He’s trying to make something ultra academic out of a simple cultural tool.

A shibboleth is simply a test of language skill so a friend or foe can be determined.

In fact Michael Cullen showed his betrayal of the Kiwi shibboleth by diminishing the no 8 wire Kiwi philosophy. THerefore the real foes of this country have been exposed by their own shibboleth.

Well, if that comment represents the intelligent face of ACT then Rodney has much to worry about.

Grumpyoldhori … yes, I can understand you wanting the Nats to dump Key because unless they do so your beloved Labour Party is forever doomed to wandering in the political wilderness growing more irrevelant each day.

And for all of you ….. winning in NZ is about capturing the middle ground. Yes, there are niche opportunities for Parties on the Left and Right (if you want to use those terms) but they will ALWAYS be bit players.

The naivety of some posters on here never ceases to amaze. Bit like King Canute really.

Can anyone explain what he means?

Excellent insight.

I really understood the sophistication of the NZ electorate and how liarbours coruption bought it out. The EFB was practically a Godsend awakening the masses and showing them in a new light to both sides of the house. I really didn’t believe protest worked, esp when public referendums are continually ignored year in and year out. I now realise that when good honest people speak out in unity the law makers can’t stop them.

The Communists thought they were so close to stiffling dissent and the public voice. In fact they made it stronger and valid. Some one overseas called NZ the last white hope on another site. I was surprised by that comment, but I know we may very well be the great democratic hope. National can prove that in their tenure. They will automatically get two terms, no doubt about that. It is a hope of mine that John Keys will do so well he will have to retire and hand over leadership of his govt. Most of the old squad in Liarbour will be gone and a new and youthful opposition will become a threat. But that’s the political scenario I would look forward too.

With MMP who knows where politics will be in ten years time. But let’s hope memories are long in voters minds and in opposition’s. National won’t rule forever, but they should be remembered forever in the Kiwi pysche as the party that stopped communism in it’s tracks and hopefully they’ll never forget those roots.

Right now, the only thing we have that’s close to a “centrist” party is ACT

Correct. We’ve drifted so far to the left in the last 20 years that policies adopted by ’sensible social democratic’ parties outside NZ are branded as ‘extreme far right’ concepts which are vigorously rejected here. We have become a nation of fat weaklings, fed an intellectual diet of socialist rubbish by the MSM. Hell, I’m starting to sound like Red!

And now the Nats are in power implementing a moderate agenda, Jordan has to come to terms with the fact his beloved party lied. But instead he comes up with his own propaganda.