Opinion: National's dirty MMP deals are back

12/06/2013 8:30:15 p.m.

tony wrote:

what are you talking about you have been a rock solid tory and key supporter since a few months before they were elected in 2008 mr gower .

28/05/2013 5:39:28 p.m.

Cyril wrote:

Any political system is loaded in the govt favour. Thinking that having 1 vote every 3 years in a system where a large proportion of the politicians are not picked by the people is democratic and where the only way to get rid of a politician they don't like is to kick the party totally out of parliament is a fool. The only way for the public to control what politicians are doing is to have binding referendums with a time frame for implementation. Elections only sort out who is telling the most plausible lies.

28/05/2013 9:35:14 a.m.

dorothy wrote:

MMP should be thrown out.Bring back FPP.No matter how many changes are made to MMP,it will still be a dog!Judith Collins has done the right thing.Leave it as it is and concentrate on more important issues!

26/05/2013 3:07:35 p.m.

Court jester wrote:

Parliament is a odd but accurate representation of New Zealand. It clearly shows that dishonestly and marginal integrity are rife in our Nation. Where are the individuals who stand up as true leaders? Mostly they herald from the area of sports, but rarely in government or business where keeping ones job, pay and benefits despite lacklustre or even appealing performance is the new norm. The case of mike Dixon McIver wrongly accused of fraud by an incompent, lazy, or … contracted ACC "hitman", is another example of a business devolved from government systematically fails to deliver its contracted requirement to deliver the outcomes required by legislation. Where are the junior And middle management mangers who should be reporting internally when they observe incorrect or illegal policies, and procedures. Why do they not report unresolved issues to their managers, the board, or the Minister so that these issues can be fixed. How is it acceptable to not do the job for which one is highly paid jibe cause to actually do the job would ruffle a few feathers, and lose one the job. Once upon a time the courage an d integrity involved in doing ones job well resulted in promotion and accolades, these days it seems as though disingenuous failure to deliver an honest days work is rewarded more than outright dishonesty. It is time for Parliament and Board Members to lead from the top in a different way. Or we'll get more of the same old NZ being fed down the proverbial gurgles! Get it right or give someone else the job.

26/05/2013 2:49:33 p.m.

Court jester wrote:

Part of the issue with political representation in New Zealand is the Parliamentary practice of voting as party blocks. While this could be perceived as providing confidence in a "ruling" party's ability to ensure control over parliament, what it actually does is to inspire disgust and a lack of confidence in the electorate especially when I'll founded law is passed under urgency without true due diligence. A simple and enduring fix would be to enable those members in the house who represent an electorate to vote as independents when physically present in the house, leaving list MPs required to vote as present as per party demands. In most instances MPs elected as National Party representatives would indeed vote per their National party expectations due to ideology, but occasionally when the bill concerned is detrimental to the national interest, or indeed their electorates interests they might cross the house, likewise Individual Labour and Green Electrorate MPs might vote for a genuinely responsible piece of legislation against their party's ideological stances. It might be suggested that this would bring disorder to the house, but it is more likely that some of the more obstructive aspects of debate would be reduced as individuals (and their electorates) are enabled to introduce cogent argument and evidence to debate and have a reasonable likelihood that it might be responded to even under urgency! What is the point of the Opposition even being present during urgency, they don't have the numbers and making the occasional brownie point of he Government certainly doesn't warrant the pay cheques MPs sitting in the house under during so called urgent debate. Changing to an individual aligned electorate MP vote + Party List MP vote system is a small but constructive evolution of our system. That would ameliorate the likely hood of bad law being passed, and consumer disgust. Then perhaps we might see MMP potential for efficient, effective and constructive political process be better realised.

21/05/2013 5:37:10 p.m.

Clairbare wrote:

A few Facts: (1)The people voted to retain the status quo and stick with MMP - knowing full well its faults and still preferring that over other alternatives. (2) there was no popular mandate for any changes to MMP - there was a review which had a few suggestions based on those few people who wanted change enough to make submissions. 4,600 submissions some I guess representing groups - in the end this is a small set of interested observers - not a democratic mandate (3) no coat tailing in the last election showing that it is not a done deal and still a variety of situations can occur. (4) if coat tailing is a dirty deal then you could easily say so is a coalition government - i.e. the people don't have a say in it. Perhaps we should add in an extra vote so you can order a coalition preference - e.g. I could vote for National/labour coalition - anything to keep the Greens out with their mix of both good and loony ideas. Really worried about the loony ideas they have. (5) whatever the rules whatever the politicians think up and suggest - it is still the people who make the choice and so even your so called back door (in your majority personal opinion) if it is the will of the people it is not dirty, and the people did speak in this last election - which kind of destroys your argument - seems like the average new Zealander is smarter than you give them credit for.

20/05/2013 5:31:43 p.m.

Peter Fountain wrote:

Patrick. You already know this but there is always dirt when coming clean.

18/05/2013 3:03:54 p.m.

iain wrote:

@Boyd. Same here, I believe they could get away with murder as things stand at the moment. Don't get apathetic get louder and oppose them whenever, wherever and however you can.

18/05/2013 10:16:39 a.m.

Carlos wrote:

MPs in Parliament, with no constituency seat, represent nobody. Gilmore and Horan are the recent proof that MMP must be scrapped, so we can all see who we are voting for. First passed the post works well in the UK. There, there is a coalition government currently, a greens MP in Brighton and independent MPs such as George Galloway. They all won their seats, and showed their faces at the Election.

17/05/2013 12:34:53 p.m.

Robert M wrote:

It greatly mystyfies me why the voters in Remuera/Epsom/Mt Eden would want to vote for someone as talentless as John Banks. Who failed UE three times, ( minimum requirement in his day IQ 110).
As Peters pointed out yesterday in the House, Banks has never cut it in Parliament. Banks is a squeaker. Someone who's oral contribution is an insignificant squeak. In that he resembles most succesful modern day male law students. MOst hetro males can't endure the politically correct bullshit, the fancy Latin tags beloved by gay lecturers and the overwhelming heat of all the mindblowing chicks sittin next to them. Banks is never distracted. But still its a mystery why Matthew Hooton and Bill Ralston ever worked for Banks other than for mega loads of lolly. Banks is like is council sideskicks Quax and Walker, my father often pointed out to me that QuaX and Walker had tiny brains about the size of a pea or a wild animal brain. Such idiots can do nothing to hold the govt or the Auckland city planners to account.