Government attacked - Who’d be a politician?

On Wednesday night, TV3’s Vincent Brown hosted one of the station’s periodic public debates. The motion was that “the Government deserves the confidence of the people”.

His audience was made up of political and community activists, many of whom expressed great disappointment with Government, particularly the Labour wing, and what was described as a litany of broken promises. This of course is every citizen’s absolute right and events like this can only strengthen our democracy.

However, the anger, the stress and fear that was so very apparent led to a plague-on-all-their-houses chorus that, if it accurately reflects the national mood, suggests not only a disconnect from politics but a disconnect from the reality of our world. Moreover, it might force anyone considering entering politics to pause and wonder if the almost inevitable opprobrium is balanced by what might be achieved. We cannot afford that or its implications — just ask the people of Kiev.