A recent column describing “keyboard warriors nastily and noxiously tapping away under the craven cloak of anonymity” – sparked a few indignant outbursts from people who are happy to do just that over their own names as well. I found it informative to read comments based on what people think they have read rather than what was actually written.
Ten years ago, such comments would have sent me scuttling and cringing for cover – but these days I feel I have a responsibility and the experience to speak in support of people who act with integrity, intelligence, and thoughtfulness. These people are becoming alarmingly thin on the ground and sadly a few of them failed to make the cut at last Saturday’s preliminary local government election results.
So here’s another take – and I’m not shooting from the hip here. I’m repeating what has already been said by others – and I happen to agree. The attributes of integrity, intelligence and thoughtfulness do not deliver the instant gratification that so many of us seek.
Lianne Dalziell – former Mayor of Christchurch described it as a “sugar hit” and noted the way in which social media is being used to create division. Penny Hulse – former Deputy Mayor of Auckland described it as a “short-term populist approach”.
I recall that a key platform in my successful first election bid was long-term planning. Nothing happened in the first three years because nobody on the staff knew what long-term planning was. Funnily (and sadly) enough such a thing was eventually legislated under the moniker of asset management planning because clearly not a lot of others had any idea what long-term planning was either. I got re-elected unopposed after that first three years because I had the humility to hear people’s concerns and to admit if I didn’t know the answer to a question. Just saying…
So make no mistake. I would not have described myself as having a “left leaning bias”. Unless that is code for being human. Quite the opposite in fact. What I WILL unashamedly and unequivocably own is an expectation that people of all “leanings” are treated with fairness and respect in local government. And further – I have a short attention span for people in any position who think that it is okay to cloak ignorance with inaction.
It is clear that many people availing themselves of the instant gratification that social media enables want to hate and to be aggrieved. The internet clears the way for that to happen ad -infinitum. Those who are influenced by this subversive distraction and modify their behaviour accordingly are abandoning the principles of common decency – including integrity, thoughtfulness and intelligence.
I salute those candidates – who have remained true to their values. Who told it how it is rather than what prospective electors were baying for, and who like me will be watching from the sidelines with sadness and disappointment as those who scratched the itch of instant gratification get to grapple with the disillusionment of learning what it’s really like to be in a position of leadership. They will either rise to the challenge and have to compromise on some of their populist election promises – or we are all doomed to a triennium of mind-numbing and extreme mediocrity.