Tracey Watkins at Stuff points out the obvious – if angry people keep physically attacking politicians and their (our) property the public will probably have less access to our MPs.
It already happens to an extent – a couple of years ago I could just walk in to one of my local MP’s office, now they have to keep it locked even when someone is there because of protester behaviour (that recently included graffiti attacks).
Watkins reminds of the obvious in Politicians are people too and warns of “a black day for everyone” if safety means less public access to our politicians.
But suddenly it’s no longer enough to talk. People feel compelled to chuck stuff at our pollies to make a point. Economic Development Minister Steven Joyce copped a dildo in the face. Gerry Brownlee got a load of brown stuff tipped over his head. Even Key got a faceful of glitter.
Funny? Not really. It’s nasty, it could eventually get dangerous and no matter what your politics no politician deserves to be hated so much it’s okay to throw stuff at them. They’re not cartoon characters, they are real people. Heckle them, ear bash them, vote against them. But in every day life it’s not normal to biff something at people just because we disagree with them.
Of course it’s not new to chuck stuff at politicians. ACT MP John Boscawen wore a lamington on his head. Don Brash had mud biffed at him at Waitangi. Former finance minister Sir Michael Cullen had eggs thrown at him by a bunch of angry West Coasters. And former ACT leader John Banks had some particularly nasty stuff thrown his way.
But in today’s heightened security awareness, it wouldn’t be a surprise if the latest incidents will force a rethink about the ease with which the public can access our politicians. And that would be a black day for everyone, MPs and public alike.
It’s good to see that some journalists are now recognising the potential problems of dangerous behaviour that media coverage might encourage.
Your NZ 
Alan Wilkinson
/ 24th February 2016Unfortunately some of the loony Left need to face the reality of jail time to cool their obsessions.
mrMan
/ 24th February 2016Cos it’s always the left, isn’t it.
https://www.rt.com/usa/269506-american-terroist-attacks-study/
Rob
/ 24th February 2016That’s just Wilkinsons leftie derangement syndrome talking. Give the poor man a break.
kiwi guy
/ 24th February 2016You need to get off the weed.
Alan Wilkinson
/ 24th February 2016Truth hurts, Lefties. Cure your own warts before searching the world for excuses.
kiwi guy
/ 24th February 2016Why are you linking to Yankee stats?
This is about political violence in NZ.
Cultural Marxists are the ones attacking MPs and committing arson.
Its only a matter of time before one of you lot throw acid or worse.
Inside every Leftists is a Totalitarian screaming to get out.
jamie
/ 24th February 2016The history of political violence in NZ shows it has been overwhelmingly performed by the right, not the left.
The two political killings that we know of in NZ have been as a result of bombing a trade union hall, and a Greenpeace ship.
Alan Wilkinson
/ 24th February 2016The Greenpeace attack and killing was controlled by President Mitterrand, a Lefty socialist.
Own goal.
Oliver
/ 24th February 2016Wilky you’re full of it. That’s why no one takes you seriously.
Alan Wilkinson
/ 24th February 2016Transference, Oliver. You and Rob are full of it. Plus the usual Lefty personal attack as soon as actual facts are inconvenient to the movement.
duperez
/ 24th February 2016Like a car in automatic the slip was straight into “loony Left’.
Is there a “loony Right?” Is there a “not loony Left”? If there are there maybe a problem with your keyboard as they fail to engage. Possibly a trip to the mechanic before he WOF is failed? 😊
mrMan
/ 24th February 2016As I said in another post, Loony left = thrown dildo, Loony right = Oklahoma bombing. Y’know , for comparisons sake.
kiwi guy
/ 24th February 2016LOL again you are comparing US politics with NZ politics.
You are an idiot.
Plenty of Leftist terrorists on wanted lists in the USA.
Alan Wilkinson
/ 24th February 2016Loony Left = Russia, China, Cambodia, etc, hundreds of millions killed if you really want to go international.
mrMan
/ 24th February 2016Ok, Loony left = Steven Joyce, dildo, International fame.
Loony Right = Ernie Abbot, bomb, dead.
kiwi guy
/ 24th February 2016No one knows what happened in the Ernie abbot case, more likely some score settling amongst Leftist groups – you lot are notorious for ideological infighting.
“Wanganui Computer Centre bombing
On 18 November 1982, a suicide bomb attack was made against a facility housing the main computer system of the New Zealand Police, Courts, Ministry of Transport and other law enforcement agencies, in Wanganui. The attacker, a “punk rock” anarchist named Neil Roberts, was the only person killed, and the computer system was undamaged”
^ Leftist nutcase suicide bomber.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terrorism_in_New_Zealand
Timoti
/ 24th February 2016“Loony Right = Ernie Abbot, bomb, dead”
You will need to back that up with proof……..have you any?
duperez
/ 24th February 2016It takes fairly extreme behaviour to get some journalists to recognise that media coverage might encourage other extreme behaviour.
I wonder if that tiny sliver of enlightenment could be an indication of why there is the slightest chance of the recognition of dangerous things happening in our politics and those getting some attention.
Maybe the plan is the treat all things equally; “That can’t be happening, that shouldn’t be happening, I don’t believe it, we won’t say anything about it then people won’t get the idea that that’s what’s going on and that’s what they should also do.”
kiwi guy
/ 24th February 2016There is a lot of hatred being whipped up in Leftist circles by their leadership.
Just look at the crazy Progressives on here like mrMan and Rob foaming at the mouth about John Key.
Go over to The Standard and it is an all out hate fest.
I hope the police are able to ramp up their surveillance of these Marxists, it isn’t enough to do it just around the lead up to a protest, they need to be continuously monitored for the sake of our democracy.
jamie
/ 24th February 2016Rather than limit the access of everybody to politicians, how about we have the police remove the firearms from all known political extremists?
I suggest starting with those known to be suffering from stress, who have a history of mental illness and delusion, who regularly direct violent language and imagery toward their opponents, and who brag about their connections to organised crime.
kiwi guy
/ 24th February 2016Just need to deal with the ones who believe they are engaging in Class Warfare against their Capitalist fascist overlords..
That would sort the problem out.