Good policy is good policy
August 27th, 2010 at 3:54 pm by David FarrarIt may surprise some, but I am attending, and in fact will be a panelist, at a Labour Party conference tomorrow.
It is the OpenLabourNZ conference, and the agenda is on Red Alert. The focus is on how to make Government more open.
I believe the Internet, and other tools, has huge potential to help open up Government. I was pleased to be invited to contribute, and my response was that I am a big believer that good policy is good policy, regardless of the source. There is no monopoly on good ideas.
So I’m looking forward to attending, and seeing what eventuates. One of the advantage of opposition is you are able to take a step back from governing, and look at whether there is a better way one can do things.
Tags: OpenLabourNZ
August 27th, 2010 at 4:00 pm
Slowly you were earning your way back to being an associate of the VRWC, Bronze membership, but sadly with this post you are again PNG.
A traitor, too pinko for your own good.
There will be no return.
Vote:August 27th, 2010 at 4:04 pm
David this is a disgrace. And just when we were considering your application to re-join the VRWC.
Any VRWC member attending or contributing to a Labour Party conference is a traitor of the highest order. There is no spin out of that, the Pinkos have chosen you because they trust you in the bowels of their organisation.
We shall now meet to discuss removal of all champagne privileges and the consideration of a David Farrar epitaph at Frank Kitts lagoon for Busted Blonde’s party.
Vote:August 27th, 2010 at 4:08 pm
“The focus is on how to make Government more open”
Sorry, is this the New Zealand Labour Party conference? If so, perhaps they could “open up” regarding Owen Glen.
Vote:August 27th, 2010 at 4:09 pm
I understood that a desire for honesty was a prerequisite of open government.
Vote:Shit even transparency.
Don’t you see the oxymoron here?
labour = prefu – voters rights – ETS – Dunhoven amednment – …………
August 27th, 2010 at 4:10 pm
I believe the Internet, and other tools, has huge potential to help open up Government.
…so who are some of the other tools lined up on the panel ?
And by opening up gov’t are you talking like a can opener so the privateering fatcats can gorge themselves on even more public wealth ?
Vote:August 27th, 2010 at 4:13 pm
The only way it would be acceptable for you to attend the Labour Party conference is if you had a shit load of semtex strapped to your vest.
Vote:August 27th, 2010 at 4:18 pm
If you do have to go make sure you have a tape recorder in your pocket. See if you can catch a Labour MP off guard saying that they would make homosexuality compulsory next time they are in power or some such leftie secret agenda.
Vote:August 27th, 2010 at 4:23 pm
I find it ironic that the left has such a paucity of skill, talent, ability ……( well whatever) they have ask some-one from the right to talk about what proper policy is!
Vote:The reaction of WO and Ck is even funnier.
August 27th, 2010 at 4:25 pm
I’m thinking of voting Labour next time around. They are, after all, the only honest party in parliament. They say “we believe in big government and the Nanny State. Vote for us!” I appreciate that they do not lie about their intentions, unlike National and ACT. On that basis, and given that the Libertarianz are pants, Labour has my vote.
Vote:August 27th, 2010 at 4:28 pm
Strange to see so much negative response to a positive contribution. Modern politics shouldn’t be an old war of attrition, partying shouldn’t override common sense and common good.
It’s good that Labour are looking tp utilise DPF/s input, and that DPF will offer it.
If all parties worked together to support the best joint governance possible the country (and people) would benefit, the quality of MPs should improve, and the mix of seats in parliament probably wouldn’t change a great deal.
Vote:August 27th, 2010 at 4:40 pm
Anagram of OpenLabourNZ = Plan Booze Run
probably about right.
Vote:August 27th, 2010 at 4:44 pm
What Whaleoil and Cactus said.
Of course this is just a tokken gesture by the Labout Party. They are bereft of good intelligent ideas on the way to take NZ forward. They keep loking back to what that bitch Clark would have done and keep on the same track. No wonder they remain at 30% in the polls.
When are the scum Labour Party going to contribute something new and exciting – instead their only policy seems to be opposite of National. The fools.
