Ed Said - Education vital for voters

 

Democracy, or lack of it, has been a talking point throughout the Kaipara for the past five or so years. Democracy has made headlines on a world scale this year. Donald Trump’s rise to political grandeur and the UK Brexit vote have left many astounded, befuddled and severely rueful of hastily-made decisions, shining the spotlight on an essential ingredient of successful democracy-informed voters.

The British referendum was not legally binding and also carried no specified margin for winning. Is 52% really the people speaking? I would bet that, were another referendum held today, Britain would stay in the EU.

In 1938 US President Roosevelt implored voters to educate themselves on what they were voting for saying “democracy cannot succeed unless those who express their choice, do so wisely.” Democracy does not stop with the counting of votes and one party being declared ‘the winner.’ Democracy is in the carrying out of the duties of a council or body for its term in office though the interpretation of ‘democracy’ varies widely among the general public and there is no pleasing all the people, all the time.

Kaipara’s local body elections for mayor, councillors and community boards are in progress and those eligible to vote should do so earnestly, understanding who they are voting for, who they are not voting for and why they are casting their vote a specific way.

Choosing candidates by facial recognition, neighbourhood connections or social media prominence may make a farce of democracy and this year it is on social media where much of the campaigning will play out. Remember also, the past Kaipara District Council was democratically elected.

Some have already declared their intention to stand but not until closing on August 12 will we know for certain the make-up of the field from which we must choose. Voters must question candidates’ alliances, their neutrality and if the alternatives are realistic as well.

Given the immediate past, what of rate rises and the potential effects on existing and essential services, if a candidate is vehemently following a certain issue, will this be to the detriment of other important issues? Not all battles are won.

A couple of meetings per month sounds pretty cruisy for a councillor but in reality elected officials generally work long hours, in an often thankless job for not a lot of money paid by ratepayers who are not slow in telling them they “own them.” Invariably dismayed cries of “we pay your wages” from members of the public levelled at councillors failing to deliver an expected outcome only show petulance, a ‘naughty child’ syndrome and zero understanding. Voters are electing councillors deemed suitable to implement operations according to their region’s priorities. They are not employing staff!

This requires teamwork, an open mind, diligence, humility and a commitment to work with the ruling decision made by Council as a body and sometimes making unpopular decisions.

At times they must take themselves to the people, not just their supporters, to explain what is happening within their area and how decisions affecting the whole area may effect them. It is a constant quirk of democracy that the people best suited to achieve some tasks are often the people least suited to sit on a Council.

As Kaipara will have an entirely new team coming in plus quite a number of new full and part-time residents able to either stand and/or vote, now, more than ever, voters need to ask questions of candidates and be satisfied of their honesty and integrity in doing the job (or if the job is not done entirely to the voters’ satisfaction, which it rarely is) that the council are acting with honesty and integrity. One can ask little more.

Roosevelt was right. We do democracy a disservice if we don’t work hard to cast educated votes. Or, as it appears to have a number of interpretations, let’s put ‘democracy’ aside for a moment and simply go with experience, honesty and integrity, make our choices accordingly and trust that we have it right.