...and I'm happy about that. I believe the National/United Future/ACT coalition can enable the rest of us to do great things.
Yet I'm a skeptical supporter, one who has met a few National Party people and not liked the slightly elitist vibe I felt. Under other circumstances, I might have supported Labour, if it wasn't for their radical social agenda, and my observations that the best way to truly help people don't come from centralised government planning, but from entrepreneurial individuals.
So, as I tweeted, I look on this new government with hope, but not Obama-style hope. I hope they don't stuff it up. I hope they don't stick to traditional party lines and start thinking about this new world we're in, the way every person and every business has to. I hope we can fulfil the promise implicit in John Key's speech, that we can all achieve our potential.
More thoughts to come, I'm sure.
Yet I'm a skeptical supporter, one who has met a few National Party people and not liked the slightly elitist vibe I felt. Under other circumstances, I might have supported Labour, if it wasn't for their radical social agenda, and my observations that the best way to truly help people don't come from centralised government planning, but from entrepreneurial individuals.
So, as I tweeted, I look on this new government with hope, but not Obama-style hope. I hope they don't stuff it up. I hope they don't stick to traditional party lines and start thinking about this new world we're in, the way every person and every business has to. I hope we can fulfil the promise implicit in John Key's speech, that we can all achieve our potential.
More thoughts to come, I'm sure.
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7 comments:
I know I'm just pissy that I have no internet and should go to sleep and quit whining, but your blog post inspired me. I never gather enough thoughts to blog cohesively, but I see that all you need to do is explain a tweet.
I too am looking forward to what this government brings. Living in a split house that my partner voted the incumbent party, and I didn't vote National party. I did meet the local National candidate Richard Whiteside (Rimutaka) and chatted for a while. This was just after meeting the now successful Labour candidate and not liking the slightly snobby vibe from him.
I voted as a geek, with one primary goal - to fix internet in NZ. I voted for a party with the best scheme for funding infrastructure, and the local candidate that seemed most passionate about communities getting connected, and technology.
Neither of our votes resulted in success - but now I have "3 years to fix what I don't like", and In those three years, I hope to bring Fibre to the Homes on the far side of Totara Park, Upper Hutt. This is my election pledge. #FTTH!
Plot your demand on http://broadbandmap.govt.nz/map/ and lets improve on rusty copper, eh?
My best to NZ!
With new leaders in OZ and USA, this has been a great year of change. To a creative and inspiring conversation in 2009!
A thought-provoking post and a perspective I wasn't expecting but one I can in part relate to - that entrepeneurial spirit and vision can drive change.
This relies on the presumption that there is an underpinning ethical standard and this is where I get nervous under a National government... at least MMP helps represent a range of views through shared power and encourages collaborative solutions rather than an outright majority. I guess only time will tell...
The only thing for sure in the world is change...
Thanks guys for your comments. Tom, I very much agree on the need for an ethical underpinning, which is why it's a little worrying to see Roger Douglas back in the house.
And that's also why I like MMP, even though it can be problematic. I wished United Future had gotten a larger vote as they could have had a key role in "keeping the bastards honest" as a famous Aussie party pledged once.
Thanks Simon
That fantastic quote was made by Don Chipp of the Australian Democrats in 1980 when they had a real presence in Oz - now lost through poor party leadership and in-fighting (now hold less than 2% of the vote in the 2007 federal election)...
re Roger Douglas, heard him speak when they rolled him out for the "Great Debate" in Queenstown the week before the election. I'm amazed that there is a place in this government for this sort of ultra conservative stance... it seems to be out of kilter with the change that's happening in the rest of the world
Gidday Simon - the other big winner on the night was MMP. Such a clear cut result, emphatic mandate, no drawn out coalition negotiations. Regardless of how one may feel about the result, few would argue that the system was at fault this time around. Notice how silent the MMP critics have been post-election?
That's a good point, Nicholas, and while I agree with you I did hear someone on Radio NZ (I forget who) saying it was a bit unfair that NZ First didn't get in because Winston lost his seat, while United Future got in, solely because Peter Dunne retained his.
Interesting point, but I wouldn't make that argument too loudly. Give me Dunne over Peters any day! :)
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