Vote:August 27th, 2010 at 4:52 pm
It gives you credit DPF, and the Labour party to some extent too.
When we refuse to listen to people who think differently to us, we have a big problem.
Of course, that assumes that the different thinking is still rational. The reason I can’t think of anyone on the other side who would receive a similar honor is their tendency to attribute super-evil motives to anything National does.
Vote:August 27th, 2010 at 4:52 pm
Monty, Labour seem to be genuinely exploring more open government (I’ve seen other examples as well as this) – if they help get a better framework to work within then it should mean better work being done (governance). It’s addressing the basics rather than tinkering with policies that won’t get very far in Opposition anyway.
A more open government will properly test policies and the best (no matter which party originates them) should progress. Newer MPs without old habits are the best to be driving this.
Vote:August 27th, 2010 at 4:55 pm
For perhaps the first time in my ‘cyber-life’ I agree with Blubber Boy. DPF, your attendance at this silly event reminds me of a slumber party at Neverland. I hope you know the words to Kumbaya?
Vote:August 27th, 2010 at 5:00 pm
Heeheehee “they trust you in the bowels of their organisation”. Cactus – does that make DPF the Pinko Proctologist?
Vote:August 27th, 2010 at 5:58 pm
To be honest, if they are really serious about making Government more open, the person they should have invited is Cameron Slater. His campaign against unjust and unnecessary name suppression means that he has a great deal to contribute in this area – if they are serious about listening……
Regards
Vote:Peter Jenkins
Webmaster for Sensible Sentencing Trust
August 27th, 2010 at 6:02 pm
Make sure that you have your jabs up to date mate!
Vote:August 27th, 2010 at 6:56 pm
Don’t go……….. it’s a trap, if you must take a crucifix and some cloves of garlic.
Vote:August 27th, 2010 at 7:17 pm
Detailed analysis of Labour’s DNA would reveal no openness genes. Quite the opposite I should think.
Vote:August 27th, 2010 at 7:17 pm
Everybody at the conference will be thinking when the lay eyes on DPF, ” there’s that tory prick, who invited him”.
Vote:August 27th, 2010 at 8:12 pm
The Labour Party does not have the slightest interest in this issue except when they are in opposition and they are being starved of information and no body wants to talk to them.
Vote:August 27th, 2010 at 8:13 pm
You mean openness and debate like at at the Standard and Red whatever?
Moderating anyone with something to say other than the party line is not openness.
One would conclude that Claire won’t be there.
P.S. in the good old traditions of the undercover sex plant, DPF be careful. Remember the Russian bait traps. Pretty blonde girls.
[deleted by DPF]
Vote:August 27th, 2010 at 9:14 pm
What could possibly go wrong?
Vote:August 28th, 2010 at 1:45 am
It is dreadfully ironic that the Labour Party want to talk about openess. Through their 2 blogs they practice anything but openess. It got so bad within Labour they had to get Clare Curran in to use her “changing the language” tactics to be used within the Labour Party. This has made it even worse as her idea of changing the language is manipulating it to fool people into voting Labour again.
DPF is there to be used, so that Labour can pretend that they are reaching across for policy ideas. If the Nats ignore them, they can cry crocodile tears on how Farrar was there to help their cause.
Now now Blair mate… are you trying to make it a full house of political parties you have joined?
Vote:August 28th, 2010 at 4:12 am
“One of the advantage of opposition is you are able to take a step back from governing” …as opposed to two steps back when governing.
Vote:August 29th, 2010 at 4:35 pm
Voting for, and joining a political party are two different things Clint. I’ve been a member of National and voted for ACT. I’ve also been a member of ACT and voted for National. I’ve been a member of the Christian Democrats and voted for Labour and New Zealand First. Over the course of my adult life, my contempt for politicians of all sides of the spectrum has been remarkably freeing in that regard.
To my mind it seems important that we have Labour back so that National can spend more time in opposition – clearly the last nine years were not enough to convince them to go back to their 1936 founding principles and figure out what they mean in practicality.
Vote: