Religion and politics a dangerous mix

GUEST OPINION

As a former ACT voter, I would rather give up and give two ticks for Labour than support Colin Craig and the Conservatives.  

They are not a replacement for ACT, as most ACT members would gnaw their own arm off than vote Conservative, even tactically.

John Key and National have a problem.

Through inept meddling via former National MPs Banks and Brash, they've killed their coalition partner. They rely on a Maori Party soon to go the way of the Moa.

If Colin Craig opens his mouth much more, by month's end John Key could be in a position of thinking Winston Peters is an attractive option.

On May 1, I became apolitical. My definition of such means I do not know who to vote for in 2014 and no longer consider myself a member of any political party. It means I am in a Zen-like state of not caring who wins in 2014. It is quite pleasant.

John Banks, and his bizarre attempts to fend off Kim Dot Com's bid to avoid extradition by becoming a witness in a possible criminal matter, was the final nail in the coffin. He achieved the unthinkable and made me apolitical.

New Zealand may be a relatively conservative country but politics and religion should not mix.

Try as Colin Craig is to distance himself from his past, present and unusually devote beliefs, make no mistake his followers Craig's followers are a tiny few old ACT members in addition to his other cultists.. In essence, religious righties. They confuse a classical liberal economic brand with blatant repugnant views belonging in the 1960s that women should stay at home and cook eggs and men can behave precisely how they want.

My biggest objection to Craig is that he is confusing right wing political brands with social conservatism that seeks to impose deplorable value systems on women, homosexual people and a Winston Peters populist style of Nationalism. He's trying to out-Winston, Winston.

Like any third party, it is not just the leader who will sink it. Look down the membership and candidate list from 2011 you will find what I see as religious and community fruitcakes. They would do well in American politics, but is New Zealand ready for the second coming of Graham Capill's Christian nutbars? We know where Capill ended up. Those who preach morals are usually the least likely to actually successfully practice such.

Religion and politics is dangerous. It is as dangerous as race-based parties such as Mana and Maori. As stated, I would vote moderate Shearer Labour before I would thrust religious or race-based parties on New Zealand.

Colin Craig has poured more money than anyone into politics, and his net result is to have absolutely no position of power whatsoever.

He is the kid at school who thinks he is popular, does his own polling of four geek friends but is overlooked for every position of responsibility in class as the other kids think he's just a wee bit creepy.

Media are only taking notice of him as they don't know much about him, he's weird and apparently rich. His achievements politically have been zero. Up until spending millions and publishing his own curious poll results showing how popular he was, not many people had any idea of his business achievements.

The past week the media have finally done their job and shone bright lights on CCCP and he has disgraced himself making dumb comments about New Zealand women that make me wonder if he has ever actually traveled. 

The Conservatives are nothing but the Colin Craig Cult Party. A man who only has one claim to fame: he's rich.

For heavens sake, if National need a partner why don't we just bring back a man with some sort of charisma in Bob Jones?

A man who has had the single most visionary idea in economics of 2012 in turning crippled Christchurch into a lake.

Jones saw the problem with being a bearded, skinny, offensive rich man and surrounded himself with hot chicks, shaved and developed an outrageous personality.

I can't see Craig doing likewise in two and a half years.

Cathy Odgers is a Hong Kong-based tax lawyer. She blogs as Cactus Kate.