Today I watched a 7 minute video about Bill English, purportedly emailed to me personally by his wife. I replied:
That's all well and good, but I still have no idea what drove Bill to enter politics. Why is he here? Jacinda Ardern said she entered politics to end homelessness, and it is clearly a fundamental cause she believes in. Why did Bill enter politics?
The political party web sites talk about what they plan to do but scarcely elaborate on why. To vote for a party, I need to know at a fundamental level why that party exists, and why it's members have chosen to be associated with it. Some MPs I have observed appear to be in politics chiefly to meet their needs for recognition and status, not because they have a fervent zeal for any particular cause.
Look at National's web site. Under "Our Values" they list their top three as "Less debt, more jobs, strong stable government". Those are not values!
Look a Labour's. No mention of values, but a confronting question: "Are you with Jacinda and us?" I'll vote for a party with a purpose, not for a personality.
The Green Party's landing page lists three objectives "Clean Water, End Poverty, Climate Action". There is no explanation as to why the Green Party considers these to be so important.
The Maori party web site does not explain why the Maori party exists. Make your way through the requests for funding and you'll find the slogan "Strong Independent Voice". But why is the Maori Party bothering at all?
Act's web site looks like propaganda for the cult of David Seymour.
New Zealand First's web site doesn't directly address my why questions, but it does have a major section called "Our Fifteen Principles" which goes some way to explaining the parties core purpose.
The web site of the Opportunities Party gives me what I'm looking for: "Help make New Zealand fair". That's why they exist, they want to make New Zealand fair. Even better, they have a major section called "Vision" which states "All people have aspirations, and all of us have a right to fulfil those aspirations. We also have a responsibility to ensure others have the same opportunity". That's why they exist.
If I was driven to enter politics the fundamental reason why would be because I find inequality abhorrent. A society in which some people have too much while others have too little is disgusting and dehumanising. Everything a person achieves in life comes down to luck, and basic humanity dictates that those who have been fortunate ought to share their gains with those who have been unlucky. The family you were born into, your health, your genetic makeup, the values that you were taught, whether or not you were encouraged and supported to work hard and extend yourself, all of these are the product of luck. And when the lucky turn their backs on the unlucky, how can I not be disgusted.
