2 dimensional politics
I read a book once about a two dimensional world – as though the entire world were drawn out as lines on a flat piece of paper (from memory the book might have been this one). The characters had to climb under or over each other to get past rather, than being able to walk around each other. All they could sense was what was in front or behind them. I get the impression that Helen Clark and some of her Labour colleagues view the world in a similar two dimensional way. To the right of her is National and to the left are the Greens and the Maori Party.
The concept that other political parties could be reaching out into a third dimension seems foreign –that tino rangatiratanga, sustainable green economics, or peace and democracy might sit outside her two dimensional left- right spectrum appears uncomprehended.
And thus perhaps it has not occurred to her that some of the smaller parties represent more than just off-shoots of either the left or the right, or that the public might be looking for something more than her two dimensional left-right analysis of politics.
The televised debates are a good example of this. Clark seems genuinely imperious to the concern that her dictum of no MMP parties means that not all views will be fairly represented in a political debate. But it’s not just the televised debates. I remain stunned that she seems to think the current Labour-New Zealand First-United Future coalition should be worthy of people’s support simply because it is not National, and in a two dimensional world there can be no other alternatives.
October 1st, 2008 at 8:39 pm
Fascinating, frog - sounds much more interesting than “Flat Stanley”, and a good metaphor.
It just amazes me that TV3 thinks that people won’t be interested in a third party debate - at least 50% of the voting population will at least be considering voting for a minor party, and should be interested in hearing from their spokespeople.
Did I hear that National and Labour aren’t fronting up to the RNZ debates, or is it just Clark and Key? If the latter, good riddance, I say!
October 4th, 2008 at 6:10 am
Pingpong- don’t you remember that 73% of statistics are made up?
But yeah, given that more than 18% of New Zealanders actually voted for parties other than Labour and National at the last election, the amount that actually considered a third-party vote should surely be significantly higher than that, so I can’t fault you in intentions.