On Sunday morning I had the privilege of attending the Act Party Election Launch with over 600 other enthusiastic supporters. It was held at the ASB Waterfront Theatre and was a fantastic event. The first thing that caught my eye was the number of young people who were there and by young I mean those in their twenties and up. This was something I wasn’t expecting. The obvious question is why?
I think the answer can be given in two parts. First, David attracted young people through his appearance on Dancing With The Stars. He made the point that these young ones stayed in contact for a short time but recently they have been back in touch as they are waking up to what is going on especially in relation to the debt they are going to be burdened with. Second is the Deputy Leader Brooke van Velden who herself is just 27 years of age.
Apart from David, the others who spoke were the highest ranked candidates on the list. We heard from Brooke who has experience in international trade and helping small businesses navigate government bureaucracy. She is standing in Wellington Central. Mark Cameron, a farmer who speaks like one, a salt of the earth type who turned up in his gum boots, is standing in Northland. What a contrast to Shane Jones and his pontificating buffoonery.
Chris Baillie, a schoolteacher and small businesses owner who has also spent time in the police and is standing in Nelson. Karen Chhour who gave an emotional speech about her childhood and what she has since achieved. Karen is standing in Upper Harbour. Simon Court, a civil and environmental engineer who is standing in Te Atatu. He completely rubbished the Greens. Nicole McKee, the gun lady and also the Act spokesperson on welfare standing in Rongotai. We need this lady! What a contrast to the useless Carmel Sepuloni.
Then there was the mighty eloquent Mr Seymour himself.
These candidates, most not used to public speaking, each spoke about themselves, their occupations and why they were attracted to Act. They were a delightfully diverse group but they presented common themes. Freedom to organise our lives, freedom of speech, personal responsibility, less government in our lives, less tax, the repeal of the RMA and Andrew Little’s hate speech legislation. What more could you ask for.
Readers of The BFD would have found very little to disagree with. The Act policies make National look like almost a clone of the Labour Party. The age range alone means there is a movement afoot. The number of young ones attending means there is a future for Act and I predict a bright one. The increase in support for Act will come at the expense of National. It has to be said David Seymour is a far more dynamic speaker than Todd Muller.
I believe the current Government has destroyed the theory of attracting the middle ground. The electorate, including the young ones, are seeing where the so-called middle ground is taking them and, apart from the welfare bludgers this Government encourages, they don’t like it. This election will be fought along left and right lines; conservatism versus socialism. Covid is not the reason, it’s just an exacerbating factor. We were, and are, already well down the socialist path thanks to the Marxist theories being brought in by Ardern.
It would appear the electorate is waking up at the right time, except maybe for National. National needs to take note of what is going on in the political arena. It needs to bring its policies more into line with Act’s. There are areas of similarity but these two parties need to work together much more closely.
Ardern, with where she is taking the country to hell in a handcart, is giving voters a stark choice. National needs to join Act in offering an alternative choice and shed its Labour lite clothing. If they don’t, those on the right will increasingly see Act as their best option. While this is good on the one hand, a very much weakened National could result in a Labour Greens Government.
PERISH THE THOUGHT.
Unless in Epsom, electorate vote National and party vote Act. We must assume National aren’t going to change their policies markedly so we need as many Act MPs as possible. I’m not saying they’re going to set the world on fire. What I am saying is they reflect and will represent our core beliefs.
Right now we need that more than ever.
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