Elections

[Maaja]

I went to vote for the first time in my life today! Actually it wasn't at all that sweet and nice because th choice was almost unexistant. I voted for the most left-winged party here (social-democrats blaahhhh) and later my father told me that I just wasted my vote, I really don't care. But I decided to vote anyway. I hope they'll get at least 1 person to the local governement...

[LeonardoDaVinci]

So, who did your father vote for?

[Kodzoquo]

CONGRATULATIONS!

[MJM]

I know how you feel. This "democracy" really is pretty shit. I vote green at election time, due to the fact there no socialist parties at all in the election down in NZ.

[Jaha]

hey, to "throw away" your vote is not a bad thing. when the conservatives screw up (which they undoubtedly will) you have every right to *****. if you dont vote, you have little right to *****.

[BOZG]

Well actually, it depends on your political stance, whether you have the right to ***** or not. Anarchists can ***** all they like.

[Xvall]

If voting changed anything; the government would abolish it. Indeed; every few years, we are allowed to choose who will opress us.

[RGacky3]

If more leftist voted things would change I am sure it will. But too many leftists think that nothing can change, unless leftists start taking action by voting nothing will ever change.

[Lefty]

its an endless circle: the leftists dont vote because they think they cant change anything, and nothing is changed because the leftists dont vote!

[Jaha]

well, i dont think voting changes anything, but you should vote anyways. so that when you argue, and someone asks, "well, who the hell did you vote for then, wise guy?" you can say "i voted for so and so". and then he can say, "well, that guy lost." and then you can say "but he shouldnt have". and then you can really start *****ing. about everything. from sweatshops to zionism. its flawless, unless the guy decides to punch you in the face, then it sucks whether you voted or not.

[Kilian]

MJM if not parties are there any socialist organisations in NZ

[MJM]

There's parties, but they don't stand in the election. It's complicated, let me explain briefly.

The socialist party stands with a group of small parties called the alliance. The alliance didn't vote against the war on terror attacks in afghanistan so they basically self destructed into oblivion. This party is the only socialist one to stand. I won't vote for them because of the war thing, although I have in the past.

The workers party is a marxist leninist party but I have heard they suffer from bickering with other leftist elements when they attempt to work together. They didn't stand at the last election but they are attempting to build an new party. The Anti Capitalist Alliance is what they're called. I would have voted for them if they were on the ballot. No candidate stood in my area, but I think one did stand in an adjacent electorate.


The biggest problem in NZ is one thats happening everywhere. In fighting and leaders who lack charisma. Theres an element of intellectualism in the parties that turns working class people away and into the arms of rightwingers who pray on xenophobia. The greens are the only progressive NZ party I can see at the moment.

[Maaja]

Well, the social-democratic worker's party I vote for got about 0,7% of the votes. That's not much... But I did my best. They are not the perfect party for me but the best I could get in whole Estonia.
My father vote for 'the reformist party', the most right-winged party at all. Well, they are not really nationalist but they do something only for rich people, they are richies party and in my town they win as always... My mother vote for the same party as I did!

[Kilian]

I think that you cannot build socialism by parlamentarism instead we should try to get as much people as we can to support our movement and when we have got enough people we can use our power to change things

[Jaha]

call me crazy, but i think communism comes out a of a revolt, not a vote.

and dont they have write-ins in NZ?

[MJM]

Quote: from Jaha on 10:33 am on Oct. 22, 2002

and dont they have write-ins in NZ?

Not as far as I know, but it'd be a pointless excercise anyway, not to mention I do have misgivings about the marxist parties within NZ. The greens will have to do for now.