The shiny award for most apt post goes to Akzle. It'd be great to hope for a neutral source in all of this. The problem with the neutral source is that it'll get all of the traffic and those who prefer to spin the slightly, tui, more sensational side of things'll get nada. The bases are loaded, so to speak.
I recently spoke to a Council representative wanting to find out more about the history of the Porirua area. All fine and well until I mentioned that I was a mayoral candidate. Not knowing anything about me or what I would like to see done in the area, the Council representative has already decided who they would like for Mayor and therefore why would they wish to inform anyone of anything that they didn't have to deal with? I wasn't asking for votes, just history. That's just Porirua. Fortunately I didn't expect otherwise, but to actually have it confirmed so early on in the process, well, let's just say that politics is alive and well in a place where it shouldn't be and ideas matter not a jot so long as you have something shiny, like a cycleway, I mean walkway, I mean pathway, I mean turf covered place for people to traverse or whatever du jour phrase is required not to scare people away with, but dazzle them with.
I'm not for a moment claiming that the candidates are useless or can't do the job etc... but I do find it ironic that they still vote for people who claim to know the systems in use, having been ex or serving Councilors, and therefore decide that they have to be the best candidates for the job. Ironic in that, if they knew/know the systems so well, then they're responsible for the issues that they're coming forwards to claim that they can solve
The shame is that the people vote for them too, and on the same basis.
You said "How voters are supposed to get good information about all the candidates is a mystery.". It's not a mystery. It's well known. Too many people simply can't be arsed looking at what candidates stand for coz they're much of a much right, and so they're happy to follow the biggest herd coz they must be right, right. Tragic, but the evidence is hard to ignore... should you choose to have given a shit in the first place that is.
Akzle 1 - KB 0
Originally Posted by pritch
The shame is that the people vote for them too, and on the same basis.
I didn't think!!! I experimented!!!
... but yeah, it is more than possible that people will click as to what they're voting for and I may well point it out at the Meet The Mayor meetings that are rapidly approaching. Could make me popular 
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