Libertarian policies
October 8th, 2012 at 2:00 pm by David FarrarPeter Cresswell blogs on the recent Libertarianz/Liberty conference:
So Project ACT and Project Libertarianz are both failures. And if success is measured by achieving measurable goals, then failure has unfortunately been the only thing about which the single-issue Legalise Cannabis Party has to boast. And that’s despite virtually every MP in the New Zealand parliament happy to confess they’ve inhaled. I think economic and social liberals from all parties—classical liberals, if you like—can learn from all our failures. Project Act and Project Libertarianz are failures for opposite reasons. ACT abandoned principle in favour of populism, and ended up losing both. Libz embraced principle over populism, and while we’ve succeeded in putting some of those principles on the public stage, it’s not as much as we’d hoped from 17 years of trying.
I think ACT’s failure hasn’t been so much about populism, but a number of factors including infighting. PC quotes Deborah Coddington:
the Libz narrow dogma — total free market, wholesale selling of state assets including having all schools and hospitals run by private enterprise, the right to carry guns, and complete freedom to take whatever drugs you like so long as you accept the consequences — have scared the bejesus out of people. … Cliches are usually true,” she says. “as in there’s only one way to eat an elephant: one bite at a time. So when you say you want freedom, you can only achieve it one step at a time. Don’t terrify people who’ve been enchained for 30 years. It’s like stripping them naked, when you should be persuading them they can just remove their overcoat. It will take time for some to be convinced they don’t need to hold Nanny’s hand.
Deborah is quite right. I worry more about getting policies that push NZ in the right direction, than purity of argument. Don’t get me wrong – in terms of personal belief and debate, I can be very purist. But as John Key said, you don’t start with a blank slate of paper in politics. If I was designing a society from scratch, I’d have it firmly on libertarian principles. But I don’t think NZ is ever going to be a libertarian state, and trying to make it one is futile.
Lindsay Perigo’s speech is here, which has some fascinating observations on his time as a press secretary to ACT.
PC suggests that the new liberal grouping should pick a maximum of five memorable parties to promote, rather than just try and make the case for a libertarian state. I agree with him, and wish them success I may even help out! He says the criteria for the five policies should be:
- Select those policies that clearly demonstrate our principles;
- Select those policies for which we estimate there are already 100,000 people in the country who agree with us; and
- Select those policies for which those 100,000 will vote for us instead of anyone else.
- Reject policies too closely associated with past failure.
- Accept those policies that promote the benevolence and sense of life of freedom.
Sounds good to me. Maybe add on a criteria that they should be easy to understand, and the benefits should also be easily understood. He lists some possible policies. I thought I’d share my thoughts on them:
Small Consents Tribunals – accept RMA but insist that Small Consents Tribunals are set up, something like Small Claims Tribunals, to deal with projects under $300,000 on the basis of a Codification of Common Law. At one very easy stroke you make more low-cost housing much more affordable for many more people.
Love it. Could be very popular.
Iwi then Kiwi – accept ToW, insist only that all property involved (which, let’s face it, is the only way we’re going to see any real privatisation this decade) is individualised and transferrable. And call it what it is. Privatisation. At one simple stroke you have the biggest political power bloc in the country, the Browntable, behind privatisation.
I like the idea of all settlements being devolved to the individual. I suggest Iwi leaders will be less keen. The argument against will be up to members of each Iwi to determine what they devolve to members and tramples on their property rights. But an interesting possibility.
Balanced Budget
Yes please. Call it the Greece policy – to avoid us ever doing a Greece. Require a balanced budget over a three year term, with an exception only in an emergency.
Legalise cannabis
I think this could be good, but I’d widen it to being whole different approach with soft drugs – a health, not criminal, approach that will save money and stop criminalizing users.
Voluntary euthanasia
A good issue, but not sure many votes in it, and may have happened by 2014. People have views on this issue, but few would vote for it. Also public know it is a conscience vote, not something you can get in a coalition agreement.
Abolish Search & Surveillance Act, 2012
Silly idea. What do you replace it with?
Abolish Maori seats
I think other forces will be on that issue, and again there is little chance of getting that agreed to by other parties.
Enterprise Zone for Christchurch
Excellent idea. Might be not that big an issue by 2014 though.
Affordable Cities
I don’t know what that means. If it means affordable housing by opening land up, then could be good.
40/15 tax:
$40k income tax free threshold, 15% GST
This has been clarified to actually be a $15,000 tax-free threshold, 15% flat tax above that, 15% GST and 15% company tax (the last two declining over time).
All for tax cuts, but not credible when books in deficit. Save it for a later election. Need to reduce spending first or we end up like the US with a massive deficit.
A Very Special Carbon Tax: linked to temperature rise in troposphere at equator
I quite like this idea, but no way will Parliament scrap the ETS – too many businesses have made major decisions based on it.
