – Politics – NZ Herald News.

The problem for the left is that Goff does get it. He is trying to move the party towards the old labour voter — socially fairly conservative but fair minded, but wanting some redistribution. But not a priveledged group who get more than a fair go.

Goff has done the math. There are not enough academics, teachers, and staunch radicals. The radicals are off making a new left party. Helen destroyed the social democrat consensus that was already sick courtesy of the previous labour government and Muldoon. The only place to go is into the centre. To do this — if I was Phil — I would.

  • Oppose the ETA and Copenhagen, as the rules will oppress the poor.
  • Encourage unions to opt out of the state provision of education and health. The Tories are going to be in power for at least another 5 years, so do what the first Labour government did — work with the workers.
  • Decrease the burden on employers of red tape — go on a quango hunt, and cut down the rules. Out Nat the Nats here, because most employees work for small companies. Talk to the unions about how to work some kind of German style partnership around this.
  • Do not allow into parliament any person who cannot hold their own in a smoko room.

As a Tory, I hope he does none of the above

31 thoughts on “The left will not be stupid forever.”

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