I’ve had a bit of a break from Red Alert recently but am keen to get back into it. Have just got home from being at the OpenLabourNZ do in Wellington this afternoon. Big ups to Clare Curran for pushing us along this path. Excellent conversation.
I have always been a fan of greater democracy and openness and the improved ability of more people to participate in decisions which affect them. Sometimes I’ve been made to feel like like Ms Naive when raising these issues in the Labour Party. Like I don’t really know how politics works…..But I am still wedded to the principles of transparency and openness and accountability. They are the principles on which we need to base our democracy. People won’t engage if they can’t.
Technology (as well as Clare Curran) is compelling us along this path and I welcome it. I’m pleased David Farrar was there – he has intelligent things to say about processes and access to information. I’m sorry he will be treated by a leper by his erstwhile right wing cobbers but there you go. His choice. If the Labour Party can’t get with the democratising programme, we deserve to be left behind.
I like that we have an Official Information Act – how else would we have known that the Nats acted against official advice when they chose to extend the fire at will legislation to ALL NZ workplaces? So now we know that they chose that option a) out of ideology (as good a reason as any); b) to make the imploding ACT party feel better; or c) to please their wealthy mates. We can now choose which of those options we believe and vote accordingly.
Bring on more of it.
Good to see you admit the Labour Party didn’t listen to any of us for the 9 years it was in government (don’t worry we know Helen was the ignorer-in-cheif)…
I’m looking forward to Labour’s official position to extend the OIA to all of Parliament in it’s next election manifesto – anything else is opposition bluster…
Does Joyce’s recent refusal to issue under the OIA stop there or has Labour referred it to the Ombudsmen?
Maryan why ever do you think “his erstwhile right wing cobbers” would “treat [him like] a leper?”
Always good to see you, Maryan
!
@reid: There was just an inkling of it on the Open Labour event thread.
And when Farrar supported local loop unbundling, a lot of the usual suspects, well… draw your own conclusion.
“And when Farrar supported local loop unbundling, a lot of the usual suspects, well… draw your own conclusion.”
Did you see my comment on that thread on your link, DeepRed? If so, what was your conclusion re: my position?
@reid: I didn’t see your comment on that thread. But the nastier comments do leap out and rearrange the viewer’s face.
I hope it didn’t damage you on the inside, DeepRed.
…I’m pleased David Farrar was there – he has intelligent things to say about processes and access to information. I’m sorry he will be treated by a leper by his erstwhile right wing cobbers but there you go. His choice.
Oh b**ls!At most DPF got a good natured joshing for mingeling with you darksiders and moochers of the left and he’s posted some funny moments involving Labour in the last couple of days.
Its on the left (Standard anyone?) that you find real hate and shrill cries of “traitor”!Possibly because those who want to command and control others and run their lives are sad,mean spirited people at best…
Thanks Maryan. Great to have your support and wisdom. There’s been some good feedback about your speech yesterday on the twitter discussion. #olnz (I’ll getyou on twitter yet)
James said “sad,mean spirited people at best…” Here’s a good example of what James is talking about
“Go and have a good cry and a dry Clare…pussy.”
http://blog.labour.org.nz/index.php/2010/08/29/so-what-are-the-dps-for/
I saw that too, before it got deleted, not good
@Spud Not sure what’s not good. His comments were offensive and inflammatory.
His comments were not good, bad on him
Good grief! It’s hard to know why these threads go where they do sometimes! @Jeremy M Harris – the point is that the technology is driving us into new applications and more conversations with more people. And that’s good. Adaptation is critical. @ James et al – I had seen some of the responses to DPF on his blog and couldn’t tell if they were “joshing”. Don’t know those people well so can’t read them. Bit of a disadvantage with this medium. But he’s a big boy….Hey Spud – nice to see you again.
So that’s a yes on Labour officially changing it’s election OIA policy..?
Haven’t thought about it yet Jeremy. Will now.
I liked the point you made about people no longer trusting “We should invade that country because they have weapons of mass distruction”.
People now want to see the same advice our leaders have, and come to their own conclusion. It’s not enough to say trust me, i know they need invading.
Maryan on twitter would be wonderful. I know there are many wise things she could say, given a platform limited to 140chars, that she currently would not craft a whole blog post for. Small sentences saying great things.
Please Maryan?