Originally Posted by
BlackPeter
Look Sergant, all these "Labour achievements" you list lie so far back in the past, that I would assume that both the Labour politicians supporting them as well as the National politicians opposing are already for a long time retired and many already dead. How is this relevant for todays politics? Are you buying shares of a company, just because they used to have a great CEO or board 50 years ago?
Labour is a highly regressive party with its roots, ideas, achievements and future all firmly planted in the past. All most of them seem to be able to do is whine, nag and disestablish their next leader ... Grumpy old people. However - New Zealand needs a government which is looking in to the future. The Best is still to come ... and so far I don't see how Labour would pull that off.
Looking at your items:
Introduction of GST was in 1986 (29 years ago). In my view a good step - and it appears National is firmly embracing this move (they increased GST several times, always firmly opposed by Labour)
Diplomatic relations with PRC in 1972 (43 years ago). Again - in hindsight inevitable, and I think it was an economical advantage for NZ to be one of the frontrunners. On the other hand - how do Labour / Green feel about supporting for many years a government and system which couldn't care less about political freedom and human rights? Funny to see the same people who supported the diplomatic relations every time protesting when one of the Chinese politicians visits the country.
NZ Health system: Not sure, whether you really can put this on Labours achievements (too many changes by all parties over the last eighty years or so), but overall - it is not perfect, but certainly one of the better ones internationally (and still sort of affordable). When do you think that Labour implemented that? The base for our health system was established in 1938 - was Labour at that stage in power? If yes - what difference would this make to the political decisions we need to make over the next decade or so?
Labour used to be the "grand party" (and I definitely would acknowledge as well their achievements in terms of Labourers rights), than it turned into the "grand old party", and now it is just an old party. It lives in the past. It clearly had some achievements at its time - and fair enough to remember and celebrate them. However - past performance does not indicate future performance, and the time of the great Labour politicians seems to be over. Could we get an opposition party which is relevant, instead?