Our current government is engaged in economic terrorism, racist fearmongering, and social murder - and these examples are all taken from the last week alone. They are flooding the zone with endless horrors and destruction that will take generations to repair (like the MOAB)

This election cycle, if you want these vandals out of power, you must commit to not negotiating with them or supporting anyone who could potentially form a coalition with them.

Firstly, thank you to u/Mountain_Tui_Reload and u/Tankerspam for setting up this AMA, and thank you to u/Qiulae for coming along and answering so many of our questions.

I have been processing and writing this summary while watching the AMA because I had the rising feeling that I needed to expunge my emotional response to the answers given through writing.

Before I go on - a quick TL;DR on my opinion from tonight

>if your single issue this election is a change in government, don't vote Opportunities Party

Anyway, to get into the analysis of it, the questions answered fall into a few broad categories.

Coalition Partners

Many Redditors asked the question of

>why should I vote for you if you provide coalition support for NACT?

These questions came from both past TOP supporters worried that their vote this election would end up supporting a government they want out, and others who don't see a reason to vote TOP if their vote had any chance of supporting the right bloc at all.

The response to this was disappointing from claiming that both sides are guilty of 'repeal and replace' despite the current government using urgency at record-breaking rates to bypass select committee oversight repealing 3 Waters leading to higher water costs, and lets not forget the debacle over the replacement Cook Strait ferries.

The repeated response was that

>"people should vote for Opportunity if they believe in our vision and our policies"

but no amount of vision and policies can clear the gap between their principles and those that many of us clearly hold. This current government is one of the worst we have ever had, and the mere prospect of entering into coalition with them is a deal-breaker for many of us who might otherwise consider TOP.

Party Methods

The next most answered style of question I ended up labeling "party methods" because they were primarily TOP supporters asking questions about wider engagement.

I would have left this section relatively short because most of the answers given are relatively inconsequential to anyone still on the fence. However this question by u/denialcow about the rise of right-wing populism led to an answer that feels very much in conflict with the statements previously about potential coalition partners. How can you, on one hand, acknowledge that

>"right wing populism has become rife around the world and we are also starting to see it take hold right here in NZ"

and still be prepared to go into coalition with our right-wing populists? The mention of the "silent majority" here also gives me significant pause as its origins and continued usage come from the conservative right.

Economy

There were more questions answered under this working heading than the others, but they have been combined from multiple sub-headings that I had developed and cover a much broader range of policy positions.

On regulation, there were questions around the BSA, energy markets, banks, and supermarkets. To my interpretation, the answers given indicate a respect for the place of regulation in a healthy economy but otherwise in-line with a relatively free market approach with some small acknowledgement of natural monopolies as they relate to power transmission despite the fact that I would argue that power generation is also.

Yet again we come back to the issue that regardless of the stated positions, they are still willing to support the government that is disestablishing the BSA and abolishing ministries.

I repeat - if these stated policies and visions are truly your intent, how can you support the current government?

I want to write more, but I am too tired to continue tonight. Just remember folks:

>You can't stay neutral on a moving train

https://youtu.be/3yD16Jb_BY8

I normally have a lot of time for Toby Manhire's takes but it really feels like this piece is at odds with itself.

For example how can you have in at number 2 "blame the media" and then at number 5 "don't moan to the media"? Also Luxon isn't doing less media better, he's just doing less media.

Then the move into the points around the "wins" to do with the India FTA and being late to the party in getting an agreement with Singapore for fuel supply... and to then characterize the news around their undemocratic ultimatums as

>A new, grumpy-parent-style ultimatum has been issued to local councils: sort out your amalgamation or we’ll do it for you.

I guess I shouldn't expect anything less from someone willing to work with Ben Thomas...

I had a bigger write-up in the tank yesterday, but it has been a long week and a longer life... and just don't have the energy.

I look at reports like this, and the reporting yesterday on the economic outlook showing that we are looking down the barrel of a very serious recession worse than peak-COVID that is entirely self-inflicted by the current government.

I have thankfully found work, and am stable in my career for the first time in a while but my children and other friends ask me for advice and... I just have nothing. If you are living in Auckland, female, and between the ages of 20 and 24.... why would you even search for work?

I find reporting on the "unemployment crisis" to be so underinformed because they never really address the elephant in the room of not only are you dealing with financial hardship, but the emotional toll of constant rejection is serious and unrelenting in an economy like this.

If this government gets back in, I fear for the lost generation.

Guessing this is going to go much like the Maori Wards referendum bullshit they pushed where unless the council plans agree with their plans, they are just going to ram everything they want through and screw the consequences.