Our House of Representatives is a House of Chaos. For a long time we have warned that the standards have been slipping in the House – as former Labour Minister Steve Maharey wrote about in an article in the Herald last year.
From relaxing the dress standards of our House to now having utter disorder and the worst of offensive words uttered in Question Time – no matter which side of the opinion you’re on – and with no reaction or repercussion.
How should we as politicians expect the public of New Zealand to respect us all now.
We have out of control MPs who flout the rules and intimidate others with outrageous hakas and offensive language and now getting banished for weeks.
This is not democracy. These are the seeds of anarchy. We have MPs wearing T-shirts and sneakers and sunglasses and jerseys and even occasionally barefooted.
What have we as so-called respectable parliamentarians become? Parliament has morphed into an embarrassment to the very people we are here to represent.
It is an outrage. And every New Zealander has a right to be outraged. And what do we as a House and even those in the political press gallery do? Sit back and cower and hope no one notices, hope no one says the wrong thing.
Where are the standards of democracy that we all as a country together once fought for and stood up for?
To accept this drop in standard is to accept we’ve given up. I have never seen this level of degradation of democracy in all my many years of politics.
New Zealanders should be more fearful than outraged. We are in danger of losing this battle for decency, values and the principles this country was built on.
Standards must be restored, and now. Before it’s too late.
He is not wrong. I’ve put his post in full because every word he writes is the truth. Winston, apart from anything else, is reflecting a generational divide. He and I are of a similar age. Those of our generation were brought up in a somewhat different world where, for example, a deal was made and honoured with a handshake, where a person’s word was his or her bond and where politicians behaved in a statesman-like manner.
Where are the men like Fraser, Holland, Kirk and Holyoake? Nowhere to be found. Winston is the last man standing. How did we get to where we are? Saying the world has changed is no excuse nor is it an answer. There are a number of reasons:
MMP – the problem with this system is it results in too many unelected MPs in parliament. They are not elected but selected. In most cases they are party hacks. They need little accountability or experience to get into parliament and virtually none while they are there. They occupy an expensive green leather seat at great expense to the taxpayer who had no say in their selection.
QUALITY OF MPS – This is a problem that has become more and more prevalent over the years. One only has to look at the current hotch-potch of human beings that occupy the opposition benches. There’s no point naming names, we know who they are.
RULES OF PARLIAMENT – These obviously need reviewing and tightening up. And while we're at it, take a look at the number of Speaker’s Rulings: there are so many that half can be used to contradict the other half. It’s nonsense.
THE SPEAKER – The most objectionable one of recent times was he whose obnoxious behaviour was repaid with the offer to scarper off and quaff Guinness in an Irish pub. The current one appears to want to chart the opposite course – that is to be Mr Nice Guy to everyone. I believe this approach is contributing to the disorder and lowering of standards Winston is referring to. Gerry is a lovable-bear type character, but his position demands a stronger persona.
THE PRIME MINISTER – I would have liked to have read Winston’s words in his name. I think this is where the generational gap comes in. Luxon, Willis and Bishop, the top three in National, probably don’t see it as the problem that Winston does. If they do then it is beholden on them to speak out. National is certainly not the party I grew up with. I blame their refusal to sort out the racial issues the country is facing is simply enabling a certain faction in the parliament to carry on being a law unto themselves.
MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT – With some exceptions, they do need to take a good look at themselves. We pay their handsome salaries but are not getting the level of service we deserve in return. They need to remember they are there to serve those who put them there. They need to enact the policies they were voted in to enact. We don’t need to be told a certain topic or policy is ‘done and dusted’ so just move on.
We might have had some problems with Winston in the past but right now we need him, and his right hand man, Shane Jones, more than ever.
They are not afraid to tell it like it is.
They are a rare breed in today’s political landscape.
We need more like them.
Let me add this: Brooke Van Velden and Judith Collins are also impressive, displaying strong character traits and a no-nonsense demeanour.
These are the politicians we need more of.
JC is a right-wing crusader. Reached an age that embodies the dictum only the good die young. This article was first published HERE
4 comments:
Respect by non-Maori on marae is a given, as should any person within the confines of Parliament respect the rules there. What we see now is a disgrace!
He is the only adult in the room atm .....when he goes we will all be sorry that we allowed our parliament and its most of them that are responsible for the circus we see. Leaders?? NOT!
In an electronic world public referendum or plebicide could be delivered constantly to laptops and phones or in every Parliamentary recess with the public answer returned within days. I am sure it would give better public direction to governance . Media has failed miserably so the electronic age is a better option .
Winston is so right! And with his experience his words carry weight. Parliament resembles a circus complete with clowns. Consider a man with a face defaced by black patterns wearing a cowboy hat and dressed for the beach. Look at women with blue dribble dripping down their chins and some wearing low cut dresses to battle high temperatures. If they were there as elected representatives their dress might represent some issue important for their electors but so many are not elected and gain entrance by being Party hacks whose purpose is to represent a party rather than people. Once MPs were genuine representatives conscientiously working for their constituents and many still are ; but those there to satisfy their own self-centred interests can be identified by their inappropriate appearance and disregard of established protocol.
Post a Comment