Democracy takes the stairs?
What does it mean to be a democracy?
I ask not out of malice but genuine interest. Lincoln’s Gettysburg definition springs readily to mind: government of the people, by the people, for the people.
And here’s a snap, above, taken on August 23 in the Invercargill library contrasting the outgoing old escalators with the incoming new stairs. This, they tell us, is progress. And for the tired, lame, or lazy there’s always the lift at the back.
But think of the savings in electricity, wear, tear, maintenance … more money for (say) wonderful Chinese gardens in the park, or trips to China to purchase more invisible Christmas decorations (and repurchase more when they don’t meet our standards).
Government of the people, by the council, for the councillors, perhaps? Lincoln would be intrigued. And next, let’s plough those disgusting Otepuni Gardens into lovely tarmac?
John Hunter
Farmers building
Your article in Saturday’s paper re the future use of the Farmers building on Dee St gives me a great idea.
The museum could lease it instead of building a new one.
Then they know year to year what it is going to cost.
This would be a great saving to us ratepayers.
With it being on Dee St next to E Hayes, which already attracts visitors, it may even increase the number of people using the museum.
Neil Thomas
Farmers is reportedly seeking about 15 individual stores to lease to in its present store, but is not commenting on its planning. HWCP Management, which has been seeking tenants for its massive inner-city Tay-Dee-EskKelvin block development has also declined comment on whether Farmers is on the list. – Editor
Holding together
Every once and a while a veteran journalist changes lanes and has a go at politics, and why not?
Most politicians start off as stuffy businessmen or lawyers. Few have investigative training,
Jason Kander is a war correspondent-cum-pod caster who is now running as mayor for a large American city.
Kander looked at voters’ needs, and apart from health, housing and justice, people desire to stay where they are happy and do not have to chase work to the ends of the country or in some cases the ends of the earth. It turns out most people want to stay in the communities they grew up in with their friends and family close by.
Invercargill, like Kansas City probably, is suffering from the same population creep in its heart and this hidden pain is probably one of the great rejections of the global village agenda that is now causing so much upset in other nations.
Community is important. It took a seasoned war-hardened journalist to see it.
Aaron Nicholson