Compulsory viewing?

Graeme Tuckett gave the film about the last months of Helen Kelly’s life four stars and a ‘‘very recommended’’ (A fitting tribute to

a Kiwi hero, July 29). Indeed! What a remarkable person.

Of the issues discussed in your columns and in the letters you receive, self-interest or selfishness seems to pervade our political atmosphere, locally and nationally.

Kelly was the antithesis of that approach to life – she was selfless, empathetic and focused on the needs of others and the greater good.

Unfortunately it’s the norm for people to look at issues from their own selfish perspectives, so it’s no wonder the wheels often spin for a long time on issues as the politicians pick their way carefully through the minefield of multiple and conflicting wants and needs?

Proper objective analysis, and therefore the greater good, is regularly the casualty.

And those who use simplistic pejorative labels such as ‘‘greenies’’ or ‘‘lefties’’ or ‘‘rednecks’’ do nothing to enhance debate or understanding. Once again it is just another lazy, self-interested way of avoiding the facts and the analysis of them.

Perhaps this film should be compulsory viewing, at least for politicians.

Graeme Buchanan, Karaka Bays