Needs a name Joe Average can understand, but I like the concept – and may appeal to greenie libertarians
I agree with this, but few votes in it.
Also not a bad idea, but not one that will win hearts and minds. So, not necessarily in order, what would be my five:
- Small Consents Tribunal
- Balanced Budget
- Legalise Cannabis/Abandon War on Soft Drugs
- Enterprise Zone for Christchurch
- Eco UnTaxes
How about readers? What policies would you like to see a liberal party champion. Ideally ones that can attract 100,000 voters and that are achievable (ie a National-led or Labour-led Government could possibly agree to).
Related posts:
- Are Libertarian Parties bad for Libertarianism?
- The Libertarian debate
- ACT’s economic policies
- The Libertarian Alliance
October 8th, 2012 at 2:10 pm
Deborah Codpiece pontificating about how New Zealanders are afraid of freedom is a bit of a joke, after all her bitter whinging about the people who spoke up and debunked her utterly wrong, racist piece about a “Rising Crime Tide” for the POS it was. First they shouldn’t be allowed, then it was all a conspiracy… ffs.
It always bemuses me.. rather than sneering endlessly about how New Zealanders are supposedly too small and pitiful to do anything but “hold nanny state’s hand” why don’t right wing bitches like Codpiece, Katherine Rich et al fuck off to some truly free utopia and be happy?
[DPF: Katherine is far from being a libertarian]
Vote:October 8th, 2012 at 2:14 pm
Libertarians are a conflicted political species, their views are aspirational,lack practicality and are idealistic. If libertarians were true to their beliefs then why do they believe that they can impose their views on others, isn’t that at odds with the libertarian philosophy?
Vote:October 8th, 2012 at 2:15 pm
Do Libertarians support for ‘ONE LAW FOR ALL’?
Yes? No?
Penny Bright
‘Anti-corruption campaigner’
http://www.dodgyjohnhasgone.com
Vote:October 8th, 2012 at 2:17 pm
So what does the “40″ in the 40/15 tax proposal represent?
Vote:October 8th, 2012 at 2:20 pm
Why legalise cannabis and not meths or heroin?
No such thing as a soft drug.
Cannabis destroys brains,why call it “soft”?
Vote:October 8th, 2012 at 2:20 pm
How is an ‘Enterprise Zone for CHCH’ a vote winner? What does it even mean?
A zone where you can build any piece of shit building with no rules just so it will collapse in the next earthquake?
I really don’t see what problem you guys are trying to fix other than this ideology that somehow having more ‘freedom’ will make everything ‘better’.
[DPF: Nothing to do with safety of buildings, all to do with planning requirements. Try Houston as an example - where peopel from all over the US are moving to as they have affordable housing]
Vote:October 8th, 2012 at 2:23 pm
I thought this sounded like pragmatic libertariamism and sure enough, Google indicates it’s all been thought before.
Vote:October 8th, 2012 at 2:29 pm
Alcohol kills brain cells kowtow well known fact where is you research that cannabis does? Is it from WWW:factsoutof kowtowsarse.com ?
Vote:October 8th, 2012 at 2:29 pm
What policies would you like to see a liberal party champion. Ideally ones that can attract 100,000 voters and that are achievable (ie a National-led or Labour-led Government could possibly agree to).
Anything a future Labour-led Govt. would agree to would be automatically poison while the current voting system allows racist and communists to dishonestly fool the electorate, however low tax/low spending/low government presence policies that could work with the National-led Government would attract my interest.
Vote:October 8th, 2012 at 2:34 pm
Research showing cannabis affects brain function:
http://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/223478/cannabis-use-teens-harmful-study
Vote:October 8th, 2012 at 2:34 pm
gruff big pot smoker? is that what did for you?
Vote:October 8th, 2012 at 2:44 pm
“If I was designing a society from scratch, I’d have it firmly on libertarian principles. ”
Ha ha, if ever there was proof that Farrar lives on another planet this is it. Absolutely no understanding of humankind’s base operating systems, as evidenced by all the centuries of human existence.
Planet Key must getting quite chocker by now.
Vote:October 8th, 2012 at 2:45 pm
[DPF: Nothing to do with safety of buildings, all to do with planning requirements. Try Houston as an example - where peopel from all over the US are moving to as they have affordable housing]
OK, so the complete opposite to the governments plans for the CHCH CBD? Funny, I thought you praised that.
[DPF: An enterprise zone would not generally be for the CBD. It would be for a suburb or larger area]
Vote:October 8th, 2012 at 2:47 pm
Being in a constructive mood….
– there are some good ideas there –
Vote:* Balanced budget. A damned good idea. Should be the number-one policy.
