[pf] Fw. "a confusion between politics and power?"

· for Pos Fut: The Greens /should/ be able to involve members from all
sorts of "mainstream" political persuasions, provided
repair-&-maintenance-of-the-earth is their first or second priority. But is
'becoming the Government' the goal?   D.

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        -----Original Messages-----
>>At 11:45 10/1/2001 +1300, Brent Efford wrote, to: GreenViews-NZ, with
Subject: [GV]becoming the government :-
>>> Silly or serious, I think that 'becoming the Government' is either
>>> an illusion or a dangerous objective for the Green Party to pursue. 
>>> I recall another posting some time ago which suggested we should 
>>> go after 40% of the vote!
>>>
>>> To be a strong dominant party in a Government requires at least 35% -
>>> something only Labour and National have achieved since the latter was
>>> formed in 1936. Political allegiances in NZ may be less entrenched 
>>> than they were, but Labour and the Nats between them can still count 
>>> on about 70%. To attempt to cut greatly into that would mean 
>>> jettisoning much that is distinctively Green ...
>
>At 17:03 10/1/2001 +1300, Christiaan wrote:
>>I disagree. As history shows attitudes change constantly. The Green 
>>movement is a revolution. I joined this party because I wanted to 
>>help the Green Party become government, not a watchdog biting at 
>>the ankles of Labour and National.
>>
>
At 06:54 AM 11/01/01 +1300, David MacClement wrote:

>· Here's a major problem specifically for The Greens.
>
>· "Being the Government" is the usual goal of national political activity,
>for the simple reason than then you can "implement your policies",
>"govern", "provide leadership in the right direction" etc. I see these as
>PC words for: "adjust the laws so what you want happens, and people who
>break the laws you pass are thrown in jail".
>
>· Is that a Green goal? To "provide leadership", but with the underlying
>threat that the full force of state sanctions comes down on those who
>persist in doing things differently? I saw this happen when National was in
>power.
>
>· There; that's the phrase: "in POWER"!
>

At 07:06 11/1/2001 +1300, Alf Harris wrote:

Is there a confusion here between politics and power? I believe that
governments can legislatively balance the interests of a wide range of
communities of interests without forcing their own policies down their
collective throats.  I think that MMP has showed us what may be possible, I
hope that the Greens have and will move things on further. 
Surely we have a choice as to whether political power is allowed to corrupt
or not? Indeed is not an important part of being human being able to
rationally decide what choices we really do have and act responsibly with
what power we have?

These are important issues and challenges in a year of local body elections.

Alfred H.

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sent on to Positive Futures by David.
(David MacClement) davd@ihug.co.nz 
http://www.geocities.com/davdd.geo/index.html#top
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