Letters: The problem isn’t MMP, it’s the people who end up in power
The trouble is the politicians, not MMP
Politics has become a pugilistic sport, and while New Zealand is by no means as brutal as America, we are capable of firing off nasty salvos at our opponents.
The Prime Minister has survived a rumoured coup and must now re-evaluate how to avoid any more own goals.
Letters to the editor suggest that the honeymoon is over with MMP, but the disillusionment doesn’t lie with the MMP system, but rather with the people who are elected to serve under that system.
Globally, the FPP form of government is in the minority, so clearly a more equitable form of democratic participation is preferred.
In the 25 years since New Zealand adopted MMP, the world has become far more complex and lethal, and national unity is more crucial than ever.
It is possible that a coalition can effectively develop critical policies and practical steps to execute those policies with an absence of drama and dissension.
Polling numbers have consistently shown that neither major party will be able to govern alone, so will politicians put aside their egos to gain cross-party consensus? What a great opportunity for New Zealand to show the world how it’s done.
Mary Hearn, Glendowie.
Luxon hangs on
On Wednesday, Christopher Luxon organised his own living funeral, and he buried the undertaker (Chris Penk) in a leadership style worthy of a succession of PRC leaders.
The ashen faces of his ministers at his announcement of his extended convalescence show that they are devastated rather than being soundly behind the Prime Minister.
It is not credible that he cannot find portfolios (even the same ones) that Penk can manage competently.
Rather, his action in stripping him of his portfolios is vengeance worthy of a dictator rather than the leader of a democracy. He stumbles again by not realising that we voters will be nothing less than insulted and exasperated.
There is a quorum of technically competent ministers in the National caucus, but they also disappoint me in that they lacked the moral fibre and organisation to back a single challenger.
Once again, National is bleeding support, while Luxon’s superiority complex rules the roost. Watch out for the bird flu.
Hugh Webb, Hamilton.
The right decision
It is great news to see that the National Party has shown both common sense and maturity by retaining Christopher Luxon as their leader.
In reality, his leadership should never have been in question as he has shown great ability in leading both his party and the coalition extremely well.
It is only now, with Winston Peters following his own self-serving agenda with regard to his own party’s prospects in the upcoming election, that any major, discernible differences of opinion have surfaced, outside of those already recognised in the original Coalition Agreement.
Luxon’s great strength is his leadership skills, while equally his greatest weakness is his communication skills.
However, when his so-called “gaffes” are seen in context, and not just as the attention-seeking headlines presented to us by the media, they do often make good sense.
Congratulations to the National caucus, they have obviously made the right decision for the future of our country.
Philip Lenton, Somerville.
Nightmare scenario
While trying my utmost to continue to maintain a loyalty toward the National Party, I find it utterly frustrating that we have a PM who is clearly more concerned with his own ego and self-interest than the future of a country that is on the brink of a power shift to the left that can only lead us further down the Third-World-status path.
Anyone who fails to “read the room” both within his own caucus and throughout the country as blatantly as Christopher Luxon has no right to be leading this Government.
The shining light(s) over the past three years have been the very able team of National Party Cabinet members who have been instrumental in pulling us back from the brink of economic and social disaster.
The most frightening and in my view likely scenario, being the loss of these people to an angry, inexperienced left-wing conglomerate in such quick time.
As I understand Christopher Luxon is, by all accounts, a “genuinely good guy” on a one-on-one basis.
However, for him to willingly disregard the signals of his party’s likely demise goes beyond the pale! In all likelihood he believes he is doing the right thing by the country.
With barely three months until election time, there is still time to rescue the situation, but I for one can foresee a nightmare scenario come November if the status quo prevails.
John McDermott, Hot Water Beach.
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