* Abolish Search and Surveillance Act. Also good. As to your question, DPF – “what do we replace it with?”. Nothing. The country did just fine before that act came along.
* Abolish Maori seats. Sounds good to me. It is now 170 years after the Treaty. It’s about bloody time that Maori stood on their own two feet and got rid of the “training wheels” (the seats).
* Enterprise zone for Christchurch. Good – no problem with that.
* 40/15 tax. Good too.
I wish them the very best of luck. The Nats desperately need a coalition partner.
IMO, the Libz should focus on Christchurch to get their first MP. I think there will be a shitload of votes up for grabs there. Lots of people will be pissed-off with the govt, but they won’t want a bar of Labour either. Very fertile ground for the Libz, IMO.
Keep the message simpel and see what happens!
They have **nothing** to lose.
October 8th, 2012 at 2:47 pm
“And that’s despite virtually every MP in the New Zealand parliament happy to confess they’ve inhaled. ”
I would like to know what does “virtually every” means.
Vote:October 8th, 2012 at 2:57 pm
Houston, really? You want Christchurch to look more like Houston?
Now Christchurch certainly isn’t a beauty, but of all places, Houston is one of the ugliest, characterless cities I have ever been to. And precisely because of the lack of regulation.
[DPF: Yet hundreds of thousands are moving there. In 2008 they were given top ranking by Kiplinger's for local economy, employment opportunities, reasonable living costs and quality of life. Their population has grown 500,000 since 1990.]
Vote:October 8th, 2012 at 2:58 pm
kowtow
Vote:Where is the proof behind your statement ?
I can back mine as to the damage of alcohol and pot you can not. http://www.gizmag.com/go/7037/picture/32839/
Facts out your arse may cut it on true blue on here you are just empty noise
October 8th, 2012 at 3:01 pm
So you’re be opposed to affordable housing by intensifying existing land use?
[DPF: Not at all. We need a combination of more intensive land use, more brownfields development and more greenfields development]
Vote:October 8th, 2012 at 3:02 pm
gruff
keep huffing and puffing ,all that CO2 you’re exhaling will get the seas rising.
Dope?plenty of proof ,been hashed ovr too many times to bother.It’s called dope for a good reason.And dopeheads too.
Vote:October 8th, 2012 at 3:10 pm
Cost of building consents to add a simple shower to a house in Auckland $2500 cost of the work required $3500 including all plumbing by registered contractors Cost to do the job myself 1000 dollars.
Vote:Regulation has added 5,000 dollars 500% to a simple job easily undertaken by an average home handy person.
October 8th, 2012 at 3:12 pm
kowtow
Vote:Give me the facts your opinion is empty mine has research to back it.
October 8th, 2012 at 3:19 pm
I think it’s great that people are finally waking up and making an attempt to figure out what it will take to start winning. But I still maintain that the best way to do so is to hook into the National Party and get good people into seat nominations. It doesn’t necessarily mean running your own list for Parliament.
That said, I think there is 5% out there for these sorts of policies, and it’s simply a matter of looking and sounding competent. The Libertarianz always acted like they were too good for both voters and votes, and ACT always campaigned like it was a mainstream political party at 40% in the polls, not a fringe party looking for 5-10% of the vote. Both approaches have had predictable results. The Greens have never had these sorts of delusions about their place on the political spectrum, which is why they have never had any trouble crossing the threshold.
ACT’s downfall was, at heart, that it was a top-down party. If a new party is set up, it needs to be strictly democratic. People should have to campaign for their list spots, not be friends with someone on the board. That way you avoid all the strife, and you get people who are already good campaigners.
Vote:October 8th, 2012 at 3:20 pm
Libertarian political principles are the only logical and non contradictory ones in existence…they come from Man’s objective nature and its requirements for his survival and prospering.
Vote:October 8th, 2012 at 3:28 pm
I just read the Perigo speech, and… wow
“Twit-witter”? “Faecesbook”? I dont really think that these are the real reasons its hard to get Libertarian ideas across.
Vote:October 8th, 2012 at 3:28 pm
Best of luck to them.
cheers
David Prosser
Vote:October 8th, 2012 at 3:29 pm
@Giff – DIY plumbing, I can’t see how that could possibly go wrong.
Maybe that could be the great vote winner:
Libertarian NZ – all the DIY plumbing and electrical work you could ever want to do.
Vote:October 8th, 2012 at 3:33 pm
Men make their own history, but they do not make it as they please; they do not make it under self-selected circumstances, but under circumstances existing already, given and transmitted from the past. The tradition of all dead generations weighs like a nightmare on the brains of the living.
Vote:The Eighteenth Brumaire of Louis Bonaparte, Karl Marx, 1852.
October 8th, 2012 at 3:37 pm
@Daigotsu – And Perigo’s blog is running a poll with the question ‘Who among the phalanx of fascist filth at the DNC Convention is the most odious?’
