Barrage of discontent

The current political poll comes as no surprise, as Labour, like other governments in the world, faces the aftermath of Covid with the cost of living the major issue. Although overall crime is being reduced, ram raids are the popular choice of miscreants who are the jetsam and flotsam of disadvantaged families.

All governments could do better, and this one has had its moments, but we should never forget just how effective was the Covid response.

The Opposition continues its barrage of discontent but its blue-ribbon policy of tax cuts is now in tatters and one would have to dig deep to locate anything else of substance. Coalitions can be good for the country but the extreme right-wing archaic policies of Act would make governing with

National extremely difficult.

Down but far from out would be a reasonable assessment) of the current political balance. Who knows what rabbits will come out of the hat next year?

Reg Dempster

Albany

Wary of polls

I’m always wary of the results of the latest political poll. The sample size is too small to be accurate. A thousand randomly-selected people caught at bath time or after waiting in the rain for a bus that failed to show can hardly be expected to reflect the nation’s true preference on election day.

Polls do sway public opinion. So just 12 respondents who’ve had a bad day could result in the loss of a seat.

Sadly, only 60 per cent of eligible New Zealanders actually vote and it’s likely that polls influence voter turnout. Why bother when your preferred party’s not going to win anyway? Never accept easy data without a little reflection. Ian Sweeney

Morrinsville