Interesting quote from Mike Moore (this one, not this one or this one) in the NZ Herald.
“Proportional representation has acted as a muzzle on free speech and the logic of serious debate, scrutiny and evidence. The Maori Party, even the Greens, are not held to account for their policies by other political parties. Why? Because you might need them to form a coalition government. Best not cause a problem.”
Likeable fellow Mike, and usually pretty sensible. I came pretty close to voting for him in 1990 when he was briefly the PM (the Labour Party was more right wing then than left – honest!).
It was kind of funny after the election, when there was all the hoo-haa about whether Helen Clark was going to challenge him for the party leadership and was lying low, people had put signs up on power poles around Mt Albert where I lived (and Helen Clark’s electorate) saying “Helen, call Mike.”