The Herald reports on an interesting development from the Green Party's AGM:
The Green Party has ramped up its personality politics, directly accusing Paula Bennett and Prime Minister John Key of stripping away the welfare and education systems they both benefited from in their youth.The party insisted it was not indulging in personal attacks but instead holding ministers to account for policies which were harmful and intrusive.But the Greens' strong rhetoric at its annual meeting, backed by members who hissed at the National-led Government's policies, marked a slight departure from the party's usual, more restrained criticism.
Now we see why the Greens have the two-headed leadership; it's good cop-bad cop. Russell Norman is the one who articulates policy and projects the Greens as a moderate party, vying for the centre-left and eating up Labour's support. On the other hand Metiria Turei, self confessed anarchist and former ALCP and MacGillicuddy Serious candidate does the personal stuff. By indulging in the politics of envy, Ms Turei is trying the neutralise any gains made by the Mana Party is poaching the hard Left vote.
It's odd though to see the Greens getting involved in personal stuff, at least publicly. Russel Norman let his mask slip in the House a couple of weeks ago, and now Metiria Turei has declared war. It's also though an indictment of the poor job that Labour's rising star Jacinda Ardern is doing in opposing Paula Bennett.
36 comments:
Turei also had some inaccuaricies in her speech.
We must work to devise a cross party consensus to raise our children out of poverty – in a similar way we all reached an accord over superannuation.”
There's a distinct lack of action on Super.
And on education:
"I'm amazed that the Prime Minister could be so blatant in saying that his pathway out of poverty was education and then so clearly stripping away that pathway today.
Turei was complaining about just one aspect of funding. But as reported in the ODT today - University funding up 13% (over three years).
Quite so Pete; by all means be critical, but your case is far stronger when you get your basic facts right.
You're surprised the Greens are holding ministers to account? Gosh, you really don't have much of a clue about the role of the opposition do you? You guys are a wee bit rattled by the Key government's recent displays of gross incompetence aren't you? That's why you've gone so crassly negative.
PG - zzzzzzzzzz.
I can't believe it! I've always thought the Greens were kumbuya softies that wouldn't hurt a fly. They hug trees, don't they? Aren't they all wishy-washy vegans? This is very upsetting to the Natural Order of Things. I demand that those Green people behave the way I want them to!
Henry Higgansbotham - Parnell
Pete George - Judge Holden gave you a well-deserved zzzzzzzzz, and I'd like to add zzzzzzzzzzzzz...
zzzzzzzzzzzzz...
Describes your repetitive comments here to perfection Robert...
In fairness, a lot of people are incredibly angry about what the National government is doing in terms of welfare and education, and a lot of Greens are among them. Its not the politics of envy to say you don't like particular policies of the government, in fact its the opposite. Its the politics of policy. To castigate the Greens for not supporting what they Govt is doing is ludicrous.
Oh, and by the way, I was there. There was one person who hissed once. That was it. No boos, no chanted personal attacks, nothing like that. Just admiration for an inspiring speech.
That can't be right, Alex. There must have been mud-flinging, there just must have!!
Keeping Stock said so!!
*stamps tiny foot
Oh bugger off Robert; the grown-ups want to talk...
@ Alex; thanks for your comment.
But what is the government doing in welfare and education to make people "incredibly angry"? They are trying to encourage people off benefits and into work, but have they cut benefits a la Ruth Richardson in 1991? No; they haven't. Former students in work will have to pay a little more in repayments on Student Loans, but has the government scrapped interest-free loans? No. The government is proposing a modest increase in student/teacher ratios, but are teachers going to be laid off tomorrow? No; the policy is to be phased in over three years, and natural attrition will in all probability mean few teachers will lose their jobs. Has the government cut superannuation payments? No. Has Working for Families or 20 Hours Free ECE been scrapped? No, and no.
What National is doing is tinkering around the edges of policies which are fiscally unsustainable, but political suicide to dismantle. If anyone should be "incredibly angry", it is those who feel that the government is not moving far enough. I do not include myself in that number I should note; global economic circumstances are a major obstacle to greater austerity at the present time.
In the meantime, the Greens have voted against almost every government Bill which has been before the House in the last couple of months. Rather than simply opposing everything the government proposes, how about the Greens put up some alternatives to differentiate themselves from both National and Labour. Wouldn't that be more productive than attacking two people who had the wherewithal to get out of the welfare cycle and have successful careers?
"But what is the government doing in welfare and education to make people "incredibly angry"?"
It's really odd, isn't it?
The Government's doing everything right, yet the people are angry with them.
I just don't get it!!
"In fairness, a lot of people are incredibly angry"
No.. In fairness, a lot of people are NOT incredibly angry.
You, and your fellow travelers should get out more and stop inventing faux outrage at everything the government does.
If people were "incredibly angry", then the polls would reflect it.
@ Anon; perhaps what Alex meant to say was "a lot of Green Party insiders are incredibly angry" because the government's proposed changes to welfare and education are in fact moderate, and won't give them an opportunity for hyperbolic, militant opposition!
Parata, English and Key have seriously provoked and irritated the education sector, the teachers, principals and most significantly, the parents. They've made a mistake, as all of the commentators acknowledge, including those on the right. There is discontent and action brewing now and it's patently obvious to everyone, except these few here, Keeping Stock included, who prefer instead, to plaintively ask, 'but what has the Government done wrong???'. Alex's voice seems genuine, yet you are busy dissecting and denying what he's pointed out to you. Watch The Nation and Q&A. Read the editorials in the major rags. Read some blogs. Take a look at what your great Cameron Slater has to say on the issue:
http://www.whaleoil.co.nz/2012/06/the-gall-of-list-mps/
Your beloved Nats have royally stuffed-up. Alex is right. You and Anon, KS, are both in lala land.
