Backlash against democracy

Victoria Davis Takaka, October 13 The article by Gwynne Dyer (Nelson Mail, October 13) bemoaning the fate of democracies in countries like Brazil and the United States, where a populist backlash has upset the establishment, overlooks the cause. Democracy can only thrive when it respects fundamental rights. As we have seen in Nelson during recent years, local government is being used as a vehicle to benefit certain elite groups at the expense of others. Those groups most capable of raising their own funds are being supported by council, while those ratepayers on fixed or low incomes are being exploited.

What is there to show for the billion dollars spent by council during the last 10 years? Neglected infrastructure, with money having been handed out to those already thriving financially. The same forceful populism that is changing overseas democracies will inevitably impact New Zealand. Dan McGuire

Nelson, October 14