New Zealand has been part of a five nations electronic monitoring system with the USA, UK, Canada and Australia for ever. There is a law going through at present that will allow the NZ bureau (the GCSB) to spy locally.
I’m somewhat right wing, and consider ACT as an option for my vote. But they are likely to lose. However, if they do this, on the principle that my thoughts are mine, and shaft the US military complex, they will have my list vote and party vote next election.
If you’re going to die in 2014 anyway, jump on this grenade while you’re doing it. Die in a blaze of liberal glory, killing the GCSB legislation at third reading and forcing them to take the whole thing back to the drawing board. It might make it harder to get into coalition with National next time round if you do get back, but it could also start drawing in votes from that part of the electorate that cares about civil rights and tech freedom but shrinks in horror from the thought of Russel Norman being anywhere near the Treasury benches.
John Banks, go for it. Vote against the bill. Move the party to a libertarian position. Let the Nats have a conservative wing. This Reformed misanthrope will back you.
Oh, and it one is worried about the Islamic threat, or pedophilia, or whatever the current scare is — do not let those who will not swear allegiance and fealty to her majesty to reside in the country (that may even get rid of a fair number of the Greens, which would be a bonus). The police have more than enough power to ferret out the malevolent. We need to start pushing back at the US, because they are going feral.
UPDATE.
Will not have to keep that promise.
The voting margin for the GCSB and Related Legislation Bill was never in doubt, with the National Party securing the votes of ACT leader John Banks and United Future leader Peter Dunne.
So time to go looking for a freedom loving party with sensible economic policies.
