Democracy is about every citizen’s voice having an equal value. For example, Switzerland’s government regularly (almost every weekend) holds referendums to give citizens the opportunity to have their voice heard in the way their country is run. If we don’t like the way our country is being managed and governed, we are a democracy and so we have a right to speak up. We have a responsibility to speak up. Democracy doesn’t just mean casting a vote, it means being vigilant and speaking up when a situation requires that. For example, if we don’t like that the party Secretary of Te Pati Maori has not been prosecuted for breaching Section 210J of the Electoral Act – ‘it is an offence for a party secretary to file a financial statement late or fail to file a financial statement without reasonable excuse’, instead of grumping about it, we must speak up, for example, we can:
1. Write to the Electoral Commission and ask why the party Secretary of TPM is not being prosecuted
2. Ask why TPM is not being prevented from standing a candidate in the upcoming by-election. enquiries@elections.govt.nz
3. Write to your local MP (their real title is Member of the House of Representatives – Representatives – that’s the key word… they represent YOU). Your MP represents you but he or she doesn’t know what you are thinking unless you write to or speak to them. You can get their email address from this webpage… https://www.parliament.nz/en/mps-and-electorates/members-of-parliament/
If you write to them and don’t get a reply, or don’t get a reply that is appropriate (aka a fob off), write again. They are your representative – they represent you and your voice, but they won’t know your opinion unless you tell them. (It helps to write and say thank you when they do good things too.)
Democracy thrives when we ALL have a voice, but it withers when we don’t use that voice.
eN-Zed 