Mike Moore: MPs forgiven too readily

My recent article saying we are a First World country and measure ourselves against the world's best in health and education, but were beginning to adopt Third World standards in some areas, excited many calls. Let me explain.

I had an argument with a judge recently. While she conceded there were no such things as taniwha, it was disrespectful not to accept that other people believe in them.

This was in reference to the the pay-off to advance a motorway construction because it was claimed it disturbed a taniwha which quickly disappeared after payment. Society is run by evidence and science, or what? Witchcraft? A rational society begs debate and evidence on which to base its decisions.

Third World values are becoming apparent in the manner in which two cases of personal excess have been explained recently. Donna Awatere Huata, an ex-Act MP, used money, put aside by the taxpayer to assist children in need, for personal gain. Fair cop. It happens, unfortunately.

But the response of so many Maori was the dangerous thing. At court, Maori leaders of all political persuasions stood in solidarity with her. No sense of shame, anger or embarrassment. Donna was proud and unbowed, and then treated like a celebrity by the media.

Then there's Philip Field, MP for Mangere, an ex-trade union official, who employed people who are vulnerable to increase the value of his many properties at exploitative low pay rates.

The Samoan community has gathered around him offering support to the point that he would win a by-election if there was one. No sense of shame and no logical examination of the facts.

When a group of people suspends belief and rational judgment to defend the indefensible because they feel a tribal sense of loyalty, misguided loyalty replaces the rule of law and the virtues of logic and rational thinking.

MPs and ministers in many countries have resigned through pure shame for less. But these individuals don't believe they have done anything wrong. Forgiveness is welcome and wonderful but only after confession of wrongdoing and remorse.

Proportional representation has acted as a muzzle on free speech and the logic of serious debate, scrutiny and evidence. The Maori Party, even the Greens, are not held to account for their policies by other political parties. Why? Because you might need them to form a coalition government. Best not cause a problem.

Society loses when we take from our process scrutiny of politicians by competing politicians. New Zealand does not have an Upper House or a Constitution. In most countries, the Upper House's power is to block supply, a traditional phrase for money the government needs to supply itself and run itself.

The Parliamentary Press Gallery is a a kind of Upper House that looks down on the House of Representatives, but it's losing its capacity for scrutiny.

In the modern information age of the 15-second media bite, supply is information, therefore gaining access to the means of information is the oxygen of politics.

The Americans talk of the Beltway Insiders, that is the insiders in Washington DC whose job is politics, an unreal environment of lobbyists, advisers, pressure groups, groupies, hangers-on and the powerful.

That is now Wellington, where people have no other conversation, have no friends or partners who are not part of the process, drawn to the exhilarating theatre of politics.

Insiders write glowingly of the political skill of somersaulting on issues and breaking commitments. This brings out the worst in politicians. Sleaze seems too easily forgiven. That's why politicians, like babies' nappies, need changing from time to time, and for the same reasons.

* Mike Moore is a former Prime Minister of New Zealand and director-general of the World Trade Organisation.


Readers' comments:

No, Scott. Mike Moore wasn't 'brown-bashing'; he was crook-bashing. And sometimes, crooks happen to brown. The bigger the government, the bigger the pile of public money up for grabs, the more snouts in the trough. Which means that the country that also adopts race-based legislation (having sanctimoniously criticised others for similar actions) will find no shortage of race-based snouts.
- - - posted 2.32pm Oct 21, 2006 by Susan

Quite good - finish was excellent - pity about the Maori bashing to start with, in fact brown, brown, brown bash. This seems to be the way at the moment - we can illustrate a negative by painting it brown - many are doing it - increasingly acceptable it appears. i had never seen you in this light - you have always been impressive to me - this article is a good one but sadly you have given yourself an uppercut on the way through by joining the brown bashing fraternity. are you up to speed with Hokianga Accord work - if not, well worthwhile having a look - www.option4.co.nz
- - - posted 6.20am Oct 21, 2006 by Scott