Spare a Thought (and possibly a vote) For the Minor Parties.
While current members of parliament are on full pay as they represent their Party and ask for your vote, Parties that
are outside of parliament stump up for most costs themselves.
No government limo’s, free air travel and fully funded secretaries for them. It is either using up accrued leave, taking
leave without pay, or working during the day and politicking at night.
No wonder then, that they get so aggrieved when they are ignored by the media. Not only are they working to pay their
own way, but their tax money is being used to promote their opposition!
No media time equals no public recognition, which means poor polling, which means even less exposure, and so it spirals
downwards for these few brave people who are willing to put their head above the parapet for a cause or an idea. At the
same time, Parties in parliament get disproportionate amounts of funding to buy broadcasting time, and are constantly
interviewed (free time) for their views, while those outside are almost completely ignored.
When the two bigger Parties said that they would no longer debate with the lesser mortals, the correct response from the
media would have been to tell them that they would only run debates with all Parties present. Alas they did not, and now
we have the media promoting the view that there are only two Parties worth voting for.
It may be worth remembering that these Parties have shared the helm in New Zealand’s political leadership, and while
they decry each other and proclaim their suitability for the job, they share the combined responsibility of a country
with a malfunctioning welfare system, over crowded prisons, depleted Government assets and a youth population in crisis.
Let’s also mention excessive waste in government circles, less affordable housing, struggling families, and a health
service unable to meet the demands.
Perhaps just a whiff of fresh thinking from political minnows might be enough for voters to look deeper into the
policies of Parties championed and run by passionate volunteers.
Maybe they do have something to offer.
Finally, please remember that the only wasted vote is the vote that does not align with your convictions!
ENDS