Clark pushes maverick to make an exit

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Thinking Lateral
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From New Zealand comes an interesting report on democracy in action (The West, 12 April, p.21): MP John Tamihere is stupid enough to publicly state his derogatory views of various people. He upsets many people, including his boss, the prime minister, Helen Clark.

"Tamihere should consider finding a new job, according to Prime Minister Helen Clark." Tamihere has already been sacked from Cabinet after earlier fraud allegations. "She made it clear that... [he] would not be back in the fold after the election due later this year."

Now wait just a minute! He will not be back in Cabinet after the election?! If Tamihere is such a maverick -- why should he expect to voted back into parliament at all? Surely -- in the NZ democracy -- the people in the democracy will be voting. If he has really upset people, he will lose the election. If he is elected -- then 51% of the voters still support him!

If a politician is democratically elected to parliament -- does the prime minister have the right to deny that result? Okay, he will still be in parliament. But if he is successfully elected -- surely it's a messge that the electors support this man as a politician! Given this support -- what right has the prime minister to deny Tamihere a position in Cabinet?

If New Zealand is a democracy then "the people" should have some say. If the people put a man in parliament -- they may expect him to do the job to the limit of his ability. The prime minister may disagree with his views -- but they are supported by electors. the PM must remember the basis of democracy -- majority rule.

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Independent Thinking
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