All posts tagged Liberal Democrat

Peter Dunne on United Future’s Liberal Democrat voice

UnitedFuture sits firmly in the camp of international liberal democratic parties.

It means we have a commitment to promote strong families and vibrant communities, and to a fair and open society, free from poverty, ignorance and prejudice, and based on innovation, self-reliance, justice and integrity in business and personal dealings is.

Our policies and general political approach are shaped by:

  • a commitment to promoting freedom and choice
  • a strong sense of compassion
  • a clear focus on community based solutions
  • a celebration of our country’s outdoor heritage and lifestyle

as the key values that make New Zealand the country we would want it to be.

We favour open market-led economic policies and free trade, but we acknowledge the primary role of the State in areas like health, education and welfare, supported by a strong and vibrant community and voluntary sector.

Peter Dunne in a recent address to Petone Rotary:

UnitedFuture’s Voice

Now you may agree with some of the views I am expressing today – and judging from some of the heads nodding at various points in the last few minutes, I suspect that many of you do – or you may disagree.

Either way, you are hearing my views tonight because the self-appointed experts, pundits and media luminaries who have constantly predicted both my demise and that of UnitedFuture have been, in a word, wrong!

Even when we got numbers elected to Parliament in 2002 and 2005 it was seen as either an unintended fluke, or a perversion of the electoral system.

The barely disguised glee in some quarters that the Electoral Commission’s recent initial recommendations on the future of MMP might finally deliver our death blow has given our critics their latest run at this tired old theme.

But what they continue to fail to appreciate is that you cannot kill an idea.

That is why when looking at electoral reform it must be a fundamental principle that the capacity to promote and represent an idea, or shade of political opinion, is enhanced and strengthened, not diminished by whatever changes are made.

Democracy is the contest of ideas – and democratic elections should be about promoting that contest, not limiting it.

I believe that through UnitedFuture, I have brought and continue to bring strong ideas to the table of national politics.

I challenge dumb ideas, whether they come from the left or the right, and I do it on behalf of middle New Zealand.

I firmly believe that UnitedFuture and I are very close to where the vast majority of New Zealanders in their values and in their way of thinking.

There are clearly many who do not vote for us, but their politics are not far from ours, and I think they value our contribution on an issue by issue basis.

And for those reasons I am very comfortable that we pay our way as a political party.

UnitedFuture and I make a real and valuable contribution to New Zealand politics on a scale that far outstrips our size and numbers.

Liberal Democrats

UnitedFuture sits firmly in the camp of international liberal democratic parties.

So what does that actually mean in laymen’s terms?

It means we have a commitment to promote strong families and vibrant communities, and to a fair and open society, free from poverty, ignorance and prejudice, and based on innovation, self-reliance, justice and integrity in business and personal dealings is.

This is, for example, very similar to Britain’s Liberal Democrats pledge to build and safeguard a fair, free and open society, which seeks to balance the fundamental values of liberty, equality and community and in which  no-one shall be enslaved by poverty, ignorance and conformity.

Our policies and general political approach are shaped by:

  • a commitment to promoting freedom and choice
  • a strong sense of compassion
  • a clear focus on community based solutions
  • a celebration of our country’s outdoor heritage and lifestyle

as the key values that make New Zealand the country we would want it to be.

We favour open market-led economic policies and free trade, but we acknowledge the primary role of the State in areas like health, education and welfare, supported by a strong and vibrant community and voluntary sector.

These values clearly set us aside from the ideological rigidity of the traditional left and right wings of politics, and are strongly reflective of the moderate, centrist approach of many New Zealanders to political discourse.

But, like the Liberal Democrats, our challenge is to mobilise those who agree with our general approach to actually vote for us.

And as I say, you cannot kill an idea.

by Pete George on October 8, 2012  •  Permalink
Posted in Politics
Tagged , , ,

Posted by Pete George on October 8, 2012

http://yournz.org/2012/10/08/peter-dunne-on-unitedfutures-voice/

Liberal centrism

I’ve never cared much about political definitions and labels, they’ve seemed restrictive and pointless. I’ve tried to look at things objectively without a preconceived position, to learn about pros and cons and then to decide. And also to allow decisions to be modified if further learning justifies it.

But this description of liberal centrism and Liberal Democrats is some thing I readily identify with (not so much the frog).

Liberal Democrats and Kermit the Frog

The liberal centrist approach requires a sensibility and a pragmatism that often does not sit comfortably with the prevailing political debate. It is inevitably much easier to be “for” something, or “against “ it in a sort of soapbox way, than it is to take a more discerning approach based on the particular circumstances of the time and the best response to them.

To the cynic such detached objectivism is not only passionless, and therefore lacking commitment, but also unprincipled and opportunist, easily dismissed as “wishy-washy”, or “standing for nothing”, or “just having an eye for the main chance.” Far better, the cynic argues to be unmistakeably “right” or “wrong” as the case may be, because at least that way everyone is left in no doubt as to where you stand, regardless of the consequences.

Principles, it would seem, are the millstones ideologically based political parties attach to their own necks. To the liberal centrist, however, principles are enduring values which enable one to decide how to respond effectively to changing times and the actual situation. To the cynic, being rigidly “for” or “against” something is principled – whereas using principles to guide behaviour is “convenient” or “pragmatic” in the most disparaging way.

…the liberal centrist espouses and operates by the values of decency and honesty, and getting things done, while pricking the balloons of social and political pretension.

I know some people won’t be happy with this. I’ll post it on a variety of blogs and will inevitably it will be abused, I’ll likely be attacked personally, and Peter Dunne will again be heaped with scorn.

I’ve been called all of the usual insults, “wishy-washy”, “standing for nothing”, and “sitting on the fence”. By people too blinkered or extreme to understand centrism.

But I hope that more moderate readers (often they’re the silent readers), will see something in this that makes sense. It seems like common sense to me.

by Pete George on April 6, 2012  •  Permalink
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged , , ,

Posted by Pete George on April 6, 2012

http://yournz.org/2012/04/06/liberal-centrism/

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