Clark’s indiscretions draw mixed reaction
YOUR editorial, (ODT, 8.4.20), lambasts the Minister of Health, Dr David Clark, for his transgressions and actually suggests that he should become the nation’s sacrificial lamb at this time of extreme crisis and fall on his sword.
Yes, admittedly he has done wrong, but have not many others around this country too, who have all merely been slapped over the wrist. He, like a lot of others currently, is doing a very good job in extremely stressful times, he is not an automaton, he is a human being and we can all slip up from time to time.
If Dr Clark is not to be forgiven for his errors, then I suggest that you also take a good long look in the direction of Simon Bridges, National Party leader for his actions during lockdown. He hypocritically takes the high road calling for the Minister of Health to resign, while insisting that his own travel by car from Tauranga to Wellington is necessary as he is working as chairman of the overseeing committee on Covid19 actions.
I have to suggest that he is wrong, he does not. We live in the 21st century at a time when communication has never been faster or simpler, where teleconferencing and video calling are an everyday occurrence. Therefore in my opinion, if Dr Clarke should have to step down, then Mr Bridges should too. Mel Hollis
Mosgiel [Abridged]
EXCELLENT editorial (ODT, 8.4.20) regarding Health Minister, Dr David Clark’s appalling lockdown performance. If it is good enough for Scotland’s Chief Medical Officer, Catherine Calderwood, to resign for breaking her advice for people to stay home during this virus crisis — having visited her crib twice — then such should apply to Clark. Actions speak louder than words. The lack reflects poorly on the Prime Minister and Clark. Jim Moffat
Caversham.
I DO hope that those who rise so rapidly to lambast our Minister of Health, Dr Clark, are the paragons of virtue they suggest they might be.
Are they quite sure the needles of their speedometers have never crossed beyond the speed limit threshold, or that overtaking manoeuvre always retained 100m of clear visibility of the road ahead?
We know some of them have been accused of plagiarism, and have demonstrably breached the Crimes, Summary Offences and the Arms Acts when purchasing firearms with false documentation.
These supposed pillars of rectitude who are so keen to accuse and remind us of Dr Clark's indiscretions, are they really squeaky clean?
I might also observe that in this imperfect world, indulgence in the pointless speculation of what his fate might be after the lockdown period, when I would have thought the main job of those in the news media is to promulgate news, not indulge in conjectural endeavour.
Chaz Forsyth
Opoho [Abridged]
SO, it’s the beginning of Lockdown Level 4, and we are all learning a new abnormal. I hugged a tearful friend, David Clark took his family to the beach, someone else patted a neighbour’s dog.
Thoughtless, blundersome but not a hanging offence. What a tsunami in a thimble I say. I for one, am proud to have a minister of health who values his family’s health.
So I say on yer bike Dave Clark, an electric one that is.
Then you could easily cycle to one of Dunedin’s many beautiful beaches, something little understood perhaps by Aucklanders.
Although, to be fair, as winner of the Keep New Zealand Beautiful national award, Dunedin has many fine spots to walk in close to your valley home so walk the park, not the plank.
Let’s be kind.
Kaitrin McMullan North East Valley
[Abridged]