[NZerFromHK]

Now I know the title may sound uncomfortable to our American friends, but remember "liberal" in the New Zealand context means policies of Ronald Reagan: free market, and individual choice and responsbilities rather than nanny state.

[NZerFromHK]

Talk of New Zealand's political firection ping!

[BlazingArizona]

I was really impressed by the agricultural system there: the only totally free market farm system the world has ever seen: no subsidies, no tariffs, no protectionism. They even fund their own research, which means they can experiment with such things as genetics, which the Greens hate. They have been able to get Monterey pines to grow on a 23-year cycle (US farm trees, other than pulpwood, take 40 years).

[NZerFromHK]

New Zealand's political centre is generally a little different from the United States. On military/foreign/defence matters, we are definitely deep into the loony Left - not surprising given that our position could "afford" us the luxury of leftist delusions. On trade and agricultural/industrial regulations, we are at where the most free-market promoting conservative Republicans stand.

On social welfare, we are a bit to the left of you but not as left as Canada. We have dual public and private health care systems although the left in power in Wellington has been trying to undermine it by stealth.

In general, New Zealand's political spectrum translates into the United States is like:

1) National Party - major centre-right party = most of right-wing half of US Democrats, plus the Rockefeller Democrats. Its most conservative minority, the Don Brash faction, corresponds to mainstream Republicans

2) ACT Party - major free market party = mainstream to conservative Republicans but minus the Christian votes, plus a bit of Libertarian Party.

3) Labour Party - major centre-left party = left-wing half of US Democratic Party, and its most conservative minority would have been moderate Democrats, and the most right-wing member would correspond to RINOs.

4) Progressive Coalition - social democratic party = oldline Mondale Democrats if they agree to fullscale social welfare state, plus Howard Dean Democrats who emphasis works on social welfare policies.

5) Green Party - major left-wing party = Ralph Nader plus any Democrats to the left of Cindy Sheehan.

6) United Future - chruch-going "centrist" party = RINOs and moderate Democrats.

7) New Zealand First Party = Pat Buchanan.

[Sam Gamgee]

It does indeed get confusing. Same idea as in the days of the Soviet Union. A conservative was the old communist guard and a liberal was a fighter for democracy and capitalism.

I sent a note your way one day as I was watching a Healthcare Conference coverage on CPAC. It was recorded and actually took place in November. There were a few Kiwis at this conference in Vancouver talking about their mixed delivery health system. Something Canada is in denial of, even though it is already taking place in Quebec with doctors opting out of the public system.

You guys have a form of proportional representation, correct? How is it working for you?