Capitalism comfort
A few words of comfort for Garth Scown (Letters, July 24). He fears that if the public sector is funded at nil-interest from the central bank, we'd see the end of capitalism.
Actually no economy can function without capital – the means of production, distribution and exchange. But what kind of capitalism do we want? Is it the United States' version where the financial system ensures that a very few profit excessively from owning over half of the nation's capital?
What about state socialism where a party elite, having total control, virtually owns and benefits from all the farms, factories, railroads, ports etc?
In a truly democratic society, all citizens share the rewards from capital ownership equitably. This means individual or co-operative ownership of farms and firms in the private sector, supported by trustworthy commercial banking.
But our collective needs (schools, hospitals, railroads etc) are proven to be best provided by democratically elected local and central government. And sovereign states have the ability to credit-fund this sector directly, without borrowing from private speculators on the debt markets.
One good thing about living in New Zealand is that we still have the ability to choose the model we want – but only just.
HEATHER MARION SMITH
Gonville
Protect police
I could not agree more with D Partner (Letters, July 21) on protecting police from these clowns who are willing to confront them with firearms.
Another thing that would help would be mandatory sentencing for those presenting a firearm at police whether it is discharged or not.
Let us all get behind the police and show them that we want their job to be much safer than it is now.
DAVE LARGE
Taihape
Choose our war
Our far-left Government is intent on lifting inflation - they will be shocked at their success if they continue their war on carbon, the substance that makes our planet a food bowl, prices can't do anything but skyrocket.
Until India and China join this war on plant food, at present they are providing themselves with ever more coal-fired power stations to add carbon to the air, our efforts are futile and economy destroying.
It's a war with 2.8 billion people which a country with 5 million can't win, only destroy ourselves. We can't fight two wars at once, so at this stage fight the one we can't avoid - the war on Covid.
We might feel high and mighty but it will be the poor who suffer most, their wages will not keep up with inflation.
GARTH SCOWN
Whanganui
