Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Work smarter with a Pro licence Learn More

Gordon Campbell | Parliament TV | Parliament Today | News Video | Crime | Employers | Housing | Immigration | Legal | Local Govt. | Maori | Welfare | Unions | Youth | Search

 

"Donald Principle" Legacy Of The Green Party


8 August 2002

"Donald Principle" Legacy Of The Green Party

Comment from Bluegreens website www.bluegreens.org.nz

It's many years now since Laurence Peter gave the commercial world his well-known "Peter Principle" which states: people tend to be promoted up to their level of incompetence.

This week, New Zealand, through Green Party co-leader Rod Donald, has given the world of politics the "Donald Principle" which states: political parties tend to rise to their level of irrelevance. In spitting its genetically modified dummy at the Labour Party, the Green Party has condemned itself to the irrelevance its backward, backwoods, Luddite policies deserve.

As the Greens slide back into the pan from which they have flashed ever so briefly, New Zealanders can begin to concentrate their attentions on the more important task of comparing the environmental and heritage policies of the two major players on the political landscape: Labour and National.

The Greens were always no more than touch judges; the real power of decision lies with the referee in the middle, currently the Labour Party. And, like the rugby analogy, it's the differences in interpretation which count. Labour's record in its first term seems to have been based on whatever touchie-feelie moves would appeal to the electorate, with the notable exception being its stance on the GM moratorium.

But it was poll-driven reading of public opinion, plus a need to appease the Greens for a majority in Parliament, which caused Labour to make the rumpled bed in which it was forced to lie in the recent election campaign. There would have been no moratorium to become the issue it did, if Labour had said clearly to the Greens:

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading

Are you getting our free newsletter?

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.

"There, you've had the Royal Commission on Genetic Modification you asked us for; now live with its recommendations." But no, a moratorium was seen as a device to take D-Day well past Election 2002.This proved to be a tactical blunder by Labour because it gave the Greens the only issue on which it was able, for a time, to gain traction.

Labour, and its erstwhile Alliance coalition partner's actions in suspending the sustainable management of West Coast native forests (and, indeed, in abrogating its own 1986 West Coast Accord) strengthen the view that Labour's approach is not: what is right for the environment long-term?; but what can we sell short-term to a hoodwinked urban public?

National, on the other hand, has a record introducing rules for resource management (rules which that party is now the first to concede as being in dire need of amendment) creating marine reserves and of recognising the inevitable link between the environment and the economy. In its next term, National pledges to create an eco-restoration and sustainability fund through which, as the Government, it can become a partner with private owners in reversing environmental degradation; as well as addressing key issues of waste avoidance and disposal, and the quality of our water.

As is demonstrated by the report released this week by the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment, Dr Morgan Williams, in advance of the second Earth Summit to be begin in Johannesburg later this month, a majority of New Zealanders have yet to come to grips what is involved in the sustainable development of our unique New Zealand environment, and the part we must play in saving planet Earth.

Thanks to the emergence of the "Donald Principle", we can now recognise the Greens as irrelevant, leave them and their wacky ideas on the sideline, and look more closely at what the two main teams in the field, Labour and National have to offer.

ENDS

© Scoop Media

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading
 
 
 
Parliament Headlines | Politics Headlines | Regional Headlines


Gordon Campbell: On The US Opposition To Mortgage Interest Deductibility For Landlords


Should landlords be able to deduct the interest on the loans they take out to bankroll their property speculation? The US Senate Budget Committee and Bloomberg News don't think this is a good idea, for reasons set out below. Regardless, our coalition government has been burning through a ton of political capital by giving landlords a huge $2.9 billion tax break via interest deductibility, while still preaching the need for austerity to the disabled, and to everyone else...
More


 
 

Government: Concerns Conveyed To China Over Cyber Activity
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has confirmed New Zealand’s concerns about cyber activity have been conveyed directly to the Chinese Government. “The Prime Minister and Minister Collins have expressed concerns today about malicious cyber activity... More

ALSO:


Government: GDP Decline Reinforces Government’s Fiscal Plan

Declining GDP for the December quarter reinforces the importance of restoring fiscal discipline to public spending and driving more economic growth, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says... More

ALSO:


Government: Humanitarian Support For Gaza & West Bank

Winston Peters has announced NZ is providing a further $5M to respond to the extreme humanitarian need in Gaza and the West Bank. “The impact of the Israel-Hamas conflict on civilians is absolutely appalling," he said... More


Government: New High Court Judge Appointed

Judith Collins has announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister Jason Scott McHerron as a High Court Judge. Justice McHerron graduated from the University of Otago with a BA in English Literature in 1994 and an LLB in 1996... More

 
 
 
 
 
 

LATEST HEADLINES

  • PARLIAMENT
  • POLITICS
  • REGIONAL
 
 

InfoPages News Channels


 
 
 
 

Join Our Free Newsletter

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.