Posts by Rob Stowell
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Ah... My partner and I are considering going to see it on our anniversary on Thursday. Which would be kind of appropriate, because our first 'leaving the house' date? Was a screening of Once Were Warriors.
Yeah, not exactly a date movie. But we went on our anniversary, and not a scrap of regret. There's quite a lot of natural beauty. Those skies... I came out feeling more subdued than uplifted- but not in a bad way.
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There are some scenarios with even quite a small movement that have National losing 2 seats.
Love your optimism, but we lost this one. Electorally, yes, it’s quite close. I was really really hoping the MP would have the balance of power, and slow down or stop both beneficiary bashing and asset sales. But it’s highly unlikely. 61 votes in parliament can do almost anything in NZ.
And wouldn’t be especially ‘fair’, either. Cos on the broader count, we still lost. I also winced when JK talked of his ‘overwhelming majority’- but the right clearly won the party vote %. It’s kind’ve close if you squint hard enough to count NZF- and maybe even the MP- as part of the left (I can’t do this.) But the Conservative Party vote ain’t left. Dunne, Act, National + Conservative were over 50% fair and square.
Bummer, eh.
But it’s not a rout (either electorally or for the parties of the left). And the lowish turn-out shows quite clearly where some of the work that needs doing needs to be targeted.
It’s interesting, as a curiosity, that strategic voting in Epsom and Ohariu could have meant the ‘right’ had a clear lead in party vote overall, but still couldn’t get to 61 without the MP. But while it may come into play again, dwelling on that is pointless.
The left needs to talk, listen, argue and develop an alternative, more collective and communal vision for the country. That’s work, and it needs working on :) -
Hard News: Democracy Night, in reply to Steve Barnes,
I get you’re grumpy, Steve. But since you voted for National (any vote not for Labour is a vote for National/Key, right?) you gotta fall on your own sword first.*
Already voted…
Party, Mana*this is a metaphor, and not a fresh one. please do not attempt to fall on anyone’s sword. or anything. even a well-sharpened metaphor.
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Alas, isn't it 61 from 121? Almost makes me wish the MP had taken another seat!
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Hard News: Democracy Night, in reply to Raymond A Francis,
My head is very firmly wrapped around “the fact that Key and the national party” will form the next govt with a tatter of ACT and a smidgen of Dunne. Painfully wrapped around it. Like a Lamborghini wrapped round a lampost :)
And… if I start telling people “what they can have”, I expect to be quickly pushed in front of a bus. Good riddance too.
ETA as long as it’s an electric bus, mkay? -
Key seemed to be reading notes from a prompt?
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... &%$#2@#*&!?!
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Yeah, term one for Key was always about getting ready for round two, though they have had a few curly ones along the way. He said repeatedly in 08 ‘no asset sales in the first term…’
I’m trying to harden up, and not get too hopeful, either. But hope is a stubborn wee bugger :) Teh Gnats always knew getting close to 50% was a long-shot. If ACT and (over) Dunne get no seats, it’s quite possible the Māori Party will hold the balance- or even not quite hold it.
<rant>
Totally agree about it being a bad bad three years for most in aotearoa if Key gets unchecked power. Stephen Joyce, for example, is currently promising the tertiary sector the same sort of simplistic carrot-and-stick they’ve been trying to force onto schools: 5% funding cuts if certain ‘well-defined performance criteria’ are not met.
It’s as if they think KPIs must rule us all (rather than being a silly measurement of things noone but managers give a toss about.)
Never mind institutions that cater to the less-able student- or simply fail to produce a decent % of graduates in the top income bracket. It does increasingly strike me this Govt know the value of nothing but $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
</rant> Sorry 'bout that.
Just been out to see 'when a city falls'. Good film! -
I'm looking forward to my robo-call. New to NZ innit? I have a few things to say to Key, and hope to enjoy saying them for a nanosecond, before flinging the phone in the toilet :)
Back in Mr Key's 'real world' I'm feeling a bit jaded and over it. Every time I see a poll with National over 50% I get a feeling of unreality. What happened to NZers? I walk the streets looking slightly sideways at people- Over 50%!?! that means you, and maybe you and- surely not you?
Arg!
Then something will ignite a spark of hope- if only, just maybe... but- but but!
This is not a healthy head-space :)
Once it's over and the worst has happened... I dunno. At least it'll be over! -
Capture: Capture One, in reply to Hebe,
Like :)