Labour’s first attempt to develop open policy in an online environment is called #OpenLabourNZ. Our first policy is on open and transparent government. Here’s a summary of the ideas and views coming through so far:
Ideas
Important not to look like party is “out of ideas”
Who will own ideas generated by this?
How will commitment to act on the ideas generated be ensured?
Party values
Will you be led more by public or party opinion?
What will happen when/if party opinion is out of line with public opinion? Is there room for flexibility?
Ensure core values of the party are retained
Make a commitment to acting on the ideas that are generated by the public, in keeping with party values
Moderation/ Technical elements
Format of submissions
Promotions of this process outside Red Alert and blogs
Possibility of creating a Wiki
Ensuring you engage those who don’t already use Twitter or social networking sites
Civil Education
This is a new opportunity for immediacy and directness, sparking interest in parliamentary processes
Engaging those who may feel disconnected from “the system” – particularly younger generations
Nice summary.
Is someone really asking who will ‘own ‘ ideas?
Good grief , the Greeks might want some credit for something that was their ‘idea’ to start with, so lets not go down that path
lol Ghost.
Re: “civil education” = “civics education”?
This really needs to be about the basic principles of democratic government and how that occurs from local govt, to central govt, to the strong institutions and principles that a true democracy must foster and support.
The detail on parliamentary processes should be there somewhere, but i think that conveying overarching principles (e.g. freedom of assoc, political independence of the judiciary, transparency and accountability, freedom of speech/press, declaring conflicts of interest, etc.) is just as important. Convey the big ideas, and those who are interested can drill down into the detailed mechanisms.
@Ghost – I am, 1, don’t like blogsites being able to own something that is blogged. – rather than objecting about the exchange of ideas.
2, But my main concern is that Labour doesn’t give away all its ammo – don’t think that’s smart.
I’m very tired and probably not being clear. It’s not about who has invented a policy idea it’s about being strategic and not giving away too much information.
clare,
as a test of this. public opinion wants:
Anti Smacking repealed
Emissions Fraud stubbed
would you support this?
I think this is a great idea – but I do see some limitations
I understand that Labour must have their core values – but thier policy also needs to reflect that times have changed and accept that policies you pushed under the Clark years are quite possibly not what NZ wants going forward.
I also think that at present Labour are shooting a shot-gun with bad aim – but that you live in hope that something will hit a target (National) – to date Labour have failed. Axe the Tax was and remains a joke. Goffs latest announcement that personal income tax will be raised back to 38% is sad.
Your lot need re-invention. I see no sign of that. I look forward to new policy that captures imagination. And then I look forward to debating with leftie friends why I agree (or disagree with a particular policy.
I also think you lot have not yet done adequate penance for the sins of the Clark years. Until that is done you will remain in opposition hell.
I like your turn of phrase M onty
I just don’t think that it’s a case of the party having to serve a punishment for the last term.
Spud. You are correct. It’s not the party that is serving the punishment for the last term. It’s Society.
Likewise, National are following suit. Monty is 100% correct.
Again. Clare, as a test of this. public opinion wants:
Anti Smacking repealed
Emissions Fraud stubbed
would you support this?
but, monty is right. its both the party & society serving punishment for Clark’s term. the polls and society’s continuing dereliction proves this. National are following suit.
the question becomes, as previously asked, will labour truly listen to public opinion or, is it all lip service to pre-ordained United nations directives?
hence, the emissions scam, raising tax again to 38% as monty correctly points out, waxing lyrical about GST but, not culling it…etc, etc, etc,
I think “a commitment to acting on the ideas that are generated by the public, in keeping with party values” is a good way of going about it. Obviously the public is always going to have all sorts of mutually contradictory ideas, and you’ll never please everyone, but working on policy in a transparent fashion and listening & reacting to ideas from outside the traditional party channels is a fine step forwards IMO.
And yes, best to make very clear that nobody “owns” the ideas generated in an open process, although giving credit where credit is due is a good idea, when and as appropriate.
Ah, an entertaining evening of sock puppetry.
I wonder if the comments on the earlier post were read before this one was written?
Oh my, have to laugh at the “feedback” from the clearly and overtly tory Simon and Monty. Newsflash: you don’t agree with Labour’s core values, so you’re not going to agree with much else, and you’re certainly going to propose opinions along the lines of “Labour has failed”/”Labour continues to fail”. Your contribution is useless and utterly unfounded – especially Simon – guess what mate, most people don’t care about the repeal of section 59 anymore and most people actually believe the science of climate change and think it’s a major issue. The fact that you’re calling it “anti smacking” and “emissions fraud” speaks volumes to your ignorance of both public opinion and the issues themselves.
Give it a break, eh?
Personally, I believe Civics Education is long overdue and it’s essential for the health of our democracy. Teaching young people about our history, about how our economic and legal systems work and where they come from is crucial for engagement. If people understand these things more clearly they will not get sucked in by cheap political lines, such as National’s “Labour spent too much” or “Labour is soft on crime”, and they certainly would not stand for the rampant abuse of urgency and the undermining of our central democracy, as well as the complete destruction of local democracy in Auckland and Canterbury.
It’s also essential to bringing down the voting age. It should be 16. Young people are apart of our society too and much of what happens politically affects them greatly, but they do not get to have a say. Young people will have the fix the cock ups of the current and previous generation of politicians who are not taking climate change and peak oil seriously, who are ensuring that superannuation is unaffordable, who think that selling our assets is a good idea and so on. Plus, if young people are empowered by both education and the ability to vote, evidence suggests that they will continue the habit into their later lives.
I for one am very excited about this idea. Well done Labour for taking it seriously.
If we are serious about open policy promoted from the public at large, then flash harry spin doctors need serious reality checks when elction looms.
PC advocates need to be sidelined too.
public want simple commonsense policies they can agree with.
The wheel does not need to be reinvented.
A few simple ideas.
1. Plant trees and continue planting them, both for milling and as carbon sinks. Thats pretty simple and can employ the unskilled and with the rape of world forests its vital.
2. As world population grows at its fast rate, food production becomes paramount, and NZ is and can continue to be the best in the world at it, given serious R&D finances.
3. WATER. the arising most valuable world commodity so essential for food production. Nations could actually go to war over it before too long.WATER must remain an asset of the nation,and in state hands, no ifs no buts.
4. Compulsory super as in Aust.
5. Immigration. 3 non changeable conditions.
a. English must be able to be spoken.
b. Immigrants must assimilate. by coming here they are no longer citizens of their birth nations but kiwi, or don’t come.
c. Refugee status must cease as a too easily pled reason to be accepted.