Posts by Paul Williams
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Samuel Scott, thank you for the Patti Smith cover of Tears for Fears, it's bloody superb (as a non-too-closeted fan).
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From Stuff:
Prime Minister John Key has sent a message to disgraced former ACT MP David Garrett that he needs to think "seriously" about his future as an MP.
Key said given the New Zealand public's reaction to Garrett's faked passport scam he should go away for the next two weeks and "think very seriously about his future with the Government"
Why not send the same message to Rodney?
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Having respect for someone is not the same as saying they're better than me.
I think a lot of people start with a position of disrespect towards MPs, and I don't think that's healthy. Skepticism perhaps.
Quite agree, and I/S shits me sometimes with that stuff.
Distrusting or demeaning someone solely on the basis that they have presented themselves for consideration as a democratic representative doesn't make sense to me.
I was trying to say this yesterday.
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Garrett will almost certainly support on confidence and supply until he's no longer an MP. Having one less MP does weaken the hand of ACT in negotiating policy, however, and I can't see Garrett getting much as a maverick outsider.
Our constitutional arrangements are starting to mature and prove robust, giving lie to wild claims about instability. Even if they keep in power people we don't always like.
All good points and I wasn't clear. I mean John Key wouldn't want to have a deal with him; he's toxic. If he doesn't need too, which I take it from this, he doesn't, he will still surely want him relocated.
Officer recruits soldier. Declares soldier to be his brother-in-arms. Instructs soldier to fight dirty. Says "Don't worry about Geneva Convention, nobody will know". Sends soldier into battle. Soldier hit. Officer finishes him off, from behind.
Wonderful metaphor.
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David Farrar's observed that Garrett's resignation from ACT can really only result in him leaving parliament entirely since he is a list MP. I can't help but wonder if he's thinking he might hang on though since clearly he's a man who lacks judgment. Key surely won't want to have a separate arrangement with him.
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Craig, you make a very good point. I actually worked a little for Mark - plus played alongside him in the research unit netball team (circa 1996) - and I'd never have known. Mark never seemed drunk to me. He wasn't moody or unreliable as far as I could tell and was generally well liked for being a decent and friendly bloke.
Islander, always enjoyable having these discussions here since people will challenge other's views as well as look for points of agreement.
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Islander, we don't disagree, I just wanted to clarify my point. Certainly power is corrupting, and it appears Garrett was already corrupt before being elected, but I'll not be dissauded from the view that politicians should be expected to be respectable. It goes with the privileges.
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Paul W - respect? Because pollies have considerable power & advantage?
That's not quite what I said/meant. I responded to I/S by saying, in effect, I'm saddened that a politician isn't someone who can be relied on to be respectable. They bloody ought to be.
I distrust pretty well all people who aspire to be politicians at any level -seeking power exactly describes what they are after*.
Look, at the risk of sounding completely pollyannish, some people seek poltical office because they've got something to offer, some talent or mission or contribution that is best applied/realised in politics (broadly defined). My point is that, if you seek elected office, if you wish to represent others and be part of determining law, you should conduct yourself in a manner which does not include making sexist comments to Damian's friend's partner or being a bully or a liar etc.
I want to be able to expect MPs to conduct themselves in such a way as they are worthy of respect. Not offered uncritical respect simply because they can do the number on the local committee.
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More details than you want, probably.
The extracts from the victim impact statements are tough to read. I feel for this family having to go through all this again; it's their third strike even if it isn't his (something Police Minister Judith Collins seems entirely insensitive too).
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Respect for power is a weapon politicians use against us. It allows them to get away with things, as seen here. Remove the respect, remove the weapon.
That's one way of seeing it, not mine however. I see it in reverse; you're elected to high office, you're bestowed with privilege, then you respect that by embodying certain qualities like honesty, integrity, care and consideration. You don't abuse it by being a thug, a letch, a bully or a liar.