tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38893560.post8787329846297926109..comments2023-10-08T12:11:52.993+13:00Comments on New Zealand Conservative: John Key wants to let voters know that National can work with the Conservatives, but are they really conservative?Lucia Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10485990994973953860noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38893560.post-80951832170894263622014-02-17T11:34:34.977+13:002014-02-17T11:34:34.977+13:00Conservative,
I hope that you are right and that C...Conservative,<br />I hope that you are right and that Craig's party is worthy of a vote. I live in Maurice Williamson's electorate and there is no way that I would vote for him again or for Labor-Green. sorry for late comment but have just seen this post<br />Mrs Macpeter.annnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38893560.post-46050933666619018232014-01-25T10:36:40.918+13:002014-01-25T10:36:40.918+13:00In today's world, adherence to principles is d...In today's world, adherence to principles is described as extreme, ultra or fundamentalist. Then that is made out to be a bad thing in all cases. Definitions of Conservativism are reduced to lukewarm positions, so as not to offend the progressive liberal majorities. Against porn? The media will paint such a person as a ultra-conservative. Against prostitution? The media will paint such a person as an extreme conservative. Against abortion? The media will paint such a person as a conservative fundamentalist.<br /><br /><br />Thus, we get the Colin Craig Conservative Party. Lukewarm conservatism so as to appear populist and non-extreme.<br /><br /><br />I think Conservatives would do better to adhere to principles so they do not get so easily tripped up when they support one thing, but not another. That makes them guilty of one of the most serious crimes in liberal/progressive thinking: hypocrisy. This is the ultimate crime because it says "you don't really have principles". It also says, if one studies progressives "you don't have principles, JUST LIKE US". They like the crime of hypocrisy because it only catches out people who make a stand on principles, and that leaves them safe in the lukewarm area of "it all depends".ZenTigernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38893560.post-64808094239242531312014-01-22T10:37:42.254+13:002014-01-22T10:37:42.254+13:00Hi John,
Yes, I understood that from the quotes I...Hi John,<br /><br />Yes, I understood that from the quotes I posted. The problem, I think, this smacking being a bottom line is the impression being given out in the media. Quite sneaky, really.<br /><br />Before National got elected, I had my doubts that they would be an effective voice in Parliament for a more conservative government, but I didn't say much, because I was persuaded by some other bloggers that National's approach was to "not scare the horses". Well, that was bullshit.<br /><br />This isn't about being single issue, it's about understanding the principles behind the name. People will be voting Conservative because they'll be expecting a conservative force in Parliament. There will no point voting for that if they are conservative in name only. They'll ruin the brand.Lucia Mariahttp://nzconservative.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38893560.post-19586796250835323552014-01-22T10:11:53.812+13:002014-01-22T10:11:53.812+13:00Lucia, I think the difference here, is that Colin ...Lucia, I think the difference here, is that Colin is saying it will be a DISCUSSION point in negotiations, rather than a "bottom line" (ie "you must do this if you want us"). Colin appears to be more reasonable than that (ie his comments that Consv. has to be elected first). I think what we'll see, is the party offer controversial issues like this (same-sex; smacking, etc) to the People by way of referenda in 2016 or earlier (ie local elections?) and that will be a bottom line, with details hammered out in government. It's wrong to think of Consv. as a single issues party; they want a broader appeal and application than that.CoNZervativenoreply@blogger.com