10th November 1999
I have always been the proponent of free and open debate on issues - I believe that that way readers can form their own conclusions and make their own decisions over how they view the points being raised. And yes it helps force the issue.
It has been suggested to me that open debate is not healthy and that rather than being allowed to flow freely it should be extinguished where the issue might not be one that they want to hear.
The @notd has always had the policy of stimulating discussion and then letting the readers decide. If I was wrong on an issue the @notd readers would soon put me straight as they have done many times before. This has been very effective in the past and has allowed us to gain a far greater understanding of the issue from a wider perspective. A communal on-line think tank, if you like.
Over the last week I have been raising some points in relation to One Nation. My main concern has been and remains the outcome of the November 23 Court Case and its ramifications on all One Nation members. The question remains "Have we been kept in the dark about these issues?" and if so "Why?" (We now have just 13 days before the appeal is heard.)
In a letter below David Ettridge now accuses me of "white anting" the party.
Are we really so delicate that we cannot allow open and free discussion over concerns. Valid concerns - to be raised. I believe that the @notd discussions over the last few days have achieved a very important goal and that is to snap certain party officials out of their lethargy. And I know that this result has happened.
Is that not a positive outcome? The day we become too scared to put up our hand for fear of having it shot off is the day that we stop being a party for the people but reflect the position that we are no different than the highly politicised Laboral factions.
If you don't like free and open debate then I suggest that you stop reading the @notd because that is what you will continue to get here and if the party doesn't like it, well, I will be most disappointed.