The World Of Jadeey

Well, Holly is not happy because Labour lost the election last night. Not only that, but Helen Clark and Michael Cullen both stepped down. I'd been expecting Helen Clark to step down before the next election, but I didn't expect it to be so quickly. My dad pointed out that it's actually very good leadership - giving the new leader the maximum possible time to be in the role before the next election.

I read a comment on Stuff.co.nz today that I made me laugh. And then made me worried because it's so damn accurate so not really all that funny afterall. The comment was on this article.

The comment says:

Employer: "Hey I think we'll take you on, but only if you agree to the minimum wage for three months and work whenever I want you to without notice for 14hrs a day without breaks. And if you don't agree to keep doing that after the 90 days are up then I might have to find a reason to sack you, Ok? Oh no wait, I don't have to find a reason to sack you any more, I can just do it for no reason at all, wow all too easy!"

Trial employee: "But I have rent to pay and I have to save for private health care and for my private retirement fund, and my family likes to eat a meal at least once a day, and I like to see my children occasionally. I'm a human being and over millions of years my body was designed to function during daylight after having several hours sleep each day. That's a real crap offer, Sir."

Employer: "Oh well, bugger off then, I'll employee someone else since there are so many unemployed to choose from".

Trial Employee "That's OK, I hope I haven't offended you with my presence. I am very grateful for my high broadband speeds. Since I have no home I can park my cardboard box house right next to the local telecom exchange and plug straight in. It makes it all worth it."


I'll be interested to see how many people regret their National vote in 6-12 months time. My guess is it will be a lot.

I'm very ashamed of, and scared for, my country right now.

Labels: election 08, Helen Clark, humorous, politics

I'm sitting at home watching the election results roll in. I'm very scared, but trying to remain hopeful.

Expect either an extremely happy or extremely sulky blog from me tomorrow. No matter what, you can expect it to be about politics!

Labels: election 08, politics

Tomorrow is election day in New Zealand.

Please, please, please go and vote. If you don't vote you are giving up your right to have a voice in this country. Even if you don't like John Key OR Helen Clark, you should still vote. Vote for a minor party, that way you are lessening the chance of one party governing alone. The beauty of MMP is that it allows the minor parties to reign the major parties in a bit. It keeps them honest, or as honest as politicians can be.

If you don't want to vote for a minor party then decide who you think is the lesser of two evils out of John Key and Helen Clark and vote for them. No matter what you do, one of the two of them is going to be the Prime Minister of our country from tomorrow. Not voting doesn't stop that. But voting means that you are at least having an influence on the outcome. And if the party you vote for doesn't win? Well at least you tried.

I see absolutely no logical reason to not vote. If you have one, then by all means tell me in the comments. Otherwise, go and vote!!!!!

Labels: election 08, Helen Clark, politics

Anyone want to have a guess as to what date Labour will pick for the election? Derek and I are having a sweepstake. Derek's picked November 1st. When I picked my date I thought the latest date it could be was the end of November. So I picked November 15th. Then I found out that the 15th is actually the last possible moment. I know I should switch to November 8. But I'm going to be risky and stick with the 15th. Somehow it feels like bad luck to switch when my date is still valid.

There's been a lot of discussion in my flat about who we're going to vote for. I'm a Labour supporter through and through, but I'm no longer 100% certain I'm going to vote for them this time around. Derek and I like to discuss strategy a lot.

There are a few strategies that have been bandied about. (Yes, we are aware that we are only 2 people.)

One is to vote National so that we have a strong government. Winston Peters holding the government, and the country, to ransom is getting pretty damn old. I'm not keen on this strategy at all. I'm entirely morally opposed to voting National. Also, I don't want National to be allowed to govern alone.

The second is to vote for the Greens. I don't love the Greens, but I do like them. I can handle a government made up of them and National if I have to. It'd be weird to have a left-wing minor party in coalition with a right-wing major party. But that's what MMPs all about - making sure the major parties are kept honest (as honest as politicians can be anyway) by the smaller ones.

The third is to vote for Labour and hope that we are wrong about Labour not having a hope in hell of winning.

Ah decisions, decisions. The beauty of election year!

Labels: election 08, politics