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Representing you, representing me
Dec. 1st, 2011 11:46 amNew Zealand is governed (not led) by a representative democracy. Elections are the method by which we choose those representatives but once they are chosen their job is to represent all of us, regardless of whether we voted for them or not, regardless of whether they won a seat by the skin of their teeth or were parachuted into a safe electorate or list position.
If you local electorate MP is National but you voted Labour, doesn't matter, if you need a local MP's help they are still an appropriate person to go to. The minister holding a relevant portfolio - doesn't (shouldn't) matter if they are not the party you would prefer to see in government. List MPs should be viewed as accessible to anyone, although I like the way some pick an electorate to support.
And they should be able to set aside any personal prejudices and assist you as an individual with individual circumstances, and without any obligation on your part towards their party in the future. (The precise assistance may vary depending on party policy and direction of course).
"Constituents" are not just the people who voted for you. They are everyone that you are responsible for, and responsible -to-. It may actually be more important to be accessible to those who -didn't- vote for you, lest their voices and concerns be under-weighted.
If you local electorate MP is National but you voted Labour, doesn't matter, if you need a local MP's help they are still an appropriate person to go to. The minister holding a relevant portfolio - doesn't (shouldn't) matter if they are not the party you would prefer to see in government. List MPs should be viewed as accessible to anyone, although I like the way some pick an electorate to support.
And they should be able to set aside any personal prejudices and assist you as an individual with individual circumstances, and without any obligation on your part towards their party in the future. (The precise assistance may vary depending on party policy and direction of course).
"Constituents" are not just the people who voted for you. They are everyone that you are responsible for, and responsible -to-. It may actually be more important to be accessible to those who -didn't- vote for you, lest their voices and concerns be under-weighted.
