Council Elections
Who to vote for?
The council elections are about to close. But do you care? If you are like most of the country, council elections are about as exciting as an accountant’s sex life. It’s just that in the grand scheme of things we simply care far more about an All Black’s ailing groan or whether Mandy is ‘going home’ having undercooked her brûlée. Voting is like dieting – we know we should do it but we would actually rather eat a pie then complain at the ensuing disaster.
But, if you do manage to pull yourself away from watching paint dry and vote, who do you vote for? Unlike National elections there is no massive media campaign bombarding us with red faced dancing cossacks and politicians laughing at babies. No, for council elections we just get a manky old flyer that has short biographies of each candidate. Reading these bio’s is tantamount to smothering yourself with jam and throwing yourself onto a wasp nest, but how else do you decide?
Actually I think its easier than you may realise. Just follow this trusty advice and you will be able rest easy that you have done your bit for democracy.
Firstly, do not vote for anyone who says that they will reduce rates. For some reason people seem to think that their council is the only one that has rate increases. Take a look around. Every city in the world increases rates. Those who don’t, do really, they just hide it better. Anyone who says that are going to lower rates is either a poor student of history or pandering to what voters want to hear.
Secondly, do not vote for any retailer. The history of councils is that they have been dominated by retailers. No good will come from this, other than free parking outside their shop.
Don’t vote for anyone who says they are going to cut council waste. This means sack council staff. Why would you want to sack people who spend in your community and add to its social fabric. Sack them and they move themselves and their family to Auckland where the work is. How is that a good idea?
Vote for a Maori candidate. Prove you understand why Don Brash is an idiot.
Vote for anyone who is prepared to say they will only be on council for one term. Such a person will be inclined to do what they believe in, rather than what they think voters will like. Remember that voters are people like you and me – we cannot be trusted.
Vote for anyone who says they are for the environment. The Government really does have to balance economic growth with environmental protection, but councils are responsible for land-use. Council’s should be greener than a bin full of compost.
And finally, never ever ever vote for Greypower, whose agenda is always to cut spending. Every old person (whether rich or poor) receives a government handout of $769.52 (after tax) a fortnight. Who else receives that kind of money just for breathing?
Good luck in your decision making. If in doubt vote in the belief that whoever gets in is likely to let you down. Len Brown, was by all accounts a pretty good mayor, but he threw it all away for a shag. How disappointing.
Richard Alexander Bain
self confessed knows what best for everyone