Back in time (1940s to the early 1960s) once businessmen and others had retired, they made themselves and their experience available for the good of the community and sat on various boards and local councils, without payment.
Of course nowadays we have advanced in these matters and no longer view things in this way. And what a cock-eyed mess we are getting into as a result.
We only need to become aware of the recent goings on in Christchurch City Council, to realize the very real problem this course is showing up.
Or just to emphasize the situation, the equally disastrous financial hole that Kaipara has got itself into at Mangawhai Heads.
Of course, a very big part of all this is that now everyone has their rights and any of their responsibilities have gone out the window, as a result.
And so we get criminals with underfloor heating and all sorts of other privileges, while pensioners struggle to pay their way.
We have CEO's on mega salaries because they have so many employees under them and a Parliament that has one party telling its MPs in a conscience vote, that their names will be recorded beside that vote, so woe betide them if they challenge the party line.
And here, in our own Tauranga, the Council borrowing is completely nuts. (If we ran our own home finances like this, the Bank would have our homes so quickly it wouldn't be funny.)
And who is to blame for all this mess? Well us, actually.
Because, you see, it's really easy to have your rights and ignore any responsibilities. Just don't tell us please.
The truth is not welcome any more. We prefer to stay blind to it, even though we know it won't help in the end. Yes, we're a funny lot.

R McGuinness, Tauranga.