Upon their 30th birthday, a New Plymouth local decided they needed to learn about politics, so they could vote in the upcoming election. They invited every party to attend their birthday party to make the case on why they should vote for them. Every party except ACT sent a representative. /u/silicon_based_life, being in the area, decided to drop in and take some time out of his busy schedule to participate. Local newspapers reported on it afterwards.

/u/silicon_based_life discusses with the resident the nature of his party.

silicon: “The Opportunities Party has two main ideas of its own image and position in the political spectrum. The most practical of these, for you I guess, is that we’re positioned in the centre of the political spectrum, with National on the right and Labour/Greens on the left. We like aspects of both sides, and we feel we are able to support either wing, should we be given the opportunity. That depends, of course, on what they’re willing to do for us. In my opinion, the last government was an example of a well-executed deal between several parties that brought the best and most similar of their policies together to form a cohesive unit and working relationship. I am also of the opinion that something equally possible could be done with National.”

Interested partygoer: “What about New Zealand First?”

silicon: “Ahaha. I would love to be able to work with New Zealand First, but they have a lot of historical problems and issues which TOP finds very hard to reconcile. Their justice and social policy is also frankly awful. If they come to us we’d be happy to discuss a few things, but at present we don’t consider that an avenue worth exploring.”

“As for the other main idea we like to present, it’s our own party philosophy and values. First and foremost, we believe in evidence-based-policy, and have carefully constructed our policy platform to reflect this. All our policy is extracted from the best possible sources and evidence we could find. We’re committed to liberalism and social progressivism, and each of our members advances that agenda to some extent. We also believe in a healthy, positive political discourse, and working together between parties, and we reflect this by trying not to attack other people or parties. Sometimes other parties come out with a totally awful policy or stance, in which case our guard might slip somewhat – especially this last term in Parliament, now I come to think of it – not the best history there – but in general we try to be civil and focus on the policy, not the person.”

/u/silicon_based_life pulls out a copy of the manifesto and hands it to the homeowner.

“Give it a read and make up your own mind. Awesome idea for an event by the way, and thanks for the opportunity to talk to you guys. Always awesome to see people getting to know politics - which incidentally is part of TOP’s civics education policy!”

[Day 3 post 1/4 List]