Read the editorials in the major rags.
Like the ones in the Herald and the Dom-Post Robert? The ones that whilst critical of Parata, actually supported the policy?
I did read them, and in fact blogged about them a couple of days ago as you should well realise; almost half of the comments on that thread were yours.
It's nice to see you debating the issue and not just sniping at people in that antagnostic manner you've mentioned in the past, but get your facts right, there's a good chap.
the Drudge and his good buddy the mayor of Riverton are the ones worried about the recent changes to the Gweens .. what would the previous co-leaders be thinking.
This is great for the Nats .. Harawira is a dangerous racist, Labour are plain nasty, Winny is losing his mind and now the Gweens are about to face the blow torch .. yehaaa
Imagine if you can .. a Govt made up of the parties above.
bOb .. time to go for a list position, that would be fantastic
@ KS - Its more a question of priorities than anything else. All of these 'tinkering' moves as you put it show that the priority for government spending is not on improving educational outcomes, or reducing poverty/inequality.
Their focus is on building enormous and expensive roads, raising GST in order to cut income taxes (a move that will unarguably hit the poor hard) implementing a useless system for comparing pass rates in schools, as opposed to investing in helping teachers do their jobs well, looking to control the reproductive rights of beneficiaries rather than actually helping beneficiaries upskill. (through the cutting of adult community education way back in term 1) In terms of the student issue, by capping support at 4 years it effectively limits higher level education, such as that required to become a doctor, to those of independent means.
This isn't a case of 'boo national bad' on everything either, the Greens worked very constructively with the Nats on home insulation, but apparently thats being cut too.
And for what? A wafer thin surplus that they can take to the next election and say Mission Accomplished?
Also @ Robertguyton - Thanks, but lets all play nice here. The atmosphere on this blog tends to be more civil, rather than the sewer of Kiwiblog or Whaleoil.
Jabber - your harpings-on are more and more shrill by the hour! The Green executive call Key and Bennett on their hypoocrisy and you hit the roof! I like the effect Metiria has on you - like dropping a live wire into a gold-fish bowl - fried fish!
As for the 'blow-torch' - is that how you regard yourself, jabber, the Torch of Truth, lighting up the dark recesses of New Zealand politics?
http://www.flickr.com/photos/crona_oo/4514309180/
Go Greens!
You guys are so viciously negative. It's understandable; you're hacks, but there's nothing good to say about the Nats or Act (obviously), so it's just attack, attack, attack using moronic talking points (Gweens, nasty, mad, racist, blah blah). At least try to be original when you're smearing though, otherwise you're just being boring.
I'll take you to task over you title too, Keeping Stock. It's a lie. You didn't think the Greens were 'above that' - you've repeatedly attacked them for the same sort of thing time and time again on this blog. Want me to cut and paste some of your words?
But Robert; you've always been so insistent that Green MP's didn't play gotcha politics and play the man instead of the ball; sorry; play the person.
Not so, Keeping Stock. I've always urged the Green MPs to be more like me; play the hypocrisy and the hypocrites. I'm delighted they've taken my advice.
You are such a hoot bOb .. I mean REALLY??? You and the Greens are hypocrites of the highest order.
And your mate, the Drudge, is also a hoot.
We have said it before, and even you have noted, the right will criticise their own when deserved BUT the Gweens and their dopey one eyed supporters, no offence bOb, NEVER criticise their own.
Just watching the BBC world news (have you heard of it bOb?) talking about the worsening Eurozone crises. Norman (any relation to Harvey I wonder) hasn't heard about it. His answer is to tax New Zealanders from within .. hahahaha .. We are skint already for goodness sake
http://eyevee.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/disableds.jpg
"AN estimated $23 billion has been wiped off the Australian sharemarket today with the local bourse falling to a six-month low."
From an Aussie paper. So bOb, Red Russell should go back to Aussie and save them then come back here .. yes?
The Greens have – quite legitimately – criticised Key and Bennett because of their policies. The fact that Key and Bennett are now dismantling the same structures that helped them so much is entirely relevant, and hardly “personality politics”.
"We are skint already for goodness sake..."
Well Jabba, given your inability to think rationally and communicate in English, it's little wonder you're broke. The rest of us will take up the slack though guy. That's what a decent society does for its less well off members. Go back to dribbling down your chin.
"Go back to dribbling down your chin."
A perfect example of the classy sort of comment that has your previously regular contributors avoiding this blog like the plague.
ROFL. If you find a statement so mild that offensive you had better stay away from the internets precious. However, I suspect you're just attempting to blackmail IV2 into censoring his blog. A typically craven tory tactic.
"the Gweens and their dopey one eyed supporters"
"A perfect example of the classy sort of comment that has your previously regular contributors avoiding this blog like the plague."
Nasty fucking watermelons.
They say they are green because they are too YELLOW to admit that they are RED
http://www.whaleoil.co.nz/2012/06/greens-go-nasty/
"Nasty fucking watermelons."
You're nearly there, Keeping Stock.
Nearly on par with Slater and Farrar.
Congratulations!
Oh Robert; yes; there's a swear word there, but you're a fine one to talk after your personal attacks on the likes of John Key (I seem to remember "spastic" being used once) and Gerry Brownlee.
The "experiment" is over. You can dish it out, but you can't take it. Goodbye, and there won't be a repeat experiment; the "three strikes" law applies.
you have odd trolls I2.
I thought the point you were making was a fair one.
Greens have been very careful to stay away from personal attacks on politicians to make political mileage. I have appreciated this approach as i think it reflects poorly on the 2 main parties -national and labour - how they do indulge in personal attacks. the greens have clearly departed from this policy over the weekend and this is worthy of comment.
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