First Bill English, now Lockwood Smith:
There’s some bloody dead fish you have to swallow to be able to get into government to do the kinds of things you want to do… and you have to balance up what really matters. If you try to do everything differently you’ll scare the horses and under MMP it’s very hard to win. Once we gained the confidence of the people, we’ve got more chance of doing more things."Useful things... that might not be policy right now". Given what National regards as "useful" (selling state assets, privatising schools and hospitals, smashing unions, cutting benefits and forking over tax cuts to the rich), that ought to fill people with fear. Not to mention a certain amount of scepticism at their claims to have moderated their position. Instead, they seem to be repeating Jim Bolger's plan: say whatever it takes to get elected, then contrive a crisis so they can get their real agenda through.We may be able to do some things we believe we need to do, perhaps go through a discussion document process. You wouldn’t be able to do them straight off… I’m hoping that we’ll do some useful things that way, that might not be policy right now.
As for the faux-outrage that a politician's words were taped, please. I didn't notice anyone screaming when someone did the same to Mike Williams at the Labour Party conference earlier in the year. More importantly, like the average leaked document (also illegal and arguably unethical), this has enhanced our democracy by showing what our would-be leaders really think. The picture it paints is unpleasant - a dishonest plan to promise one agenda, then deliver another - but we are undoubtedly better off knowing it. And I'd say that regardless of who was trying to lie to us.
