Why does the Government, national and local politicians fail New Zealanders time and time again? Simple, it's all about money and personal gain.

The Government, due to a democratic system, should be a servant to the people who voted them into power and also the people who did not. They're responsible for making logical and sensible laws that benefit all Kiwis.

How is it then that in the 40 years of my voting life they have all failed to deliver? The same issues raise their ugly heads; health, education, crime, the homeless and more recently the poor state of our environment and over-population. All these issues can be put down to bad judgement and political law making.

I question why we seem to serve the world's needs before our own. Our best produce goes abroad while we are flooded with old produce that's been chilled, force-ripened, repacked and even marinated to hide the age; almost a method of sifting out the worst of the bad.

We are supplied products that have been pasteurised and are full of additives to make it last while our prime produce is overseas. Why do we chase oversea's recognition, buy a seat on the United Nations - which has not solved any real issues but have caused more death and destruction - while waving the Peace Flag? How is it we send troops overseas to protect others when we cannot protect our own people here in our own country? We spend millions spying for others.

We pass laws that have no meaning yet cannot pass the right to die with dignity. All these issues can be solved by our leaders, but they choose not to. The reason why can only be greed, no one in their right mind would allow their own people to suffer before looking after another nation's problems.

Could it be that most of us have become ignorant, greedy, and self-centred? If this is the case we deserve this non-democratic system, tailed with a very weak investigative media that write tales for Hollywood. If you truly believe in democracy we can all have a good life, that's all of us and feel safe. I feel a tide coming to wash the dirt away and I hope you all can ride it to a true and honest democracy. New Zealand and all Kiwis must come first.

R Stewart, Te Puke.