United Future

There has been quite trenchant criticism that UF is just the government's 'lap dog.' The brochure this week that portrays UF as a "GUIDE DOG" is far more applicable. While we may have criticisms of MMP as a parliamentary system, it's what we've got, so let's make it work until there is any change.

Denise's three points are really the attitudes of thinking New Zealanders - long may these attitudes prevail far past 8th November.

All this talk about pre-election deals regarding who will side with who after polling day is so much idle speculation - rather like spoilt children throwing a paddy if they can't get what they want. That isn't what MMP is all about - UF's approach is far more measured and considered - just let's wait until the numbers go up.

New Zealanders should genuinely be concerned at the prospect of National holding all the power after the election. Think of the excesses in the US when the Republicans controlled the White House and Congress, think of the excessive power concentrated in the hands of the Tony Blair Labour government with an insurmountable majority of 200+ MPs in Parliament. If we are going to have a National led government, with the far right ACT probably in the mix too, it is essential that there is a moderate voice involved - that voice is United Future's! The guide dog analogy is good. I like the idea of United Future as a magnet in the centre of NZ politics - a constant pull on the ideologues to our left and right.

I agree with Joe - too often NZ politics is one of either extreme (left or right) with the older parties dragged from the centre by the other support parties. UnitedFuture does the opposite - pulls the old parties inwards, towards where most New Zealanders sit - in the middle somewhere.

Love the guide dog analogy too :)