/u/silicon_based_life’s TOP-based campaign to win the Whanganui electorate has travelled south to Tokoroa. Located on State Highway 1, the town’s main strip is today lined with TOP banners and supporters, promoting their candidate for the by-election. Behind the local Burger King, on a sports field, a modest crowd is milling around, having heard good things about the social welfare policy to be released by TOP today. /u/silicon_based_life stands on a stage made of a thick, collapsible wooden table, with a couple of speakers behind him. Gradually, the crowd quietens down from it’s background chatter, ready to hear the words of the candidate.

“Good morning everyone! So enthused to have you and your support here today. It seems that everywhere we go, we’re reaching bigger and bigger crowds! There’s not as many of you here was there was in Hamilton yesterday, but that’s to be expected. And you know what, the numbers don’t matter. What matters is the outpouring of support this little town is showing us – I never could’ve thought we’d penetrate this far into the depths of the electorate, many thanks again.

“Now, before I go into the policy announcement, I have to address some issues raised yesterday. We have received a barrage of criticism for our alcohol policy, coming under fire from every other party, the media, and a significant number of New Zealand citizens. We stand by this policy and say that it fits the best evidence we have seen. The low drinking age has led to an even lower de facto drinking age, 14 to 17, and by increasing it again we can increase the de facto age and reduce alcohol use amongst vulnerable teenagers. This is primarily a policy focused on preventing future drink-driving and alcoholism problems, which as I understand it, are not insignificant in Tokoroa. I also want to draw attention to a statement made by the National candidate for Whanganui, PineappleCrusher. She said that our increased excise on alcohol will affect those addicted to alcohol by increasing their effective living costs. She wants to see a bigger focus on rehabilitation – but that’s the exact point of this excise! The extra 300 million dollars raised by a small increase in prices will be re-invested 100% into alcohol rehabilitation policies, many of which have been shown to be highly effective for Māori in particular. Tokoroa may well be better off regarding alcohol rehabilitation under our policy. Thank you for the opportunity to make this clarification here today.

A smattering of polite and slightly-less-suspicious applause breaks out across the crowd. The TOP volunteers look relieved.

“Our increase will not be nearly enough to cause a major increase in crime like some say we’ve seen under the previously-administered cigarette tax. Anyway! We look to the future, and if anyone has any major concerns about this policy I urge you to come to the workshop with me afterwards to discuss it. Your personal experiences with it will have a lot to teach us, I’m sure. “Over the past years and decades, many experiments regarding Universal Basic Income schemes have been undertaken. For context, a Universal Basic Income is where everyone gets a set amount of money every week, no strings attached, no questions asked. The results from all these experiments have been conclusive. Under a Universal Basic Income, people’s lives improve! With financial stress and worry taken away from them, they still actively seek work, they still look to find meaning in their lives. The great myth of the benefit bludger does not ring true for a UBI. All the evidence points otherwise. Now, The Opportunities Party knows very well that we do not have the government income in New Zealand to actually pay for a Universal Basic Income. Not even under our innovative tax scheme would there be enough funds – of course, it is tax neutral right now. In any case, a UBI is a noble goal but a currently unattainable one. In lieu of a full UBI, The Opportunities Party proposes three separate partial UBIs: one for youth, aged 18-23, one for families with children aged 0-3, and one for people who have retired and would otherwise be on the New Zealand Superannuation Scheme. Now, we realise this would cost a lot, so we’ve been careful for these schemes to replace existing benefits where possible, and to ensure that currently budgeted funds can be diverted to the schemes. Overall, compared to the current fiscal situation in New Zealand, and along with our tax scheme, these plans are completely fiscally neutral.

A round of relaxed applause.

“The retirement UBI replaces Superannuation, and there are two key differences. You will not need to apply for the UBI upon retirement, it is paid out automatically. That’s the same for all three UBIs. They’re not called Unconditional for nothing! The Youth UBI is designed to ease pressure on someone at an extremely critical period of their life. We have an extremely high rate of youth suicide and thousands of youth not in employment, education, or training. By reducing financial stress at a key period of time in someone’s life, we can ease them into employment later on and ensure they don’t end up tossed aside by the system. In the rural Whanganui area, filled with youths who may find themselves alienated from the opportunities provided by the urban regions of New Zealand, this may be the key to allowing them to retain a home identity and keep themselves on their feet.

Some cheers from the crowd.

“The families UBI will also have a significant effect on providing for young families, and will also supersede several current benefits and policies that require more administration to administer. And of course, everything will be opt-out, so if wealthier people are feeling particularly charitable on top of the productive assets income tax we plan to introduce then they can leave themselves off the schemes. As for students in tertiary education, it may still be necessary to provide allowance there. The interest-free loan policy will certainly continue. The Opportunities Party would very much like to review tertiary education, especially universities – we’d like to see them go from being a place where rich kids train to stay rich, to a place where ideas are shared and anyone can participate with some basic financial acumen. Our policy for enhanced civics and society education will help students realise the full potential of the assistance provided to them by the government, and of details of the government itself. “Don’t let any scaremongering about “benefit bludgers” or “wasting taxpayer money” put you off! Chances are you’ll be eligible to receive some of that money in your life. The stereotypes of the “welfare queen” and other undeniably racist ideas that perpetuate our society are proven false by the research behind these policies. And remember, whilst The Opportunities Party may be sticking to it’s principles, if there ever comes a time when contradictory evidence comes out, we’ll study that and review the policy accordingly.

“Alright! That’s quite enough waffling from me, I’d like to think. It’s time to get down and dirty with our policy workshop. Stick around, talk to a Party volunteer, and have your say on our policy. Looking forward to meeting you all!”

Enthusiastic applause from the crowd.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1aJ4PhSoyZu6tMAdf8l1Ma_IU9Ue_hRW4wMG9dDkIAxc/edit?usp=sharing