Green co-leader and party democracy

And it's Russel Norman. So we'll maybe see a bit more noise on social justice issues (which doesn't bother me in the slightest), but I don't really expect this to compromise the Greens' strong stance on the environment at all.

Meanwhile, the Manawatu Standard's editorial today praises the Greens for having a proper internal democracy - and criticises the other parties for their lack of it:

The pity of it is that the old parties don't seem to much care for what their members think, using them mainly as campaign fodder once every three years and pretty much ignoring them the rest of the time.

Sure, there are still party conferences, and even some solemn discussion of remits, but not a blind bit of notice is taken of any of it by MPs if it doesn't suit them, and nor, for that matter, are they required to take member's concerns on board.

Times used to be different, and party delegates felt valued because they knew their MPs were seriously listening and even felt obliged to try and put into action what was decided at conference, but that kind of meaningful two-way consultation has long since fallen into disrepair. As for deciding who leads, the power to decide that remains very firmly in the grip of MPs, as it always has.

Whenever there is a change of leadership, members are expected to blindly go along with it regardless of their own feelings about the individual just dispensed with and the new person in charge. And, of course, it is taken for granted that such important business is nothing to do with the rank-and-file.

This attitude from Parliamentary wings is IMHO one of the key drivers behind the fall in political party membership; it's certainly the reason I've never joined one. Why sign up simply to be ignored? Why contribute if your interests are not going to be taken into account? Why participate in such a one-sided organisation? It is, bluntly, a mug's game, which only the terminally stupid or exploitative and ambitious would ever bother playing.

The Greens at least understand that a party must actively involve and listen to its members if it wants their support. While today's decision won't please everyone, they at least got to have some say in it - which is a damn sight more than other parties would give them.