New Zealand is a western liberal democracy, committed to individual freedom. From our pioneering roots also comes an egalitarian ethic where no-one is better, we stand eye-to-eye, an ethic eroded today, and in need of resurrection.
Why not define ourselves as a western liberal democracy, where all stand equal before the law, and where we strive to ensure the social ethic reflects our commitment to our liberal egalitarian democratic principle.
We could then use our egalitarian democratic principle to assess the quality of legislation, forcing our politicians to respect the very fabric of our society that enables them to exist as they do.
As Egypt crumbles, China clamps down on freedom of information, and politicians in other authoritarian states watch nervously, it is a good time to cement our commitment to the principles and processes protecting our freedoms, and enabling us to remove poor leaders without violence or bloodshed.
The principle is this egalitarian democratic principle, which if embraced by us can ground our society. Politicians will not embrace it, nor will those with power and wealth likely eroded by the principle.
We need demand it politicians’ will follow. If we choose, we can bring them to heel.
Isn’t democracy grand?
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