As everyone in politics is aware no one knows what Labour stand for, and they need simple messages that appeal to the average New Zealand voter. In the interests of helping further democracy I am prepared to help Labour, especially with some policy ideas to fill the current void.
Labour should be running aggressively with the line “Are you better off now than you were under Labour?”. The answer to this is almost certainly no, though this has little to do with National being in power and a lot to do with the world financial crisis. The rationale doesn’t matter much, just that people don’t feel as well off as they did previously.
This is the mood of the country and mood plays a massive part in campaigns. To win over voters Labour needs to capture the mood with some simple messages that appeal to the people. Chris Trotter called this person “Waitakere man“.
First and foremost in the mind of most New Zealanders is will they have a job? The uncertain economic times means people fear losing their livelihood, so jobs becomes the main focus of the campaign.
“Let’s get New Zealand Working”
This message is one that will appeal to this sense of unease about not having jobs. It should be then backed up with simple, clear messages that are statements of intent.
“More Jobs, Better Education, Fairer Taxes”
Three simple messages that are all about growing the economy and ensuring jobs are being created. More jobs could easily come from sensible government spending, especially if Labour are willing to look at the really high salaries of too many senior public servants, reduce them, and divert this money into areas that create jobs like infrastructure and front line services. Front line services are lower paid than Wellington bureaucrat jobs, so Labour could move many people into permanent employment by reducing spending on high paid bureaucrats.
Better Education links nicely to more jobs. Our system is underfunded, and often targeted in the wrong areas. Labour should talk about funding students in courses that New Zealand needs like trades, teaching, nursing and practical, useful courses rather than dumb stuff like graphic design, arts, or low level business courses from second rate tertiary institutes.
They could also talk about taking money from the ministry of education to put into schools and preschools. “Free education” should not be a myth in the modern New Zealand. Schools should not have to fundraise incessantly, and parents should not have to pay a ‘voluntary levy’. This would clearly appeal to parents who are struggling to make ends meet and are being taxed by their schools to maintain basic standards that the government should fund.
Fairer Taxes is a simple message around everyone paying their fair share, and taxes being used as a tool to grow the economy. Labour can make a good case for a more progressive tax system that means medium income people have more money to spend, which will grow the economy, which will increase the tax take.
The problem as I see it is that I don’t think Goff will get it. He has had no traction because he is all over the place on irrelevant, long-winded and complicated policies. It’s almost like he is trying to out policy-wonk Helen Clark, which we all know can’t be done.
He doesn’t understand the fear New Zealanders feel about their economic future. If he has an eureka moment and discovers that politics is simple, not complex and messages should be tight and to the point he could change the election.
Can he do it? I’m not so sure he can.
