I now hope Labour do win the next election. Why? Because then all these nasty little laws they’ve been so rapidly passing before the Christmas recess will actually come to rest on them.

Then unfortunate part about the political system in New Zealand is that people tend to blame the Government of the day for the way things are, when in fact its quite often the previous Government that passed a particular law. And so it will be with a lot of these little laws that we’ve seen thrown through the parliament in recent weeks. As they come to settle and people start to notice them, the government of the day will be blamed whether they were the ones to enact the law or not.

On Tuesday we saw a historic event happen in this country. We saw the biggest anti-democratic change this country has ever witnessed. In the words of John Key…

“History will mark this day. This is the day that Helen Clark arrogantly inflicted upon the people of New Zealand an anti-democratic piece of legislation and the collective focus of New Zealand knew once and for all, it’s time for a change.”

John Key – Electoral Reform Bill Debate – 18 December 2007

And that is without a doubt the cause. Labour has said that we are allowed to have a democracy in this country, but within certain limitations. A democracy, sure. But the caveats they have imposed have made it all but impossible for the average Joe to voice their opinion publicly in this country.

I believe that for any democracy to survive there cannot be limitations and restrictions on how that democracy is practised. You cannot give with one hand and take with the other. What we have seen pass in the house yesterday was not Democracy in action. What we saw was a party in a minority Government doing everything it can to entrench itself as the Government because they’ve gotten too used to the good life. It has nothing at all to do with preventing an “Americanisation” of our democracy as Annette King puts it. This is all about the fact that the Labour Party has no money of its own left and needed public funding to survive in the next election. Its all about the fact that as their tenure in office has progressed, more and more people are starting to vocalise against them publicly in such a way as to draw attention to what Labour has done and is doing. The Labour party knows they’ve lost the trust and support of all but the most die-hard supporters in this country and now they need to stack the deck to remain in power.

The New Zealand Herald has a very good explanation of what this law actually means for you and I, as well as what the legal consequences of this law are. Good enough that I printed it off as a reference. See their article titled “Electoral Finance legislation: What it all means”

David Farrar and the Free Speech Coalition have started to put up billboard posters around key locations. Unfortunately one of his posters was on a billboard that happened to be on a school ground. As the Ministry of Education does not allow political statements to be advertised from their properties (unless its propaganda by the government) the school headmaster (headmistress?) forced him to remove the billboard.

What the Labour Party and those that supported this bill have done is effectively put a caveat on democracy in this country. You can have your say and voice your opinion, but…

The voting happened down party lines. What was a surprise is that after causing serious damage by voting for the bill at every previous stage of this bills passage through the House, United Future and Peter Dunne have tried to back out and save face by voting against it. Purely a political move. They know which way the wind blows and they know that there is only a very slim chance of Labour surviving the next election. However, by voting against at the 3rd and final reading, they have done nothing more than present a token. They voted for this bill at every other stage and blocked or voted against amendments and change that would have made the bill far less dangerous to democracy in this country.

I’m sorry Peter Dunne, but what you’ve done is nothing more than pay lip service. The damage was already done at the previous readings and you do not have the right to say you were against the bill. In fact, you stated in your own speech that you’re only voting against it because you heard the public opinion on this bill.

I have been struck by the messages from individuals with no special political axe to grind who genuinely fear that this bill will limit their rights to freedom of speech and expression,

Peter Dunne – Electoral Reform Bill Debate – 18 December 2007

What? Now that the damage is done, he can suddenly hear us? Where was he months ago when people first started crying out against this bill? Where was he when people start marching down Queen Street in Auckland? On TWO separate occassions! Where were you when people started protesting? No Mr Dunne, you are as much tarnished by this bill as the others that voted for it.

It is because of all this that when I get back from my vacation, I will be redoing the colours of this blog. From its current green to blue. Never in my life have I been affiliated with, or voted for, the Green Party. I do not want anyone to see this site and think, even for the most brief of moments, that I condone or support them in any way.

I am so glad my Grandfather never lived to see this. He fought in World War 2 for Freedom, for Justice and for Liberty. He fought against the Socialists for all of us to have the right to live our lives freely and without fear of unjust persecution. He spent several years living in an Italian POW camp. And to now have Socialists do this to our country?

I am glad my Grandfather never lived to see this day.

I will link to the debate Hansard transcript when the Parliament Clerk finally puts it on the website. At the moment, only the Uncorrected transcript of Question Time is available.

I will have more to say about this, and a significant announcement, when I return from my vacation in January.