A hard left Government

Jordan Carter has done an interesting post on what NZ might be like in 2007 if Labour had implemented hard left policies, rather than merely leftwing policies [my terminology not his].

He wistfully says NZ might have:

* Health spending at 10% of GDP and no waiting lists or fees in the health sector
* Reversal of the 1991 benefit cuts
* A return to national awards (and implicitly compulsory unionism)
* Free education from pre-school to tertiary and universal student allowances
* More widespread public transport
* Retain tariffs, not pursue any free trade deals
* Much higher taxes on high income earners and more support for low income families
* Public spending around 10% of GDP higher

Jordan bemoans that such a policy wishlist would never succeed today, as the public don’t want it, because no one is selling the merits of a more left-wing approach.

Jordan is absolutely correct that such a wishlist would lead to any Govt trying to do that being a one term wonder.

But not because it would be unpopular. Oh telling NZers that they can have free health, free education, more welfare and the Easter Bunny so long as those rich bastards get fucked over with more tax would probably be very popular at first.

Until the economy collapses, which it would. I’d actually love Labour to try and implement such a programme. It would be their last ever term in Government.