Hmmm.

The problem a minor party in govt faces is that to maintain its constituency it must get credit for what it accomplishes – else the main party of the coalition is assumed to be responsible for everything.

So this “the govt speaks with one voice” – you’d have to be clear on when you are speaking as a ‘merely one part’ of the govt coalition and when you are speaking on behalf of the govt mind-meld hive-being. NZ’s traditions re cabinet do not necessarily work well with the MMP reality of coalition govt – and so those traditions may have to be brought up to date.

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You raise an interesting question Frog – how would the Greens buck the chewed up and spat out trend of coalition? I like Keith’s inference which points to a more mature and more funtional approach to politics – the family of opinions sitting around the table having a good ole debate (differneces of opinion allowed even encouraged) yet mediated and constructively resolved – not sure if the spitting the dummy party is up to working in such a way – the Greens may have to teach Labour a lesson in consensus and contructive decision making. Viva the political cultural revolution bringing less heirachy and more co-operation.

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Excellent post frog, I had been wondering where you had got to today, hopped off somewhere did you?

maybe it just took you all day to read the metro article – it’s huge!!!

(what great press for us)

haven’t actually read it myself yet, BTW our next door neighbour is one of the yogi photos in the same issue. cheers

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