They’re our only choice

John Rankin (Letters, Aug 16) is quite correct when he describes our system of democracy as ‘‘representative’’.

Some of us believe that we don’t elect politicians to make decisions on our behalf because they are better informed and exercise better judgment, but rather because it’s the only choice we have been offered.

Given a choice, I would prefer that MPs see themselves as our delegates, rather than our representatives. I have no faith whatsoever in the inherent judgment (or ‘‘goodness’’) of politicians who owe more to their political party — and yes, to their ideology (Letters, Aug 16) – than to the people who elected them.

One feature of some delegate models I find particularly attractive is the recall petition. I can think of a number of instances where I would have liked to force an MP to account to their constituency for voting in favour of legislation that a clear majority of us did not want.

Many people believe that the election cycle gives us sufficient ability to hold politicians accountable. I disagree completely. Not only can a government do a lot of damage in a relatively short time, but the experience would seem to indicate that the voting public is a creature of exceedingly short memory.

D. O. Buck, Upper Hutt

Arm police fulltime

There are an average of 70 homicides a year in New Zealand. Almost weekly we see on the television news police armed to the teeth looking for missing criminals with guns. I must compliment police for the recent promptness in finding and capturing these deadly people while putting their own lives at risk.

It seems to me the time has come for police to carry pistols fulltime. This is common practice in many similar countries to New Zealand now and I feel this would ensure more practice and safety using these weapons and better preparedness when confronting armed and dangerous people.

Frank Glover, Waikanae

Dismissal unjustified

Reasoned people may look very closely at the case of sacked meat worker Kukyi Tupuanga (Fired for anti-Islam comments, Aug 19).

I’ve always understood Islam to be a religious-political philosophy but now Auckland Meat Processors and the Employment Relations Authority have clarified Islam as a race, which clearly it

isn’t when viewed against the historical formation of Islam and the fact that anyone of any colour and any nationality can become a Muslim.

The other disturbing undercurrent of the Tupuanga affair is that one can now be prosecuted for offending another’s sensitivity, which goes against the freedom of speech or freedom to make satire and freedom to engage in comedy.

I suppose this case is evidence of the long reach of the law, and of Sharia law in this instance. One may suspect that if Mr Tupuanga took a case to the High Court he’d win reinstatement to the job from which, in my opinion, he was unjustifiably dismissed.

Alastair Gustafson, Newtown

Puddle-deep ideology

The Julie Anne Genter letter about Wellington transport needs to see the light of day. An odour is gathering.

Why is the Ombudsman so slow? Under pressure, no doubt. It’s a one-day decision. Consider this – it is absurd that ministerial status as author depends on the letterhead used. Come on. The issue is huge.

This was a letter from an unelected, some say ‘‘carpet-bagging’’, outsider to Wellington writing to influence vital transport outcomes in a city she hardly knows and based on puddle-deep ideology.

Delaying the tunnel for a decade or more, in favour of a mantra-chanted light rail folly (so last century), is beyond stupidity.

The outcome for certain will be double the cost, massive delay and disruption, and the bankruptcy of the wider region. A hundred years of harm through debt for the building of ‘‘The Albatross Line’’.

And our hapless mayor succumbed to the greenmail and bully tantrum persona like a tremulous pond frog.

The mayor took an oath to the citizens of Wellington, not the Labouring party, fellow travellers or even ‘‘comrades’’ of the PM.

His allegiance turned out to be to a secret coalition agreement, and to his Labour/Green political masters. Lining up his future comfy years as a backbencher maybe?

B. A. Wilson, Te Aro

DHB elections

I have just googled district health board elections and found out that they are being held in conjunction with the other local body elections on October 12.

In Wellington seven board members are elected by the public and four appointed by the Government. None of the incumbent elected board members of the Capital & Coast DHB are standing again. Some of those standing will be wellknown to Wellingtonians. Most are standing as independents and a few represent parties. One party sounds good – the Access, Action & Accountability Group – but you will probably want to know which candidates represent your neck of the woods. Well, unless you recognise someone from your area, good luck to you.

It would be nice to know that less wellserved areas of the CCDHB, like Porirua and the Ka¯ piti Coast, had a chance of influencing board decisions and obtaining an adequate service.

In Porirua the after-hours service at Kenepuru Hospital involves a mandatory three-hour wait. If you arrive after 7pm, the after-hours pharmacy closes at 10pm. There is no other pharmacy open in the area. Babies with temperatures are not prioritised and there is an ambience of care v fear among the staff. There is an ambulance available if you are dying. So no reason for people to go there really, but they do, and wait patiently for three hours to see a GP.

Carole Naylor, Papakowhai

History’s place

Why the Holocaust still matters (Aug 19), about the growing ignorance of history, is an excellent warning to schools and curriculum revisionists. We are at serious risk of, if not already imperilled by, believing only the latest thing we heard, felt or coveted.

The whole piece merits encouragement of wide readership, but the penultimate paragraph is particularly apposite. Skills, even the skills of thinking and inquiry, will drift aimlessly without reference to historical content and context.

The writer, associate professor Giacomo Lichtner, asks if we have gone too far (from content and toward skills). I believe we have, and it is not a recent phenomenon. In my experience it has insidiously afflicted the school curriculum for decades.

Harvey Rees-Thomas, Petone

No warning on advert

During the 6pm news last night, the advertisements came on. My daughter and I were deeply upset to see a woman’s naked rear from thigh to shoulder filling our television screen. We are outraged and feel violated. We would have turned off the set if we had known in advance.

Programmes warn of nudity and that viewer discretion is advised, but this advert was blatantly in our faces. We had no choice. It was neither decent nor in good taste.

It was necessary to delete an ad showing a little naked girl’s bottom as she climbed stairs a few years ago, and this ad should be binned too.

Jocelyn Wilson, Island Bay

Have patience, drivers

Well established in the nautical and aviation worlds, and pretty sensible, is the idea that transport with power gives way to those without. So too should such rules apply on our roads, where drivers should give way to pedestrians crossing the road.

And yet, I regularly experience cars honking as I cross the road. I say to you, patience my driving friends. Honking is only going to slow things down, startle, and cause fright – and that could result in further delays and possibly extensive paperwork on your part.

Don Hollander, Newtown