What part of the democratic process do Roly Currie and Robert Guyton not understand?
(That'd be the bit that says you lose your right to speak when people like Stuart Collie say so, I guess)
To make the statements that are reported of them at the inaugural meeting of the new Environment Southland council
("New" - that's a good one, Stuart. It's lack of 'newness' is the issue though, so you're close to the nub of the matter)
indicates a total lack of respect for the process governing election,
(then, Stuart, I'll expect a complaint to be laid by one of your people on council - this sounds like a Code of Conduct matter to me - snip, snap, let's get busy!)
or their inability to sufficiently influence the majority of support
(majority - there's that word again! First Timms used it in her post-meeting statement to the media, then the effusive councillor Miller used it in her silly letter to the editor, and now Mr Collie, quite independently I'm sure, uses the word in his similarly styled letter - curious! Nothing wrong with the word, just saying.)
To start a new council term suggesting more turbulence around the council table (Ah, Stuart, must concentrate on the details. I said, "With Ms Timms back in as chairwoman I expect more of the turbulence we experienced over the past three years." No mention of the council table there. I predicted more turbulence and thanks to you and councillor Miller, there has already been quite a bit of that and I understand there's more to come.)
is an indictment on anyone suggesting it (indictment: a formal charge or accusation of a serious crime - really, Mr Collie? That bad, you think? Call the police, Stuart for goodness sakes!)
and requires some rethinking by those who find it hard to accept democratic outcome.
Crumbs!
STUART COLLIE
Invercargill
Stuart Collie is a former chairman of Environment Southland.
Editor
Sunday, November 3, 2013
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3 comments:
just because the collie crew have a majority doesn't mean they are either right or good.
time to get rid of regional councils RG they are a failed model as they are all suffering from both electoral irrelevance and capture by vested interests
just because the collie crew have a majority doesn't mean they are either right or good.
time to get rid of regional councils RG they are a failed model as they are all suffering from both electoral irrelevance and capture by vested interests
You said it twice, darkhorse, so you must really mean it :-)
Can't comfortably agree with your first point, have some sympathy for your second, agree with the third but don't blame the councils for that, agree whole heartedly with the 4th but believe something can be done about that from the grassroots level, the level I believe change is coming from. Individually/groups of councillors too, are charged with sorting that problem too, and as you know, some put considerable effort into it. Public awareness and pressure can help here and that's where the battle is heading.
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