Latest news with #TheCitizens'Voice
Scoop
15-06-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
TOP Will Convene Citizens' Assemblies To End Political Gridlock
Sunday 15 June 2025. To break the cycle of political indecision and costly policy reversals, The Opportunities Party is launching The Citizens' Voice. The party's first 2026 Election policy calls for the use of Citizens' Assemblies on pressing issues successive Governments are failing on. "Politics as usual isn't working. We're stuck in a wasteful cycle of pendulum politics where every left-right lurch after an election costs us," says TOP spokesperson David Webb. 'Every time Government changes, we endure economic uncertainty on par with 9/11. We just can't afford that anymore'. Recent examples of political waste include $229 million on the abandoned Auckland light rail project, $300 million (and counting) for cancelled inter-island ferries and $297 million lost in (another) overhaul of New Zealand's polytechnics. 'The consistent decline in right track / wrong track polling shows us that people are losing trust in our political system. The Citizens' Voice is about turning that trend around by doing democracy differently – with everyday people leading on the hard issues, and politicians following' says Webb. The Citizens' Voice policy has two components: Citizens' Assemblies. Like jury duty but for policy, Assemblies bring together a random, representative, paid group of New Zealanders to learn about a complex issue, deliberate on solutions and make recommendations that Government must respond to. The process is designed to progress politically gridlocked, long-term issues like superannuation, housing, healthcare and infrastructure. Parliamentary Commissioner for Citizens' Voice. An independent, non-partisan office gives the policy institutional backbone. The Commissioner will convene Assemblies, ensure they are fair and robust, use new digital democracy tools to amplify Citizens' voices and ensure Government engages seriously with Citizens' recommendations. 'Citizens' Assemblies are about trusting that everyday New Zealanders, when given information and time, can find common ground and set sensible, long-term policy directions on the issues politicians have failed on' says Webb. Citizens' Assemblies have helped navigate tense, complicated issues internationally and in New Zealand. In Ireland, Assemblies broke decades of deadlock on marriage equality and abortion. In Auckland, an Assembly's recommendations on water infrastructure were adopted by the Watercare Board. Two issues that could benefit from a Citizens' Assembly approach are New Zealand's Constitutional system and Superannuation. 'The Treaty Principles controversy highlighted the partisan, performative nature of Parliament. The Bill itself was short-sighted and divisive, but there is a real need for a national conversation on our Constitutional framework and the role of Te Tiriti. How we make that decision is as important as the decision itself - maybe more so' says Webb. 'Superannuation is on track to send New Zealand over the fiscal cliff – but it's a politically untouchable issue because it's a vote loser for politicians. A Citizens' Assembly would give Parliament the social license to finally act on Superannuation.' 'The problem with kicking the can down the road, is that eventually, you run out of road' says Webb. 'With challenges like AI and climate change coming at us, New Zealanders deserve a political system built around courage, co-operation and long-term thinking. We're launching the Citizens' Voice policy to do just that.' A full overview of The Citizens' Voice policy - including FAQs, briefing papers and international examples - is available at
Daily Mail
24-04-2025
- Daily Mail
Revolting item monster mother and grandmother forced 12-year-old girl to eat while chained to bed
A Pennsylvania 12-year-old was chained to a bed and forced to eat cat food by her despicable mother and grandmother, police say. Amanda Lynn Gregorio, 35, and Stacey Ann Louder, 52, both of Exeter, have been accused severely neglecting and beating the defenseless girl they were supposed to be caring for. An investigation into the gut-wrenching abuse finally began in September 2024 after the child was rushed to the hospital with uncontrollable seizures. Gregorio allegedly admitted to drugging her daughter with 50 mg of Benadryl and 60 mg of melatonin prior to the medical emergency. Meanwhile, doctors noticed the child's malnourished body was covered in cuts, bruises and scars from being tethered, prompting them to raise an alarm to police. Visibly battered and shaken - weighing just 50 pounds at the time - the girl was placed into the custody of Luzerne County Children, Youth and Families, a child safety organization. When investigators spoke with the young victim, she revealed the shocking punishments and inhumane circumstances she suffered through at the hands of her mother and grandmother. She explained the women retrained her to her bed - forcing her to relieve herself there when she had to use the bathroom, according to reports obtained by The Citizens' Voice. A witness reportedly told police the child was chained to her mattress like 'Jesus on the cross' inside their home at the Birchwood Estates mobile home park. Security camera watched over the terrified child to ensure she had not escaped from her confinement, investigators said. 'The abuse of this child offends the sense of decency of every mother, grandmother, and otherwise respectable person imaginable,' Luzerne County District Attorney Sam Sanguedolce said. 'Once again, the very people to whom this child would look to keep her safe, were her assailants.' Another person familiar with the alleged inhumane living situation said Gregorio confessed to force-feeding her daughter cat food over the phone. The mother also claimed she did not want to tie down her daughter, by Louder forced her to, according to police. As the accused child abusers' facades continued to unravel, police learned of many other instances of the girl being injured over the years. In 2023 Gregorio allegedly bashed her daughter's head with a broom - causing a large bump and gash. Instead of seeking medical attention, Louder poured super glue over the wound, The Citizens' Voice reported. She showed up to school around the same time with a black-and-blue eye. She allegedly lied and told her teachers she got hurt by walking into a wall. Shortly after that, she was pulled from in-person classes and started going to school fully online. But the pain and fear the girl suffered dates back several years, WNEP reported. Her medical records reveal that she has been rushed to the emergency room with broken bones and fractures multiple times since 2017. After seven months of investigating the child's safety, Gregorio and Louder were arrested on Monday night. They were both charged with aggravated assault of a victim less than 13, conspiracy, unlawful restraint, false imprisonment, endangering the welfare of children, recklessly endangering another person, simple assault and tampering with evidence. Both women were locked up at Luzerne County Correctional Facility with bails set at $125,000. They are due in court on May 6. 'It is difficult to imagine the sense of hopelessness abused children in these situations must feel,' Sanguedolce said. 'We will seek the maximum penalties permitted by law in the hope of sending the message that this behavior deserves fierce punishment.'
