Governments saved for 'the rainy day' for 20 yrs & spent to cut emissions to stop even rainier days, but when the rainy day came, Labour opted to spend less on climate action to lower mortgage rates
The latest comments from the Greens do make it sound like they are less keen on automatically cooperating with Labour. While they might only work with Labour, they might not enter into a coalition going forward if Labour keeps rolling back any green initiatives. I could be completely wrong about this but just a thought.
Labour’s mistake was indulging in and embracing performative activist climate change language when at heart the leadership are pragmatic third wayers focused on winning elections.
Their supporters believed the Overton window had permanently shifted due to an era of cheap money, low rates and good economic growth. With the economy teetering on the brink of recession and Chippy ensuring labour win the next election their true green values are on show.
Bernard, I totally get why you (and most cogent pundits) say that a Green vote is purely performative when the party is over the threshold. Why does no one ever say the same thing about ACT, who would commit seppuku before going into coalition with Labour?
It seems that our MMP landscape has morphed into a curious Pareto curve where the 80% comprises two centrist, do-nothing parties and the 20% is split between left and right blocs that are cemented onto one of the halves of the monolith.
It's still gridlock, with the only difference now being how quickly we are going to move in reverse as the environmental and socioeconomic challenges get bigger and more intractable. Maybe it will be different this time, if the Greens consider showing their teeth and talking openly about the horror of a teal coalition, or only committing to C&S....
Interesting chart from Musical Chairs, in the context of the press release a couple of days back about the big increase in 'retail crime'... Why do we still find it so hard to describe the millions of dollars being overtly redirected from consumers and workers into the pockets of shareholders and owners as a retail crime, but have no problem viewing the shoplifting of a $1.50 chocolate bar as one?
On the topic of voting Green or any other minor party : you never waste a vote by voting for social change, you are helping build a momentum. It's a long term rather than a short term action. And that's what we need right now. Vote Green, Vote Maori Parti, be guided by your principles, support the changed you want to see happening in the future. Be in the vanguard, don't support the parties of the present that you don't agree with, ie the best of a bad choice.
Your comment Bernard that Green will have no power exists only if Labour gains over 50% of the electorate as at present. Otherwise Greens have absolute power over Labour. The fact that they won't support National is a red herring. If wthe Greens enter government they can act as NZ First did in 2017-2020 and drive a hard bargain on all issues. If they operate from the cross benches they can take every measure on its merits and bargain accordingly. A vote for TOP is very much a wasted vote.
MMP is a numbers game in which votes are currency, so another way for the Greens to exert power is for more of us to vote for them. A more equally distributed percentage of vote across all parties would break the current FPP style stronghold and enable more influence over policy by smaller parties. I find it impossible to envisage the Green Party being In any National led government which would most certainly involve Act, they would be better to remain independent. Who governs is entirely in the hands of the voters, so while we talk it up, how many really want to ensure climate change is prioritised?
Excellent work Bernard, It has made me think of the inter-generational effects. There was a Labor ad in the 80s about the amount of debt floating above the head of every man woman and child now had after Muldoon and think big. I tried to google the ad but couldn't find it.
I would like TOP or Te Pāti Māori to do a similar ad of the current generation of our kids and floating above their heads the bill to fix already broken infrastructure which we refuse to do now, and the environmental and social effects these live for the moment and my self policies will have on them.
I feel like they will have questions when they're a little older about this time and what will we have to say.
When mortgage interest rates increase residential rental property owners increase the rents they charge.
When a government (eg National and Act) gives tax advantages to residential rental property owners that are not available to owners purchasing their own home the barracuda property investors/speculators rage into a feeding frenzy which increases the price/value of residential property and rents are increased.
Therefore, renters have no hope in New Zealand until the supply of public/state housing is massively increased to a level where there is an oversupply of housing.
I hate those people you describe, Bernard! If they are old and rich, why have they got mortgages? I don't understand how there are so many of them that their voting is that important. Are they for real or are they some kind of convenient myth? Why does our society give them so much power? I don't get it.
If it is true that we can tell a society's values by their tallest buildings, then we've got ourselves stuck. And those latest withdrawals by the government make me want to cry
I think most people happily would if they could. The point being there is no functional public transport and decent places being built at affordable prices in reasonably serviced areas.
So using a stick is just insulting and and no one will be happy with an inadequate carrot.
They need to focus on the basics making sure industry isn’t commuting ecocide and use regulations to ensure improvements are undertaken en masse.
Their planning can include upgrades and transition. That’s the job.
In the meantime they have to focus on adequacy or law, justice, adequacy of income and living for all with excellent public services.
Currently the public are having the Mickey taken out of them with a chaotic showing from both Government, public services and laws just ignored.
They get on tv and say one thing and it simply doesn’t happen and isn’t true.
Wealth taxes and tying up the RBNZ is the only thing they’re trying to avoid while the poorest and most vulnerable suffer most. Nothing new under the sun.
Apparently we are meant to feel sorry for THEM. 🤢
Government really needs to up its game on every level. It’s just embarrassing how bad our Governments have been and are and continuing to be as useless and arrogant as they are.
They need to keep it simple and get things done not overthink and bureaucratise normal life over bs idealogy.
The latest comments from the Greens do make it sound like they are less keen on automatically cooperating with Labour. While they might only work with Labour, they might not enter into a coalition going forward if Labour keeps rolling back any green initiatives. I could be completely wrong about this but just a thought.
