Have Your Say – Polls

We understand clearly that the only reason for our existence is to represent the voice of the people in our parliament. We believe that any party that is not constantly in touch with the views of the people is simply not doing its job. In this space you can read what others think on key issues, and you can let us know your views.

Do you Think Its Arrogant that Clark & Key wont debate with other leaders?

Latest Poll:

Do You Think It's Arrogant that Clark & Key Won't Debate with Other Political Parties?

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From the NZ Herald (27.9.08): Prime Minister Helen Clark and National Party leader John Key have refused to share the stage with other party leaders in an election campaign TV debate.

They both say their head to head debates are the ones that really matter, because one or the other is going to lead the next government.

TV3 and TVNZ wanted the leaders of all eight parties represented in Parliament to take part in an MMP debate, which has happened in previous campaigns.

But the two leaders refused, and did not change their minds when both networks asked them to reconsider.

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Have Your Say:

  • This is a travesty! If we are going to have a political system which encourages diverse voices and smaller parties to have a say then the media must respect that and not cave in to the entrenched interests of the big old bullies - this is profoundly undemocratic and Clark and Key should be shamed of themselves.

    Posted by Joe Burton 2008-09-30 11:13:11.552

  • Perhaps Clark/Key are worried that they will be compared unfavourably with some of our smaller party leaders! Maybe they still remember "the worm".

    We could show our dissatisfaction about TV3's stand by voting with our remotes and not watching any 2 leader debate they may have.

    Posted by Mary Edwards 2008-09-29 16:19:32.314

  • Not only is the Clark/Key attitude blatent, it is a travesty of fair play to all other party leaders now represented in Parliament. Arrogance is dictionary defined as 'being overbearing or presumptuous.' That about sums up their attitude. Remember back to 2005 when one network proposed to sideline Jim Anderton and Peter Dunne from a leaders' debate only to have the High Court overturn their presumptuous decision.

    I can't for the life of me understand the mentality of 36% of respondents thinking the Clark/Key attitude is fair. It's a reflection of the greedy 'what's in it for me mentality' that grips this nation. Remember the late President John F. Kennedy's quote,'Think not what your country can do for you but rather what you can do for your country.'

    Posted by John D. Willocks 2008-09-29 10:46:54.726

  • 100% say Yes! 100% understand that there is something very wrong with the picture called Hubris. My pet hate is people exhibiting Hubris. I am going to write a book after Herodotus. Well, more for the minor parties then eh?

    Posted by QuentinTodd 2008-09-28 07:38:03.915