With Parliament examining and challenging the work of the government, the government empowers and facilitates growth through an active partnership between statutory services, the business community, the charitable sector, and the wider population. It is the responsibility of all who can contribute towards a fair, safe, healthy, equal, and prosperous nation.

I believe government should navigate from a central position, not as one who is moderate to change or preserve traditions but one that navigates the principles of capitalism and socialism that suites the needs of the nation at any given time.

 

Summary of my beliefs

The core working principles for great sustainable growth and social reform are:

• The next evolutionary step for a developed nation is harnessing the power of both capitalism and socialism and developing one single power-changing approach 

• Policies guided by pragmatism rather than inflexible dated ideologies. 

• Fiscal responsibility and compassion should never be separated.

• A socially inclusive business approach and government-targeted social-needs-based support to improve the output of a compassionate business approach.

• A socially conscious free market approach based on capitalism and real-world social awareness.

• Everyone who is capable has a responsibility to contribute to the provision of basic human needs for all.

• Government policy is made to facilitate grass-roots growth and social reform through community-focused needs assessments.

• Peace is maintained through strength, justice and dignity.

​

Individual Responsibility

Every able individual has a part to play in the success of their own personal lives and that of the country, no matter their life starting points, wealth, privileges, or abilities.  No one's contribution should be dismissed or undervalued. As the nation's resources grow socially and its wealth increases, we should enjoy the fruits according to our labours once our basic needs have been met.

​

The outdated isolated ideologies of capitalism and socialism 

I believe agendas and policies should be based on a pragmatic and compassionate approach that reaches decisions based on evidence-based solutions underpinned by compassion for individuals, with economic growth through a socially aware free market approach, family cohesion, and community engagement. Rigid ideologies that are traditionally found in capitalism and socialism are outdated as isolated long-term approaches, and the last 100 years are evidence of this. Both sides of the political establishment have either held back progressive policymaking or created economic instability when times were hard but magnified inequality or overspending in good times.

The dated approach is clearly evident in that each side of the divide seeks to hide its fundamental values and desires for the nation. We have certainly seen a push from the voter for a centre position over the last 30 years, with each party attempting to persuade the voter that they are more like the opposing ideology in order to bridge the gap in their core beliefs and win support at the ballot box.

​

"Top-down" and "Small Government"

Both top-down (socialism) and small-government (capitalism) approaches have their benefits and disadvantages. "Top-down" government reduces personal responsibility, at worst creates dependency and has a record of being financially unsustainable. "Small" government creates inconsistency in services, does not always support those who need it well enough, and sustains traditional social inequality.

​

The 100-year loop 

I believe we are in a 100-year loop, with each side of the divide repairing the disadvantages of the other rather than progressing as quickly as we could, albeit at a slower rate. A centre-ground position is needed, one that operates from the centre and represents a true alternative to the last 100 years. This approach can take advantage of each ideology in a pragmatic, compassionate, and fiscally responsible way.

 

The future needs to be now

The future is based on using a centre-ground position as a platform to do what is right at the right time, rather than an ideology that is simply unfit for purpose due to the way the ideology dictates.​