The NZ Herald is asking for input regarding what you would like to see a referendum on and if they should be binding.

http://blogs.nzherald.co.nz/blog/your-views/2009/7/28/what-do-you-want-referendum-should-it-be-binding/?c_id=1501165&objectid=10587145
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Poll results

"Should referendums be binding on the government?"
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Our Submission on Auckland Council Bill

This is the submission we have made. Submissions closed last Friday.

26th June 2009

Submission on the Local Government (Auckland Council) Bill

To the Local Government (Auckland Council) Bill committee

Democracy can mean many things to different people. The word conjures up a feel good
factor whenever it is used. Because of that it runs the risk of meaning nothing at all. For some, simply voting once every three years at local body elections is considered democracy, to others this could be considered an elected dictatorship. Many politicians seem to believe that democracy is well served if the people simply make submissions to a Select Committee, like this one. In our view this is not satisfactory and neither is this Bill. It fails to give Aucklanders a real say in matters that directly affect their lives and reduces democracy for two reasons.

1. It does not allow for the people of Auckland to assert their democratic right to
have a say on controversial and polarizing issues in between elections, as it does not provide for binding citizens initiated referendums to take place when the people
decide it is important to have them. Neither does it provide for the option to initiate a recall of any council member who is not performing to public satisfaction.

2. It breaches the fundamental right of democratic governance in that any change to a
system of governance should be agreed to by the majority of those governed.

The ultimate insult to democracy is that the people of Auckland do not get to make the final decision, after consultation, via binding referendum, on this constitutional type change. Our elected representatives should be ashamed of themselves for calling this democracy.

Conclusion:

We therefore insist that provisions for binding citizens initiated referendums and the recall be included in the final Act and that a binding referendum be held to endorse the Act.

CLICK ON THE TITLE OF THIS POST TO BE TAKEN TO OUR BLOG, TO POST YOUR COMMENT!

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The difference between Labour & National?

Here's a light hearted email doing the rounds at present.

I asked my friend's little girl what she wanted to be when she grows up.

She said she wanted to be a Prime Minister like Helen Clark some day.

Both of her parents, Labour supporters, were standing there, so I asked her, "If you were Prime Minister what would be the first thing you would do?"

She replied, "I'd give food and houses to all the homeless people."

Her parents beamed, and said, "Welcome to the Labour Party!"

"Wow...what a worthy goal!" I told her.

I continued, "But you don't have to wait until you're Prime Minister to do that. You can come over to my house, mow the lawn, pull weeds, and sweep my yard, and I'll pay you $50. Then I'll take you over to the Dairy where the homeless guy hangs out. You can give him the $50 to use toward food and a new house."

She thought that over for a few seconds, then she looked me straight in the eye and asked, "Why doesn't the homeless guy come over and do the work, and you can just pay him the $50?"

I smiled and said, "Welcome to the National Party."

Her parents still aren't speaking to me.

CLICK ON THE TITLE OF THIS POST TO BE TAKEN TO OUR BLOG, TO POST YOUR COMMENT!

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Executive Power and the Head of State

Here's an interesting article in Policy Quarterly from the Institute of Policy Studies, "Executive Power and

the Head of State: Issues Arising from Proposals to Establish a Republic" link text
CLICK ON THE TITLE OF THIS POST TO BE TAKEN TO OUR BLOG, TO POST YOUR COMMENT!

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Should referendums be binding?

The NZ Herald is running a Readers' Poll half way down the main page asking: "Should referendum results be binding on the Government?" Click here link text to register your vote.
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