John Key
must be looking over his shoulders and be wondering just what he can do to head
off the rising fortunes of the opposition parties. Those parties associated
with his Government are in crisis and risk being lost off the political field altogether.
His own ministers are also shooting themselves in the foot too. This is often
the fate of second term Governments, no matter what the colour of their flags, so
it is not surprising that he is looking around for new initiatives; ones that the
opposition parties have been proposing for ages.
Take ‘housing
and apprenticeship schemes for example; have not the two main opposition
parties been putting out sensible polices; ones that the electorate seems quite
happy to support? Key can only say, ‘us too,’ but in a much watered down form.
He even seems to have moved away from strictly austerity type’ policies in an attempt
to turn the polls.
Next year
(if he lasts that long) will be interesting. In a sense it is ’be careful time’
for Labour and the Greens. It is easy to shove out policy, but that act must be
matched by a ‘balancing’ so that we are not clutching at political chaff. How often
have we heard opposition policies announced and then have them shoot way above
what is possible and make promises that are nothing short of lies? Labour may
think that they will benefit from the possible demise of the Maori Party, but
they should not discount the flow on that Hone and Mana may have amongst former
Maori Party supporters.
Mr Shearer
needs good advice over the next 18 months and learns from past mistakes. We do
not want a Labour green coalition that is bereft of real answers to the
problems facing us as a nation. The ebbs and flows of political fortunes are
something that needs to take into account the reality of the world New Zealand
now lives in. Anyone can make brash promises, but not everyone can follow through.
Think before you offer please, Mr Shearer and your newly found friend, Mr
Cunliffe.
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