frogblog

Jeanette and Rod’s meeting with business leaders is in Wellington tonight. The Herald reports:

The Greens are expecting about 40 people to attend a special briefing for business in Wellington tonight aimed at allaying fears about the party’s influence in Government.

Co-leader Rod Donald said yesterday that he did not expect business to be persuaded that the Greens did not have horns. But he wanted “to show them where our horns really are. It’s not that we’re devils; we’re unicorns.”

But the briefing may be as much for Mr Donald and co-leader Jeanette Fitzsimons as by them. Among the business groups attending will be at least five representative bodies: the Auckland Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Wellington Regional Chamber of Commerce, the Kyoto Forestry Association, the Retailers’ Association and the group that is as demonised as much as the Greens, the Business Roundtable.

If the Greens survive the counting of special votes this week, they are expected to have more influence over the next Government than they had over the previous two Helen Clark-led Governments.

Mr Donald initiated the meeting “out of frustration” at how Green policy was being portrayed by some business people. He said he would spell out where the party stood on energy, transport, trade and the economy.

“I fully accept that a number of the people who are coming will still say the Greens have got horns but at least they will hear from the horse’s mouth exactly where those horns are. No doubt we will have some differences but we would prefer a rational debate.”

There was no way the Greens would support “the blunt instrument of a corporate tax cut” because it did not steer the economy towards sustainability and self-reliance. “That is what our agenda is. We’re quite transparent about that.”

So, what does Rod mean that the Greens are unicorns, not devils? Well, to be sure, I’d have to ask him, but perhaps Wikipedia can steer us in the right direction. Its article on unicorns includes this quote from children’s author Marianna Mayer:

The unicorn is the only fabulous beast that does not seem to have been conceived out of human fears. In even the earliest references he is fierce yet good, selfless yet solitary, but always mysteriously beautiful. He could be captured only by unfair means, and his single horn was said to neutralize poison.

Well, I think that’s a pretty fair description of the Greens

Bookmark to: