Have your say: NZ's liveliest letters

To vote or not

The burden of voting? Is it any wonder the young are so disillusioned at the process?

There will be an "app" soon to tell us who to vote for or when this right should expire? Over my dead body!

Parliament is surely not a career path? There needs to be a time limit on tenure and, to make it less attractive, let's cut their superannuation and other privileges so they don't have to cling to power for three terms.

We are now being inundated with profligate promises. Operations, infrastructure, housing, tax cuts, poverty and education are all on the table as migration overload worsens.

This after 18 years of austerity under two contrary political regimes. Remember, they are only throwing our own savings at us - governments have no money nor assets.
Another knighthood or birthday honour beckons for those who fail.

KEN CRAFAR, Whanganui

Crazy comments

Your correspondent John Martin stated that US President Donald Trump is "probably crazy" - a ridiculous and foolish statement.

It must be said that if Mr Martin gets his view of President Trump from the mainstream media, it is not surprising he could state such a thing. It is embarrassing to see the NZ media simply regurgitate the garbage of the partisan members of the US media.

Unfortunately, the Wanganui Chronicle is an example of this behaviour. On the next page to Mr Martin's letter is a negative article about President Trump pardoning former Sheriff Joseph Arpaio.

As usual, the main point of the article is based on "anonymous sources' or - to put it another way - the "evidence" of the article has no credibility.

Articles like this are being used to attack Trump for the act of pardoning the 85-year-old former police officer for a contempt of court conviction from refusing to obey an order of a Federal Judge to stop upholding the law.

The Chronicle is publishing articles specifically slanted against Trump - how about some articles about the job growth, the falling rates of illegal immigrants attempting to enter the US, or the disaster that is Obamacare.

K A BENFELL, Gonville

Borrows backed

I was astonished to read the letter in the Chronicle (September 6) from Denise Lockett.

She seems to not be able to let the Chester affair go. Goodness, the silly woman didn't step back from the slowly approaching car so what sort of sensibility does that display?

Having had contact on several occasions with Chester Borrows, I know what a caring and sensitive man he is, and no way would he ever deliberately hurt anybody.

I was at that breakfast meeting and know what a rabble she was part of. No wonder she didn't have the nous to step back from a moving vehicle.

JOHN SLADE-JONES, Whanganui

Religious morals

Russ Hay and David Gash are having their own little private tiff in public - they should swap emails.

David Gash seems to think human morals were developed by religious orders when, in fact, our moral mores developed over the centuaries, starting well before religion. Gods developed out of ignorance to explain what, at the time, was inexplicable, then the control freaks used it as a control mechanism, as they do today.

In later times, religious scholars documented morals that had developed naturally in emerging societies - case closed.

Perhaps David could explain where all the Gods no longer needed have gone. Maybe the only good things to come out of religion is its historical recording and the establishment of faith.

Having faith in systems, in your partner (whether business or personal) makes for a happier and more productive and enjoyable life.

G R SCOWN, Whanganui

Soggy paper

I was very pleased to see a letter from F Foster complaining about the wet soggy paper. I rang the Chronicle saying exactly the same thing.

The paper is still hanging over the outdoor furniture on the patio. I haven't even read it - it's still wet, and old news now.

C GILBERD, Springvale