The defects of FPP were readily apparent. The defects of MMP are now becoming evident. A better alternative to both FPP and MMP would be based on variable constituencies, continuous election and the open ballot.

The problem for you may be “leftist radicals”, Andrew2, but the problem we were discussing was what to do about elected representatives who are either personally discredited or betray the platform on which they were elected. This problem has affected all political parties, from the right, left and centre in recent years. The system as it stands has no effective and fair way of dealing with the problem. However there is an obvious solution: continuous election and the open ballot.

“The political system is the problem. And it can be easily fixed”

Well, not that easily. For better or worse we adopted MMP. Yes, it addresses the deeply flawed FPP system but what MMP encourages are opportunists off the list, sometimes way down the list, and that’s where the problems lies. They bring with them their own agendas, and I’d hazard a guess a good many voters are oblivious to this when they tick the Party vote. Not that self-serving opportunists are unheard of in politics, but smaller Parties in particular, desperate for charismatic running candidates, will for the most part turn a blind eye. At least with FPP all running candidates were endorsed by the electorate, what you saw is what you got. Still partly true but who knows who you’ll get off the list – other than the list of names.

It is none of these that is the problem. This problem is the outside problem of a “my wokeness is bigger than your wokeness” attitude rearing it’s head in parliament. This is a full on leftist radical “more than you” bragging contest not being pointed out for the childish game it is and put in perspective properly so real issues can be properly addressed.

This problem is a creeping undercurrent in some of our society that is a smaller but very real extremist idea in the vein of the far right. And just as damaging to politics and the future in the long term if not addressed properly.

But “poor” white people are real economic victims while middle class people with enough food on the table and time on their hands to contemplate pronouns and choose sterility drugs and self-mutilition as a way forward haven’t yet figured out they are victims of the ‘woke mind virus’. We are all victims now.

Just like the state abuse victims there will be a generation of Trans victims in need of compensation – due to policies promoted by a formerly environmentalist party. Tree hugging was victimless.

This is much on the same line that has had a student of mine demanding I pronounce her name correctly (I did because I try to get everyone’s name correct out of basic respect) but also stating that she didn’t have to say my name correctly because she was Maori and it was not important to worry about small pakeha concerns.

Months with a wildly diverse group from around the world and she changed and opened up. Proud of her culture and determined to share it, but also realizing there were plenty other cultures and they didn’t have to be adversaries. Unfortunately a lot of the small group of people who support Tana and believe in the idea she claimed are never going to leave their little worlds and be exposed to reality. This problem will grow unless the Greens start leading the way in stomping out petty ridiculousness and getting things back on track.