Politics

So this blog does not turn into a list of things we've done in Wanganui I'll try and make some comments on New Zealand with the benefit of two weeks of perspective and a somewhat US bias! While some might suggest this is uninformed comment I prefer to quote Robert Burns:

"Such a gift as god would gie us,
To see oorselves as others see us."

Two major political events (I use the term major with tongue in cheek) have occured in February: firstly a scandal has "erupted" after 18 months (including an election) about a member of parliament who arranged immigration status for an man employed working on his home, secondly there has been a fuss about whether children go to school hungry and whether the solution is for private companies to send in food items. While I can't comment on the details of these they did impress me with a couple of things:

1. What the troubled MP did seems to be pretty minor compared to the massive corruption endemic in the US system where politicians need vast amounts of money to be elected and the people providing most of the money clearly expect some benefit. I'm told however that whatever trouble politicians get into here, they tend to duck out and reappear in a year or two. If not rehabilitated then at least with their transgressions forgotten.

The expulsion of this MP from the party does actually remove the 1 seat majority of the Labour Party, but they enjoy the general support of two minor parties (Maori and Green) if push comes to shove in a vote to dissolve parliament.

2. The political heat about the children led to some very British style grandstanding with the leader of the opposition (National Party - conservative) making as much political capital as possible while the party in power (Labour - liberal in the US sense) denouced him for the way he presented the message. None of which was much use to hungry children. And anyone who thinks that the UK parliament can be entertaining theatre at times (at least at Prime Minister's questions) should see the coverage in NZ where the general level of debate was slightly lower and the theatrics slightly more to the fore than the Glasgow University debating chamber.

As a positive aside a politician recently tied the knot (OK, underwent a civil commitment ceremony) with his gay partner. I don't see this occuring in most US states.

I'm not sure what to make of the political pulse here, and my feel for the mood is obviously coloured by living in a conservative area. While certain features of life suggest a more European style leftist view (moderately generous welfare benefits, comprehensive health care for children, nuclear free status) the overall feel is more like the individualist mindset of the US. It'll be interesting resolving the dichotomy.