Less range but more space for lasting change

[ms_maree]

Written by Thomas Friedman - New York Times.

Australian politics is antipodean to the US in every sense of the word.I've learnt three things visiting New Zealand and Australia: there is a place in the world where rugby is front-page news. There is a place in the world - Auckland Airport - where the toilets have digital clocks in the entry way

Comments

[deepbluemermaid]

Thanks for sharing this; as a New Zealander, it's interesting to get an outsider perspective on our politics.

I think you'd attract many more readers, though, if you highlighted the fact that Thomas Friedman wrote this piece.

[ms_maree]

Thank you, I hardly know anything about journalists, especially not American ones.

[sakuraberries]

This is really interesting; thanks for posting!

Makes me want to move to New Zealand even more than I already did.

[xballroomblitz]

I'm about to go to Melbourne for a year on exchange so I'm trying to figure out their political system before I get there. This was definitely a good start. Thanks (:

[lozbabie]

Just learn 'Fuck Abbot' and you'll be fine.

I would have voted for Turnbull if he was still leader of the opposition. I don't think Gillard is a good PM and I think Labor has been floundering for a while but Abbot would be a thousand times worse.

[ms_maree]

Turnbull is just too socially progressive for the social conservatives who have latched onto Liberal these days. Or at the least the ones who don't vote for the Christian Coalition or Family First.

[lozbabie]

My former church was really politically active and just could not get that because they believed a certain way that doesn't mean that everyone else should have to live that way. (and is the reason I stopped going)

Turnbull's socially progressive views are the reason I would vote Liberal if he came in.

[free_spoons]

gah...I miss New Zealand

[lonely_hour]

actually, no, don't.
It's a bit better but it's getting worse.
National fucking party.
They passed the search & surveillance bill, are selling state assets, reforming the benefit (making it highly un-woman accommodating especially in regards to the domestic purposes benefit). Basically, they've started doing some "neo-liberal" reforms and i still cannot forgive my dad for voting them.

[johnjie]

Wow, it's interesting to see an outsider's perspective on local politics! I especially find it interesting that the whole spectrum of politics in Aus and NZ fits into the Democratic Party...is that really accurate?

ALthough, I would like to point out that Tony Abbot is a massive douche.

[gretazreta]

New Zealand has one far-right party (ACT) with literally about one percent of the vote. Even they (who have pretty horrific right-wing strategies) could not THINK of campaigning as the Republicans are doing in the US. The main difference being perhaps that we don't have a strong fundamentalist Evangelical Christian movement here - so issues such as birth control, abortion, climate change, socialised healthcare or, say, the teaching of creationism in schools and so on are not really on the political table at all.

Which is not to say that we're necessarily satisfied: there's an alarming trend towards cuts in areas which help the most vulnerable under the current "right" government, who are also inclined to sell off state assets and mine in ecological areas. We'd be foolish to be complacent about these things, I think.

[the_axel]

Probably not. Comparing US parties to the rest of the developed worlds parties, it's more like this (view in fixed font):

American politics: Loonies.........................|.....Dem...|..Rep......|
Civilised countries:Loonies|....Left....||...Centre...||...Right...|Loonies