Where the hell do they find people like this?

[avgas]

Meh politics here has never been good. Never will be either.
Best just to scrap it all and start again I say.
But then you all voted.

[mashman]

Meh politics here has never been good. Never will be either.
Best just to scrap it all and start again I say.
But then you all voted.

I didn't... I held my own pole with a furry ballot box that day instead... If ya know what I mean?

[oldrider]

Mmmm.....fair comment Mikkel. I suspect Judith Collins may wish she hadn't uttered both words in the same sentence but she's a human being and fallible. Live interviews are tough - you can't unsay something. I should also say that Judith Collins is a very experienced and respected barrister which you don't become if you are stupid.

Still, I don't have a problem with what she said. Respect for the law and those who enforce it is a primary foundation of a functioning society. The antithesis is anarchy where everyone does their own thing.

Fear of the law applies to anyone who is tempted to break it. It is fear of the consequences, not the law itself. Over and above that, there are people who specifically reject certain laws - eg. marijuana. They are otherwise law-abiding except on this one specific issue. So, the person doesn't respect that particular law - but fears it's consequences. Arrests, fines, prison, sodomy, eternal damnation......you get the idea.

Respect can only be earned, you cannot command it and the only thing to fear about fear, is fear it's self!

Authority is lost in this country because lawbreakers are seen to be rewarded while law abider's are seen to be punished and consequence is a word without meaning!

Yep, that about sums New Zealand society up in a nutshell.