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Friday, November 9, 2012

Democracy threat (letter)

As a councillor for Environment Southland, I'm worried by the letter from Brownie McDonald (Nov 8). 
  Not because he calls the councillors 'dropkicks' – name-calling doesn't reflect great depth of thought, in my opinion, but because Mr McDonald calls for the theft of democracy – the removal of the rights of all Southlanders to choose their own representatives on the council.
  He wants the National Government to “step in”, the way they did in Canterbury, sacking the councillors who were elected by the people there. 
  That's how dictatorships begin. Even the commissioners who were installed in Canterbury by the Government are urging National to hold democratic elections for the next council there, but the Government has said no. 
  Mr McDonald would like to see that happen here. 
  Southlanders who believe that they have the democratic right to choose and not be dictated-to by the Government, might reject Mr McDonald's call for the theft of those rights.

16 comments:

Anonymous said...

Poor form in my view Robert. You seem to have missed the point of Mr McDonald's letter. Mr McDonald is calling for accountability and you have dismissed it by ignoring the topic. It is a sad day when those democratically elected blatantly ignore public requests. Democracy seems to be failing us sadly.
Mr E

Viv K said...

Mr E. Accountabilty means finding out who is responsible and dealing with them in an appropriate manner. If individual councillors were found to be at fault, then it would be expected that they would resign and by-elections be held.
The people of Southland are not at fault, so why do you think they should be punished by having their democratic right to vote for their representatives removed?

Anonymous said...

Viv,
Agree accountability requires appropriate administration. I was not calling for a commissioner or was I calling for the theft of democracy. I was simply pointing out that Robert did not deal with what appears to be the main issue that Mr McDonald was writing about. Accountability. And I think any response to Mr McDonald needed to address that issue. Strangely enough, I thought damage control would have been important when the media spotlight is shone. Poor Mr Philips not only has to deal with an angry public but also with a Councillor digging up "troublesome issues".

robertguyton said...

You encourage 'damage control', Mr E?
Goodness!
I'm for openess and accountability, not massaging the response so as to hide away behind words.
I don't see why I had to address what you consider the main points of Brownie's letter. To me, his call to dump on democracy is the main point. More later, I'm in Council.

robertguyton said...

You encourage 'damage control', Mr E?
Goodness!
I'm for openess and accountability, not massaging the response so as to hide away behind words.
I don't see why I had to address what you consider the main points of Brownie's letter. To me, his call to dump on democracy is the main point. More later, I'm in Council.

Anonymous said...

Ha ha Rob you not a drop kick, you're more of a wonderful guy!

Anonymous said...

Damage control - Absolutely! But that doesnt have to be lies or deception. Just the honest truth mixed with humility.
You appear to have forgotten that you are in partnership with the community in the environment. When public relations become strained I think humility needs to kick in.

Nice deletion of unpleasentries, if that is what you did?

Mr E

robertguyton said...

Yes, I did. It's the gentle way to manage foul-mouths :-)
The community, you say?
A couple of hot-headed farmers?
There's more to the Southland community that them, don't you think?

Anonymous said...

"A couple of hot-headed farmers?" My my Robert your still using your relationship building skills.
I think you underestimate the feelings of the farming industry. Again I will say to you get out more.
Mr E

Anonymous said...

You're .....
Mr E

robertguyton said...

That's not true, I'm...Mr G!

Anonymous said...

It was a spelling correction.

robertguyton said...

I knew. I was teasing you.
Why was Mr Shearing's charge dismissed, Mr E?

Anonymous said...

Deletion of unpleasantries, oh I'm sorry I meant 'punt' which is a different type of kick, yikes I hope you didn't take it the other way...

Anonymous said...

If you have a story to tell I am sure you can do it without the games.
Mr E

robertguyton said...

Just wondering aloud. Wondering aloud is allowed.