The Politics of Intimidation-Told You So

When the Electoral Finance Act was passed, I warned that the requirement to post agent's residential addresses on campaign materials would lead to intimidation and attacks on property.

I reasoned at the time, that because the left have a greater tendency to thuggery, intimidation and threats, that pro-freedom parties had much more to fear from the new law-as I'm sure the Labour Party intended.

As I said at the time;

The left is prone to violence and abuse-that's how they work. Anyone who stands up to them is a potential target.

We have anonymous voting, so that people may not be intimidated, harassed or ostracised because of their political opinions.

Everyone understands that basic principle.

That is why we must allow anonymous donations and expression of opinion-so that people may support the causes they choose without fear of economic, social, political or physical retaliation.

From David Farrar's KiwiBlog


Over the weekend four women stuck 1,000 (plastic( knives into the Bob McCoskrie’s lawn. They also placed an (ironically) anonymous note on his front door.

This is thuggish intimidatory behaviour. I have condemned mens rights groups for their antics outside the homes of Judges and lawyers, and this is even worse. It is clearly designed to intimidate.

It is possible the people responsible could have found Bob’s address even if he was not forced to have it on election material for Family First. But that is not the point - there is a difference between being in the White Pages and having to have your home address plastered on pamphlets, websites and billboards. I know of several women who have refused to be financial agents because they don’t want their home address published so widely.

Just another reason to vote for parties that will repeal the Electoral Finance Act.

Glad to hear that National is to repeal Labour's Mugabeish Electoral Finance Act soon after winning the Treasury benches.