Watched yesterday's leaders debate and thought that whatever happens, as country we can live with any of the leaders. Remember in contrast last year's US presidency debates? We don't know how lucky we are ...
Anyway - if I just compare the two leaders (ignoring their parties policies) - both appear genuine, I think both are honest (I know, JT ...) and both could do the job, but Bill obviously has significantly more experience.
Whom would you pick if this would be a decision for a CEO position in a company you are invested in? I know, whom ...
Looking into the major parties policies: Both have some plus sides - both have some negative sides and both have at least one area they should be highly embarrassed of. None of them looks like a clear winner to me.
Here is my unscientific and subjective election matrix:
Water / Environment
I like the fact that Labour is approaching this difficult subject and think that a royalty (or whatever fee or tax) on water would be a good way to encourage users to reduce wasting this precious resource and help to distribute it in a fairer way than currently (first in takes it all). I'd prefer to see a more mature policy though to make an informed decision.
Laws to have NZ carbon neutral by 2050 are in my view just a waste of time and paper. Any future government can change these time wasters. Lets judge the parties on what they propose to do during their terms.
Minor tick for Labour ...
Education
There are plenty of arguments for as well as against "free" education. Having said that - I grew up in a country in which education was and still is free (even for Kiwis studying there ...) and I think that the society overall benefits from this policy as long as there are some checks that the "free" education is useful for society as well (no free master degrees in belly dancing
.
I realise this is something which will increase tax levels, but I think this is an investment worthwhile to make.
However - Diversity is good, charter schools are (proven) good and I am concerned that the old boys teacher unions are only fighting them because they think they will undermine their power. The fight of the unions is pure selfishness and has nothing to do with concerns for the quality of education
A tick and a penalty for Labour;
Clear winner: ACT;
Justice:
I think Nationals strategy of being tough on crime has failed ... and their recent proposals to reduce human rights for members of gangs are unacceptable. However - Labour's proposal to replace the assumption of innocence in alleged sex crimes with a requirement for the accused to prove their innocence is unacceptable as well.
Shame on both large parties - just losers!
Immigration
Nationals immigration policy is pragmatic and sensible. Labours is populist and will damage our economy in the long run. Tick for National;
Housing
Both parties are responsible for the ridiculous situation - Labour for creating our current resource management act and National for not changing it.
ACT +1 for addressing the root cause.
Tax:
I guess good that Labour retracted from deciding about a huge bunch of punitive taxes without asking the voters, but bad on them for doing this just under pressure. Jacinda lost a lot of credibility by originally pushing Labours ridiculous tax policy and than Flip-Flopping.
While there may be better ways to structure our tax system (very subjective, though) - is this really our biggest problem? I guess the answer to that is only Yes if you promise too many lollies (as Labour does) and than need to pay for it.
Tick for ACT;
small tick for National;
Australia
Australians are treating Kiwis as cheap guest labour - and if they don't need or like them anymore they send them home. Kiwis are allowed to pay the full tax in Australia, but they are not entitled to the benefits.
Good on Jacinda (+1) for promising that she will reiterate ... and a pity Bill (-1) kept his tail between his legs.
OK - I guess it will be this time my party vote for ACT ... and supporting our local National candidate (Amy Adams) - she is a good, caring and efficient MP.
Hoping however that Labour will offer the next three years a better opposition than they used to ... and who knows what happens then - they had this time more ticks from me than in a long time
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