Which would you prefer kiwis? Higher rates/ taxes and public debt, or shit flowing into the sea from broken wastewater infrastructure? Pick one.
Over the last few decades, in both Parliamentary and council elections, we've collectively chosen the latter. Come November we really need to ask ourselves if that's really the kind of country we want to live in.
Maybe council rates bills needs to be itemized to show what proportion of the rates they charge is going on capital spending (ie local infrastructure) vs. operational spending (council expenses, community and arts funding, etc).
My hunch is that people are much less likely to carp about "wasteful" operational spending if they see what a tiny proportion it is of total council spending. Or where it isn't, maybe they have every right to carp about that.
Strypey
Raglan Niall 
