NX-Files

...I believe the address they've given isn't that of their party's financial officer therefore the pamphlet is illegal under the terms of the Electoral Finance Act.  An Act they voted for. 

Okay, besides that hypocritical breach the pamphlet draws attention to topical environmental issues, which is good. 

What is not so good is their rationale.  On biofuels:

In particular, they must be substantially reduce carbon emissions compared with fossil fuels, they must not be made from food crops or by taking up food producing land, and they must not lead to destruction of biodiversity and ecosystems.

Edit:  I've since spotted the authorization statement.

Editorial: Neglect may cost Labour:

A broader Green Party would build some conservation projects on private property rights and recognise the power of market forces to ensure resources are used sustainably. A party of that stamp would draw support from across the spectrum and could contemplate dealings with any government.

The Green Party needs to move out of left field and become a central player.

If I were to start my own political party, it would be a right-leaning environmental party.  It would encourage ethical buying i.e. the purchase of products which have an ethical objective e.g. carbon neutral, free range eggs, or made in NZed.  Either way it gives the individual the power to decide through the market.

It would give incentives for private individuals to restore environments with native flora using sound ecological principles.  I.e. Kahikatea corridor to allow for movement of native species.  Wetland restoration to purify water etc. 

It would rather put a billion dollars towards cleaning up our environment and helping to save the kiwi than give it to Russia through an emissions trading scheme. 

It would trust NZers to contribute their own money toward environmental causes therefore would advocate the lowest possible tax. 

It would promote and incentivise clean technology which includes nuclear.  It would develop a strategy for introduction of hydrogen cars - nuclear energy is the only efficient way to extract hydrogen from water (electrolysis).  Damming a river to power our cars would be ridiculous.

Just a few ideas .

Quote

The "we know best dogma" that characterises socialist governments everywhere, and which is at its epitome in our Labour-led Administration, has had its day.

Bush's Third Term

 

We're beginning to understand why Barack Obama keeps protesting so vigorously against the prospect of "George Bush's third term." Maybe he's worried that someone will notice that he's the candidate who's running for it.

The new leader of the Nats is pushing all the right buttons so far. He’s a smooth operator which is in contrast to Dr Brash.

Although I’ve liked what John has said his speeches are full of feel good phrases and words used to appease the media and people with huge chips on their shoulders but doesn't really mean much. For example talking about ‘inclusiveness’ and ‘tangata whenua’ really means bugger all in the lives of everyday New Zealanders. It’s interesting to see Brash detractors warm to Key when all that’s change is the language rather than the policies – stupid if you ask me.

Anyway here's my favourite quote from John’s State of the Nation speech;

"For me, politics is not about the pursuit of power for the sake of it. Unlike some, I won't measure the success or failure of my political career by the number of years I hold office."

“You'll see this later today in Labour's response to this speech. A press release will come out listing a whole lot of programmes Labour has piloted and reviews it has introduced. It will tell you the cost of each of them.Well, I'm not interested in spending money simply to allow me to ease my conscience, look busy, or fend off attacks from the opposition or the media. I'm interested in results.”

From Bill English's conference speech:

"What is Labour’s plan for the economy? Here is Labour’s economic strategy, as described by Helen Clark last week.

She was asked if there was anything the Government wanted to do that it hasn’t done yet. She said: “It has taken time to work up the kitty for Working for Families. It has taken time to work up the kitty for interest-free loans and early childhood programme. So undoubtedly there will be areas we will build on for next time which will be new.”

So there it is – the economy is for Labour the way they build up the kitty for sweeteners, for giveaways in election years, using your money to buy your votes. Your money – they’ll be spending it."

• Having just one bottle of beer after each working day costs the planet 120kg in greenhouse emissions each year.
• mowing the lawn and odd jobs around the home produce almost 3.75 tonnes of emissions each year
• Australian mothers juggling child-rearing responsibilities and housework pumped out more than four tonnes of emissions a year.
• Using a leaf blower once a fortnight for 15 minutes to clear up the garden and driveway produces almost 8kg annually.
• Mowing with a two-stroke fortnightly for 20 minutes burns 29kg each year and buying a sandwich every day accounts for 120kg, including the production and transportation of ingredients.
• Daily computer use produces 240kg of greenhouse emissions each year and watching TV for four hours a week pumps out 46.8kg.
• A sedan driven 40km five days a week spews out more than 2.7 tonnes of emissions. Taking the bus would slash that to 888kg.

Basically whatever we do produces carbon.  So instead of continually scrutinising auto and air travel perhaps the spot light should be shone on those hippies who buy sushi for lunch .

"Labour's top echelon are committed internationalists. I've always found their practice of running a sophisticated agenda offshore, while stirring up domestic unease for political purposes, cynical in the extreme".  Link.

Although not universally liked I had a lot of respect for Don Brash.  In many ways he's the polar opposite of Helen Clark; polite and principled with a good sense of humour.  But in the end Dr Brash became victim to Clark's shrewd political spin machine.  This is a victory of spin over substance. 

John Key is the likely successor.  He has the makings to be popular, but I'm not sure of him yet.  He trumped Cullen in the finance debates last election.  So either way Clark's toast!