tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3753486518085091399.post2035428356617375432..comments2024-03-29T17:12:19.648+13:00Comments on Bowalley Road: Oh Canada!Chris Trotterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09081613281183460899noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3753486518085091399.post-7471221940998265142008-12-06T15:13:00.000+13:002008-12-06T15:13:00.000+13:00I guess the main problem with the Westminster syst...I guess the main problem with the Westminster system is the lack of an entrenched or comprehensive constitution. Although in the world their remains only 2 states without a codified constitution (us and Israel), in Westminster states the constitution lacks the importance of that in say, the USA.<BR/><BR/>This makes things doubly dicey as if you say Chris, we some day have a government that lacks a clear mandate or loses the confidence of the house. In essence, their is nothing to stop the government of the day ignoring convention and tradition, for that is all our constitutional arrangements are.<BR/><BR/>Although wouldn't the actions of Muldoon in the aftermath of the 1984 election count as a precedent for this sort of crisis in New Zealand?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3753486518085091399.post-15280451913492043472008-12-06T07:59:00.000+13:002008-12-06T07:59:00.000+13:00Well ak, I suspect I saw the start of tantrum poli...Well ak, I suspect I saw the start of tantrum politics when The Key was pissed off that the airforce planes were not 'available to him' (as minister of tourism? as p.m?) to play rescue with stranded passengers in Thailand.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3753486518085091399.post-81613272481065226352008-12-06T01:54:00.000+13:002008-12-06T01:54:00.000+13:00norightturn has a good post on this subject too. I...norightturn has a good post on this subject too. I can't believe that the Canadian GG acceded to PM Harper's request to prorogue Parliament though.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3753486518085091399.post-10410563899917443552008-12-05T15:20:00.000+13:002008-12-05T15:20:00.000+13:00ChrisFood for thought - I think the same thing wou...Chris<BR/>Food for thought - I think the same thing would have happened here without a clear decision in the election. It was a close run thing and 40,000 votes going the other way could have precipitated a similar situation here with civil strife rendering the country ungovernable.<BR/>Perhaps a fully inclusive constitutional convention could address this along with the Treaty, whether NZ becomes a republic, the Maori seats, the abrogation of citizenship rights in the Foreshore and Seabed legislation, a better PR system [anything would be better than MMP which gives too much power to political parties] etc. etc.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3753486518085091399.post-44973660767834995932008-12-05T12:55:00.000+13:002008-12-05T12:55:00.000+13:00I read about this the other day and was amazed to ...I read about this the other day and was amazed to see the lenghts the Canadian PM was going to to stay in power. I find this incredibly interesting and look forward to seeing what happens. <BR/><BR/>Obviously the right need to understand the system that they were elected under....Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3753486518085091399.post-74250714203467006812008-12-04T21:44:00.000+13:002008-12-04T21:44:00.000+13:00It makes me wonder what sort of John Key might hav...<EM>It makes me wonder what sort of John Key might have emerged...</EM><BR/><BR/>....or may yet emerge: something that's niggled ever since this "PM" from Central Casting arrived on the scene. <BR/>Having endured more than my share of these <EM>young, telegenic, and studiously non-threatening</EM> types in my time, the common experience has been a honeymoon period lasting as long as the limelight shines, followed by hyper-sensitivity and raging tantrums at the slightest hint of criticism.<BR/> <BR/>Of course all men are just boys, but when you start with a boy.....Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com