Friday, November 07, 2008
:what the hell does ‘time for a change’ mean?:
OK - I try not to blog about overt politics, religion, sex and other things that divide people...but it’s driving me crazy cracker bananas hearing people saying they are going to vote for a certain BLUE-coloured political party whose name I cannot bring myself to write because it is “time for a change”. I just heard a Vox Pop on National Radio and about six people in a row said it. It makes me grit my teeth and turn into the incredible hulk.
Time for a change?
That is what you say when you are bored with your breakfast cereal. Or when you’ve gone to the Coromandel for four summers and think this year you might try the Marlborough Sounds. It is NOT, repeat NOT a good basis to choose who you are going to vote for.
This bizarre NZ tendency to think “Ah well, they’ve had a good go. Time to give the other guys a chance...” This is not equitable and egalitarian and reasonable. This is silly. The political parties are not kids waiting in line for the swings at the park..."C’mon Labour, get off now. It’s the other guys turn. You’ve had a good go.”
Yargh!
There is also a tendency to revert back to FPP thinking and focus only on the two biggest parties. It is NOT a two horse race - unless we keep voting that way. There are manifold smaller parties who will get representation so long as we can all get on board the MMP bus.
For the record, I DO NOT vote Labour either. I’m sure you can imagine which way my allegiance lies - there’s a colour clue in the photo above - but please, please do not vote the blue guys just because you are bored of Helen Clark’s bad teeth and out of some misguided sense of egalitarian thinking. If you are going to cancel out my vote, at least do it because you have engaged with the party’s policies and are making an informed choice. Maybe it IS time for a change...but to assume that means there is only one option - to vote for the other major party - is just plain dumb.
Posted by on 7 November, 2008 at 7:01am
woohoo, go helen! and what also drives me crazy is the completely empty rhetoric. ‘it’s time for a change...but we’re not going to reveal what that change is’. And I can imagine the worst. Key may as well be saying it’s time for mememememememememeeeee. i will cry if he gets in (which of course he won’t!!)
Posted by sarah on 7 November, 2008 at 08:40 AM
amen!!
thank you for saying this. the ‘time for a change’ thing makes me crazy too. if things have been good, why do we need a change?
to be honest, reading political commentary from nz at the moment makes me want to stay in europe. :(
Posted by melissa on 7 November, 2008 at 09:29 AM
If there is a good chance something BAD is about to happen I usually ALWAYS prepare myself for it...but this “change” I just can’t. Burying my head in the sand like the proverbial ostrich, I expect I will be in a state of shock for quite some time, and possibly emigrate (kidding), should the WORST occur. I WISH so much that ‘the electorate’ heard MUCH more in the campaign about what that kind of change might be. For instance, why didn’t Labour BITE BACK more, policy-wise, saying, “And is that change the one the Republicans managed to achieve for the US eg militaty involvement in Iraq? So, is the change you’re wanting away from peace and negotiation to war? etc.etc.?”
I’m not hoping (well I am) but I can’t let myself conceive anything so BAD as “the change” is actually going to happen. Let’s not grieve till there’s something to grieve over!!!Head in the sand, head in the clouds, head in the sand, head in the clouds.
Posted by Margi on 7 November, 2008 at 09:33 AM
Imagine if people ran their marraiges like they we run politics. Yeah Marg, you’ve been a good wife for 40 years and put up with a lot of my shit but it’s just time for a change.
Party vote Green!
Posted by Emma on 7 November, 2008 at 10:08 AM
Melissa - I know just what you mean!
Sarah - TOTALLY - I think that is almost the rub - JK is so freakn’ DULL and undynamic and uninteresting and unintelligent...I could almost understand a N vote if their leader had some charisma, but....ugh!
Margi - Me too! It’s been hard for me to totally whoop it up about the USA when I feel like we might be heading in the totally opposite direction here.
Doomy gloomy feeling…
Posted by on 7 November, 2008 at 10:08 AM
A vote for John Key is like swapping your colour television for a black-and-white one. A change, yes, but what a bleak view.
Posted by Tim on 7 November, 2008 at 11:54 AM
Helen, I don’t like to think how doomy, gloomy our emigree American friends may be feeling !
Posted by Margi on 7 November, 2008 at 12:43 PM
Actually, Margi, I think they are still on a high from the 4th Nov…
Posted by on 7 November, 2008 at 01:33 PM
Here in Palmerston North, Malcolm Plimmer (National candidate) has supposedly been giving “food vouchers” to people who display his signs! I am glad John Key had a less than welcome visit here this morning. As for “change” maybe too many people do not remember the 1990s, or Roger Douglas?
Posted by Catherine on 7 November, 2008 at 01:46 PM
Totally! Catherine. Did you hear that there were fisticuffs in PN earlier today between Labour and National supporters - Mr Off-Key graced PN with his presence and it caused fights…
Posted by on 7 November, 2008 at 01:53 PM
Well said! I have been thinking similar thoughts, but certainly can’t put them as eloquently as you! Mostly I lurk, but you’ve fired me up!
Posted by on 7 November, 2008 at 02:21 PM
Well said indeed! I’m fired up too!
Posted by Rachelle on 7 November, 2008 at 03:02 PM
Posted by jo on 7 November, 2008 at 03:56 PM
Hooray! If it’s time for a change then I say vote for a minor party (For me: GREEN!) and influence change in government that way. Honestly the stupidity of some people.
Posted by on 7 November, 2008 at 10:22 PM
omigoodness. You have no freaking idea how much that “change” crap has frustrated the hell out of me.
I almost disowned my family twice yesterday amid political discussions. Gah.
xo
Posted by Nikki on 8 November, 2008 at 09:41 AM
Well we changed away to the right sadly. in mourning here.
Posted by Rebecca on 9 November, 2008 at 02:48 PM
hear hear! I’m sad to say that most people did exactly that though… :(
Posted by sew-funky on 9 November, 2008 at 09:08 PM
Sigh, sadly we seem to be the minority…
Posted by Helen on 10 November, 2008 at 08:23 AM
So right. I try not to talk politics publicly because I’m a terrifically principled journo type, but it’s been frustrating me when people say it’s time for a change because they don’t seem to realise just what that change will mean… I didn’t personally ‘like’ Helen Clark but her job is not to be liked, it’s to provide a government with some long term thinking that looks after all its people.
Grrrrrrrrr.
K
Posted by Kimberley on 14 November, 2008 at 10:51 AM
