11 September 2013
The cat is out of the bag.
Let the Greens anywhere near government, and the value of your house – your biggest single investment – will be reduced by deliberate government action.
The message to hundreds of thousands of mortgaged couples and families is stark. The Greens want to bring down the value of your investment, and decry your efforts to pay off your mortgage, and build up a nest egg.
And the fact they are now running a mile from the policy shows even they realise what a slap in the face it is to hard working middle New Zealand.
But it is too late. They are already proposing to bring in more taxes – including a capital gains tax – and to tilt the playing field further against the people who work the hardest and get the least in return. With Labour likely to lurch leftward under whoever its new leader will be, middle New Zealand will not be able to look in that direction for relief.
It is all a good reminder of the fact that unlike politicians the vast of majority of New Zealanders do not live an ideology. While politicians may pride themselves on being left or right, most people do not live in such a straightjacket. Their views are tailored by their circumstances, and they look to politicians who reflect their values.
So the Labour leadership procession of increasingly quirky promises (regulating supermarkets and rent controls just for Christchurch come to mind) strikes no chord, nor offers much hope.
The Greens attacking the values of the people that make the country tick, and Labour bouncing aimlessly from one bright idea to the next do not connect with the aspirations of the mainstream of our country that just wants to get on with things, without the government getting too much in their way.
For them, their priorities are their families, their work, their home, their children’s future, their security, and the hope they will be able to live a comfortably.
Attacking those foundations as the Greens have done this week puts them very much on edge.
Middle New Zealand does not want politicians who shatter their version of the Kiwi dream.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteQUOTE: It is all a good reminder of the fact that unlike politicians the vast of majority of New Zealanders do not live an ideology. While politicians may pride themselves on being left or right, most people do not live in such a straightjacket. Their views are tailored by their circumstances, and they look to politicians who reflect their values.UNQUOTE
DeleteQUOTE: The Greens attacking the values of the people that make the country tick, and Labour bouncing aimlessly from one bright idea to the next do not connect with the aspirations of the mainstream of our country that just wants to get on with things, without the government getting too much in their way.UNQUOTE
Touche Peter Touche!!!!
Very good points Peter! Only extremists follow ideological views and politics is no different.
ReplyDeleteMost NZers I talk to just want a good outcome - they don't understand nor care if its a left or right solution, just a good one.
"Middle New Zealand does not want politicians who shatter their version of the Kiwi dream."
ReplyDeleteBut sometimes a politician's role is to lead, not follow. What is important to me is that the politician representing me is able to make good decisions when they choose to follow my view or lead me to one that is better.
Middle New Zealand could probably do with realising that just because it's a big voting block doesn't necessarily mean it knows what is best.
It's easy for centrists to sit and take pot shots at the proud left or right members of society for being looney extremists, but harder when it comes to sticking their own neck out. Leading from the centre seems to be a tricky thing to do and, to be fair, I don't know if I see a lot of it in parliament today.