ACT struggle despite Brash's promises

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Sat, 03 Sep 2011 3:57p.m.

Brash has been on the road for several months at get-togethers where people can meet him

Brash has been on the road for several months at get-togethers where people can meet him

The ACT Party’s list of election candidates is out and some commentators say it is little wonder that leader, Don Brash, is struggling when it comes to turning the party into a significant political force.

One newspaper editor says the line-up looks like "a collection of National Party throw-backs and political has-beens with a couple of clever young kids thrown in".

Identity is proving a real issue for ACT as it struggles to come up with a clear, coherent point of difference.

And that is impacting on the polls which see the party is sitting just above two percent in the latest 3 News Reid research poll that is inside the margin of error.

So, life is difficult for Mr Brash, who promised to save the party from oblivion when he took over the ACT leadership four months ago.

He has been on the road for several months at get-togethers where people can "meet Don Brash".

Natasha Smith has been along to see just who is turning up.

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Comments

05 Sep 2011 03:21p.m.

Alex wrote:

cameron: there's neoliberalism in the textbooks and then there's actually existing neoliberalism. There's no way big business (or dare I say it, 'capital') would allow the state to get *too* small because they depend on the state for their own existence. One example is the bailout of the banks - where would they be without the generosity of the state? Where would business be without massive amounts the state spends on research for 'defence' (the military-industrial complex)? Capital is happy for normal people to be subject to the principles in economic textbooks, but it sure isn't going to stop demanding the redestribution of wealth from everyone else to the very rich - because its very existence depends on it.

05 Sep 2011 12:01a.m.

Lasse wrote:

Never thought the name Paula Benefit would come right out of somebody's mouth especially from the likes of David Cunliffe! NICE ONE!!! :)

04 Sep 2011 07:54p.m.

James wrote:

NZ needs ACT's policy's desperately. Socialism has failed as it always does and we have a nation of dependants and whiners. And sine when as the US had 30 years of "neo-liberal policies...? They have had the same big government regulated morass we have had and its left them broke.

04 Sep 2011 12:37p.m.

cameron wrote:

brash and key,heaven help nz, the jew and the racist ,what a team. divide up nz by selling our assets and buy votes by borrowing billions and flash annnouncements we can't afford like taxcuts for the rich. the national gov't have cut funding to everything from night schools to kids education,
health and services. get rel nz these people are only here to line their own pockets.

04 Sep 2011 11:58a.m.

nick a wrote:

@Davo Anybody who says this country will prosper under the guidance of the mana and maori parties party is either maori or extremely naive.

04 Sep 2011 10:23a.m.

James J.REad wrote:

I wish Jack Ramaka had checked his facts before writing his comment. ACT like Labour and National, has not taken an official position. It is public knowledge that Don Brash doesn't support MMP, but I am a deputy board member of the party and am actively campaigning for its retention. I'm sure that other parties have sincere members on both sides .

04 Sep 2011 03:05a.m.

Sarah wrote:

Steve Withers that is a very good point. I would just like add that the wealth gap has grown exponentially in the US. Large US companies are making more profit than ever before and the people at the top are taking it all. Workers wages have stagnated for the last 40 years. If you get rid of the social safety net and regulations, whatever growth your country experiences will only be for a select few. Don't fall into the "if I work hard I could win the 1% lottery and be rich like them" trap. Democracy can't survive without a middle class.

03 Sep 2011 09:43p.m.

anya wrote:

On election day no one will forget how brash went about getting rid of hide,if thats a friend,i would hate to be an enemy.
Talk of enemy, brash's rhetoric demonstates that he has no care or concern for the larger population,his narrow policies will enhance the few,typical national and act policies.
This election is a defining one,it will either destroy what nz holds dear,or it will spell the end to freedom as we know it,or it will strip us of a stream of income that is valuable for future generations, perhaps all three,all because of a smile,it is so pathetic its laughable,on the flipside a choice could be made to keep our assets,have a cgt,have our youth engaged in activities that give them hope for the future,goff is respected as a politician,perhaps he has not got the smile of key,but i would rather trust him than a man that is going to look after a few and has lied on many occasions.
Sticking it to the real workers in this country is also a favourite pass time of national,this will get worse if he gets a mandate,his actions so far speak volumes.
I just hope that mainstream NZ'ers will see through the veil on election day.

03 Sep 2011 07:35p.m.

DB wrote:

Ahhhhh, did anyone else pick the white guy in the crowd? How is this party a representative of NZ? how is this party going to progress our society? Short answer - it wont. And dont think for a second that ACT isnt just the National's whipping boy. Lets stop being so naiive and vote for a positve future for our country and not for an increase in the amount of money that will fill a few white collar folk. Lets get real with real NZ issues, like our kids and our homeless, our sick, elderly and our education.

Vote policy, not people.

I dont care if John Key or Phil Goff babysit my kids, I care if they can run our country, and bring good policy to the future of everyone, not just a few.

03 Sep 2011 05:49p.m.

Steve Withers wrote:

The US is a good example of what 30 years of neo-liberal economic policies will do to a country. They have 9.1% unemployment and their governments are bankrupt at every level, local state and federal. ACT want to follow this example.....apparently unable to see it's a recipe for ruin.