Its rare for a politician to engage with the general public, and even though these chat sessions ( Live Chat With Trevor Mallard ) are probably heavily monitored, at least its a small step for politicians towards engaging with a public they are otherwise almost totally divorced from.

Trevor Mallard is a Marxist who has no qualms about using government to take the earnings from one man’s pocket and place those earnings in the pocket of any man who will vote for him, the theft he calls “redistributing wealth” but is really just a path to political power for the cynical and dishonest.

That aside, he does engage, and this is an action that you very rarely see in National Party politicians.

I know what the problem is. The Nats cannot engage for they are always going to be in a parlous and practically indefensible position. Their actions always belie their words. Their party principles say they are against socialism, but all of the current National Party practice it with vigour and enthusiasm. Who among that band of hollow men could withstand real scrutiny on this point?

Hence the Nationals stay in their comfort zone of self deceit and betrayal, their own smug group think political gang, and dare not ever venture into any forum where they may have to attempt the impossible task of defending the indefensible.

Mallard is a despicable commie swine, but he’s got more guts then all of National put together. Mind you, in any such discussion, the level of deceit is never going to be at the same level. Mallard can openly admit to his extreme left positions. The Nats have to try and hide theirs.