Wisdom from Guyon Espiner

Note: this post originally appeared on ‘Douglas to Dancing’, a blog I maintained from 2007-9 on the ACT New Zealand political party. The blog was an extension of the thesis I wrote about the Act Party in 2007, From Douglas to Dancing: explaining the lack of success of ACT New Zealand and evaluating its future prospects (PDF).

Some flippant food for thought…

I didn’t know that Guyon Espiner had a blog, but buried on the TVNZ site it appears he does. In his latest post called “Minor parties and political power” the state broadcaster’s resident sage gives his opinion on the best of the rest – and mentions only New Zealand First, the Greens and the Maori Party, in that order.

Beryl Good (20 on ACT’s list) commented directly on Espiner’s post:

“Hello Guyon Why have you not mentioned the ACT Party on your Minor Parties and Political power talk? ACT has so much sensible policy AND they have the top people ready to offer NZ a government of change NOT just a change of government. It seems strange you would mention the other parties and not ACT”.

Beryl has overlooked Guyon’s clever but subtle riddle. There are clearly two options:

• For ACT non-supporters: ACT does not and will not have any “political power”
• For ACT supporters: along with Labour, National, United Future and the Progressive Party, ACT is a major party!!!!