Posted 5th September 2001

Two Right Crosses And A Left
by Alan Marston

I sympathise with Auckland City voters. The prospect of attending a political boxing match for the mayoralty by two failed lowly ranked cabinet ministers from the National Party and chief of the Alliance's back-room is not one that generates a lot of enthusiasm for the future of New Zealand's biggest city. It seems that the burglarisation (not to be confused with buggerisation) of the country by the Treasury Boys of 85 has so undermined the moral tone that it's going to take even more humiliation and poverty of income and spirit before the social climate improves, sigh.

Both Fletcher and Banks are failed New Right politicians. They are both implicated in giving away all of Auckland's railway corridors for one dollar a year! Following stupid decisions like this - which Auckland is still paying for - Fletcher and Banks couldn't make the top table in cabinet and have retreated into local government. Both are still believers in the massively discredited `sell the lot' and take what you've got policy of your average con, which unfortunately, in this country, passes for brilliance - confirmed it seems by them passing the acid test, being members of the millionaire club.

Mat's reasoning too is pretty familiar to a cycnic from the 60's. "I'm aware that various local body groups and individuals wanted me and other Left-wingers to stay out of the race in case the lesser of two evils - Christine Fletcher - lost the election" he said. "They will be telling voters to "Vote for the candidate that you detest the least". That's the sort of politically bankrupt position that the Alliance was formed to oppose. Why should voters settle for a mayor who is only just a slightly lighter shade of Tory than the other? By standing I'm trying to provide Aucklanders with a real choice. On the one hand we have two Right-wingers, and on the other there is me. That's why I'm using the slogan: "The Only Choice Left" he added.

A straight left-right fight? The evil of two lessers. Familiar lines, and that's the trouble, its been tried and failed for the last 150 years. Auckland, like the rest of New Zealand needs something new, a middle way. Instead of a fight we need some light. Even a candle would be preferable in the darkness we peer into when looking into debating chambers of NZ politics. Personally I'm attracted to an ounce of humanism before a ton of stale dogma.A straight left-right fight? The evil of two lessers. Familiar lines, and that's the trouble, its been tried and failed for the last 150 years. Auckland, like the rest of New Zealand needs something new, a middle way. Instead of a fight we need some light. Even a candle would be preferable in the darkness we peer into when looking into debating chambers of NZ politics. Personally I'm attracted to an ounce of humanism before a ton of stale dogma..