From Margaret Jeune, the Alliance candidate for Otaki:
If you could ensure the passage of one act on one issue in the next Parliament, what would it be?Stop the release of GE into the environment.
What three other electoral candidates or sitting MPs do you think are most similar to you in their political views?
Sue Bradford, Mike Ward and Keith Locke
Do you support or oppose:
...raising the drinking age?
Support. Lowering the age has caused many social problems.
...legalising marijuana (or pharmaceuticals based on it) for medical use?
Support, when it is proved to be beneficial to the sufferer.
...decriminalising or legalising marijuana for recreational use?
Support, for those 18 and over.
...allowing same-sex couples to adopt children?
Support, equal rights for all people regardless of sexual orientation.
...amending the Marriage Act to allow same-sex couples to marry?
Support, the Alliance recognises same-sex marriage.
...allowing voluntary euthanasia or physician assisted suicide?
Yes (conscience issue)
..state funding of integrated schools?
Support, but not for private schools and for-profit tertiary providers.
...the retention of sedition as a crime in the Crimes Act?
No comment, not enough information to comment.
...the retention of blasphemous libel as a crime in the Crimes Act?
No comment.
...further restrictions on hate speech?
No comment
...the use of indefinite detention without trial for those subject to a security risk certificate?
Don’t support, reject policies of mandatory detention. Ensure refugee claimants could challenge any security claims against them.
...restoring the death penalty for serious crime?
Don’t support, the Alliance Party supports peaceful solutions not more violence.
Crime and social breakdown are caused by the stress, insecurity and poverty that many New Zealanders have to live with.
...Georgina Beyer's Human Rights (Gender Identity) Amendment Bill?
Support, the Alliance supports equal rights for all.
...Gordon Copeland's New Zealand Bill of Rights (Private Property Rights) Amendment Bill?
No comment
...entrenching the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act as supreme law?
No comment
...New Zealand's participation in the International Criminal Court?
No comment
...lowering MMP's threshold from the present 5%?
No comment, however the Alliance Party supports proportional representation and a pluralistic democratic system.
With the benefit of hindsight, how should the government have handled the Ahmed Zaoui case?
The rights of refugees should be protected. Refugee law and practise should be separated from immigration policies. There should be commitment to internationally recognised immigration criteria such as refugee status.
I should note that, as with all of these surveys, these are her personal views, and not necessarily those of the Alliance.
"Equal rights for all"! 18 = 20?
ReplyDeleteInteresting to note that the candidates that choose to answer this survey tend to be the ones that have sod all chance of being elected.
ReplyDeleteDoes this speak volumes as to their desperation for publicity?
I would like to see some sitting MPs front up and give some answers.
Indiscretion, I think you are looking at it the wrong way. I think it speaks volumes about those who do have a chance of being elected.
ReplyDeleteSadly too many people won't go on the record if they think
A) there's nothing in it for them
and
B) They might end up in a position where they could do something about it.
If a candidate thinks they are going to get elected as things currently stand then they are more likely to keep mum on all issues. They'll say "look at me" , and "those guys are bad" but keep information transfer to a minimum. They can only make things worse by talking.
It would be depressing to consider the possibility that only the desperate respond. Idiot sent a lot of those things out. Four responses so far. I'd like to think that at least some people would respond because it would be the polite(right even) thing to do.
Maybe Idiot should have sent out a complimentary sachet with a half a glass of wine with each one.
I'd like to see some sitting MPs respond as well. Unfortunately, I fear that the incentives are exactly as Lerc describes - they will think that they will only make things worse by revealing their views.
ReplyDeleteI'm hoping to get more out of the Greens, given their general attitude towards transparency - but I'm still waiting. Though I do have another response to go up in the morning...