Brian Taylor, of Alexandra, has strong words to say about those "who emasculate any prospect of progress".
The barrage of emotive rhetoric rising against proposals for a tunnel or monorail through Fiordland is beginning to become a little repetitive, even monotonous.
Once again, the mere notion of an innovative idea seems to immediately goad the naysayers into action, protesting vehemently. Over my dead body, not in my backyard, they chorus in unison.
And, as usual, the same few names appearing and reappearing, over and over.
They're easy to wind up. Like, let's suggest we build a wind farm, say, out of harm's way in the back country. Nah, don't want that, it would be a blot on the sensitive landscape. How about a monorail?
Perish the thought, they chant in unison - national parks are only for fit and toned young eco-hikers. OK, then, what about a tunnel instead?
Good God, no, even worse, so ugly, doesn't matter if it's out of sight, we will still know it is there! Dam the Clutha then?
Damn the rivers, they are not for sale, pillage or rape.
Besides, the water is not for profit.
The options are getting a bit thin on the ground - coal-fired generation perhaps?
Absolutely not, they cry, greenhouse gases contribute to atmospheric pollution, climate change, asthma and runny noses.
How about geothermal, then?
Not enough to go around - Rotorua discovered that decades ago. Well, as a near-last resort, there is always gas?
No, they protest again. It's not renewable. We are now down to the last frontier, the Big Bang stuff. Oh no, you can just forget that one right this very minute.
It's against the law and off the menu.
So, let's reflect for a moment and fast reverse a few generations to when the Anglican diocese was planning to build its cathedral in Christchurch, with the blessing of the fledgling community.
Having decided on a site, the clerk of works probably held a wetted finger to the wind to test strength and direction. Finding a chilly nor-easterly sneaking in from the sea, he'd have decided the main entrance should face west. Easy! Job done, everyone happy, bestowing a magnificent monument upon the emerging city that became so loved and admired locally, nationally, and internationally. Who would argue otherwise than it was a fitting tribute to the vision and tenacity of those early settlers.
Now, fast-forward those same generations to the present time.
Would the cathedral be built today, as it was?
Probably not.
There is no reason why it couldn't be replicated using modern construction techniques, but just imagine wading through the horrendously complicated consent procedure, fraught with obstacles all the way, while not forgetting of course, the vocal "we don't want it here - or even over there" contingent.
What has happened to the wonderful pioneering "can do" spirit that so courageously built New Zealand out of little more than sheer determination and foresight, but more importantly, the will to selflessly make the nation a better place, for everyone.
Our forefathers arrived in the hope of carving a better life for themselves in a new country.
Their dreams were not realised without huge sacrifices along the way from personal loss, deprivation and, often, great financial cost. And later, two world wars claimed the lives of thousands of our finest young men and women just that we might retain our freedom in what was, and could still be, the best country in the world. If those pioneers and gallant souls were able to witness all the selfish, manipulative politicking going on now, they might well ask themselves, "Why bother?"
What it seems to come down to is that all this modern neo-liberal thinking is fostering governance of the majority by a self-serving minority. Now hang on a minute, they say. They have their rights! Indeed they do, but surely not to the extent that they emasculate any prospect of progress. The great silent majority needs to come out from the shadows, raise its hand and give the debate some balance.
Otherwise, we might just as well close the doors, shut up shop and await curtain fall. Then it's simply a matter of "last one out, please turn off the lights".
