Entry 885, on 2008-11-07 at 20:51:04 (Rating 3, Politics)
The world is in turmoil. The US election is over and everyone is happy (well almost everyone anyway - I'm sure there are some from the extreme right who are a bit upset). The markets surged upwards on the good news (would that have happened if McCain had won as well?) but now they are diving again.
I recently watched a spoof of how the share markets work and the message was essentially that certain people get paid a fortune for making basically arbitrary decisions based more on emotion than reason, and we call this a global financial system. Well last time I checked the word "system" the definition implied organisation and rationality. Clearly that doesn't apply in this case.
The Republicans seem to be fighting amongst themselves now. McCain supporters blame Palin and her supporters blame McCain for their loss. Rumour suggests that Palin is setting herself up as a future leader of the party. I would have to say that McCain doesn't seem like such a bad person: he isn't too extreme politically, he is moderately intelligent and knowledgeable, and he can speak well when required. Palin is quite the contrary. She is ignorant, unintelligent (that's a polite form), extreme and incoherent. Well yes, maybe on reflection she might make a good US president!
Our local (New Zealand) big telecommunications company, Telecom, has reported a 34% loss in earnings for the quarter - and this was before the impact of the global financial crash has hit them. Why did this happen? Because another highly paid executive (the previous CEO) did a useless job. Unfortunately this incompetence doesn't really affect the people who are responsible, only the employees and people who use their services. Yes, its another example of there being little accountability at the top.
In the New Zealand election which is held tomorrow it looks like the center-right National Party and its allies will win, although there is still a chance that the center-left will be able to form a coalition government. All I really hope for is that the right-wing parties (National and Act) don't get it all their own way by having to team up with a more moderate partner.
Many people I know criticise MMP because they think small parties get too much influence, but I don't see any real evidence of this. Sure, the smaller parties have some influence but it seems fairly well in proportion to what they should have based on their proportion of the vote. I think having junior political partners is a great way to moderate the possibly extreme ideas of the two major parties.
Winston Peters is in trouble again for a dodgy advertising trick he has used which is apparently legal but not what I would consider sensible. When I look at New Zealand First's policies there is a lot I can agree with, and some people seem to think he has done quite well as foreign minister, but some of his tactics make it hard to vote for him.
I still haven't decided who I will vote for tomorrow. It will be a party to the left of center for sure but whether it will be the Greens, Labour, or the Progressives who knows. According to the survey I recently did I agree with all of these parties almost equally so it will probably come down to a spur-of-the-moment decision on the day!
Comment 1 by SBFL on 2008-11-09 at 22:52:59:
I am not so sure about this statement: ". I think having junior political partners is a great way to moderate the possibly extreme ideas of the two major parties."
Greens pull Labour to the left and ACT pull National to the right. No one is saying Labour and National have extreme ideas, quite the contrary. They are now being criticised for being to similar which means the centre-ground is being hotly contested this time. Evidenced by the decimation of UnitedFuture and NZ First.
Comment 2 by OJB on 2008-11-10 at 08:20:43:
Yes, I agree. I was totally wrong as I now realise to my horror when I contemplate the dreadful proposition of a moderately sensible party like National having to team up with a bunch of nutters like Act!
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