Labour’s mistake was indulging in and embracing performative activist climate change language when at heart the leadership are pragmatic third wayers focused on winning elections.
Their supporters believed the Overton window had permanently shifted due to an era of cheap money, low rates and good economic growth. With the economy teetering on the brink of recession and Chippy ensuring labour win the next election their true green values are on show.
Consumer NZ renews calls to end 'dodgy pricing practices' - 1News - Breakfast
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uYcm1eCyPvs
"The organisation's research has found most renters are now more concerned about putting food on the table than paying rent."
Bernard, I totally get why you (and most cogent pundits) say that a Green vote is purely performative when the party is over the threshold. Why does no one ever say the same thing about ACT, who would commit seppuku before going into coalition with Labour?
It seems that our MMP landscape has morphed into a curious Pareto curve where the 80% comprises two centrist, do-nothing parties and the 20% is split between left and right blocs that are cemented onto one of the halves of the monolith.
It's still gridlock, with the only difference now being how quickly we are going to move in reverse as the environmental and socioeconomic challenges get bigger and more intractable. Maybe it will be different this time, if the Greens consider showing their teeth and talking openly about the horror of a teal coalition, or only committing to C&S....
Interesting chart from Musical Chairs, in the context of the press release a couple of days back about the big increase in 'retail crime'... Why do we still find it so hard to describe the millions of dollars being overtly redirected from consumers and workers into the pockets of shareholders and owners as a retail crime, but have no problem viewing the shoplifting of a $1.50 chocolate bar as one?
Another reminder that “third way” politics was actually just becoming the Tories all along.
Reactionary poll-driven politics is the most existentially depressing shit ever.
On the topic of voting Green or any other minor party : you never waste a vote by voting for social change, you are helping build a momentum. It's a long term rather than a short term action. And that's what we need right now. Vote Green, Vote Maori Parti, be guided by your principles, support the changed you want to see happening in the future. Be in the vanguard, don't support the parties of the present that you don't agree with, ie the best of a bad choice.
Your comment Bernard that Green will have no power exists only if Labour gains over 50% of the electorate as at present. Otherwise Greens have absolute power over Labour. The fact that they won't support National is a red herring. If wthe Greens enter government they can act as NZ First did in 2017-2020 and drive a hard bargain on all issues. If they operate from the cross benches they can take every measure on its merits and bargain accordingly. A vote for TOP is very much a wasted vote.
MMP is a numbers game in which votes are currency, so another way for the Greens to exert power is for more of us to vote for them. A more equally distributed percentage of vote across all parties would break the current FPP style stronghold and enable more influence over policy by smaller parties. I find it impossible to envisage the Green Party being In any National led government which would most certainly involve Act, they would be better to remain independent. Who governs is entirely in the hands of the voters, so while we talk it up, how many really want to ensure climate change is prioritised?
Labour has stolen David Seymour's idea of giving funds raised by the ETS back as tax cuts.
Excellent work Bernard, It has made me think of the inter-generational effects. There was a Labor ad in the 80s about the amount of debt floating above the head of every man woman and child now had after Muldoon and think big. I tried to google the ad but couldn't find it.
I would like TOP or Te Pāti Māori to do a similar ad of the current generation of our kids and floating above their heads the bill to fix already broken infrastructure which we refuse to do now, and the environmental and social effects these live for the moment and my self policies will have on them.
I feel like they will have questions when they're a little older about this time and what will we have to say.
When mortgage interest rates increase residential rental property owners increase the rents they charge.
When a government (eg National and Act) gives tax advantages to residential rental property owners that are not available to owners purchasing their own home the barracuda property investors/speculators rage into a feeding frenzy which increases the price/value of residential property and rents are increased.
Therefore, renters have no hope in New Zealand until the supply of public/state housing is massively increased to a level where there is an oversupply of housing.
And so the "transient" inflation will surge on and on and on...
Not looking forward to the China war
I hate those people you describe, Bernard! If they are old and rich, why have they got mortgages? I don't understand how there are so many of them that their voting is that important. Are they for real or are they some kind of convenient myth? Why does our society give them so much power? I don't get it.
If it is true that we can tell a society's values by their tallest buildings, then we've got ourselves stuck. And those latest withdrawals by the government make me want to cry
I think most people happily would if they could. The point being there is no functional public transport and decent places being built at affordable prices in reasonably serviced areas.
So using a stick is just insulting and and no one will be happy with an inadequate carrot.
They need to focus on the basics making sure industry isn’t commuting ecocide and use regulations to ensure improvements are undertaken en masse.
Their planning can include upgrades and transition. That’s the job.
In the meantime they have to focus on adequacy or law, justice, adequacy of income and living for all with excellent public services.
Currently the public are having the Mickey taken out of them with a chaotic showing from both Government, public services and laws just ignored.
They get on tv and say one thing and it simply doesn’t happen and isn’t true.
Wealth taxes and tying up the RBNZ is the only thing they’re trying to avoid while the poorest and most vulnerable suffer most. Nothing new under the sun.
Apparently we are meant to feel sorry for THEM. 🤢
Government really needs to up its game on every level. It’s just embarrassing how bad our Governments have been and are and continuing to be as useless and arrogant as they are.
They need to keep it simple and get things done not overthink and bureaucratise normal life over bs idealogy.