It’s a hard call but who is more nuts Ansell or Perigo?
Vote:October 8th, 2012 at 3:54 pm
I am not particularly sure about the prospects of euthanasia law reform. Having studied the question from a comparative political perspective, there are some problems that need to be surmounted first. One, pro-reform organisations need to form a united organisational front. Two, the New Zealand Medical Association is probably the greatest obstacle to reform, not conservative Catholic opponents. It has professional expertise and credibility that the Catholic Right anti-euthanasia groups lack. In the Netherlands, Oregon and Canada, where reform has happened/is happening, it tends to be the case that medical practitioners organisations have either devised (i) regulatory guidelines for the practise (ii) declared neutrality on the issue or (iii) have split over the issue, usually either (i) or (ii). Unless that happens here, any hope of euthanasia reform is forelorn.
Insofar as soft drugs are concerned, would that our nation’s stance on drugs were far more evidence-based than it is. However, incrementalism tends to be the better part of valour in this instance. First medicinal cannabis reform, then secondly recreational cannabis, and then, eventually, perhaps look at the prospect of a thorough evidence-based overhaul of the Misuse of Drugs Act. However, radical libertarian proponents of total drug decriminalisation need to be kept as far away from microphones as possible. P/crystal meth, heroin and other hard drugs need to remain under criminal interdiction for the common good.
Vote:October 8th, 2012 at 3:55 pm
And I should probably note that factionalism has also delayed cannabis law reform- witness the split between Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis and the Greens over the issue of single issue ideological purity versus a broader social reformist agenda.
Vote:October 8th, 2012 at 4:09 pm
School vouchers alongside a faster roll out of charter schools, legalise drugs and tax the bejesus out of them, get the council out of any project less than say 30k alongside their 300k idea, abolish the stupid ETS, stop accepting TOW claims immediately.
Vote:October 8th, 2012 at 4:44 pm
Libertarianism = A dime store political philosophy for simpletons.
Vote:October 8th, 2012 at 5:00 pm
Anything, any policy will do….just so long as it kickstarts a movement to get government sponsored nannies out of micro managing our lives.
Vote:October 8th, 2012 at 5:03 pm
I would build a platform around government doing only what only government can do. Have these activities funded by a progressive tax system as at present. Undertake other activities as desired by the people, but have these funded by a poll tax. Perhaps this would force those who continually push for the government to do something to re-think.
Vote:October 8th, 2012 at 5:47 pm
Much as I enjoy Perigo, he does himself no favours with terms like “Twit-witter”? “Faecesbook”?
How old is he? 12?
Vote:October 8th, 2012 at 5:55 pm
Libertarian spokesman with the initials P.C.
Vote:Sounds like Act mark 2, only with more egos
October 8th, 2012 at 8:29 pm
Perigo just calls people names all the time. As Peter says, he acts like a child.
Vote:October 8th, 2012 at 8:35 pm
Why are there so many idiots on here who think the government running our lives and running things is a good idea? Since when has more bureaucracy been a good thing? Keep government to the minimum, and let a properly regulated private sector do the rest with the minimum regulation.
I agree though that incrementalism is probably the way to have libertarian policies implemented – and DPF’s list is as good as any I have seen suggested.
Vote:October 8th, 2012 at 8:58 pm
“Why are there so many idiots on here who think the government running our lives and running things is a good idea?”
1) Because in their power fantasies it is always their agenda being imposed on everyone else through coercion.
2) Because they are rent-seekers who will be in a position to plunder other people; something which a free market does not permit.
Vote:October 8th, 2012 at 11:32 pm
Don’t judge Libertarianism by the odd Libertarian…..if you have a better system lets see it….till then…..
Vote:October 9th, 2012 at 2:06 am
Treaty settlements cannot be devolved to the individual. Maori land is, and always has been, communally owned. Maori culture is a collective one. The Maori seats need to go. Saying the proposal won’t get popular support is asking the wrong question. Why do we need them? We don’t. They need to be gone.
Vote:October 9th, 2012 at 9:06 am
Amen to Nick K, Peter and others. Five sellable policies are essential, but so is a list of people who shouldn’t be allowed anywhere near the new party. I would put Perigo at the top of that list.
Vote:The new project doesn’t need to be poisoned while still in the womb.
October 9th, 2012 at 10:10 am
I should also note that unlike P/crystal meth, New Zealand doesn’t have a significant heroin importation problem. It seems to be the case that our border protection is sufficiently rigorous enough to interdict potential drug ponies. Indeed, we seem to have never had one. And in answer to one of the above questions, hard drug prohibitions need to remain because of toxicity, risk and destructive physiological and behavioural effects. There are good reasons that Class A Misuse of Drug Act substances have received that classification.
Vote: