The Taxpayers' Union's argument for tax cuts as set out by Jordan Williams needs to be placed alongside the substantial social deficit this country now faces. Very high rates of child poverty, housing unaffordability and unavailability, inadequately funded health services, crises in mental health funding, inadequate funding for schools to provide adequately for all children with special needs, funding to ensure adequate quality services for the care and protection of children - which of these does the union want to ignore?
There are important choices here. Let's choose community well-being and community good over narrow self-interest, which will only benefit those who are already well placed. An economic surplus has no real meaning or substance when placed alongside the social deficit.
Mike O'Brien, Red Beach.
National's legacy
Using the figures quoted in Brian Gaynor's Weekend Herald column, when the National Government took over in 2008 New Zealand had a surplus of $5.6b and debt of $10.3b. We owed twice as much as we had saved. National sold assets to reduce debt. Today the Government has a surplus of $3.3b and debt of $66.4b. The fiscal genius of Bill English has let us now owe 11 times more than we have saved.
While building this debt National have not made payments to the Super Fund. With an ageing population this will further increase the debt to future generations.
Furthermore, when Labour took office, the debt was 37 per cent of GDP. Labour reduced this to 17 per cent. In nine years Bill English grew debt levels again to 37 per cent of GDP.
Under National we have seen tinkering to appease polls but an increased social divide and inequality, statistics that reflect an increase in homelessness, mental health issues and prison populations, on top of rampant house prices, excessive immigration and an inadequate commitment to health, education and infrastructure.
When National's spin is eliminated and the results examined, the Government has failed this generation and future generations of New Zealanders.
Rubin Levin, Devonport.
Cues for bullies
Do we really wonder why bullying has become the "fun du jour" of school kids today? We make cutting personal remarks about public figures, attacking or ridiculing them and their families, even their children. Protests often lead to violence. There is savage labelling of anyone with a different perspective to the most strident voices. Is it a minority of us feeling increasingly uncomfortable at this descent into a Lord of the Flies society? The child bullies of today are following the examples that surround them.
June Kearney, West Harbour.
Fishing value
The article about Sam Fitness and his fishing exploits confirms in my mind that our inshore fishery should be kept solely for recreational fishing and tourism and that commercial fishing should only be permitted outside the inshore limits of around 30km.
According to the article, Sam has spent a large amount of money to go fishing for a few fish. If you place a price per kilogram on the fish caught by him, it would amount to hundreds of dollars per kilogram compared with the commercial value of a few dollars. Although this is an extreme case, the article shows there is far more value, in dollar and social terms, in the recreational catch of fish than a commercial operation could ever match.
If inshore fishing were reserved for recreational and tourist activities, there would be a long-term financial benefit for all sorts of businesses linked to fishing.
Bill Cromwell, Welcome Bay.
Baby policy
The policy the Green party is putting forward, where a new mother will receive a total of $2200 plus extended maternity leave, makes no sense from a supposedly environmentally aware party. This new baby will result in hundreds of disposable nappies going into landfill, an increase in CO2, more clothes from poorly paid workers in some Third World countries along with countless other burdens on our environment.
Surely if the Green party was serious in their objectives, they would consider rewarding a woman generously for not having a child. This could be brought about by providing payments for entering long-term contraceptive programmes for her and her partner. This would also reduce the burdening population growth we are experiencing in the world.
Dick Ayres, Auckland Central.
Vulgar advice
Paula Bennett's advice on tipping seemed vulgar and depressing in a country where a large percentage of the population cannot afford a meal in a restaurant, let alone worrying about tipping. Those are the people who need to be her focus and that of every other politician wanting our votes in September.
Janet von Randow, Grey Lynn.
Not in this culture
New York restaurateur Danny Meyer has eliminated tipping at his restaurants. Restaurant workers' income should be based on hiring commitments of employers and hours worked, not whether a customer is feeling generous that day.
A sign at Auckland Airport used to read: "Tipping is a way of life in some countries. Tipping is not the custom in New Zealand."
Warren Johns, Remuera.
No doughnuts
What's wrong with New Zealand when we can allow a global doughnut chain, Krispy Kreme, to set up here, initially in South Auckland, where people struggle to put good food on their tables?
It is well known we have an obesity problem that is contributing to complex, debilitating health problems at an enormous cost to families and the health system. We may not be able to always help people with their addictions (smoking or sugar) but surely we can put temptation out of reach to those who can ill afford it, financially and medically.
Jocelyn Paterson, Army Bay.
Farm labour
The Herald reports that Kiwis do not want to work on local dairy farms. This is no surprise. In the 19th century, Australian farmers paid survival wages when they targeted Pacific Islanders, hijacking them to work and the "recruiters" were called "blackbirders". In the 20th century the colonial government in Fiji used the same tactics, using a less emotional but similar "recruitment process", which they renamed "indentured labour".
In the 21st century, Kiwi farmers have carried on the modern practice but realised Pacific people might be a touch too sensitive to "recruit" and have sourced "field labourers" from Asia. It was called slavery on the American plantations, blackbirding in Australia, indentured labour in Fiji and now "foreign workers" in New Zealand. What has changed?
Dick Cuthbert, Herne Bay.
Abysmal trash
The American version of The Bachelor is trash television but it's done with style and at least some dignity. The ladies are well presented and well spoken. The Kiwi version is truly appalling.
The lowest form of television. Foul-mouthed, giggly immature girls who can't, like, put two words together, yobbos yelling from the audience and a contestant, for goodness' sake, who has gone out with the host. What a bunch of hillbillies we are.
W. Laurensen, Kohimarama.
Assisted suicide
Correspondent Jack Havill believes some suicidal people who believe their unbearable suffering to be unending are irrational, while others, those seeking or being urged towards "medical aid in dying", are mentally competent.
A couple of months ago in your paper Dr Ron Jones exposed the hypocrisy of using terms like "medically assisted dying". Medicine and medical personnel by definition have nothing to do with the matter of taking life. Euthanasia advocates should invoke the aid of those whose profession it is to take life and leave the medical profession right out of it. This might put a more realistic complexion on what is going on.
Tony Molloy, Morrinsville.
