Parties breaking promises, MPs swapping parties, unexpected political
alliances - how do we know what we are voting for?
When I heard on the news that if the National Party did not move to a more
right wing policy then Act would withdraw its support and force an early
election, I thought, "That means we'd have the chance to vote, but who
would get my vote? Is it worth voting at all?"
First I thought about the Labour Party breaking the promises in its
manifesto after the 1984 election, and the National Party doing the same
after the 1990 election. How could I put my faith in either of those
parties?
Then I thought about the leaders. None of my thoughts were reassuring.
Jenny Shipley became leader in a coup organised behind the Prime Minister's
back while he was out of the country. Helen Clark and Richard Prebble were
ministers in the last Labour Government, although Richard Prebble has since
of course changed parties.
That naturally led on to people changing parties. People who favoured
Alliance policy voted for that party. Alamein Kopu left the Alliance after
pledging to give it her support. She was a list MP. That means that she
entered Parliament because the Alliance Party put her on their list, not
because voters in an electorate elected her for her personal qualities.
Yet she continues to be an independent MP in Parliament without giving
support to the party who put her there. What value must Alliance
supporters put on their vote?
For another article on this hot topic click
here
.
How must the people feel who, believing in the policies of New Zealand
First, voted for people who have since defected from the party? The
defectors have supported a vote of confidence in the present government
without the Prime Minister stating clearly what legislation the Government
was going to put forward on key issues of New Zealand First policy such as
free doctors' visits for the under-sixes, and abolition of the surtax on
the GRI (Guaranteed Retirement Income) paid to senior citizens.
I decided to find out what some other people thought about this issue.
George: I've always believed that it's worth voting, and felt a
sense of conscience about voting so that a democratic right is not lost.
There is danger in passivity which allows governments to act without
restraint. I would like to see a sense of conscience evident in the people
who have been elected to a party yet leave without a good moral reason.
A lot of decisions are made in boardrooms and Cabinet and Caucus meetings
away from public input. The only right we have left is our vote. We need
more information so that our vote can carry more weight. A lot of the
responsibility lies with the media which are usually heavily biassed and
dependent on big business for their support.
Wendy: I have been unwilling to vote in recent elections as I
didn't feel I could support any of the parties. Anyway as soon as a new
Parliament gathers election promises are broken and in no time at all some
members are swapping parties or even starting new ones, completely
upsetting MMP proportionality.
People say you must vote, but surely it's wrong to vote for
something you don't believe in, just for the sake of exercising your
vote.
Jim: I intend to vote because I believe that our vote is a right
hard won over the centuries. If a large number of us failed to vote, the
government that was elected would be chosen only by those with strong,
possibly extreme, views.
At present I have no firm idea of how I will vote. I will probably split
my vote as I did last time by voting for a candidate chosen for personal
qualities but voting for a different party. The decision would be easier
if we had some prior indication of the combined policies of alliances that
would seek to form a coalition if no party gained a sufficient majority to
govern alone.
I think I would describe myself as a traditional, but not extreme,
socialist. I would vote for a party that would increase our taxes and give
us a decent health system and support charitable organisations.
New Zealand voters almost without exception do not trust their politicians
even as much as they do their secondhand car salesmen. Most cannot name
one whom they trust.
Desiree: Reaching the age of eighteen was quite significant for me,
as it allowed me the opportunity to cast my first parliamentary vote. I
couldn't wait. But those were the days of the Springbok tour, the nuclear
threat, and a reign of what I considered to be repressive Muldoonism.
Although my vote then did not result in a change of government, I felt as
though I was part of the process. I'd had my say.
Almost eighteen years later, not only am I much more cynical about
politicians and the process, but I'm really concerned that so many New
Zealanders seem crippled into passivity. They have little respect for
politicians - especially our new breed of the MMP variety (this I
understand!), but more importantly, they actually don't seem to care enough
to make politicians accountable for their policies. I'd say that's an
excellent climate for a government to push its hidden agendas, and for our
elected representatives to do pretty much what they like, unchallenged.
For this reason I will always believe that it is important to exercise
one's right to vote. Cynicism aside, history attests to the fact that one
person can make a difference!
Jasper: Frankly I am a bit surprised to be asked the question
whether it is worth voting at the next election, because not only is it
always necessary to vote, but the next election in particular will decide
several crucial things about the future direction of our democracy. I am
thus very keen to exercise my right. I think it will sort out those
politicians who have tried to subvert MMP (which I wholeheartedly support),
and whether the average New Zealander, who I think is a moderate and
sensible person, wants to go in the extreme right direction where we are
heading at the moment.
Yes, it is certainly worth voting.
Readers, do tell us how you react to the current political manoeuvring?
